Australian art educator and exhibition curator, Ann Snell is the Parkes Shire Australia Day Ambassador for 2018.
“We look forward to hearing Ann’s story, which illustrates the many opportunities Australia has to offer,” said Parkes Shire Mayor, Cr Ken Keith OAM.

Australia Day Ambassadors are people who provide inspiration and pride to the day’s events. Ann Snell, who first became an Ambassador in 2009, is the Managing Director of the Ann Snell Gallery in Surry Hills, as well as an art educator and advocate for cross cultural art collaborations.

“A primary motivation for working with Aboriginal Art is giving my clients access to Aboriginal philosophy and culture via beautiful paintings. Art is a great vehicle for healing and learning,” Ann said.

Celebrate the long weekend at the race track with the Parkes Jockey Club’s ‘Let’s Celebrate Australia Day’ meeting on Saturday. It is a full TAB meeting, seven race programme with the first race starting at 1.30pm.

As part of the club’s sponsorship with the Parkes Services Club, a courtesy bus is available to all members of the public, whether you are a member or not. The bus will be running from the Parkes Services Club from 12.30pm to 2pm, as well as going back to town after the last race.

There will be free entry for card carrying Services Club members as well as a raffle. The first prize will be a signed limited edition framed picture of champion race horse Winks.

A new feature will be a XXXX gold promotion with some sunhats and stubby holders to give away when purchasing XXXX products. D’Aquino’s Super Cellars is sponsoring the best Australian day themed bloke and sheila with some lovely gift baskets.

The usual amenities will be available: full bar, RFS barbeque luncheon, oncourse bookmaking and TAB facilities.

Minister for Racing Paul Toole and Parliamentary Secretary for Western NSW Rick Colless were in Parkes last week with good news for more than 1,000 registered sports players. They announced funding of $218,750 to upgrade lighting at Spicer and Woodward ovals in Parkes and Lindner Oval in Peak Hill providing a great boost for rugby league, rugby union, cricket, little athletics and soccer clubs. The grant is funded through a rebate on the state’s registered clubs’ gaming machines to reinvest profits back into community projects. Attending the handover were Deputy Mayor Barbara Newton and representatives and players of the different clubs.

Let’s Walk All The Way To Brisbane

Hello Phoenix Readers,
This January and February marks the start of our Year of Health. This is the time we all start making our resolutions for the year ahead and I bet most of them involve making better health choices. I know mine does! So, now is the time to kick it into gear and get your health sorted, and why not make your first stop, Parkes Pharmacy.

We have three pharmacists throughout the week ready and waiting for you to come in and get a quick and painless health check with us. It can be as simple or as extensive as you wish. We can offer blood pressure testing, blood glucose testing, a BMI check or medication review. We can also discuss weight management and quit smoking options and even sign you up to our walking challenge.

This year we hope to walk enough to make it all the way to Brisbane as a community. All you have to do is record your steps each day and hand it in each week until the end of February. Hey, that can even be something you do for your health – walk at least 10,000 steps each day (that’s about 7.5km). We certainly reach that here simply by just helping our customers around the pharmacy.

So, what are you waiting for? I know we’re waiting for you – waiting for you to start your Year of Health with us. The choice is yours, a simple blood pressure test or an extensive health check. Whatever you choose, we’re here to help.

Thanks for reading.
Caitlin Haase, Retail Manager

 

Home Building Work

The Home Building Act 1989 governs residential building work in NSW. A person doing residential building work must be licenced by the Department of Fair Trading, unless the cost of labour and materials is $5,000 or less.
• A person doing residential building work, repairs, renovations or advertising must be licenced if:
• the total cost of labour and materials are more than $5,000;
• it is electrical wiring work;
• it is plumbing, draining and gas fitting work; or
• it is air conditioning and refrigeration work (except plug-in appliances).

Licensing helps stamp out illegitimate operators and creates a level playing field for all tradespeople. Licenced tradespersons have to pay annual fees and insurance premiums. If the work is more than $20,000, the tradesperson is required to submit a written contract to the residential owner and provide for a cooling off period. In some instances for small jobs a much less onerous written contract is required for jobs over $5,000.

Owner builders require a permit from theDepartment of Fair Trading (with insurance) for residential building work with labour and material costs of more than $10,000, or you are required to get Council development consent for such work.

Large fines apply to first offenders and gaol is an option for second time offenders, who are unlicenced and/or uninsured. In addition to criminal penalties, unlicensed tradesmen might even find they don’t get paid for the job done, are sued for recovery of monies paid or might have orders made by NCAT against them.

All home owners should be aware that they can demand evidence of licence and insurance from tradespeople. If you have any more queries please feel free to contact us.

 

Home Building Work
The Home Building Act 1989 governs residential
building work in NSW. A person
doing residential building work must be licenced
by the Department of Fair Trading,
unless the cost of labour and materials is
$5,000 or less.
• A person doing residential building work,
repairs, renovations or advertising must
be licenced if:
• the total cost of labour and materials are
more than $5,000;
• it is electrical wiring work;
• it is plumbing, draining and gas fitting
work; or
• it is air conditioning and refrigeration work
(except plug-in appliances).
Licensing helps stamp out illegitimate operators
and creates a level playing field for
all tradespeople. Licenced tradespersons
have to pay annual fees and insurance premiums.
If the work is more than $20,000, the
tradesperson is required to submit a written
contract to the residential owner and provide
for a cooling off period. In some instances
for small jobs a much less onerous written
contract is required for jobs over $5,000.
Owner builders require a permit from the
Department of Fair Trading (with insurance)
for residential building work with labour and
material costs of more than $10,000, or you
are required to get Council development
consent for such work.
Large fines apply to first offenders and
gaol is an option for second time offenders,
who are unlicenced and/or uninsured.
In addition to criminal penalties, unlicensed
tradesmen might even find they don’t get
paid for the job done, are sued for recovery
of monies paid or might have orders made
by NCAT against them.
All home owners should be aware that they
can demand evidence of licence and insurance
from tradespeople. If you have any
more queries please feel free to contact us.

Dancing Queens from around the country will be getting their platform heels and sequins ready for the seventh Trundle ABBA Festival in May. ABBA fans will be revelling at Australia’s only and original ABBA festival in a brand
new village vibe this year.

The annual event is setting the stage for a social village atmosphere by focusing it mainly around the central location of Berryman Oval.

Held on the first Saturday in May each year, the iconic festival is gearing up for the biggest one yet following last year’s announcement that Destination NSW will fund $20,000. With just over 6,000 festival-goers at last year’s festival, the tiny Central West town of Trundle has revamped the festival structure packed with family friendly entertainment.

The 2018 festival will be held solely at Berryman Oval. “The Trundle ABBA Festival has grown significantly,” said Kelly Hendry, Destination Development Manager for the Parkes Shire Council. “The staging of the event in one location will ensure that visitors don’t miss any of the action. It will also bring improvements to event servicing, as infrastructure won’t need to be duplicated in various locations.” Trundle Hotel publican Dannielle Ward said: “The ABBA committee have always been innovative and dynamic. I think they really listened to what the people wanted and have accommodated.”

Trundle Hotel setting up a bar at Berryman Oval boasting a wine bar, and possibly a special beverage in honour of ABBA! The Trundle Hotel plays a key role in the community of Trundle. The Ward family purchased the hotel in 2009 and has since made significant improvements to the hotel.

The impressive 90-metre heritage verandah will be fully restored following a $100,000 NSW state government grant. World class act Bjorn Again will headline the festival. The rest of the f-abba-ulous line-up includes Rhonda Burchmore and Lara Mulcahy, Amitie, Kotahi Groove and dancers Alana Patience and Tristan Macmanus.

Welcome to all the visitors to Parkes Shire for the 2018 Parkes Elvis Festival! Pop on your blue suede shoes and take
some time to explore the Parkes Shire and discover the colourful, fun and interesting attractions and landscapes that all add up to making your visit to our region a memorable one.

Take a stroll through the Parkes CBD and soak up the vibrant character of the town through the Public Art Trail. Enjoy quality food and coffee at one of our fabulous cafes and restaurants and browse our unique boutiques and retail outlets. Take a trip to outer space with a visit to the iconic CSIRO Parkes Radio Telescope and discover history + culture at the Henry Parkes Centre (HPC), home to the King’s Castle Elvis Exhibit.

Have fun + adventure at one of the many recreation areas and parks including Goobang National Park, or dig up some local history at the Peak Hill Open Cut Gold Mine.

Experience country hospitality and meet some of the region’s friendly locals at the townships of Peak Hill, Trundle, Tullamore and Bogan Gate, all just a short drive from Parkes.

To plan your adventure to the Parkes Shire, go to www.visitparkes.com.au and keep connected via the Visit Parkes Facebook and Instagram pages. To keep up to date with Festival events visit www.parkeselvisfestival.com.au and
follow the festival’s social media pages on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Share your festival experience with us by hashtagging #ParkesElvis #68comeback #VisitParkes.

The Emmanuel brothers hold a special place in the hearts of many Parkes residents. With more than 50 albums to their name and plenty of other accolades, the decision to induct the Australian rock legends Phil and Tommy Emmanuel to the Wall of Fame was welcomed by many locals, especially those who went to school with them.

The Henry Parkes Museum has a dedicated display of the Emmanuel family and their time in Parkes. Music was constantly played in the Emmanuel household and encouraged by Father Hugh and Mother Virginia with their six children Chris, Virginia, Phil, Tommy, Veronica and Darcy.

The formation of The Midget Surfaries enabled the family to stay together touring with father Hugh handling the bookings of the band, often driving ahead. Touring stopped after six years when Hugh died in 1966. The family returned to Gunnedah and ended up in Parkes in 1967.

In Parkes the brothers founded The Trailblazers when they were at Parkes High School with the encouragement of the music teacher and performed all over the local area. While they both built successful solo careers after school playing with many notable artists like Chet Atkins, Eric Clapton and Air Supply, they also toured Australia together and played sell out concerts in every city.

At the 2000 Sydney Olympics the pair performed to a worldwide audience of 4.5 billion at the closing ceremony with INXS, Vanessa Amorosi, Savage Garden and Midnight Oil. “We still have wonderful friends here, Parkes is a very important part of our lives,” said Tommy.

The special display at the Henry Parkes Museum on the Emmanuel family is worth a visit with many family photos and posters documenting the family’s involvement in music, as well as many other interesting pieces. The exhibition featured in the 2017 Heritage Week celebrating 50 years of the Emmanuel family in Parkes.

He was not christened Elvis, but since the very first time he saw an Elvis movie he was hooked. Steve Lennox was only seven when he went to the Saturday matinee at the picture theatre in Bourke to see Love Me Tender. “It was his voice and the songs that got me.”

This first impression seemed to have been an extraordinary one with fate working its magic too as Steve met a girl from Parkes, married her and moved here in 1981. By then he had started collecting Elvis memorabilia in earnest and was very happy when Shanghai Charlie arrived in Parkes for about three years in a row selling Elvis picture boards and other items.

At the first Parkes Elvis Festival in 1993, Steve and his wife Debbie made their own jumpsuits and he won the Elvis Look Alike competition. He enjoyed it so much that he joined the committee and has been on it ever since.

When he moved into a new house in 1996 with a double garage, the idea of opening his extensive collection to the public was born. With the arrival of internet shopping, he has been buying lots of stuff from the States.

The following year turned out to be a big one for him as he opened his museum at the festival for the first time, he changed his name to Elvis by deed poll and he visited Graceland in Memphis with Debbie.

“The hair in my neck tingled as I walked up the steps. It was real good.” So was the gift shop at Graceland. “We had to ship everything we bought back here.” His most precious item from the thousands he has collected over the years is the Aloha Suit and cape he bought from B & K Enterprises on the internet as it was one of Elvis’ favourite suits.

With space for only about three-quarters of his vast collection, Elvis has not stopped dreaming. “My aim is to get more embroidered jumpsuits – the one with the Mexican sun dial and the dragon one.” But his priority is to extend the museum hopefully in the near future as this passion clearly has no expiry date.

“I love this time of the year, meeting people from all over Australia and the world, answering their questions,” said Elvis who could not wait for the up to 600 fans who visit his museum during the festival eliciting stunned reactions and comments of appreciation and awe.

“I do not have money to buy rare or original pieces, but every piece is bought with love straight from my heart, and I think people can see that.” And that is all that counts for Elvis as he fondly remembers a lady who spent about 45 minutes in his museum and came out with tears streaming down her face saying: “He’s not dead is he? Because
you keep him alive.”

(Visit the private museum at 16 Wentworth Street.)

By Maggi Barnard

Parkes can now boast a Premier, and a King! A statue of Elvis has been erected on permanent display in Cooke Park to ensure his legacy will forever live on in Parkes. Parkes Shire Council partnered with the Elvis Revival Inc (ERI) committee to commission Terrance Plowright, who also sculpted Henry Parkes, to ensure continuity with the theme of existing public art in Parkes.

Elvis wore The Chain Suit, as featured on the statue, for the first time while filming Elvis: That’s The Way it Is. The statue is called That’s The Way It Is, and its plinth has eight sides, which was Elvis’ favourite number and his date of birth. There are also eight inspirational quotes placed in the paving around the statue.

“We wanted to get away from all the other poses and liked this one in particular,” said Lorrain Job of ERI. “If you stand in front of him and look up at his face you should see him smile as in the original photograph he was smiling at an audience member.”

The new landmark will be officially unveiled by the Governor of NSW on Saturday at 11:15am.

By Maggi Barnard