Articles Archives - Page 189 of 452

Sports Oval Gets Spiced Up

October 1, 2021 By Maggi Barnard

SPECIAL DAY… At the commencement of construction of the redevelopment of Spicer Oval on Tuesday were (L-R) Cr Neil Westcott, Deputy Mayor Barbara Newton, Ben Howard (Parkes Shire Council), Phil Donato MP, Parkes Shire Mayor Ken Keith, Glen Tilston (Hines Construction), Allan Ryan (Parkes Boars), Scott Knights (President Parkes Senior Cricket), Duncan Blair (Project Manager Parkes Shire Council) and Kevin Oliver (President Parkes Boars).

By the end of June next year the Parkes Boars Rugby Union Football Club will have its own $1.6 million facility at the Spicer Oval.

“I can’t express how much this means to our club,” said Allan Ryan of the Boars at the commencement of construction this week. “There is nothing like having your own club house. We are very, very grateful. This is going to be a game changer for our club and give us pride and identity.”

The redevelopment of Spicer Oval will include a modern amenities block, a club-house and canteen with additional function capabilities, plus a viewing platform accommodating 300 people to service year-round participation of a range of different sports. The building contract was awarded to Hines Construction.

While it will provide the Parkes Boars with a dedicated facility and accommodate junior, senior and women’s rugby matches, the oval will also be used for cricket matches of all grades and ages.

Phil Donato MP said it was a very special day for the Parkes Community and a significant project for the Boars, who had won the premiership two years in a row. “It will be good for the Boars to have their own facility and a venue to match other clubs’ facilities in the region.”

Parkes Mayor Ken Keith said it was a great move forward for the oval that was known as the People’s Park originally where the great Donald Bradman had played many years ago. “It has been the home of so much sport in our community and it still is.

He said the next phase would be to level the playing field to include two rugby fields and the cricket pitch.

Stage 1 of the redevelopment of Spicer Oval included the upgrade of the LED lighting in line with the lighting code for night time football and cricket.

By Maggi Barnard

Roxane Is Our New Sales Manager

October 1, 2021 By Maggi Barnard

Roxane Manley is the new Sales Manager at The Parkes Phoenix.

The Parkes Phoenix has a new Sales Manager who would love to be a strong advocate for the Parkes community.

Roxane Manley joined our ranks this week and she is looking forward to meeting with clients and establishing a great working relationship. “I think The Parkes Phoenix is a fantastic asset for our community.”

As a mother of five she does not have much spare time, but she enjoys creative writing. “I always thought I would write a novel one day but transitioned to screen-writing as I find the medium of film has the ability to really connect with people. I have been an extra in two feature films in an attempt to understand the film making process.”

Roxane was born in Parramatta (no she does not support the Eels!), and moved to Parkes because her grandparents, William and Veronica Melehan, lived here. She started school in Year 3 at Parkes Public.

She was in year 11 at Parkes High School when she started playing women’s rugby and went on to play for the Parkes Women’s Rugby club in its early years.

After school she trained as a surveyor’s assistant and a geologist assistant. “I enjoyed the outdoors and wanted to work at the mines, but I ended up working for a number of years in commercial kitchens around Parkes before moving into a sales role with Big W when they first came to Parkes. I was the Home Entertainment chick for three years.”

That was her first foray into sales and she really enjoyed the interaction with customers. Her most recent position was as a digital and print sales representative in a similar role to the one she has filled at The Parkes Phoenix.

CanAssist Opens Shop In Central Location

October 1, 2021 By Maggi Barnard

GRAND OPENING… CanAssist President Sylvia Glendenning and Treasurer Adriennne Brown cut the ribbon of their new shop at 33 Court Street before the grand opening on Tuesday.

In a year when storms, plagues, demolitions and a pandemic hampered so much of the good work of Parkes CanAssist, this week will be remembered as a happy one of new beginnings.

A cheer went up from the waiting crowd outside 33 Court Street when President Sylvia Glendenning and Treasurer Adriennne Brown cut the ribbon before the grand opening of their new shop on Tuesday.

The new central location in town where Rascals used to be was cause for much excitement with people streaming through the doors.

After hours of hard work to move the thousands of items and set up a proper shop environment by the CanAssist volunteers, Sylvia said she really appreciated the spontaneous cheer that went up from the crowd. The cherry on top was one man who called out: “At last you’ve got your own shop!”

The new shop will be open five days a week from Tuesday to Saturday 9am to 1pm and run by about ten volunteers per day. “It will cost us a bit, so we had to do something to increase our income” said Adrienne of the decision to open five days per week. “We hope it will cover our expenses so we can continue to assist up to 100 people with cancer.”

Sylvia said once everything was sorted they planned to start up again with the box sales once per month. “We are very happy with our new space.”

The furniture sales are still open at the Parkes Showgrounds.

By Maggi Barnard

World Record Price For Ram

October 1, 2021 By Maggi Barnard

‘Lyell’ worth his world record price. ((Photo: Australian Poll Dorset Association)

When you’re wanting to buy one of the best rams, you anticipate paying the best price. However, the simple idea of boosting stock was what led to Kinellar Stud paying the world record price for a ram.

Victoria Patterson and family from Kinellar Stud, Canowindra (75%) and James and Rosemary Corcoran from Gooramma Poll Dorset Stud, Galong (25%) paid a record-breaking $41,000 for a Poll Dorset ram last Monday.

They bought the ram ‘Lyell’ (formerlly known as Valma 200040) from Valma stud in Whitemore, Tasmania via an online auction hosted by AuctionsPlus.

“We weren’t setting out for a world record. We just wanted a ram for our pad-dock,” said Lachlan Patterson.

He said ‘Lyell’ is one of the country’s best rams. “The ram is probably in the top five per cent in growth and top five per cent for muscle,” said Lachlan.

“He’s also got good eating quality with good marbling and quite tender meat.”

Heading into the auction, their budget was $40,000. They were expecting a price in the mid-20,000s, keeping in mind that good rams go for prices in the 30,000s.

The auction bidding was hot, with blind timing keeping everyone on the edge. “We didn’t expect this kind of competition,” he said.

The family are supremely content with their purchase. “By 2023 we will have bred great lambs by him, will win a lot of shows and sell a lot of rams by him,” Lachlan said.

They also want to ensure the customer has the best eating experience.

Closing Shot

October 1, 2021 By Maggi Barnard

Following on from last week’s windmill photo, Barry Green sent us this impressive collection of windmills at Penong in South Australia. Penong is on the Nullarbor Plain in the far west of South Australia located about 616 km north-west of Adelaide. (If you have an iconic or local image for Closing Shot send it to the editor@parkesphoenix.com.au.)

Parkes Special Activation Precinct Starting To Take Shape

October 1, 2021 By Maggi Barnard

Construction on the Parkes Special Activation Precinct has started with the upgrade of Brolgan Road to incorporate a roundabout, two bridges over the railway lines and a new 30MVa sub station.

Construction on the Parkes Special Activation Precinct has started and locals will see this huge development starting to take shape over coming months.

“The Parkes Special Activation Precinct has been in the pipeline for a number of years, so it is really exciting to be able to mark the start of construction on this transformational investment,” said the Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW John Barilaro.

“The precinct will focus on sustainability and aims to become Australia’s first UNI-DO Eco Industrial Park where businesses will work together to create a true circular economy, where one corporation’s waste becomes another’s material for production.”

Mayor of Parkes Shire Cr Ken Keith OAM said it was a significant milestone for the Parkes Special Activation Precinct. “With construction commencing, job opportunities will be created for not only Parkes but for the region. This announcement means that we are one step closer to realising the benefits of the Parkes Special Activation Precinct, which will attract and grow businesses, drive agriculture value-adding, facilitate modern manufacturing, stimulate the local economy, and provide more local employment opportunities.”

Early works include the upgrade of Brol-gan Road to incorporate a roundabout for the future Coopers Road realignment, two bridges over the existing railway lines, and a new 30MVa sub station, as well as all as-sociated utilities. These works are expected to be completed in the first half of 2023.

Construction company Fulton Hogan will deliver the construction work, which is expected to require up to 125 construction jobs throughout the build.

“The early works will open around 1,500 hectares for development by local and international investors, who will work with us to create more economic opportunities for Parkes and the wider Central West region,” the Deputy Premier said.

Special Activation Precincts are being delivered by the Regional Growth NSW Development Corporation and funded by the $4.2 billion Snowy Hydro Legacy Fund. To follow the project’s progress go to www.rgdc.nsw.gov.au/precincts/parkes.

More Volunteers Needed To Offer Friendship

October 1, 2021 By Maggi Barnard

“We get on like a house on fire.” Debbie Larkings could visit Robyn Eggleston at the Niola Nursing Home in Parkes again when the stay-at-home orders were lifted.

“It means everything to me. It makes my week.”

This is how much Robyn Eggleston (73) looks forward to a weekly visit she gets from Community Visitors Scheme (CVS) volunteer Debbie Larkings. Debbie takes her on drives and visits, but the stories and laughter they share are what gives their time together so much meaning.

“I just like it – from the stories they tell to how much I learn from them,” said Debbie, who also visits other people as part of her volunteer work with Neighbourhood Central.

“I would recommend it to anyone. The experience and enjoyment you get out of it is just priceless,” said Debbie. “It makes you feel so much better helping others. It is like a domino effect, it’s so good for everyone involved.”

Neighbourhood Central is looking for more volunteers to join the CVS program. Val Mann said it only entailed a visit or phone call (during lockdown) once a fortnight to provide friendship and companionship through visits to residential aged care individuals who are isolated or at risk of social isolation or loneliness.

“The only requirement is that the volunteer needs to have a pretty stable life to make a long-term commitment to be able to see the person regularly.”

If you are interested contact Val at cvs@ncentral.org.au.

Create To Celebrate 60 Years Of The Dish

October 1, 2021 By Maggi Barnard

The iconic Dish will be re-opening to the public on Saturday, 4th July.

It will be 60 years on Sunday, 31st October since the opening of CSIRO’s Parkes Radio Telescope.

In celebration, the Parkes Shire Library and Cultural Centre and Parkes Radio Telescope team, are hosting a competition and design challenge.

Parkes Shire residents aged 16 and over can enter five categories using the CSIRO Parkes radio telescope as inspiration to submit works in art, writing, drama, music or painting a 3D model of The Dish. Entries will be displayed both online and at the Parkes Shire Library and Cultural Centre.

First prize in each category will receive a guided tour of the telescope and a $50 Shop Parkes Gift Card. The two runners-up in each category will win a $50 Shop Parkes Gift Card each. CSIRO will donate small memorabilia from The Dish shop for honourable mention entries.

Children under 16 can design and create their own Dish at home from objects and materials they can find around the house. Whether it be a sculpture, kitchen utensils, in the garden, baked goods or human pyramid style, let your imagination run wild.

The competition closes at 5pm on Friday, 15th October. For more information visit Council’s website or the Parkes Libraries Facebook page.

Parkes Community Can Help Gage Fight For His Life

September 24, 2021 By Maggi Barnard

Gage Kirk in happier times before he was first diagnosed, with his sister Rebekah.

While many of us were thinking it was hard getting through the COVID lockdown, a 14-year-old Parkes boy has been fighting for his life in a hospital in Sydney.

Gage Kirk, a Parkes High School student, received a devastating diagnosis on 14th April last year, a week after his 13th birthday. He had Ewing’s Sarcoma, a cancer that most often occurs in and around the bones, but it had also spread to Gage’s soft tissue and lungs.

Gage’s family were all in shock at the news, and it turned their life upside down. He was moved far away from home at the Westmead Children’s Hospital in Sydney where he received treatment of doses of intense chemotherapy and radiation for over 12 months.

In May this year Gage received yet another diagnosis, but this time it was the news everyone was wanting to hear. He was given the all-clear, there was not a sign of any cancer in his body. Gage’s family and friends were so relieved and elated that he was cancer-free and able to return home to Parkes.

Gage was home for nearly three months when he started to experience severe pain in his knee. His specialist referred him to the paediatrician in Orange where he had an MRI. A week later, on 12th July, he was sent back to the Westmead Children’s Hospital where Gage’s specialist confirmed a relapse. The cancer was back. They did further scans and found that it had returned in his knee, spine, pubic bone and lungs.

The pressure on Gage’s mum Sarah is immense running two households. While she is in Sydney supporting Gage through his treatment, she also has to ensure her two younger children Rebekah and Declan are being looked after by grandparents in Parkes.

A Go Fund Me page was started to support Gage to help fund consultations with some of the world’s leading researchers and specialists to find trials that will give Gage a chance to survive, and to help Gage’s mum.

“I am struggling to keep two households running with limited income. Please help us get through this horrific time away from home and support us in raising the funds to have a consultation with a doctor we believe will give my son a chance to survive,” said Sarah on the fundraising page.

The time spent away from home for treatment means Gage has missed nearly two years of school, and being five hours away from Parkes he is unable to socialise with any of his friends and family.

This is a call on the Parkes community to help raise Gage’s spirits by getting behind him in support. Whether you start a small fundraiser at your workplace or school, pass the hat around with your mates, or donate directly on the Go Fund Me page, every little bit will make a difference.

Gage’s family would like to thank all their friends and the Parkes community for their support so far.

This is the link to the Go Fund Me page www.gofundme.com/f/14-year-old-gage-is-facing-cancer-again?member=125412 99&sharetype=teams&utm_campaign=p_na+share-sheet&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=customer

Recycle Your Lids And Clips For Charity

September 24, 2021 By Maggi Barnard

You no longer have to get rid of your bread clips, plastic and metal bottle tops and ring-pulls in the red bin from where they will end up in landfill.

Jenny West in Orange is collecting these items for recycling and she has arranged a convenient drop off location in Parkes and Forbes for these items. Once you’ve collected a bag full of these items, you can drop them off at Western Plains Securities & Locksmiths in Clarinda street near Cunningham’s IGA, or at Hozpots Garden Centre in Forbes near Bunnings and KFC.

The ringpulls from cans are sold for scrap aluminium for about $1/kg. The proceeds are donated to the Aussie Kidz Charity for disadvantaged and disabled children.

Jenny is an authorised collector of bread clips for the Aussie Breadtags For Wheelchairs Charity to fund wheelchairs for people in South Africa.

The plastic bottle tops go to the Lids4Kids Charity where they are recycled into useful products to save them from ending up in landfill.

The metal bottle tops go to a scrap recycler in Canberra and sold for scrap to fund Lids4Kids operations.

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