SERIOUS CONCERN… Time ran out and the audience at the public meeting on Tuesday still had many unanswered questions about the Parkes Hospital’s future.

The Parkes midwives were the heroes of the night in an otherwise disheartening public meeting attended by more than 100 people at the Parkes Services Club on Tuesday night to discuss health services at Parkes Hospital.

The emotionally charged audience included several expectant and new mothers who had nothing but praise for the Parkes midwives who continue to support them under very challenging and confusing circumstances.

The closure of the Maternity Unit in June this year at the four-year-old Parkes Hospital remained the focus of the two-and-a- half hour long meeting that did not result in any clear cut solutions.

The audience hammered the panel with direct and honest questions after Deputy Mayor Barbara Newton’s presentation on the issues and concerns raised by the community. She highlighted the underutilisation of the new hospital’s facilities saying the community of Parkes and surrounding areas were understandably confused, frustrated and extremely angry at the lack of services. “We want to see a level of service reinstated that makes our community safe and secure.”

The issues were grouped under five key themes namely maternity, ambulance service, emergency department, theatres and doctors.

The main message of the night was that there was no quick solution to the problem and that Lachlan Area Health would not rush into a service that is not safe.

CEO of Western NSW Local Health District Scott McLachlan said a positive step was a meeting they had secured with the State and Federal Government to present a new model of management. The out- comes of the public meeting will also be submitted to the NSW Minister for Health, Brad Hazzard.

By Maggi Barnard

Parkes QUE donated $4,000 to PECC. At the handover were (L-R) Colette Genet-Marks (PECC), Miriam Luyt, Michelle Jelbart, Wendy Neville, Judy Chambers, Raelene Rout, Rosemary Morris, Bev Laing, Nancye Blatch, and Jeanine Boland. Three children from PECC in front holding the cheque.

Known as Quota for many years, the Parkes Club has changed its name to “Parkes QUE Club Inc”. The QUE stands for Quality, Understanding and Empathy.

Although our name has changed, our mission is still the same. We are a not-for- profit incorporated association “empowering women and children, the deaf, hard-of-hearing, and speech impaired in our local community”.

Our club remains strong with 53 members committed to service work in the Parkes Shire. Our fundraising activities include open gardens, race-meeting catering for the Parkes Jockey Club, Melbourne Cup lunch and more.

Our annual Open Gardens event in October was a wonderful social and fundraising success, netting approximately $8,500 with most of the money donated to the Parkes Early Childhood Centre (PECC), the Peak Hill Central School and $500 to Pink Up Parkes.

PECC received $4,000 to screen speech and hearing of children. “The invaluable support from Parkes QUE Club allows us to screen approximately 180 children each year and then implement speech and language programs for children in our care,” said Colette Genet-Marks from PECC.

It’s almost time for the year’s biggest holiday when many of us load up the car for a getaway over Christmas. Here are some essential car safety checks to help you get ready.

Marlene Symonds surrounded by kindness – more than 100 shoe boxes were delivered to her from people in the community for the Ladies on the Land initiative.

Parkes resident Marlene Symonds who put up her hand to manage a collection point for the Ladies of the Land initiative has been overwhelmed by the community’s support.

“Initially I thought it would be great to get at least five boxes, but now there’s over 100 already,” said Marlene this week.

She said people from far and wide delivered shoe boxes at The Coffee Pot filled with pamper items and wrapped in newspaper.

She mentioned Vicky Wright who brought in nine boxes, and the staff of Woolworths in Parkes made up 40 boxes!

“Everyone was telling me how much they enjoyed doing it,” said Marlene.

The Ladies of the Land initiative is dedicated to the women on the land who often put themselves last to make Christmas a little better for them.

Marlene will still accept boxes until 5pm today (Friday) at The Coffee Pot, and tomorrow she will take the load to Orange from where it will be distributed to drought affect- ed communities.

She said 120 boxes had already been distributed to farming families at Peak Hill this week.