The Craft Corner was wrapped in love last Thursday when more than 40 women participated in the annual Knit and Natter event. A group of 15 women from Orange joined in for the second year, and Brooke Daniels from ABC Radio was invited as special guest for the morning. Women from Parkes and Peak Hill helped to knit and crochet a few thousand squares to create rugs. According to President of the Craft Corner, Rosemary Mitchell they have been taking part in the annual Wrap with Love initiative for 15 years.

Wrap with Love, a registered charity, reach more than 30,000 people each year in Australia and around the world. “It is very exciting to watch television and see people with colourful rugs wrapped around them and knowing it might have been made by one of us,” said Rosemary. She said Wrap with Love works closely with the Catherine Hamlin Fistula Foundation in Ethiopia in Africa.

One rug is made up of 28 squares measuring 25cm X 25cm. Rosemary expected the Craft Corner to contribute about 50 rugs to this year’s drive. The rugs will go to Sydney from where it will be distributed around Australia and the world.

A new record was set at the National Tree Day event in Parkes on Sunday when nearly 70 people turned up to plant trees. “We were thrilled with nearly 70 people in attendance at Akuna Road. Our largest number yet for a National Tree Day event. Well done Parkes!” said Central West Lachlan Landcare (CWLL) Co-ordinator, Marg Applebee.

Volunteers helped to plant, stake, water and mulch an area adjacent to the Water Treatment Plant. This area closely links with plantings from the National Tree Day planting event three years ago and extends the wildlife corridor from existing bushland in the area. “The existing plantings have grown extremely well, with excellent planting conditions making a significant impact on survival,” said Marg.

“Whether volunteers could donate one or two hours to the project, it has all made a fantastic contribution to the area. Our previous National Tree Day plantings are progressing well and we hope to see the same success at the Akuna Road site in the years ahead.”

CWLL partnered with Parkes Shire Council on the day. Parkes Shire Council’s Environmental Officer, Michael Chambers prepared the site to get it ready for planting, and Toyota provided shirts and gloves for the volunteers. After all the hard work, volunteers enjoyed a sausage sandwich.

Parkes residents joined over 300,000 people who took part in National Tree Day all over Australia each year.

AUTHOR VISIT – Jenny Old “Back of Beyond”
Friday 3 August at 6pm, Parkes Library
When 22-year-old Jenny Old followed her heart to the vastness of the Gulf of Carpentaria, she had no idea of the primitive conditions she’d find herself in. Often her only contact with the outside world was through her two-way radio. Stretched to the limits, she achieved more than she ever thought herself capable of. With every setback and
in the toughest of times, she learnt to dust herself off, find a smile and just keep going.

EXHIBITION – Hello! from Australia
18 August to 22 September, Parkes Library
Hello! from Australia: Indigenous Australian Children’s Books and Illustrations, a travelling exhibition from Books Illustrated, showcases the contemporary publishing of indigenous books in Australia.

WORKSHOP – Transformations From Nature
Saturday, 1 September, 9-4pm, Cooke Park Community Centre
With Jane Milburn you will experiment with colour using natural materials. Find an unloved natural-fibre garment or two – wool and silk (work best) or linen and cotton. Using onion skins, tea, leaves, flowers, bark and rusty tools, to refresh and transform them for a second life. Suitable for beginners. Age 12+. Cost: $10. Bookings required
with payment at Parkes Library.

WORKSHOP – Snip and Stitch Upcycling
Sunday 2 September, 9am – 4pm, Parkes Library
Jane Milburn will help you transform tshirts and other clothes using scissors and stitching. Bring along a few unloved natural-fibre garments. Changes will be made using hand-stitching techniques or machine sewing (for those with a machine to bring along). Some sewing experience preferred. Age 15+. Cost: $10. Bookings required with payment at Parkes Library.

The Parkes Elvis Festival has added another award to its collection by winning the Festivals and Events category at the 2018 Regional Tourism Awards in Orange on Saturday. “This is a fantastic achievement for the Parkes Elvis Festival and is a credit to all of the hard work that our amazing committee, volunteers, and Council staff put into
the Festival,” said Festival Director Cathy Treasure.

The Regional Tourism Awards are held annually to acknowledge excellence in tourism across the Riverina Murray, North Coast and Country and Outback. Regional Tourism Awards Chair, Jane Barnes said finalists in this year’s program were of a high calibre with a number of first time entrants on the list.

Parkes Elvis Festival will automatically progress to the state tourism awards, and the finalists for the NSW Tourism Awards will be announced on 15th October. Parkes Shire Council picked up silver in the Destination Marketing category for its brand campaigns, while the Parkes Visitor Information Centre was a finalist in the Visitor Information Services category for its quality service for 26,000 visitors annually.

The Parkes Elvis Festival last week also welcomed leading rail freight operator Pacific National on board as a major sponsor for next year’s event. The largest rail freight operator in Australia has not only committed $35 million to develop a freight logistics terminal in Parkes, but is supporting the local community by becoming a major sponsor to deliver a spectacular feature concert series starring US Elvis tribute artist Ted Torres Martin.

“Parkes is quickly becoming an epicentre for rail freight and Pacific National is very pleased to be a major sponsor of this iconic event,” said Pacific National CEO Dean Dalla Valle.

The 2019 feature concert series includes four performances by Ted Torres Martin at the Parkes Leagues Club. Tickets will go on sale on Monday, 10th September.

The future of education will be showcased in NSW public schools next week as students, teachers and parents across the state celebrate Education Week 2018. This year’s theme, Today’s schools – creating tomorrow’s world, highlights how NSW public schools are equipping young people with the skills and capabilities they need to thrive in a rapidly changing world.

Mark Scott, Secretary of the Department of Education said a young child who started Kindergarten this year would leave the school system in 2030. “He or she is going to spend the vast amount of their working life in the second half of the 21st century,” he said.

“Our schools are very future-focused, preparing and equipping young people with the skills, the knowledge and the capabilities they need to lead and flourish in tomorrow’s world.”

He said Education Week would be a great opportunity for public schools and teachers to showcase great teaching and learning practice.

This Education Week, the Department of Education is also launching an exciting initiative called The Game Changer Challenge. Sixteen teams from schools across NSW will explore the role of design-thinking in the classroom all while solving the important question, what will the school of the future look like?

NSW Education Week is an annual event held in the first week of August to celebrate public education across the state. It highlights the achievements of public education and local schools, putting the spotlight on students, educators and school communities.

When you think about how much we use our hands especially when playing ball sports, it’s not hard to understand why hand and finger injuries are so common. Most of these injuries heal spontaneously, which is why they are often neglected by athletes. Many people don’t seek help until it is too late for effective treatment. However, an early, accurate diagnosis to identify potentially serious injuries can prevent long term functional impairment and deformity.

Knowledge of the mechanism of injury or how the injury happened can also help with an accurate diagnosis. A punching injury often results in a fracture to one of the metacarpal bones, commonly the base of the fifth metacarpal. A direct blow to the point of the finger often causes a dislocation or sprain of one of the finger joints. Sometimes the finger flexor tendon can pull a plug of bone off its attachment causing an avulsion fracture. This most commonly involves the ring finger and occurs when a player grabs an opponent’s clothing during a tackle.

As a general rule of thumb, if there is any deformity present, either with the hand open or closed, persistent swelling or any of the hand or finger joints don’t move as they should, it is important to have the injury checked out by a professional. Some fractures may require surgery, some immobilisation or splinting. Sprains or dislocations may require swelling management with ice or an oedema glove and exercises to prevent loss of range of motion.

An early diagnosis and appropriate management can prevent a lifetime of deformity and loss of function.

For the fitness of you,
Linda Reilly

A road upgrade to create a major heavy vehicle route linking the Newell Highway to busy grain handling facilities at Wirrinya, south-west of Parkes, is now complete.

The changes include a 12.6 km section of the road, known as Bewleys Road in the Weddin Shire, and Wirrinya Road in the Forbes Shire, was widened, had its culverts strengthened, intersections realigned and rail crossings improved to allow access for an increased number of heavy vehicles.

The upgrade will allow B-doubles, road trains and other heavy vehicles to use the road as a direct route between the Newell Highway and Wirrinya.

The upgrade has created a more direct heavy vehicle route which represents a distance saving of up to 37 kilometres per trip meaning the trucks will no longer need to travel through Forbes or Caragabal. The grain handling facility at Wirrinya received about 50,000 tonnes of grain each year by truck.

The two successful recipients of the CMOC-Northparkes Mines 2018 Indigenous Scholarships are Thomas McRae and Peter Lindsay.

Thomas is from Parkes and has been accepted into the University of Newcastle to study a Bachelor of Engineering Honours Electrical and Electronic. Peter is from Tottenham and has been accepted into the University of Wollongong to study a Bachelor of Engineering Honours.

“It’s great to see these scholarships being presented to such outstanding students.

We are proud to welcome Thomas and Peter to our employee pipeline,” said Northparkes Managing Director Jim Fowler.

Thomas, who is currently undertaking work placement at Northparkes during his university holidays, said he was enjoying the opportunity to develop relationships at the mine. Peter is considering doing a Bachelor of Science after completing his Bachelor of Engineering Honours.

The scholarship program awards $5,000 per year to non-technical and $10,000 per year to technical scholarship holders. The recipients also receive a laptop and work placements at Northparkes and throughout Australia.

Drone technology has opened up an array of time and cost saving applications, and the Parkes Shire is welcoming it with open arms.

A number of Parkes Shire Council staff are undertaking a training course in drone operation and Civil Aviation Safety Authority’s (CASA) compliance as part of a wider program to incorporate the technology into asset management and other applications.

Council’s Director of Infrastructure Andrew Francis said Council has teamed with The Institute of Drone Technology for drone flight training as well as ensuring all staff trained in drone usage are compliant with the stringent CASA guidelines for Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS).

“All trained staff will attain their remote pilot license which is the precursor to Council obtaining its own operator’s licence. We will eventually have a certified aviation management system for our drones.”

The use of drones and other smart community technology will assist in asset management and maintenance as well as providing environmental monitoring opportunities for noxious weeds and other problems such as salinity.

“There are many time and cost saving applications for drones including inspection of assets at height (sporting oval lights, water reservoir covers and platforms), road conditions, flood response, geotechnical monitoring, thermal heat mapping of building roof insulation effectiveness, hydrology, water pollution, vegetation analysis as well as parks and sporting oval watering performance. The drones will also be used to monitor drainage issues and digital capture for town planning,” said Andrew.

One of the key uses will be for leak detection in the hundreds of kilometres of council water mains, particularly in hilly terrain to the east of Parkes.

The marketing team will also be able to utilise images for promotional purposes.

Member for Orange Phil Donato MP has taken the lead to show his support for drought affected farmers by donating the 2.5% pay rise MPs have received to the drought charity Aussie Helpers.

He feels the government have failed to deliver for farmers, and charities are now having to do the work.

“I cannot in good conscience accept a pay rise while farmers, whom I proudly represent, are struggling through the worst drought in over three decades.”

He also put out a challenge to all regional and rural based MPs, both state and federal, to donate their pay rise and show their support for farmers and demonstrate leadership, which they were elected to do.

“If government won’t provide freight subsidies for fodder, water, and stock to help farmers, the least they can do is open up their wallets,” said Phil.

“Politicians received a 2.5% pay rise this year, but I don’t think it’s fair that we should get a pay rise when farmers are struggling.”