Parkes was a political hot spot last Friday when Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack and NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro put the Inland Rail project on the right track by signing a landmark bilateral agreement.

The Intergovernmental Agreement between the Federal and NSW Governments was signed at the Parkes Railway Station and makes way for the commencement of works on the multi-billion dollar Inland Rail project in NSW.

NSW is the second state after Victoria to sign up to the significant project providing consent for the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) to deliver Inland Rail in NSW.

Deputy Prime Minister said it was a landmark moment for the project and a significant day for Parkes destined to become a major hub on the 1,700km long line. “Henry Parkes, after which this town was named, had a vision for the nation and Inland Rail is sharing in that vision.”

He said 60% or 1,050km of the line will be in NSW linking up the ports of Melbourne and Brisbane boosting the state’s gross domestic product (GDP) to $2.6 billion per year.

“This means the world for Parkes and all of Australia’s farmers and small businesses taking our products from farm gate to Asian plate.” Deputy Premier Barilaro congratulated Parkes on its vision, saying as a logistics centre for Inland Rail, the town would become an inland port. “Parkes is going to be a very different place because of Inland Rail.” He said the project would not only grow regional communities and bring additional government services, but also reduce congestion on roads. “Inland Rail has the potential to completely reinvigorate parts of regional NSW, well beyond the thousands of jobs that will be created in the construction phase,” he said.

Construction on the Inland Rail project is due to commence within six months on the Parkes to Narromine section with 14,000 tonnes of steel rail delivered at Peak Hill in January. The project will create a direct rail freight connection between Melbourne and Brisbane capable of moving double stacked freight containers of up to 1.8km long at speeds of up to 120km/h. Once operational, Inland Rail will attract more freight to rail, diverting traffic from the Newell, Hume and Pacific Highways, and in turn freeing up space in the Sydney Metro area for more passenger services.

The 2018 St Georges Flower Show was a miracle to behold. “The prayer for rain is yet to be answered, but the flowers on display last Saturday were remarkable,” said organiser Norma Garment. The Anglican ladies served more than
150 people morning and afternoon teas surrounded by six tables filled with top quality flowers.

With about 100 entries, the system of people’s choice voting made it easy to pick the winners. Chris Krute’s pink Spider Gerbera got the highest number of votes with Tony and Heather Horsington’s roses coming second. Marg Klien donated the prizes. Roses also stole the day with Ray Knight’s entry receiving many votes, as well as an amazing White Gerbera entered by Joan Rauchlie – each receiving gifts for best single specimen.

Councilor Bill Jayett, who presented the prizes, was delighted to see so many entries. He presented a Bill Jayett Award to a big pink double Gerbera entered by Joan Rauchlie.

According to Norma a lot of fun was had guessing the weight of the pudding donated by Shirley Edwards, with Hazel Quary taking home the 2.5kg pudding. Guests could guess Shirley Westgarth favourite teddy bear, and Bev Bokye is the new proud owner.

The day started off with the Parkes Shire Concert Band playing some flowery tunes. “We are absolutely delighted,” said Norma and explained the money raised would go towards installing air conditioning for the church hall to make it more comfortable for the different groups using it.

When an individual takes that step to reach out for help and is met not by thin air, but by a human, the connection can be life changing. Sometimes all it takes is a warm welcome, a smiling face, and an ear that doesn’t judge. We know the power of the simplest connection.

Neighbourhood Centre Week, happening 30th April – 6th May 2018, is a nationwide initiative to celebrate the role of neighbourhood centres in the community. A common thread running through every Centre is their inclusive nature; anyone and everyone is welcome. This makes Neighbourhood Centres real hubs of their community, places where friendships are formed and nurtured, and where people of all ages and all walks of life can really feel that they belong.

Neighbourhood Central belongs to a nationwide network offering activities, programs and services that support social inclusion and address factors that can lead to social exclusion. The organisation is community-based, is funded by local, state and federal government, and covers many areas of service including; families and youth, meal services, home modification and maintenance, social support, home care packages, community transport, Indigenous support, NDIS disability support services and community visitor’s services; all delivered with a client centered approach.

Neighbourhood Central “connects the disconnected” because it creates opportunities for people, normally isolated or marginalised through life circumstances, to come together and build stronger bonds with the broader community.

This is achieved through volunteering, participating in an activity, being part of the leadership team or just making new friends. These social connections create the building blocks for strong, resilient communities that can handle community crises or support the most vulnerable families and children.

Last Saturday, over 2,000 people flocked to Parkes Regional Airport to watch the amazing air displays organised by the Parkes Aero Club to celebrate their 70th anniversary.

There was some slight concern for the weather after the dust storm on the Friday evening, however Saturday turned out to be a beautiful, sunny day, if only a little too windy at times. “We were very fortunate, the gods were with us,” said Warwick Tom, club member and one of the event organisers.

“We are tickled pink, it was such a good crowd,” said Warwick. “The flying displays were great.” The flying program opened with a parachute jump conveying the Australian flag, then the RAAF Roulettes performed formation aerobatics, wowing the audience with their daring and polished flying feats. Further aerobatic displays in a variety of aircraft continued until 2.30pm, including Paul Bennet in the Wolf Pitts Pro.

Aside from the air shows, there were also on-ground displays of antique cars and aircraft, as well as information booths, food stalls and attractions for children including a jumping castle. The HARS Museum was a popular attraction for families, community groups and aircraft aficionados, with a variety of historic aircraft set up in the field beside the hangar, allowing people to board and inspect them.

“We had lots of support. The event went well because of the number of supporters, including the Royal Australian Air Force Roulettes, Paul Bennet Airshows, the Parkes Aviation Museum & Historical Aircraft Restoration Society, as well as the cooperation of the Parkes Shire Council and other event partners,” said Erik Lensson, President of the Club.

If you’re interested in learning to fly an aeroplane, contact the Parkes Aero Club to discuss the possibility of trying a Trial Instructional Flight. Visit the website at http://www.parkesaero.com.au/ or check out the Facebook group.

A group of approximately 300 people gathered at the CSIRO Parkes Radio Telescope last Friday night to enjoy Dinner Under the Blue Dish, an event organised by Currajong Autism & Special Needs Group. The event was inspired by the annual global initiative that bathes iconic landmarks and structures around the world in blue light to support and celebrate World Autism Awareness Month.

“The night far exceeded our expectations,” said Angela Wilson, co-founder of the group. “It was such a lovely evening, people were very relaxed and enjoyed spending time with their family.”

“There was such a fantastic atmosphere. We had live music playing, and the astronomical society set up their telescopes for people to have a look at the night sky,” said Angela. The Parkes Observatory Visitors Centre also stayed open for the evening.

“The number of people that turned up for dinner at the Dish Café took Craig a bit by surprise, although he had put on plenty of staff. People were lined up out the door for much of the night.” Some people chose to dine inside the café, while others spread out on the lawn on picnic rugs and chairs.

The raffle raised a total of $927.55 for the Currajong Autism & Special Needs Group, which will be put towards a free family fun day for families with children with special needs, in Term 4 this year.

“As the event went so well, we hope to do it again next year,” said Angela.

The Parkes Aquatic Centre (PAC) held its very first Easter Egg Hunt last Sunday. A herd of children of all ages roamed the waters and grounds of the centre in search for Easter Egg goodness.

The fun kicked off at 11am with the kids over 6 years of age being sent to the ‘big pool’ to chase after balloons that may, or may not, have held an Easter Egg surprise. The kids 6-years-old and under were directed to search the grounds for pipe cleaners, which were taken up to the canteen to be exchanged for a paper bag full of Easter goodies.

Once the Easter Eggs had been found and, in some cases, gobbled up very quickly, the families spread around under trees to relax and have a picnic lunch or a barbecue. As it was quite warm, many were taking advantage of the shade under the trees. It was wonderful to see the kids slathered in sunscreen and wearing their shirts and hats.

At 12pm the inflatable slide was set up, a popular attraction for kids of all sizes and ages, even some of the big, big kids. Some shenanigans, a bit of mischief, and a lot of fun ensued.

“The event was a great success,” said Nikki. “It was fantastic to see everyone come down to celebrate Easter.” Sunday was also the Parkes Aquatic Centre (PAC)’s last day open for this season. It will open again in October 2018.

By Lisa Ramsay

With a crew of 18, Parkes firefighters have found the quarters at their 94-year-old fire station a little tight, especially when getting dressed for a call-out. Thankfully, after an extensive search to find a site for the new fire station, the NSW Government has been able to purchase the block that sits behind the current fire station, on Hill Street. The NSW Government’s 2017-18 Budget included a further $150,000 for the purchase of the land, following a $250,000 investment in the 2016-17 budget.

Troy Grant, Minister for Emergency Services, visited Parkes last Wednesday to announce the purchase. “I’m extremely proud the NSW Government is investing in the safety of our region by providing our firefighters with the latest equipment and resources,” Mr Grant said.

“Our firefighters do an extraordinary job, often under enormous pressure and a new fire station will give firefighters in Parkes the facilities they need to continue their vital work for generations to come.”

The design and initial ground works for the new FRNSW station are planned to commence later this year with the project expected to be completed in 2019. Parkes Captain, Craig Gibson, expressed his hope that the existing heritage building may be kept, and the space perhaps utilised for a meeting room, as well as a museum.

“The new Parkes station will be state-of-the-art and designed to ensure our firefighters are fit and ready to do their job effectively,” Mr Grant said.

Soon you will be able to sit anywhere in the Parkes Little Theatre and have a clear view of the stage, thanks to new tiered seating being installed later this year.

The Little Theatre, with the help of Parkes Shire Council, has been successful in obtaining funding for the seating upgrade and refurbishment through the Stronger Country Communities Fund (SCCF), as announced by Rick Colless, Parliamentary Secretary for Western NSW last Monday.

“The theatre will undergo a major upgrade with the installation of a raked floor and theatre style plush seating, including specialised plans for mobility impaired and bariatric patrons,” said Lyn Townsend, President of the Parkes Musical and Dramatic (M&D Society. As the construction in the theatre will impact on the foyer of the theatre, it too will require refurbishment. The grant has allocated $162,000 to the project, with the expectation of up to $250,000 to be spent on the theatre, with Parkes Shire Council contributing the excess funds.

A works coordinator at the Council has been appointed to oversee the project, with tenders soon to be sent out to prospective contractors. Construction will start on 1st July, following the season of Motherhood the Musical.

The Council is anticipating completion of construction by early spring. “The Society will perform a gala concert series in the last two weeks of October to celebrate the upgrade, recognising the magical musical moments at The Little Theatre over the past 17 years,” said Lyn.

By Lisa Ramsay

Trundle might be best known for its annual ABBA Festival, but it is expected to become synonymous with paragliding after the highly successful and first ever ground towing competition in Australia held there this week.

The Wings Out West Competition saw a total of 35 pilots took to the abundance of air space over the four-day event with Paul Kimber from NSW claiming the first place. He was followed by Dave Gibbs from Queensland and in third place was Stephen Noble from NSW. Erica Caro from New Zealand took out the women’s category.

“It was a great event for pilots new to competition, as well as a challenge for the more experienced pilots,” said organiser John Brassil.

Pilots flew over 7,000km with many setting personal records in tremendous flyingconditions. According to co-organiser Phillip Mansell from Dubbo, they were overwhelmed with how many pilots either recorded their highest, furthest or longest flight.

For many of the pilots it was their first experience of Central West NSW and doing ground tow paragliding. “Most competitions start with a foot launch from a hill,” said Phillip. “We’ve had such positive feedback that we are definitely looking into making it an annual event.”

John thanked the local community for “their unbelievable hospitality, especially the assistance from the Kelly family”. He said the dinner and bush dance hosted by the Trundle community was a highlight. “The hit dance was Winds of Trundle, a variation on the popular Waves of Bondi.”

By Maggi Barnard

Two Parkes men are on a mission to help save other women’s lives after they lost a very important person in their lives on Christmas Eve.

Joel and Talan formed Team Breaden last month and shaved their heads on Monday in memory of their mother and mother-inlaw, Leanne Breaden. Leanne, also known as Maggie and former Principal of Parkes Public School, lost her 13-month battle with ovarian cancer in December last year.

“We have been overwhelmed with the response from Parkes residents, friends and family who have helped us raise more than $7,000 in just over three weeks,” said Talan. The amazing response from the community quickly wiped out their targets of how short they would cut their hair, and on Monday their trendy hairstyles landed on the floor of Adele’s Salon when Adele Hawke used number 0 to give them a buzz cut.

As Leanne looked on with her familiar smile from a framed photo on the counter, Talan went first under Adele’s razor. It is the fact that Leanne, like so many others with ovarian cancer, was not diagnosed until it had spread throughout her abdomen, that has encouraged Joel and Talan to raise funds for the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation (OCRF).

“There are too many similar stories, and that’s why we’re raising money to help find an early detection test, and to create awareness among women of the signs and symptoms,” said Talan. “Everyone has a mum, sister, aunt or cousin.

Less than 30% of women diagnosed at a late stage will survive more than five years.” Leanne was diagnosed in late 2016 and underwent chemotherapy and major surgery, only to have the cancer return almost immediately with a terminal diagnosis.

Joel said they hoped to reach $10,000 and planned to hold two fun days in the near future. The donation line on the everydayhero website will stay open until August. If you would like to support their cause, go to www.everydayhero.com.au pop into Adele’s Salon or at any of the local schools where there are collection envelopes.

Parkes Public School joined the challenge this week with a mufti day and gold coin collection in support of Team Breaden.

By Maggi Barnard