Maggi Barnard

Maggi Barnard has been with the Parkes Phoenix since it was established in March 2016 and loves writing about her community.

Australia Day Events In Parkes

January 28, 2022 By Maggi Barnard

It was a lovely cool morning for the community walk of about 3.5km starting from Cooke Park with lots of pooches joining in.

The Leonard family came all “hatted’ up for the kite festival at the Northparkes Oval. They are Anthony with Alfie (3) and Kira with Teddy (4).

The four-year-old twins Andie and Ellie Fitzpatrick helped to put some colour in the sky with their beautiful kites.

The breeze was not strong enough to get the big kites in the air, but plenty of lift for the lighter ones to fill the sky above the oval.

Parkes Action Club members who helped to feed the crowd after the community walk are (L-R) William Olson, Mark Olson, Gary Somers, Anne Steel and Tim Keith.

Parkes Action Club members cooked the free breakfast for the walkers in Cooke Park. David Knights and Warren Edwards made sure not to burn the brekkie!

The all Australian Car Display at Cooke Park is hosted by the Parkes Antique Motor Club every year.

The Australia Day Ambassador Jane Rutter not only gave an inspiring speech, but also played two songs on her flutes much to the delight of the audience. Parkes Shire Concert Band members Rhonda Redenbach, Ellen Tom and Duncan Clement were delighted to meet Jane.

Australia Day Award Recipients

January 28, 2022 By Maggi Barnard

Citizen of the Year – Hedley Nicholson, OAM with his daughter Helen Magill.

Young Citizen of the Year – Darcey Hoyle.

Community Event/Group of the Year – Parkes & District Kennel Club with Lynn Madden, Denise Gersbach and Fiona Watts.

Marie Bashir Academic Award – Monique O’Toole.

Environmental Award – Kokoda Biodiversity Offset Project at CMOC-Northparkes Mines with Matthew Burkitt and Hubert Lehman.

Junior Environmental Citizen Award – Alicia Rivett (12).

Cultural Award – Literary Award – Parkes in Photos of Years Gone By (Facebook Page) with Geoff Anderson and Sam Ross.

Cultural Award – Performance – Jessica Kinsela.

Cultural Award – Visual Arts – Helen Gray with Jenny Short (right) accepting the award on her behalf. On the left is fellow nominee Sean James Cassidy.

Cultural Lifetime Achievement Award – Elsie Mahon.

Sportsperson of the Year – Gabrielle Clyburn (Weightlifting).

Junior Sportsperson of the Year – Abigail Simpson (Hockey).

Team of the Year – Parkes Boars First Grade Rugby Union team with Coach Josh Miles accepting the medals on behalf of the team.

Senior Sportsperson or Team – Parkes Women’s Masters Hockey Team with (L-R) Mandy Westcott, Denise Gersbach, Lee Hodge and Amy Thornberry.

Referee, Umpire or Official of the Year – Trevor Chatman (Cricket).

Coach, Trainer or Manager of the Year – Josh Miles (Rugby Union).

Long Service and Dedication Award – Du-mesny Family with Craig, John & Michael. Tony not present.

Administrator of the Year – Jay Kross (Squash).

Ron Harrison Sports Bursary – Henry Kross (Squash) & Maddie Spence (Cricket). Pictured are Henry, Kristine Nock (daughter of Ron Harrison) and Meaghen Kempson accepting the award on behalf of Maddie.

What Is Amblyopia?

January 28, 2022 By Maggi Barnard

Amblyopia (or lazy eye) is where the eyesight in one eye is worse than in the other and that correcting the eyesight (with spectacles or contact lenses) does not improve the vision.

The three most common causes of Amblyopia are:

A large refractive error in one or both eyes.
Congenital cataracts.
An eye turn.

Generally, the patient experiences no symptoms apart from the possible awareness of poor eyesight in that eye when they cover up the good eye.

Treatment

Remove the cause of the amblyopia. Correct any refractive error with spectacles/contact lenses, remove any cataract or treat the eye turn. This may restore the eyesight without any further treatment required.
Start visual therapy. Most people with amblyopia need visual therapy as well as treating the underlying cause. Once any refractive error is compensated the amblyopic eye will be receiving a clear normal image. The eyesight however may still be poor because the brain is still ignoring or suppressing the image from the amblyopic eye just like it did prior to treatment. Visual therapy, including patching the good eye, is undertaken to stimulate the brain to pay attention to the amblyopic eye.

In reality amblyopia is not so much about the ‘lazy eye’ but rather the brain (visual cortex) having learnt to turn off (suppress) the blurry picture from the amblyopic eye so that it does not interfere with the picture from the good eye.

Research has shown that the younger we treat amblyopia the more likely we are to restore normal eyesight.

In those cases where the amblyopia is due to an eye turn, the amblyopia has to be treated before the eye turn can be treated.

It takes between three to six months of visual therapy to achieve the above goals. The visual therapy will need to be monitored every two to four weeks.

In severe cases, normal eyesight may not be fully achieved or will take longer.

Once cured the spectacle correction may still be required to ensure the amblyopia does not return.

If patching is required it need to be done for a minimum of two hours per day at home while doing assigned visual therapy activities.

Our Gal – Nancy Cayo

January 28, 2022 By Maggi Barnard

Where were you born? In the capital city of Peru, Lima.

Were you named after anyone? My parents used to work at a school, so they named me after an English teacher.

Which of your accomplishments are you most proud of? Becoming the mother of two special girls, Hannah and Vanessa.

What historical moment stands out most in your memory? In 2014 I witnessed the signature ceremony for Parkes to become a “ Refugee Welcome Zone” after our Parkes Shire Council didn’t hesitate to accept a recommendation from Mayor Ken Keith: “These wonderful people are bringing with them a broad range of skills and talents needed by our communities,”

What’s the single best piece of advice you’ve ever received? It was given to me by my Dad: “Listen and learn.”

What’s the greatest risk you’ve ever taken? Leaving my birth country and consequently, leaving my family and friends.

What are the three things you would take to a deserted island? A device to play music, a tutorial book of how to survive on a deserted island (while I listen to music), some firecrackers to make some noise and be rescued in case the tutorial book doesn’t work or if the music is bad.

If you had to spend $10,000 today, how would you spend it? Booking flight tickets to visit my parents and bringing them here for a visit.

When are you happiest? When I’m surrounded by happy and smiling people.

It’s A Birthright To Be Creatively Fulfilled

January 28, 2022 By Maggi Barnard

THE MAGIC FLUTE PLAYER… Australia Day Ambassador Jane Rutter and Parkes Shire Mayor Ken Keith OAM re-ceived celebratory cupcakes from Parkes Scouts Patrol Leader Marcus Hughes (middle).

Beautiful flute music filled the airwaves at the Australia Day celebrations at the Cooke Park Pavilion on Wednesday.

The Parkes Shire’s Australia Day Ambassador Jane Rutter, also known as the First Lady of the Flute, not only entertained a good crowd of over 200 people with her magical flute playing, but gave an inspiring speech too.

“My best messages come through my flute playing. In the French style of playing the flute is used as a story teller, and this makes me feel really close to Aboriginal people who have kept our land alive for over 40,000 years by singing their stories and songlines,” said Jane.

“Today is one of great respect and reflection, of that kind of deep silence that Dr Miriam-Rose Ungunmerr-Baumann, Senior Australian of the Year, talks about that goes deep into your cellular memory and you think about where you belong and how you belong to this planet.

“Part of this connection to our land, and history is the birthright of everybody to be creatively fulfilled. You don’t have to sing, or be an artist. It could be about how you breed cattle, bake a cake or feed the family. It is just that sense of passion to be inspired about your life. Aussies are really quietly good at this and we need to nurture it in our young people.

“I love sharing the joy and sense of connection to our planet and universe and other people, when I play my flute.”

By Maggi Barnard

Wwoofers

January 28, 2022 By Maggi Barnard

The old house was fit only to be bulldozed. Foundations had rotted and were mostly absent, bees were busy producing honey in the back wall, three sheep had sheltered in the bathroom, shutting the door behind them and, over time, rotting into the floorboards, and rats had made their homes in the roof. Along with about 6cm of fine red dust throughout the roof cavity, were a huge amount of rat droppings and hundreds of apricot seeds. In our wisdom, we thought it was a challenge and arranged to have it moved onto our two-and-a-half-acre stubble field. Of course, we were 25 years younger then and nothing seemed impossible.

With not a tree on the block, and having made a space to sleep, we set about alleviating the problem of having no shade by digging holes and planting trees. We bought 200 tube stock and set about making future shade with five-inch-tall plants. Together with renovating the house to a liveable state, caring for our tiny trees through a typical 40 plus degree summer was an awesome task. We got a lot of exercise carrying buckets of water from our single yard tap to our 200 trees.

A very wet winter in 1998 ensured a wonderful, knee-high crop of every kind of weed by March 1999 and then Ian hurt his back whilst lifting a set of harrows. With a ruptured disc in his lower spine, he was out of action for a long time. After a couple of fraught years with little let-up from the pain, we joined a program called Wwoof – Willing Workers On Organic Farms.

Our first Wwoofer was a lovely Japanese girl named Akari. It was her first trip to Australia and her second farm stay. She quickly became part of the family and our extended family loved her, especially our little granddaughter, Georgie. We spent our mornings working in the yard – mulching, fertilizing, weeding, and planting, and our afternoons were taken up with things like driving or walking in the forest, searching for wildlife, English lessons at the dining table, watching the local harvest happen, or trips to town.

After two weeks it was time for Akari to return to Japan. Early that morning, I took her for a last ride in the forest, in the hope of seeing more of the kangaroos or wallabies which had so entranced her during her stay. We left home to meet the 7am bus and she cried all the way to town. We hugged each other at the bus station and as the bus pulled away, she waved and smiled through her tears.

By Margaret Irwin

‘Toot Toot, Chugga Chugga’: New Driver For Famous Red Car!

January 28, 2022 By Maggi Barnard

At the handover of the famous PTTR car were Dianne Scott (Executive Officer of Neighbourhood Central), Shonel Red-fern (Paint Parkes REaD Co-ordinator) and Rhonda Brain (founder).

As Parkes is the birth place of a movement that has gone national, many residents will know its signature red car.

Founder of Paint the Town REaD (PTTR), Rhonda Brain, decided it was time to give someone else a turn to sit in the driver seat of the other famous ‘big red car’. Rhonda has travelled thousands of kilometres since the launch of Paint The Town REaD in 1997 helping and encouraging many of the 98 communities across Australia who are now avid supporters of the movement’s key message: REaD, Talk, Sing and Rhyme with your child every day from birth.

Rhonda recently handed over the keys to Neighbourhood Central where Paint Parkes REaD Co-ordinator, Shonel Redfern, will be responsible for keeping the all-important message spreading in the community.

“Most of us are now aware that one of the valuable ways to encourage early literacy is through community involvement, and both the original and present committees are so grateful for the continued, cooperative, and generous interaction with, and engagement of, our community,” said Shonel.

Rhonda will remain actively involved in Paint Parkes REaD and its committee members who are already getting ready for this year’s Community Reading Day to be held during Book Week in August.

Rhonda will also continue in her position as creative director of the national board. Rhonda and Shonel are working with Executive Director Barbie Bates, and the NSW State Co-ordination Robyne Harrison looking into the feasibility of holding the 9th National Conference in the Parkes Shire next year. To this end, Barbie and Robyne will be in Parkes in early March.

Next year marks a very special anniversary and gives Parkes more reason for hosting the conference as it will be 25 years since Birth to Kindergarten (now Paint The Town REaD) began its major promotional activities across our community. There are so many memories here!

Registrations Open For 2022 Free Cuppa For The Driver

January 21, 2022 By Maggi Barnard

Local businesses are invited to take part in the ‘Free Cuppa for the Driver’ scheme that will run again from 1st March to 31st May.

This year’s ‘Free Cuppa for the Driver’ scheme will run again from 1st March to 31st May and local businesses are invited to take part.

Entering its 12th year, the multi award-winning scheme provides for partnerships between participating councils and local businesses. The councils provide the marketing and administer the scheme while the participating businesses provide the free cuppas.

“We find that the majority of participating businesses give away between 15 and 30 free over the three-month period. Most travellers that claim free cuppas want to support the participating businesses and will buy extra coffees or food,” said Parkes, Forbes and Lachlan Shire Councils’ Road Safety and Injury Prevention Officer, Melanie Suitor.

She said since its inception the scheme had given away more than 27,000 free cuppas in 265 participating businesses across 91 towns, villages and cities in regional NSW.

“Just being part of the network of participating businesses is already helping to raise awareness of the dangers of driver fatigue. Our deepest thanks to all of the businesses that have participated previously – we quite literally could not have run this program without your support,” Melanie said.

Drivers are entitled to a free cuppa at participating businesses if they are more than 100km away from the address on their licence.

Registrations for the 2022 scheme are open until Monday, 31st January. Go to www.freecuppa.com.au to sign up and find more information about the scheme.

What do you look forward to the most in 2022?

January 21, 2022 By Maggi Barnard

Jaxon Nusipepa: I’m excited to turn eight, and to start playing footy this year.

Ahi and Nai Nusipepa:
Ahi: Getting my first ever haircut, and going swimming every day.
Nai: Starting Year 1 and playing soccer at school.

Luka Parkin: I can’t wait to be able to go camping outside of Parkes for holidays.

Our Bloke – Robert Shore

January 21, 2022 By Maggi Barnard

Where were you born? I was born in Brisbane. My parents lived in Tumbarumba but mum had to go to a large hospital for the birth so she went and stayed with an uncle in Brisbane.

Were you named after anyone? My middle name is Campbell. It the family name on my mother’s side.

Which of your accomplishments are you most proud of? My four daughters, proud of each of them. Playing rugby for 43 years. Photographing 800 birds in Australia. Writing a book.

What historical moment stands out most in your memory? As an historian many stand out, but as a kid I remember the 1967 referendum and the landing on the moon.

What’s the single best piece of advice you’ve ever received? “Don’t touch that!”

What’s the greatest risk you’ve ever taken? Too hard to choose one: Photographing birds in the mangroves at Cape Leveque, Western Australia – there were big crocodiles in there! Being in a small boat in a cyclone and micro-chipping lions in South Africa come pretty close. It was also scary being charged by elephants, but the scariest of all was being driven on mountain roads in the Himalayas in Nepal. That was a time I really thought I was about to die.

If you had to spend $10,000 today, how would you spend it? A new camera.

When are you happiest? Travelling around Australia photographing wildlife.

Maggi Barnard

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