SERIOUS CONCERN… Time ran out and the audience at the public meeting on Tuesday still had many unanswered questions about the Parkes Hospital’s future.

The Parkes midwives were the heroes of the night in an otherwise disheartening public meeting attended by more than 100 people at the Parkes Services Club on Tuesday night to discuss health services at Parkes Hospital.

The emotionally charged audience included several expectant and new mothers who had nothing but praise for the Parkes midwives who continue to support them under very challenging and confusing circumstances.

The closure of the Maternity Unit in June this year at the four-year-old Parkes Hospital remained the focus of the two-and-a- half hour long meeting that did not result in any clear cut solutions.

The audience hammered the panel with direct and honest questions after Deputy Mayor Barbara Newton’s presentation on the issues and concerns raised by the community. She highlighted the underutilisation of the new hospital’s facilities saying the community of Parkes and surrounding areas were understandably confused, frustrated and extremely angry at the lack of services. “We want to see a level of service reinstated that makes our community safe and secure.”

The issues were grouped under five key themes namely maternity, ambulance service, emergency department, theatres and doctors.

The main message of the night was that there was no quick solution to the problem and that Lachlan Area Health would not rush into a service that is not safe.

CEO of Western NSW Local Health District Scott McLachlan said a positive step was a meeting they had secured with the State and Federal Government to present a new model of management. The out- comes of the public meeting will also be submitted to the NSW Minister for Health, Brad Hazzard.

By Maggi Barnard

Parkes QUE donated $4,000 to PECC. At the handover were (L-R) Colette Genet-Marks (PECC), Miriam Luyt, Michelle Jelbart, Wendy Neville, Judy Chambers, Raelene Rout, Rosemary Morris, Bev Laing, Nancye Blatch, and Jeanine Boland. Three children from PECC in front holding the cheque.

Known as Quota for many years, the Parkes Club has changed its name to “Parkes QUE Club Inc”. The QUE stands for Quality, Understanding and Empathy.

Although our name has changed, our mission is still the same. We are a not-for- profit incorporated association “empowering women and children, the deaf, hard-of-hearing, and speech impaired in our local community”.

Our club remains strong with 53 members committed to service work in the Parkes Shire. Our fundraising activities include open gardens, race-meeting catering for the Parkes Jockey Club, Melbourne Cup lunch and more.

Our annual Open Gardens event in October was a wonderful social and fundraising success, netting approximately $8,500 with most of the money donated to the Parkes Early Childhood Centre (PECC), the Peak Hill Central School and $500 to Pink Up Parkes.

PECC received $4,000 to screen speech and hearing of children. “The invaluable support from Parkes QUE Club allows us to screen approximately 180 children each year and then implement speech and language programs for children in our care,” said Colette Genet-Marks from PECC.

It’s almost time for the year’s biggest holiday when many of us load up the car for a getaway over Christmas. Here are some essential car safety checks to help you get ready.

Marlene Symonds surrounded by kindness – more than 100 shoe boxes were delivered to her from people in the community for the Ladies on the Land initiative.

Parkes resident Marlene Symonds who put up her hand to manage a collection point for the Ladies of the Land initiative has been overwhelmed by the community’s support.

“Initially I thought it would be great to get at least five boxes, but now there’s over 100 already,” said Marlene this week.

She said people from far and wide delivered shoe boxes at The Coffee Pot filled with pamper items and wrapped in newspaper.

She mentioned Vicky Wright who brought in nine boxes, and the staff of Woolworths in Parkes made up 40 boxes!

“Everyone was telling me how much they enjoyed doing it,” said Marlene.

The Ladies of the Land initiative is dedicated to the women on the land who often put themselves last to make Christmas a little better for them.

Marlene will still accept boxes until 5pm today (Friday) at The Coffee Pot, and tomorrow she will take the load to Orange from where it will be distributed to drought affect- ed communities.

She said 120 boxes had already been distributed to farming families at Peak Hill this week.

Tracy Dawson found a novel idea of sharing her love of books with the community by creating a street library in Oswin Street that is open all hours!

There is nothing more a bookworm loves doing after reading than sharing books with others.

That is why Oswin Street now boasts the second street library in Parkes after self-acknowledged bibliophile Tracy Dawson decided to create a treasure of literary happiness under the Norfolk pine in her garden.

“I have so many books and I like the idea of recycling them in this way instead of just dumping them at an op shop.”

For Tracey, who is also the librarian at Parkes High School, spreading the message of the importance of reading is a life’s mission. “Reading is not just important when you’re at school, but also for your career.”

“Reading not only improves spelling, grammar and writing, but also helps to stimulate your imagination and critical thinking. These qualities are very important in how we use technology in solving problems these days.”

Tracy is also an avid recycler and used an old internet server box from school to create a beautiful home, called Ollie Os- win, for the books in her front yard where it’s accessible from the street to neighbours to share the joys of reading.

The idea is that books come and go at all hours, no-one needs to check them in or out. People can simply reach in and take what interests them, and when they are done, they can return them, or pass them on to friends.

The very talented Jess Macdonald from Ellery Creations by Jessica was selling items she had made at the first Greenparkes Garden Centre Market Day last Saturday.

A new initiative by Greenparkes Garden Centre not only makes it easy to shop locally for Christmas, but also helps out families hit hard by the drought.

The first market day last Saturday with eight stall holders from all over the Parkes Shire was well supported by the public.

“It was a good day,” said Jenny Jewell, owner of Greenparkes Garden Centre. “The stall holders were all very happy.”

Jenny said some of the stalls were run by the partners of farmers who had become breadwinners. “Everyone is doing it tough.”

The idea of the market days came from Jenny’s daughter, and the plan is to run it every Saturday until Christmas.

Jenny said as the market continued until 3pm, it gave people time to attend after their sporting commitments. Booking a spot is essential as Jenny would like to maintain a variety at every market.

Last week’s market included home made items, essential oils, creative signs and kitchen appliances.

If you would like to take part you need to bring your own equipment, including cash float and EFT facilities. For more information contact Jenny on 0428 634 650 during business hours.

By Maggi Barnard

The Pink Up Parkes committee members are very happy with the result of the very first Pink Up Parkes campaign. They are at the back (L-R) Dianne Green, Bill Thomas, Marg Applebee, Jenny Breaden, Ruth Taylor, chair Carolyn Rice OAM and Lorraine Parker. In front are Beth Thomas, Virginia Rice and Cr Ken Keith OAM. (Photo: Christine Little)

The very first Pink Up Parkes campaign exceeded all expectations with well over $34,000 raised for the McGrath Foundation during October.

“It is very exciting what was achieved considering we are in the midst of a severe drought,” said Marg Applebee of the Pink Up Parkes Committee. “We aimed for $20,000, and the final amount has not been confirmed as money is still coming in.” She said donations could still be made, and asked all businesses and organisations to deposit any outstanding money.

Chairperson of the Pink Up Parkes Committee, Carolyn Rice OAM thanked the community for their enthusiasm and support, as well as her committee members who had put in many hours to make it all happen.

Community members, businesses, schools, organisations and clubs got onboard and organised a variety of different activities, events and fundraisers in support of the campaign. Marg said the committee did not even know about all the events.

As the plan is to run the campaign again next year, she asked people to put it in their calendars and start thinking about how they would like to get involved.

The Pink Up Parkes Committee thanked the Parkes Shire Council, Central West Lachlan Landcare and the Parkes Business Chamber for all their support in making it a huge success.