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Keeping Kadungle In Mind

September 4, 2020 By Maggi Barnard

Kadungle Silo.

Kadungle is one of many towns and villages in the Parkes Shire that have all but disappeared. Located 15km from Tullamore and 20km from Trundle, it is second to Tullamore as the westernmost town in the Parkes Shire. Kadungle was in the county of Kennedy when cadastral maps were used.

It was originally called Cardungle, but when Government officials came along they reckoned the people didn’t know how to spell the word properly, and so they spelt it with a ‘k’, making Kadungle. Kadungle Silos still stand today and railway enthusiasts love photographing trains stopping at the silos.

The silo was on the railway line with nearby stations including The Troffs, Gobondery and Tullamore. In 1927, John Watts of “Kurrajong Park”, Kadungle was announced as one of the successful exhibitors of wheat at the Sydney show.

Tennis was very popular and Kadungle had a tennis club called Medway. They had regular tennis tournaments with Fifield and Tullamore. Kadungle had a half-time school in 1898 but had to wait until 1927 to have a provisional school. Kadungle also had a Post Office which was also the local telephone exchange.

Kadungle School had an active P&C Association, with meetings held quarterly. In 1941 Kadungle organised a combined sports day with Eribung (Numulla), Kelvin Grove and Gillenbine Schools invited to celebrate Empire Day. This became an annual event and the forerunner to the Gobondery Sports Carnivals.

Amongst the more interesting groups formed, there was a Kadungle Wild Dog Union who raised vital funds for the Parkes District Hospital. Families with long associations with Kadungle include the Crowleys, the McAneneys, the Watts, the Birds and the Reynolds.

By Dan Fredericks

Grassland Fires A Potential Risk

September 4, 2020 By Maggi Barnard

Australians should be prepared for more fire risks according to the Australian Seasonal Bushfire Outlook: September 2020, which covers all states and territories through to November.

The Bushfire and Natural Hazards Cooperative Research Centre published its seasonal bushfire outlook, which takes into account vegetation and fuel loads, as well the existing and forecast weather conditions.

Minister for Emergency Management David Littleproud said all Australians, especially in the high-risk areas outlined in the report, should now be preparing to protect their family and property against bushfires.

“While communities across Australia are continuing to recover and rebuild from the horrific 2019-20 bushfire season, the next challenge is to make sure we are all prepared for the risks facing us over the coming summer,” Minister Littleproud said.

“In the south-east of the country, experts are warning of potentially hazardous grassland fires due to above average levels of growth brought on by wetter than average conditions expected through spring.”

“While we can work with authorities to properly prepare, it’s also critical families, households and individuals do what they can to prepare themselves. Talk to your neighbours, ask them about their evacuation plan and let them know about your plan.”

A New Chapter For Parkes Library

September 4, 2020 By Maggi Barnard

Library Officers, Emma Brown and Dan Fredericks have begun packing boxes for the move back to Bogan Street and into the newly renovated library space.

A new chapter will start for the Parkes Shire Library next month with the opening of the new contemporary, state-of-the-art space.

The new architecturally designed indoor and outdoor library precinct will provide an additional 455m2 metres of space, including an intergenerational Makerspace Studio, meeting rooms, quiet study areas, additional space for children’s programs and places to connect with technology.

Council’s Manager Cultural, Education and Library Services, Kerryn Jones said library staff were excited to make the move back to Bogan Street. “Thank you to our valued library members and wonderful community for their patience as we undertake the mammoth task of relocating all our resources back to Bogan Street.

To facilitate this process, the library will be closed for four weeks. “Our last day at the Clarinda Street temporary library will be Friday, 11th September. We look forward to opening the doors to our new library precinct on Monday, 12th October.”

Throughout the closure period, a computer will be made available for free public use at Parkes Shire Council’s Administration Office at 2 Cecile Street. This includes accessing the Internet and Microsoft Word, Excel and Powerpoint. Use will be limited to 30 minutes.

Access to online collections and resources will still be available during the closure period.

Bird Boxes Help Bring Life Back After Bushfires

September 4, 2020 By Maggi Barnard

BIRDS OF A FEATHER… Ben Lan , Cliff Cowal and Ron Fewings finishing up a bird box for the Sacred Kingfisher at the Parkes Men’s Shed.

Spring is a time for new beginnings and thanks to the generosity of some locals three species of birds will hopefully be able to produce some off spring on the fire ravaged south coast.

The unprecedented bush fires last summer destroyed the habitat of bird species who normally breed in hollow tree branches, like the Sacred Kingfisher, Crimson Rosella and Kookaburra.

Members of the Parkes Rotary Club, in conjunction with the Parkes and Forbes Men’s Sheds, completed 75 bird boxes last week that will be placed on trees in time for the spring breeding season.

Ken Engsmyr from Parkes Rotary, who also serves on the Rotary Bushfire Recovery Committee, said when he heard Rotary clubs on the South Coast were making bird boxes he thought it was the perfect opportunity to repay a kind gesture. The Sapphire Coast Rotary Clubs visited Trundle during the drought and did some work in the town to support the community.

Ken involved the two Men’s Shed groups saying, “It gives us something to do jointly as we are all about returning something to our communities”.

The Rotary Bushfire Recovery Committee had received donations from Rotary clubs overseas and funds were made available to purchase the supplies.

There were three different box designs for the three different species of birds, and each participating group made 25 boxes.

“I had to learn how to make the boxes for the Crimson Rosella,” said Rotary member Cliff Cowal, who is an electrician by trade. “It felt good to get back into my shed. It was a great project for our club.”

While making bird boxes was not a novelty for the Parkes Men’s Shed members, the challenge was to draw up a design from a photo for the Sacred Kingfisher boxes. “We’ve made boxes for the Superb Parrot for a Northparkes Mines project, but this design was completely different,” said Ron Fewing.

“I just loved it,” said Ben Lan, who helped Ron. “It was an interesting project and it is a good feeling to do something for a good cause.”

Ken said the Rotary Bushfire Recovery Committee would also be very interested in taking the project further possibly providing funding for a study to see whether the boxes made a difference or whether the tree hollows that remained after the bushfires were still attractive to birds given the fire damage, charring and smell. “If hollows in burnt trees are not suitable for nesting, then nesting boxes may be very important to encourage birds to return.”

By Maggi Barnard

Make It A Memorable Day For Dad

August 28, 2020 By Maggi Barnard

We are living in special times under COVID, so why not make the 2020 Father’s Day a memorable one for the father figures in your life? Your special guy deserves to be celebrated in a big way, but also appropriate under current rules.

Here are some ideas to ensure you make the man in your life feel loved and appreciated.

• Start his day with a breakfast feast fit for a king including all his favourites.

• Do some family bonding and battle it out over board games, or see how well you can work together with a jigsaw puzzle that dad has picked out.

• Host a beer tasting session at home.

• Create a ‘drive-in movie’ at home by shining a projector against a blank wall, and pick one of dad’s favourite movies to watch.

• Find a comedy show on Netflix that’ll give him a good chuckle.

• Make him a special Father’s Day cake using his flavour preferences and decorations.

• Take a (virtual) trip to places on your bucket list, or holidays you’ve been planning.

• Setting up a tent in your backyard and get some ghost stories ready.

• If dad’s the type to hunker down in front of the TV and watch his team, track down their best games for an all-day marathon.

• If you are looking for a special gift for dad, try and find something from a local business, or get a take away to support other dads in our community.

Bee An Angel, Bee Awesome, Bee Kind

August 28, 2020 By Maggi Barnard

The honeybee need our help, to secure our food supply.

Our national parks are our home and we’re feeling a little displaced after the bushfires – with habitat loss and our food source gone – we need a little help.

We’re the little livestock that makes a big impact. We’re the honeybees and we’re crucial to everything you eat, every day. Without us, your favourites like avocados, almonds and blueberries wouldn’t be a reality.

Did you know that nine billion of us are on our way to Victoria’s almond farms to help with pollination as well as collecting nectar for honey?

“Without bees, a third of the supermarkets would be empty and your favourites at the farmers markets would be in short supply,” said Rural Aid CEO John Warlters.

“Through Rural Aid’s Stronger Futures program, Hive Aid is ensuring that this essential industry is safeguarded for generations to come, but we need your help. Recent events including drought and bushfire impacted thousands of beehives across Australia. Thankfully, the beekeepers are doing their best to get back on their feet. However, they are struggling to feed their bees and pay their bills.”

In NSW alone bushfires have burnt over 9,809 hives and wiped out the field bees of over 88,094 hives.

“That’s why we are asking everyone to #BeeAnAngel by supporting Australia’s littlest livestock, the honeybee.”

There are easy ways to help support our littlest livestock farmers by: Bee awesome, bee kind, bee an angel; by planting some native flowers; donating a portion of your grocery shop to Hive Aid: www.ruralaid.org.au/hiveaid; or by creating a fundraising page: www.ruralaid.org.au/hold-a-fundraising-event/

Schools can also get involved by either raising funds, planting flowers, or building their own beehives. Your support will allow Rural Aid to provide support to keep our hives alive and the industry flourishing. To support our beekeepers and their bees, please donate at: www.ruralaid.org.au/donate/?supporter_id=14254

RFS Members’ Outstanding Contribution

August 28, 2020 By Maggi Barnard

NSW Rural Fire Service Assistant Commissioner McKechnie presented long service medals to 13 members from the Mid Lachlan Valley Team in Parkes last Saturday, as well as one posthumous medal, in acknowledgement of the members’ commitment to the service and community. Absent from the ceremony: Joel Breaden (10 years); Kenneth Ladbury (23 years); Robert McConkey (52 years) and Ron Fisher from Ootha (61 years).

Second New Fire Station For Parkes

August 28, 2020 By Maggi Barnard

READY TO SERVE… Members of the RFS Parkes Headquarters Brigade outside the new $870,000 fire station in Hanlon Street. The brigade has outgrown the old station in Mathews Street where they were for about 20 years.

It was almost literally a day of fire and ice last Saturday when the Parkes Brigade of the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) celebrated the opening of their new brigade station on a freezing cold day.

The ceremony marked a big week for firefighters in Parkes, as the new Parkes Fire Station in Hill Street was officially opened only four days earlier.

“We are delighted with the outcome of this building to serve our community,” said Parkes Shire Mayor Ken Keith OAM. He said the Parkes Headquarters brigade was a very good supplement to the rural brigades where numbers had been dropping over recent years as a result of much bigger farms.

He said the cadet program with the Parkes High School, initiated by Terry Job 15 years ago, played an important role in ensuring a constant flow of new recruits for the RFS.

Sam Farraway MLC joined NSW RFS Assistant Commissioner Peter McKechnie at the ceremony saying the $870,000 new station will further help members of the Parkes Brigade assist with training and the fighting of fires locally, providing enhanced support to volunteers as well as the communities they protect.

The new station, with four vehicle bays, an office, training and store room, kitchen and bathroom facilities, was part funded by the State Government, Parkes Shire Council and by fundraising efforts from brigade members.

Work on the station took about two years to complete and the brigade moved in earlier this month.

Two of the younger members of the brigade were very happy with the new facility. “We’ve come so far,” said Connor Trueber. “We now have what we need and it will be good to do training here,” said Brayden Varcoe.

Sam Farraway and Assistant Commissioner Peter McKechnie both praised the efforts of the RFS crew members. “Volunteers are a special breed of people. They are selfless, brave and really generous with their time and skills.”

“We continually see how hard our skilled firefighters and support crews work to keep us safe when bush fires and emergency situations threaten and I offer my sincere thanks and gratitude to all the NSW RFS members for their outstanding efforts,” Sam said.

Peter told the 54 members of the Parkes brigade they could give themselves a pat on the back as members of the public had so much respect for what they do. “I also thank the family, friends, employers and colleagues of these and all volunteers. We know it takes their support and patience to help Rural Fire Service volunteers do what they do.”

The Parkes Headquarters Brigade was formed in the late 1990s and is one of 98 brigades in the Mid Lachlan Valley Team with a total membership of 3,011. The Parkes brigade attends an average of 50 incident calls per year. It is also the primary back-up to Fire & Rescue NSW Parkes.

During the 2019-20 fire season Parkes crews have attended a number of fire grounds including the Sir Ivan Fire, as well as helping at the Lismore floods.

The occasion last Saturday was also used to honour members for a total of 330 years of service with 13 recipients receiving medals and one posthumous medal awarded. The long service medals ranged from 10 to 61 years of service.

At the official opening of the new RFS Fire Station were (L-R) Sam Farraway MLC, Parkes Headquarters Captain Steve Chester, NSW RFS Assistant Commissioner Peter McKechnie, Parkes Mayor Ken Keith, NSW RFS Mid La- chlan Valley district manager Superintendent Ken Neville and Cr Neil Westcott.

When A Hallmark Movie Comes To Life

August 28, 2020 By Maggi Barnard

Several snow figures appeared on Mount Canobolas Road on Sunday as hundreds of people were out to have fun in the snow.

With spring blossoms starting to colour our wintry world, last Saturday saw the coldest day of the year with snow falling widely in NSW.

While rain and freezing winds allowed the temperature to only reach 10 degrees in Parkes, many locals took the opportunity to drive to Orange and beyond to have some fun in the snow.

Up to a metre of snow fell in some parts turning places like Oberon and Millthorpe into picture perfect postcards.

For some Parkes residents it was a real novelty to be in the snow. “It really looked like a Hallmark movie,” said Rochelle Frame who had moved to Parkes only last year from Queensland. She said her toes had started to defrost by Monday!

While more rain fell overnight on Saturday and Sunday morning, there were still loads of people out and about looking for snow. They were not disappointed with a good covering still to be found on Mount Canobolas in Orange on Sunday.

While Mount Canobolas Road was closed for traffic, it looked like a highway filled with adults and children dressed in all kinds of snow gear.

With snowballs flying everywhere, children on taboggans, the sound of shrieks and laughter everywhere, the coldest weekend would be remembered by many as a time of fun and good memories.

By Maggi Barnard

Three-Day Rail Blitz Closes Tracks

August 28, 2020 By Maggi Barnard

ARTC will be doing maintenance work on the railway line from Cootamundra to Parkes next weekend.

Next weekend the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) will run its massive annual maintenance program from Cootamundra to Parkes and between Moss Vale and Albury investing $8 million in regional NSW.

Rail workers will carry out essential rail maintenance and enhancement works as part of ARTC’s annual ‘Super Possession’ from 6am Saturday, 5th September to 6pm Monday, 7th September. “This year’s works include track re-railing, resurfacing and reconditioning, as well as level crossing upgrades, track ballasting, turnout maintenance and bridge maintenance,” said ARTC’s General Manager of Asset Management – Interstate, Brian Gree.

“The maintenance program requires track closures to allow access to the tracks for works that cannot be done safely when trains are running. We apologise for the inconvenience and as always we appreciate the patience and cooperation of motorists, commuters and customers.”

In addition to the shutdown, there will be preparatory work along the rail lines from 29th August, as well as some demobilisation work during standard working hours following the shutdown until 11th September. These works should see minimal impact to the community.

Brian said the shutdown of the network was required for works to be carried out as safely as possible. Under COVID-19 requirements the company will be doing a letterbox drop of information flyers instead of a door knock to inform nearby neighbours of the upcoming works. Ongoing strict hygiene protocols are also in place to minimise potential risks to the community and the teams involved in the maintenance shutdown.

Passenger services are impacted, and replacement coaches will be operating. More information can be found at www.transportnsw.info for NSW TrainLink services. More information is available on the ARTC website. Community members can also contact ARTC Enviroline on 1300 550 402 or email enviroline@artc.com.au if they have questions about the works.

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