• Home
  • Articles
    • Front Page
    • General Interest
    • Snippets
    • Mayoral Notes
    • Letters to the Editor
  • Competitions
  • Our Community
    • Our People
    • Question of the Week
    • Jobs in the Central West
    • Be Seen
  • Features
    • Rural Round Up
    • My Place
    • Health & Wellbeing
    • Loving Local Living
    • Just a Short Drive
    • Real Estate
  • Sports
    • Bowls
    • Cricket
    • Equestrian
    • Footy Tips
    • Golf
    • Netball
    • Rugby League
    • Rugby Union
    • Soccer
    • Touch Football
  • Contact Us
    • Contact Page
    • Advertise with us
    • Testimonials
    • Submit an Article
    • Subscribe to the Parkes Phoenix

Parkes Phoenix

Special Bond Between Parkes And NT Community Through Rotary Project

March 26, 2021 By editor

The Parkes Rotary Club celebrated the completion of the toiletry kits with a special function last week. At the event were(L-R) Glen Westcott (Parkes Christian School principal), Mark Ritchie (Parkes Rotary Club president), Jenny Jewel (Parkes Rotary), Marie Noakes (Parkes Christian School student), Michael Milston (guest speaker) and Donna Payne (Holy Family School teacher).

Australia is the only developed country in the world with trachoma and the Parkes Rotary Club is actively helping to prevent its spread.

With the input of community members, the Rotary Club has made up 50 toiletry kits that will be send to a school in the Northern Territory.

“Our club was allocated the Yulara School, a coeducational combined school about 450km south west of Alice Springs,” said Jenny Jewel, who was in charge of the project.

Jenny is very grateful to all the community members who contributed to the project. The youngest was 13-year-old Parkes Christian School student Marnie Noakes who played a major part in the sewing of the bags. “When Marnie heard about the project, she offered her help and ended up sewing 50 bags,” said Jenny. She also encouraged her class mates to write pen pal letters to the children at the Yulara School.

Donna Payne, who teaches at Holy Family School, also organised letters from her students that were included in all the bags.

Jenny said she also had involvement from Eileen Newport of the Indigenous Language Group, while Rotary members Deb Hoarder, Judith Shore and Barbara Thompson helped out too.

Apart from sewing cotton bags, the Rotary Club also filled them with toiletry supplies for the students to use to ensure better hygiene.

Trachoma, an eye infection that can lead to blindness, is easily transmitted between children. The End Trachoma campaign focuses on teaching children good hygiene

Vouchers Will Boost Local Economy

March 26, 2021 By editor

Parkes Services Club has registered for the dine vouchers. The other businesses registered so far are Cooke Park Café, Bent Food & Wine, Fu Yuan Chinese Restaurant, Parkes Hotel, Parkes McDonalds, Roasted Kombi, Railway Hotel, Hong Long Chinese and Wholesome Blend.

The NSW Government’s Dine & Discover program can potentially inject almost $16 million into the Central West according to Business NSW.

The program consists of four $25 vouchers for every NSW resident aged 18 and over to spend in participating businesses.

Vouchers have started to become available across regional NSW from last week with the rollout to be completed by the end of the month. While Parkes Shire residents have not yet been able to claim their vouchers, local businesses have been encouraged to start registering for the program.

By Tuesday ten Parkes businesses had already registered for the dine vouchers. Some reported that tourists in town had started to use their vouchers.

NSW Minister for Customer Service, Vic-tor Dominello told business owners at a recent webinar that on average, residents were spending around $42 when utilising one of their vouchers.

The four vouchers are divided into two categories to be used for eating in at restaurants, cafes, bars, pubs and clubs from Monday to Thursday, excluding public holidays. The two discover vouchers can be used for entertainment and recreation, including cultural institutions, live music, and arts venues, available seven days a week, excluding public holidays.

Earlier this week no businesses in Parkes had so far registered for the discover vouchers.

“No one needs extra encouragement to have a meal out or enjoy some downtime after the past year, so I encourage Western NSW businesses to register now so they can reap the rewards when the program opens here soon,” said Vicki Seccombe of Business NSW. “In particular, we are encouraging our entertainment and recreation businesses in the region to get involved as we are seeing less of these businesses currently registered.”

Call For Parkes Bypass Tenders

March 26, 2021 By editor

Artist’s impression of the new Parkes Bypass.

Tenders for a major construction partner have been called to build the $187.2 million Parkes Bypass funded by the Australian and NSW Governments.

The call for tenders will be open for eight weeks to allow the best proposals to come forward. The new 10.5km road, between Maguire Road to the north and Barkers Road to the south, will remove more than 1,200 heavy vehicles and other through traffic from the centre of Parkes each day.

NSW Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Paul Toole said in addition to the main contract, an information session would be held for local contractors and suppliers, to allow them to meet the prospective tenderers and start building opportunities for local employment. “We want to ensure the community is benefitting from the project before a single vehicle uses the bypass by linking local businesses employing qualified tradespeople with this game-changing road project,” the Minister said.

“The Parkes Bypass is not only going to deliver safer and better journeys for motorists on the Newell Highway, it’s also going to inject millions in economic activity into Parkes, helping to build a safer and stronger region.”

A mandatory pre-tender meeting for all interested tenderers, including a site inspection, will be held on Tuesday, 20th April at the Parkes Golf Club from 9am. The community will continue to be kept informed as the project progresses. The successful head contractor for the main construction contract is expected to be announced following this process with work set to start before the end of the year.

For more information on the project visit nswroads.work/parkesupgrade. Tender documents can be downloaded from www.tenders.nsw.gov.au/rms

The project is jointly funded, with the Australian Government committing $149.7 million and the NSW Government $37.4 million.

Annual Exhibition Of Local Art Is Back

March 26, 2021 By editor

Kim Chambers puts the finishing touches to his painting for the exhibition next month.

Members of the Parkes Painting Group are getting ready for their annual art exhibition that will run from 16th April to 1st May in the Conventry Room at the Cultural Centre.

“We are all looking forward to it, especially after we had to cancel last year’s exhibition and could not meet as a group for three months,” said President Kim Chambers.

“People are really keen to get out and about and see what is happening in the community,” said Secretary Annette Witherow.

Kim said most members had a good selection of paintings to choose from for the exhibition. “We hope that each of our 22 members would have two to three paintings to show.”

New member Usha Reddy works on her piece.

The opening on Friday, 16th April at 7pm will be done by Roxanne Gallacher, Creative Learning Programs Coordinator of the Parkes Library and Cultural Centre.

Proceeds from the sale of the art works, the gold coin donation entry, $10 cover charge on the opening night and raffle will be donated to a local charity, as has been the custom for the group celebrating its 20th anniversary this year.

The exhibition will be open from Monday to Friday 10am to 4pm and Saturday from 9:10am to 12pm.

For more details contact Kim Chambers on 0418 314 066.

Kerry Davies at the Parkes Painting Group Wednesday morning session.

Author Talk At Parkes Library

March 26, 2021 By editor

Author Meg Keneally will be at Parkes Library on Monday at 6:30pm.

Meg Keneally, author of the bestseller Fled, and co-author of The Monsarrat Series, will be at the Parkes Library on Monday, 29th March at 6:30pm.

She will discuss her latest book The Wreck. Meg lives in Sydney with her husband and two children and works in corporate affairs, following a career in journalism and public relations. As a former scuba diving instructor who has always been fascinated by the ocean and history, in particular maritime history and archaeology, Meg’s latest novel is a historical mystery set in 1820.

It follows main protagonist, Sarah McCaffrey who is fleeing arrest for her part in a failed rebellion. She finds herself aboard the Serpent, bound for the colony of NSW. But when the mercurial Captain’s actions drive the ship into a cliff, Sarah is the only survivor. Adopting a false identity, Sarah soon begins to believe she might have found a home – until her past follows her across the seas.

Bookings are required as numbers are limited. Contact the Parkes Library on 6861 2309 or via library@parkes.nsw.gov.au to secure your place. Meg’s book will be available for purchase on the night.

Primary Student Organises First Climate Protest In Parkes

March 26, 2021 By editor

WHAT DO WE WANT?… The young protesters outside the Parkes office of the member for Riverina and Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack last Friday. They are Ebony Bland, Oscar Hendry (organiser), Gloria Hendry and Alexander Priest. They were also joined by Jacob Gosper, Oscar Gosper, Mary Gray and Harvey Gray.

A nine-year-old Parkes student feels so strongly about climate change that he took the initiative to organise the very first local climate change protest last Friday.

Oscar Hendry and eight other young protesters stood outside Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack’s office in Currajong Street with posters chanting slogans.

“I just wanted to do something about climate change because it doesn’t feel right just standing by and letting it happen,” said Oscar who was inspired by a story on BTN (Behind The News). “There was a segment about climate change and a group of Australian teenagers trying to sue the government for approving the expansion of a mega coal mine.”

Oscar said after some research he found protests were planned around the world on Friday, 19th March for School Strike for Climate Action, the movement inspired by Greta Thunberg from Sweden. As nothing was planned for Parkes, he decided to organise his own protest.

“I really hope Michael McCormack heard about our protest and watched the video to hear our messages as the kids here in Parkes care so much about this,” said Oscar.

Ebony Bland, Oscar Hendry and Alexander Priest with their placards. Oscar has never taken part in a protest before, but is keen to organise another one.

He is very concerned that with everything happening in the world, many people including the government, are not doing much about it. “Right here in Parkes we have felt the impacts of climate change, such as the bad drought and the super cell storm earlier this year. I believe it is from climate change because as the atmosphere is getting hotter, it creates a better climate for these types of storms causing a lot more destruction.

“This means the government has to spend a lot of money on repairs from climate change impacted weather events, which leaves less money for them to spend on actually trying to fix climate change!”

His message to the leaders is that they should be doing more. “I want them to take the future of the human race more seriously instead of focusing just on money. It would be nice for politicians to agree instead of arguing about it and make a serious plan to fix it.”

Oscar said he did not have much time to organise the protest and was very happy with the turnout and the message they managed to get out into the community. “Lots of adults walked past and I was inspired by the support and encouragement that they gave us all.”

This has motivated him to organise an-other protest soon, and he has other ideas to raise money and awareness about climate change.

When he is not organising protests and doing climate research, he picks up rubbish at his school, and encourages his friends, family and teachers to reduce, reuse and recycle.

Parkes Shire Crown Reserves Secure Over $900,000 Funding

March 26, 2021 By editor

Parkes Show Society President Tim O’Brien, Deputy Mayor Cr Barbara Newton and Sam Farraway MLC at the announcement of the funding for the Parkes Showground.

More than $900,000 in funding was announced for a range of local improvement projects for Crown land reserves and community facilities in the Parkes region.

Nationals Upper House MP, Sam Farraway said the funding was provided by the NSW Government under its Crown Reserves Improvement Fund. “This funding will see infrastructure upgrades to reserves, sportsgrounds, showgrounds and the racecourse, as well as the maintenance of reserves through noxious weed control.”

Local projects being funded include: $373,700 to upgrade fire safety at Parkes Showground. Work will include installation of a fire main for water supply to fire hydrants and hose reels; sprinkler systems for the function room and grandstand; emergency lighting and exit lighting for pavilions; and outward swinging emergency exit doors for pavilions; $308,570 to install a new fibreglass skin, tile and paint and remediate concrete on the concourse to renew Trundle Pool; $286,000 to construct a new clubhouse, including wheelchair access at the Parkes Guns Club; $171,000 to resurface six tennis courts with synthetic grass at Woodward Park; $41,016 to upgrade drainage across the Northparkes, Pioneer and Spicer Ovals precinct to protect assets including a sport equipment storage shed and pathways which are being impacted during storms; $29,590 to replace a section of the boundary fence of the Parkes Racecourse; $28,222 to provide a new water main from Bogan Gate township to Bogan Gate Showground, Racecourse Reserve and Bogan Gate Golf Club.

High-Tech Exhibition Puts Students In Driver Seat

March 19, 2021 By editor

Melanie Suitor (middle) with Kayla O’Brien and Ben Howard from SafeT360 at Parkes High School.

Year 11 Parkes High students got into the driver seat of a truck on Tuesday using virtual reality technology.

An immersive road safety exhibition, presented by SafeT360, made Parkes its first stopover on a state wide tour to educate young road users how they can share the road safely with trucks.

“Our goal is to save lives,” said Marketing and Engagement Coordinator Kayla O’Brien. “Statistics show the 16 to 25-year-old age group is the most overrepresented group of drivers involved in crashes.”

Developed by the Australian Trucking Association, SafeT360 is an interactive custom-built road safety exhibition that uses virtual reality and interactive messaging all packed into a real travelling truck and trailer. The exciting exhibition came to Parkes and Forbes on the request of Melanie Suitor, Road Safety and Injury Prevention Officer at Parkes Shire Council. Melanie feels there is a real gap in driver education about trucks, and wanted students to learn from the exhibition.

“I learned new things about trucks and the four blind spots,” said Year 11 student Tyler Cole. “It was a cool experience to put on the virtual reality goggles.”

Nathan Eric was impressed with the exhibition. “There is a lot of information about trucks to ensure the drivers of cars do not end up in really bad accidents.”

By Maggi Barnard

Congolese Family Visits Parkes

March 19, 2021 By editor

Justin Byshimo, who was a teacher in the Congo, visited The Dish with his family recently. The Byshimo family has settled in Cowra.

The Rotary Australia World Community Service (RAWCS) recently brought a family from Congo, Africa to Parkes for a visit.

The Byshimo family recently settled in Australia, and found their way to Cowra with nine other families. They wanted to have a look at Parkes, and were especially excited to visit the iconic Parkes Telescope.

The Congolese families have become a success story in Cowra with most of the young people attending school or working, while several adults have found jobs, and attending TAFE classes to learn English. One family is in the process of purchasing a house.

The families were connected to Cowra by Emmanuel Musoni, Executive Manager of the Great Lakes Agency for Peace and Development (GLAPD), with help from organisations like Rotary, local churches and Cowra’s Neighbourhood Centre.

Emmanuel was a refugee, raised in a camp in Uganda until he was 16 years old. This has led him to be strongly committed and passionate about advocating for better settlement and integration of refugees and migrants who are yearning to call rural and regional Australia home.

Many African people are looking to rural areas of Australia to resettle. They can offer a wide range of vocational skills in aged care, childcare, engineering, trades such as metal fabrication, and agriculture.

The ABC recently aired an Australian Story, called A Field of Dreams, about the Mingoola community on the NSW-Queensland border who encouraged and welcomed Africans. The community has been invigorated by their presence.

Rotary Australia World Community Service (RAWCS) was formed to enable Australian Rotarians, Rotary Districts and Rotary Clubs to assist disadvantaged communities and individuals through humanitarian aid projects.

A ‘Courtship’ Of 65 Years

March 19, 2021 By editor

Ann (89) and Laurie (90) Jamieson with their wedding photo taken on 10th March 1956. The best man, Brian Donnelly, was a friend of Laurie and the bridesmaid, Judith Morgan (O’Malley) is Ann’s cousin.

Their match up started with a meeting on the tennis court and last week Laurie and Ann Jamieson celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary.

“It was a private tennis court located where the car wash is today,” recalls Ann smiling at Laurie sitting across from her in their Parkes home where they’ve lived since 1979.

They moved to their Middleton Street house after 24 years on the farm at Brol-gan. “I never thought I would marry a farmer,” said Ann, who grew up in Parkes and qualified as a dental nurse after school.

“Within the first two years on the farm we had a drought and a flood,” said Ann who gave up her job to help Laurie work on the land.

“I miss the animals, especially my pet pig called Erk, the quietness and our neighbours. It was a good place to bring up our daughter Helen.” Memories of getting bogged on their way to the ball, and trying to drive a truck still makes her laugh.

Her fondest memory is when Helen came into their lives. “She is a wonderful person and we are very lucky to have her nearby in Orange.” Helen worked as a journalist at the Sydney Morning Herald before moving with her journalist husband and two children to Orange.

As for Ann and Laurie’s secret to their enduring marriage – Ann says it is all about helping each other in any way you can, doing things together that you both enjoy and treating each other as equals. Laurie says ‘no comment’ with some mischief in his eyes.

When Ann was diagnosed with a rare cancer 20 years ago, it was Laurie who stepped up and cared for her. “The doctor calls my recovery a miracle. I think it also helped that I was doing so much sport all my life.”

As in a tennis match, they take turns to ‘serve’ and it’s Laurie who spoils her with breakfast every morning at the moment.

By Maggi Barnard

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • …
  • 171
  • Next Page »

Latest Print Editions

Click here to download the recent issue (254) of The Parkes Phoenix (2.4MB PDF) – 8th April 2020

STAY CONNECTED

The Parkes Phoenix would like to thank you, our Facebook friends, for your continued support and readership!

CENTRAL WEST RURAL ROUND UP BOOKLET

Click here to download the Rural Round Up Booklet 

SEARCH THE PHOENIX

Recent Articles

  • Memories From Margaret April 9, 2021
  • King Of The Mountain April 9, 2021
  • $3.3 Million For Currajong Street Rehabilitation April 9, 2021
  • A Beautiful Life April 9, 2021
  • Play, Chill, Create, Learn During Youthweek April 9, 2021

CONTACT THE PHOENIX

Head Office Phone: (02) 6344 1846

Postal Address PO Box 203 Canowindra NSW 2804  

Editorial – Maggi Barnard Phone 0403 080 085 editor@parkesphoenix.com.au

Sales – Rochelle Frame Phone 0490 517 590 sales@parkesphoenix.com.au  

View our Privacy Policy.

View our Conflict Resolution Process.

View our Ethics and Complaints Policy.

Want to advertise with us?

Information on our Community Promotions.

Submit an Article

We are always looking for new articles of interest to the local community.

Please feel free to submit an article for possible inclusion in a future issue.

To submit an article, click here to use our online article submission form.

Recieve the Phoenix via email

* indicates required

Copyright © 2021 · Website setup by WebSysMan