AUTHOR TALK: ADAM COURTENAY
Thursday 11 April, 6pm Parkes Library

The Ship That Never Was is Adam Courtenay’s entertaining and rollicking account of the greatest escape in Australia’s colonial history. Adam is a Sydney-based writer and journalist. RSVP: 6861 2309 or email
library@parkes.nsw.gov.au

SCHOOL HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES
Aqualife event for the whole family
Tuesday, 16th April 10:30 – 11:30am and 1:30 – 2:30pm
Interact with LIVE sea creatures and experience the magical underwater ocean world with Puffer fish, Port Jackson Shark and Pencil Urchins!

Origami
For years 3 – 6 on Wednesday, 17th April, 10:30am – 12pm
Learn about the art of origami and create your own.

Grow a Pizza topping!
For kinder to year 2 on Thursday, 16th April 10:30am -12pm
Plant a herb to take home, put on your chef’s hat and make yummy pizza.

Minibeast Workshop event for the whole family
Wednesday, 24th April 10:30am – 12pm
Hands on workshop featuring our live and preserved minibeast collection including magnifying glasses and devices.

Outdoor Minibeast Hunt
For year 3 – 6 on Wednesday, 24th April 2:30 – 4:00pm
Meet at PAC Park and learn how to identify habitats, build pitfall traps and loads of other fun activities.

Un-bee-lievable Bees!
For kinder to year 2 on Friday, 26th April 10:30 – 12:00pm
Explore all things bees and honey, make your own damper and try different flavours of honey. Bookings open Monday, 1st April and need to be done in person at Parkes Library. Cost $2. Wear old clothes, closed in shoes, bring your drink bottle & library card. All children must be library members to participate.

The Bogan Gate Community Memorial Hall has historically been the focal point of many important community activities, and last week received a welcome grant for its upgrade.

“The funding of $13,536 would benefit the entire community,” said President of the Bogan Gate Community Memorial Hall, Ron Umbers.

Member for Orange, Phil Donato MP announced the grant through the 2018 Community Building Partnership Program. The money will be used for a partial roof refurbishment.

The local CWA, the Community Consultative Committee and other organisations use the hall on a regular basis, and many important community events are also held in the hall.

Saturday afternoon is not usually a time to go to church, but the St George’s Anglican Church filled up with over 100 women last weekend for a fashion parade.

Narelle Pizarro, Jennifer Calvert and Lindy Tanswell became models for the afternoon to showcase 17 creations of Carole Corbett, which were all for sale afterwards.

“It was a lot of fun,” said Lindy Tanswell, who ended up buying the can can skirt she modelled with some flair.

It was the men’s turn next when the Southern Cross Vocal Band from Sydney took to the stage for a performance of old gospel songs, much to the delight of the audience.

The group first performed in Parkes at the Elvis Festival earlier this year, and they were invited back by Rev Ron Spindler for performances at the St George’s Church last weekend.

Leader of the group, Bruce, said they would definitely be back for the festival next year. “Elvis preferred singing gospel songs, and that is what we love doing too.”

The silver wear and polished tea pots came out next for a delectable high tea to end the afternoon on a social note.
The event was organised by the Anglican Women’s Association of Australia, Parkes branch.

Doug Pout has not been at Currajong Disability Services (CDS) for long, but he is already making a huge difference in the lives of many.

The CDS support worker is about to embark on a new mission to raise awareness for autism.

“My partner Courtney and I thought we could make a difference so we registered as “Dougney” for the Autism Walk,” said Doug.

It did not take long for Matt Medlyn and Neil Hamilton to also get on board. “We are hoping to get more people involved, so we can enter a CDS team,” he said. Matt is excited to be involved. “We have a number of clients at CDS who have autism and with Autism Awareness Month in April, this is an important mission.”

The Walk for Autism is a free virtual walking event, which means you can do it at your own pace, in your own time. Challenge yourself to walk 10,000 steps a day for eight days from Sunday, 31st March to Sunday, 7th April to raise much-needed funds to support people on the autism spectrum.

More information available at https://www.walkforautism.org.au/home or if you would like to support Doug or join him go to https://www.walkforautism.org.au/fundraisers/ Team-CDS.

Thanks to Rotary’s End Polio Now campaign a lot more locals are now better informed about the virus. Seven cyclists and two escorts left Parkes on Sunday for Condobolin as part of a District Bike Ride organised by Rotary to raise awareness and funds for the campaign.

“It was a very rewarding day,” said Parkes Rotary President Jenny Jewell. “We were able to do a lot of publicity and create awareness around polio, and managed to raise about $500.”

Jenny said the best part of the day was the number of locals who came with personal stories about polio. “Some people remember a family member who had polio, while others have never heard of it.”

Jenny said five years after WWII polio reached epidemic proportions in Australia, but since the vaccination of all children under five years new cases of polio are rare.

Jenny said though that as it is a virus, it could be imported on the next plane as there are still countries like Nigeria, Afghanistan and Pakistan where it is common.

Accompanying the riders on Sunday was the last remaining iron lung in Australia to show people what it was all about.

It is a tense week ahead for first time director Lisa Ramsay until the premier night next Friday of the Parkes Musical & Dramatic Society’s production of Anne of Green Gables The Musical.

Although it’s been a very popular story for many people growing up, the musical has rarely been done in Australia.

Lisa wanted to do something different and said she had found her first directing experience very fulfilling. “It’s been an amazing learning process to take what I’ve learned at university, the experience from watching Lyn Townsend as director and adapting it into my own process.”

With a cast of 31 amateur actors with half of them teens and children, a lot of energy went into the production and managing everyone.

Lisa said 17-year-old Krystal-Lee McMurray from Forbes, who plays Anne, had really stepped up in her role, as did the rest of the cast. Lisa is also grateful for musical director James Whalan for putting together a great band, for Jenny Kingham taking on the costumes and Ray Brown for the set construction.

The heart-warming tale of Anne is suitable for all ages and told with lots of humour and tongue-in-cheek lines about small country towns. Lisa would love to see the whole community supporting local talent for the shows running until the end of April.

By Maggi Barnard

Not many people get to celebrate their 90th birthday, let alone celebrate it with the launch of their fourth published book!

Life has not slowed down for local author Margaret Dwyer when she left her family home in Elizabeth Street nine months ago to move into the retirement village at Southern Cross.

She immediately started working on the sequel to her first fiction book, A Chain of Dreams, published in 2016 after so many readers had asked when she was going to write more.

During the day Margaret has to keep a diary for her busy schedule attending VIEW Club meetings, playing the piano at the Southern Cross Village sing-a-longs and at mass, and various medical appointments while still driving herself.

“So, I write at night from 10pm to 2am when it is quiet and no one can interrupt me.”

After only nine months she finished The Unbroken Chain bringing the O’Reagan family into the 21st century where marriage is no longer a given, living together is the norm, young adults live on the streets and drug use results in the escalation of crime.

Margaret’s new book will be launched by Councillor Bill Jayet on 27th April at the Coachman Motor Inn at 2pm. Everyone is invited to see Margaret cut her 90th birthday cake at this auspicious event.

By Maggi Barnard

The Parkes Aero Club received good news from Member for Orange, Phil Donato MP, last Friday when he announced the club’s successful application for funding through the 2018 Community Building Partnership Program. “I’m thrilled to announce the Parkes Aero Club will receive $20,000 to enable them to build a new awning on the Clubhouse building,” Phil said. “The awning will provide year-round protection from the elements and give us an outdoor social space,” said Warwick Tom, public officer of the club.