The Carols in the Park preshow on Sunday was a very special occasion for one young member of the Lachlan Regional Orchestra. Eighteen-year-old Matthias Kelly from Trundle conducted the orchestra for the very first time in public after a five-week internship under the orchestra’s conductor
Ben Macpherson.

“I was fairly nervous, but it went pretty well and the orchestra played well,” said Matthias of his debut performance as a conductor. Matthias is a viola player in the orchestra and was able to do the training with a Charles Sturt University (CSU) grant.

Five other members of the orchestra are excited to have received scholarships to attend the Sydney Youth Orchestra Summer School in Sydney from 7th to 11th January. They are Reuben Kelly (cello) Gracie Mcfadyen (clarinet), Carmel Kelly (violin), Simeon Kelly (Bassoon) and Anton Mcfadyen (violin).

The streets were lined with masses of people, the floats sparkled in the late afternoon sun and an air of excitement prevailed as the annual Christmas Parade set the tone for the festive season in Parkes last Friday.

The 30 float entries, including two ponies, the Rural Fire Service and a dragon boat, and 300 plus students marching for their schools created an ocean of Christmas colours as the procession flowed down the street cheered on by the crowds.

Some people remarked it was the biggest crowd seen in Parkes after the Elvis Parade in January each year.

“It was an outstanding success,” said Peter Guppy of Parkes Action Club, who organises the parade. “The Action Club
would like to thank everyone who put a lot of effort into their floats.”

Geoff Rice from the Parkes Chamber of Commerce, who judged the float entries, said they were all of a high standard. The TWW $300 voucher for best business float was awarded to McPhersons, and the school prize of $100 went to Parkes Christian School.

The Action Club also thanked the SES for doing an excellent job of crowd control, and the students for their exemplary behaviour. “The Parkes community is to be congratulated for supporting the parade and enjoying this great community event,” said Peter.

There was singing and partying in the street last Saturday as Parkes celebrated its 145th birthday. The informal birthday bash was held at Christmas Central in Clarinda Street and many of the town’s citizens stopped by to join the party.

Councillor Bill Jayet, surrounded by some very excited children, cut the huge cake and shared it with the crowd, while Sharon Klarner and Katrina Newham handed out party hats and whistles. Jenny Short took time off from Christmas Central’s free giftwrapping service to join the party.

“It was great to be able to play the big kid again,” said Bill, “and share such a big birthday cake on such a milestone event.”

Local busker and Parkes High School student Hannah Dun lent her amazing voice to add a beautiful touch to the atmosphere of the celebration. Hannah, who at 13 years of age has won runner-up in the Australian National Busking Competition for the last two years running, was delighted to accept Council’s invitation to sing at the town’s
birthday event.

The area of Parkes, first known as Currajong and later as Bushmans, began to flourish in 1862 with the discovery of gold. Then, 145 years ago on the first of December 1873, the town was renamed Parkes after Sir Henry Parkes, then Premier of NSW, and the main street was named after his wife, Lady Clarinda.

Happy Birthday Parkes!

By Beth Thomas

The future looks promising for Parkes as benefits of the Inland Rail Project are starting to flow to local businesses. With the Parkes to Narromine (P2N) section of the project due to commence in the near future, the joint venture INLink, engaged by Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) have started to mobilise in Parkes.

A broad range of opportunities are already available in the Central West, while there have been local procurement opportunities for a range of service providers such as signage services, personal protective equipment and furniture and office appliances in Parkes.

“It has been a long-term vision of the Parkes community to see our town as a national logistics hub and the Inland Rail project is the major link in the chain that will start to see this vision realised,” said Parkes Shire Council’s General Manager Kent Boyd.

According to ARTC Project Director Colin Ford INLink had very positive responses from the community with more than 380 expression of interest (EOI) registrations from local companies, partnerships and sole traders. “INLink have been working with them throughout the process to understand the kind of variable skills and opportunities to price work that is available.

“An extensive list of services will be required which will include, but is not limited to, concrete supply services, transportation, fencing, earthmoving, drainage, electrical works, concrete works, security and water bore drilling,” said Colin. “There will also be a positive flow-on effects for motels, retailers, cafes, restaurants and a range of service providers.

“We are looking forward to securing the right people and businesses who have the capacity, skills and experience to deliver the work on-time, on-budget and with minimal disruption to the community.”

JOIN NOW – Summer Reading Club Time!
The time has come for kids to visit the library and join the Parkes Shire Library Summer Reading Club for a fun time! Curious Creatures will take over your summer reading! The goal this year is to find a combined total of 1,000 Curious Creatures in the stories read over summer. There will be a huge party in February if this goal is reached.

EXHIBITION – Art Forged from Miscellany
15 – 31 December, Parkes Library
Official Opening: Saturday, 15 December at 10:30am
Art Forged from Miscellany is an exhibition that has grown from the desire to bring together a variety of experimental projects, encouraging artists and musicians to work in areas away from their usual techniques. The goal is for artists to explore sounds and musicians to deal in pictures made with words to create different and unique compositions. Poems were the basis for these experimental processes in soundscapes, accompaniment and animation. As much art is produced under stress it is hoped to create a freer release and generation of ideas. Artists involved include: Sean James Cassidy, Dustin Howearth, Jason (Nacho) Murchie, Matthew Cicchini and Jim Cassidy.

OPENING HOURS – Christmas and New Year
PARKES
22 to 26 December: Closed
27 and 28 December: Open 9am – 5pm
29 December: Closed
31 December: Open 9am – 5pm
1 January: Closed
PEAK HILL
25 and 27 December: Closed
1 January: Closed
3 January: Normal hours
TRUNDLE
27 and 28 December: Closed
3 January: Normal hours
TULLAMORE
Closed: 26 December
2 January: Normal hours

Shoulder impingement during swimming is largely due to dynamic muscle imbalances and biomechanical faults. Dynamic muscle imbalances can be addressed by strengthening exercises for the rotator cuff and scapular stabilisers, together with stretches for the muscles at the back of the shoulder.

One good exercise is to stand facing a wall with your arm raised to shoulder height and elbow straight. Hold a tennis ball to the wall by leaning through your shoulder and pinch your shoulder blades together. Roll the ball in small circles for 15 seconds first clockwise then counter clockwise until you become fatigued or two minutes, whichever
comes first.

Biomechanical faults can be addressed by correcting your swim technique. Achieving good symmetrical body rotation through the development of an efficient bilateral breathing pattern helps to avoid shoulder impingement
during the catch and pull through phase of the freestyle stroke.

If you already have shoulder pain it may be helpful to shorten your stroke and avoid the use of hand paddles. Hand placement during entry to the water should also be monitored. Instead of entering thumb first change your technique to enter with a flat hand or fingertip first. This is made easier by avoiding reaching across your midline. A
thumb first entry works the shoulder internal rotators excessively and when multiplied by approximately 3200 strokes per hour contributes heavily to the muscle imbalance of strong internal rotators and weak external rotators causing shoulder impingement.

Most swimmers pull through with a straight arm or dropped elbow. This loads the shoulder muscles excessively rather than utilising the larger and stronger muscles of the chest and upper back. Making these simple changes can help you achieve many hours of pain free swimming.

For the fitness of you
Linda Reilly