The library welcomes Kim Colbourne to our team. Kim moved from Western Australia to Parkes to take up the position of Team Leader. As well as Kim being new, we have many of the latest releases of books, DVDs, CDs, Talking Books and magazines. If you are staying home during the cold winter months make sure to access our extensive online collections at My Online Library.

FRIDAY FLICKS

Our next movie will be on today, 6th August at 6pm. Come and enjoy a 2020 British comedy-drama based on true events. Tickets are free for library members but bookings are essential so call 6861 2309 to book your seat!

STOP, DROP & ROLL – YOUTH GAMES GROUP

Want to make new friends? Learn something new? Or just have some fun? Come along to Stop, Drop and Roll, the Parkes Shire Library youth games group for young people aged 13-25. It runs on the second Friday of the month from 4-6pm in the Marramarra Makerspace Studio at Parkes Library. Bookings are essential and spaces limited.

JUNIOR MINDBENDERS SOCIETY

Challenge your mind and book in for this four-week program. This after school fun program is for primary aged students Year 3-6 every Wednesday from 4th to 24th August from 4-5pm. Bring a parent/guardian with you to Parkes Library to register.

OLYMPIANS OF THE PARKES SHIRE

Don’t forget to drop in and see our continuing displays of Olympians of the Parkes Shire. We have curated a display in partnership with the Henry Parkes Museum to honour the Olympians who at some stage in their life called Parkes Shire home. This week hockey players Stephen Davies and Mariah Williams are on display.

The reality of COVID-19 has claimed another community event and the planned return to the CBD for the staging of the Parkes Community Reading Day had to be cancelled.

The day will continue though with another in-school celebration, which is the safest and most confident way to go. Whilst the PAINT PARKES REaD (PPR) committee members were disappointed, they quickly turned the discussion to positivity and creativity with the input from Parkes M & D Society members, Lisa Ramsey and Gail Smith, for a great day of reading on 10th September.

PPR Coordinator Shonel Redfern, and mentor Rhonda Brain, expressed their appreciation for the ongoing support of the Parkes community in celebrating literacy and spreading the vital message of READ, SING, TALK, RHYME to your children from birth to Kindergarten.

As for gussing who the mystery person was dressed as the Cat in the Hat. The person proved to be too mysterious, and no one made a correct guess, but Lorraine Chambers’ name was drawn from the entries.

The identity of the person: Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley, wife of the Governor General, and Patron of PAINT THE TOWN REaD. Rhonda said: “She is a wonderful patron, so committed to our cause, hands-on and a great sport.” The photo was taken at the 8th PTTR National Conference in Sydney in May.

Forty volunteers turned up on Sunday for National Tree Day to plant 320 trees and shrubs at Akuna Road.

The planting site will provide important Fuzzy Box Woodland habitat and further connectivity on the site that is part of a larger Parkes Shire Council project to utilise the retired water treatment ponds.

The wind and rain held off for the tree planting event, while volunteers abided by COVID-19 guidelines to ensure the event could go ahead.

“It was wonderful to have so many volunteers of all age groups,” said Marg Applebee of Central West Lachlan Landcare. “There was definitely a feeling of positivity in the air amongst volunteers which made for an enjoyable day.”

Parkes Mayor Ken Keith and Cr Louise O’Leary also joined the planting effort. “National Tree Day provides a fantastic opportunity for Parkes Shire residents to make a personal difference through positive, on-ground environmental action,” said the Mayor.

“It was wonderful to see so many volunteers show up, and their efforts to plant over 320 native trees and shrubs was greatly appreciated by Council.”

“It was a great day,” said volunteer Geoff Anderson, who came with his grandchildren.

“Central West Lachlan Landcare appreciates being able to work in partnership with Parkes Shire Council Staff to deliver the event,” said Marg.

Parkes photographer Marc Payne has received another feather in his cap with international recognition for two more of his images.

Marc received two honourable mentions in the third edition of the Minimalist Photography Awards, less than a month after his portrait study of Dustin Howearth was named in the top 101 portrait photographs of the year.

Marc received his honourable mention in the Long Exposure category for a photo he took at Nelson Bay, and a photo of Lockey Harbidge from Parkes that he entered in the Portrait category. Both photographs will be published in the Minimalist Photography Awards Annual Book, while his portrait study in the Top 101 will also be published in a book.

The competition received 3,700 entries from 39 countries over 12 categories. The jury consisted of prominent figures from the photography industry and included Nick Moore of the British Journal of Photography, Paula Tognarelli of the Griffin Museum of Photography, Peter Ibsen of Sunday-S Gallery, Craig Whitehead – Street Photographer and Milad Safabakhsh – B&W Mini-malism Magazine. Australian photographer, Allen Koppe, won the title of minimalist photographer of the year 2021 and a $ 2,000 prize.

 

The joys and challenges of breastfeeding have been shared through women’s stories in a unique book to celebrate World Breastfeeding Week.

The Western NSW Health District (WNSWLHD) launched the Aboriginal Breastfeeding Story Book, which is a collection of women’s stories aimed to empower women to breastfeed.

“Coming together and sharing stories is an important part of learning in Aboriginal cultures,” said District Manager Maternity and Children’s Strategies, Alison Loudon. “Unfortunately, due to COVID-19 restrictions, safe community gatherings have been limited and learning through storytelling has been impacted”.

The Aboriginal Maternal and Infant Health Service was approached by Community Elders raising their concerns about the reduced breastfeeding rates in Aboriginal Communities. Traditionally, breastfeeding was common practice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women.

Latest data suggest 52.9% of Aboriginal women are exclusively breastfeeding on discharge, compared to 77.8% of non-Aboriginal mothers. “That is how the Aboriginal Breastfeeding storybook was developed through the Aboriginal Maternal Infant Health Service and Elders.

“It talks about the joys of breastfeeding booris (babies) and the challenges. “The storybook will not only help new mothers but has positively impacted the women who have shared their experiences.

“This has been an exciting and rewarding experience for everyone involved,” said Alison. The storybooks will be available to all pregnant women who receive the Aboriginal Maternal and Infant Health Service. World Breastfeeding Week started on 1st August.

Several creations from the Parkes Shire did very well at the regional Waste 2 Art exhibition with four winners and seven highly commended entries. The regional exhibition is currently running at the Outback Arts Creative Centre in Coonamble until 3rd September. The Parkes winners are: Deb Jones, who won The Herb Clarke Memorial Award for her Scrap Bin Lamp, Middleton Public School is the winner of Building/Sculpture 3D for their entry called Barugil, Rex Veal is the winner of Building Sculpture/Functional for his Chook RV, and Trundle Central School, School to Work is the Winner of High School Functional for Time in Chain.

The seven highly commend-ed entries were from Kelsey Finnegan, Blake McMahon, Hayley, Charlotte, Milla and El-odie Ballantyne, Meredith Bar-ber, Ian Row, Elsie Mahon and Helen Standen.

Parkes Shire Manager Cultural, Education and Library Services Kerryn Jones thanked everyone for entering saying it was a wonderful exhibition. The theme for next year is soft plastics. “So put your thinking caps on, we can’t wait to see what you come up with!” Kerryn said.

While the stay-at-home order for communities of Orange, Blayney and Cabonne ceased at midnight on Tuesday, NSW Health encouraged people to keep on getting tested at the first sign of even mild symptoms.

“As there has been a case recently in the community, and the ongoing outbreak continues across Sydney, it is vital people come forward for testing,” said WNSWLHD Chief Executive Scott McLachlan.

Member for Orange Philip Donato expressed his appreciation to the community for their patience and cooperation in response to the sudden and unexpected stay-at-home health order issued by the NSW Health Minister in response to a positive local COVID-19 case the previous week.

“This precautionary measure was to prevent our country communities from experiencing the situation we’ve seen unfold in Sydney, where a delayed and passive response to an initial breakout of Delta is still yet to be harnessed more than five weeks into the State capital’s health crisis.”

“I want to congratulate the communities of each the Orange, Cabonne and Blayney Local Government areas for cooperating with the health order, and I wish to extend my appreciation for their patience and understanding.”

“I realise many local businesses and workers have suffered a financial impact, though that impact may have been more substantial if COVID were to spread, such as we’ve seen in Sydney.”

Phil said more than 10,000 COVID tests were done during the lockdown, as well as sewerage testing, which had all returned negative tests.

“I would also like to thank those essential workers who kept the lights on, and all those who facilitated the COVID testing sites and subsequent pathology testing.

“It’s important that we do not become complacent, and maintain our proactive regime of QR check-ins, social distancing, wearing masks and sanitising.”