Maggi Barnard

GROUP A stands for election to represent all residents of Parkes Shire, YOU.

We are going to sweep aside all the previous Council favouritism for the select few and represent ALL residents fairly.

Previous Councils have FAILED to give you real service by ignoring our voices, the residents that live here NOW.

Previous Councils have FAILED to give YOU what is needed. Much better roads and maintenance and improved traffic flow. More approved house building blocks. Storm water control, weekly red garbage, open council communication, better value for YOUR royal rate dollars. Investigate past Council’s questionable decisions. YOUR VOTE, YOUR DECISION!

Members of the HARS Parkes Aviation Museum attended the Wings over Illawarra Air Show at Shellharbour last weekend.

The event featured aircraft of all types including fast and loud jets and visitors watched the last public performance of the FA 18 fighter and attack aircraft that is being phased out in favour of the F 35 Lightning coming in to service with the RAAF.

The weather misbehaved both days, but fortunately the HARS headquarters in Shellharbour has a large undercover area and the visitors were able to shelter inside from the many showers.

Terry Job and Laurie Neville from Parkes were also able to see the facilities and undercover aircraft space similar to what is planned for the museum site at Parkes Airport.

If you are interested in aircraft, the Parkes Aviation Museum is open on Thursdays and Sundays.

Parkes Shire students undertaking their first year of full-time university studies in 2022 are encouraged to apply for a Jack Scoble Scholarship.

The scholarship offers students assistance to purchase a laptop and textbooks, or relocation and accommodation costs.

“Receiving a financial boost can help make university education more accessible for regional young people to help ease the financial pressures of tertiary studies,” said Council’s Manager Cultural Education & Library Services Kerryn Jones. “I also strongly encourage students who will be registering with the Parkes Country Universities Centre to consider this scholarship as they are also eligible to apply. “

The late Jack Scoble MBE, OAM was Mayor of Parkes from 1966 to 1979. He died in 2003, providing a profound legacy of community involvement, civic pride, leadership and high personal values.

The Jack Scoble Education Scholarships have provided financial assistance to students to the value of $100,000 between 2006 and 2021.

Josie Thompson was awarded the scholarship this year. She is studying a Bachelor of Speech Pathology at the University of Newcastle.

“My first year of university was met with many challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The scholarship helped significantly financially, as I was able to purchase textbooks and a printer for my first year at university. Having my own resources was extremely beneficial as I had limited access to physical resources due to the COVID-19 restrictions in place.

Scholarship guidelines and the application form are available on Council’s website www.parkes.nsw.gov.au/living-here/your-community/education/scholarships/

Applications close on 21st January 2022 at 10am. For more information, contact Kerryn Jones on 6861 2338.

While the Parkes Country Universities Centre (CUC) celebrated its first successful year last week, two students reflected on how much more their enrollment has meant to them in their lives.

It has given retiree Dawn Ball new purpose, and provided friendship and a sense of belonging in a new community for immigrant Ankush (Addy) Dogra.

Dawn said boredom brought her to the CUC. “I was just moping around in retirement and wanted to do something which makes me happiest, which is studying.” She likes languages, having taught Indonesian for 16 years at Red Bend Catholic College, and decided to study German through the University of England.

“German culture interests me, and I love the sound of the language.” She read about the CUC in the paper, and I ended up signing up!

Dawn said the support she had received from Manager Jacob Cass had been fantastic “I’m not very savvy with technology, and Jacob is just available for anything. How he puts up with me I don’t know.”

Addy moved to Parkes from Brisbane to work at the Indian Cuisine restaurant. He was doing a Certificate IV in IT Networking, but could not find a place to study at night. The CUC was the perfect fit as he could access the facility at all hours.

“Jacob helped me to find a Bachelors degree in Applied IT at Latrobe University, and also a job at Parkes Shire Council for two months.”

Addy, who comes from a small town similar to Parkes at the foot of the Himalayan mountains in India, said he wanted to move back to Brisbane when his job finished at Council, but Jacob encouraged him to stay. “I’ve now made friends, and don’t want to move. I have started to feel part of the community.”

By Maggi Barnard

Nine Parkes High School students had no idea they were going to meet the NSW Premier last Thursday.

They were busy working at the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society (HARS) at the Parkes Airport for their weekly Aviation Restoration session when the eminent visitor showed up.

Premier Dominic Perrottet, Deputy Premier Paul Toole and Emergency Services Minister David Elliott flew from Sydney to the Parkes Airport and then went by helicopter to look at the flooding in Forbes.

On their way back Mike De La Hunty from HARS saw them at the Parkes Airport and invited the politicians over to have a quick look at the work the students do at the Aircraft Museum.

The Premier asked the students lots of questions about the Skills Training and Employment Program and the restoration work on historic aircraft that they do with the HARS volunteers as their mentors. He also wanted to know from the students what they planned to do after finishing school.

The visitors had a quick tour given by Mike of some of the aircraft on display before flying back for question time in Parliament.

The museum is open on Thursdays and Sundays 9.30am – 3.30pm, or by appointment.