The free Child Restraint Checking Day held recently, a service provided by Parkes Shire Council, Col Fletcher Ford and Kia along with Parkes Tyrepower and Mechanical Repairs, discovered that 65% of the child restraints checked were incorrectly fitted.

The service provided free child restraint inspections at RMS Authorised Child Restraint Fitting Stations in Parkes and 18 child restraints were brought in by parents, grandparents and carers for checking. Parkes Shire Council’s Road Safety and Injury Prevention Officer, Logan Dolbel, said that research shows that two out of three child restraints are not being used properly and this puts children at risk of sustaining injuries if they are involved in a crash. “Most of the child restraints that were checked only had minor problems that needed fixing to ensure the safety of the child. The correct fitting and adjustment of child restraints is vital. Child restraints that are not correctly fitted put children at risk of injury in the event of a crash,” he said.

The most common mistakes were related to the use of the lap sash seatbelts and the straps on the child restraint; they needed tightening, they were too tight, they were twisted or they were incorrectly anchored in the vehicle. Many of the restraints checked also needed additional parts like gated buckles to ensure the safety of the restraint
and the child.

“It is important to make sure that your precious cargo is safe and buckled up every time they are in the car – whether it’s a five minute or five-hour journey.” “Everyone who attended the checking day said they had come along because they wanted to double check that their child restraint was installed correctly and find out more information of when to move their children from one restraint to the next,” Mr Dolbel said.

Information and advice was also available about the types of child restraints, the national laws and when to move children from one restraint to the next. Attendees were also able to grab one of the new height charts, developed as a part of the local Road Safety program, to assist with when to move children from one restraint to the next.

The top dog, who won the Best in Show award at the Parkes and District Kennel Club annual championship over the long weekend, is widely considered the best Dobermann in Australia at the moment. Neo (Supreme Champion Ikons Chosen One) has won 37 Best in Show awards all over Australia. His owner, Daniel Filipovic, has had him since birth 3.5 years ago.

They have come from near Geelong for the second year to the Parkes championship. Another dog from Victoria Lumi, a Finnish Lapphund, won Runner-up Best in Show with owner Bianca Ralphs. Bianca comes from Wodonga, but her parents live in Parkes. It was the biggest prize her dog has ever won.

Up to 100 dog owners with 350 dogs came from as far as Perth to take part in the event with three all breeds championships shows over two days. Richard Madden, President of the Parkes and District Kennel said various reasons made it attractive for participants to travel to Parkes. These included the quality of the field and competition, catching up with other dog owners, chasing a title and the format of the show.

Neo and his owner Daniel Filipovic also won the inaugural Murray Maguire Memorial Trophy as winner of the first show. The trophy was introduced in recognition of the recent passing of Murray, a member of the Parkes Club. The show was a great opportunity to view many different breeds of dogs and their many talents. Beautifully groomed and exotics breeds were in action including a Hungarian Vizsla, Afghan Hound, Pug, Tibetan Spaniel, Pomeranian, Affenpinscher, Pointer, Norwegian Elkhound, Borzoi, Beagle and many more.

By Maggi Barnard

Country music legend Troy Cassar-Daley will be headlining the 30th Trundle Bush Tucker Day in September. Over his 25 year career, Troy has won ARIA awards and toured all over the world. The dynamic Jade Martin Band will also be gracing the main stage with a high energy performance. In true Aussie style, the Trundle Bush Tucker Day began in 1986 as a bet between two mates to see who could cook up the best tucker in a camo oven behind the pub.

The idea took off and the Trundle Bush Tucker Day was born. 30 years on, the event now takes place at the Trundle Showground and attracts thousands of people every year. The 2016 programme will include bush tucker cooking, master bush chef competitions, free taste testing and some hilarious traditional bush tucker games such as the Billy Boiling race and the Bushman’s Relay. If you’ve got a clever canine why not take part in the dog jumping or if you’re sporty yourself there is the Junior Bush Olympics. Traditional rural activities such as whip cracking and sheep shearing demonstrations will also happen over the course of the day.

Tickets are now on sale for the event, don’t miss out make sure you get yours now by going to the website,www.trundlebushtuckerday.com. Tickets include entry into cooking competitions, bush tucker tasting tests, rides, free kids corner and entertainment throughout the day and evening.

The team at Positive Living Skills are moving one step closer to their vision, to see the growing statistics around depression drastically reduce, with the launch of their Positive Living Skills Early Childhood Wellbeing Program in Parkes and Forbes. The program, which is supported by Northparkes Mines, is the brainchild behind local Parkes resident Catherine Shaw, who knows what mental health problems can do to communities.

“We have all heard about the rising rate of suicide, particularly in rural NSW, and we all know someone who has lost a loved one to such a tragedy’, she said; “Mental health problems do not discriminate, and people of all ages and backgrounds are at real risk. When I experienced my own struggles and went looking for help, I found these practical Positive Living skills in my late 40’s.

My immediate thought was; why don’t they teach this in schools? And so this journey began.” “People in rural NSW communities or anywhere in Australia for that matter can be reluctant to put their hands up for help, no matter how many times it is suggested to them. That’s why emotional intelligence must be taught in every classroom in every corner of the country.”

Local psychologist Carly Fisher has also seen the benefits of the Positive Living skills program. ‘I am extremely happy to support the work that Cath and her team at Positive Living Skills are implementing via the Positive Living Skills program. I have seen firsthand through my clients the positive effects that have been achieved via the initial pilot studies here in the Parkes community, and I look forward to seeing this program reach broader communities.”

As part of the latest round of funding supported by the NorthParkes Mines Community Investment Program, the Forbes Learning Ladder and Nurture One Victoria Street Children’s Centre in Parkes will be the first in the area to get the opportunity to share the learning and resources with the children they serve and their families.

For more details about Positive Living Skills visit them online at www.positivelivingskills.com and click on the Family Link page.

A new facelift for the GWS Personnel office opposite Cook Park is part of the longstanding Parkes business’ exciting
new transformation into a leading NSW recruitment agency. GWS Personnel has grown from strength to strength since Peter O’Donnell signed Northparkes as its first client in 1994. Opening new offices across regional NSW in Dubbo, Orange, Bathurst and Wagga allowed the progressive company to expand into mining and infrastructure projects in the public and private sectors.

In 2006, GWS Personnel continued to evolve by joining forces with third generation Sydney based recruitment agency Smalls and northern NSW agency JHA. A decade later, the three dynamic businesses will soon launch their next exciting development as they merge to form the Spinifex Australia group.

Chairman Peter O’Donnell, who now operates nine offices, an internal team of more than 50 and a workforce across NSW, says the ongoing opportunities for GWS Personnel would not have been possible without the strong foundations of the business’ inception in Parkes more than 20 years ago. “By being part of the Spinifex Australia group, our Parkes team now have even more opportunities to grow their careers with us,” Mr O’Donnell said.

“I’m thrilled to be able to reward so many of our loyal Parkes employees by giving them more responsibilities with important roles within the Spinifex Australia group. “Local businesses and government organisations operating in Parkes will also benefit by having the recruitment group’s expansive professional services available to them from our Parkes’ agency in Welcome Street.”

 

Are you excited yet? We sure are! The social event of the season, the annual Parkes Coragdery and Diggers Picnic Races, will take place in Parkes this Saturday at the Parkes Racecourse on Eugowra Road. Tickets are $15 for adults with under sixteens able to enter for free. There’s still time to purchase pre-sale tickets which are available from the Henry Parkes Centre, 141 On Main, The Cambridge Hotel and The Railway Hotel. Gates will open at 11.30am with a great day of racing beginning around midday.

The Parkes Jockey Club has put together a professionally run five-race programme featuring the Coradgery Cup and for all those betting fans, there will be an interstate betting ring and a totalisator for the punters. With catered marquees, live music entertainment from ‘One Non Blond’ full bar and TAB facilities, catering by Parkes Quota Club and a great day of racing including the Coradgery Cup, visitors will come from all around the state to be part of this huge event.

Racegoers can register for the Fashions on the Field event on the day at the Fashions Tent. Sponsored by 141 On Main, who donate fabulous prizes every year, the event is known as one of most prestigious in the Central West and is a great opportunity to dress up and stand out from the crowd on the day. Nicole at 141 on Main says this is a very exciting time of year for the boutique, “I feel like I dress lovely ladies in my sleep this time of year!” she joked.

The seven fashion categories include; junior, teenager, best dressed gent, most stylish couple, cutting edge, most elegant lady and millinery. So be sure to bring your hat!

Who’s Entertaining Us?
Put together the dynamic vocals of Ann-Marie Gow and the versatility of Tim Gow and the product is the One Non Blond covers duo. With a repertoire of over 300 songs, these two entertainers are able to create a vibe and mood for any occasion.

One Non Blond have found success on the Sydney club and hotel circuit and many country venues. Between them, Annie and Tim bring over 27 years’ experience to the stage, from live bands to theatre restaurants and shows and the pair’s onstage banter is sure to enhance the audience’s feeling of fun-filled entertainment. Their variety of music differs from Patsy Cline to AC/DC with a sprinkling of Creedence, Status Quo, Wolfmother and Cold Chisel thrown in. Perfect for those who like to rock’n’roll!

On Tuesday business-minded people from across the Central West headed to Parkes Services Club for the Central West Business Summit. Hosted by Adloyalty, the day was opened by Caddie Marshall who welcomed everyone to the event before introducing Councillor and Deputy Mayor, Barbara Newton, to the stage. “Parkes Shire is very proud of its vision and its energy,” Cr Newton said; “We also have one of the best outfitted mayors in the state, who has
a wardrobe that includes Elvis, leprechaun and ABBA costumes! Congratulations to Caddie and her team on this event.”

The timetable for the day included a fantastically funny and informative speech on innovation by keynote speaker, James O’Loghlin, who stressed how all types of people can be innovators, all you needed to do was take the time to think. “Everyone tells you innovation is important but hardly anyone tells you how to do it” he Summit At The Top Of Business Innovation said; “Think, think how to take advantages of opportunities, how to make things better. If you spend 100% of your time dealing with today’s problems and none of your time thinking about tomorrow then you are prioritising today at the expense of tomorrow.”

James encouraged those present to make a list of everything they suspected wasn’t perfect in their business, question everything that they do and challenge their assumptions. The rest of the day consisted of breakout sessions from companies such as YBM, RDA, AusIndustry, BEC, Adloyalty, Central West Networks and the Australian Graduate Management Consortium which covered a variety of topics from Inland Rail to digital integration and leveraging competitive advantage.

Talks were also given from Central West Orana Business Chamber winner, Steve Fieldus, owner of Transforce, Alan McKellar of Northparkes Mines and Mitch Colton of Colton Computer Technologies. During Alan McKellars talk he spoke of the impressive achievements of Northparkes Mines, including how they are now the world leaders in 100% automated production. The Central West business community was represented from across the region, including many business members of the Parkes Shire.