General Interest Archives - Page 131 of 352

Trent Is Our Winner For May

June 17, 2022 By Maggi Barnard

Trent Wright is the winner of the Tradie of the Month Competition for May. Trent is the owner of Outback Windows, Doors & More. He was very happy with his prize sponsored by Totally Work Wear, which he received from the store manager Laura O’Shannessy. Congratulations Craig and we hope you enjoy your prize!

Send us your nominations for the June competition to us by email: editor@parkesphoenix.com.au stating the tradie’s name and workplace, or drop your nomination in at TWW. The closing date for this month’s nominations is Friday, 26th June.

Auditions For Mock Crash Youth Actors

June 17, 2022 By Maggi Barnard

The mock crash road safety initiative had seen a 27% reduction in crashes involving young drivers since its inception more than 10 years ago. Amateur actors are invited to audition for this year’s production.

The call is out for amateur youth actors over the age of 16 across the Parkes, Forbes and Lachlan Shires to star in this year’s NOT A STATISTIC! Youth Driver Education Program.

“We are looking for four new actors to join our team and are holding auditions on Wednesday, 22nd June from 4pm – 7pm at the Parkes SES shed in Clarke Street,” said Melanie Suitor, Road Safety and Injury Prevention Officer for the three councils.

She said this road safety initiative had seen a 27% reduction in crashes involving young drivers since its inception more than 10 years ago.

“The auditions will give participants an overview of all aspects of the project. The youth actors will take part in both filmed and live ab-lib exercises,” said Melanie.

Following two years of COVID disruption, this year’s mock crash is going to be developed into a training video. The video will replace the live mock crash demonstration for this year but will result in a resource which allows the program to be implemented in other areas and provides a back-up option for future years’ live demonstrations.

Pre-registration for the auditions is essential. Contact Melanie on 6861 2364 or Melanie.Suitor@parkes.nsw.gov.au for more information and to book your place.

A Sleep Out With No Electricity

June 10, 2022 By Maggi Barnard

Judy and Robert Shore will be sleeping out on 25th June to raise money for Shelterbox in support of homeless people.

Two Parkes residents will be braving the icy elements on 25th June by sleeping out to raise money for the homeless.

Parkes Rotary President Robert Shore and his wife Judy have taken on the #offthegrid fundraising challenge of the charity Shelterbox, which is supported by Rotary.

“We plan to sleep out at the Jemalong Weir, outside Forbes, without any electricity and electronic devices,” said Robert. They chose a site near a river to make it colder.

The public is invited to support Robert and Judy’s challenge by making a donation on the Shelterbox page https://offthegrid.raisely.com/donate

Shelterbox supports people affected by disasters around the world. Earlier in the year Parkes Rotary donated a ShelterBox in support of the devastation in Haiti. There are currently 113 million people who are homeless because of disaster and conflict. Over the next 20 years the situation is only going to get worse with an estimated 200 million people to be displaced by intensifying storms alone.

Be Out There This Long Weekend

June 10, 2022 By Maggi Barnard

The guest judges from Sydney Elizabeth Packchung and Dixie Coulton (left) are returning to Parkes for tomorrow’s Fashions on the Field at the Parkes Picnic Races. They are with Parkes Picnic Races committee chairman Tim Keith and 2021 winner of the Elegant Lady category Rachael Sladden from Parkes. (photo credit: Rochelle Frame)

The events calendar in the Parkes Shire is packed for this long weekend from sport to culture to socialising.

The annual Parkes Picnic Races returns tomorrow with a five-race program, full TAB and betting facilities, canteen and bar services, Fashions on the Field, plus live entertainment by local band Foxxy Cleopatra.

Elizabeth Packchung and Dixie Coulton from Sydney have returned for the second year as guest judges for Fashions on the Field. Entry is free for under 16s, and $20 for adults available online via 123Tix., Service NSW Dine & Discover vouchers accepted online. Gates open at 11:30am.

The Peak Hill Arts and Craft Exhibition returns for the 49th year, with a wonderful display of local arts and crafts, and other local delights, including Devonshire tea, homemade soups and more.

The official opening is tonight at 6pm at the Leisure Centre. The Leisure Centre and The Carrington will be open Saturday and Sunday from 9:30am to 4pm.

Sunday is the day for sporting fans when the Parkes Spacemen will meet rugby league rivals Forbes Magpies at Jock Colley Oval.

The Henry Parkes Centre is open all weekend from 10am to 3pm daily. One ticket gains access to The King’s Castle Elvis Exhibit and Parkes Motor Museum. Service NSW Discover vouchers can be redeemed to purchase tickets.

Yoga For Healing And Inspiration

June 10, 2022 By Maggi Barnard

A head-on car accident left Josephine Doyle in a world of pain at just 28 years old. Jo went to a back specialist who suggested surgery. “Having read many books on how the body has infinite intelligence to heal itself, the idea of having an operation on my spine was not an option,” said Jo.

A friend suggested yoga. Jo chose yoga and at 40 years old she healed her back completely from years of chronic pain. She now travels the country sharing her wisdom and inspiring people of all ages and all levels of fitness.

Jo will be presenting her popular Therapeutic Healthy Happy Hips and Lower Back Workshop on 17th and 18th June at Bushman’s Motor Inn at 6:30 to 9pm and 12:30 to 3pm respectively.

Jo’s workshops have students feeling empowered, pain free and invested with tools, exercises and pose variations to improve their bodies and their yoga practice.

The event is open to anyone and will be very hands-on to heal and strengthen the lower back and hips.

Jo’s teaching approach is unapologetically honest, sensitive, and humorous. Space is limited so to book your spot by texting Jo on 0418 999 768.

COVID Not A ‘Waste’ Of Time For Artists

June 10, 2022 By Maggi Barnard

COVID CREATIVES… The Waste to Art competition received 47 entries this year. Sonia Tilley’s Miss Poly Ethylene debutante ball gown won the open Functional category and Yearly Theme, while Erik Lensson won the Special Category- Scrap Metal for his entry Grace, and the Community 3D category and the new Packers Prize for Shovelback Yellowbill.

COVID touched many aspects of our lives over the past two years and even resulted in the creation of two of the winning entries in this year’s Waste to Art competition and exhibition.

Sonia Tilley’s plastic debutante ball gown creation called Miss Poly Ethylene not only won the open functional category, but was also the winner of the Yearly Theme – Soft Plastics. “I am over the moon,” said Sonia about her win. “I am a weaver and have never worked with plastic before, only natural materials. It was a big challenge.”

Sonia was part of the COVID response team and had to wear lots of plastic every day. “I wanted to make something beautiful from plastic.” For her first ever entry in the competition, Sonia used her weaving technique for the bodice made from black embossed plastic sheets she found at Parkes Bricks and Pavers, while the bottom part of the dress was made from clear, soft plastic made from polyethylene from Big W that is used to wrap around packaging boxes on pallets. She even used the plastic bar codes attached to the clear plastic to make bows for the gown.

Boredom during COVID saw Erik Lensson create two entries from garden shed junk. Shovelback Yellowbill (spadeus roostericus), his rare and endangered bird sculpture took out two prizes, and was inspired by a pair of magpies who would visit his house every day for breakfast. The magpies unfortunately succumbed during the mouse plague after eating poisoned mice, but Erik has rediscovered his artistic side hoping to make many more creations.

Que Club Looks After Children’s Hearing

June 10, 2022 By Pam Nankivell

Que member Pam Nankivell (left) and President Jeanine Boland (right) presented a $4,000 cheque to Collette Genet-Marks and Michelle Jelbart from Parkes Early Childhood Centre (PECC) for their hearing and speech program.

The Parkes Early Childhood Centre’s Collette Genet-Marks and Michelle Jelbart were as delighted to come along to Que Club’s recent meeting as were the members to have them there. Collette updated us on how PECC works to develop the confidence, social skills, listening ability, imagination and more of the children by loving care and play, so that when they begin school, they are ready to fly.

Michelle, who is the director of hearing and speech, outlined what she does testing every child for hearing and speech defects and guiding parents to professional help. While all newborns in Australia are hearing tested before they leave hospital, many young children get middle ear infections which can affect their hearing and speech. If these are not picked up by parents or teachers, they start way behind at school and may never catch up.

The Parkes Que Club has in recent years donated special sound field systems to classrooms in the Parkes Shire to aid hearing impaired children and their teachers, and has subsidid PECC’s program annually.

If you would like to ‘Join the Que’ or find out more about our work, follow us on Facebook or ring Pam on 0407 894 498.

By Pam Nankivell

Starting A Journey Of Understanding

June 10, 2022 By Maggi Barnard

Attending the National Reconciliation Week event at the Parkes Radio Telescope were at the back (L-R) Tricia Trim, Dr John Reynolds, George Heald, Peter Swanton, Ella Jablonskis, Myra Singh, Trevor Leaman, Tina Leaman and Stacy Mader. In front are (L-R) Karlie Noon, Rafael Florez and Tangyao Zhang.

The team at the CSIRO Parkes Radio Telescope celebrated National Reconciliation Week last Wednesday with a special program for the day.

Reconciliation is a journey for all Australians, and the team at The Dish took a small step last week to activate this journey of understanding.

The day started with a Welcome to Country Aunty Ronda and was followed by a talk on Indigenous Astronomy by Peter Swanton.

Peter is an astrophysics graduate from the Australian National University (ANU) and Gamilaraay/Yuwaalaraay man from Mackay, Queensland. He has been working closely with Dr Brad Tucker and Prof Brian Schmidt from the ANU looking into Dark Sky Parks for their cultural and scientific significance. Peter and fellow ANU astrophysics student Karlie Noon are actively involved in Aboriginal astronomy outreach at schools in Canberra and surrounding regions.

The second talk of the day titled Connection to Country (Parkes and surrounds) was by David Towney from Peak Hill. David was instrumental in the telescope receiving Indigenous names in 2020.

National Reconciliation Week is celebrated across Australia each year between 27th May and 3rd June. It is a time for all Austalians to learn about our shared histories, cultures and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia.

The dates commemorate two significant milestones in the reconciliation journey — the anniversaries of the successful 1967 referendum and the High Court Mabo decision.

By Maggi Barnard

Peter Swanton from the Australian National University delivered a talk on Indigenous Astronomy.

Paint Parkes Rhymingly…

June 10, 2022 By Maggi Barnard

Rhonda Brain (PTTR Creative Director), Shonel Redfern (Paint Parkes REaD committee member), Barbie Bates (PTTR Executive Director) and Robyne Harrison (NSW PTTR Co-ordinator) are looking forward to have the 9th National PTTR conference in Parkes next year.

The theme for this year’s annual Paint Parkes REaD Day is Rhymingly… traditional nursery rhymes, contemporary rhymes, ditties, and made-up rhymes!

The annual community reading day will take place on Friday, 26th August to celebrate literacy and spread the ‘read, talk, sing and rhyme to children from birth’ message to the community.

Schools and preschools will be doing craft and artwork based on the theme and create banners for the art exhibition at the Parkes Show.

Parkes is recognised as the town that knows how to stage a great reading day among the Paint The Town REaD (PTTR) communities.

Some more exciting news is that Parkes has been chosen to hold the 9th National Paint The Town REaD Conference in September next year with delegates coming from all over Australia. The conference will also mark the 25th anniversary since the first Parkes Community Reading Day, and a huge silver and red celebration will be held in conjunction with the Conference.

From Mohawks To Moustaches

June 3, 2022 By Maggi Barnard

STYLING FOR CHARITY… Just Cuts stylists with Outback Car Trek drivers and locals at the Metropolitan Hotel Cut-a-Rama last year in West Wyalong.

Bold hairstyles and charity are a popular combination to raise funds for a good cause, and Saturday night brings a great opportunity for Parkes residents to support the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS).

The annual Just Cuts Cut-a-Rama night is coming to Parkes this year to kick off the Outback Car Trek and raise funds for the RFDS.

Just Cuts Stylists will service trek participants and the public from 7pm at the Coachman Hotel Motel, creating bold styles for the drivers before they begin their seven-day journey.

Driving a wide range of older model vehicles, participants in the Outback Car Trek will depart Parkes on Sunday morning and arrive at Hervey Bay in Qld on 11th June.

Since 1998, Just Cuts clients and stylists have raised over $500,000 for the RFDS through the annual Cut-a-Rama event and donation boxes in over 190 salons Australia-wide.

Just Cuts founder Denis McFadden is looking forward to his 22nd Cut-a-Rama, and is calling on the people of Parkes to join the fun and support the cause.

“From Mohawks to moustaches and grandparents to kids, Just Cuts stylists do it all for the Doctor,” said Denis.

“People in regional communities can live hours and hours from medical care. The RFDS are the GPs of regional Australia, with a waiting room that spans millions of kilometres.”

Outback Car Trek 2022 route will go from Parkes to Nyngan, White Cliffs, Cameron Corner, Thargomindah, Augathella, Taroom and Hervey Bay.

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