Over 80 members attended the Parkes Evening View Club’s annual Spring Fashion Parade at the Parkes Bowling and Sports Club recently. Fashions from Rockmans, Rockmans BeMe and The Red Chandelier were shown raising almost $2,000 to support three Learning for Life Children through the Smith Family. Pictured are the volunteers who were the models.
Wiradjuri elder Robert Clegg (left) tried out the recycled water by washing his face with it at the official opening of the new facility last Friday, with Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack enjoying the moment.
Parkes has a brand-new water source producing up to two megalitres of water per day which is equal to two Olympic size swimming pools of water.
The new water recycling scheme, designed to conserve water, was officially opened last Friday
Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development and Member for Riverina Michael McCormack said the scheme would create an entirely new water source and relieve stress on Parkes’ water supply.
“By replacing potable water used to maintain the town’s public spaces with recycled water, Parkes will be able to handle the extra demand placed on its water supply.”
Mayor of Parkes Shire Council Ken Keith said water security was one of the key issues facing rural communities, and the new, local water source would help service the needs of the community.
“Not only does the scheme reuse water that would otherwise be wasted, it’s supported by solar power to offset the energy costs of treating and transporting water, which reduces our greenhouse gas emissions,” the Mayor said.
“The recycled water scheme strengthens the town’s water security at a time when Parkes is on the cusp of significant economic development and ensures Council’s green spaces are climate resilient.”
The project was jointly funded with the Federal Government investing $8,725,000 million, and Parkes Shire Council contributing $12,175,000.
By Maggi Barnard
The devastating impact of the drought in rural Australia has prompted several initiatives to see the light over the last month in support of country town businesses and entrepreneurs.
Go Country for Christmas was launched last week to encourage fellow Australians to support rural and regional communities by purchasing their Christmas presents from a business based in the country.
A new social media campaign called #buyfromthebush also started that markets to people in the city encouraging them to buy remotely in the lead up to Christmas.
Liberal Senator for NSW, Hollie Hughes, encouraged Australians to think outside the box when buying presents this Christmas at the launch of Go Country for Christmas. “We don’t need to buy from the usual suspects, just go to gocountryforchristmas com.au and get the same thing you had in mind but buy it from a small regional business,” she said.
The website gives consumers an easy and accessible directory enabling them to buy Christmas presents from a registered country business.
Businesses that have an online presence and haven’t yet registered on the website, can go to www.gocountryforchristmas.com.au. Consumers and retailers taking part in Go Country for Christmas, can use the #gocountryforchristmas on your social media accounts to spread the word.
Grace Brennan, who started #buyfromthebush, never expected the campaign to take off the way it has. She told the ABC some business owners said they were already reaping the benefits, as the campaign has gathered more than 50,000 followers on Instagram.
Grace created #buyfromthebush to shine a light on drought-affected towns struggling to maintain their businesses. “Small businesses in the region depend on money coming from the agricultural industry, which is diminishing in the drought,” she said.
Grace saw this as an opportunity to draw in new customers using social media. “It’s incredible what you can do with Instagram and Facebook.”
Karly Lane is a popular Australian fiction author with 14 bestselling novels including her latest release Mr Right Now. Having grown up and lived in country towns and communities across NSW, including Parkes, Karly Lane is often referred to as rural fiction’s favourite daughter. In a mini tour of our shire, Karly will be speaking at Peak Hill, Trundle and Parkes libraries. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to meet Karly and hear her talk about her writing, novels and characters.
Peak Hill Library: Wed 6 November, 6pm Trundle Library: Thurs 7 November, 2pm Parkes Library: Fri 8 November, 6pm RSVP: 6861 2309 or library@parkes.nsw. gov.au
(Enter the competition on this page to win two of Karly’s latest books!)
Parkes Library
Tuesday 5th November @ 6pm
There’s no time like the write time! Author-Rised meets monthly to support and encourage teen and adult writers from beginners through to accomplished writers. Poets, creative fiction, all types of writers come together to work on achieving their writing goals. Whether you want to simply improve your writing or whether you are working toward publishing your work, this network of like-minded people provides a fun, enjoyable and supportive atmosphere for releasing your inner writer.
Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack and spokesman for Trundle War Memorial Hall Committee Andrew Rawsthorne.
The town of Trundle had a streak of good news last week receiving two sets of funding.
The War Memorial Hall received $10,475 from the Federal Government for air conditioning to ensure the longevity of this much loved venue.
A further grant was announced by the Member for Orange Phil Donato MP of $3,050 for the Trundle Multi-Purpose Service for the purchase of one mobile transport chair and one bariatric wheelchair.
Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development and Federal Member for Riverina Michael McCormack was in Trundle last Friday announcing the grant for the hall.
“From its original purpose as a memorial to the town’s First World War servicemen to the site of the annual ABBA Festival each May, this hall, which hosts 3,000 people every year, is the heart of the Trundle community,” said Mr McCormack.
Spokesman for Trundle War Memorial Hall Committee Andrew Rawsthorne said the upgrade would make a big difference, with the installation of air-conditioning and heating the hall committee’s number one priority.
“We notice hall bookings crash during the summer months because of the heat and this will allow a lot more use of the hall, which is good for the hall and good for the community,” he said.
“The hall plays a big role in bringing people together, especially at times such as this when it’s a bit hard.”
The two wheelchairs for the Trundle Multi Purpose Service were a necessity and much-needed equipment to ensure they can continue their service to the community.
The funding was provided after Phil lobbied the NSW Government.
“I’m pleased with this result and will continue to advocate for the needs of health services in our region,” he said.
The Western NSW Local Health District announced this week a midwife-led birthing service will be introduced at Parkes Hospital, while efforts continue to return medical obstetric services.
It is expected the service will be operational by the end of next year. Birthing will continue to occur at Forbes, with both towns continuing to offer pre and post-natal care.
Acting Chief Executive Mark Spittal said while the district continues to make every effort to recruit obstetric GPs and anaesthetists, a Midwifery Group Practice (MGP) was a safe and effective model for low-risk births where medical intervention is not anticipated or planned. “Where appropriate, the MGP offers families a level of choice that hasn’t previously been available in both Parkes and Forbes,” Mark said.
“This will enable birthing to return to Parkes for mums not needing medical services such as an induction or caesarean.
“The available medical obstetric services will be focussed at Forbes to ensure there is stability and certainty as to where services are available.
Mark said when it came to maternity services, local women and families told them they wanted certainty and safety more than anything else.
“Establishing the MGP will create a level of certainty for families as they approach the birth of their child,” he said.
Plans for developing the new service are already underway. A project officer will work with various parties to bring the Parkes and Forbes maternity services together to offer a single, effective, safe service.
A number of critical factors need to be put into place to support the MGP, including ensuring staff are fully trained and that processes are in place to assess women during pregnancy, and to cater for unexpected births or complications during birth.
November is Asbestos Awareness Month to educate the public about the dangers of asbestos. Australia has one of the highest rates of asbestos-related diseases in the world.
Asbestos-related diseases continue to increase as a direct result of exposure to asbestos fibres during home renovations and maintenance.
Many people wrongly believe that only fibro homes contain asbestos, but asbestos products can most likely be found in any Australian home built or renovated before 1987, whether it’s brick, weatherboard, fibro or clad homes.
It can be found under floor coverings, be- hind wall and floor tiles, in cement floors, internal and external walls, ceilings, eaves, garages, around hot water pipes, fences, extensions to homes, outdoor toilets, dog kennels, chook yards and backyard sheds.
If you suspect you have asbestos in your home: Dont cut it! Don’t drill it! Don’t drop it! Don’t sand it! Don’t saw it! Don’t scrape it! Don’t scrub it! Don’t dismantle it! Don’t tip it! Don’t waterblast it! Don’t demolish it! And whatever you do… Don’t dump it!
Check out the NSW Ministry of Health fact sheets about asbestos and health risks at www.health.nsw.gov.au
Matt Price with the two gold and two silver medals he won early in the swim season.
A young Parkes swimmer came home with four medals from the NSW Multi Class Swimming Championships in Ryde recently. Matt Price won gold in the 100m breaststroke and backstroke, and silver in the 100m and 50m freestyle.
This achievement means Matt has qualified for the Hancock Prospecting Australian All Age Championships to be held in Perth in April next year. It is a terrific result considering that he only started training for the season after the competition.
Matt is a member of the Parkes Sharks Swimming Club. The club is open to all people for membership where they can enjoy squad training, club nights and family fun nights.
Currajong Disability Services jumped on the Pink Up Parkes wagon to raise money for the McGrath Foundation and has already reached the halfway mark of their target of $1,000. Currajong clients and staff all got in the spirit and celebrated by dressing in pink for a morning tea with tremendous response from the community. Pictured are Blake Huntly, Dearnne Callaghan, Donna Apps, Sandra Lee Merritt, Shannon Miller and Jarrad Simpson at the event.
The Parkes Tennis Club held a family event last Friday as part of Pink Up Parkes. The ATP Cup ball kid squad played an exhibition match. They are (L-R) Mitchell Unger, Koby Wirth, Abbey Kennedy, Ben Evans, Jake Magill, Gabe Goodrick, Nia Boggs and Ethan Hunt.
The Pink Up Parkes Charity Dinner on Sunday night was a huge success with entertainment by Amitie and lots of money raised with the auction of donated items. All the money raised will go towards supporting the position of a breastcare nurse in Parkes, held by Di Green (left). She is with chairperson of the Pink Up Parkes committee, Carolyn Rice.
Do you need a crown? Are you missing a tooth and want to fill that gap? Then please read on…
What are dental crowns and bridges and why might I need one?
A crown is a ceramic restoration which completely covers a tooth. A crown is recommended for many reasons: your tooth may be weak from numerous fillings or bro- ken down, it may be cracked or severely worn down.
A bridge is a dental restoration used to replace one or more missing teeth by join- ing an artificial tooth definitively to adjacent teeth.
Crowns and bridges are done for both functionality and cosmetics.
Here at Baker Dental we offer same day Cerec crowns and bridges, all done over a four-step process. From the preparation of the tooth to the scanning of the prepped tooth using an intra oral camera, which allows the computer to produce a 3D image from which we can then design the crown or bridge.
Once design is completed, the milling machine will then cut a replica of the crown or bridge out of a ceramic block. The milling process can take up to 15 minutes and once this is complete, your crown is then ready for cementation. No need for impressions, temporary crowns or second appointments.
For any further information or if you would like to make an appointment, call us on 6862 1391.