New Principal For Parkes Christian School

The Board of Parkes Christian School (PCS) announced the appointment of Parkes local Glen Westcott as the school’s sixth principal. Glen, who was deputy principal of PCS, was one of a considerable field of applicants for the position. The School Board outsourced the recruitment program to Resolve Consulting, who has a long and successful record in the recruitment of senior executives for many large Christian schools.

“We thank our outgoing Principal Graham Hope who has set the school up well for a seamless transition,” the board said in a statement. It was the board’s initial plan for the incoming principal to start at the beginning of the 2018 school year, “however with the success of Glen’s application the position will now take effect immediately.”

Middleton Celebrations
Middleton Public School in Parkes will celebrate Education Week on Tuesday, 1st August. The day’s program include open classrooms from 10:45 to 11:30am when parents and caregivers are welcome to visit classrooms. From 11:30am to 12:20pm they can enjoy a picnic lunch with their children. The program ends with a concert from 12:30pm featuring all classes. The library will also be open during the day where book donations will be welcome.

I Learn, We Learn
Education Week is a state-wide, annual event to celebrate public education in NSW. This year it will be held from 31st July to 4th August and the theme is I Learn, We Learn. For the first time, Education Week will be launched via a simulcast from both Sydney (Glenmore Park High School) and Tamworth (Tamworth High School) on Monday, 31st July from 10 to 11am. The two sites will be integrated virtually and livestreamed to schools right around the state, demonstrating how learning communities across NSW are overcoming distance through the use of technology.

About 20 volunteers, clinicians, pastoral care staff and supporters of palliative care met in Parkes last Friday to talk about existential suffering and care. ‘Pain is more than Pills’ was hosted by the Parkes Palliative Care Volunteer Service through Parkes’ Neighbourhood Central.

Attendees travelled from Orange, Dubbo and Sydney to hear speakers on total pain, spirituality and care of the spirit, caring for the ‘whole’, personal experiences of caring, end of life planning and the importance of connecting.

Attendees also reflected on and shared about their practice of care.

Holly Bradford is an award-winning photographer who loves being part of her client’s special day as there are so many beautiful moments for her to capture! Be it the proud look on a father’s face, the nervous but excited anticipation of the groom, the cheeky flower girl or of course the joy of a couple who are deeply in love.

These are the important moments that tell the story of a wedding day and you want to have full trust in your photographer that they will capture the memories for you. Holly is all about giving her clients confidence to relax, have fun and enjoy every minute!

Throughout the day she aims to be as unobtrusive as possible during the important moments like the ceremony and speeches as there is nothing worse than a photographer who steals the focus. She also likes to have a bit of fun with her bridal parties and often asks lots of silly questions, as the best images are often captured when you’re having a good old laugh!

Although based in the country town of Young in NSW, Holly regularly travels for weddings and has even gone as far as the Kimberley, Fiji and Ireland! Holly takes a great deal of pride and care in her work and after the wedding spends on average 40 plus hours editing behind the scenes to ensure her clients receive the highest level of quality in their final images.

Once the wedding is complete the bride and groom are invited to come into her lovely studio in Young and view all the images on the big screen while enjoying some bubbly and sweet treats. She also has a range of professional products and clients have the option to turn their images into either gorgeous canvases, beautiful prints for the wall or stunning custom designed wedding albums. Contact Holly on 0407 409 277, email holly@hollybradford.com or see her work on facebook and Instagram.

“Each morning I have to hobble to the toilet because of a sharp pain in my heel. It settles after a while and feels like I am walking on a bruise.” Is this you? Plantar Fasciitis is the most common cause of heel pain.

According to research, 80% of all cases show spontaneous improvement within 12 months. If you want to be a little more proactive there are a few things you can do. The plantar fascia is a thick fibrous band of tissue that fans from the heel to the base of each toe. It helps to support the arch of the foot. Plantar Fasciitis strikes when degenerative changes occur in the fascia where it attaches to the heel. It is sometimes associated with bony heel spurs however the
spurs themselves do not cause pain.

The cause of Plantar Fasciitis is often multifactorial and may include any combination of stiff ankle joints, low arches, high arches, weak foot muscles, poor footwear or increased load due to weight gain or prolonged periods of standing.

Self-treatment for this problem should involve massage to the foot arch and gentle calf stretches before rising each morning, strengthening exercises for the intrinsic muscles in the foot, a temporary decrease in training and a gradual return to sport when it is no longer painful to walk. In addition any biomechanical issues present in the lower limbs should be addressed to prevent recurrence.

“For the fitness of you”
Linda Reilly

Skill, imagination, vision, and patience; these are essential qualities for an astrophotographer – especially patience. The photographic subgenre combines scientific precision with an artist’s eye, capturing the wonder of the universe in images that are dazzlingly beautiful and deceptively complex. Each year the Central West Astronomical Society hosts the David Malin Awards for Astrophotography in conjunction with the annual AstroFest. The prestigious competition attracts the best astrophotographers from around Australia. There were eight categories this year, each with their own challenges and stunning aesthetics. Solar System and Deep Space invited us onto the surface of the sun, or into distant nebulas, whereas Airglow and Nightscapes produced images that were simultaneously familiar and other worldly; auroras glowed along a horizon, or the sky was illuminated with the twinkling curve of the Milky Way.

Seventeen year-old Baillie Farley was the winner of the Junior category. It took a lot of work to achieve the stunning landscape featuring the emu constellation. “You have to plan the shot – it’s not just the location and accessibility,” he said. “You have to watch the weather, the moon phases, and the position of the Milky Way. You’ll never get a good photo instantly.”

Phil Hart’s Witch’s Head Nebula was the winner of both Deep Sky and the overall winner. The photograph is a result of more than 40 hours of exposure and three months of imaging. Phil said he’s always trying to create something that’s unique in some aspect. “It’s not just recording what you can see, but what the eye can’t see,” Phil said. “You have to anticipate what’s going to be there. That’s where the fascination comes from.”

Along with the very generous prizes from Cannon, the overall winner is presented with a specially crafted statute; a bust of Galileo looking up into the heavens.

By Raen Fraser

Central West Lachlan Landcare (CWLL), Parkes Shire Council, Planet Ark and Toyota are inviting Parkes residents to take part in a local National Tree Day event on Sunday 30 July. National Tree Day is Australia’s largest
tree-planting and nature care event. Each year over 300,000 people take part in National Tree Day events at 3,000 sites. Since Planet Ark launched National Tree Day in 1996, more than three million participants have planted 21 million native trees, shrubs and grasses.

“National Tree Day is a timely opportunity to connect with the community, reflect on what’s been achieved through previous plantings and continue to care for our local environment,” said CWLL Chairperson, Margot Jolly.

Landcare Co-ordinator, Marg Applebee explained “previous National Tree Day projects are flourishing and we look forward to continuing the fantastic work that has already been achieved through these community planting days. We encourage people who are planning to attend to register at the Planet Ark website.”

Findings of independent research commissioned by Planet Ark over the last five years has found that contact with nature provides a range of happiness, health and wellbeing benefits, but our outdoor time is being eroded by increased screen time, longer working hours and shrinking backyards. “Our research shows that you can grow
happier by getting outside and connecting with nature,” says National Tree Day Manager Debbie Agnew. “Nature has the ability to influence happiness because it has direct and positive effects on the brain, so National Tree Day is a free and easy way to boost these feelings.”

The National Tree Day event will be held at the northern end of Danilenko Street in Parkes. Activities start from 11am and will conclude with a sausage sizzle at 1pm. To register for National Tree Day, please visit treeday.planetark.org

The Parkes Show has a long and proud history of providing a fantastic entertainment package which has resulted in many memorable moments for its patrons over the years. This year is no different and sees the return of one of the more interesting events held at the Show in recent times. Lawn mower racing makes its return as part of an action packed programme. The mower races are open to anyone over the age of 18 to enter and 2 classes of mower can compete, stock mowers and modified.

Further information and the full list of rules is available from the www.parkesshow.org.au or call the show office on 6862 2580.

Happily Ever After: Make Your Wedding A Day To Remember

Ultimately, your wedding day is about celebrating the love between you and the person you’re about to marry, but it’s important to remember your wedding unites not just the two of you, but your families as well. While it’s important to plan for your guests you don’t have to go bankrupt trying to throw the biggest and best wedding; remember it is the little things that count.

Make it Personal
Everyone loves a wedding, but it is more than being picture perfect. Work with your celebrant to create a meaningful ceremony that injects your personalities and your love story into the service. Some of your nearest and dearest will already know a lot of the details, but there will be extended family and friends who would be touched by the
opportunity to get to know the happy couple better through participating in this intimate and emotional moment.

Local marriage celebrant Laurel Hull has 14 years of experience, and offers customised services for every bride and groom. Let her help you shape your ceremony into a romantic and memorable event you will treasure for the
rest of your lives.

Say it with flowers
Flowers are a wonderful way to enhance the aesthetics of your day, and blooms can reflect your style and personality. Some brides might choose their favourite flower, or one that is meaningful to the relationship, whereas others select flowers to match the colour scheme. A bouquet doesn’t need to be big to be beautiful, an understated bouquet can be elegant in its simplicity. A single bloom can be used as a table decoration, or make a thoughtful alternative to
wedding favours. Be mindful of what will be in season during your wedding. The Pink Orchard’s florist will happily discuss your options and help you plan a breathtaking bouquet for any budget.

Get Professional
Planning a wedding shouldn’t be stressful, but it often is. Acacia Events is launching an exciting new service to give couples a wedding day that will be memorable for all the right reasons. Acacia Events offers a range of packages, from entry level involving on the day coordination to full service planning for your entire event. Hiring a wedding planner can actually save you money, with industry connections, knowledge and access to local vendors. Let someone else take care of the stress, allowing you and your partner to enjoy your special day and watch the magic unfold.

Location, location, location.
While destination weddings are all the rage, local weddings have their own charm. Not only do you save your guests
the expense and hassle of travelling to an exotic location, you also save yourself a lot of stress. Hosting your wedding at a hometown venue has some huge benefits, making it much easier to get everything right, and avoid any nasty surprises on the day.

The Parkes Services Club have dedicated staff to help you make your reception a memorable event. They can seat up to 300 guests, and their chef has created a diverse selection of menus for you to choose and can cater for all dietary needs. A complimentary tasting is available for the bride and groom, so you’re not leaving anything up to chance.

The Hart Bar provides an alternative venue choice for a more intimate reception. With its romantic name, stylish décor, and contemporary menu it’s an ideal option for a bespoke-style wedding without the stress of DIY.

Create a Well-Planned Seating Chart
It doesn’t matter if your reception dinner will be a buffet, plated meal, or family-style servings: a smart seating chart is vital to ensuring your guests have a good time. Try to group people together with similar backgrounds and interests, so they’ll have something to talk about even if they’ve never met before. While traditionally the bride and groom is seated with members of the bridal party, some couples opt to sit on an ‘orphans’ table. By sitting with single guests who don’t know any other guests the bride and groom can ensure no one feels alone at their wedding.

Consider the kids
Some couples opt for a child-free event while others see a wedding as an opportunity to bring the whole family together – young and old. An adult-only wedding is desirable to some who want to be free of the distractions that children can create, but for guests with children – particularly for those who have to travel with them, not being able to bring children along could be difficult, and might even mean they are unable to attend. An inter-generational guest list can bring an extra bit of zest to the reception. Throw in a few age appropriate pop songs, and watch the dance-floor come to life! Most venues will have a different pricing for children, so there’s added value. It’s a good
idea to cater for young guests in other ways too. Activity books and pencils keep little people occupied during the boring bits, such as speeches or ceremonies. You can use an RSVP to suggest appropriate behaviour guidelines or request a children’s curfew for the event.

Use a Wedding App or Hashtag
There are many great wedding apps to choose from for your big day. Some interactive apps allow guests to upload wedding photos into one curated place, while others keep your friends and family up on any wedding-related news. Want something even easier? Create a clever hashtag and ask guests to tag all of their photos using it. That way you get to see your wedding from different perspectives and your guests can capture candid moments that your photographer might have missed.

The morning after
Post-wedding breakfasts are a wonderful opportunity to spend more time with those who have travelled to be with you on your special day, and it’s a very personal way to say thanks. Plus, you get to relive the excitement and magic of your wedding one last time. Be sure to include details on your invitation or RSVP slip so your guests don’t make other plans.