Parkes Shire Concert Band (PSCB) thanks Liz MacRaild for her music friendship and great committee work over the past eight years of her membership.

Liz started playing the oboe about 15 years ago when she was in her 50s. She was inspired by spending time around Orange Regional Conservatorium (ORC) while her daughter Bron was learning and playing bassoon and tenor sax in orchestras and big bands.

When she saw other adult learners playing, she thought she would give it a go too. Liz had never played any instrument at school, and couldn’t read music when she started. She found there was a lot to learn but it was great fun. She enjoyed three years playing with ORC. 

Liz joined PSCB not long after moving from Orange eight years ago. She found it was a great way to be able to get to know the community. She was involved in three shows with the Parkes M&D, and the Lachlan Community Orchestra. Liz said she always enjoyed the outside performances. 

PSCB rehearses Tuesdays during school term at 6:30pm (learners), and 7-9pm (band) at the Music Room above the Parkes Pool. 

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet announced a joint Commonwealth and State Government disaster recovery package this week, which includes $50,000 Small Business Grants. 

“We congratulate both the Federal and State Governments for moving so swiftly to ensure the Small Business Grant is announced and launched and we are particularly pleased to see that the first $25,000 will be paid out quickly” said Vicki Seccombe, Regional Director – Western NSW, Business NSW. 

“Central West businesses are incredibly resilient but these floods have really affected so many businesses and these grants will provide them with the support they need to get the doors back open and running.” 

Forbes Floods Donations and Help 

Forbes Shire Council has set up a GIVIT donation page to match you up with people who need help. If you want to donate go to www.givit.org.au/donate-items. If you need help call 1300 585 054 or email givit@forbes.nsw.gov.au 

Service NSW 

If you need to replace your licence, birth, death or marriage certificates after the flood, Service NSW has set up a mobile service in the Lawler Street car park to immediately help residents. This service will be available from 9am – 4pm until today (Friday) and will then be in the Recovery Assistance hub in the Town Hall concourse from Monday. 

Nominations are now open for the 2023 Parkes Shire Council Community, Cultural, Environmental and Sports Awards, and the Ron Harrison Sports Bursary.

“This has been hard for everyone in many ways, not least with the recent flood disaster. The amazing response shown has proved just how many local heroes are in our community,” said Parkes Shire Mayor Cr Ken Keith OAM.

The annual Australia Day Awards are designed to publicly acknowledge and reward the marvellous contributions citizens and groups make on a local level and encourage others to follow their lead. The awards cover the 2022 calendar year to date and will be announced at the Australia Day Awards ceremony in January 2023. 

This year, all nominations must be made online via Council’s website. If you need any assistance with completing the nomination form, please visit the team at the Parkes Library & Culture Centre. Entries close on 5th December.

This year the Cultural Award categories have changed to encourage a wider variety of recipients eligible for nomination, and will include the following categories: Performance Award, Literacy Award, Visual Arts Award and Cultural Lifetime Achievement Award.

The Community Awards recognise outstanding community contribution in three categories: Adult Citizen; Young Citizen; Individuals or a Community Group for an event. 

The Environmental Award recognises an individual or group contributing to our environmental preservation or advancing environmental awareness within the Shire.

The Sports Awards recognise outstanding sporting groups and individuals in the Parkes Shire in eight categories.

The winning images of the first Biodiversity in Focus photography competition were by (L-R) Flynn Davis, Peggy Swift and Cooper Holloway.

Parkes Shire Council was overwhelmed with the number of photos entered for the inaugural Biodiversity in Focus photography competition.

A broad range of fauna and flora were included in the total of 57 images submitted by students across the Infants, Primary and Secondary categories.

To select winners in each division, local naturalists Peter Cannon and Martin Bell from the Lachlan Valley Branch of the National Parks Association of NSW, were asked to judge the entries. 

“We were impressed with the quality of photography and the selection of interesting and diverse subject matter,” said Martin.

“We understand that, unfortunately, there can only be one winner from each division. Nevertheless, all the entrants should be congratulated on some fine photography.”

Winners: Infants: “Bluey the Blue Tongue” by Flynn Davis. Flynn said: “It was crossing the road to the football field, and we wanted to make sure it got across safely. It had a really beautiful light blue tongue.” Primary: “Hang in there” by Peggy Swift. Peggy said: “This Peron’s Tree Frog (Litoria peronii) is a native frog to the Parkes area. It’s also known as the Laughing Tree Frog. It has cross-shaped eyes, emerald spots and yellow armpits.” Secondary: “A Curious Owl” by Cooper Holloway. Cooper said: “This Eastern Barn Owl was perched up in a Kurrajong tree on our farm.”

Runners-up: Infants: “Broken Heart Tree surrounded by Yellow Paperdaisy” by Jayda Francis; Primary: “Yellow Paper Daisy with a Bull Ant” by Chase Francis; Secondary: “Land of the Shrooms” by Adam Barnard.

Honourable mentions: Brydee Flavel, Flynn Davis, Joey Hazelton, Saige Jelbart, Alexis Lewis, Bradley Lewis, Charlotte Ballantyne, Emma Hando, Jenson Howard, Rosie Parkin, Samara Wood, Peggy Swift, Cooper Holloway, Haylee Lewis and Lilia Howard.

Budding photographers are encouraged to keep their eyes peeled for interesting plants, fungi and animals to enter in next year’s competition.

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

Supported by the Parkes Shire Council, the scholarship offers local students funding for their tertiary studies. 

“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 are also eligible to apply.” 

The late Jack Scoble MBE, OAM was Mayor of Parkes from 1966 to 1979.

Applicants must be: Residents of Parkes Shire who have completed the Higher School Certificate at either a school in the shire, or outside of the shire as non-boarding students; Entering their first year of full-time university studies either immediately after graduating high school, or after a gap period of no longer than 24 months; Undertaking a course of study that will offer a benefit to the rural community.

Guidelines and application forms are available at www.parkes.nsw.gov.au/living-here/your-community/education/scholarships/ 

Applications close on 20th January 2023 at 10am.