Two major infrastructure projects in Trundle received special attention last Thursday. Parliamentary Secretary for Western NSW Rick Colless cut the ribbon to officially open the revamped, refitted and restored Berryman Park Oval, while a sod turning ceremony was held for the refurbishment and construction of a new amenities complex at the Trundle Showground.

Joined by Parkes Shire Mayor Ken Keith OAM, Deputy Mayor Barbara Newton and community groups from across Trundle, Rick said: “$500,000 was granted to the Trundle Progress Association for the upgrades. It’s wonderful news that this recently renovated oval can now be used by the community.”

“We’ve provided new seating and grandstands, put in a new amenities block, tore down sixty-year-old fencing and put in new railing, installed new flood lighting and built a new footpath.”

Peter Kelly from the Trundle Progress Association said the community spirit and comradery amongst Trundle residents got these projects happening. “As the home of the Trundle Boomers Rugby League Club, Trundle Ducks Cricket Club and the annual ABBA Festival, Berryman Oval is a hub for the whole community,” said the Mayor.

The Trundle Showground received a grant of $200,000 for a new, modern and functional amenities block replacing the nearly 50-year-old facility.

Seeking The True, The Beautiful And The Good

Catholic Schools Week 2019 will be celebrated from Sunday, 3rd March to Saturday, 9th March, and offers prospective parents the opportunity to visit their local Catholic School and sample what a Catholic School Education can offer their child.

Schools will offer tours and activities during the week and families will have an opportunity to meet the principal and teaching staff. The theme this year for the Wilcannia-Forbes Diocese is Seeking the True, the Beautiful and the Good.

Holy Family Celebrations

In Parkes the Holy Family School will use the week to celebrate their wonderful school. Friday 8 March will be the ‘big’ day, with a Catholic Schools Week Mass held in the school hall at 9:45am, which will be immediately followed by a shared picnic morning tea on the grounds of the school. From 11:30am parents are invited to

Open Classroom activities for an opportunity to view their child’s work so far this year. Assembly will be held at 12:30pm in the school hall. Parents and friends are warmly invited to attend any or all of the events on the day.

St. Patrick’s Parish School Trundle

“Catholic Schools Week is an opportunity to celebrate our distinctive mission and share things that make our schools unique and special,” said the principal. The week is filled with activities and all families and friends are encouraged to become actively involved.

The program for the week starts on Monday 4th March with a breakfast at the school on the verandah at 8am. On Wednesday, 6th March the Ash Wednesday Mass will be at 10am. There is an excursion to Holy Family School in Parkes on Thursday, 7th March. Friday, 8th March is set aside for Open Classrooms at 2:45pm and assembly at 3pm. The week concludes on Sunday, 10th March with a Family/Parish Mass at 10am.

The Healing Power Of Pet Fish

The continuing drought in our region is causing high stress levels for many people in the shire. There are many ways of relieving stress, but keeping pet fish is probably not often considered. It has been proven there are health and
emotional benefits that come from having a fish tank. People are attracted to water. It is in our nature as one of the environmental stimuli we find very soothing is the sound of running water.

There is nothing more calming than going to the beach and watching the waves roll on shore and listening to the sound of the surf pounding the beach. This is also why many people go fishing in streams and lakes. It is not just about catching fish, but the benefit you get from taking in the sounds of nature and the beauty of the surrounding
area.

An aquarium brings the calming effects of nature indoors. Once an aquarium is established and decorated with rocks and plants, watching fish swim reduces stress and anxiety. The gurgling sound of the bubbles add to the therapeutic effect of looking at the tank. Also relaxing are the colours of both the fish and background inside the tank. Studies show it can reduce blood pressure and emotional agitation. That is why you get fish tanks in places like a dentist offices, nursing homes, and restaurants.

You can start small and it need not cost you a fortune. Sean White at The Pet Barn in Parkes is the person to get you going. He has everything you need including tropical and golf fish, and can order in specific species.

Members of Quota International of Parkes will once again celebrate the achievements of women and raise awareness of their world-wide struggles for International Women’s Day.

The celebration under this year’s theme #BalanceforBetter will be on Sunday, 10th March at 12 noon at the Parkes Services Club including a fabulous two-course luncheon for just $30 per person.

Entertainment includes Zumba with Nancy Cayo, the beautiful voice of Barbara Newton, and the talent of Hannah Dun, runner-up in the National Busking Championship last year. In keeping with Quota’s ideal of showcasing
the talent and expertise of local women, Helen Magill and Hannah Hawker will inspire with their positive stories.

Professional tennis coach, Helen Magill, has been nominated for many awards, and a particular highlight was winning the Newcombe Medal (2016) for her passion and commitment to tennis. She is an inspiration to young girls and women of all ages, and encourages everyone to be confident, to love what we do and to do the best job we possibly can.

Hannah is a wellness teacher at Parkes High and a previous winner of the Parkes Showgirl title ably representing Parkes and the agricultural community. Hannah credits this experience as life-changing and she continues to strive for excellence in both her personal and professional life.

Tickets are available at Absolutely Hair, 207 Clarinda Street, until 5th March. Make International Women’s Day YOUR day and do what you can to make a positive difference for women.

By Lynn Rogers

In a huge and well-deserved achievement four local talented women received the coveted Canberra Area Theatre (CAT) award for Best Ensemble in a Musical in Canberra last Saturday. If you saw Shevaun Brown, Christie Green, Christa Radley and Kimberley Harris in Motherhood the Musical at the Parkes Little Theatre in May last year you
would agree they deserved this prestigious award.

It was a complete four-woman show with direction, choreography and stage-set, as well as acting and singing by Christa, Christie and Shevaun of Amitie, with valuable input from the fourth cast member Kimberley Harris. “I am so grateful to have been ‘adopted’ by these amazing ladies,” said Kimberley who slotted into the team seamlessly, playing the pregnant Amy.

The musical was also nominated in a second category for Best Direction of a musical or variety show. “Christie, Christa, Kimberley and I are incredibly proud of what we have achieved,’ said Shevaun. “We had a huge sense of accomplishment at the end of our show season and felt we had really put on a quality show. To receive two nominations was a huge thrill, but to actually win an award is just fabulous.’

The girls were up against some incredible competition with more than 80 productions from places like Dubbo, Bega, Albury, Bathurst and Canberra in the running for awards.

The Parkes ‘Fab Four’ were asked to perform at the ceremony and were just about to go on stage when their exciting win was announced.

By Beth Thomas

The installation of the Recycled Water Rising Main reached the halfway mark last week with 50% of the schemes purple pipes now laid. Construction is on track to be completed in July, with 6.7km of the 12km of pipeline now installed that will service up to 20 sites in the Parkes urban area.

“The Recycled Water Scheme is a responsible solution to water shortages, but the benefits are flowing even before the taps are turned on,” said Parkes Shire Council’s Director Infrastructure Andrew Francis.

According to Andrew the construction phase has generated 33 jobs with 13 going to local workers. Some specialist personnel could not be sourced locally, but that brings workers into Parkes and benefits local businesses.

“Parkes has been really fortunate with the level of investment and development over recent years. We have been able to generate significant local spend during construction with some project components spending up to 80% of their budgets in the region.”

The water and sewerage upgrades engaged 67 local businesses and suppliers at various stages and provided jobs for 329 individuals. The $20.9m Recycled Water Scheme is jointly funded through the Australian Government and Parkes Shire Council.

Childcare in Parkes will be streamlined with a new integrated facility offering different services all under one roof.
A $1.3 million investment by the NSW Government is set to transform an unutilised community health building located within the old Parkes Hospital precinct into the new Central West Day Care base.

Parkes Shire Councillor Patricia Smith said: “With major developments happening in Parkes such as the construction of Inland Rail, the first Special Activation Precinct, the expansion of CMOC Northarkes Mine and the Clean TeQ Sunrise project, we must invest in the delivery of a quality educational facility to ensure we can meet the needs of those new families and businesses relocating to the region.”

At a cost of just over $2 million, the project will include an integrated early childhood education facility, services for school aged children, and family services for children from birth to twelve years. The centre will focus on inclusive programs and facilities.

Central West Family Day Care Service Manager Ann-Marie Winter was delighted by the announcement. “With 51 educators and over 400 children enrolled, we have outgrown our current facility. The relocation into a larger, fit-for-purpose facility will allow Family Day Care to expand to facilitate additional services including preschool, before/after school care and vacation care.”

“With additional space, we will also look at complementary services utilising the rooms for consultation purposes, such as occupational therapists, speech pathologists, dental checks, auditory services, inclusion support meetings, parenting classes, child assessments along with mother’s groups, breast feeding association meetings, conferences, play groups, and the delivery of Certificate III in Early Childhood courses.”

Central West Family Day Care Scheme is an Approved Community Service of Parkes Shire Council, regulated by the NSW Education and Communities – Early Childhood Education and Care Directorate, and is funded by the Department of Education and Training.