With possible rain forecast for today, all the Christmas events were still going ahead at the time of going to print.
The Peak Hill Meet You Up the Street Festival will go ahead regardless of weather as all stalls are under the awning and the children’s events and activities are in Southern Cross Hall. For events in Parkes, keep an eye on the Parkes Shire Council Facebook page for up-to-date posts on possible cancellations.

The Christmas Street Parade organisers will assess the weather at midday today to determine if the parade is going ahead. Alternate dates will be determined in case of the cancellation of the parade and Christmas Markets.

Shoulder impingement during swimming is largely due to dynamic muscle imbalances and biomechanical faults.
Dynamic muscle imbalances can be addressed by strengthening exercises for the rotator cuff and scapular stabilisers together with stretches for the muscles at the back of the shoulder. One good exercise is to stand facing a wall with your arm raised to shoulder height and elbow straight. Hold a tennis ball to the wall by leaning through your shoulder and pinch your shoulder blades together. Roll the ball in small circles for 15 seconds first clockwise then counter clockwise until you become fatigued or for two minutes.

Biomechanical faults can be addressed by correcting your swim technique. Achieving good symmetrical body rotation through an efficient bilateral breathing pattern helps to avoid shoulder impingement during the catch and pull through phase of the freestyle stroke.

Instead of entering thumb first change your technique to enter with a flat hand or fingertip first. This is made easier by avoiding reaching across your midline. A thumb first entry works the shoulder internal rotators excessively and when multiplied by approximately 3,200 strokes per hour contributes heavily to the muscle imbalance of strong internal rotators and weak external rotators causing shoulder impingement.

Most swimmers pull through with a straight arm or dropped elbow. This loads the shoulder muscles excessively rather than utilising the larger and stronger muscles of the chest and upper back.

Making these simple changes can help you achieve many hours of pain free swimming.

For the fitness of you.
Linda Reilly

There are many great reasons to do your Christmas shopping in Forbes this year! Forbes Business Chamber is once again hosting the Find It In Forbes This Christmas promotion and festival. With more businesses taking part, shoppers will be rewarded by making a purchase from any of the 35 participating businesses. This will put you into the draw to win at the Forbes Services Memorial Club – Find It In Forbes Christmas Festival on Thursday, 14th December in Templar Street from 4pm. Lots of market stalls, kids activities, performances and maybe a visit from Santa!

The Find It In Forbes promotion has been running for a number of years and began as a way to encourage shoppers to spend in Forbes.

Participating businesses are:
Agriwest; Allure on Main; Bernardis Supermarket; Betta Home Living Forbes; Blue Sky Outdoor Experts; Blush Organic Beauty; Bowns Sports Power; Brons Hair Design; C & D Floor; Cahills Footwear; Chapter 2; Country Bakehouse; Eye Wear Specs; Flannerys Pharmacy; Forbes Family Dentists; Forbes Inn; Forbes Small Engines;
Gottoluvit; Gunns Mensland; Hello World; Hozpots; Lady Bird Boutique; Little Extras; Loomzys Fish and Fix; Made Of Fridays; News On Rankin; Painted Daisies; Pantry Cafe & Catering; Phillip Wells Optometrist; Robbs Jewellers; Roylances Auto One; Turners Furniture One; Undercover Sleepwear; Vandenberg Hotel and Walkers Ag N Vet.

Got a yen to travel but don’t know where to start? You need a personal travel manager who knows where to start, where to go, how to get there and what to do.

Travelmanagers Australia’s Maria Miller and Louise Gillogly have over 50 years’ experience between them. They offer assistance with domestic and international flights, cruising, coach tours, car hire and leasing worldwide, all types of accommodation, transfers, day tours, packages, specialised Itineraries to suit the individual, tickets to shows/theatre/concerts, skiing holidays, corporate travel, travel insurance and visas.

In fact, everything you need to make your summer travel experience something special. Maria and Louise are always available to assist clients by phone or email.

They both have first-hand experience travelling to a lot of countries and can highly recommend a special destination, or hotel/resort to suit individual tastes. This saves hours searching the internet and gives you reassurance knowing you are booking with a reputable company.

Maria and Louise are passionate travellers and get excited when planning a client’s trip. You will get excellent customer service and attention to detail to make your trip a memorable experience.

More than 1,000 people enjoyed the open day at Southern Cross Care last Saturday when its new world-class home was officially opened. “It was really terrific support from the community and great to see families and young people come along,” said Marketing Manager Sean Wilson.

A new 62-bed world-class residential aged care home, designed by Architects Johannsen & Associates from Sydney, has been developed at a cost of $22 million in Parkes. The new facility, accommodating over 200 seniors, has almost doubled its capacity from when it first started in 1992.

Setting a new benchmark for a regional aged care facility, it has been conceived as a rural village and was designed around landscaped courtyards and connected by walkways and verandas.

The complex also has a chapel, community hall and cafe to help generate a focus meeting place for residents and visitors. Chief Executive Paul McMahon said: “Our vision was to provide Parkes and the Central West with a residential care home akin to the best you’ll find in a major city. A further drawcard will be the new Home Care
office offering a range of activities and services aimed at customers who want to get involved within our community, while still living independently at home”.

At the open day a festive atmosphere prevailed as young and old enjoyed a variety of activities on offer throughout the day.

By Maggi Barnard

About 40 people attended the 20th anniversary of the Parkes Historical Society’s annual church service held in the small Coobang Church at the Henry Parkes Museum on Sunday. The service was led by Rev Son Spindler and Vivian Cunningham played the organ.

The Railway Hotel won Highly Commended for Best New Innovative Refurbishment ‘Hart Bar’ at the Australian Hotels Association NSW award ceremony this week. Congratulations to Kasie and Bianca!

A long-term dream came true for a Parkes local yesterday when she ran onto the field in Sydney as a debutant for the Jillaroos in the Women’s Rugby League World Cup against the Cook Islands. “I was so overcome with emotions getting that call up saying I had made the team,” said Talesha Quinn, who graduated from Parkes High School in 2007. “It meant all the sacrifices I made and my big move to Sydney was all worth it! It’s such an exciting time to be involved with the women’s game and I wouldn’t change a thing.”

Talesha knew she wanted to be a Jillaroo when she first played for NSW in 2012 and has been working towards it ever since, taking a few detours. She joined the army and was sent to Townsville only to discover the local rugby league competition was discontinued.

“That absolutely shattered me, so I converted to rugby union.” It was when she saw the NSW girls win the interstate game last year beating Queensland for the first time in 17 years, she knew in her heart she could have been there. “At that moment I knew where my heart was, and I made a decision to move to Sydney.” The army helped her to get accepted into an elite athlete program and she was posted to the big smoke at end of last year.

“And here I am one year later playing at a World Cup still working fulltime with the Australian army!” Talesha said she would not have made it without the support of her parents and two brothers. “They are pushing me to chase my goals no matter the cost.” That was why she said earlier this week she could not wait for the first game wearing jersey number 17. “I am so excited and can’t wait to prove to everyone why I’m here.” She is most looking forward to playing the Kiwis.

Six countries are taking part in the World Cup. All games will be televised on Channel 7 or Channel 7 Mate.

By Maggi Barnard