The third and last Skillset Green Army team graduated this week after 20 weeks of valuable environmental work in the Parkes and Forbes Shire Council areas. The team consisted of six participants between the ages of 17 and 24 years, overseen by team supervisor, Darrin Kopp.

The team did planting work at the Gum Swamp Painted Snipe Project site and at the Forbes National Tree Day site, Parkes National Tree Day site, Memorial Hill Parkes and Parkes Solar Farm. They also obtained work health safety, First Aid and other training, and assisted at Eco Day at the Central West Livestock Exchange.

“The team did well to make the most of the opportunities, and maintaining and improving biodiversity in our local area,” said Central West Lachlan Landcare (CWLL) Co-ordinator, Marg Applebee. She thanked the Parkes and Forbes Shire Council staff for their support over the 18 months of the program.

“It has been a pleasure to work with Skillset to provide work opportunities for young people in our community.” Marg said she hoped it was the beginning of many great things for the participants and that they would be able to build on the skills they have obtained. Darrin who worked very closely with the team every day, was rather overwhelmed when he thanked them. “Although you pushed me to the limit at times, I really enjoyed it. It was fantastic!”

The participants all agreed they had gained a lot of knowledge of and a much deeper appreciation for nature. The focus was on increasing the biodiversity and connecting Grey Box Grassy Woodlands corridors to increase habitat for
native species. CWLL will be taking applications as part of the National Landcare Programme (NLP) initiative. Landholders are encouraged to contact Marg on 6862 4914 if there is a project that would fit the NLP guidelines.

The Northparkes Emergency Response Team came second overall in the Victorian Mine Rescue Competition last week. This well-respected national competition has been held for 24 years, and attracted ten teams from mines across Australia this year. The Northparkes team, comprised of ERT members Jack Medlyn (captain), Wayne Sargent, Ben Ryan, Linda Snyman, Jade Walker, Jamie Pope and Matt Flynn, took first place in firefighting, theory and first aid.

Northparkes Managing Director Jim Fowler said: “We are enormously proud of our competition team. Our consistent success at this competition reflects the team’s hard work to stay at the leading edge of emergency response practices.” Jim congratulated the winning team from Newcrest-Cadia in Orange.

Team member Linda Snyman, who was one of only three women to compete, said the scenarios set up by the adjudicators were excellent. “Even though everything was staged using actors, it was all very real and we were responding to incidents that could possibly happen at our mine. Taking part in the competition helps to reinforce all the training that we go through on site and has made me a more confident and capable responder.”

The 2017 competition took place in Yallourn, at Energy Australia’s Power Station. Teams competed in a number of challenges demonstrating theoretical and practical mine rescue skills over three days. Linda said: “We are known for our focus on theory and it paid off when we won the overall theory award.”

Northparkes currently has 24 active Emergency Response Team (ERT) members who train year-round to ensure they are ready to assist in case of an emergency. Northparkes Manager People, Safety and Environment Stacey Kelly said: “Competitions such as this allow us to practice our skills and benchmark ourselves against others in the industry.”

The research is clear. Sitting too much is seriously bad for your health. We are now seeing that people who spend most of their day (8+ hours) sitting have doubled the risk of cardiovascular disease and an increased risk of diabetes and early death.

Whether it’s time spent sitting at the office or school, driving, eating or watching TV, a sedentary lifestyle causes serious threats to your health. Additionally, sitting a lot burns very few calories and many studies have linked it to weight gain and obesity.

Human bodies weren’t designed to sit all day, they were designed to move. Muscles and bones both require regular movement or low level activity to maintain strength and help prevent osteoporosis. Reducing sitting time is linked to a lower risk of cardiovascular disease, heart attack and reduced incidence of neck and lower back pain.

It’s a common misconception that exercise can compensate for prolonged sitting. Even if you exercise for 30 minutes four times per week, you are still subject to the negative impact of too much sitting. This is a major problem for office workers since they spend most of their day sitting. Low intensity activities like standing and walking are more important than most realise.

Fortunately the use of standing desks is becoming increasingly popular. Standing desks allow you to alternate between sitting and standing. You can either get a kit that allows you to convert your existing desk to an adjustable desk or better still replace it with a sit- stand desk. For optimum health benefits it is recommended to alternate between sitting and standing every 30 minutes.

For the fitness of you,
Linda Reilly

Currajong Disability Services (CDS) celebrated Pink Ribbon Day last week and raised funds for women’s cancer at the same time. Pink Ribbon Day is a regular event on the CDS calendar. “It was a great day and everyone really got involved and supported it,” said Dane Millerd, Marketing and Communications Co-ordinator.

“Pink Ribbon day allows us all to recognise and support the special women in our lives who have been touched by cancer – they are our mothers, sisters, grandmothers and daughters and it’s important we all rally around them.”

Every day in Australia about 50 women are told they have breast or a gynaecological cancer. Sadly, every day around 12 Australian women will die from a women’s cancer.

Almost half of the Coobang Rural Fire Brigade members received long service medals at a ceremony held on the farm Trelawney outside Parkes last week. The 29 long service medals represented a combined total of 954 years of service at one of the oldest and most active rural brigades of the Mid Lachlan Valley Team.

The longest serving member with 64 years is Alan Somers. He joined the brigade in 1953 and became captain in 1960, and president from 1967 to 1997. Assistant Commissioner Jason Heffernan commended Alan on his achievement saying he had joined an elite band of people.

It was a special day for the Somers family, as Alan’s son Gary received his long service medal for 39 years. Gary became president in 1998 and still holds the position. Two other members who received medals for over 50 years of service were Neil Unger with 54 and Leon Laidley with 55 years.

The Deputy Commissioner said the rural fire brigades played a vital role. “If we don’t get out and do it, no one else will.” He warned of the season ahead saying it was going to be a hot and dry summer posing a real challenge to get on top of the situation. Parkes Deputy Mayor Barbara Newton thanked all the members for their bravery and dedication.

By Maggi Barnard

Parkes is going to be the rail freight capital of Australia with plans to build the biggest freight terminal in the country at a cost of $35 million. CEO of Australia’s largest rail freight operator, Pacific National Dean Dalla Valle was in Parkes on Tuesday to unveil the site at the Parkes Logistics Hub with Mayor Ken Keith. “This project will turn our dream of the Parkes Logistics Hub into reality,” the Mayor said.

“It is wonderful to be here at the site,” said Dean. “Located at the intersection of the main western railway line running from Sydney to Perth, the future Inland Rail corridor from Melbourne to Brisbane, and the Newell Highway, Parkes is the perfect place to establish a major intermodal freight terminal,” Dean said.

Once fully operational, the terminal will have the capacity to process up to 500,000 cargo containers each year, including the ability to haul double-stacked containers from Parkes to Perth.

Construction of Parkes Logistics Terminal will generate 50 full time jobs and opportunities for local construction work, while the future terminal will provide up to 20 new skilled jobs including train drivers and terminal crew.

The double lane terminal will be 1.8km long, making it the biggest in the country with Perth’s 1.2km terminal the second longest.

Last week was National Carers Week in recognition of a special group of people who are often taken for granted.
Whether they look after our mothers and fathers, grandparents or our children – they play a very important role in any family who rely on their time, support and generous nature. At Currajong Disability Services (CDS) in Parkes they are seen as angels.

“Without carers organisations like us would struggle,” said CEO of CDS Jeff Evans. “Carers are vital and on behalf of CDS I would like to say thank you,” said Jeff. The Currajong Carers Support Group (CCSG) and Currajong Autism and Special Needs Group (CASNG) are very active and supportive in the community. “The work Kitty Dwyer and Lethe Rawson have done for CCSG and Angela Wilson for the CASNG has been incredible,” said Jeff.

Having to write an original horror script of seven pages or less within 48 hours might sound like a nightmare to many, but for former Parkes Phoenix journalist Raen Fraser it was a thrill.

Winning the top prize at the Tasmanian Gothic Short Script Challenge for Best Australian Script from over 100 entries transformed the challenge into pure joy. “I was thrilled to have been selected as Best Australian Script – I already felt like I’d won just by finishing,” said Raen, who works in communications at the Parkes Shire Council and also on a fantasy novel for teenagers.

“I have not really done horror before, it is not my usual genre.” Raen’s winning script is titled As The Crow Flies and tells the story of a mother and daughter implicated in a mystery when they realise an injured bird holds secrets about a missing child.

“The idea came up years ago when I worked for WIRES and had to deal with some aviary escapees. It turned out tame cockatoos who had escaped would teach wild birds to ‘speak’ English and you’d find talking birds out in really
remote areas.”

The annual competition, based in Tasmania, is open to writers worldwide and encourages original horror storytelling. Hosted by Stranger With My Face International Film festival, the unique event asks participants to write a new horror script with three unique prompts: a line of dialogue, a character and an object had to be incorporated into their, inspiring idiosyncratic results.

Raen said her experience as a journalist working to strict deadlines and word counts served her well in sticking to the 48-hour deadline and seven-page length. Although she has doubts that her script would ever be turned into a movie, she said the competition offered a great platform for emerging screen writers to refine their skills.

“It can be really hard to get your work out there.” While writing her first horror story brought so much reward, Raen is happy to return to her fantasy novel with the hope the end result would not be all make-believe.

By Maggi Barnard

Although the latest Parkes M & D production is about the downtrodden working life of three women, it promises not to be a drag. Featuring music and lyrics by Dolly Parton, 9 to 5 is set in the late 1970s and is a hilarious story of friendship and revenge that is thought-provoking, outrageous and even a little romantic.

“It is a relatable story and still relevant today,” said Angie Drooger who plays the role of Violet. Her co-stars are Brittani Carol as Judy and Erin O’Leary as Duralee. They work for Franklin Hart, played by Greg Ballantyne, who is a sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical bigot.

“Some of the scenes I felt right at home as it was so similar to my real life work situation,” said Angie. “But we do get up to some crazy antics like kidnapping our boss, which is probably very unusual.” According to Angie this high-energy show with lots of fun is ideal for all ages. “My three-year-old son watched the whole show.” It is rated PG.

The cast of 19, with mostly females, is a good mix of adults and students. The cast includes some new faces while the lead roles are all played by local actors cast in previous shows. The majority are from Parkes, but one came all the way from Western Australia, and three are from Forbes.

“The audience will not only relate to the story, but there are lots of good songs by Dolly Parton, including the hit theme song,” said Angie. The 9 to 5 cast and production team have once again pulled together and worked long hours to make it a true community effort.

The musical will run at the Little Theatre in Parkes from tonight until 28th October. Tickets are available online at www.parkesmandd.com.au.

By Maggi Barnard

FABULOUS FELT EXHIBITION
Artists: Cecily Walters and Toni Morrison 9th to 31st October at Parkes Library Felters and sisters, Cecily Walters and Toni Morrison have been felting for about seven years creating wearable felt items such as hats, scarves and vests, home decor items like pods and vessels, as well as felted wall art. All wool is hand dyed to create a unique and vibrant range of colours. Along the journey they have taught a number of classes and successfully exhibited throughout the Central West.

LET’S TALK ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH
1.30pm & 6pm on Monday, 23rd Octobe at Parkes Library A free talk with Jeremy Godwin author of Mental Illness Sucks! (But It’s Not The End Of The World). Come and hear Cootamundra- based Jeremy Godwin talk about this new book, which is full of practical ways that you or your loved ones can survive and thrive in spite of mental illness. This free talk runs for 45 – 50 minutes and there will be a question and answer session at the end. Signed copies of Jeremy’s new book will be available for purchase on the day. Please book your spot by Friday, 20th October on
6861 2309 or library@parkes.nsw.gov.au.

TRUNDLE POP-UP BOOKCLUB
Book: The Light Between the Oceans. Thursday, 19th October @ 2pm. Join Debbie for Trundle Library’s first ever pop-up book club! Afternoon tea & discussion. Pick up your book from Trundle Library today.

FREE COMPUTER TRAINING
Parkes Shire Library members have FREE access to a simple online training solution for learning how to use popular computer applications including Introductory Computer Training lessons for those just starting to use computers. Training and support sessions are held at Parkes Library during school terms on Thursdays from 9 to 11am. Please call Parkes Library on 6861 2309 to book for a session.