Last week I was part of the Parkes Phoenix while I carried out my work experience. During my time I gained a lot of knowledge, had fun and experienced lots of new things. I got to know what the Phoenix is all about as well as learning the processes in and behind it. I met lots of new people and clients through selling advertisements. It was
fun spending time with the clients and getting to know them and their business.

I really enjoyed the photography work I did taking photos for the Parkes Phoenix Instagram page. I also really loved being a part of the Be Seen column and the Question of the Week. While I was at the Phoenix, I saw the processes of printing, interviewing, creating feature ideas and selling advertisements, which I enjoyed the most.

I would like to thank Sylvie and all the other girls within the Phoenix group for giving me the opportunity to spend my work experience with them and for all the knowledge I gained in many different ways.

By Josie Thomson

With the temperature dropping well below zero this week and frost covering the ground, keeping warm has been a top priority for many of us. We all know some tips to stay on top of the cold. These include easy steps like wearing lots of thin layers to trap the air between the layers, having a hot drink, covering your head, neck, and lower back to keep the body warm, or using hot water bottles.

Cold feet is another symptom of winter and keeping them warm can be easy with Australia’s iconic Emu Ugg Boots made of 100% Australian sheepskin that is thick, lush and water resistant. The Merino wool in the boots is an entirely natural fibre, which is insulating, aids breathability and contributes to odour resistance.

Hay’s Gifts and Hardware in Parkes currently has a sale on these popular boots, so don’t miss out.

Another way to warm up the house is keeping a log fire going. It not only creates a lovely warm feeling, but also keeps the house cosy and toasty, and creates a great spot to read a book. You don’t have to search high and low should your run out of wood, as Parkes Brick and Pavers have firewood available.

There are several ways to insulate a home and make it more winter proof. One way is to install shutters on windows to help keep out the cold. Contact Parkes Blind, Awning and Tile Centre to get some expert advice on what to do and what to fit.

If you like the outdoors during winter, especially motorbiking, you would need some specialist gear to enjoy the ride. Drop in to Kinsela to look at their range.

If you are looking for a warm drink and company in a cosy environment, the Parkes Services Club offers a welcome
refuge from the cold. Don’t sit and freeze at home – drop in for a warm drink, warm conversation with the friendly staff and stay on to try out the new dinner menu if you wish.

The Parkes Shire Access Committee was re-established by Council and had its first meeting at the end of last month.
It is an advisory committee to Council regarding access issues for people with disabilities. The committee has wide representation including councillors, Neighbourhood Central, Currajong Disabilities, Ability Links, Lachlan Area Health and a number of individual community members. Committee Chair Cr Ken McGrath says access issues can relate to a wide range of lifestyle aspects, not just physical movement. “The Parkes Shire Access Committee
will address many issues including access to services, employment, events, communication, transport and building access.”

The committee’s core functions are to provide a forum for the discussion of matters pertaining to disability access; to assist in the implementation of Council’s Disability Inclusion Action Plan; and to promote greater awareness, understanding, support and positive attitudes on disability issues.

The committee will act as a conduit for consultation on Council’s major infrastructure developments and events to highlight potential issues and better plan for access, develop awareness campaigns, lobby government and agencies for better services and create conversations around access issues in the shire.

Council has committed $10,000 to an Access Incentive Scheme to be administered by the committee every year.

The Parkes Shire Council’s ambitious and vast capital works project is being recognised for its excellence by successfully progressing to the final round of judging in two prestigious engineering award categories.

The council has two nominations in the Australian Engineering Excellence Awards and three nominations in the Institute of Public Engineering Australasia awards for its $100m Integrated Water Infrastructure Renewal Program that resulted in a complete overhaul of the town’s entire urban water management network.

The new Water Treatment Plant and the new Sewage Treatment Plant were open to the public in March this year after completion. The treatment plants provide a number of flow-on benefits to the community, including improved water and wastewater treatment, minimised operational costs, and enhanced environmental benefits.

The awards are currently being assessed and winners will be announced later in the year.

A baker’s cyst, also known as a popliteal cyst, is a swelling at the back of the knee joint. Baker’s cysts are fairly common and are associated with chronic swelling within the knee joint. They occur, most frequently, secondary to degenerative disease within the knee joint such as osteoarthritis or meniscal degeneration. The main sign that a
baker’s cyst is present will be a bulge and a feeling of tightness behind the knee.

This may be tender to touch with pain and stiffness often worsening as the knee is straightened after activity or when squatting or kneeling. Just as a door hinge requires oil to reduce friction and allow smooth movement, similarly, the cartilage and tendons in the knee joint rely on a lubricating fluid called synovial fluid. Synovial fluid circulates around the knee joint and in and out of various fluid sacs called bursae that communicate with the knee joint.

Sometimes when a structure within the knee joint is damaged or inflamed too much fluid is produced. If this fluid gets trapped in the popliteal bursae it is called a baker’s cyst.

If a baker’s cyst is suspected the whole knee joint should be assessed thoroughly as treatment involves treatment of the underlying cause. Once the cause has been addressed the swelling generally settles down. Sometimes the bursae might be drained or surgically removed but if the underlying cause of the swelling is not corrected the swelling will just return.

Strengthening exercises for the lower limb can help to improve joint biomechanics and to decrease the load on the knee.

“For the fitness of you,”
Linda Reilly

EXHIBITION – Local Australian Gothic 3 to 28 July
Alice Stokes returned to Parkes in late 2017 after a number of years honing her creative skills and process in Berlin and is sharing some of her work with Parkes Library for an exhibition during July. Due to Alice’s love of film noir and the colour black she primarily draws with graphite on black paper or charcoal, creating stark, evocative images that are only revealed as the light catches the graphite.

AUTHOR VISIT – Kim Kelly Thursday 26 July, 6pm, Parkes Library
‘Lady Bird & The Fox’ – It’s 1868 and the gold rush sprawls across the wild west of NSW, bringing with it a new breed of colonial rogue – bushrangers. It is a world far removed for hardworking farm girl, Annie Bird, and her sleepy village on the outskirts of Sydney. But when a cruel stroke of fortune sees Annie orphaned and outcast, she is forced to head for the goldfields in search of her grandfather, a legendary Wiradjuri tracker. Determined and dangerously naive, she sets off with only her swag – and is promptly robbed of it on the road. RSVP by 24 July on 6861 2309 or parkes.library@parkes.nsw.gov.au

AUTHOR VISIT – Kim Hodges Saturday 28 July, 10am, Parkes Library
Kim has lived with mental illness for the past five years: bipolar 2 disorder, severe depression, generalised anxiety disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder. ‘Girl Over the Edge’ follows from her incredibly successful debut memoir ‘Girl on the Edge’, and will take the reader into severe episodes of depression, on the road to recovery and everything else in between. RSVP by 26 July on 6861 2309 or parkes.library@parkes.nsw.gov.au

If you would like to experience an event where two ideas not usually mentioned in the same sentence are combined, why not join the Holy Family Parish for its second Spirituality in the Pub (SIP) event?

It takes place on Monday, 9th July in the dining room of the Commercial Hotel at 6:30pm with a gold coin donation at the door. The SIP concept is one of the forums for conversion instituted by Catalyst for Renewal and has been happening for over 13 years in many pubs in Australia.

The guest speakers on Monday are Tom McKeown, a youth worker from Condobolin, and Melissa Kupkee, a teacher at Holy Family primary school. Tom and Melissa will talk on “What is the difference between religion and spirituality”. Come and share a drink and explore with Tom and Melissa how young people are seeking meaning in
today’s world. There will be time for questions and discussion. The dining room will be open for dinner afterwards.

A Parkes resident is taking on a new adventure in September because he wants to make a difference and support the work of the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia. David Williams will be taking part in the inaugural Outback 4WD Adventure event starting in Cobar on 22nd September to raise funds for prostate cancer research.

“I have never been in any rallies or fundraising drives before, but have helped catering for many such events passing through at Lake Cargelligo,” said David. He was inspired to take on this adventure as he has quite a few close friends who have experienced serious issues with prostate cancer.

Up to 40 cars will be participating in the week-long rally visiting many iconic towns in the outback, and each one has to raise at least $1,500 to participate. David said his aim was to get as many donations as possible to the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia, and would be happy with any donation made on the page he has created on everydayhero. The link to the page is https://outback4wdadventure.everydayhero.com/au/prostate-cancer-fundraising-parkes

In Australia 3,300 men a year die from prostate cancer. That is nine a day.

As the current winter continues to be a mostly sunny one, the drought tends to pop up in many conversations. One Parkes woman has decided it is not good enough to just talk about it, but to do something for the farmers.

“We can all help to give the farmers a hand up,” said Karen White. She started last Thursday asking her friends on Facebook to put together a care package, and immediately had a wonderful response.

“Getting animal feed is priority for the farmers at the moment, which means there might not be much left for other daily necessities.”

Karen’s idea is to put together packages with anything from toothpaste to teabags, something for the kids or something to help mum and dad wind down. “A bottle of wine and a bag of nuts could give them some time to relax and not think about the drought for a while.”

Karen said the idea was not to spend a fortune and as little as $4 items would make a difference. She collects it all and will make up packages. Or people could make up their own, like putting together a pasta meal, or a movie night package with a DVD and some popcorn. She also suggested bags of dog biscuits to help keep the working dogs fed. Another idea was to get a voucher from IGA.

Karen will be collecting donations for the next two weeks, and a friend who works for NSW Farmers Association will help with the distribution.

Donations can be dropped off at 172 London Road or at Kadina B & B at 22 Mengarvie Street.

The Central West Astronomical Society (CWAS) has announced the shortlisted finalists in the 2018 CWAS
Astrophotography Awards – the David Malin Awards. The winners will be announced at the 2018 CWAS AstroFest, in Parkes from 14 to 15 July. This is one of the finalists, Paul Haese’s image called “Seeing is King”.