Life with a large family on a farming property has left 87-year-old Margaret Dwyer with a treasure trove of memories and scenarios to help inspire her third book to be released on 14th May. “I’d like to call it factual fiction,” said Margaret, a mother of seven who dedicated ‘A Chain Of Dreams’ to her husband and children for providing her with the inspiration to write her first work of fiction.

Proudly holding the finished product in her hand, Margaret’s eyes light up when she recalls how she has always enjoyed writing. She was busy dusting in her father’s office once day when he opened his iron safe and took out a little exercise book of hers from third grade. Inside was a conversation she had written between a Mater lorry and a draught horse. In the tale Mrs Horse met Mater lorry and said she had not been very well lately as she had given birth to a little foal, to which Mater lorry replied he had given birth to a baby Austen.

“I suppose I’ve always had a little streak of it in me” says Margaret. However it was many years before Margaret published a book, releasing the autobiography ‘With a Song in my Heart’ at the age of 82. “I was always just too busy with seven children and cooking for shearers on the farm.” The serious writing began five years ago
when she and husband Frank moved to Parkes and Margaret had to nurse him through his illness. “I would put my husband to bed at night and start writing until two in the morning, often waking him to check a fact or date.”

In 2014 her second book ‘Jewels Along The Newell’ was released focusing on funny, tragic and inspiring stories of the people who have made their home along the Newell Highway over the past 100 years. It took Margaret only 12 months to complete her third book, but a very long time to find a publisher, which she accomplished mostly by herself.

‘A Chain Of Dreams’ is the story of an ordinary Australian farming family told through protagonist, Tish O’Reagan, who accepts a scholarship to study at the Trinity College of Music in Dublin where she moves to with her parents and spirited sister Louise. “I have become very fond of this family, and would love to write a sequel,” said Margaret, who already has the beginning formulated in her head. She is quick to admit that she loosely based some of the family members on the characters in her favourite book ‘Little Women’. ‘A Chain Of Dreams’ is available to purchase in softcover or as an e-book via Balboa Press.

The PCYC was on the receiving end of the kindness of the Parkes Men’s Shed recently when the centre received its very first table tennis kit. The table tennis was bought at SportsPower, who in turn donated the accessories including bats, net and balls. “We wanted to give kids something else to do during school holidays,” said Ron Fewings, President of the Men’s Shed.

Treasurer Trevor Gilbert explained that their organisation received some income from community jobs, including furniture repairs, bird boxes made for Northparkes Mine and cleaning out pipefittings for the mine. He said this enabled them to donate something back to the community.

Up to 46 children attend vacation care per day at the PCYC, while about 18 come to after school care during the week, according to Amanda Sutton, Manager of the PCYC. She said the PCYC was always looking for new activities to make it more attractive for the community, especially teenagers. The centre was established in 1984 and offers a wide range of activities for both adults and children.

The Floral Arts Society recently held their AGM and elected the following committee; President Ann Crasti, Vice President Barbara Magill, Secretary Marie Rushby and Assistant Secretary Joy Neems, Treasurer Jan Ranger Publicity Officer and Colleen Cusack. The new committee are now hard at work planning their 36th Annual Floral Fair and this year they want to try something different. “We’re inviting everyone to come and enjoy the fun with Ready Steady Flowers” said Colleen Cusack. Inspired by the TV series, Ready Steady Cook, two floral
designers and two volunteers from the audience will vie for first position in completing a floral design against the clock.

There will be workshops throughout Saturday 30th April and Sunday 1st May for all interested to learn how to create floral jewellery. Know someone getting married soon? Why not bring them along so they can learn how to create their own floral designs, bouquets and fascinators and add a personal touch to a special day. Workshops will be held every half hour from 1pm on Saturday and 10am on Sunday at the Parkes Leagues Club. The guest judge
for this year is Parkes’ own, Mrs Elsie Mahon and the committee are certain she will fulfil the role well and are excited for her comments. There will also be a cut flower section for home gardeners this year.

If you fancy yourself as a bit of a green thumb and would like some more information, please contact President Ann Crasti on 0442 190 135 and come and enjoy a bloomin’ lovely weekend.

Two of Parkes Shire Council’s major projects, the new Water Treatment Plant (WTP) and Sewage Treatment Plant
(STP) have commenced construction via a ground breaking ceremony conducted on Tuesday April 19th, with Member for Orange, Andrew Gee MP and Mayor of Parkes Cr. Ken Keith OAM turning the first sod on both projects.

The project is the biggest ever capital expenditure by Parkes Shire Council with the total project costing $70 million, with $27 million being contributed by the State Government. Cr. Keith thanked Andrew Gee, who has been instrumental in his lobbying to ensure that this project has gone ahead with the necessary funding which was made available through the Country Towns Water Supply and Sewerage Program.

The construction of the new WTP will provide a safe, secure and reliable water supply for Parkes and Peak Hill and
ensures that the towns continue to grow and attract new business and residents. Combined with the rail and logistics hubs Parkes Shire can be assured of a great future. John Holland Group has been appointed to construct both plants, with a commitment to over 30% local content in their construction and is expected to be completed in 2017. “Today’s sod turning marks a significant milestone in Parkes Shire history, highlighting the progressive and significant investment planned for the continued growth of our great Shire,”

Cr.Keith said.

Two members of the Parkes Fijians Association, Suliana and Ilaitia Naqau, visited Fiji on 5th April for a funeral and also had a meeting with the Nasautoka District School staff. Plans are to repair the main school block and get the students back to familiar surroundings as at the moment when the rain falls, students must move desks to find a dry place as the building leaks. A composite class is currently using a temporary tent donated by UNICEF.

The school carpenter presented a list a materials needed on the 12th April which were sourced from hardware suppliers. These materials were funded by the donations raised in Parkes. The Parkes Rotary Club also donated 10 laptops which will be installed once the IT room is rebuilt. It has been seven weeks since the cyclone hit Fiji and so far no government assistance has been received. The school staff are so grateful to the people of Parkes. Parkes Christian School previously visited on a mission trip in 2015 so the staff are aware of where the assistance is coming from.

Most of the school building and staff quarters were partly destroyed with three of the school buildings beyond repair. The funds raised in Parkes are being used to rebuild the main school block which once repaired will free up the church and tent that are currently being used as makeshift classrooms.

The Parkes Fijians Association would like to express their sincere thanks to all that have contributed to this worthy cause. “My church pastor always mentioned, ‘we cannot assist the whole of Fiji but we can change someone’s life’ by getting their school building back in operation” said Ilaitia; “We still have used clothes that have been donated to us to send to the village. We will do this in the near future.” If you would like to donate to Nasautoka village please drop off your donations at 176-180 Back Trundle Road or by calling Ilaitia on 0452 125395.

Situated in the centre of Parkes, The Astro Dish’s restaurant, is a hidden gem for fine dining. With modern grey and chrome décor, the futuristic restaurant can be cosy and intimate or be opened up to cater for functions of over 100 people. Chef Denise, who has been at The Aastro Dish since August, has been hard at work perfecting flavours to tantalise taste buds, “I try to create three or four new dishes a week for our specials board” she said; “We get fresh seafood delivered every Thursday direct from the Sydney fish markets so we have fresh oysters, barramundi, snapper and more on offer dependent on what’s in season.” The restaurant has a set menu including an excellent array of steaks, entrees, seafood and desserts.

When asked what Denise’s favourite dish was she said, “it would probably be the Kilpatrick steak which is stopped with bacon, cheese and Worcestershire sauce!” Recent creations include a duck with blackberry jus and a lamb rack with fig and rocket salad. The Aastro Dish specialise in fine dining, “there’s nothing on our menu you’d typically find in a pub” said Denise; “ Our restaurant is perfect for treating a loved one to a sit down, three course experience.

The other half of the catering team, Krista, is a jack of all trades with some of her job titles including waitress, front of house and kitchen porter, “I’ve always loved hospitality and Donald and Valerie are fantastic bosses, if you want to learn they will show you. I couldn’t really imagine working anywhere else.” Krista and Denise want to encourage the people of Parkes to come and enjoy the culinary delights, “Denise and I are keen for locals to come down, once they see what great service and delicious food we have, they’ll be hooked!

Heather Rome is a retired veterinary nurse who moved to Peak Hill six months ago. Heather started pet sitting in Western Australia and there began a life-long love affair with Maine Coon cats. Maine Coons come in 78 different colours and are native to America. “The story goes that Marie Antoinette fled to America to escape the revolution and her cats escaped into the Maine forest and bred with the natives” Heather said.

The laid back cats don’t reach maturity until four years old and some cats can grow to 10 kilos! Heather, who has been breeding for 21 years, currently has 3 Maine Coons, 3 domestic cats and 6 kittens but previously had 35 cats in WA, “I was a bit of a crazy cat lady!” she joked. Heather is keen is share her love of this type of cat and encourages any potential pet owners to consider adding one to their family.

“Maine Coons are the largest domestic breed of cats and are truly the ‘gentle giants’ of the cat world. They have rectangular bodies, a large head with lynx tipped ears and large tufted paws. Their coat is also slightly oily which makes them easy to groom and stay looking good” she said.

Parkes Shire Council has committed funding to develop the Parkes CBD Vibrancy Strategy. This strategy aims to engage with stakeholders to develop new ideas and urban renewal projects to make the centre of Parkes more attractive to customers. Parkes Shire Council Mayor Ken Keith OAM said, “The Parkes CBD is an energetic and enterprising business centre that serves a large regional catchment in Central NSW. As the main centre for the Shire,
Parkes must develop its own vision and sense of place that captures the past and present, its unique natural attributes, rural setting and lifestyle.”

“To sustain this reality into the future requires a healthy, vibrant commercial centre  that is robust enough to grow and accommodate the ever changing dynamics demanded of a modern country community,” Mayor Keith added.

The CBD Strategy will focus on six main areas including small wins, further designs, car parking, activation, incentives and maintenance. It will be available for public exhibition until 20th May and community members are encouraged to provide feedback by contacting the Council. Council staff will also be collecting feedback at the old CBA building between 11am and 2pm until 27th April and will host a public meeting on 2nd May at 6pm in the Council Chambers in Cecile Street.

This Saturday, 16th April, the Central West Astronomical Society will be holding its regular ‘Friends of The DISH’ event at the CSIRO Parkes Observatory Visitors Centre. Members and non-members are welcome to come along and learn about what’s hidden just behind our atmosphere. Telescopes will be set up on the grounds of the Centre and visitors will be invited to view the bright stars, sunspots, planets and moon through the telescopes in daylight.

Weather permitting, the event will run from around 9am until 4.30pm and is free of charge to all who wish to attend. Central West Astronomical Society meetings are held on the first Friday of every month except January from 7.30pm in the CSIRO Pares Observatory Visitors Centre. Everyone who has an interest in science, space or who would just like to socialise and make some new friends are welcome free of charge.

The famous CSIRO Parkes radio telescope has been in operation for more than 50 years and thanks to regular upgrades, it continues to be at the forefront of discovery. The telescope is one of three instruments that make up the Australia Telescope National Facility and it has now been announced that the telescope has been granted pathfinder status by the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) Organisation in Australia.

The announcement welcomes ‘The Dish’ into the group of other world-leading instruments and systems engaged in SKArelated technology development and science studies. Parkes Shire Council Mayor Ken Keith OAM says, “The granted SKA pathfinder status for The Dish is an exciting development and ensures it remains at the forefront of astronomical discovery.” Astronomers from across Australia and around the world utilise the Parkes radio telescope, which has a diameter of 64 metres, to undertake world-class astronomical science.

Built virtually in the shadow of The Dish, the Discovery Centre, where visitors are invited to explore the world of astronomy, is also open 7 days. If you would like to become a friend of the dish give them a call on 6861 1777.