Neil Hamilton and Johnny Carey enjoying the fun at Red Bend.
Participants from NDIS providers from across the region attended the 40th annual OCTEC Forbes Special Sports Day, held annually at the Red Bend College, and operated by the founder Dianne Decker AM.
Jeanette Lovett with the trophy for Currajong Disability Services from Parkes.
NBN Local Manager Steven Bowman presented to Parkes Chamber of Commerce last week.
Parkes was recently named as one of 240 business fibre zone locations offering NBN Co’s premium business-grade fibre to more than 700 local Parkes businesses at the same wholesale price as capital cities centers.
Last Wednesday NBN Co-presented this opportunity to Parkes Chamber of Commerce members to help local businesses make the most of the new offering.
Enterprise Ethernet, as the new fibre is called, is NBN Co’s fastest symmetrical wholesale product and has options for prioritised traffic, high capacity and symmetrical upload and download wholesale speeds from 10Mbps to close to 1Gbps1, as well as enhanced 24/7 support.
NBN Local General Manager, Chris Cusack, said: “An estimated 717 Parkes businesses will have access to fast and reliable connectivity at a time when reliance on driving online presence, digital collaboration platforms and cloud-based tools has never been more significant for businesses.
“Meeting with the Parkes Chamber of Commerce is part of NBN Co’s ongoing commitment to educate communities and ensure local businesses are aware of the solutions available for continued resilience and growth.”
Parkes Business Chamber President, Geoff Rice, said the launch of the Business Fibre Initiative was an exciting investment for Parkes, provided a competitive edge for businesses looking to relocate, while also helping support local business innovation and competition into the digital age.
Did you know that NSW Creative Kids voucher can be used for PSCB membership or instrument hire? Membership is $30 per school term and instrument hire is $25 per school term. PSCB is a registered Creative Kids provider. Check out the link below to apply for a NSW Government voucher for up to $100 per calendar year for eligible school children towards these fees https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/transaction/apply-creative-kids-voucher.
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, rehearsals are on Tuesday from 7 to 9pm during school term above the Parkes Pool Complex in Dalton Street. Contact Duncan Clement, PSCB Music Director at duncanclement@hotmail.com or on 0405 035 164.
By Ellen Tom
Leading the Anzac march on Sunday were (L-R) ex-serviceman Darren Fisher, Sgt Craig Cole who is currently serving in the Australian Army Armoured Corp, and ex-Navy representative Roy Matthews. They represented the three arms of the Australian Defence Force.
The rest of the Anzac Day program was also highly successful with the biggest crowds ever showing up at both the Dawn Service and the march and commemorative service in Cooke Park. “There were about 1,800 people at Memorial Hill, and about the same number again in Cooke Park,” said Paul Thomas, commending the participation of the schools.
The highlight of the day was the flyover of a C-130J Hercules at 10am in celebration of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) centenary that coincided with Anzac Day.
Special guest Air Vice Marshall Leigh Gordon, who completed his schooling in Parkes, returned to his alma mater to meet with students as part of his program and delivered the special address on Sunday.
“He was absolutely superb,” said Paul, “and was absolutely focused on what he came to do.”
Geoff Stokes once again played the bagpipes, as he has for many years on Anzac Day in Parkes, and the Parkes Shire Concert Band led the march.
Bill Jayet as the Wizard with Hannah Symonds, the Wicked Witch of the West.
Bill Jayet proudly wears the label of veteran performer with the Parkes Musical and Dramatic Society.
He has been performing for over 56-years after he first trod the boards at age 18 in the Forbes M and D Society production of Dinnie and the Witches.
Amateur theatre has been in his blood ever since. His debut with Parkes M and D was as Ali Hakim in the 1981 production of Oklahoma. He is probably best remembered for his incredible portrayal of Fagin in the 1984 and 2009 productions of Oliver, for which he won a Canberra Area Theatre (CAT) award for Best Actor in a Musical. Rumour has it he was offered a role in professional theatre after the 1984 version, but turned it down.
Throw Bill a character role you can bet your bottom dollar he will bring it to life in his own unique, inimitable way. Bill was made a life member of Parkes M and D in 2018 for his dedication and commitment to productions over the decades and returns for (what he calls) his final hoorah in Wicked, as the Wizard.
We salute Bill, the gentleman he is, the roles he’s played, the quality of characterisation he achieves and the inspiration he provides to everyone involved in the society.
Do not miss Bill’s final performance with the opening of Wicked tomorrow until 23rd May. It is the first Parkes M & D production in 12 months. The society hopes to get back on its feet with this production after COVID has put its future financial viability at risk. Get your tickets online at www.parkesmandd.com.au or from Regional Business Supplies. Dine & Discover vouchers are accepted, email your ticket request with vouchers to parkesmandd2870@gmail.com.
New member Sam Vail with PSCB Music Director Duncan Clement
Sam Vail is a trumpet player and recently moved to Parkes to complete his university thesis with the Parkes Shire Council.
“With my thesis being quite intensive, I knew I would need to get my head away from it at times, and there is no better way of doing that than playing the trumpet.”
He heard that Parkes had a shire band and within his first week in town, he reached out and went to a rehearsal.
“It has been great fun to find other musicians in town to play with – they are very welcoming to new people rocking up. I’m looking forward to playing with the band at events.”
The Parkes Shire Concert Band is planning a community concert in July in collaboration with other regional bands. A few band members are playing in the Parkes M&D musical Wicked, starting today and promising to be a fantastic show!
BEST BICUITS… Julie Freeman accepts the Keith Woodlands Perpetual Trophy from Parkes RSL Sub-Branch President Keith Woodlands as the winner of the Parkes RSL Sub-Branches local Anzac Biscuit Cooking competition.
Julie Freeman was announced as the winner of the RSL NSW Anzac Biscuit Cooking competition in Parkes at the 2021 Anzac Day Official Luncheon on Sunday.
The competition was divided into three levels and saw Julie take the lead in a very competitive field in the senior division, which also competed for the Keith Woodlands Perpetual Trophy as part of the Parkes RSL Sub-Branches local competition.
Julie said she had been cooking from an early age after learning the basics from her mother at the family property. “I loved making Anzac biscuits and sending them off to soldiers who were away serving our wonderful nation,” she said when accepting her prizes.
Julie will now proceed to the Western Districts level of the competition to be held in Dubbo during August. The winner of that section will go on to represent the Western area at the state final to be held in conjunction with the NSW RSL Annual State Conference in Newcastle during October.
The junior section for entrants 16 years and under saw another close competition with the three judges undecided on the result till the very last moment. The eventual winner was Joan Carolan, who edged out Ella Jablowski with Quinn Kriedemann receiving the encouragement award.
Both Julie and Joan congratulated the Parkes RSL Sub-Branch on running the competition and said they would be back to contest the competition next year.
Parkes RSL Sub-Branch President Keith Woodlands and Sub Branch secretary Paul Thomas congratulated and thanked all participants and said the Sub-Branch would continue to support the state body in the event in future years. They also thanked the three judges namely Anne Olsen, Bev Hawken and Nerissa Westgarth for their assistance and commitment to the task.
Anne Olsen spoke on behalf of the judges and said the competition was extremely close. She said while the level of participation was not excessive, it was highly commendable. She made special mention of the exceptional commitment of the male competitors as they challenged one another.
Luka Roylance tests a seat in the four-wheel buggy of the Forbes RDA offering people in wheelchairs the opportunity to go for a ride.
The Forbes branch of Riding for the Disabled (RDA) is ready to get back into the saddle at a new venue.
The COVID recess is over and RDA Secretary Kylie Ryan encouraged new volunteers and committee members to join up to get this important service in support of the disabled up and running again.
RDA (NSW) is a volunteer organisation providing equine assisted activities for people with disabilities to develop and enhance abilities. Kylie said the community had been very supportive of them in the past few years contributing time and donations.
The Forbes branch, open to participants and volunteers from the whole region, will be hosting an information evening on Wednesday, 5th May at Club Forbes at 6pm.
The information evening will be followed by the annual general meeting at 6:30pm with all seven committee positions open. The Forbes branch would not be able to go forward without a committee, and Kylie urged people to step forward.
She also encouraged anyone who had experience working with horses to come along and help out. “The kids just love the experience of riding a horse. They not only benefit from it, but get so much enjoyment out of it too.”
Kylie said Parkes High School had shown great interest in bringing their students over for sessions. The Forbes branch will run sessions once per week according to interest and demand.
RDA offers children with a range of disabilities the opportunity to learn to ride and work with horses. The Forbes steering committee was first formed in 2013, and had since collected enough money to purchase a wheel chair accessible four-wheel buggy to extend its range of services.
If you would like to get involved or find out more information about the Forbes RDA branch contact Kylie Ryan on 0459 960 376. Also visit the Forbes branch facebook page and RDA NSW website at rdansw.org.au.
The 11th annual Anzac writing competition organised by Riverina MP Michael McCormack, received more than 900 entries from 47 schools across the electorate. Three of the four winners in the North division are from the Parkes Shire:
Primary winner: Ciane Marks (Year 3) Parkes East Public School.
Highly commended: Amber Roach (Year 5) Bogan Gate Public School.
High School winner: Chloe Amery (Year 8) Parkes Christian School
With a commercial kitchen and accommodation for 32 people, Eddy’s of Canowindra is the perfect spot for a cheese making workshop.
Cowra Cheesemaker Sallieann O’Leary will be presenting a Cheese Making Workshop on 15th and 16th May at Eddy’s.
It will be an interactive retreat with personal tuition by Sallieann. You will learn to make and take home your own feta cheese, Greek yoghurt and a decadent cheesecake as a treat. All materials are provided on the day. No previous experience is necessary, and the workshop will be rounded off with a wine tasting on the Sunday.
The cost of $330 per person includes one night’s accommodation at Eddy’s and all meals from Saturday morning tea to Sunday lunch. Check in on Saturday morning and check out 4pm on Sunday
To book contact Cathy on 0498 729 947 or email info@eddysofcanowindra.com.au by Friday, 7th May.
Eddy’s is a historically restored convent in the heart of Canowindra. Eddy’s often hosts workshops, but this will be the first cheese making retreat. Make sure to book your spot.