While living and working circumstances have certainly changed over the past month a very big part of business at Forbes Small Engines is servicing the agricultural sector. At this time this key area of our economy is continuing to improve after harsh climatic conditions. Demand and inquiry for Polaris side by side and ATVs have been encouraging due also to the beautiful rain received.

For this reason, Polaris will have a Seven Day Sales event for the very first time across the country where there will be offers available that are not even seen at field days.

With all traditional field days cancelled, this Seven Day Sales Event will include the following bonuses exclusively for the week:

Additional warranty “3 years peace of mind” on top of the standard factory warranty; 2.99% finance on Polaris Generals Rangers and RZRs (excluding Ranger 500); and $2,000 free accessories on selected Ranger models.

The Polaris Seven Day Sale commences today Friday, 17th until Friday, 24th April.

Call Forbes Small Engines on 6852 3228 for a quote or to arrange a demo.

POLARIS THINK OUTSIDE

Marley Paton and Charles Anderson.

Two Parkes Shire students are among the winners of the 10th annual Anzac Writing Competition.

Bogan Gate Public Schools’ Marley Paton (11) won the primary school category for the north division with her beautiful poem called Poppies to Remember.

Charles Anderson (13) of Trundle Central School received a highly commended for the secondary category in the north division for his poem.

A total of 680 entries were received from 34 schools across the Riverina electorate, with the winners each receiving a book prize.

“I really wanted to enter the competition to challenge myself and to have fun,” said Marley. She said she believed it was important to remember Anzac Day in order to remember the soldiers and the other people who fought and worked as hard as they could to save and protect our country.

“My poem is about how the poppies make us remember the soldiers and the nurses who saved our country. I feel like we don’t always remember the nurses.”

Charles also entered a poem. “I tried to put myself into the shoes of a boy whose father was at the frontline and wrote to him about life on the farm.”

He said the competition was a great opportunity for students to reflect on the past. “It is good to celebrate Anzac Day so we can remember what they’ve done for Australia.”

Riverina MP Michael McCormack, who runs the annual competition, said the winners stood out among a quality field of talented writers.

“As Anzac services have been cancelled this year due to the Coronavirus pandemic, it is now more important than ever for us all to remember our ANZACs and invoke their resilient spirit.”

All winning entries can be found in the 10th annual Anzac Day commemorative booklet. The Parkes Phoenix will publish the two Parkes Shire students’ poems in the issue before Anzac Day.

If you had asked Musica Arioso six months ago if they would be a predominantly online business by Easter 2020, they would have laughed.

And then the unimaginable happened, a global pandemic, social distancing and the closure of non-essential services.

“We simply had to dive in boots and all. We are in uncharted territory with our chil- dren feeling the stress of our stress and the uncertainty of what lies ahead,” said Gail Smith.

Music is well known for its benefits of relieving stress and anxiety. While sporting clubs and events have been cancelled, and social gatherings are on hold, music has not been cancelled.

Musica Arioso are now bravely striding into the vast online world, and that is where you come in! With so much time at home, regular music lessons can help bring some structure to your day. You could discover a talent.

They are offering 30 minute online class- es for a range of instruments including piano/keyboard, ukulele, voice, recorder and guitar.

Contact Gail Smith on 0414 478 585 or email musicaarioso@gmail.com for information on how to book your time. After all, everyone deserves a little music in their life.

Norma Garment, Diane Sondermeyer with Maureen Miller in her beautiful garden.

The Parkes Garden Club held its March meeting in the garden of Colin and Maureen Miller.

Maureen told us how her garden has evolved to the beautiful show garden it is today. She has established the front garden over approximately four years with an eclectic display of mainly natives, flowering perennials and lots of salvias.

Maureen has focussed on getting some shade trees established in her back garden together with some fruiting varieties including lemon, olive and an orange tree.

Colin told members about his absorbing hobby and amazing collection of model trains complete with tracks, stations and miniature scenery set-up.

One of our members, Del Baxter celebrated his birthday during March so we took the opportunity to sing to him and shared a birthday cake with him and Kath.

Future club meetings are on hold due to the current circumstances, but once restrictions are lifted, we will be in touch with all members to advise when and where our meetings will start again.

It is a good time to think about sowing some veggies for your family’s use, especially after the wonderful rain and before it gets too cold. Some easy to grow suggestions for winter eating are spring onions, celery, spinach, silverbeet and herbs.

On behalf of all our Garden Club members, I’d like to say a huge thank you to all the local and wider Australian doctors, nurses, medical staff and researchers who are working so hard to see us all safely through this most critical time. We are so appreciative of your work.

By Heather Harvey