Articles Archives - Page 238 of 448

Snippets…

August 21, 2020 By Maggi Barnard

Lindt Café siege survivor Selina Win Pe paid a courtesy call to Parkes recently as part of her endeavour to support farmers, country kids and communities. She met with Mayor Ken Keith at the Parkes Visitors Centre.

Library Expands Online Collection: Parkes Shire Libraries has expanded its digital collection to include more than 3,000 online resources. This is in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and a huge influx in website traffic. The expansion includes the addition of Beamafilm allowing members to stream their favourite feature films and documentaries for free with their library card. Other additions include eBooks and eAudiobooks, more than 3,000 eMagazines, Storybox for preschool and primary aged children, and Learning & Training links. To access the online collection, go to the My Online Library page on Council’s website, and enter the barcode number on the back of your library card. Contact the Library team via email library@parkes.nsw.gov.au or phone 02 6861 2309, or visit to join for free.

COVID-19 Testing: Book a COVID-19 test if you have, or have recently had any of the following symptoms: fever, shortness of breath, sore throat, and cough. Contact the Parkes COVID-19 testing clinic by calling 6861 2455 between 7:30am and 4pm Monday to Friday. For any concerns outside these hours call Healthdirect 1800 022 222, Western Public Health Helpline 1300 066 055 or Emergencies 000.

Face Masks: It is recommended in NSW to wear a face mask when in indoor settings such as on public transport and supermarkets; in indoor settings with a higher risk of transmission, such as for the staff of hospitality and customer-facing venues i.e. cafes, restaurants, pubs and clubs; during attendance at places of worship. Note: a mask is not a substitute for physical distancing – remember to keep a distance of 1.5m in public.

Endangered Shrub Sightings: The search is on for an endangered plant, the beautiful Zieria obcordata, and residents are urged to report any sightings of this threatened species. Native to NSW Zieria obcordata is found in only two small populations near Wellington and Bathurst and are about to bloom. This plant is found nowhere else in the world, and has been hit hard by the drought with less than 200 left in the wild. It is a small shrub, 10 – 40cm high, has dark green leaves composed of three wedge-shaped leaflets and flowers, complete with four very small pale pink petals that fade rapidly to white. Sightings can be reported to – savingourspecies@environment.nsw.gov.au. For more information visit: https://savingourspecies.online/zieria-obcordata

The public is encouraged to report any sightings of the Zieria obcordate, a threatened species with only 200 plants left in the wild. (Photo: DPIE)

New Fire Station An Asset For The Community

August 21, 2020 By Maggi Barnard

STATION 417… Members of the Fire & Rescue staff at the new Parkes Fire Station are keen to welcome the public to have a look once COVID restrictions have eased.

Two months after its completion, the brand new $2.05 million Parkes Fire Station was officially opened with a COVID-safe ceremony on Tuesday.

“I am delighted to open this significant investment in the Parkes community that will see the local response to fires and other emergencies improve,” said NSW Minister for Police and Emergency Services David Elliott.

The new facility in Hill Street is the third fire station for Parkes and replaces the old station, which had been in use for 100 years. Fire & Rescue NSW (FRNSW) Commissioner Paul Baxter said he was delighted to have seen the project from start to finish.

The new station features a twin fire engine bay, allowing the station to expand its fleet to two Class 2 appliances (one pump and one SEV Pump). Along with a training and lecture room area, the new station also features a separate station commander office, locker rooms and toilet facilities, as well as a new gym to help keep staff prepared for the physical nature of their work.

“It is definitely a step up from the old station,” said firefighter Tom Rinck, who had been with the Parkes Station 417 for about 18 months.

Parkes Station Commander Captain Craig Gibson touched on some of the big fires in the history of Parkes, including the Mobil Depot Fire on 23rd May 1983. A memorial has been erected in the garden of the new fire station in honour of the bravery of the firefighters on that day, and a special commemoration is planned for May next year.

By Maggi Barnard

Ridgehaven Ram Sale

August 21, 2020 By Maggi Barnard

The Ridgehaven ram sale is on 10th September.

Since 1965 the Ridgehaven Poll Dorset stud has been run with a focus on producing top quality, commercially focused animals.

Structural correctness, fertility, ease of lambing, growth rates, muscle and fat cover and wool type have been a basis for selection from the start. In the last four years, the stud has worked with meat processors and UNE to accurately identify genetic lines with superior lean meat yield, intramuscular fat (IMF) and eating quality.

Ridgehaven has seen the benefits of carcass measurement and how this can be used for genetic gain and it is now an important annual aspect of their breeding program.

The Ridgehaven ram sale will not only be held in person on property on Thursday, 10th September, but will also be interfaced on AuctionsPlus.

Next Thursday, 27th August, will be an open day where the rams and ewes can be viewed.

For the safety of all attending, on the open day and on sale day, COVID-safe measures will be in place.

For more information contact Ruth Klingner on 0438 642 113, Isabele Roberts on 0405 098 335 or Floyd Legge on 0402 185 727.

I’m Movin’ On: Elvis

August 21, 2020 By Maggi Barnard

The Parkes Elvis Festival date for next year is moving from January to 10 – 14 March!

The final decision to proceed or to cancel will still be made by 28th September with the festival team continuing to monitor the situation with the safety and well-being of the community, artists, fans, staff and businesses first and foremost.

In the announcement made on Wednesday, Parkes Shire Mayor Ken Keith said: “The date change will give us seven months until the start of the festival. We are hopeful that it will be able to proceed however the health and safety of the community will come first in the final decision of the festival proceeding.”

Festival Director Cathy Treasure said: “We chose to announce the date change now to allow our stakeholders to make alternate plans for January, to allow us time to reschedule artists and all the support services. We would love the festival to proceed but are being cautiously optimistic.”

The festival team have contacted the accommodation providers in the Parkes Shire and Forbes and have been assured that all January 2021 bookings will be carried over to the new dates in March or alternatively to the 2022 festival.

“There is no need to make contact now. The accommodation providers have reserved the March dates for existing bookings and will be in contact once the final decision on the festival proceeding has been made at the end of September,” Cathy said.

Chamber of Commerce President Geoff Rice said the chamber and business community supported the change of date. “Many businesses rely on the festival to get them through the off-peak summer period and this is especially relevant for 2021 after the challenges in business due to bushfires and drought.”

The ticket launch date will be moved to 16 November in line with the new festival dates.

Ration Tickets For A Glory Box

August 21, 2020 By Maggi Barnard

Rene Britts (94) with her wedding photo. She married Archie Britt on 3 October 1946. He passed away in 1985.

Lockdown has lasted for most of the year so far for Southern Cross Village resident Rene Britt, but isolation is not a new experience for her.

At 94 she still clearly remembers how isolated they were during World War II on the family farm outside Bogan Gate. “It was a stay at home time as the only way to get around was with a push bike or on horseback.”

She said although her dad had a truck, they only used it when absolutely necessary as there were petrol rations. “We used to pool our petrol tickets with the neighbours and we’d all jump on the truck to go and play tennis at the different clubs on weekends.”

Their only connection to the outside world was the wireless radio, but they could only listen to the news. “The wireless ran off the truck’s battery, and we had to spare the battery and could only listen for a little bit at a time.”

It was through the wireless that they had learned about the end of the war on 15th August 1945. “We were on a party line and I telephoned our neighbours to let them know the good news. Everyone was so excited, but we did not really celebrate with anyone as it was still hard to go anywhere.”

Rene was 19 at the time and had finished high school the previous year. “I went back to the farm to look after my father and younger brother as my mother had passed away when I was 13.”

She married the following year at 20. “As we even had ration tickets for linen, towels and clothing, my aunties gave me the tickets they did not use and that was the only way I was able to put my glory box together.”

By Maggi Barnard

Nature Plays Vital Role In Youth Art

August 21, 2020 By Maggi Barnard

Ethan Maxwell from Parkes is the winner of the 14-18 age group for drawing and painting with this entry. (See all the winning entries on The Parkes Phoenix Facebook page.)

The Art of Resilience competition has been a huge success with over 130 entries from across the Parkes Shire.

Feedback from schools and parents have shown just how beneficial the competition was for the Parkes Shire youth in providing a platform for important discussions concerning drought, bush fires and COVID-19. It also highlighted the importance of resilience during these events and what it means to the youth in their personal experiences.

The quality of art work entered in all the categories was extremely high, and it was obvious that all participants put their heart and soul into their entries. Judging the competition was extremely difficult with much deliberation required in order to select the winners.

One of the messages which stood out in all the art work was how important nature is to our youth. It showed a strong connection and a deep understanding of the importance of a healthy environment and how fundamental it is to healthy and happy human beings. The importance of human connections, social interaction and friendships during COVID-19 also stood out.

By Roger Kitson

How Did They Cope?

August 14, 2020 By Maggi Barnard

We hear, “Do not fear!” Though corona is here
It’s important to hold on to hope.
The lessons we adhere, Come from yesteryear
When we ask, “How did they cope?”
How in 1914, A war yet unseen
Engaged more than two nations.
The decade’s young blood, Spilled forth in the mud
Shaking the globe’s foundations.
For over four years, The world shed more tears
Until the fighting was through;
In the newfound peace, Surely death will cease,
Except now there was Spanish flu.
This flu had four waves, And filled way more graves
Than the years of the Great War;
While the 20s decade, Seemed like an upgrade
It ended how no one foresaw.
Stock prices degression, Saw a worldwide depression
29% were unemployed.
The nations arose, And fascism grows
Soldiers were again redeployed.
Humanity’s worst, Flowing out from the First
Saw the second war last for six years.
When it finally ended, some nations unfriended,
And Communism dominated our fears.
“We’re better off dead, than becoming a red”
Both sides feared potential invasion.
More fighting henceforth, ‘Tween South and North
The battlegrounds now were Asian.
The threat of the bomb, Gave way to dot-com
New tech became the new norm.
As we look to the past, How did the world last
From turmoil of 100 years
Humanity’s brilliance, Is birthed in resilience
As hope overcomes all fears.
So do not forget, it’s best not to fret
Smile and use plenty of soap!
Today’s scary mystery, will one day be history
The future asks, “How did they cope?”

By Dan Fredericks

Victory In The Pacific

August 14, 2020 By Maggi Barnard

Parkes joined in the celebrations on VP Day. This decorated truck of James Aitken for the Parkes Legion of Ex-Servicemen was part of the festivities. (Photo: Parkes In Photos Of Years Gone Past Facebook page)

The 75th anniversary since the end of World War II will be celebrated at the Cooke Park Cenotaph at 11am tomorrow.

Parkes Town Crier Tim Keith will join town crier’s from around Australia and New Zealand in a simultaneous “Cry for Peace” at 11:05am. This will be the first time the Town Crier will be part of the ceremony.

These celebrations mark a significant and momentous day when Prime Minister Ben Chifley announced the unconditional surrender of Japan thus ending World War II. The 15th of August 1945 was announced as VP Day (Victory in the Pacific Day) and a two-day public holiday was declared.

Japanese Emperor Hirohito announced at 12 noon on 15th August his country’s unconditional surrender in terms of the Potsdam Declaration.

More than 1 million Australian men and women joined the armed forces out of a total population of 7 million.

Over 31,000 Australians became prisoners-of-war. More than 22,000 were captured by the Japanese, and by August 1945 over one third of them had died in the appalling conditions of the Japanese POW camps.

We commemorate the end of the World War II and remember all those who served and particularly the heroic sons and daughters of the Parkes Districts who served, suffered and died during this conflict.

By Paul Thomas

Sea Of Solar Surrounds Parkes

August 14, 2020 By Maggi Barnard

The Goonumbla Solar Farm outside Parkes will power 45,000 homes. (Photo: goonumblasolarfarm.com/)

Two major solar farm developments took shape over the past two weeks in Parkes.

Construction of the Goonumbla Solar Farm was successfully completed, and plans to build a third solar farm was given the green light by the state government.

The 69.75 MW Goonumbla Solar Farm, located 10km west of Parkes, will produce enough energy to supply more than 45,000 homes, while avoiding the emission of 140,000 tons of CO2 per year.

The construction of the farm by Fotowatio Renewable Ventures (FRV) created up to 250 jobs, with seven remaining now that the plant is operational.

“We are glad to successfully deliver this project, which is our first Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Snowy Hydro. It proves that a consolidated player like FRV is capable to deliver top quality solar farms notwithstanding the increased challenges in the Australian renewable energy market and generally in a moment of global turmoil,” said Carlo Frigerio, Managing Director of FRV in Australia.

Goonumbla Solar Farm is one of seven PPAs developed and secured by FRV for solar projects in Australia. Snowy Hydro’s CEO, Paul Broad said his company contracted over 1,000MW of clean, green energy projects of which Goonumbla is one.

The third solar development to be built west of Parkes is the 80MW Quorn Park solar farm that includes a 20MWh battery storage system. Development approval was granted by the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment, despite a large number of objections submitted by several neighbouring farmers.

According to the Notice of Decision, the development was approved for the range of benefits including a capital investment of around $89 million and up to 130 construction jobs. Once complete it would generate enough electricity to power around 30,000 homes.

The battery storage component of the project is said to provide “dispatchable” solar power to the National Energy Market, and will assist in transitioning the grid from coal and gas-fired power stations to renewable energy.

Parkes Radio Telescope’s Top Achievements

August 14, 2020 By Maggi Barnard

CSIRO Parkes telescope construction

1961: Construction of the 64-metre diameter telescope at CSIRO’s Parkes Observatory is completed, an achievement of engineering and technical design.

1962: Researchers using Parkes find that our Galaxy has a magnetic field a million times weaker than Earth’s magnetic field.

1968: Astronomers using Parkes detect pulsar signals, just weeks after UK researchers announce the discovery of pulsars.

1969: Parkes receives television signals from the Apollo 11 Moon landing and relay them to a worldwide audience of 600 million people.

1973: Parkes is used to discover the Magellanic Stream, a long trail of hydrogen gas flowing from two small neighbouring galaxies called the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds.

1982: Researchers using Parkes discover a quasar called PKS 2000-330, the most distant object in the Universe known at the time.

1998-2003: Astronomers carry out a survey with Parkes that reveals a new spiral arm in our Galaxy.

2003: Astronomers using Parkes discover the first known double pulsar system which enables stringent tests of Einstein’s Theory of General Relativity.

2007: An unexpected burst of radio waves, more recently known as a ‘fast radio burst’, is found using Parkes archival data.

2011: Astronomers using Parkes discover a planet, most likely composed of compressed carbon, in orbit around a pulsar that is dubbed the ‘diamond planet’.

2018-19: NASA use Parkes to support the Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex in tracking the Voyager 2 spacecraft as it enters interstellar space.

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