A line of seven toddlers walked into Wholesome Blend on Tuesday morning to enjoy their ‘Coffee with a Cop’! For the second year in a row young and older turned up for an opportunity to ‘tackle’ the Police with their questions and concerns, or to just have a relaxed yarn about all matters police.

“We just want to listen,” said Senior Constable Daniel Greef. “We are not making any speeches today. This is not a volatile situation, and it is just nice to have the time to do it.”

As the coffee shop buzzed with conversation, Daniel said many people had questions about Police work. “They have seen police shows on TV and want to know how it happens in real life, and what the different roles are.”

He said most of the feedback they had received at last year’s event were very positive. “We were told to keep doing what we are doing.”

Shirley Edwards of Tinker Tots Family Day Care said it was not only a great outing for them, but also an opportunity for the kids to meet the Police officers and to know who to go to for safety.

Daniel was also very happy to see the kids attend. “A lot of kids fear the Police.” The Parkes event was one of 90 state wide events in NSW.

Six young students from Canada and America have been active in the Parkes community this week volunteering their
help. The team from the Capernwray Bible School in Moss Vale came to Parkes for the very first time as part of their community involvement week on invitation from the Parkes Anglican Church.

According to Director of the Capernwray Bible School Peter Thomas there are 17 teams across Australia, including Forbes. They take in 45 students every year from all over the world. “Many of them see it as a gap year before they go to university, or taking a break from studies, to grow their personal faith,” said Peter.

The Parkes team had a busy programme helping out with the toy library, gardening, visiting old age homes, and the Christian School, sharing their lives at church services, as well as organising a Family Fun Day with the Forbes team for tomorrow.

The fun day, open to the whole community, will be at Lions Park from 2 to 4pm on Saturday with live music, games, face painting, traditional races and a sausage sizzle. “My time in Australia so far has been really cool,” said one of the students, Faith Pogoda. “I have seen my faith grow and have experienced what it is to live in a Christian community.”

She thinks Australia is awesome and loves seeing the different landscapes. “Parkes is really wonderful. It is amazing how festivals have drawn the community together.”

Troy Friesen loves Australia. “I was here two years ago and it is great to be back. The people are as friendly as in Canada, and Parkes is very welcoming. I am excited to be here.” On a personal level he has seen his knowledge of the Bible grow. “We have become great friends and it is really cool to be involved in different churches.”

The first ever Northparkes Family Day was held recently to provide employees with an exclusive opportunity to take their families and friends to site to show them where they work every day.

The day was a huge success with over 350 people taking part in the activities for young and old. Managing Director of Northparkes, Jim Fowler said: “The Family Day was a way of giving back to and rewarding our employees. It was fantastic to see everyone filled with so much pride whilst touring our operations. Having the opportunity to bring your family and friends to site is really special and not something you get to do every day in the mining industry.”

Tours were available to the ore processing facility, the underground SCADA Control Room, the underground surface operations, the laboratory, the warehouse and the workshop.

According to Chase Dingle, Superintendent Community, Environment and Farms, the kids’ corner with two jumping castles, a rock climbing wall and face painting, and the heavy machinery display were very popular.

Local artist Jordie Dwyer also performed and a range of food were on offer prepared by Parkes Rotary Club and Parkes Quota Club Inc. Jim said he felt proud to receive such positive feedback from employees and their families and friends on the event.

Seven clubs were successful in the latest round of the Sports Grants Funding Program with over $20,000 handed out. Parkes Sports Council Chairperson, Alan Gersbach said most of the clubs received a piece of the funding pie, provided annually by Northparkes Mine and Parkes Shire Council.

In total $21,309.47 in grants were distributed with the remaining $3,600 unallocated funds to be carried over for the next round. Parkes Shire Councillor Louise O’Leary said Parkes Shire Council allocated additional funds to match the contribution made by Northparkes Mine.

Community and External Relations Officer of Northparkes, Ali Creith, said the mine was please to contribute to some of the teams and clubs doing such a great job to help keep Parkes healthy and happy.

This was the first round under the new joint funding agreement which will distribute $170,000 over the next three years. The next round opens in June with total of $28,690 available for sports related projects in the Parkes Shire.
The successful clubs this time were the Parkes Gun Club ($6,088.50); Parkes Hockey Inc. ($3,000); Parkes Netball Association ($1,260); Parkes PCYC ($1,994.40); Parkes Senior Cricket ($2,200); Parkes Tennis Club ($4,364) and Trundle Boomers Football Club ($2402.57).

With pre-season training for winter sports commencing it is a relevant time to discuss sports-related head injuries and consider what can be done to prevent or minimise the impact a concussion injury has on an athlete.

In the medical world, a concussion is considered a mild traumatic brain injury. Concussions occur not only from direct contact of the head with a solid object, but also when indirect forces cause the brain to move rapidly within the skull such as a fall on the buttocks or a whiplash injury. Contrary to popular belief, you can sustain a concussion without losing consciousness.

Common symptoms of concussion include headaches, memory and concentration difficulty, decreased balance and coordination, drowsiness, vomiting and light or sound sensitivity. The ability to perform normal activities with the same speed, reaction time and precision as prior to the injury is often significantly altered.

When managed appropriately most signs and symptoms are temporary and resolve within seven to 10 days, however complications can occur including prolonged duration of symptoms and increased susceptibility to further injury. There is also growing concern about the potential long-term consequences of multiple concussions.

The brain needs time to heal and rest after a concussion. This includes rest from both physical activity and cognitive loads. Return to sport too early increases the chances of another concussion.

It is worth considering performing baseline testing such as a SCAT-3 or King Devick Test in the pre-season to establish a benchmark offering comparison when an athlete has sustained a concussion. This helps determine when they are ready to return to sport.

“For the fitness of you.”
Linda Reilly

The Country Women’s Association (CWA) is the largest women’s organisation in Australia and started in the 1920s as a way for women in rural and regional areas to connect and support one another. “Our goals remain the same in what is a very different social landscape,” said Parkes CWA President Alice Milne. “Women are more connected
than ever and yet our fast-paced lifestyle often leave little room for meaningful friendships and community engagement.”

Parkes CWA Branch offers a diverse range of opportunities, including a commitment to empowering women and families. “Last year, we learnt how to make soft cheeses from fresh goats milk, we even milked the goats!” said Alice. “We also learned the finer points on decorating cupcakes with different piping techniques.”

“If you are a woman, young or mature, we would love you to join us! You don’t need any skills, just a desire to make friends and help out in the community.”

The next meeting is on Wednesday, 16th May at 5.30pm at the Pink Orchid.