• Home
  • Articles
    • Front Page
    • General Interest
    • Special Interests
    • Snippets
    • Mayoral Notes
    • Letters to the Editor
  • Competitions
    • Sydney Royal Easter Show Giveaway
  • Our Community
    • Our People
    • Question of the Week
    • Jobs in the Central West
    • Be Seen
    • What’s On
  • Special Interests
    • Women In Business
    • Rural Round Up
    • My Place
    • Health & Wellbeing
    • Loving Local Living
    • Just a Short Drive
    • Real Estate
  • Sports
    • Bowls
    • Cricket
    • Equestrian
    • Footy Tips
    • Golf
    • Netball
    • Rugby League
    • Rugby Union
    • Soccer
    • Touch Football
  • Contact Us
    • Contact Page
    • Advertise with us
    • Testimonials
    • Submit an Article
    • Subscribe to the Parkes Phoenix

Parkes Phoenix

Yoga For Healing And Inspiration

June 10, 2022 By Maggi Barnard

A head-on car accident left Josephine Doyle in a world of pain at just 28 years old. Jo went to a back specialist who suggested surgery. “Having read many books on how the body has infinite intelligence to heal itself, the idea of having an operation on my spine was not an option,” said Jo.

A friend suggested yoga. Jo chose yoga and at 40 years old she healed her back completely from years of chronic pain. She now travels the country sharing her wisdom and inspiring people of all ages and all levels of fitness.

Jo will be presenting her popular Therapeutic Healthy Happy Hips and Lower Back Workshop on 17th and 18th June at Bushman’s Motor Inn at 6:30 to 9pm and 12:30 to 3pm respectively.

Jo’s workshops have students feeling empowered, pain free and invested with tools, exercises and pose variations to improve their bodies and their yoga practice. 

The event is open to anyone and will be very hands-on to heal and strengthen the lower back and hips. 

Jo’s teaching approach is unapologetically honest, sensitive, and humorous. Space is limited so to book your spot by texting Jo on 0418 999 768.

Call For 24/7 Nursing Care In Homes

June 3, 2022 By Maggi Barnard

Member for Orange Phil Donato MP with the bill calling for registered nurses to be available 24/7 at nursing homes.

Member for Orange Philip Donato MP will once again introduce a bill to the NSW Legislative Assembly seeking to mandate a registered nurse be available around the clock in NSW nursing homes. 

“Tragically, the pandemic had a devastating impact on the vulnerable residents living in nursing homes, which exposed the severe lack of medically trained staff to care for those afflicted with Covid-19,” said Phil. 

“The Royal Commission into Aged Care revealed an insufficient staffing of registered nurses in nursing homes, and one of the commissioner’s recommendations is the introduction of a minimum staff standard across the board – including registered nurses.” 

The second iteration of the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party’s bill, titled the Public Health Amendment (Registered Nurses in Nursing Homes) Bill 2020, was brought before the NSW Legislative Council for debate in May by Phil’s colleague, Mark Banasiak MLC, and passed the Upper House on 11th May. 

“I acknowledge the hard work and dedication of the many personal care workers looking after the residents in the nursing homes, but they do not have the level of training or clinical expertise a registered nurse has, such as administering medications, assessing and managing medical conditions, and time-critical referrals for escalation of patient care. 

“This bill, if passed into legislation, would require nursing homes to staff, at a minimum, the regulatory prescribed number of registered nurses at all times. Nursing homes would no longer be without a registered nurse to deliver care – day or night. 

“We want the best possible nursing care for those precious seniors in our lives, our grandparents, parents, uncles and aunts – and that care shouldn’t be restricted to business hours, it should be 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” said Phil. 

Get Your Flu Shot Now

May 27, 2022 By Maggi Barnard

NSW residents are being urged to book in for their flu vaccine without delay, with winter just a few days away and hospitals already seeing a surge in influenza cases.

Health Minister Brad Hazzard said NSW hospitals were facing a triple threat with high numbers of COVID-19 cases, a surge in flu cases and staff furloughing due to illness. “With almost no exposure to flu these past two years, it is imperative we all get a flu jab to protect ourselves and the community.”

NSW’s Chief Paediatrician Dr Matt O’Meara said there was particular concern for children aged six months to five years old, as young children were particularly vulnerable to the harmful effects of flu.

Those considered to be at higher risk of severe illness from influenza are eligible for a free flu vaccine. This includes children from six months to under five years of age; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people from six months of age; people with serious health conditions, pregnant women, and people aged 65 and over.

At the time of going to press, the minister was considering making the flu vaccine free for all NSW residents.

Have You Had Your Macula Checked?

May 13, 2022 By Maggi Barnard

Dry Macular Degeneration (MD) and Wet MD.

May is Macular Degeneration (MD) Month, and a good reminder that if you are over 50 you should be having regular macula health checks. 

The macula is the most sensitive part of the retina which deals with fine detail. A healthy macula is vital for good vision. 

Macular Degeneration is a disease that causes central vision loss. This makes it very difficult to read, recognise faces, watch TV and even obtain a driver’s license. 

Macular Degeneration is the leading cause of blindness in Australia. It is more common as we age, and the risk of MD increases if there is a family history of macula problems, cardiovascular disease or you are a smoker. 

DRY MD 

Characterised by a slow, progressive loss of the RPE cells due to the build-up of drusen at the macula. This makes up about 85% of moderate to advanced MD cases resulting in a gradual deterioration of the central vision. Diet and a special formulation of vitamins and high-dose antioxidants, such as MD eyes have been shown to slow down the progression of MD in those with moderate to advanced MD in at least one eye. 

WET MD 

This affects about two-thirds of advanced MD patients. This occurs when abnormal blood vessels grow underneath the macular and these vessels can spontaneously bleed, leading to a sudden loss of vision requiring immediate medical treatment. Treatment often requires regular injections to shrink the blood vessels. 

Like most diseases, early detection and treatment for MD is vital to maintain good vision throughout life. 

Hansen Eyecare Plus has all the latest technology for a comprehensive eye exam, including Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT). OCT is the gold standard for the early detection of Macular Degeneration. Unlike standard retinal photography, OCT enables detailed assessment of the deeper layers of the retina using optical ultrasound. 

To have your macula thoroughly checked, make your appointment today with Hansen Eyecare Plus. 

Fantastic Fundraiser For Prostate Cancer

May 6, 2022 By George Bradley 

Parkes Bowling & Sports Club hosted a charity day in support of the Prostate Cancer Council of Australia on Sunday with 56 bowlers playing two games of pairs, each of 15 ends, with a break between games for a barbeque lunch. 

Thanks to the generosity of our local businesses, there were a lots of prizes with the winners drawn ‘out of a hat’ rather than on results. Big thanks to our 45 sponsors with the major ones Steve Magill Earthmoving, Forbes Central Butchery, French Taste Bakery and White Bridge Communications. 

Everyone did a great job to make the day a success with a donation of over $2,000 to the Prostate Cancer Council. 

Club Championships – Major Pairs Championship: Warwick Parker and Tom Furey played Martin Tighe and Jo Simpson on Saturday. Martin and Jo were in the match up to the 16th end but then Warwick and Tom took control and ran out winners 31 – 11. 

Major Triples Championship: In what was a closer game than the scores may indicate Dave Reilly, Nathan Reynolds and Gary McPhee took the early lead against Guy Ellery, Wilbur Harris and Steve Turner and never gave up the lead before winning the match 23-17. 

Social Bowls: The wet weather meant no social bowls were played on Thursday and on Saturday only one match was played. Tony Riordan, Bob Freeman and Rob Irving had the better of the early ends to lead John Ward, Trevor Harvey and Mike Simpson 19 – 6 after 14 ends. The next five ends were won by Team Ward and with two ends to play the lead had been cut to 19-18. However, Team Ward could not sustain their run and went down 19-20. 

By George Bradley 

Five Foods For Healthy Eyes

April 8, 2022 By Maggi Barnard

ALMONDS

A rich source of vitamin E, zinc, fibre, iron, magnesium and potassium, almonds are amazing for overall health and well-being in the whole body. Research has shown this super nut can actually slow down the progression of macular degeneration.

CITRUS FRUITS AND BERRIES

The ultimate sources of vitamin C, citrus and berries, especially blueberries, are considered the healthiest food for your eyes. These also contain high quantities of vitamin A, C, E, and zinc, which have been shown to reduce risk of developing cataracts and macular degeneration.

LEAFY GREENS

Leafy greens such as cooked spinach and kale, broccoli, collards and turnip greens contain high amounts of lutein and zeaxanthin. These antioxidants have shown to lower risk of development of macular degeneration and cataracts, whilst also reducing glare discomfort, enhancing contrast, and increasing visual range.

FATTY FISH

Fatty fish such as tuna, salmon, mackerel, anchovies and trout are rich in DHA, which is an acid found in the retina. Fatty acids may also help protect eyes from macular degeneration and dry eye. These essential fatty acids help drain fluid from the eye thus decreasing the risk of high pressure and glaucoma.

EGGS

Eggs, as we all know are packed full of protein, but did you know that they also provide us with lutein, vitamin E and omega 3. Egg yolks also contain zeaxanthin which is believed to help protect eyes against UV radiation from the sun. These benefits help reduce the risk of developing cataracts and fight macular degeneration.

For more information contact Eyecare Plus Parkes 6863 5577.

A Year Of Delivering COVID-19 Vaccinations

March 25, 2022 By Maggi Barnard

Tuesday this week marked the 12-month anniversary of the first COVID-19 vaccination delivered by the Western NSW Local Health District (WNSWLHD).

In just one year WNSWLHD vaccination teams delivered almost 124,000 doses in more than 75 local communities.

When that first vaccination was given to Dr Dan Stewart from the Dubbo Health Service Emergency Department last year, the WNSWLHD role was intended to be limited to vaccinating health staff. As the pandemic evolved, that role dramatically expanded with the vaccination team going on to play a huge role in protecting Western NSW communities.

Chief Executive of WNSWLHD Mark Spittal is extremely proud of how the team was able to scale up their vaccine service provision in response to the needs of the communities.

“At the start of COVID-19 vaccination, we were expecting to deliver around 15,000 vaccines to healthcare workers, but within just two months, our vaccination team had rapidly geared up and were vaccinating people in the community,” he said.

“It’s been a truly enormous undertaking. The team has been innovative and flexible, operating major hub clinics in Orange, Bathurst and Dubbo as well as pop-up clinics in other communities, setting up the state’s first drive-through clinic and even providing mobile vans and in-home vaccination when needed.

“Between our vaccine clinics and those delivered by other providers such as local GPs, Respiratory Clinics, Aboriginal Medical Services and pharmacies, we have managed to ensure Western NSW reached high vaccination rates sooner than many other parts of NSW. That’s a huge achievement, especially considering the challenges of distance for many of our remote communities.”

Babies, Books And Brains

March 18, 2022 By Maggi Barnard

QUE Club members learned about how a baby’s brain grows in utero, and then continues to grow rapidly during the first three to four years of life.

In her presentation to our club’s monthly meeting the Executive Director of Paint the Town REaD (PTTR) Barbie Bates OAM said the first 1,000 days of a child’s life shaped their development and wellbeing. The biggest growth of a baby’s brain is from birth to 12 months/2yrs old.

Barbie said that was why reading, talking, singing, drawing, playing with children every day from birth supported their early brain development and prepared them for reading and writing at school.

Barbie reminded us that the birthplace of Paint the Town REaD was in Parkes, and that there were amazing developments and initiatives which continued to spread the word, for example: This year it is expected that 100 towns in all six states will participate in Paint the Town REaD; ‘Books for Bubs in Preemie Wards’ – so parents, who can’t hold their preemie, can read to their baby and establish a bond; Chief Inspector of Blacktown Police station places pre-loved books in the waiting room and in every patrol car because he noticed this helped children’s stress levels drop; a study at Western Sydney University had second trimester mums read a book to their babies for a week, they then placed a foetal heart monitor on while the mums read a different book, and they found the heart rate increased. In utero, babies react!

Our QUE Club continues to provide new books to every newborn baby in Parkes. We also contribute annually to early childhood development by supporting hearing and speech assessments. Several local schools have better learning environments because of the Soundfield systems we have donated to school classrooms.

By Lynn Rogers

Free Mental Health First Aid Courses

March 18, 2022 By Maggi Barnard

The Parkes Rotary Club will be sponsoring free Mental Health First Aid Courses at Parkes, Forbes and Tullamore over the next two months.

The courses teach people simple, practical first aid skills for helping someone who is experiencing mental health problems, and will be presented by Phil Worrad, Rural Mental Health Coordinator for the Rural Adversity Mental Health Program.

Participants will learn the signs and symptoms of common and disabling mental health issues in adults, how to provide initial help, where and how to get professional help, and how to provide first aid in a crisis situation. It will cover topics such as depression, anxiety, suicidality, psychosis and the misuse of drugs and alcohol.

“Drought, floods, mice plagues, bushfires and now the rising cost of living are having a severe impact on the mental health of rural communities,” said Robert Shore, President of Parkes Rotary. “There is a need for courses like these so people can continue helping each other.

“I have spoken to people who have done this course previously and they all say it is excellent,” he said. “One teacher said it was the best, most useful professional development she has ever done.”

According to Robert the course is educational in learning how to assist others as a first responder, and not a therapeutic or support group.

Each course is run over two days, from 9am to 4 pm and is open to community members over 18 years of age.

The Rotary Club was successful in gaining a grant from the Rotary Drought Relief scheme to run the courses in Parkes on 2nd and 3rd April, Forbes on 7th and 8th May, and in Tullamore on 21st and 22nd May.

To register ring Robert on 0427 627244 or see Charlie at the Parkes Coffee Pot.

World Glaucoma Week 6-12 March

March 4, 2022 By Maggi Barnard

World Glaucoma Week aims to raise awareness of glaucoma, a disease that irreversibly takes away your peripheral vision and if left untreated can cause blindness.

The Silent Thief of Sight

If you currently have glaucoma, you may not know it. In fact, half of all people who have developed glaucoma are unaware they have the condition, there is no pain, discomfort and your central vision is unaffected in the early stages of the disease. It is not until significant peripheral vision loss has occurred that people notice they have glaucoma, which by then is too late.

Who Gets Glaucoma?

Two out of every 100 Australians will develop glaucoma, however you are ten times more likely if you have a direct relative that suffers from it.

Other risk factors include diabetes, migraines, over 50 years of age, a strong glasses prescription and a history of high or low blood pressure.

Treatment for Glaucoma

Treatment is mainly aimed at reducing the pressure inside the eye. This is commonly achieved with eye drops but can also be done with the use of lasers and surgery.

Treatment does not cure glaucoma or reverse any vision loss, however it does significantly slow the disease process down. For this reason, in order to reduce permanent vision loss, early detection and treatment for glaucoma is vital.

Everyone over 40 years of age should have a comprehensive eye examination to rule out glaucoma, particularly if you have a greater risk for the disease.

For more information visit our website at www.hansenoptom.com.au or www.glaucoma.org.au

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • …
  • 14
  • Next Page »

Latest Print Editions

Click here to download the recent issue (5) of The Forbes & Parkes Phoenix (2.8MB PDF) – 5th Aug 2022

STAY CONNECTED

The Parkes Phoenix would like to thank you, our Facebook friends, for your continued support and readership!

SEARCH THE PHOENIX

Recent Articles

  • Annual Harvest Field Day On 11th August August 5, 2022
  • Our Bloke – Peter Giles August 5, 2022
  • Allan Rees The Master August 5, 2022
  • Australian Poetry Month. August 5, 2022
  • Trees, Trees, Trees August 5, 2022

CONTACT THE PHOENIX

Address
7/113-127 Rankin Street, Forbes NSW 2871

Editorial Phone –  0403 080 085
 editor@parkesphoenix.com.au

Sales Phone – 0476 110 953
sales@parkesphoenix.com.au

View our Privacy Policy.
View our Conflict Resolution Process.
View our Ethics and Complaints Policy.
Want to advertise with us?
Information on our Community Promotions.

Submit an Article

We are always looking for new articles of interest to the local community.

Please feel free to submit an article for possible inclusion in a future issue.

To submit an article, click here to use our online article submission form.

Recieve the Phoenix via email

* indicates required

Copyright © 2022 · Website setup by WebSysMan