Bridge Banter
Do I have some great news for bridge players! Playing bridge actually stimulates the immune system. This is due to the area of the brain which is activated in playing bridge, using memory, visualization, and sequencing. A study at the University of California, Berkeley in 2000, has found strong evidence for this claim. This is good to know in today’s health climate. I’m not saying you can scrap your booster shots… but maybe you should consider coming along to learn bridge for a mental and physical health boost!
Enhancing their health status this week were winners Kevin Robinson and Jan Freeman on Tuesday, 7th December; Bev Laing with Anne Berkeley at north, and Jenny Freeman with Barbara Hughes at south on Thursday, 9th December; and Gai and Tim Baker on Monday, 13th December.
The bridge sessions ended yesterday for Christmas and the players will return to the tables in 2022.
If you are interested in learning to play bridge in the New Year, thereby improving your health and wellbeing, we can arrange private lessons! Call Greig Ball 0429 621 712 or Kevin Robinson 0429 621 712 to arrange personal lessons at your own pace.
By Beth Thomas
A Farewell To ‘Dan’
After nearly eight years in the ‘hot seat’ Dan Fredericks facilitated the Parkes writers group Author-rised for the very last time this month. Saying farewell to him were standing (L – R) Peter Colbourne, Heather Veal, Matthew Kennedy, Benson O’Donnell, Laura Harvey, Rex Veal and Jay Richards. Dan in front is holding some chocolate cookies that Benson made and decorated to say “Farewell Dan”.
While I was an original member of Author-rised when it started in August 2012, I wasn’t working for Parkes Library then. I commenced as facilitator of the group in 2014, when it became one of my work duties.
However, it was never a chore, rather a labour of love. To be able to research the many topics of writing, and see writers hone their craft and improve has been most satisfying.
Writers have been part of special projects – such as Stories on a Coffee Cup and the Skywriters Anthology – as well as taking part in many writer festivals. The Stories on a Coffee Cup was a unique concept where every café in the Parkes Shire received free coffee cups. Each cup had one of three different (very) short stories or poems. To improve the mood of the experience, these short stories and poems were written on serviettes!
We have had author talks, writing workshops and even hosted an editor! One of the most popular features of an Author-rised session is “Share If You Dare”, where writers can choose to share a piece of their writing and ask for feedback.
Author-rised is a supportive, positive place for writers of all abilities, from ages 13 to 113! While my aim was to see it become a great place and space for writing; each Author-rite has contributed to creating and maintaining the encouraging environment where writing can flourish.
I would like to thank Parkes Library staff for their continued support of the group, as well as each Author-rite who has contributed over the years.
By Dan Fredericks
100 Christmas Food Hampers
Samuel Quince helped packing the hampers.
Georgie’s Pantry packed 100 Christmas food hampers again this year to bless people in the Parkes community.
“We want people to be able to enjoy the Christmas celebration, particularly this year when things have been so hard,” said Anglicare Parkes Manager, Natalie Quince. “The hampers make a huge difference to help people stretch their budget to cover all the added costs of a family Christmas celebration.”
One hamper recipient said: “The Christmas Hamper means so much to our family. In the middle of all we were going through, the Christmas hamper makes us feel so loved and supported by our community. Thank you so much for making such a difference.”
The food for the hampers has been provided locally through generous donations from community groups and local businesses and money raised by Anglicare. The hampers were packed and distributed by local volunteers.
Our Gal – Beverley Drabsch
How long have you lived in Parkes and what do you like most about living here? I moved back to Parkes about three and a half years ago. I like being close to my ageing mum. I also like the usual dry climate of Parkes, and quiet of country life.
What is your favourite thing about your working life? Feeling useful and meeting community members.
If you could live anywhere, where would it be? A quiet corner in the countryside, surrounded by nature.
What makes you laugh the most? I love a good joke, clever memes, people who can laugh at themselves, and films that make me laugh even after having seen them half a dozen times, such as Back to the Future and the Bud Spencer and Terence Hill spaghetti westerns.
If you could choose to do anything for a day, what would it be? Magically learn to play piano in a day.
If you could go back in time, what year would you travel to and why? I would willingly peek into the early 20th century, to experience what it was like growing up then.
If you were ruler of your own country what would be the first law you would introduce?
The protection of human basic freedoms for all.
Do you believe in random acts of kindness, and which is your favourite one? Kindness always moves the heart, doesn’t it? Courtesy is kindness. Kindness received has the ability to open the heart and make one want to share that kindness with others.
What is one thing you will never do again? Never stop trying.
First Out Of The Blocks
The ‘Boys from the Bush’ dancers are Lynn Ryan, Jill Crisp, Nancye Blatch, Rosemary Morris, Cathy Clarke and Bev Laing.
Parkes Que members started celebrating early when we held our Christmas party at the start of summer on 1st December after a quick meeting to wind up the year’s business.
The best news to come out of the meeting was that our International Women’s Day luncheon would be back at the Parkes Services Club next year. This is a reminder to all women to put a mark on your calendar for 13th March.
Our party was a lot of fun. Everyone was dressed for Christmas, but Anne-Marie Winter, sporting a reindeer’s head that almost looked alive on her Christmas shirt, was the standout and took home a bubbly prize.
The ‘Boys from the Bush’ dancers, who bore a remarkable likeness to some of our members, entertained us with ‘Working On The Land’. We had a Christmas quiz to test our brains after the COVID hiatus.
We did our Christmas presents differently this year. Everyone bought a gift from the CanAssist shop paying no more than $10.
Some of these were absolutely beautiful, some quite nice, some a little strange, some decidedly odd, but we had a lot of fun regardless and it was a great way to help our cancer sufferers.
Que wishes you all a very happy Christmas and ask you all to support us next year as we work to make our world a better place for all. We welcome new members. Find us on Facebook: Parkes Que Club Inc, or give Pam a call on 0407 894 498.
By Pam Nankivell
Light It Up…
There are some beautiful festive lights and Christmas decorations all over town. Here are some of the streets worth exploring: Flinders, Cecile, Danilenko, Middleton, Banjo Place, Noonan, Hydrangea, Thomas, Cheney, Alluvial, Billabong, Golden Bar Drive, Molong, Nash, Lower Barton, and Cooke Park and the CBD.
‘Steel Yourself’ For Some Good News!
Steel supplies in Parkes is not going to run out following the recent closure of Handi Steel. Power Tools Plus has announced it has purchased the stock and will be temporarily operating from the business site.
“The good news is Parkes will not be without a steel supplier, and it will be business as usual at the 32 Woodward Street premises for the next two months,” said Power Tools Plus Marketing Manager Marianne Casey.
This new purchase is just the start of some very exciting changes for this Central West business, which has three more stores operating in Forbes, Cowra and Mudgee .
Many people would have noticed the signs on the Forbes road of the new premises under construction for Power Tools Plus over the past year. The long wait is over and in the new year the steel yard, as well as the industrial supplies store currently located in Currajong Street, will be moving into a brand new and much bigger space.
While a grand opening is planned for March 2022, the industrial supplies section will start operating from 24th January and the steel yard from 4th February next year.
The new premises has created four new roles, which have all been filled by Parkes locals.
The new store was built mostly using contractors who have been customers of the business. “It was great to broaden our relationship with our customers and swap around the roles,” said Marianne.
With Parkes set to grow into a major hub, the new Power Tools Plus store could not have come at a better time to provide a much-needed service in the region.
Snippets…
Monica Kearney from Big W in Parkes at the Giving Tree. The Parkes branch has partnered with Vinnies, and customers can donate gifts and place them under the tree.
Ways To Help Others At Christmas:
• BIG W has launched its in store Giving Tree initiative, providing customers an opportunity to donate gifts in support of families who need a little extra help. BIG W’s charity partner, Good360 Australia, has matched all 176 stores with a local charity, enabling the Giving Tree program to support over 105 organisations across Australia, including women’s shelters, children and youth at risk, schools, homeless shelters and children in hospital. In addition to its Giving Trees, BIG W is again supporting five Children Hospitals around the country by selling $2 and $5 tokens to raise much needed funds. Customers can place unwrapped gifts under their local BIG W Giving Tree or purchase a Christmas Token from now until Christmas Eve. For more information, visit www.bigw.com.au
• Purchase your Christmas gifts from the CanAssist store in Court Street to help boost the funds of CanAsisst and the wonderful assistance they provide to locals with cancer.
• Elders Parkes and Forbes have teamed up with The Salvation Army for a Christmas Toy Drive. The Salvation Army will ensure that gifts are delivered to all children this Christmas. Gifts can be placed under the trees at the two offices with a label to either boy or girl and an approximate age. Call 6862 922 for more information.
• Parkes Uniting Church and Parkes Catholic Church are collecting/accepting Christmas gifts and donations to be handed to those in need.
• Coles has a $2 donation you can make through Redkite to help support children with cancer and their families, and to SecondBite to provide meals for Australians who need it most. Purchase in store or online.
• Woolworths Parkes is part of a donation target to raise the equivalent of seven million meals this Christmas in support of OzHarvest. Purchase a 50c token in store or online, or choose to round up your purchase to the nearest dollar.
• Help farmers by giving a donation to Aussie Helpers’ ‘Give back to the Outback’ Christmas appeal. All proceeds will go to purchasing Visa gift cards and/or fuel cards for those in need. Last year Aussie Helpers delivered 1,000 Christmas hampers and $27,000 in Visa gift cards and fuel vouchers to Aussie farmers across the country. For more information visit aussiehelpers.org.au.
Support This Festive Season:
• The holiday season can pose many challenges for people affected by cancer. The Cancer Council 13 11 20 telephone information and support service is free and confidential. Specially trained health professional staff are available to answer questions about cancer, offering emotional and practical support for anyone affected by cancer – including cancer patients, people living with cancer, their families, carers and friends, teachers, students, and healthcare professionals. If you call 13 11 20, one of our consultants will listen to your situation, assess your individual needs and make appropriate requests for services.
• R U OK? want to remind everyone that Christmas can be a difficult time for many Australians and encourage them to make a real difference in someone’s life by giving the ‘Gift of Conversation’. Free downloadable resources are available on the R U OK? website including suggestions on how best to support someone from Suicidologist and Registered Psychologist Annie Fardell Hartley: Make the time to check in with them; Acknowledge it – let them know it’s OK to feel overwhelmed, sad, or stressed at this time of the year; Be gentle – If someone doesn’t feel able to celebrate in the same way as they have in the past, give them space; Old traditions and new traditions – If old traditions no longer bring joy perhaps think about new traditions, you can set up to mark the season; Offer practical support – Whether it is making a cuppa, helping with childcare, or cooking a meal, small gestures can be comforting for those finding the season difficult.‘Don’t let it be a silent night: Give the ‘Gift of Conversation’. Learn how at www.ruok.org.au For support at any time of day or night, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.
What do you look forward to the most at Christmas time?
Natalie Quince: I look forward to the excitement of Christmas for our children. We will be in Parkes for the morning service on Christmas Day and then drive to Mudgee to be with our family for the rest of the day.
Sue McLennan: Being with family and friends. I’m not sure yet who I will see this year, but I hope to have Christmas lunch with some friends.
Kerrie Christopherson: Christmas time is family time. It will be a very quiet one this year as I will be staying in Parkes and spend time with the family here.
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