Five operators of Parkes Shire Council’s water operations staff received their national certification through the Water Industry Operators Association (WIOA) in Parkes recently.

The WIOA event was held at the Parkes Water Treatment Plant, showcasing the multi-award winning water and wastewater treatment infrastructure to more than 60 water industry operators and council representatives from across the state.

Parkes Shire Council with four Centroc councils and the Centroc team have been working at both State and Federal level to gain recognition for the invaluable role that water treatment plant operators play in providing safe drinking water for their communities.

Operators from the five councils were in the pilot NSW-based accreditation scheme, and have now been accredited and certified under a newly formed National Certification of Water Treatment Plant operators.

The operators had to complete a set of fit-for-purpose units of competency from the nationally recognised Water Training Package as well as demonstrate relevant industry experience.

As technology is touching and changing every aspect of our lives, including the classroom, the Parkes Christian School has embraced it and is regarded as a pioneer in the Central West.

Clarence Goh is the school’s Information Technology teacher and as the only Google Trainer and Google Innovator in the Central West, he is leading the Google Education Group (GEG) in Parkes. He explains that GEGs (Google Educator Groups) are independently run communities of educators who inspire and empower each other to meet the needs of students through technology both in the classroom and beyond.

Via face to face meet-ups and online activities, GEGs provide a way for educators who are passionate about education and technology to meet like-minded people and share, learn, and collaborate together.

This week he convened a meeting with 12 teachers of the Parkes Christian School where they learned more about the usages of Google Classroom and how it can improve classroom practice. “Google Classroom is part of the G Suite collection of tools that our school is currently the pioneer and leader of in the Central West,” said Clarence.

“The session went well and staff gained a lot of new knowledge. This will help improve our teaching methods and assessments,” said Clarence. He aims to make the Google GEG a quarterly event in Parkes. “All GEGs are open
to the public, which means that all educators from the region are welcome to attend.” The next GEG will be in term 1 next year.

Clarence is also working towards getting more staff Google-accredited. This means they would have completed the Google Educator Exams Levels 1 and 2 and could then become trainers and innovators.

“As we learn and employ new technologies into our classroom, the teaching and learning process will improve and become more streamlined and efficient,” said Clarence.

Pick A Perfect Spot At Wyangala Waters
It’s that time of year when the days are longer, warmer and call for adventure. Wyangala Waters sits on the shore of Wyangala Dam, an easy drive from Parkes, Cowra, Bathurst, Blayney and the wider Central Tablelands of NSW.

It’s about the simple things at Wyangala Waters: good company, beautiful natural surrounds and picturesque water views. Take the boat out for some water-skiing fun, or make the most of the excellent fishing. Let the kids go wild in the bush building forts and bike riding. Enjoy bushwalking, spotting kangaroos and birds, then finish the day around the campfire, toasting marshmallows under a big starry sky. Life doesn’t get better than this!

The park is big enough to pick your perfect spot and make yourself at home in your RV, caravan or tent. Powered sites are still available for the summer, while there is a range of cabins, cottages and bungalows too. Reflections Holiday Parks Wyangala Waters is dog-friendly for camping and caravan sites to enjoy the bush experience with the whole family.

Stay On The Water In A Houseboat
Wyangala Houseboats offer a unique accommodation experience with two houseboats available for hire: Moomba and Tango. Each one accommodates up to 10 people featuring a kitchen, bathroom and bbq facilities. Grab a group of friends or family and spend the weekend or week cruising, skiing, fishing or just relaxing along Wyangala Waters. No special licence required. You will be thoroughly briefed to ensure you are comfortable with the safe handling of the houseboat before going on your way. Gift vouchers available. For bookings and enquires phone Wyangala Waters on 6345 0877.

A good crowd of over 100 people gathered in Cooke Park on Sunday to commemorate the Centenary of World War I Armistice Day. President of Parkes RSL Sub-Branch Terry Knowles read out the iconic poem In Flanders Fields by Lieutenant-Colonel John McRae with a parade of ex and service personnel standing at attention. School children
read out the names of the fallen and Paul Dawson’s solo performance of The Last Post introduced two minutes of silence.

Parkes Mayor Ken Keith OAM spoke about the enormous effect the war had on the local community with one in four eligible volunteers enlisting.

He said the restoration project of the Feldkanone field artillery gun in Cooke Park had been delayed as the work needed to be authentic and there was a problem acquiring some parts.

The Mayor and President of Parkes RSL Sub-Branch also unveiled a plaque for the Armistice Centenary to be installed in Cooke Park. On Saturday night the Parkes RSL Sub-Branch hosted a special celebratory dinner.

Deputy Prime Minister and Member for Riverina, Michael McCormack could not attend but in his speech read out he said: “In your hearts and minds I am sure tonight you will reflect on the enormous sacrifices made by those men and their families.”

More than eight per cent of Australia’s population at the time enlisted.

The Parkes Shire will join the rest of the country on Sunday to commemorate the Centenary of World War I Armistice Day on 11th November. Member for Riverina and Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack secured
nearly $50,000 in funding through the Armistice Centenary Grants Program for nine projects in his electorate.

The projects include a Remembrance Wall and Garden at Bogan Gate, a display of memorabilia in the Trundle War Memorial, and the restoration of a World War I Feldkanone (field artillery gun) at Cooke Park.

“I am so proud and touched by the way our communities continue to honour and remember the more than 60,000 Australians killed and another 156,000 wounded, gassed or taken prisoner during World War I,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.

“Thousands of young Riverina and Central West men walked off their farms, out of their jobs and away from their families to fight in far off countries and too many of them never came home and are forever at rest in foreign cemeteries.”

“We continue to grieve for them and we continue to pay our respects to them – and we always will.” The Parkes RSL Sub-Branch is hosting a special dinner at the Parkes Services Club on Saturday night to celebrate the centenary of Armistice. On Sunday the Remembrance Day service will start from 10.30 in Cooke Park.

Parkes has no shortage of talented musicians as two young performers proved again last weekend when they both finished in the top group in the Australian National Busking Championships in Cooma.

More than 150 buskers from around the country took part in the annual event and included Anabelle Van Wyk (11) and Hannah Dun (13) from Parkes. They both finished as runners-up in the primary and secondary age categories respectively.

“It was a great experience and I really enjoyed seeing other talented musicians,” said Annabelle, who played her saxophone and sang. “The best part was performing in front of very enthusiastic crowds and meeting the members of the amazing String Family, who provided me with a lot of encouragement and support.”

Hannah, also a singer, said she had learnt to persevere and perform the best she could. “I met new talented friends who enjoy music like I do and who appreciate music. I want to thank all the sponsors and organisers, and for the support this event provides to many young emerging musicians.”

Annabelle qualified for the primary age category after winning the Peak Hill event earlier this year. Hannah came second in Peak Hill leg of the championship and tried again at the Gundagai Busking Championship where she got first place and qualified for Cooma.

By Maggi Barnard

Parkes Shire Councillor Neil Westcott is an Alectown farmer and supporter of Farmers for Climate Action. He was getting sick of waiting for someone to say something about climate change and decided to speak out by writing an opinion piece, which was published in The Land last week.

“It is a cry from the heart,” he told The Parkes Phoenix. “We are not leaving a legacy I am very proud of.”

Here is what he wrote: “I’m going to listen, then I’m going to plan and then I’m going to act.” Those are the words of Coordinator-General for Drought, Major General Stephen Day.

I’m due to meet the man as he continues his tour of the nation listening to farmers and helping to unite efforts to bring support to drought-affected farmers and their families. I’m hoping that by meeting farmers like me, he will take the first-hand knowledge and advice with him to the National Drought Summit in Canberra.

Although Stephen’s words address drought relief, they can be equally applied to action on climate change. Anyone who listened to the scientists who authored the recent IPCC report can be in no doubt that we only have a matter
of 12 years before our climate reaches crisis point.

We have to take action now. Primarily, that action must include a long-term policy on agriculture and climate change, including support for farmers to plan for increased frequency and severity of drought.

As a fifth-generation farmer at 58 years of age, my records show that this year we have had just 20% of our annual rainfall. We are entering uncharted territory. Droughts are getting more severe and growing seasons are getting shorter.

Like most farmers today we are adapting and evolving, and for some of my farming peers, while you are adapting to change, it feels as though you still have some control over what is happening. But you can only adapt so far. Eventually climate change is going to catch us. I will be telling Major General Day there is a younger generation who aren’t so conservative, who know that they and their children will be the ones feeling the full impact of extreme weather patterns: too dry, too wet, too cold.

Out-of-season bushfires, droughts and severe frosts are mere sideshows to the main event. We are set to pay a high cost for political complacency on all sides of the spectrum.

As a councillor on the Parkes Shire Council I am heartened to see local government stepping into the policy vacuum
created by federal government. We have a greater freedom from party politics and I’m enormously proud of what our council has achieved.

We are one of the first councils across Australia to sign a national pledge to tackle emissions and climate change, to get cutprice solar panels into our community and recently, to incorporate a 400kw solar array into our new water and sewage plants, with plans to double this capacity in the near future.

It may not sound much, but at least we’re not sitting on our hands in parliament. My belief is that, as indicated in the Wentworth by-election, we have reached a tipping point where people are no longer going to put up with a soft slap response to the urgent demands of communities to act on climate change.

Politicians can no longer falsely claim they know better than the IPCC, or that we are on target to meet our Paris obligations to reduce emissions.

The truth is we can make a difference. There are opportunities for regional and rural Australia in choosing the clean path – including increased resilience to climate change impacts, new jobs and investment in renewables, energy independence and sustainable agriculture. We need to maintain the pressure on government at all levels to act on climate change, and we need to get loud about it. And then we need to get even louder.

Dirtgirl is heading to The Greenhouse in Orange on 8th November. Dirtgirl is a gumboot wearing, planet-loving girl – oh, and she’s also a rock star who loves to sing and dance almost as much as she loves getting grubby (almost!).

Late 2017 saw dirtgirl launch a new show about her life. From the EMMY Award winning makers of the International hit animation, dirtgirlworld, comes Get Grubby TV (GGTV). Like the cartoon, GGTV is yet again a celebration of life outside set to music that the whole family can dig!

With the same beloved characters at the wheel of the adventures, GGTV has reimagined the dirtgirlworld story to reveal the real place and the real characters …in the real world! As well as Costa the Garden Gnome (Costa Georgiadis), dirtgirl and scrapboy have some other new friends. Well actually, dirtgirl has a new band – an all-girl band and they seriously rock!

These musicians are home grown but know how to wow crowds around the world. Accomplished guitarist and vocalist Jules Parker with vocal powerhouse (and sometimes rockin’ drummer!) Leesa Gentz, to form the heart of the Hussy Hicks. They are often joined by Tracy Bassy and on some special occasions, Kristy Gentz.

“I thought my place couldn’t get any better, and then the girls moved in next door; now we definitely have the most rockin’ neighbourhood around! Sometimes they tour as far away as Europe, but we always look forward to a jam when they get home!”, says dirtgirl.

Dirtgirl World Live will be at The Greenhouse of Orange on Thursday 8th November doing three shows at 10am, 1pm and 4pm. To buy tickets head to www.thegreenhouseoforange.com.au

Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack is urging community organisations in drought-affected regions to apply for funding through the Small Grants Program. The Federal Government is providing $15 million in the Regional Drought Communities Small Grants Program to support regional communities devastated by the drought.

Small grants will be available to not-forprofit community groups to deliver projects in drought-affected regions focusing on reducing social isolation, leadership development and skills training, social and educational participation, addressing disadvantage caused by the drought, reducing volunteer fatigue, building capacity and
supporting local economic recovery or renewal.

“We understand communities are struggling and this is part of our more than $1.8 billion in additional Federal Government drought support measures already delivered,” said the Deputy PM.

The first round of applications opened last Friday. For Further information on the program and grant opportunities visit the Australian Government Department of Infrastructure, Regional Development and Cities website from at www.infrastructure.gov.au.