Two students from Holy Family were inducted as library ambassadors last week to join the seven other ambassadors from four primary schools in Parkes.

Year 5 students Adelaide Terry and Adrian Day received their library badges from Cr Pat Smith at a special ceremony.

“I love books and want everybody else to love them too,” said Adelaide when asked why she wanted to become an ambassador.

For Adrian, who is also an avid reader, the most important task as an ambassador would be to keep students at his school informed about events and activities at the library.

The widely popular CanAssist garage sales are looking for a new home.

The Parkes Showground Land Manager made the difficult decision last week to demolish the main pavilion where a large part of the garage sale items have been housed for about five years.

CanAssist volunteers this week moved some items across to the Feature pavilion next to where the furniture garage sale items are stored. All the items will have to be moved in time for the Parkes Show in August this year.

Finding a new home of about 1,000m² for the monthly garage sale with adequate parking and ablution facilities, is posing a major challenge to the CanAssist committee.

The monthly event not only attract bargain hunters from all over the region, but also helps to boost CanAssist’s funds significantly. “We would not be able to help people in Parkes to the extent that we do without these funds,” said President of CanAssist Parkes, Sylvia Glendenning.

The garage sales had just come back as a regular event following the COVID lock-down and the super cell event in January which flooded the main pavilion, when the news of the demolition came through. Sylvie said some suggestions of possible new venues had been made and they were making a list to evaluate all of them. Bob Strickland, who volunteers with about nine other men to handle the furniture side of the sales, said the second dilemma for CanAssist was a shortage of helpers. “We are all getting older, and we need new blood.”

Volunteers help to pick up, deliver and sort items, arrange the furniture for display and do some maintenance.

“We are here Thursday to Saturday from 8:30am to 12:30pm and enjoy morning tea together. We have become such good friends, that some of us practically live here!”

The Parkes Antique Motor Club display last Sunday was a great success with 42 heritage cars ranging from 1926 to 1991. The day was in celebration of Australia’s National Motoring Heritage and 20 members from Orange District Antique Motor Club, 19 from Dubbo and some members of other clubs joined with Parkes for the day.

In recognition of Australia’s rich motoring heritage, more than half the vehicles were made or assembled in Australia. In addition to well-known models from Holden, Ford, Chrysler and Morris, there were also Vauxhalls, Volkswagens and Chevrolets and a 1937 Cadillac sedan.

The proud owners were on hand to talk about their prized pos-sessions to about 500 people who took time to visit the display. The day also saw the first public showing of the Parkes Club’s current restoration project, a 1909 N.A.G., which was used in Parkes by the Plowman family over a century ago. There are very few of these vehicles remaining in the world, and the club needs to be very particular about the detail and quality of its restoration project.

The history of flying is colourful and adventurous and the HARS Parkes Aviation Museum’s growing collection is worth a visit for young and old.

The museum is part of the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society (HARS), a voluntary not-for-profit organisation dedicated to the preservation of aircraft and artefacts that are significant to Australian aviation history whether military or civilian.

The society was founded in the mid-1960s with one flying aircraft and a number of WW2 Beaufighter airframes, and now has over 100 aircraft and around 30 that fly or are under restoration to fly.

The HARS has had a presence in Parkes from 1975 with our spares stored in the dry climate of the inland. Around 10 years ago CASA decided to widen the runway and the Council issued us with an eviction notice as the hangar had to be demolished.

Later CASA and Council rescinded the eviction and we decided to remain and develop a static museum of aircraft and artefacts that could be displayed in the Central West.

During the past five years we have partnered with Parkes High School to bring in Year 10 and 11 students to increase their opportunities for future employment by imparting some knowledge and skills that will help them later in the work place.

The students learn surface preparation, spray and roller painting, some mechanical and carpentry skills and become part of a team working together ensuring safe practices while using tools and construction equipment.

Many of the students have gone on to worthwhile careers after their time with the museum, while the museum has benefitted by the application of their skills.

The museum is open on Thursdays and Sundays from 9:30am to 3:30pm. More volunteers are being sought to act as tour guides or as hands on restorers. The aircraft of the museum are non-flying and restoration work does not require aviation licensed volunteers. If you are interested, call Mike on 0418 473 175.

By Mike De La Hunty

The Parkes Phoenix has a new dedicated Sales Manager with Emma Henderson taking up the new role last week.

Emma, who has an extensive resume in sales, is also a business consultant and has experience in real estate. “I am extremely pleased to be joining the Parkes and Forbes Phoenix newspapers,” said Emma.

“I am passionate about our region and as someone born in the area and with ambitions to help improve our rural communities, I am glad I can now also help businesses with their marketing as well,” she said.

Aside from running the Forbes Community Page on Facebook, Emma, a young mother and entrepreneur, also has designs on a tilt with Forbes Shire Council at the elections in September.

“I have lived in Parkes and Forbes and consider both big parts of my life. I love our communities and it’s great to see them thriving,” she said.

Emma joins Forbes Sales Manager Jor-dana Freney and newly appointed Manager of both Parkes and Forbes Phoenix news-papers, Dane Millerd. Maggi Barnard will remain editor of Parkes.

“Both Emma and Jordana have great character and a brilliant can-do attitude,” said Dane Millerd.

“They understand their communities and I can assure you they have a number of exciting concepts for our advertisers including video production,” he said.

“I am under no illusions that with Emma’s appointment, that we can get on track to re-establishing the Phoenix as the premier product it is.”

For Phoenix owner Josh Matic, Emma’s appointment is a real boost. “Emma has a tremendous attitude and vast experience,” he said. “Her skill-set and local knowledge will be an invaluable asset to us.”

To enquire about marketing opportunities in Parkes and Forbes, contact Emma Henderson at sales@parkesphoenix.com.au and Jordana Freney at sales@forbesphoenix.com.au

Last Sunday Mary and I attended the matinee performance of Wicked not really knowing what to expect.

As in the past Lyn Townsend has thrown her body and soul into this production which was first cast in March 2019 and put on hold till now because of the COVID epidemic.

This time lapse gave Lyn the opportunity to put her own interpretation on Wicked, plus its design and so many magnificent costumes. Directing this show provided a massive challenge which Lyn has carried off with her usual determination and flare.

The show opened with a series of flash-backs to the society’s Wizard of Oz which connected the two productions. Then the curtain rose and we were enveloped in a mass of colour, dancing and sound for the first part of act one, leading to the main story of the conflict between Elphaba (Hannah Symonds), the green witch, and Galinda (Shannon Toole), the good witch, with Fiyero (Matt Prow), the dashing young captain adding to the dilemma.

The final resolution came in the last act with the appearance and guidance from the Wizard (Bill Jayet). To achieve such a high level of dancing and singing just doesn’t happen, but with Kate and Gracie Townsend on the choreography and Gail Smith with Carolyn Butler as vocal coach-es, it had to succeed.

I was particularly impressed by Elphaba and Galinda who were exceptional for the way they played off each other and sang while the Wizard, Mr Wonderful, is like a good wine, better with age. All this couldn’t happen without the very strong cast made up of the young, the mature and very talented members of the Parkes Musical and Dramatic Society, many who played huge supportive roles both on stage and in production.

The 10-member band, many of whom are regulars, gave up weeks practising under the baton of Neil Westcott to provide great music of such a varied repertoire, but of course we have come to expect such a very high standard from Neil as musical director. The orchestra pit came into its own this show, though a little crowded, it really blended in with the stage setting and has been a great asset for the theatre. This brings me to the four-member back stage crew led by Brian Townsend who have spent weeks setting up such a decorative and workable set of scene changes with lights to give such a terrific effect.

As usual lighting and sound were of a very high standard, made possible by our expert team and excellent equipment. A great show from start to finish.

By Warwick Tom