A Parkes resident took the bold step of shaving her hair last week by taking part in the World’s Greatest Shave for the Leukaemia Foundation.

Fiona Mcgonigal, who lost a kidney through cancer last year, felt she wanted to give something back and decided to raise money by shaving off her hair.

Fiona was well supported by her friends at Currajong Disability Services with Trilbie Bermingham taking charge of the clippers.

“It felt really strange after all my hair came off, but I am now really happy with my new style.”

She plans to let her hair grow back, as she wants to do it again next year for the same cause.

Fiona aims to raise at least $1,000 for her effort and is almost half way there. “The fundraising is going really well, and I’ve received a lot of support so far.”

She would like more people to sponsor her so she can help to give families facing blood cancer the emotional and practical support they need. Donations would also help to fund vital research to help more people survive leukaemia, while improving their quality of life.

Fiona’s page is still open for sponsorships on the World’s Greatest Shave website.

Currajong Disability Services (CDS) Sewing Group has again been the fortunate beneficiary of a kind donation from a local community group – the Ladies Lounge Parkes.

Co-ordinator/Founder of the Ladies Lounge, Maree Mulligan, and her fabulous group have long been supporters of CDS. “We had been setting aside some money each meeting to donate to the CDS Sewing Group,” said Maree.

“Currajong is an important organisation in the community and we truly value them and the sewing group. “Today we are pleased to announce a donation of $110 to the Currajong Disability Services Sewing Group,” Maree said.

For CDS Sewing Group Co-ordinator Deitre Jackson, the funds are vital to enable the group to continue running and purchase necessary sewing supplies. “The generous donation will go to sewing and craft equipment,” said Deitre. “We will be able to purchase more cotton and other relevant items for our group to keep working,” she said. “It is these little but important community gestures that help organisations like us continue to survive and for that we are extremely thankful.”

Scots All Saints College is a premier, independent college with Christian values, offering quality co-education to more than 750 day and boarding students from prekindergarten to year 12. Set on expansive grounds of more than 200 acres, the college is centrally located within NSW across three campuses in Bathurst and Lithgow.

As a new college established in 2019, it has all the modern facilities within an innovative college of the future, combined with a proud history of over 218 combined years. The Scots School (1946-2018) and All Saints’ College (1874-2018) have enjoyed a longstanding reputation as leading schools of excellence. Building on a strong foundation, Scots All Saints College offers an inspired learning environment with positive pastoral care and student wellbeing programs within a friendly, approachable and supportive school community.

A junior school (pre-kindergarten to year 4) and middle school (years 5-8) is available on All Saints Campus, pre-kindergarten and senior school (years 9-12) on Scots Campus and pre-kindergarten to year 6 on Lithgow Campus. Boarding is available from year 5 onwards in four newly renovated boarding houses located on Scots Campus.

Contact the college on 6331 3911 or visit www.scotsallsaints.nsw.edu.au/TryUs

A third-year mechanical fitter was awarded the Lester Plummer Apprentice of the Year award at CMOC-Northparkes Mines recently. Matt King was recognised for being a quiet achiever who takes on responsibility, leads others and consistently strives to improve and develop his skills. Matt also received exemplary results at TAFE, with four out of
five assignments marked at over 95%.

“I feel extremely honoured to have received the Lester Plummer Apprentice of the Year award. During my apprenticeship I have been lucky enough to have worked with various tradespeople across site, who have positively influenced and developed my attitude, skills and knowledge,” said Matt.

The Lester Plummer Apprentice of the Year award was first introduced in 2016, in honour of friend and colleague, Lester Plummer, who passed away in 2015. “Lester worked at Northparkes for many years displaying a keen interest in the development of our apprentices,” said Stacey Kelly, Manager – People, Safety and Environment.

His caring and fun-loving nature, combined with his trade knowledge and skills, meant that he was a perfect match to mentor our apprentices.” Brandon Keep, Luke Wallace, Oliver Dagger and Steven Butler, who finished their
apprenticeships last year, were also recognised for their efforts at the employee pipeline event that welcomed new employees to the business. The employee pipeline includes apprentices, trainees, graduates, scholarship holders and work placement students.

“By building the skills of young people, we are able to build a community of talented and experienced tradespeople whose skills will benefit both Northparkes and the community in which we live and work,” said Stacey.

Modern Slavery

Late last year, the Modern Slavery Bill 2018 was passed Federally in the NSW State Parliament heralding a new statutory modern slavery reporting requirement for larger companies in Australia.

Reporting obligations relate to the steps taken to respond to the risk of modern slavery in the operations and supply chains of the reporting entity and its controlled entities. The reporting criteria are mandatory. It is crucial that reporting entities begin reviewing their supply chains and collecting data ahead of the introduction of reporting
obligations. The first reporting year will be 1 July 2019 to 30 June 2020.

At its broadest, the term ‘modern slavery’ refers to any situations of exploitation where a person cannot refuse or leave work because of threats, violence, coercion, abuse of power or deception. The Australian regime defines modern slavery to incorporate conduct that would constitute an offence under existing human trafficking, slavery and slavery-like offence provisions set out in Divisions 270 and 271 of the Commonwealth Criminal Code.

Modern slavery will encompass slavery, servitude, the worst forms of child labour, forced labour, human trafficking, debt bondage, slavery like practices, forced marriage and deceptive recruiting for labour or services. Entities will need to report if they carry on business in Australia with a minimum annual consolidated revenue of $100 million.

Entities in NSW will be obliged to report under the NSW Act if they have a turnover of $50 million. Corporate groups should obtain specific advice in relation to which entities are required to report and how joint reporting can work.

Once the Modern Slavery Act commences, a targeted regulatory regime will be introduced, under which large businesses will report annually. Those reports will be published on a public register.

Member for Orange, Phil Donato MP (left) handed over $28,050 in funding to Tim Watts of the PCYC last Friday
from the 2018 Community Building Partnership Program. The funding will go towards renovation of the foyer to ensure it complies with current workplace safety regulations, while the PCYC team are also modernising the space
to give it a more ‘youth friendly’ feel. “The PCYC is a fantastic place for young people to learn new skills, get fit
and make new friends,” said Phil. Councillor Ken McGrath (right) was also at the handover.

Team Parkes came home with the inaugural school trophy from the Birdman Rally held in Melbourne last weekend.
The impressive flight of 10m piloted by Year 12 Parkes Christian School student Jesse Magill was even more of a victory after the huge disappointment of the Parkes High School team not being able to participate due to the inherent risk to the pilot.

Parkes Christian School very generously welcomed the Parkes High students into the newly formed Team Parkes, and was happy to share the medals with their new team mates.

The 14 engineering students from Parkes were the only entries from outside Victoria. They worked tirelessly for five months perfecting their plane designs to get the longest flight leaping from a four-metre wharf into the Yarra River.

Thousands of spectators lined the banks of the Yarra to watch 19 pilots leap off the platform and raise money for charity. Parkes Christian School won the Flying Class section in 2017 and was very excited to come away with another win for their fourth year of participation. It was the first time students from Parkes High School had participated.

The restoration of the second longest hotel balcony in Australia was marked last Friday at the 100-year-old iconic Trundle Hotel. The hotel received $100,000 last year to restore its balcony under the Government’s Heritage Near Me Activation Grants Program.

Nationals candidate for Orange Kate Hazelton and Parliamentary Secretary for Western NSW, Rick Colless were in Trundle last Friday to mark the completion of restoration work on the balcony.

“Grants such as these go a long way. They support locals and businesses, bring more visitors to the area and boost community morale,” said Rick.

“These grants acknowledge and support the vital role owners and managers of locally listed heritage items play in protecting our local heritage,” said Kate.

The funding went towards restoring the remaining 60 metres of the 90-metre balcony and renovating a derelict unit on the first floor to be used for an artist in residency program.

Peter Kelly, Chair of the Trundle Progress Association, said it all started in 2012. “We held a fundraising ball raising a few thousand dollars. We welcomed the grant with open arms as we really needed it to get this project up and running.”

Community members have also given more than 1,500 hours of their time over six years to help give the town a face lift. So far 75% of the shop fronts have been repainted, every verandah repaired, original signage repainted and other extensive work carried out on the Trundle Hotel, a great initiative for a small community.

“This is a very strong result for a small community of 750 residents,” said Andrew Rawsthorne, Volunteer Grants Officer from Trundle Progress Association. “The hotel now looks a million bucks. We’re over the moon, and I know the whole community is thrilled and grateful.”