Get Your Head Around Lice
It’s that time of year again so here’s a few facts and tips about head lice and treatments available.

FACTS
• Headlice are wingless insects that live, breed and feed on the human scalp. They have a 21-day life cycle.
• Headlice can’t jump or fly. Infestation occurs through direct contact – this can happen through play, swapping hats and cuddling.
• You only have to treat the affected child and not the whole family, unless they have headlice.
• Itchiness may not disappear immediately after treatment so keep checking the hair.

HINTS
• Tell your kids to not to swap hats in the playground to prevent infestation through contact.
• Long hair should be tied back. This makes it harder for lice to get access to the hair. If you have a girl, avoid sharing hairbrushes.
• Do a quick check every night. The faster you get on top of an infestation, the easier it is to treat.

TREATMENT
• Head lice live in the hair and go to the scalp to feed. Therefore, head lice products must be applied to all parts of the hair.
• Once treated, comb through the hair with a fine-tooth head lice comb. This will help to remove the dead eggs and lice, and possibly any eggs still living.
• No topical treatment kills 100% of the eggs, so treatment must involve two applications, seven days apart.

Insecticide resistance is common, so you need to check that the lice you comb out are dead. If successful, the lice will be dead within 20 minutes. If unsuccessful, the treatment has not worked and the lice are resistant to the product. For more advice, speak to one of our friendly team members in store.

With Parkes’ strategic location in the national transport network, a multi-media marketing campaign will target major logistics, manufacturing, warehousing and distribution companies to establish operations in our town.

The campaign, supported by the NSW Government’s Regional Growth – Marketing and Promotion Fund, follows the start of construction on the Melbourne to Brisbane Inland Rail project. “Parkes National Logistics Hub is set to be one of Australia’s largest and one of its most exciting greenfield developments,” said Parkes Shire Council’s General Manager, Kent Boyd. “This campaign will further highlight the great opportunities that exist in Parkes for importers, exporters and manufacturers.

“We are delighted to have several major logistics operators on board to champion the campaign, including SCT Logistics, Pacific National, Linfox and ARTC – all of whom call Parkes home, as well as industry leaders from the National Farmers’ Federation, Australian Railway Association and the Australian Logistics Council.”

The campaign integrates digital marketing, print media, video content, signage, social media and a new website to promote the benefit of Inland Rail and the opportunities for business to leverage from the Parkes National Logistics Hub to tap into new markets.

The campaign follows on from Parkes Shire Council’s cheeky social media pitch to Amazon in 2017, which attracted close to one million views and highlighted the fact that 80 per cent of Australia can be reached by road from the town within 24 hours.

The Parkes National Logistics Hub is a 600 hectare intermodal estate, uniquely positioned at the intersection of the East/West rail line, the North/South Newell Highway, and the new $10 billion Inland Rail. Potential investors can learn more about the Parkes National Logistics Hub and via Facebook and Twitter @ParkesHub, and download the Parkes Hub Prospectus via the website www.parkeshub.com.au.

Valentine’s Day is the one day of the year that is solely dedicated to love and companionship. For many this day involves spoiling each other with flowers, cards, teddy bears and chocolates while others prefer to surprise each other with a small gift or a night out to the movies or dinner.

The day originated at the Roman Festival Lupercalia when women would put their names in an urn and have them drawn out by a man they would be committed to for the next year, and more often than not these matches ended up in marriage.

Romance is a key factor to a healthy relationship and helps to keep the spark alive between couples. Even if you are away on the day a simple phone call or a card with your name and a small gift will still show your affection and commitment to the one you love.

Some ideas to surprise your loved one this year would be to let them sleep in, bring them breakfast in bed. In the language of flowers a single red rose or a bouquet of roses says ‘I love you’. It is important to tell the ones we love how much they mean to us before it is too late. No matter what you do, just celebrate with your loved one and spoil them!

Running from the bottom of Tasmania to the tip of Cape York might sound like an impossible mission, but a resident of Birdsville in Outback Australia has set herself this challenge to raise awareness of bowl cancer.

Parkes will be part of the Running for Bums challenge with Jenna Brook running through our town on 27th March. Jenna will be covering in excess of 4,500km and plans to complete the epic journey in around four months. Her aim is to start a lot of conversations along the way. Bowel cancer is the second biggest cancer killer in Australia, and not enough people talk about it.

Jenna hasn’t always been a runner – in fact she has never really been a consistent one until this idea popped into her head. In 2012 she walked 435km across the Simpson Desert, and has since finished two 250km ultra marathons at a
snail’s pace. Jenna will also be spreading the message of how moving and keeping active can play an important
role in the fight against bowel cancer.

Jenna is inviting local community groups, runners, or wellness groups to organise an event for when she reaches Parkes. Contact her on Facebook or on her website at https://runningforbums.wordpress.com/.

Twelve pubs and clubs in Parkes took part in the ‘Plan B – Win a Swag’ promotion during December run by the RMS and Parkes Shire Council. Patrons simply had to write down their alternate way to get home rather than driving
to win a swag valued at $250. The swag winners were Nicole Stevenson – Star Hotel; Steve Davis – Broadway
Hotel; Jocelyn Cannard – Royal Hotel; Kyle Branscombe – Coachman Hotel/Motel; Al Grady – Commerical Hotel; Brenton Hartin – Railway Hotel; Phil Barnard – Parkes Hotel; Mick Wilson – Parkes Leagues Club; Amanda Cheney – Parkes Services Club; Terry O’Keeffe – Parkes Bowling and Sports Club; Vince Kelly – Parkes Golf Club and Kaleb Cross – Parkes Railway Bowling Club.

An application to declare the severe storm at Back Yamma and Cookamidgera late last year as a natural disaster have been approved. Central West Lachlan Landcare submitted an Agricultural Natural Disaster Assessment application following hail incidents and flash flooding that saw many crops and infrastructure significantly impacted in November 2017 when they were on the verge of, or had commenced harvest.

The approval means landholders impacted by the event can access disaster relief loans and transport freight subsidies. Marg Applebee, Coordinator for Central West Lachlan Landcare said the Back Yamma and Cookamidgera areas had some of the most fertile soils in the Parkes and Forbes Shire areas. “This funding will enable primary producers, some of whom suffered significant crop losses and other infrastructure losses, to address immediate concerns and enable preparation for this year’s sowing season.”

Last week member for Orange Philip Donato met with affected landholders, Cr Neil Westcott and Cr Steven Karaitiana from Parkes and Forbes Shire Councils respectively, Alli Gartrell from the Rural Assistance Authority, President of Parkes and Forbes NSW Farmers, Gavin Tom and Marg Applebee to share the good news of the declaration.

For landholders seeking further details, information may be accessed through the Rural Assistance Authority website at www.raa.nsw.gov.au and are encouraged to contact Marg Applebee on 6862 4914 if assistance is required with applications submissions.

Parkes’ cricket stalwart Greg Morrissey has received an OAM (Medal of the Order of Australia) in recognition of his years of service to cricket and the Parkes community on Australia Day last week. Greg was honoured locally in July 2016 when the Greg Morrissey Field at McGlynn Park was officially named after him.

Some of his achievements and involvement with cricket include: Australian Sports Medal in 2000 for contributions to cricket and school sport, Lloyd Westcott Award 1995/96 for outstanding services to cricket, Duncan MacDonald Shield for services to cricket in 2010/11, Western Zone Volunteer of Year 2006 at Cricket NSW Steve Waugh Medal evening in Sydney, Western Zone Cricket Volunteer of Year Award 2010, level one accreditation in 1988, level two accreditation in 1990, passed cricket umpires examination to become a member of NSW Cricket Umpires and Scorers Association in 1993, life membership of Western PSSA in 1999 and life member of Lachlan PSSA in 2010.

With the new school year starting for thousands of students next week the Parkes Shire Council is reminding drivers and parents about children’s safety around schools. The Councils’ Road Safety and Injury Prevention Officer, Melanie Suitor said road crashes accounted for over half of all accidental deaths among children aged 5 – 14 years old.

“Children are vulnerable road users, and drivers need to pay extra attention and be patient with schools reopening.” “It is important that drivers slow down to 40km/h in school zones so they are in a better position to react to the unpredictable behaviour of children as well as the busy traffic environment.”

Melanie reminds drivers that when the orange (wig wag) lights on the back of a bus are flashing, you must slow down to 40km/h, as students are either getting on or off the school bus. Police will be targeting school zones to ensure drivers obey the 40km/h speed limit around all schools in NSW between 8 – 9.30am and 2.30 – 4pm on school days.
Other points to remember:
• Always make sure your children wear a seatbelt or use a child restraint.
• Always drop-off and pick-up your children on the school side of the road.
• Make sure children use the footpath-side door when getting in and out.
• Never call your children across the road to you.
• Use a pedestrian crossing where possible and avoid being distracted by friends, mobile phones or listening to music through headphones whilst walking.
• Children up to 10 years old should always be supervised when near traffic.
• Children up to eight years old should always hold an adult’s hand when crossing the road or walking near traffic.

The nominees for the 2018 Parkes Shire Australia Day Awards have been named ahead of the community celebrations tomorrow. The annual awards celebrate and acknowledge community, sporting and cultural contributions at a local level. Parkes Shire Mayor, Cr Ken Keith OAM said: “Each year we have the opportunity
to publically recognise the tremendous achievements and contributions of eminent members of our community.”

“These people are what make the Parkes Shire a wonderful place to live, work and visit.” Each nominee will be presented with a certificate with the recipient of each category awarded the honour by our 2018 Australia Day Ambassador. The nominees are:

PARKES
• Citizen of the Year: Barry Read, David Brock, Laurie Ashcroft, Roseanne Jones, Warwick Tom, Leanne Mathews
• Young Citizen of the Year: Gracey Denham Jones, Brenton Hawken, Yasmin Potts, Maddison Spence
• Community Event of the Year: Peak Hill Early Literacy, Paint Parkes Read, Rotary Fun Run, Rotary Peace Park Dedication, Parkes Open Houses, Show ‘n’ Shine Charity Day
• Marie Bashir Academic Award: Janie Green
• Cultural Award – Adult: Carmen Sharah, Scott “Sauce” Towney
• Cultural Award – Student: Gordon Richter, Gracey Denham Jones
• Cultural Award – Group: Parkes Action Club, St Elmo Shearing Shed Art Show – “Ducks on the Pond”, Sean James Cassidy, Scott “Sauce” Towney, Scott Turnbull – Sculpture in the Rotary Arboretum, Parkes Antique Motor Club, Ub Ubbo Exchange

PEAK HILL: Dean Colmer, James Jelbart, John van der Reyden, Bill Sanders, Peak Hill Golf Club, Chloe Gould, Brad Hart, Tom Symons, Ellie Parker, James Robinson

TRUNDLE: Les Whiley, Stella Farmer, Peter Kelly, Trundle Day Care – Sue Morrison, Julie Jones, Karen Quade and Suellen Taylor

TULLAMORE: Kevin Boneham, Troy Carey, Marie Darcy, Robert Mortimer, Sherryn Perks, Leanne Porter, Tallis Stevenson, Emma Williams.