The new Parkes Library and Cultural Centre is ready to deliver educational, cultural and social opportunities for all members of our community and visitors to our region in its impressive indoor and outdoor facilities.

“In regional communities libraries play a pivotal role in providing a safe, inclusive learning space for the whole community,” said Sam Farraway, member for the NSW Legislative Council at the official opening of the $3.4 million Parkes Shire Library expansion project last Friday.

“The Parkes Library and Cultural Centre truly embraces the notion of lifelong learning. The new facilities provide opportunities from birth through to tertiary opportunities to support those who are wanting to further their education, and encourages the more mature members of our community to share their knowledge and skills and learn new ones. The NSW Government is very proud to have supported this wonderfully inclusive project,” Sam said.

Many residents and visitors have already taken the opportunity to visit the spacious, architecturally designed indoor and outdoor facility. The innovative and modern expansion delivers new art, cultural and education spaces plus a brand-new intergenerational Makerspace Studio which will provide a wide range of creative learning opportunities, experiences and events.

Other features include lounge areas, meeting and quiet study spaces, local studies room with access to ancestry.com and expanded indoor and outdoor spaces for children’s and early learning programs.

The centre will also be home to the newly established Country Universities Centre (CUC) in Parkes, which will provide the regional community with opportunities for higher education study without having to relocate to the city.

“We are really proud of the new space and encourage our community, members or not, to come and visit and make the most of the fabulous free facilities,” said Parkes Shire Deputy Mayor Cr Barbara Newton at the opening.

“Lifelong learning is the first objective of the Parkes Community Strategic Plan and this fabulous new space will allow all members of our community and visitors to our region, to come and enjoy the educational, cultural and social opportunities the new Parkes library has to offer.”

State Library NSW Manager Public Library Services, Cameron Morley said: “Parkes Library is a consistently high performer in comparison with other libraries across NSW, and the significant enhancements to the building will ensure that the people of Parkes will continue to enjoy a first-rate library service for many years to come. The State Library is very pleased to have been able to support the project and congratulates council on its commitment to library services.”

The 2020-21 NSW Budget delivered on Tuesday was described as Christmas come early with some good news for communities in the Orange electorate.

NSW Nationals Upper House MP, Sam Farraway confirmed investment in roads, health, education and transformational in- frastructure across his electoratee.

He said the budget delivered vital funding across the electorate of Orange thanks to the community working together with the NSW Government to get the important projects over the line.

“Today I can announce $900,000,000 will be invested across regional hospitals and health services, ensuring our communities have access to the same world-class health services as those in the city.

“The $5,000,000 upgrade to the Newell Highway at Parkes will ensure better safety for all drivers, whether transporting food and fibre, travelling for leisure, or driving home after a long day at work.”

“Regional communities face unique challenges and we have had an incredibly tough few years with drought, bushfires and now COVID, but today’s budget is Christmas come early, ensuring vital funding for this incredible electorate and its communities which make it the best place in the world to live, work and raise a family,” Sam said.

Deputy Premier and Leader of the NSW Nationals John Barilaro said: “Today’s budget is about bridging the city/bush divide and this record funding will deliver legacy projects and significant benefits to regional communities for generations to come, because we know that the regions are unparalleled and there is nowhere else we’d rather be.”

The budget included a boost of $300 million to the transformational Regional Growth Fund bringing the fund’s total to $2 billion, to continue delivering grass roots projects across the regions.

For more information about the NSW Government’s 2020-21 Budget, please go to budget.nsw.gov.au

Six dragon boat clubs in the western region joined forces in a virtual walk and raised almost $700 for Cancer Council NSW.

A total of 70 participants from Bathurst, both Orange clubs, Parkes, Dubbo and Wagga Wagga took on the Western Region Virtual Walk of 1,648km to all the participating towns and around their respective water ways.

“COVID-19 imposed a lot of restrictions meaning dragon boaters were off the water for a long time. We wanted to do something to keep the clubs involved and connected, stay active, and provide another option to paddling,” said Beth Thomas, Parkes Dragon Boat Club Coach and main organiser of the event.

“There has always been a strong connection between dragon boating and cancer support, particularly women’s cancers, but a lot of men have been affected too so we wanted to support Cancer Council and all cancers.”

Cancer Council Western Region representative Bree Kelly said thousands of Australians were alive because of cancer research made possible by fundraisers such as this one. “Cancer Council is 94% community funded so relies on the community to help fund our world class research, support services, prevention programs and advocacy.”

Parkes Dragon Boat Club presented a cheque of $675.63 to Jo Krats, Cancer Council Western Volunteer, on behalf of the participating teams at Lake Endeavor on Sunday. Participants in the virtual walk came together on Sunday for a medal presentation and enjoyed a paddle together at Lake Endeavour.

DBNSW Western Region Coordinator Deb Clark gave a special thanks to Parkes for organising the virtual walk. “It was a fabulous way to bring clubs together when regattas were off limits. Great achievement!”

Cancer Council NSW thanked dragon boat clubs across the Western Region for their generous contribution and commitment towards a cancer free future.

Television and radio personality Gus Worland and his wife Vicky will be in Parkes next week to meet with the community, school representatives and sporting clubs as part of the Gotcha4Life program.

Many people will know Gus from MMM Radio and the ABC documentary series, Man Up, a journey into the world of masculinity discovering that the pressure to toughen up may be making Aussie men crack. The program is still available on ABC iview.

Gus and Vicky are guests of Central West Lachlan Landcare and will be at the Parkes Christian School hall on Thursday, 19th November at 6:30pm. Spaces are limited for this event, and attendees must register upon arrival (in line with current COVID safe guidelines).

Landcare and Rural Adversity Mental Health Program (RAMHP) are supporting the Gotcha4Life program to deliver their fabulous workshops in the Parkes and Forbes Shires.

Gotcha4Life is Australia’s leading mental fitness charity, working to end suicide through delivering programs that build emotional muscle, resilience and social connection in individuals, families and local communities. For further information, please contact Marg Applebee on 0418 611 053.

At the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month the guns fell silent and the Great War ended when a peace treaty was signed – 102 years ago.

The Parkes Sub Branch of the Returned and Services Leagues of Australia organised a commemoration at the Cenotaph at Cooke Park on Wednesday.

Students from seven schools recited the names of the fallen heroes from the Parkes Shire from World Wars 1 and 2, Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan and Iraq. The Holy Family School choir sang, and Deputy Mayor Barbara Newton gave an address reflecting on the consequences of war.

NAIDOC week is celebrated until Sunday with the theme this year Always Was, Always Will Be. The week started on Sunday with a special celebration at the Parkes Observatory where the iconic CSIRO Parkes Radio Telescope and two smaller telescopes each received Wiradjuri names.

On Monday students from Stage 5 Aboriginal Studies class at Peak Hill Central School visited the Wungunja Cultural Centre in Trangie and the Beemunnel Heritage Trail in Warren.

Peak Hill Preschool received a Federal Government grant and did a range of activities this week including tasting traditional foods such as emu and kangaroo meat.

CARBON8 FARMER PACKS

In collaboration with Carbon8, Farmer Packs containing two books, an organic worm kit and postcard will be available at all library branches and Neighbourhood Central soon for collection by local farmers. This initiative is designed to educate Aussie farmers on regenerative agriculture and support them in the transition to help rebuild carbon levels in the soil. The Carbon8 Campfire Film Festival are free weekly online films about regenerative agriculture, Friday nights from 7pm https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/carbon8-camp-fire-film-festival-tickets-121486311829

BOOK REVIEW

The Yield by Tara June Winch

Winner of the 2020 Miles Franklin Literary Award, this profoundly moving story is told in three voices: August who has returned from the other side of the world to family and country; the Wiradjuri dictionary entries of her grandfather, Albert Gondiwindi; and, the letters of a 19th Century Rev Greenleaf. Winch acknowledges contributions from Geoff Anderson, Parkes Wiradjuri Language Group and Parkes Aboriginal Education & Consultative Group.

ARE YOU INTERESTED IN LOCAL AND FAMILY HISTORY?

Did you know the library has many resources to assist you with local and family history, where you can research on your own or consult with an expert to learn about the past! The Local and Family History Room is open Monday – Friday from 9.30am – 11.30am or book an appointment on 6861 2309. Free access to the Ancestry Website is available on the public computers at the Parkes Library. History Parkes is an online resource sharing some of the Shire’s quirky, serious, fun and factual information at www.historyparkes.org

Parkes Shire Council’s waste education team will be coordinating a community survey to assess the community’s usage and satisfaction with the kerbside recycling, food and garden waste and general waste bin service.

The survey is being conducted on behalf of the Netwaste group of 27 councils and will include a targeted telephone survey and a short online survey open to all residents to participate in.

The telephone survey started on 2nd November and will be undertaken over three weeks.

The online community survey can be accessed via council’s website www.parkes.nsw.gov.au and will be open until Sunday, 29th November.

“Waste management is a growing issue and cost for Parkes Shire Council. More waste than ever is being produced and the traditional means of landfilling is becoming increasingly regulated and expensive to administer, so it is imperative we continue to innovate and ensure our services are meeting the demands of the community,” said Waste Facilities Committee Chair, Cr Alan Ward.

“We encourage all residents to participate in the online survey and those that may be contacted for the phone survey; we encourage your open and honest feedback so that informed decisions and actions be taken in the future.”