After nearly eight years in the ‘hot seat’ Dan Fredericks facilitated the Parkes writers group Author-rised for the very last time this month. Saying farewell to him were standing (L – R) Peter Colbourne, Heather Veal, Matthew Kennedy, Benson O’Donnell, Laura Harvey, Rex Veal and Jay Richards. Dan in front is holding some chocolate cookies that Benson made and decorated to say “Farewell Dan”.

While I was an original member of Author-rised when it started in August 2012, I wasn’t working for Parkes Library then. I commenced as facilitator of the group in 2014, when it became one of my work duties.

However, it was never a chore, rather a labour of love. To be able to research the many topics of writing, and see writers hone their craft and improve has been most satisfying.

Writers have been part of special projects – such as Stories on a Coffee Cup and the Skywriters Anthology – as well as taking part in many writer festivals. The Stories on a Coffee Cup was a unique concept where every café in the Parkes Shire received free coffee cups. Each cup had one of three different (very) short stories or poems. To improve the mood of the experience, these short stories and poems were written on serviettes!

We have had author talks, writing workshops and even hosted an editor! One of the most popular features of an Author-rised session is “Share If You Dare”, where writers can choose to share a piece of their writing and ask for feedback.

Author-rised is a supportive, positive place for writers of all abilities, from ages 13 to 113! While my aim was to see it become a great place and space for writing; each Author-rite has contributed to creating and maintaining the encouraging environment where writing can flourish.

I would like to thank Parkes Library staff for their continued support of the group, as well as each Author-rite who has contributed over the years.

By Dan Fredericks

The ‘Boys from the Bush’ dancers are Lynn Ryan, Jill Crisp, Nancye Blatch, Rosemary Morris, Cathy Clarke and Bev Laing.

Parkes Que members started celebrating early when we held our Christmas party at the start of summer on 1st December after a quick meeting to wind up the year’s business.

The best news to come out of the meeting was that our International Women’s Day luncheon would be back at the Parkes Services Club next year. This is a reminder to all women to put a mark on your calendar for 13th March.

Our party was a lot of fun. Everyone was dressed for Christmas, but Anne-Marie Winter, sporting a reindeer’s head that almost looked alive on her Christmas shirt, was the standout and took home a bubbly prize.

The ‘Boys from the Bush’ dancers, who bore a remarkable likeness to some of our members, entertained us with ‘Working On The Land’. We had a Christmas quiz to test our brains after the COVID hiatus.

We did our Christmas presents differently this year. Everyone bought a gift from the CanAssist shop paying no more than $10.

Some of these were absolutely beautiful, some quite nice, some a little strange, some decidedly odd, but we had a lot of fun regardless and it was a great way to help our cancer sufferers.

Que wishes you all a very happy Christmas and ask you all to support us next year as we work to make our world a better place for all. We welcome new members. Find us on Facebook: Parkes Que Club Inc, or give Pam a call on 0407 894 498.

By Pam Nankivell

Steel supplies in Parkes is not going to run out following the recent closure of Handi Steel. Power Tools Plus has announced it has purchased the stock and will be temporarily operating from the business site.

“The good news is Parkes will not be without a steel supplier, and it will be business as usual at the 32 Woodward Street premises for the next two months,” said Power Tools Plus Marketing Manager Marianne Casey.

This new purchase is just the start of some very exciting changes for this Central West business, which has three more stores operating in Forbes, Cowra and Mudgee .

Many people would have noticed the signs on the Forbes road of the new premises under construction for Power Tools Plus over the past year. The long wait is over and in the new year the steel yard, as well as the industrial supplies store currently located in Currajong Street, will be moving into a brand new and much bigger space.

While a grand opening is planned for March 2022, the industrial supplies section will start operating from 24th January and the steel yard from 4th February next year.

The new premises has created four new roles, which have all been filled by Parkes locals.

The new store was built mostly using contractors who have been customers of the business. “It was great to broaden our relationship with our customers and swap around the roles,” said Marianne.

With Parkes set to grow into a major hub, the new Power Tools Plus store could not have come at a better time to provide a much-needed service in the region.

Laura Rusten and her sister Jorja at the show jump she designed for her HSC major work. The jump has butterfly wings on both sides to honour the Dolly’s Dream butterfly. Laura created the wings by welding together horse shoes.

A Year 12 student spent hours working on her HSC major work this year and then decided to auction it off for a charity.

Parkes Christian School student Laura Rusten created a very special show jump for her major works in Design and Technology.

“As an avid equestrian I know how hard it is when practicing show jumping on your own to have to get off the horse to lift or lower the pole, so I decided to create a jump that would allow me to automatically lift or lower the pole while still mounted.”

With some input from her dad, Laura spent countless hours over six months to build an automatic pole lifting show jump with a motion sensor camera.

“My show jump is designed to be used by the rider solo, with two electric winches remote controlled to either lift or lower the pole, a motion sensor camera that can record your movement with an SD card or a second party can access the camera with their phone and control the movement of the camera to give direct feedback.” Laura said the jump was not only designed as a training jump but could also be used in competition.

As a keen supporter of Dolly’s Dream, a charity set up to care for children who have experienced or witnessed serious violence, bullying, cyberbullying or other safety and well-being risks, Laura decided a great way of raising funds for the charity would be to sell the show jump on auction. “With the approval from Dolly’s Dream this became my inspiration.”

The auction kicked off on Monday and by Tuesday she had already raised over $500. “I don’t really have a final figure and only hope it goes well,” said Laura, who has been accepted at Wagga CSU to study a Bachelor of Equine Science next year.

The auction includes other smaller items and is open until 12pm today at: https://fundraise.dollysdream.org.au/fundraisers/laurarusten

Laura Rusten.

The Parkes Shire Concert Band will be playing Christmas Carol in Cooke Park from 11am tomorrow.

The annual Nine Lessons and Carols will again enthral those who gather on Sunday night (19th December) at St George’s Anglican Church at 7:30pm.

The event features songs and carols based around nine readings that tell the story of the prophecies of Jesus, through to his incarnation or birth as God on earth.

The event also foreshadows his death and resurrection which is commemorated at Easter.

Rev Natalie Quince said: “There is a dignified purpose and simplicity in this service that enables people to hear about God’s promises and their fulfilment for us in Jesus. It is the beginning of the Christmas season.”

And the best bit is – everyone can join in singing!

Richard Morgan will be accompanying the congregation in many favourite carols. He is an accomplished organist from Sydney and a regular at this event.

Local Belinda Boland will be performing a solo, as will Keola Aho, while A Capella group Tapestry will lead the congregation in singing and will perform two items.

Please get in early as it will begin promptly at 7:30pm. Richard will be playing the organ from 7pm.

Carols In The Park

If you cannot make the service at St George’s on Sunday, the Parkes Shire Concert Band will be playing Christmas Carols tomorrow (18th December) from 11am at the Cooke Park Pavilion. Bring your picnic rug or chair and enjoy some Christmas cheer in the open.