Tyrece Robinson (11) has only been learning the didgeridoo for ten months, but impressed the crowd at the NAIDOC celebrations with his playing.

More than 100 people enjoyed the winter sun at the Bushman Hill Indigenous Precinct in celebration of NAIDOC Week 2021 on Saturday.

The crowd was captivated by 11-year-old Middleton Public School student Tyrece Robinson’s impressive didgeridoo playing. He opened the program with a special message in Wiradjuri language of “Respect to me, Respect to you, Respect to this country and Respect to our elders”, and then proceeded to play the didgeridoo beautifully with only ten months of learning behind him. Tyrece also joined the River Spirit Dancers showcasing some traditional dances accompanied by excellent explanations.

Another highlight of the day was the NAI-DOC Award ceremony conducted by Deputy Mayor Barbara Newton and Aunty Ka-ren Hawken to recognise the outstanding contributions that Indigenous residents in the Parkes Shire make to improve the lives of other Indigenous people, to promote Indigenous issues in the wider community, or the excellence they’ve shown in their chosen field.

Torin Hando received the Community Person of the Year award and Matty Price from Parkes High School was named Youth of the Year.

Torin said he was shocked to be nominated, but pretty proud of himself. He has been recognised as being an inspiring young leader in the community, his involvement in supporting the youth and his commitment and success working on drug, alcohol and mental health issues in the community.

He works full time as an Aboriginal Health Worker at the Peak Hill Aboriginal Medical Service, and runs a boys group in Peak Hill and a homework group in Parkes. He has about 16 kids in the weekly boys group to help keep them off the street and teaching them about respect. “I am very happy to be doing this work in my home town.”

His message to young people is to never give up. “There are always barriers along the way, but there are always ways around them.”

The Ikon is back! Chef Ritesh Iupakheti at the famous wall in the Ikon restaurant before its reopening on Monday.

The Ikon Restaurant at Hotel Gracelands officially reopened this week with a fresh new look, new management and a new chef.

“We are very excited to be back,” said manager Tracey Huckel, who has been doing a lot of work over the past months with her husband Rob to be ready for the reopening.

Dining options in Parkes have declined since the start of COVID last year, and the Ikon promises to offer diners something that is the next level above anything available elsewhere in town.

With the vast experience of Nepalese chef Ritesh Iupakheti on board, the menu will cater for all tastes and dietary options, and reflect seasonal changes. Before his stint at the Coachman for the past four years, Ritesh worked in Melbourne at the famous Afro-centric fine dining restaurant Meat & Wine Co and Pacinos Italian family restaurant.

“I look forward to the reopening of Ikon, and the new challenge it has for me,” said Ritesh on Monday before the opening night.

He plans to also include one special per week, and started off with a Nepalense goat curry. Everything on the menu will be freshly made on premises.

While the famous mural of icons is still a focal point in the dining area, Tracey has been building a collection of Australian and local iconic items for display to add to the theme, and hopefully stimulate discussion during dining.

“We want to focus on being welcoming, friendly and courteous, and also offer din-ers a chance to dress up a little if they wish,” said Rob.

Ikon is open Monday to Thursday from 6 – 8:30pm and Friday and Saturday from 6 – 9pm. Bookings are essential at 6862 3459.

The Australian Government has partnered with Crime Stoppers Australia to launch a permanent national firearms amnesty to keep Australians safe while ensuring those with a legitimate need to access firearms are able to do so.

Assistant Minister for Customs, Community Safety and Multicultural Affairs Jason Wood said the amnesty, which started on 1st July, allowed anyone in Australia to hand in unregistered or unwanted firearms that could otherwise fall into the wrong hands.

“Unregistered firearms are a threat to our community. They are difficult to trace and can fall into the hands of criminals to commit terrible crimes while avoiding police detection,” the Assistant Minister said.

“An unwanted firearm can also be deadly. If not properly stored, there is always a risk that it could harm you or your loved ones.”

People who have an unregistered firearm or firearm-related item will be able to surrender it to a police station anonymously and without penalty, for registration, sale or destruction.

Licensed firearms dealers can also receive surrendered firearms in most states and territories. An unwanted firearm may also be handed in.

If a person does not surrender an unregistered firearm and is found in possession of it, they may face criminal penalties, including imprisonment.

Crime Stoppers will deliver 65 grassroots community events across the nation to encourage people to do the right thing and hand in unwanted or unregistered firearms.

The previous national firearms amnesty, held over three months in 2017, resulted in over 57,000 firearms being handed in across Australia.

Further information, including the process to surrender a firearm in each state or territory, is available at www.crimestoppers.com.au/firearmsamnesty.

Nine new social homes will be constructed in Medlyn street next year. This is an artist impression of what the homes will look like.

The NSW Government will be building nine new social homes in Parkes that will provide better support for vulnerable people.

NSW Land and Housing Corporation plans to build three one-bedroom and six two-bedroom homes at 22-28 Medlyn Street.

The new houses will have a single storey design to blend in with the surrounding neighbourhood’s style and character and reflected feedback from Parkes Shire Council and the local community.

Minister for Water, Property and Housing Melinda Pavey said the project was one of more than 50 being delivered under the NSW Government’s $400 million Fast-Track Housing Construction Package, to help boost economic recovery from COV-ID-19.

She said the new homes would help address strong local demand for additional social housing, with a five to 10-year expected wait time (as of June 2020) for two-bedroom homes and two to five years for others.

If approved, construction is due to start early next year and will take about 12 months to complete. It will help create about 17 construction jobs.

“This is another example of the NSW Government working to deliver well-designed, new social housing, building a safer and stronger regional NSW,” said NSW Upper House MP, Sam Farraway.

“This project in Parkes will form part of around 750 new social homes we’re expecting to complete in regional areas between this year and 2023-24, which should create more than $200 million in construction activity and about 1,000 jobs.

“It also forms part of a pipeline of around 18 NSW Government social housing projects which are currently being planned and have the potential to deliver more than 90 new dwellings in the Orange, Parkes and Dubbo local government areas,” Sam said.

At the donationa handover last week were (L-R) Warren Edwards (Grants, Donations & Sponsorship Officer), Mike Phillips (General Manager Parkes Services Club) and Peter O’Donnell (Chairman Parkes CWAA).

The Cycling Without Age – Parkes campaign received a major boost last week when the Parkes Services Club donated $1,000 to the committee.

“This puts us more than halfway to having a trishaw in Parkes permanently and giving those in the nursing homes of Parkes something to look forward to on a regular basis,” said Warren Edwards, grants, donations and sponsorships officer.

“The Trishaw for Parkes committee would like to thank the Parkes Services Club board for their donation.”

Warren also thanked the local community for their fantastic support and encouragement. “Most of our donations are coming from the local Parkes community.” He said a lot of the over $12, 500 raised so far had been ‘off the street’ donations when committee member Peter Guppy had been doing the rounds with his donation bucket.

He encouraged members of the public to support the campaign. “For as little as $5 you can help the trishaw become a reality in Parkes.” Go to https://chuffed.org/project/cycling-without-age-parkes… to do your bit.

The trishaw is a light three-wheeled motorised tricycle with a basket in the front designed to transport two passengers.

“Essentially the trishaw is an electrically assisted bike, so it’s fairly easy to ride,” Peter Guppy told the ABC in an interview. “They were first developed in Denmark and quickly spread around the world.”

Earlier this year Parkes became the latest member of the international movement Cycling Without Age, a program that promotes social inclusion for people facing increasing immobility.

Australia currently has over 60 Cycling Without Age affiliates in approximately 35 chapter locations, with Parkes taking that number to 36.

Peter has brought a trishaw to Parkes on two occasions so far this year to give the community, and especially residents of nursing homes, an opportunity to get some fresh air and feel the wind in their hair again.

Parkes Shire residents can join the conversation and share what matters most to them about their community of the future.

Council works with the community every four years prior to Council elections to review the Community Strategic Plan.

Last year’s Local Government elections were postponed and will now take place on 4th September. Council is inviting residents across the Shire to have their say.

“It’s an exciting time for the Parkes Shire community,” said Mayor Ken Keith OAM. “Since 2016, we have delivered $230 million in capital expenditure, including $32.7 million in road construction and renewal projects, $100 million in water infrastructure upgrades and a new recycled water scheme, $8.4 million in upgrades to lower Clarinda Street and the new Cooke Park Pavillion, $4.7 million on the Airport Terminal Upgrade and Business Park Expansion and a $3 million for the expansion of the library and cultural centre.

“We have delivered on the community’s priority of Parkes becoming a national logistics hub with unprecedented investment by all tiers of government; the first centre of construction for Inland Rail, funding for the Parkes Bypass and the State Government’s investment for the Parkes Special Activation Precinct. “These developments have bolstered our economy seeing significant economic growth in what has been a challenging time for regional communities amongst drought and COVID-19.

Council will be seeking the community’s input over the next eight weeks through a range of methods, including community advisory groups, public drop in sessions, community workshops and online input through www.yoursay.parkes.nsw.gov.au. Visit the Your Say Parkes website to make sure your voice is heard on the things that matter to you.