A drum kit made from recycled material, poetry in animation and digital interactive art are some of the thought-provoking features of an exhibition with a difference opening at the Parkes Library next week.

The exhibition called Art Forged from Miscellany has brought together a group of 12 poets and artists with the challenge of working in areas they are not very familiar with.

“I am mentoring a new artist, Tanjim Islam on 16th century painting techniques, and he is teaching me about animation in digital design – it is a share-share partnership,” said Sean-James Cassidy, curator of the exhibition.

Sean, who grew up in Parkes, is currently doing an internship on graphic design at SBS with Nathan Kopp (SBS graphic design FIFA World Cup), who is the assistant curator of the exhibition.

A main feature of this inspiring exhibition will be the Junkyard Drum Kit made from materials found at the Parkes Waste Facility. It is created entirely from garbage, conceived and built by collaborators from wide-ranging backgrounds. They include Sean-James Cassidy (artist), Dustin Howearth (Hollywood prop designer/sculpture),
Jason Nacho Murchie (sound artist) and Matthew Cicchini (drummer, English, philosophy major).

Sean said for the artists to have worked outside their area of skill have brought a different take and insight to the art form. “I am not a musician and found that I am getting better at rhythm and discovered its importance as a form of communication.”

Another exciting feature of the exhibition is the award-winning poem Blacksmith by local author Jim Cassidy. His recitation of the poem has been animated with video and music. Poems by Kerrie Peden (Director Parkes Community Choir) are also featured as animation art by Tanjim Islam.

The artists in the exhibition are members or supporters of Ub Ubbo Exchange – an international art group celebrating its 11th year of collaboration and support.

(See details of exhibition on page 9.)

The Parkes Library was ‘crawling’ with curious creatures on Tuesday for the launch of the Summer Reading Club.
Armed with magnifying glasses and torches more than 50 kids and adults got up close and personal with the little creatures  of Bushmans Dam under the guidance of Parkes Shire Council’s Environment and Sustainability Coordinator Michael Chambers.

Michael caught the creatures earlier in the day and had them swimming in containers in the library foyer for the kids to meet them. “I can see a leech,” and “There is a yabby” were some excited calls as they zoomed in on the tiny creatures. The challenge to the Summer Reading Club participants this year is to find 1,000 creatures in the books they read during summer. There is also a mystery creature hiding under a big rock in the library, and kids are encouraged to make a drawing of it.

Summer Reading Club is for all young readers birth and up. The Curious Creatures theme aims to encourage young
readers to discover new worlds as they explore and connect with a curiosity of creatures through their reading and a range of activities available at Parkes Shire libraries.

Children’s Services Officers Debbie and Sandie are really excited about this year’s Summer Reading Club. They have put in lots of preparation and are ready to start recording the creatures as participants discover them in stories. They will also be putting up the drawings of the mystery creature under the rock in the library.

If you did not attend the launch call into your Library at Parkes, Peak Hill, Trundle and Tullamore and sign up today!

Join the movement this festive season by buying handmade presents and homemade cooking. It is easy in Parkes as the Craft Corner has a good selection of Christmas cakes and puddings, as well as lots of handmade items, including Christmas table runners, serviettes and children’s dresses.

President Rosemary Mitchell was very excited last week with the arrival of a fridge for the shop to increase their selection of homemade items on offer to customers on a daily basis.

There are also a large selection of art, including beautiful creations by mosaic artist Sue Maddison, and many other handmade items. The shop is only closed on public holidays and will be open until 24th December for last minute shopping.

Ten members of a Rotary Club on the far south coast of NSW swapped the beach for the bush last weekend when they visited Trundle as part of the Adopt-A-Town initiative. The initiative encourages members of Rotary Clubs to visit drought affected communities in NSW and provide practical and financial support.

“We selected Trundle as Pambula’s population is around the same size,” said Pambula Rotary Club Youth Director Liz Bellette-Stubbs.

“We initially reached out in September to find out how we can help.” The Pambula Rotary members helped to paint the childcare centre, assisted with the Trundle Community Christmas Pool Party, met with local school students and distributed donations. They met with the Trundle Men’s Shed and hosted a dinner at the Trundle Services and Citizens Club, where they met members of the Parkes Rotary Club and locals from across the region.

The group stayed in Trundle’s hotel and purchased supplies locally where possible to support the business community. “The schools were welcoming and encouraging of our efforts, said Liz. “The preschool was so appreciative of our paint job. We went away with ideas for future events and hope to assist them in the future. We
couldn’t have had a better beginning to the sister town relationship.”

Trundle and District Progress Association Chairman Peter Kelly said: “We appreciate the fact that they reached out to us, offering practical and financial support in this difficult time, and are keen to build a long-term relationship between our communities.”

Parkes Shire Deputy Mayor Barbara Newton thanked the Pambula Rotary Club for their support. “The drought has a flow-on effect, not just for landholders, but the businesses and broader community, so it is important that we come together and support each other.”

“Positive initiatives, such as Adopt-A-Town, provide much-needed hands-on assistance, as well as some respite for the community.”

Traffic came to a halt in the Parkes CBD on Monday morning with business owners leaving their shops to encourage a crowd of over 100 people marching down Clarinda Street in support of White Ribbon Day. Parkes is one of many communities across the country taking a stand to end domestic violence with the aim of creating ‘an Australian society where all women can live in safety, free from violence and abuse.’

Many local groups, clubs, schools and businesses were represented in the Parkes march from the Parkes Arbour to Cooke Park where the participants listened to speeches led by Lionel Lovett’s traditional Welcome to Country.

Police District Chief Inspector, David Cooper pledged continued police support in the area of domestic violence and asked for the public to assist by speaking out in order to challenge and change this problem. “This is a community issue not just a police issue. What you know and what you do could save someone’s life,” said Chief Inspector Cooper.

Some frightening and sobering statistics were presented by advocates against domestic violence: One in four women has experienced emotional abuse by a current or former partner; one in five women have experienced sexual violence; one in two women have experienced sexual harassment; and one woman a week is murdered by a current or former partner.

Deputy Mayor Barbara Newton entreated the public saying: “Don’t just stand by. Stand up. And speak up.”

By Beth Thomas

The Parkes Elvis Festival has won many awards, but entered new territory last Thursday at the 2018 NSW Tourism Awards at Luna Park in Sydney. It was named best festival in the State for the third consecutive year and inducted into the NSW Tourism Hall of Fame.

“To be inducted into the Hall of Fame is the icing on the cake for what has been the most successful year to-date for the Parkes Elvis Festival,” said Festival Director Cathy Treasure.

“It is also recognition of all the hard work and dedication of our fantastic volunteers, supporters and staff who have made the Festival what it is today.”

Parkes Elvis Festival was one of six finalists in the Festivals and Events category, taking home the title ahead of the Australian Celtic Festival, Canowindra International Balloon Challenge, Deni Ute Muster, Eat the Street Lismore and Woolgoolga Curryfest.

Parkes Shire Mayor, Councillor Ken Keith OAM said it was a stellar achievement for a community generated event that had significant economic impacts for Parkes and the wider Central NSW region.

The 2018 Festival attracted more than 25,000 visitors, had a global media reach of 200 million and injected $13 million into the regional economy. Parkes Elvis Festival has progressed to the national level at the QANTAS Australian Tourism Awards in Launceston on 1st March next year.

Mines has opened a new office in Parkes for the Flemington Mining project near Fifield. The new office at 6/344-348 Clarinda Street, Parkes (formerly Video Ezy) opened in October, and will become the base for the Australian Mines team working on the Flemington project.

The local community is invited to drop in to the office between 9am and 12pm on Tuesday, 4th December to learn more about Australian Mines and the Fifield project. Exploration Manager Stuart Peterson and Community Engagement Officer Cindy Nutley will be on hand to discuss the project, including the short-term activities and long-term goals.

Australian Mines was formed in 2001 with nickel exploration and production as the initial focus. Now, Australian Mines is committed to becoming a significant producer of essential technology metals by bringing its cobalt-scandium-nickel ore bodies into production in the shortest possible time frame. These high value commodities are sought after by a range of technology manufacturing sectors, including the battery and transport industries.

The Flemington project near Fifield is in its early stages and is a direct continuation of the world-class Sunrise project being developed by CleanTeq, with the two projects separated only by a tenement boundary. Australian Mines has acquired 100% ownership of the exploration tenements and a mining lease application has been submitted. The project benefits from a secured, permanent water allocation to support a future mining operation.

The new office in Parkes has been established to support field operations ahead of the pre-feasibility study on the project, and reiterates the company’s recruitment principles of preferentially employing from the local community.

Call in any time during business hours if you are interested in the project and can’t make the drop-in session on Tuesday. Drop-in sessions are also planned at Trundle and Condobolin soon, with dates to be advised.