Roxane Manley

Gail designed her paddock to disrupt and engage, there are other dog smells, roo’s, sheep, and plants smells. All designed to distract the dog while training, one of the  goals is to get the dog to focus on you the owner instead of the distractions.

Gail Richardson, owner of Bartley’s Barkers, was born in Narrabri NSW in 1968 but now calls Parkes home. Bartleys Barkers had been many years in the making. In fact, the vision first began to take shape in Gail’s mind more than twenty years ago. Gail said “I knew I wanted to create something meaningful, something that combined my love of dogs with a service that could truly make a difference for people and their beloved companions.”

“When I completed my studies, I was both proud and humbled to achieve nine High Distinctions and one Distinction. These results gave me the confidence to move forward with my dream: to provide accessible, reliable dog training and support services, not only face-to-face but also online.”

“Living in rural and regional communities myself, I understand how challenging it can be to access professional dog training compared to the services available in big cities. In metropolitan areas, training often comes with a hefty price tag, making it out of reach for many. For me, it was essential to ensure that families in country areas could still afford quality help for their dogs and puppies.” said Gail

At the heart of Bartley’s Barkers is the belief that responsible dog ownership is both powerful and life-changing. Knowledge is the key—understanding the simple “do’s and don’ts,” learning to read a dog’s body language, and gaining confidence in your role as a leader. These things may sound small, but they are absolute game changers. With the right guidance, owners don’t just train their dogs—they build a partnership that results in a loyal, confident, and much-loved family member.

Gail’s training facilities are located at 78 Lindsay Thomas Rd.Parkes and she can be contacted on 0408 968 175 or at happydog.happylife14@gmail.com or find Bartleys Barkers on Facebook

An aerial view of the launch area at Lake Endeavour (bottom middle of photo) where the channel will be deep­ened for safer and easier access for all watercraft.

Parkes Shire Council is pleased to announce that a new project will soon get underway at Lake Endeavour following a successful grant application under the Transport for NSW Maritime’s Boating Infrastructure for Communities Grants Program.

Council has secured $133,220 in fund­ing and will co-contribute $52,480 towards the $185,700 project to deepen Lake En­deavour’s launch channel. This important upgrade will make non-motorised boat and watercraft launching safer, easier, and more accessible for all users – from kayaks, pad­dleboards and non-motorised boats to the Parkes Dragon Boat Club, who train weekly on the lake.

Deepening the launch channel will im­prove safety for recreational and sporting groups, including dragon boat paddlers and mobility-restricted users, enhance fish­ing opportunities, with better access for non-motorised craft and potential to host community fishing competitions and attract more visitors and events, further boosting the local economy.

Parkes Dragon Boat Club President Linda Snyman welcomed the news, saying “This project is a game changer for our club.

Launching and retrieving a 30-metre dragon boat can be difficult and poses a manual handling risk when the water is shallow and the trailer cannot be submerged. A deeper launch channel will make training sessions much safer and more enjoyable for every­one. We’re thrilled to see this investment in Lake Endeavour and the benefits it will bring to our members and the wider community.”

The project is expected to be completed by May 2026. The Boating Infrastructure for Communities Grants Program is part of the Transport for NSW Maritime’s new $44 million Boating Infrastructure and Dredging Scheme, which aims to improve access and facilities for recreational and commercial boating.