The disappointment of cancelling the QUE Club’s major International Women’s Day (IWD) event was turned into an opportunity to celebrate Australian fashion designers at the March meeting.

Although IWD is a call to action to empower women, it is also a global celebration of women’s achievements on all levels, social, economic, cultural and political. Members enjoyed a presentation by Wendy Neville honouring the many Australian women of fashion including Carla Zampatti, Jenny Kee, Leona Edmiston, Lisa Ho, Anthea Crawford, Collette Dinnigan and more. Their histories were discussed, while several of members were brave enough to model clothes from previous decades.

While IWD was officially celebrated on Tuesday, Parkes women were treated to a program of pampering on Sunday at the Cooke Park Pavilion.

The day started with a very well attended movement and awareness session by Jen Harris followed by free coffee, live music and pop-up stalls.

This year’s theme for IWD was #BreakTheBias, with the focus on empowering women to forge their own path.

Some of the issues tackled by the NSW Women’s Week under the theme were increasing women’s financial independence, more opportunities for regional and rural women and promoting careers for women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

By Maggi Barnard

Ronda Sharpe at the Henry Parkes Museum with her beautifully crafted art works.

Threads of the past were invoked at a recent weaving workshop held at the Henry Parkes Museum. Ronda Sharpe, a local Wiradjuri environmental artist, conducted a weaving workshop to introduce local community members to this art form.

On display were a considerable number of original woven art works created by Ronda and two stunning, woven artefacts from the museum’s collection. Ronda is working closely with the museum, assisting with the cataloguing of exhibits in textiles and First Nations’ artefacts.

The workshop began with a presentation by Ronda, outlining her journey into weaving. Her original interest was sparked when she began embracing her heritage and First Nations’ culture through experimentation with weaving, using data cables. Since then, her interest has blossomed with Ronda embarking on many studies culminating in achieving her Masters of Visual Arts from Griffith University in Queensland. She has participated in group and solo exhibitions, facilitated workshops and been involved in several professional development projects.

She has a strong connection to Country and believes in respecting and working with nature by looking at and listening to what nature is showing us. ‘Being on Wiradjuri country allows me to connect to my ancestors and Mother Earth who provides me with natural grasses and inspiration.

“My journey of creating contemporary fibre artworks that represent Wiradjuri cultural artefacts, and ‘Yindyamarra’ (respect) for Mother Earth, is evolving.”

Not only does Ronda use natural fibres in her work but she is passionate about recycling, creating ways to use a wide variety of off-cast materials. She has made statement works from coloured electrical and electronic cords and plugs, a large wall weaving using optical cables and aluminium rings, representing Wiradjuri Country and a delicate sphere from spectacles, highlighting the fragility of Mother Earth.

Wherever she travels, Ronda is committed to cleaning up the environment, reusing and recycling whatever she can. Consequently, she collects a range of items and then challenges herself to find creative ways of using the ‘saved’ pieces.

With the workshop being presented in an atmosphere of generous sharing and calmness, participants found the weaving process very relaxing and several left with completed works. From the same starting point, it was amazing to see the variety of shapes and items that emerged, from different shaped baskets to sculptures incorporating emu feathers.

By Kerrie Peden

Charlie and the team at Parkes Coffee Pot clocked up 10 years of participation in the ‘Free Cuppa for the Driver’ scheme last year.

Ten businesses from across the Parkes, Forbes and Lachlan Shire Council joined the ‘Free Cuppa for the Driver’ scheme that started on Tuesday and will run until 31st May. A total of almost 70 businesses from across regional NSW have signed up for the scheme in its 12th year.

Drivers who are more than 100km away from home can get a free cup of tea or coffee at the participating businesses.

Since 2010, the scheme has seen more than 27,000 free cuppas given away in 265 participating businesses across 91 towns, villages and cities in regional NSW. During that time NSW fatigue-related crashes have fallen by 19%.

Café Eighteen73 in Parkes and the Tullibigeal Co-Operative are the new businesses to join this year. The Parkes Shire businesses taking part this year are Café Eighteen73 and Parkes Coffee Pot, BP Tullamore and Casho’s.

The ‘Free Cuppa’ website, freecuppa.com.au, allows drivers to search for the nearest participating business. There is also a Facebook page with information.

After a kidney transplant Zackhary Gadsby received a second chance at life and he is making the most of every day, and enjoying surprises like going on a helicopter flight.

In March 2015 my son Zackhary Gadsby went to the doctor with a rash and came out with a rare double kidney disease –one in 50,000 people get it.

We were told to be prepared for the worst, but we weren’t ready for what came next. He needed a transplant after three years, went on dialysis, had a fistula operation, there were multiple 000 calls, and we almost lost him a few times due to infections.

We received a call on 10th December 2018 with the news that a 19-year-old from Sydney had passed away. If his family had not donated his organs my son would not be alive today.

It was the most amazing Christmas gift any family could have hoped for. After a gruelling seven-hour operation, my son made it through as the donor was a 100% match.

We had to stay for four weeks in Westmead away from family and friends, but lots of phone calls, and the amazing care from Westmead helped us stay strong.

He is now living on medication, and we make the most of every day as not knowing when this disease could take my son away from me is a mother’s worst nightmare.

Spending time together is precious, like when Zackhary went on a surprise helicopter ride. Just to see the smile on his face was fantastic, but when he got to sit up front with the pilot I was overcome with tears of joy.

He now has a second chance at life, and being a teenager, he is making the most of this chance. My message to everyone is to never take life for granted and to make the most of every day. Love those around you, never stay angry at others because one day it might be too late.

We could not have done this without my partner Wayne Mills, our family and our friends in Parkes. We will be grateful forever for your support.

By Virginia Dufill

The Parkes Shire Concert Band (PSCB) was excited to start the year with a performance at the Australia Day ceremony at the new Cooke Park Pavilion. How fortunate is our community to have this amazing venue! We are looking forward to be part of Overture on 2nd April It is going to be huge so make sure you come along and enjoy this wonderful night under the stars with the big stars!

A few band members are playing in the next Parkes M&D musical called Big. It is going be a fantastic show, so make sure you see it and support your local theatre.

It does not matter at what level you can play or if you used to play an instrument or would like to learn, please come along and sit in on one of our rehearsals. If you would like to be part of community music, come along too.

Our next community playouts are:
• 19th March Packed Cones 11am-12pm;
• 2nd April Overture 3pm – 4pm;
• 9th April Canowindra Balloon Festival (combining with other bands in the street parade);
• 23rd April Elvis Street Parade;
• 25th April Anzac Day Ceremony.

Our rehearsal time is on Tuesdays from 7 – 9pm during school term above the pool complex in Dalton Street. Contact Duncan Clement, PSCB Music Director on email duncanclement@hotmail.com or call 0405 035 164.

By Ellen Tom