The year 1994 was significant for many reasons. 

At the movies we were watching the Shawshank Redemption and Forrest Gump. As a country we were celebrating our first medal at a Winter Olympics, and in Parkes we were getting ready to celebrate the second Elvis Festival. 

But most significant for Parkes was a visit by HRH Prince Charles on 27th January. Quite the crowd had rallied to catch a glimpse of the Prince on Bushman’s Hill, the site of the first gold mine in Parkes. 

After a stirring rendition of the National Anthem by Angelique Symington, proceedings lent themselves to a potted history of Parkes. And what better way to re-tell this than through a skit. Members of the local Musical & Dramatic Society rose to the occasion with Warwick Tom being cast as Sir Henry Parkes himself, John Short as an inebriated miner and Jenny Hawke as his wife. The cast being ably directed by the late Lizzie Matthews. 

The skit was to be performed on a temporary stage with the players entering from stage left and leaving stage right. 

To add a little veracity to his role, John had purchased a small flask of brandy and poured a little over himself, carrying the remainder in the pocket of his waistcoated costume. He decided it simply wasn’t believable that he would enter the stage from the same side as his ‘wife’, so he ducked around the back of the stage to enter from the opposite side. 

And that is where everything turned to custard! 

The security detail were still a little anxious from the previous day when a would-be assassin had run on to the stage in Sydney with a fake pistol and waved it at the Prince before being rugby tackled to the ground by the then Premier, the late John Fahey. When met with John reeking of booze and being somewhere he wasn’t supposed to be they said: “And where do you think you are going Sunshine?” 

John responded that he was about to go onto stage to perform a skit, the two burley security detail responded with “Well no one told us about that” and with one either side of him the beleaguered actor was frog-marched up the hill to an awaiting Police van. 

Fortunately, a nearby local had caught sight of the entire episode and alerted Lizzie. 

In her signature style of utter fearlessness, she bolted up the hill in hot pursuit, calling for them to stop. She was able to explain the situation and John was returned. 

Meanwhile, John’s ‘leading lady’, Jenny Hawke, was working herself into quite a frenzy not knowing where John was. She went on without him making it up as she went along. Her relief when John finally stumbled onto the stage was palpable. 

The skit continued without further incident with the crowd knowing nothing of the incident until Lizzie later apologised for the delay, but that an attempt had been made to arrest John. There was a gentle ripple of mirth through the assembled crowd before, as they say the show went on. 

Later, when fortunate enough to speak with the Prince, he shared a joke with John commenting that he was indeed in good company as Sir Barry Humphries had been ‘arrested’ in a similar fashion during a performance for the Prince. 

The 27th of January 1994 will long remain in the memory of all involved. 

By Jenny Short 

A joyful, happy meeting of Que ladies last week signalled the return of near normality to our community though we are all well aware of the need to continue hand washing, reasonable distancing and testing for Covid at the slightest symptom. And what a great night it was. 

It was a great night starting with Vice-president Ann-Marie Wynter installing three new members: Janene Dwyer, Heather Harvey and Joanne Burke. 

We had a wonderful, unexpected visitor. Parkes Olympian Mariah Williams swept into the room, demonstrating her hockey stick skills. She told us how much she had enjoyed the recent Commonwealth Games. She also prepared a quiz on the games for us and brought back prizes for the winners. 

We were absolutely delighted with the wonderful prizes from London, ranging from a box of Twinings tea bags to the booby prize of a jar of wholesome English mustard. 

Mariah was not the only hockey star to be applauded on the night, we had a special acknowledgement of our own member, Fran Dixon, who is in Cairns this week to play in the NSW Blues over 65 masters hockey team. We wished Fran and her team the best of luck at the Australian Championships. 

The guest speaker at our October meeting will be Fiona Sanderson, deputy principal of Trundle Central School, to tell members about the benefits of the sound systems we have supplied to them. 

Que continues to welcome new members and their new ideas. Que does great work in the community but always with great fellowship and fun. Want to know more? You can see us on Facebook or ring me on 0407 894 498. 

By Pam Nankivell 

A Parkes resident has taken on a very unique role in our age of virtual communication. 

Gail Richardson last month became president of the P & C Committee of the Aurora College, the first virtual school in NSW. 

Parkes High School is one of 160 schools that offer Aurora lessons to more then 600 students across the state. 

The college offer high potential and gifted students a mix of online and residential school classes in an innovative and flexible learning environment. 

“It is amazing that students are given this opportunity,” said Gail. “As a single mum I could not afford to send my daughter to a boarding school in Sydney. Aurora enables her to stay at home, remain part of the community and with her friends.” 

The Aurora P & C was formed about two years ago and last month Gail was voted in as president for the new term. “It is a huge honour to be part of the most unique P &C in the state.” 

She said the P & C aims to support parents to help their children with their studies by offering webinars and other support. “All our meetings are virtual and the students can participate too.” They have about 50 parents who attend and she would like to see it grow to at least one parent per student. 

The Aurora subjects offered to students at Parkes High are maths, English and science. They do their lessons online and also attend residential camps twice per year, which are subsidised. “I applaud this initiative. It is just brilliant and such a great opportunity for country kids to reach their full potential,” said Gail. 

By Maggi Barnard

The Australian branch of the Graham Owners Club International paid a visit to the Central West last week.

You might have noticed the 11 antique cars on the road as they visited several tourist attractions in the region. They visited the Henry Parkes Museum, the Visitors Information Centre and the Elvis Collection last Monday and had lunch at the Parkes Radio Telescope. In Forbes they went to the McFeeters Motor Museum and visited Ben Hall’s grave. They also visited Eugowra, Peak Hill, Trundle and Bogan Gate.

Last Saturday locals had the opportunity to see all the cars at the Parkes Racecourse where they were on exhibition.

The members of the Graham Owners Club are dedicated to the preservation and restoration of all Graham built vehicles and to the bringing together, in good fellowship, of those who admire them.

Parkes resident Norma Garment never imagined the flowers she picked in her friend’s garden would end up in the hands of Queen Elizabeth II.

Norma and her husband travelled to Bourke when they heard the Queen was going to open the Nancy Bird-Walton Airport on 22nd March 2000.

“I decided to pick some yellow Tecoma flowers before we went to line up. It was a long wait with lots of security checks and speeches.

She said when the Queen came closer it looked like she was coming towards them. “There were some nuns standing near us, and I thought she was going to talk to them, but then she came straight to me and took my flowers. She shook my hand and the Duke shook my hand!”

Norma was so overwhelmed by the moment that she could not remember if anything was said. “All I can remember is that I was like a Cheshire cat afterwards!”

Norma’s love for the Royal family comes from her mum who was a big Royalist. “I saw the Queen for the first time when my mum took our family from Tamworth to Newcastle for the 1954 visit.”

ROYAL CORRESPONDENCE

Norma is also a member of the St George-on-Panorma Home Group in Parkes. “We started in 2006 and are a group of 15 women who meet weekly for Bible study, prayer and friendship. We are also all Royalists,” said Norma.

The group has a tradition of sending cards of support, sympathy, encouragement or congratulations to whoever might need it. When Prince George was born in 2013 one of them had the idea of sending a card of congratulations.

They never expected to receive anything back, but a few months later a card came from the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge with a photo of the couple and baby George.

“It was such a thrill to get a letter back,” said group member Betty Somers, who managed to find the right address for their card.

This spurred them on to send more letters and cards for big occasions in the Royal Family’s life, and every time they’ve received a response.

The one letter they are particularly proud of is dated 21st October 2015 and it said: “The Queen wishes me to thank you for the message you have sent on the occasion of Her Majesty becoming the longest reigning Monarch in British history.”

Alison Grady: My father Jack Scoble (Mayor of Parkes 1960 to 1979) met her in Orange in 1970 and had a conversation with her. He commented on how easy she was to talk to, saying that she thought the children would be happy with her visit as it gave them a day off school.

Graham Nash: I travelled to Orange to see her when she visited in 1970. It was all very flag-waving exciting for a small boy and the Queen came close enough that I could have reached out and touched her. I clearly remember she had a lovely green-yellow dress and hat, and that I was somewhat disappointed by the lack of a crown.

John Wakefield: I remember going on the train to Dubbo with the Parkes schools to see her during her first visit to Australia.

Joan Fletcher: I was on the train with school friends in early primary school. I remember standing in the hot sun for ages till a car drove through and we had a two-second glimpse of the Queen and Prince Phillip.

Fred Deeks: I travelled by train to Broken Hill with my school in 1954, and waved as her motorcade passed by.

Gael Adams-Wright: I saw the Queen in Canberra in 1961. We travelled from boarding school in Goulburn. I was only 11 and started crying.

Richard Miche: My mom Lila (Kingham) Miche met my dad (an American farm ex-change student) at the show in Dubbo as they were preparing competing club exhibits next to each other. She was from Parkes and he was staying with a family in Forbes. She was introduced to the Queen when she viewed the exhibition.

Christine Moldrich: I was born in Parkes but left when I was 18. I met the Queen just prior to the Sydney Olympics with some of my students who were in the Olympic Ambassador Program. Very moving as she looked exactly like my grandmother.

Lesley Crowe: My parents met the Queen on Friday, 24th March 1954 at Red Cliffs, Victoria. Proudly watched with family members to see them up the dias when dad’s cousin made a presentation to the Queen.