Fun With Lego
Ability Links NSW and community groups have joined together to form the Parkes Lego Club for children aged 5-8 years, inclusive of all abilities. A Lego club can help children to improve their verbal and non-verbal communication,
sharing and turn-taking, as well as their collaborative problem-solving skills.

In addition practitioners and parents have discovered that the use of LEGO during play groups for children with autism leads to improved social skills and play skills. Research have confirmed that this is the case. LEGO building blocks offer a highly routine, repetitive, structured form of play that many children with autism find appealing.

Activities using LEGO can be graded from simple step by step instructions to free building that allows for creativity.
Research on LEGO play therapy was recently conducted at the University of Cambridge. The study focused on children with autism and Asperger’s Syndrome, and found that children who participated in LEGO therapy showed improvement in social skills.

The Parkes Lego Club meets every Monday from 4 to 5pm at the Parkes PCYC, 36/38 Pearce Street. Lego is provided and the club is for free and open to all children. Although there is supervision, children are the responsibility of their carers. For further information contact Alana George at Ability Links NSW on 0428 727 265 or alana.george@livebetter.org.au

Art requires creativity, so why not be as imaginative when planning an art exhibition? The Parkes Action Club is bringing a unique event to the community by holding an art exhibition called Ducks on the Pond in the 137-year-old St Elmo Shearing Shed on Saturday, 16th September at 6pm.

The exhibition will showcase eight local and regional artists featuring works of Eryn Mullins (Condobolin), Jocelyn Moles (Parkes), lighting and installation artist Jamie Coffill (Condobolin), Ralph Tikerpae (West Wyalong), Martin Lane (West Wyalong), Elsie Mahon (Parkes), Pol Cruz (Bogan Gate) and Lucy Buttenshaw (West Wyalong).

According to Parkes Action Club chairman and art enthusiast Gary Somers it is probably the first time an art exhibition will be held in a shearing shed in Parkes. Limited tickets are available at $25 prepaid or $30 on the night and includes food by The Dish Café, wine by Twisted River Wines and entertainment by The String Family from Sydney. For more details go to visitparkes.com.au. All the money raised will go towards the Action Club’s community
programs.

St Elmo Shearing Shed is 12km from Parkes on the Renshaw McGirr Way (Wellington Road) and 2km down Job Lane. No high heels are recommended for the event.

The Parkes/Forbes Cake Decorators Guild (CDG) hosted a state rostered day recently at the Parkes Baptist Church with demonstrators from the CDG of NSW state body. Attendees came from Newcastle, Wagga Wagga, Bathurst, Cabonne, Orange, Dubbo, Peak Hill, Forbes, Sydney, Camden and Mudgee. Parkes Shire councillors Patricia Smith and Bill Jayet also attended.

The first expert cake decorators to give a demonstration was Elizabeth Ivory. She did a cake topper made out of modelling paste to the exact proportions of the flower cosmos in various colours. Cathy Rice taught attendees how to create a zygotes cactus, while Connie McCartney showed guests how to decorate elaborate chocolate cupcakes in a cool cat design with the latest chocolate modelling paste.

Renee Mutton intrigued with her sassie giraffe that could be used as a child’s birthday cake and puppet. She made a story from her creations which were built upon with each demonstration group starting with a page boy giraffe, a bridesmaid giraffe, a best man giraffe, a groom and lastly the bridal giraffe made out of fondant.

The final demonstration was a combined demonstration from the members of the state body of NSW CDG. It was a checkerboard cake by state president Helen Robinson with Elizabeth Ivory and Narelle Wardle. The cake consisted of two ordinary cream and jam sponges combined with two mud cakes.

The event was made possible through a cultural grant from the Parkes Shire and a Northparkes Mines community grant.

The first special storytime event at the Parkes Library on Tuesday saw 23 children attending with many dressed up for Book Week. They participated in song, reading and rhyme activities around the theme “Escape to Everywhere”. The Library staff entered into the spirit of dressing up as book characters for the week. They are (L-R) and back to front Gillian Hunt as a Gandalf the wizard, Sandie Ward as Snow White, Claire Cassell as Cat in the Hat, Andrea Lovell as Maid Marion and Dan Fredericks as the Cow who jumped over the moon. (See Library column on this page for more special story time events.)

The Parkes and Districts Historical Society (PDHS) signed a new three-year lease for the occupation of the Henry Parkes Museum last week to continue its work of preserving the history of the shire. PDHS President Yvonne Hutton said the new lease gave the society a window of opportunity to plan for the next three years.

“The Henry Parkes Museum and Antique Machinery Exhibit combine to form a wonderful tourism precinct where locals and visitors can come to learn about the area and why it all adds up to a positive place to live, work, and visit,” said Mayor Ken Keith.

The Henry Parkes Museum and Antique Machinery Exhibit depicts early life in Parkes through objects, photos, historical information, maps, cemetery records, clothing and embroidery, assembled by the PDHS since 1953.

The Henry Parkes Museum celebrated its 50th anniversary last week.

Vietnam Veterans Day was held at the Vietnam War Memorial in Parkes last Friday to commemorate the Battle of Long Tan on 18th August 1966. The day also pays tribute to all of the 59,520 Get Back To Basics With Dating
Hart Bar is bringing its first speed dating event to Parkes on Saturday, 7th October.

 

 

MAKE A KOKEDAMA WORKSHOP
Saturday 2 September, 10am – 11am.
For teens and adults. Kokedama, which means ‘moss ball’ originated in Japan in the 1600s. Originally invented for bonsai trees, but now making a comeback in various forms. Participants will get their hands dirty and learn all the steps to construct their very own succulent kokedama. Bookings required, 6861 2309.

MAKE YOUR OWN TERRARIUM WORKSHOP
Saturday 2 September, 1pm – 2pm.
For teens and adults. You’ll be getting your hands dirty and learning all the steps to construct your very own
terrarium. This hands-on class will last one hour. Bookings required, 6861 2309.

SEPTEMBER SATURDAY STORYTIME
“Escape to Everywhere” For families! Stories, singing, craft and special guests. 10.30am – 11.30am.
2 Sept: Escape to countries.
9 Sept: Escape to your own special place.
16 Sept: Escape to fantasy land.

SCIENCE TALK – YASMIN POTTS
Wednesday 6 September, 4pm Yasmin Potts, School Captain of Parkes High School, is one of only 20 students across Australia who was selected to attend the London International Youth Science Forum in England in July. While in Europe she also visited the Large Hadron Collider, the world’s largest particle accelerator. Last year Yasmin received the Victor Chang Science Award for her achievement in science. Join us when Yasmin speaks about her international trip. This is one talk not to be missed. Please RSVP on 6861 2309.

ADVANCED COIL WEAVING
Saturday 16 September, 10am. For teens and adults. Lanny Mackenzie is back again to teach the advanced techniques of coiled basketry. Participants will use recycled materials as well as traditional. Participants must have
previous experience in coil weaving. Bookings required, 6861 2309.

The Parkes Day VIEW Club organises a Trivia Night twice a year to raise money for sponsorhips for schoolchildren in the Smith Family “Learning for Life” Program. About 50 people competed in eight teams at the recent event. Charlie Pecenka has been putting together the quiz questions for more than 10 years, while Tom Furey asked the questions, and acted as MC.

The winning team, Charlotte’s Friends, received chocolate treats. Second were The Hopefuls and third The Magnificent Seven. The next trivia night will be in March next year.