Parkes Taxis has been providing passenger transport services for Parkes and surrounding areas for over 40 years.

The business run organisation is keeping up with the latest technology using the smartHAIL app that allows you to book and track your taxi.

With the Parkes Picnic Races weekend coming up soon, download smartHAIL to ensure you can enjoy the biggest social event in Parkes responsibly.

Parkes Taxis also has a position for a driver – full time, casual or looking to make some extra money on the weekends.

If you would like more information, contact Sarah Smith on 0407 513 848 from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday or email parkestaxis@bigpond.com.

Plenty of nursing home residents had the pleasure of catching a ride on a trishaw over the past two weeks resulting in lots of smiles and some even started singing when they felt the wind blowing through their hair.

The newly established Cycling Without Age charity in Parkes had a trishaw on loan from Canberra for the past two weeks to introduce more residents to the concept.

Cycling Without Age is a not-for-profit charity that provides a community service by connecting those no longer able to ride for themselves with the Parkes community by giving them free rides on trishaw ebikes, piloted by volunteer cyclists.

Peter Guppy offered rides to residents at Southern Cross, Niola and Rosedurnate with several of them coming back for a second time to enjoy a ride in the sun and waving at passers-by.

The charity is working hard at raising funds to buy a trishaw for Parkes, and is currently in the running for an Essential Energy Community Grant. The public can help them by voting for them online to secure the grant.

To cast your vote every day until Monday, 31st May, go to www.essentialenergy.com.au/choices

Two students from Holy Family were inducted as library ambassadors last week to join the seven other ambassadors from four primary schools in Parkes.

Year 5 students Adelaide Terry and Adrian Day received their library badges from Cr Pat Smith at a special ceremony.

“I love books and want everybody else to love them too,” said Adelaide when asked why she wanted to become an ambassador.

For Adrian, who is also an avid reader, the most important task as an ambassador would be to keep students at his school informed about events and activities at the library.

The widely popular CanAssist garage sales are looking for a new home.

The Parkes Showground Land Manager made the difficult decision last week to demolish the main pavilion where a large part of the garage sale items have been housed for about five years.

CanAssist volunteers this week moved some items across to the Feature pavilion next to where the furniture garage sale items are stored. All the items will have to be moved in time for the Parkes Show in August this year.

Finding a new home of about 1,000m² for the monthly garage sale with adequate parking and ablution facilities, is posing a major challenge to the CanAssist committee.

The monthly event not only attract bargain hunters from all over the region, but also helps to boost CanAssist’s funds significantly. “We would not be able to help people in Parkes to the extent that we do without these funds,” said President of CanAssist Parkes, Sylvia Glendenning.

The garage sales had just come back as a regular event following the COVID lock-down and the super cell event in January which flooded the main pavilion, when the news of the demolition came through. Sylvie said some suggestions of possible new venues had been made and they were making a list to evaluate all of them. Bob Strickland, who volunteers with about nine other men to handle the furniture side of the sales, said the second dilemma for CanAssist was a shortage of helpers. “We are all getting older, and we need new blood.”

Volunteers help to pick up, deliver and sort items, arrange the furniture for display and do some maintenance.

“We are here Thursday to Saturday from 8:30am to 12:30pm and enjoy morning tea together. We have become such good friends, that some of us practically live here!”

The Parkes Antique Motor Club display last Sunday was a great success with 42 heritage cars ranging from 1926 to 1991. The day was in celebration of Australia’s National Motoring Heritage and 20 members from Orange District Antique Motor Club, 19 from Dubbo and some members of other clubs joined with Parkes for the day.

In recognition of Australia’s rich motoring heritage, more than half the vehicles were made or assembled in Australia. In addition to well-known models from Holden, Ford, Chrysler and Morris, there were also Vauxhalls, Volkswagens and Chevrolets and a 1937 Cadillac sedan.

The proud owners were on hand to talk about their prized pos-sessions to about 500 people who took time to visit the display. The day also saw the first public showing of the Parkes Club’s current restoration project, a 1909 N.A.G., which was used in Parkes by the Plowman family over a century ago. There are very few of these vehicles remaining in the world, and the club needs to be very particular about the detail and quality of its restoration project.

The history of flying is colourful and adventurous and the HARS Parkes Aviation Museum’s growing collection is worth a visit for young and old.

The museum is part of the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society (HARS), a voluntary not-for-profit organisation dedicated to the preservation of aircraft and artefacts that are significant to Australian aviation history whether military or civilian.

The society was founded in the mid-1960s with one flying aircraft and a number of WW2 Beaufighter airframes, and now has over 100 aircraft and around 30 that fly or are under restoration to fly.

The HARS has had a presence in Parkes from 1975 with our spares stored in the dry climate of the inland. Around 10 years ago CASA decided to widen the runway and the Council issued us with an eviction notice as the hangar had to be demolished.

Later CASA and Council rescinded the eviction and we decided to remain and develop a static museum of aircraft and artefacts that could be displayed in the Central West.

During the past five years we have partnered with Parkes High School to bring in Year 10 and 11 students to increase their opportunities for future employment by imparting some knowledge and skills that will help them later in the work place.

The students learn surface preparation, spray and roller painting, some mechanical and carpentry skills and become part of a team working together ensuring safe practices while using tools and construction equipment.

Many of the students have gone on to worthwhile careers after their time with the museum, while the museum has benefitted by the application of their skills.

The museum is open on Thursdays and Sundays from 9:30am to 3:30pm. More volunteers are being sought to act as tour guides or as hands on restorers. The aircraft of the museum are non-flying and restoration work does not require aviation licensed volunteers. If you are interested, call Mike on 0418 473 175.

By Mike De La Hunty

The Parkes Phoenix has a new dedicated Sales Manager with Emma Henderson taking up the new role last week.

Emma, who has an extensive resume in sales, is also a business consultant and has experience in real estate. “I am extremely pleased to be joining the Parkes and Forbes Phoenix newspapers,” said Emma.

“I am passionate about our region and as someone born in the area and with ambitions to help improve our rural communities, I am glad I can now also help businesses with their marketing as well,” she said.

Aside from running the Forbes Community Page on Facebook, Emma, a young mother and entrepreneur, also has designs on a tilt with Forbes Shire Council at the elections in September.

“I have lived in Parkes and Forbes and consider both big parts of my life. I love our communities and it’s great to see them thriving,” she said.

Emma joins Forbes Sales Manager Jor-dana Freney and newly appointed Manager of both Parkes and Forbes Phoenix news-papers, Dane Millerd. Maggi Barnard will remain editor of Parkes.

“Both Emma and Jordana have great character and a brilliant can-do attitude,” said Dane Millerd.

“They understand their communities and I can assure you they have a number of exciting concepts for our advertisers including video production,” he said.

“I am under no illusions that with Emma’s appointment, that we can get on track to re-establishing the Phoenix as the premier product it is.”

For Phoenix owner Josh Matic, Emma’s appointment is a real boost. “Emma has a tremendous attitude and vast experience,” he said. “Her skill-set and local knowledge will be an invaluable asset to us.”

To enquire about marketing opportunities in Parkes and Forbes, contact Emma Henderson at sales@parkesphoenix.com.au and Jordana Freney at sales@forbesphoenix.com.au