Australia has one of the highest rates of asbestos-related diseases in the world. This year’s theme is Get to kNOw asbestos this NOvember. If you are thinking about renovating and you suspect you have asbestos in your home: Dont cut it! Don’t drill it! Don’t drop it! Don’t sand it! Don’t saw it! Don’t scrape it! Don’t scrub it! Don’t dismantle it! Don’t tip it! Don’t waterblast it! Don’t demolish it! And whatever you do… Don’t dump it!

Asbestos is highly dangerous. If breathed in, the fibres can be deadly. It was banned in Australia in 2003, but its legacy continues to haunt us with around one in three homes containing asbestos. For more information visit http://asbestosawareness.com.au

Lunching beneath an olive tree, enjoying a range of exotic dishes as dappled light splashed into an idyllic rose-filled courtyard… this was the blissful setting of last Friday’s multi-cultural get together at Neighbourhood Central in Parkes. Around 30 people gathered to share a meal for the bi-monthly Meet and Greet, a group that supports the newest arrivals to Parkes, Forbes and Condoblin. Anni Gallagher from Orange Migrant Support facilitates the group.

The Migrants Meet and Greet group provides an opportunity for people to meet other new residents in a fun and supported environment. The group typically plans their own entertainment, voting to determine the most popular suggestions. Previous activities have included silk batik painting, origami craft, or going on outings together.

Last Friday’s theme was the great Parkes/Condo Cook Off. It was a wonderful handson experience, with members sharing a few favourite recipes from home. Fareeda Baig taught the group how to make Hara Masala Boti and Muthi Kebabs, while Rohini Dwyer shared the recipe for a Fiji India Masala Curry. Many brought a plate of food, so
there was plenty to enjoy.

The group has been meeting for ten years, and some of the members have been attending for the whole time, but there is always room for new faces. Yan Bo Borm, from China, was a first time attendee on Friday, and although she had limited English, an interpreter service made conversation possible. Friday was Desiree Alba’s second time attending the group. She brought her two youngest children along for the lunch. Desiree recently relocated to Parkes from Western Australia with her husband, but is originally from the Philippines. Desiree enjoyed the social element of the group. “It’s good to meet different people,” she said. “The best thing about it is everyone is welcome.”

By Raen Fraser

Today marks Remembrance Day, and at 11am we will stop to observe two minutes of silence and reflect on the loss and suffering caused by war. Parkes Shire residents are invited to attend a Remembrance Day Commemoration
Service at the Cooke Park Cenotaph at 10.55am, which is hosted by the Returned and Services League of Australia,
NSW Branch, Parkes Sub-Branch.

The service will involve a parade of former and current service personnel, the traditional Reveille, reading of poems, the citation of the names of the fallen by local school children, laying of wreaths, and prayers of thanksgiving. In the event of wet weather the service will be held in the Starlight Lounge of the Parkes Services and Citizens Club.

The service honours those who have suffered or fallen during war, and is a tribute that began after the First World War. The World War I cease-fire came into effect at 11am on the 11th of November 1918, ending four years of conflict. Each year Armistice Day was observed at the same time the guns had fallen silent across the Western Front. Following World War II Armistice Day was renamed Remembrance Day to acknowledge the sacrifices given in both
World Wars.

Today Remembrance Day commemorates the loss of lives from all wars and conflicts. Arthur Parker, President of the Parkes RSL sub branch said that our soldiers made the ultimate sacrifice to keep us safe. “Had they not fought for peace in all previous wars we would not be able to lead the life we lead today. It’s only right that we remember the fallen on this day,” he said.

The short answer is Yes.
All hamstring injuries have some involvement either directly or indirectly from our back and nerves and how we control movement of the pelvis. Our hamstrings attach to the bottom of our pelvis. They work to not only straighten the hip and bend the knee but to also help stabilise the pelvis. Any change in back position affects our pelvic position which in turn affects our hamstring length.

The nerves supplying our hamstrings originate in the lumbar spine. Any tightness or stiff joints in the lower back can impact on the ability of the nerves to glide and move through the hamstrings. We know muscles protect nerves, so if we have a tight nerve coming from our lower back, the hamstrings will tighten to protect this nerve. This tightness puts the muscle at risk of injury when it is working hard. The load is magnified if the hamstring is working overtime to control the pelvis when the gluteal muscles or the joints in the lumbar spine are not working efficiently.

This is why sometimes you can stretch and stretch your hammies and they just won’t loosen up. They may be protecting a tight nerve. By stretching them you are putting the nerve under strain which actually makes the muscle tighten further. In this case we need to look to the lumbar spine to free up this tight nerve.

If you suffer from hamstring tightness or recurrent hamstring injury it is important to address what is happening in your lumbar spine and pelvic control before your hamstring can completely recover.

“For the fitness of you”
Linda Reilly

As part of his whirlwind tour of Parkes on Wednesday, the Hon. David Elliott made announcements from his portfolio as the NSW Minister for Veterans’ Affairs. Councillors, Parkes Shire Library staff and school students attended Memorial Hill to hear the Minister announce a $2,000 grant from the State Government to develop content for an interactive learning experience for the site.

The history content would be accessed via Quick Response, or “QR” codes, which will be installed around the site. The QR codes are similar to barcodes, and can be scanned using a smart phone. The codes will then link to information on Council’s website, creating an interactive lesson available for visitors. Councillors Pat Smith, George Pratt and Deputy Mayor Barbra Newton welcomed the donation, along with student representatives from Parkes High School and the Holy Family School. David reminded the school children of the significance of war memorials.

“We live so far away from the battlefields, so memorials offered relatives a place to honour the boys who didn’t come home,” he said. David enjoyed a stroll through the Remembrance Walk Theatre of Conflicts Gardens. The symbolic gardens feature plants typical of each battlefront, and donated benches offer visitors a moment to reflect. Landscaper Elizabeth Briton, who led the dignitaries along the path, designed the Remembrance Walk.

The Minister for Veterans Affairs has a very personal connection to his portfolio. David had a long career in the army, and served with the peace-keeping forces in Bouganville, Papua New Guinea. The Minister for Veteran’s Affairs also visited the Trundle War Memorial Hall on Wednesday to announce a grant for the War Memorial Hall’s restoration. The building’s foundation stone was laid 90 years ago, and throughout those years it has seen mixed fortunes. Thanks to the efforts of the very dedicated Trundle War Memorial Hall Committee, the Trundle War Memorial Hall is slowly being restored.

By Raen Fraser

The prolonged period of wet weather hasn’t delayed the progress of the old Parkes hospital demolition, with the project reaching the half way mark recently. Five out of the nine buildings have come down, with completion of the demolition well on track for mid-December.

Parkes Shire Council’s Director Engineering Services, Ben Howard said: “For the second half of the project, the contractors are transporting the building material off site to the Parkes Waste Facility for crushing.” There has also been a minor variation to the transport management plan, with vehicles now accessing the site via Ainsworth
Street, rather than Rose Street.

“Once demolition is complete, site remediation will begin to prepare it for redevelopment. The remediation process will see the contractors remove all the footings and underground utilities, top dress, and seed all affected areas.”
The existing education centre and community health buildings will be retained for repurposing.

If members of the public have any concerns or would like more information, please contact Ben Howard on 6861 2333.

 

Five members of the Parkes Shire Concert Band (PSCB) will travel to Leeton this month to play at the 5th Leeton Outback Band Spectacular. PSCB members have been attending this event since its inception. December is fast approaching when the band will be performing at various events.

These are the Christmas Street Parade and the Christmas Carols. They will also do their usual December Saturday morning performances for shoppers. In January the PSCB will be leading the 25th Elvis Street Parade. If any musicians out there plan to be in Parkes for this big weekend, contact Duncan Clement if you’re interested to play in the parade.

The PSCB annual community concert in September was a big success. It was the second year in a row the band invited the local Lachlan Community Orchestra (LCO), singing group Tapestry and soloist Gordon Richter on the clarinet to perform with them. The grand finale of the concert combined LCO and PSCB playing Amazing Grace with music director Duncan Clement conducting and playing the bagpipes!

Other community commitments included playing at the Christian School Spring Fete and the Classic Car Club. If you would like to join the band, contact Duncan. Rehearsals are on Tuesdays from 7 to 9pm during school term. PSCB are keen to playout more in the community, so let them know if you have an event. Contact Duncan Clement on email duncanclement@ hotmail.com or 0405 035 164.

The group exhibition, 3 Stone Fire; Sharing the HeARTh, kindled plenty of inspiration last weekend. Around 200 local art lovers attended Friday night’s opening celebration at the Parkes Library’s Coventry Room, with dozens more visiting over the weekend. The exhibition was a collaboration between three local artists, Rosalie Burns from Forbes, and Parkes’ own Maralyn Nash and Jo Laurie. The trio had planned the exhibition to coincide with the Artlands Regional Arts Festival that was held in Dubbo last week as they wanted to bring the celebration of art to our community.

Margaret Jones drew on her impressive career in education to deliver a rousing opening speech that reflected the importance of art and culture in the community. Although art is often seen as an individual pursuit, it plays an important role in bringing people together and reflecting who we are. While many would expect an exhibition
by professional artists to be a formal affair, this exhibition offered a more immersive approach to the practice. Whilst the artists’ work was displayed in the traditional sense, there was also an intentionally interactive component to the exhibition.

The community weaving project invited visitors to choose a strand from a basket of different threads and fibres and weave it into an evolving piece on a loom, providing a symbolic representation of the notion of community. One Thousand Bells of Gratitude asked visitors to write a note of gratitude, which was then tied to a bamboo structure.

Many others participated in the family art workshops. Tapping Your Roots, allowed budding artists to use clay or collage to celebrate their connection with family. Red Bend Catholic College student Molly Cowan entertained the crowd with a live music performance, which helped to build the vibrant and joyful atmosphere that was enjoyed by the guests.

The exhibition centered on the theme of purpose through unity. It borrows from the traditional practice of using three stones to balance a cooking pot over a campfire, where the fire burns hotter in the space between the stones. The artists saw themselves as the stones, each with their own strengths and differences and the fire of creation burnt stronger between them, demonstrating the power of women working together.

Aside from raising spirits, the exhibition also raised funds. The artists collected $700, which Quota will donate to the Forbes Women’s Refuge. Rosalie said that she was absolutely filled with gratitude for the overwhelming response.
“We were all thrilled and so happy to be able to offer a significant donation to the women’s refuge from a supportive community,” she said. The artists also acknowledge the in-kind support from the Parkes Shire Council.

The exhibition closed with a ceremony involving meditation and drum healing, which also paid tribute to the healing power of art. Jo practices Reiki and massage, and Maralyn is a qualified art therapist. “Art is an amazing communication tool,” Maralyn said. “It is a bridge across cultures, classes, genders and generations.”

By Raen Fraser

Karen Creith, launched her second book last Thursday night at the Parkes Services Club. Surrounded by friends, suppliers and family Karen and John released Home Sweet Home to an enthusiastic response. This is the second book Karen has written and follows on from the success of her coffee table book, The Art of Fluffing.

The latest book is jam packed with valuable and easy to follow information that will help to eliminate stress whether you are a home decorator, renovator or a first time builder. Karen covers all the key areas of planning and selecting finishes for your home, as well as how to add the final styling touches to your home.

Karen always keeps her tips extremely simple and accurate, and for the first time, includes her own Little Black Book directory to enable you to connect with all the local contractors and stores that you will need when you are ready to start work on your project. Karen and John combined on the book and it was obvious from their thanks to each
other that they are a real team who work, live and play together. Priced at $19.99, it is perfect for the Christmas stocking of all home decorators, renovators and builders.

By Cheryl Newsom

Parkes joined the rest of the country on Tuesday to get dressed up with hats or fascinators included, have lunch and watch the Melbourne Cup. The Railway Hotel laid out a spread in its brand new Hart Bar, while the Parkes Services Club (PSC) hosted a lunch for about 75 women in collaboration with Quota International Parkes.

Quota had a raffle and raised more than $500 for their charity projects. There were also prizes for best dressed, won by Penny Downes and Isabel Orange, while Bev Laing won the prize for the best fascinator. Lisa McHattan of the Little Black Dress was the fashion judge. Lucky door prizes and raffle prizes, donated by PSC, were won by
Lola Flint, Pam Patrick, Lisa McHattan and Narelle Pizzaro, as well as Colleen Staples, Jeanette Simpson, Narelle Pizzaro, Sue Nichols and Colleen Carter.