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

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.

Cleaning out your childhood room during COVID lockdown might bring you unexpected surprises as ballet teacher Natalie Williams discovered earlier this year.

She found a dance diary she had kept at a winter dance school she attended in Mudgee and decided it was a perfect activity to start with her students at Parkes School of Dance.

It was really tough for the students when classes were cancelled, but with a micro grant from Arts OutWest, Natalie was able to launch her idea and give her students a new sense of commitment during lockdown.

“The dance diaries have helped and will continue to help our dancers to maintain their passion for dance,” said Natalie. “During lock down, all of our students missed dancing in the studio with their friends and teachers.”

The students are still using the diaries as journals to record anything to do with dance from photos, information, to questions and explanations.

“My dance diary helps me remember things to practice and do at home,” said Jemma Underwood, who does Royal Academy of Dance Grade 5 Ballet and Junior Contemporary dance.

For senior student Sophie McQuie the diary is a good representation of what she has learned. “When I’m not at dance during the week, I’ve been able to write questions and points down so that I can ask and talk about them in class. Things like effacé positions, and our intentions for each class. I’ve kept feedback from teachers and have enjoyed researching particular dancers,” said Sophie, who attends Royal Academy of Dance Advanced One, Repertoire, Senior jazz and senior contemporary classes, as well as private lessons for solos.

Almost 7,000 votes were cast on the project page of Parkes Shire Council’s grant programs. Council was overwhelmed with the response and community contribution to this recent consultation for the Local Road and Community Infrastructure and Resources for Regions grant programs. The community was invited to share their priorities for identified projects on a new online engagement platform, Your Say Parkes.

The project page was viewed over 7,900 times with 1,746 registered participants casting 3,665 votes by the end of last month. Council also received useful comments on existing ideas and other valuable contributions for future projects.

Parkes Shire Mayour Ken Keith said while community feedback and sentiment were important, it was only one piece of the puzzle. “Council also needed to take into consideration the guidelines, budget, and the benefits to the community.”

This is the final list of projects to be submitted, but final approval is entirely at the discretion of the government.

• Resources for Regions $1.67M: Spicer Oval amenity building and carpark upgrades $1,620,000; Newell Highway Bypass $50,000.

• Local Roads and Community Infrastructure $1.3M: Woodward Oval Tennis Court Upgrades $175,000; Spicer Oval Lighting $400,000; Child Safety Traffic Upgrades at Parkes East School $250,000; Road, Footpath & Stormwater repair & maintenance $95,000; CCTV Main Street, Peak Hill $20,000; Parkes Coventry Room Community Cultural Space $100,000; Wiradjuri Keeping Place and preservation of artefacts $35,000; CBD Smart Infrastructure (banner raising components) $30,000; Doctors Residence Upgrade, Tullamore $80,000; Fence at Cemetery, Alectown $30,000; Henry Parkes Centre – Repairs and maintenance to protect collections $50,000; Rose Street Footpath Upgrade $35,000.

Three community groups will share the almost $9,000 of the 2020 Parkes Shire Council Cultural Grant Program.

Deputy Mayor Councillor Barbara Newton said it was a difficult task to select the successful projects given the high calibre of applications received.

“Council recognises that a robust cultural life is important to the health and wellbeing of any community, and we are therefore delighted to help support the delivery of events and initiatives that stimulate creative activity across our region.”

The successful recipients are the Peak Hill Leisure Art & Craft Council, the Parkes Potters Group and the Parkes Musical and Dramatic Society.

The Peak Hill group received $2,360 for a two-day workshop in early 2021 by Sydney-based artist Alan Slade. Amateur and budding local artists will learn the step-by-step process of working with oil paints.

The $3,500 to the Parkes Potters Group will help to curate the group’s 50th anniversary exhibition, as well as a black-tie opening event.

Parkes Musical and Dramatic Society received $3,000 to host the Arts Revival Festival from 15 – 20 December with the support of the Parkes Shire Arts Advisory Council. The aim of the festival is to revive, celebrate and foster artistic activity in the community and will feature theatrical performances, visual arts, photography, craft and ceramics exhibitions, musical performances of a variety of genres and styles, spoken word performances, creative and performance skills workshops.

The historic 75th anniversary since the end of World War II was commemorated last Saturday with the Parkes Town Crier joining a world wide Cry for Peace at the ceremony at the Cenotaph in Cooke Park.

Tim Keith joined town criers from all over the world for the second time this year after a Cry for Peace on the 75th anniversary of VE Day on 8th May.

The Cry for Peace commemorated this important day in Australia’s history and presented a unique and important opportunity to pay tribute to the bravery and sacrifice made by so many Australians and their families to ensure we all share and enjoy the freedom we have today.

The event, organised by the Parkes RSL Sub Branch, was mostly attended by serving and ex-service men and women with Parkes Mayor Ken Keith as the guest speaker.

On Tuesday it was the 54th anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan with a commemoration service held at the Vietnam Memorial in Parkes.