You might hear them before you see them, but they seem to appear as if out of nowhere and fill the sky instantaneously!

Parkes Shire is currently playing host to colonies of Little Red Flying Foxes. This species of fruit bat periodically visits the Parkes region as they travel across Australia in search of food.

Parkes Shire Council said in a press release this week while flying foxes generally cause little disturbance in urban areas, Council appreciated that they could have a significant impact on the day to day lives of residents, and that their current abundance has caused concern among locals.

“As native blossom specialists, they follow eucalyptus flowering events around the eastern states of Australia to find food, and they generally move on to new places when food becomes unavailable, or when temperatures get too hot or cold,” said Michael Chambers, Parkes Shire Council’s Environmental and Sustainability Coordinator.

“It is important to note that all species of flying foxes are protected under State and Federal laws, making it illegal to capture, harm, or otherwise interfere with any individual or group.”

Council’s Director Infrastructure Andrew Francis said attempts to disburse the Fly-ing Foxes, such as startling them with loud noises, guns, or fireworks were ineffective. “Dispersal actions (aside from potentially breaching the law) are often counterproductive because bats rarely respond well, they tend to squawk, urinate, and defecate in response to stress. This results in increased commotion and unpleasant smells, exacerbating an already uncomfortable situation for the residents living in close proximity to them,” said Andrew.

“After seeking expert advice from several NSW Government agencies, Council has been told that they should start to see a drop in numbers soon, as temperatures decrease, food resources become depleted, and large colonies begin to disperse into smaller maternity camps for females to give birth and care for their young,” Andrew added.

Major environmental events, including the severe drought, continued deforestation, and the 2019-2020 bushfires in recent years, have resulted in large-scale habitat loss, and have likely contributed to the high number of flying foxes in Parkes.

“Their increased abundance in Parkes is likely because we experienced such a mild summer and winter in 2020, and recent rain has caused local eucalyptus species to flower profusely,” said Michael.

Council reassured residents that the spread of viruses from flying foxes to humans was extremely rare. There is virtually no risk of infection unless physical contact is made with a flying fox.

However, to minimise any potential risks, Council recommends residents keep their distance as much as possible and avoid interacting with the flying foxes in any way.

If a resident encounters a sick or injured animal, they should avoid handling, and contact a licensed wildlife rescue and rehabilitation provider such as WIRES.

Michael said during the past 30 years populations of flying foxes had seen a dramatic decline in numbers across Australia. “Flying foxes perform important ecosystem services as they feed by pollinating native vegetation and spreading seeds across large distances. Their role in our environment is vital to the ongoing health and regeneration of our native woodlands and forests. Many of our native plants and animals rely on their pollination and seed dispersal efforts for survival.”

Parkes Shire Council said they would continue to liaise with the affected residents and State agencies about the increased presence of flying foxes in the Parkes area.

Now that you’ve learned you generally need 13 points to open the bidding at your bridge table, we can start bidding. Bidding is like a conversation, but without words. No table talk please! We don’t want the opposition frowning at us or, worse still, calling the director. Partners try to find an eight-card fit or longer, preferably in majors. Majors? I hear you ask. To put it simply, the suits in order of ranking from highest are spades then hearts, which are known as the major suits; followed by diamonds then clubs, which are the minors. If the contract is won by a suit, then every card in that suit is a trump, giving it a special winning quality. When a partnership holds eight or more cards of a particular suit between them, their chance of making a contract in that suit is greater. Correct bidding conveys that information.

Making the best contracts this week were: Tuesday, 20th April Greig Ball and Helen Beth Symington; Thursday, 22nd April north/south Louise Payne and Peter Quin, east/west Barbara Hughes and Jenny Freeman; Monday, 26th April Robyn Sheridan and Jennifer Calvert.

By Beth Thomas

The Cabonne Community Glow is back this year and promises to an amazing spectacle with balloons lighting up the night sky at this fantastic regional event.

This experience includes night markets complete with food and wine stalls, entertainment and the highlight of the evening, the Cabonne Community Glow – a magical experience where you’ll see hot air balloons lighting up their burners synced to all new music under the beautiful evening skies in the Central West. The glow from the balloons is spectacular and will leave all who attend with great memories for years to come.

Gates open from 3pm at the Tom Clyburn Oval in Canowindra.

Tickets are $10 for adults (18+) plus booking fee, and $2 for children under 18 plus a booking fee. Due to COVID-19 regulations, all attendees must enter their names including the names of children. Book your tickets at 123tix.com.au

Anzac Day commemorative services will be held across the Parkes Shire on Sunday, 25th April. The day will be marked with dawn services in Parkes, Peak Hill and Bogan Gate to be followed by the Anzac Day march, wreath-laying, and commemorative services mid-morning in Parkes, Trundle, Tullamore and Peak Hill.

Adding to this year’s Anzac Day celebrations is the 100th anniversary of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) with special guest Air Vice Marshall Leigh Gordon, AO as the Parkes Shire Anzac Day Ambassador.

Leigh completed his schooling at Parkes High School, and commenced an engineering degree at Goobang Shire Council before joining the Royal Australian Air Force. He graduated from the Engineer Cadet Squadron in 1985 with a degree in aeronautical engineering from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology. Highlights of his career include a posting as Senior Engineering Officer at 25 (City of Perth) Squadron, and a posting as Project Manager of the Lead-in Fighter Project that replaced the Macchi jet trainer with the Hawk 127.

Leigh will address Parkes High School students in years 10, 11 and 12 today at 2pm. Parkes RSL Sub-Branch Secretary, Paul Thomas encouraged residents and visitors to attend, but said those who were unable to could participate by standing at the end of their driveways on Sunday and observe a minute silence.

“Anzac Day is an opportunity to remember all Australians who have served and particularly those who have given their lives for our country,” said Parkes Shire Mayor, Cr Ken Keith OAM. “It is also a chance to commemorate the Anzac spirit, which encompasses the qualities of courage, mate-ship, and sacrifice. These qualities form a strong part of the Australian identity and continue to be a source of national pride.”

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Parkes: Dawn Service 5:30am at Memorial Hill; Breakfast Bistro 6:30am at Parkes Services Club (PSC); Church Service 7am at Holy Family Catholic Church; Church Service 7:30am at Parkes Anglican Church; Anzac Day march 8:15am outside PSC; Commemorative Service 9am at Cooke Park; Wreath Laying Pilgrimage 10:45am at Parkes Cemetery War Graves; Anzac Day Luncheon 12pm at PSC; Sound Retreat 5pm at Cooke Park; and The Ode 6pm at PSC.

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Tullamore: Commemorative Service 11am at Memorial Park; March Fall In 10:30am at Central School; Commemorative Service 11am at Memorial Hall

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Peak Hill: Dawn Service 5am at AIF Hall; March Fall In 10.30am. Commemorative Service 11am at Services and Citizens Club.

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Bogan Gate: Dawn Service & Commemoration of Names 6am at Memorial Park; Following the service, a free breakfast will be served at Memorial Hall. The full Parkes Shire 2021 Anzac Day Programme is available on Council’s website www.parkes.nsw.gov.au.

Parkes Shire Council is planning to rehabilitate the old sewage treatment ponds on Akuna Road into a wetland to support a diverse range of native flora and fauna.

Wetlands are important spaces for waterbirds, especially in drier landscapes, and this project presents an opportunity to attract vulnerable, threatened and critically endangered species back to the Parkes region.

The project, anticipated to commence mid to late this year, is part of Council’s ongoing efforts to preserve and create natural habitat for wildlife in order to safeguard our region’s biodiversity for future generations. In recent weeks, the Australian Government officially acknowledged the extinction of 13 endemic species, including 12 mammals and one reptile. This cements Australia’s position as the worst place for mammal extinctions in the world.

“We have taken the initial steps towards addressing this global ecological crisis by creating habitat for our region’s native flora and fauna,” said Council’s Director Infrastructure Andrew Francis.

In addition to annual shire-wide revegetation projects, Council has recently created more than 150 tree hollows that serve as crucial homes for native animals as part of its Augmented Hollows Program.

In order to further support the wetlands project, Council is asking the community to take part in a quick and easy survey at yoursay.parkes.nsw.gov.au.

It was a chilly morning on Sunday as a convoy of bridge players cars headed west for downtown Bogan Gate for the Annual Friendship Day Bridge Tournament, which has been hosted at the Bogan Gate Hall for the past 12 years.

Players from Forbes, Condobolin, West Wyalong and Parkes made up the 24 pairs who met for a day of friendly play, with the Parkes team taking the trophy. Parkes’s three highest scoring pairs were Louise Payne and Peter Quin; Beryl Twardy and Rosemary Morris; and Suzie McNamara and Beth Thomas.

Parkes Bridge Club President Greig Ball was full of praise for the support of the four towns’ bridge players who attended the tournament after a disastrous 2020 COVID year.

“It was great to see the Bogan Gate Friendship Tournament back on the bridge calendar,” said Greig, “and the day really showcased the spirit of the players, being a highly successful day enjoyed by everyone.”

Greig said it was especially good to see the West Wyalong players there for the first time, as their club is so new with many beginner players.

David Reddel, Bridge Federation Director from Orange, put much time and effort into setting the bridge boards and collating scoring. And the ladies of Bogan Gate CWA impressed the players with their fabulous catering, providing meals, desserts and sweet treats of delicious quality.

Why not join the Parkes Bridge Club? You could enjoy the fun and positive atmosphere of this excellent event next time around! Contact Greig Ball 0429621712 or Bev Laing 0418114826.

By Beth Thomas

The Parkes Recycled Water Scheme has delivered yet another award.

Parkes Shire Council, in collaboration with Indicium Dynamics, won the Local Government category in the iTNews Benchmark Awards.

Now in its ninth year, the awards recognise standout IT projects in government and industry, including local government.

The project focused on the End User Control System, which is part of the $20.9 million recycling water scheme helping to save water and reduce energy usage. The End User Control System presents a novel approach to managing the supply-demand balance, water quality risks and customer engagement and is pushing the development of new technology that the broader industry can benefit from.

Council is connecting new customers to the distribution system via an innovative meter stand arrangement incorporating IoT technology that not only provides smart metering, but also offers supply control through an integrated pressure sustaining and solenoid control valve.

“The control system also benefits Council’s presentation team as it means that they can track and manage water consumption easily through the web portal,” said Andrew Francis, Director of Infrastructure.

“The control system also gives us an additional non-treatment barrier by monitoring live weather data and stopping supply during unfavourable conditions that can lead to irrigation spray drift and runoff.”

A Parkes student has successfully completed a unique juggling act between going to school, studying online and doing a school-based traineeship.

Parkes Christian School graduate Sophie Field (18) recently completed a Certificate III in Business Administration as part of a school-based traineeship with Parkes Shire Council. This is a unique arrangement where students work on-the-job one day per week, study at TAFE NSW online, and attend school for the remaining four days. Sophie is now continuing to work for Council in an administration role.

“I really valued the opportunity of being able to develop workplace skills and complete a qualification all before finishing school,” Sophie said.

“It’s helped me build up a strong work ethic and extend my skills in Microsoft Office programs that I can use in any career I pursue. I’ve also benefitted from working in a team environment which has helped to develop my interpersonal skills.

“I was able to apply the knowledge and skills I was learning at TAFE NSW on-the-job at Parkes Shire Council and I think this really helped me process what I was learning.”

She encouraged other students entering year 11 to consider a school-based traineeship.

Mayor of Parkes Shire Council Cr Ken Keith said: “The traineeship program has been a positive and successful experience both for the students, the workplace and the community, as it provides opportunities for young people to learn, study and work within the Parkes Shire.

The Mayor commended Sophie for her hard work and dedication throughout her schooling and during her time working within the Economic Development team at Council.

For information about school-based apprenticeships or traineeships at TAFE NSW, speak to your school career advisor or visit, tafensw.edu.au or phone 131 601.

Electricity distributor Essential Energy has launched its third annual Community Choices program, which supports local groups across its footprint by offering funds up to $2,500 for successful candidates.

A total funding pool of $175,000 is up for grabs, with funding available in 20 zones supporting up to 140 community organisations. Eligible groups such as charities, not-for-profit and community groups like CWA, community centres, school P&Cs and sporting clubs can nominate to take part in the community-led voting.

Participants can rally their supporters to take part in the public voting online for two weeks from 18th May. “The entire process can be completed online – from community groups and charities nominating to the community voting. It’s a great and COVID-safe way to raise funds,” said Operations Manager Central, Bronwyn Sigmund.

“There are many groups across our footprint that are really in need of this funding – which is why Essential Energy is asking the community to choose the groups they think should receive a boost.” Bronwyn said.

This year, Essential Energy has introduced an additional Small Communities category. Local groups in towns with populations of less than 20,000 people can nominate for this additional category by simply ticking a box during the nomination process. The Small Communities category provides an additional opportunity for groups whose voting base may be smaller than groups in larger communities to be awarded funding.

Funding packages range from $500 to $2,500 available depending on votes. Nominees must be able to receive payments by electronic funds transfer (EFT), and provide photos and stories about their organisations and the work they do.

Nominations are open from 12th April until 10th May, and voting will be open from 18th to 31st May. Visit essentialenergy.com.au/choices to learn more or make a nomination.