It is National Bird Week and you can still take part in the Aussie Backyard Bird Count until Sunday. Cathy McPherson from Parkes is a keen bird photographer and took this beautiful shot of a Darter. If you have an iconic image for Closing Shot send it to editor@parkesphoenix.com.au.
Marc Payne has received international recognition for his image of the much-photographed dust storm that hit Parkes in January last year.
He received the good news last week that he has picked up two bronze awards in the Epson International Pano (panorama) Awards for photos he took in the Parkes area.
The competition is dedicated to the craft and art of panoramic photography, and is the world’s largest competition devoted to the genre with 92 countries represented. The open categories attracted 2,646 entries and there were 2,619 amateur entries.
“I have entered these awards once before and didn’t do any good. I entered this year mainly for the feedback and not expecting to receive two bronzes.”
He scored 72/100 for his image of the massive dust storm that hit Parkes on 19th January 2020. He scored 76/100 for a photo he took at Lake Endeavour shrouded in fog.
“It goes to show you don’t have to be in the most beautiful parts of the world to get award winning or competing images,” said Marc.
In August Marc received two honourable mentions in the Minimalist Photography Awards, and in July his portrait study of Dustin Howearth was named in the top 101 portrait photographs of the year.
By Maggi Barnard
Lake Endeavour cloaked in early morning fog by Marc Payne.
Would you like to acknowledge an outstanding contribution someone has made to our community? Nominations are now open for the 2022 Parkes Shire Council Community, Cultural, Environmental and Sports Awards, including the Ron Harrison Sports Bursary.
“This year it is particularly important to recognise the outstanding people and groups in our community, who have positively contributed to the local culture, community and environment during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Parkes Shire Mayor Ken Keith OAM.
“These awards celebrate and showcase the artistic and creative talent that we have in the Parkes Shire. I strongly encourage community members to nominate individuals or groups,” said Manager Cultural Education and Library Services, Kerryn Jones.
The awards cover the 2021 calendar year to date and will be announced during the Australia Day Awards ceremony in January 2022. All nominations must be made online via Council’s website this year at: www.parkes.nsw.gov.au/living-here/your-community/awards/. If you need assistance, visit the team at the Parkes Library and Culture Centre. Entries close on 30th November.
• Community Awards: The Community Awards recognise out-standing community contribution in the following categories: Adult Citizen – over 25 years of age; Young Citizen – up to 25 years of age; Individuals or a Community Group for an event – two persons or more
• Cultural Awards: This year the Cultural Award categories have changed to encourage a wider variety of recipients eligible for nomination. The Cultural Awards recognise excellence in the performing, visual, and creative arts and crafts in the following categories: Performance Award; Literacy Award; Visual Arts Award; Cultural Lifetime Achievement Award
• Environmental Awards: The Environmental Award recognises an individual or group contributing to our environmental preservation or advancing environmental awareness within the Shire.
• Sports Awards: Nominations are now open for the 2022 Parkes Shire Council Sports Awards to recognise outstanding sporting groups and individuals in the Parkes Shire. The eight categories are Sports Person of the Year; Junior Sportsperson of the Year; Team of the Year; Coach or Manager; Referee or Official; Senior Team or Sportsperson; Ad-ministrator and Long Service and Dedication Award. Ron Harrison Sports Bursary of $2,000 provides financial assistance to particularly juniors who demonstrate the need for this assistance to further develop their career.
Hard to believe we came out of one of the worst droughts just two years ago as very lush looking crops are greening our countryside at the moment with predictions of a ‘jackpot’ harvest this year! Cr Bill Jayet took this shot at Alectown when he visited fellow Councillor Neil Westcott last weekend. If you have an iconic or local image for Closing Shot send it to the editor@parkesphoenix.com.au.
Garden owner Karen Ritchie was thrilled with her laven-der plant she received from the Que Club after the annual Open Gardens event had to be cancelled.
This is not the score line our Que Club had hoped for, but sadly we had to cancel the annual Open Gardens event that was scheduled for this Sunday. A tremendous amount of work by our Garden committee goes into planning and arranging this event, while the owners of the gardens spend enormous hours into making sure that their gardens are looking at their very best on the day. Que Club would like to thank them all most sincerely for their work and enthusiasm, and as a token of our appreciation, we have presented all the owners with a lavender plant which we hope will bloom beautifully and profusely in their gardens.
By Pam Nankivell
Communities across the state can nominate heritage places linked to notable personalities and events for recognition as part of the NSW Blue Plaques program. The Parkes Shire Council is seeking suggestions from the community of stories that are interesting, quirky, and fun, along with more sombre stories that should be not be forgotten as part of our history. Send your ideas to tourism@parkes.nsw.gov.au. To find out more, visit www.heritage.nsw.gov.au.
The Parkes Evening VIEW (Voice, Interest and Education of Women) Club is going pink at its next meeting on 26th October at Bushman Motor Inn. Breast Cancer Nurse Diane Green will be the guest speaker and everyone is invited to join in the pink night. Ring Janet Offner on 6862 2950 by Saturday, 23rd October to book in. The meeting time is 6:30pm for 7pm.
The Dine and Dis-cover Voucher program has been extended to 30 June 2022. You can buy gift vouchers from Parkes Musical and Dramatic Society for future productions in 2022 using your Discover vouchers. Send an email to parkesmandd@gmail.com.
Agricultural machinery owners and operators are invited to get road ready for the 2021 harvest season, by picking up a free ‘Moving Harvest Machinery’ USB from all agricultural machinery retailers and rural supply stores in the Parkes, Forbes and Lachlan Shires areas, as well as at the Councils’ Administration Offices. The USB contains all the relevant notices for safely and legally moving agricultural machinery, combinations and trucks on the road along with other useful harvest safety information.
Pick up a free ‘Moving Harvest Machinery’ USB to get road ready for the 2021 harvest season.
Founder of Heart of the Nation, Greg Page and Mayor of Parkes Shire Cr Ken Keith OAM at one of the AED towers that will soon be seen around the Parkes Shire.
The original Yellow Wiggle’s charitable initiative is coming to Parkes to help save lives.
Parkes Shire Council has agreed to a collaborative project with Heart of the Nation, set up by Greg Page, that will see eight publicly accessible Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) installed across the Shire.
“Given the fact that around 80% of cardiac arrests happen in the home, Council is pleased to announce this initiative that places AEDs within a much closer proximity to many more residents,” said Mayor of Parkes Shire Ken Keith OAM.
“Over the coming weeks, Council will commence the installation of the bright yellow tower stands that will house the AEDs and are designed to be bright to ensure high visibility.”
Greg Page said it was simple to use an AED and it required no training, qualification or certification to try to save someone’s life. “However, Heart of the Nation will be organising several community CPR and AED user training sessions for residents to take part in.
“Access will also be provided to an app to identify the location of the new AEDs as well as existing AEDs in Parkes that are already part of the Heart of the Nation network.” Greg said businesses, community groups or individuals with an AED were welcome to become a member of the Heart of the Nation network for free to help people identify the location all AEDs.
The AEDs will be in cabinets that are unlocked, so that they can be accessed rapidly when needed.
The Mayor thanked Greg for selecting Parkes as one of the first local government areas in NSW where the project would be rolled out.
Sudden Cardiac Arrest is a medical event that can strike anyone, anywhere, anytime – it happens to around 27,000 Australians every year – and tragically, 90% of people do not survive. Visit www.heartofthenation.com.au for more information.
January next year is not going to be dull and boring but bright and pink!
As the Parkes Elvis Festival was moved to April, the Pink Up Parkes committee decided to move into the void in January with more opportunities to pink up our town!
“We hope that the decision to move to January will provide more opportunities for holding events,” said Chairperson Carolyn Rice.
The Pink Up Parkes Committee made the decision with the welfare of the community as the highest priority. They want the community to be able to participate and raise awareness for The McGrath Foundation funding 170 breast care nurses in communities right across Australia, who have supported over 95,000 families since 2005.
“We are in particular looking forward to once again hold a successful Pink Up Parkes Dinner and Auction,” said Carolyn. “During our inaugural year this was a significant contributor to the fundraising efforts of the month. It was also an opportunity to acknowledge the amazing work that The McGrath Foundation do, particularly in regional communities. We are very fortunate to have a McGrath Foundation Nurse working in the Parkes, Forbes and Lachlan Shires.”
Start planning how you will be ‘pinking up’ in January, let the committee know to help promote what you are doing. There will also be first, second and third prizes for shop frontage displays. Let the committee know of any items for the auction in January.
Information is available at https://www.facebook.com/PinkUpParkes/, email pinkupparkes@gmail.com.
Pink Up Parkes will also be supporting the new Overture event celebrating opera and musical theatre to be held in Cooke Park on 2nd April 2022.
Scott McLachlan, Chief Executive of Western NSW Local Health District. Img src: wnswlhd.health.nsw.gov.au
He has become a familiar face with his daily COVID updates over the past two months for the local health district, but last week Scott McLachlan announced he was leaving the region.
Scott has been in the role as Chief Executive of the Western NSW Local Health District for the past eight years. He will be leaving on 10th November to take up the role of Chief Executive of the Central Coast Local Health District.
“This was my first posting as a Chief Executive and I’ve both learned from, and enjoyed the role. It’s been a privilege to work with our exceptional clinical workforce, all the supporting services, our leadership team and Board, and our local communities.
“The last two years have been an exceptional test of health services around the world, and our Local Health District has shown it has great clinical talent, leadership and resilience in not just responding to those challenges, but often leading the way in the regional COVID response.
“While I’m looking forward to my new role, I will always be grateful to the people in our LHD team and communities who have supported me, and who I’ve learned so much from.”
According to the Reopening NSW road-map, which came into effect on Monday, all visitors to the libraries in Parkes, Trundle, Tullamore and Peak Hill will need to show proof of their full vaccination status.
There are three different types of evidence that can be shown, including the COVID-19 digital certificate, printed version of the COVID-19 digital certificate and the Service NSW certificate.
The Public Health Order also requires children under the age of 16 who visit the library, to be accompanied by a family member who is fully vaccinated.
“The Parkes Shire Library service must comply with the Public Health Order. We are looking to support our community in every way that we can. If you need help with locating and downloading these certificates, the Parkes Library staff will be able to assist patrons needing to print their vaccination certificate in the library foyer,” said Manager Cultural Education and Library Services Kerryn Jones.
“We will also be continuing our home delivery service to patrons who are unable to come to the library. This service includes books, DVDs, audiobooks and family friendly games.”