Loki Ramsay has been playing brass instruments since he was a child. “I started on cornett because my hands weren’t big enough for a trumpet. I continued on trumpet because my arms weren’t long enough for a trombone. Now I’m bigger, I play trombone like my father and uncle. I took a few years away from brass, training my voice to sing instead.” 

He said playing brass instruments had been in his family for generations. “It only felt right to go back to my roots and join a band.”

He joined the Parkes Shire Concert Band (PSCB) recently. “I’m glad I did, as I missed the feeling of playing in a band with brass instruments.” 

He said PSCB had been very welcoming. “I encourage anyone, who used to play, or any new people to Parkes, to come along.”

PSCB rehearses every Tuesday from 7 to 9pm during school term in the Music Room above the pool complex in Dalton Street. Beginners at 6:30pm. Contact music director Duncan Clement on 0405 035 164.

The year 1994 was significant for many reasons. 

At the movies we were watching the Shawshank Redemption and Forrest Gump. As a country we were celebrating our first medal at a Winter Olympics, and in Parkes we were getting ready to celebrate the second Elvis Festival. 

But most significant for Parkes was a visit by HRH Prince Charles on 27th January. Quite the crowd had rallied to catch a glimpse of the Prince on Bushman’s Hill, the site of the first gold mine in Parkes. 

After a stirring rendition of the National Anthem by Angelique Symington, proceedings lent themselves to a potted history of Parkes. And what better way to re-tell this than through a skit. Members of the local Musical & Dramatic Society rose to the occasion with Warwick Tom being cast as Sir Henry Parkes himself, John Short as an inebriated miner and Jenny Hawke as his wife. The cast being ably directed by the late Lizzie Matthews. 

The skit was to be performed on a temporary stage with the players entering from stage left and leaving stage right. 

To add a little veracity to his role, John had purchased a small flask of brandy and poured a little over himself, carrying the remainder in the pocket of his waistcoated costume. He decided it simply wasn’t believable that he would enter the stage from the same side as his ‘wife’, so he ducked around the back of the stage to enter from the opposite side. 

And that is where everything turned to custard! 

The security detail were still a little anxious from the previous day when a would-be assassin had run on to the stage in Sydney with a fake pistol and waved it at the Prince before being rugby tackled to the ground by the then Premier, the late John Fahey. When met with John reeking of booze and being somewhere he wasn’t supposed to be they said: “And where do you think you are going Sunshine?” 

John responded that he was about to go onto stage to perform a skit, the two burley security detail responded with “Well no one told us about that” and with one either side of him the beleaguered actor was frog-marched up the hill to an awaiting Police van. 

Fortunately, a nearby local had caught sight of the entire episode and alerted Lizzie. 

In her signature style of utter fearlessness, she bolted up the hill in hot pursuit, calling for them to stop. She was able to explain the situation and John was returned. 

Meanwhile, John’s ‘leading lady’, Jenny Hawke, was working herself into quite a frenzy not knowing where John was. She went on without him making it up as she went along. Her relief when John finally stumbled onto the stage was palpable. 

The skit continued without further incident with the crowd knowing nothing of the incident until Lizzie later apologised for the delay, but that an attempt had been made to arrest John. There was a gentle ripple of mirth through the assembled crowd before, as they say the show went on. 

Later, when fortunate enough to speak with the Prince, he shared a joke with John commenting that he was indeed in good company as Sir Barry Humphries had been ‘arrested’ in a similar fashion during a performance for the Prince. 

The 27th of January 1994 will long remain in the memory of all involved. 

By Jenny Short 

A joyful, happy meeting of Que ladies last week signalled the return of near normality to our community though we are all well aware of the need to continue hand washing, reasonable distancing and testing for Covid at the slightest symptom. And what a great night it was. 

It was a great night starting with Vice-president Ann-Marie Wynter installing three new members: Janene Dwyer, Heather Harvey and Joanne Burke. 

We had a wonderful, unexpected visitor. Parkes Olympian Mariah Williams swept into the room, demonstrating her hockey stick skills. She told us how much she had enjoyed the recent Commonwealth Games. She also prepared a quiz on the games for us and brought back prizes for the winners. 

We were absolutely delighted with the wonderful prizes from London, ranging from a box of Twinings tea bags to the booby prize of a jar of wholesome English mustard. 

Mariah was not the only hockey star to be applauded on the night, we had a special acknowledgement of our own member, Fran Dixon, who is in Cairns this week to play in the NSW Blues over 65 masters hockey team. We wished Fran and her team the best of luck at the Australian Championships. 

The guest speaker at our October meeting will be Fiona Sanderson, deputy principal of Trundle Central School, to tell members about the benefits of the sound systems we have supplied to them. 

Que continues to welcome new members and their new ideas. Que does great work in the community but always with great fellowship and fun. Want to know more? You can see us on Facebook or ring me on 0407 894 498. 

By Pam Nankivell 

A Parkes resident has taken on a very unique role in our age of virtual communication. 

Gail Richardson last month became president of the P & C Committee of the Aurora College, the first virtual school in NSW. 

Parkes High School is one of 160 schools that offer Aurora lessons to more then 600 students across the state. 

The college offer high potential and gifted students a mix of online and residential school classes in an innovative and flexible learning environment. 

“It is amazing that students are given this opportunity,” said Gail. “As a single mum I could not afford to send my daughter to a boarding school in Sydney. Aurora enables her to stay at home, remain part of the community and with her friends.” 

The Aurora P & C was formed about two years ago and last month Gail was voted in as president for the new term. “It is a huge honour to be part of the most unique P &C in the state.” 

She said the P & C aims to support parents to help their children with their studies by offering webinars and other support. “All our meetings are virtual and the students can participate too.” They have about 50 parents who attend and she would like to see it grow to at least one parent per student. 

The Aurora subjects offered to students at Parkes High are maths, English and science. They do their lessons online and also attend residential camps twice per year, which are subsidised. “I applaud this initiative. It is just brilliant and such a great opportunity for country kids to reach their full potential,” said Gail. 

By Maggi Barnard