MAJOR UPGRADE… The long-awaited refurbishment of the Little Theatre in Parkes has started. All the chairs, which were installed in 2000, had to be removed for the installation tiered seating. The old chairs will be used in various community halls. The new theatre will be opened with a gala concert series in October.

The annual free child restraint check day is next Thursday, 28th June from 10am to 2pm at Lions Park.

Checks will be conducted by RMS authorised child restraint fitters.

Parkes Shire Council’s Road Safety and Injury Prevention Officer, Melanie Suitor said it was important to have the checks done to ensure the safe travel of young children. “Research shows that two out of three child restraints are not used properly and this puts children at risk in the event of a crash.

“Most of the restraints checked last year had minor problems, such as tightening straps, checking clips and replacing loose bolts,” said Melanie.

Bookings are essential, phone 6861 2364. There will also be a free bbq and a colouring- in competition with a $50 prize.

Wet weather did not stop the social highlight of the year with about 2,000 people from all over the Central West attending the Parkes Picnic Races on Saturday. In the afternoon the weather cleared and the ever popular Fashions on the Field were hotly contested with a large number of entries for each category. The winners were Elegant Lady – Karlie de Kaste (Geurie), Contemporary – Aimee Hay (Tathra), Millinery – Melissa West (Forbes) and Stylish Man – Ben Terry (Parkes). The Coradgery Cup was won by Naoko ridden by Ken Dunbar and trained by Connie Grieg from Dubbo.

Fourteen learning institutions received a valuable package from the Galari-Lachlan Reconciliation Group last week.
“As part of our desire to share culture and knowledge with the community, we put together a Wiradjuri Cultural Exchange package with a grant we received from CMOC NorthParkes mines,” said David Acheson, co-chair of the group.

The package includes material for the teaching of Wiradjuri and includes a Wiradjuri to English Dictionary, a DVD titled “Yindyamarra Yambuwan”, which is a 15-minute film in Wiradjuri language, a book containing a transcript of the film, an animated DVD with children’s songs in Wiradjuri language and a DVD of common phrases in Wiradjuri.

At the presentation event with representatives of the institutions, the DVD “Yindyamarra Yambuwan” was shown with introductions from Dr Uncle Stan Grant and his  sister Aunty Flo Grant. They talk about the importance of respect in the Wiradjuri culture.

The project was initiated with a donation by the Sisters of Mercy who funded the donation of dictionaries to schools. Sister Florence Kinsela of the Parkes Sisters of Mercy was present at the occasion. The packages were handed over to Nurture  One Children’s Centre, Parkes High School, Parkes Public School, Parkes East Public School, Holy Family Primary School, Middleton Public School, Parkes Early Childhood Centre, AECG, Parkes Christian School, Bluebird Early Education Centre, Central West Daycare, Parkes Shire Library, TAFE Western Library Parkes, Forbes Wiradjuri Language Group and Bedgerabong Public School.

Guinea Pigs
Guinea pigs can be lovely pets, but there are a few things you should know before making the big commitment.
1. Guinea pigs are hardy. When cared for and fed properly, guinea pigs are generally very healthy.
2. Guinea pigs are easy to care for. They require hay, fresh water, fresh vegetables and some pelleted food for guinea
pigs that includes a vitamin C supplement. They need a fairly large cage that needs to be cleaned regularly.
3. Guinea pigs are great pets for children. Not as fragile as rabbits and generally less skittish than smaller rodents.
4. Guinea pigs live long lives. Most guinea pigs live five to seven years. This is important to consider if you are thinking of adopting a guinea pig.
5. Guinea pigs are unique. They have a lot of personality. Some are shy; others are bold and dominant.
6. Guinea pigs purr! Just like cats, guinea pigs make a quiet yet audible vibrating sound often when they are petted gently.
7. Guinea pigs like to pop. “Popcorning” is commonly seen in young guinea pigs when they are happy or excited: They jump up straight into the air over and over.
8. Guinea pigs are colorful. Short-haired, long-haired, even hairless – there are 13 breeds and 10 basic colors of guinea pigs.
9. Guinea pigs like people. Many squeal with delight when they see their owners or try to climb up the sides of their cage to greet them. They are as interactive and friendly as dogs and cats.

The Parkes Pet Barn has guinea pigs, including long-haired ones, and all the necessary accessories and food to keep your new pet well cared for.

Five sporting clubs received new defibrillators and free training from the Parkes Shire Council as part of the NSW Office of Sport Local Sports Defibrillator Grant Program. The program, co-funded by NSW Government and Council, aims to assist sporting clubs across NSW in the purchase and maintenance of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs).

An AED is a life saving device which delivers a controlled shock to an individual experiencing cardiac arrest, increasing their chances of survival. Parkes Sports Council representative, Councillor Louise O’Leary said: “Council is 100% behind having these life-saving units within out sporting facilities.”

“As a health worker, I know how important first-response CPR is in instances of cardiac arrest.” “We know that these machines save lives, so it’s fantastic that they will now be easily accessible throughout our community.”

The equipment and free training delivered by the Red Cross were given to the Parkes Railway Bowling Club, Peak Hill Golf Club, Parkes Rugby League Club, Parkes Cricket Association and the Parkes Rugby Union Club. Parkes Rugby Union Vice President Ben Ryan said: “It’s so important to have defibrillators accessible at any venue where
there will be large groups of people.”

“It’s taking care of not just players but spectators and support staff and anyone else using the venue.” “This program and the assistance from Council demonstrates that they really care about the local community and keeping people safe. We hope we’ll never need it but it’s so important to have on hand just in case.”

Round 2 of the program will open in the coming months, and local sporting groups interested in getting an AED machine for their club are encouraged to contact Parkes Shire Grants Officer on 6861 2398, to find out how to apply.

Neighbourly Objections

Most local councils have a policy of notifying neighbours of any proposed development to an adjacent property. All councils are required to have the proposed developer affix a notice at the street frontage of the property notifying the public of the proposed development.

Such developments can range from demolition and new construction to the building of a pool or a garden sunroom. It’s quite frequently a difficult time for neighbours. You may think that you get on very well with your neighbours in chatting over the fence or having a cup of tea or a beer every now and then. But wave a development notice
in the wind and things can change dramatically.

If you are thinking of a major renovation or extension, which will require council approval (and even redecoration that most of us do at some stage), have a chat with your neighbours. Listen to their concerns about any impact on their property. The great probability is, if their concerns are well-founded, that minor concessions by you will resolve the issue. Most problems are loss of view, overshadowing, or loss of privacy.

Land is an expensive commodity. Houses are the same. People are justified in protecting what they have earned. You don’t want hostile neighbours. Stick to council guidelines and recommendations. It usually leads to a development approval. If we at Matthews Williams can assist you on this or any other legal matter, feel free to phone me or one of our solicitors or call into our office for an appointment.

By Mark Olson

Remember the days of home movies? If you have any lying around at home that are of national significance you can be part of the ‘Last Great Film Search’. Conrad Mill of Reel Smoke, a Parkes production company and advertising agency, is keen to get residents of the Central West to rummage around to see if they can find any reels of film in boxes, sheds, under the house or in cupboards and to contact him on 0431 967 365 for an assessment on the
contents.

“There are two types of film that may be gathering dust,” said Conrad. “Home movies which are usually on the standard 8, super 8 or 9.5mm, or 16mm reels that were dearer. Commercial films screened in cinemas or at events were generally 16 mm and 35mm.”

Conrad is working with the National Film and Sound Archives (NFSA) in Canberra and will not charge to assess commercial films. The NFSA preserves our film history and they are interested in anything from newsreels and commercials to full or partial feature films. “They are not interested in home movies unless it is of national significance, like the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge for example.”

According to Conrad the NFSA does not buy films. “They rely on donations and the goodwill of the public. We have a fairly poor history of archiving our old films and many are still missing.” The ‘Last Great Film Search’ was launched in 1982 by the NFSA and some surprising results have turned up.

Australian film history goes back to 1906 and has been recognised by UNESCO for making the very first feature film in the world. ‘The Story of the Kelly Gang’ was a six reeler running for over an hour and ten minutes. It was the longest film in the world at the time and made for a whopping 1,000 pounds, a considerable amount of money back then.

In 1975 the NFSA only had a few seconds of the film. In 1978 another 64 metres was found in a collection belonging to a former exhibitor. The entire film is 1,200 metres long. In 1982 someone found more of the film on a rubbish dump, and in 1996 more was discovered in London. “Who knows, maybe some of the missing footage is here in the Central West!” said Conrad.

Conrad became interested in staging a film search after numerous requests from clients to transfer their old home movies to DVD to share with friends and relatives. “While I can transfer super 8 and standard 8 digitally, larger formats of film have to be done at the NFSA and preserved properly.”

Currajong Disability Services (CDS) is placing a lot of faith in a little-known product to ensure the long-term viability of its vital services. A year ago Chairman of CDS Neil Unger started planting carob with great success just outside Parkes as part of the process to find interesting and unique ideas as a revenue stream for the organisation.

“Carob is drought proof, can grow on free  draining soil, slightly salt tolerant and feeds stock for free. Not to mention the numerous health benefits for people,” said Neil, who has spent his life on the land. “But we can’t do it alone and we are happy to share the windfalls and successes that come with it,” Neil said. “We need assistance from farmers who have some acreage to grow carobs.”

Neil’s mission is to educate the public on the numerous advantages carobs provide. Carob has a wide variety of health benefits, including its ability to boost the immune system, reduce the risk of cancer, improve digestion, slow down ageing, prevent cardiovascular diseases, and manage diabetes.

According to Organic Facts, carob, also known as St. John’s-bread, is a member of the Fabaceae family with edible fruits that are considered legumes. The plant is native to the Mediterranean region and Northern Africa, as well as parts of the Indian subcontinent and Asia all the way to Macaronesia.

Many cultures use carobs like others eat nuts and seeds, and it is also a substitute for chocolate! “Carob is an amazing legume. I would like to see carob become a viable alternative in the agriculture and health industries,” said Neil.

“This could not only benefit the said sectors, but hopefully it will safeguard the future of Currajong Disability Services well into the 21st century.”

To get involved with carobs or find out more email dane.millerd@currajong.org.au

National Party faithfuls from all over the Central West flocked to Parkes last Friday for the official opening of an
electorate office of the Nationals’ Member for Riverina and Deputy Prime Minister, Michael McCormack. “This is a really important day for me and the Central West,” said Michael. “We are here to help, whether you vote for the Nationals or not. Please tell others to pop in.”

The MP said he was in the process of appointing a full-time staff member for the office as he would not be able to be in Parkes all the time. “I will pop in as often as I can.”

Parkes Mayor Ken Keith said it was really important for the community to have access to politicians. “We are really pleased to see you have chosen Parkes for your second office.”