THE WELLBEING PROJECT EXHIBITION
Opening Preview – Parkes Library, 4pm Friday, 4th May Exhibition 5 – 19 May
Join the Wellbeing Project participants with facilitators Pol Cruz and Maralyn Nash to celebrate the work created through the project. Please RSVP to library@parkes.nsw.gov.au or phone:02 6861 2309.

DIGITAL MAGAZINES
Access complete digital magazines, eBooks and eTalking books through Parkes Shire Library today!
• Read magazines for as long as you want – no loan periods, no limits on how many magazines that can be borrowed.
Borrow an eBook or online talking book for four weeks.
• Browse and select from a wide range of titles, genres and authors.
• Instantly stream on your PC or Mac or download them to mobile devices. Women’s Weekly, Better Homes and Gardens, Caravan and Motorhome, Gardening Australia and Men’s Health are just a
few of the popular magazine titles available. Current listening favourites are the talking books Altar of Eden by James Rollins, The Dressmaker’s Dowry by Meredith Jaeger and Plan Truth by Jodi Picoult. Latest additions to the eBook collection include Sisters Like Us by Susan Mallery, The Red Dirt Road by Alissa Callen and Hangman by Jack Heath.

Access to Parkes Shire Library free online collections is simple and only requires a current library card. The RBdigital app provides access to the online magazines, while ePlatform is where library members can borrow eBooks an eTalking Books. Visit your online Library today – www.parkes.nsw.gov.au/things-to-do/parkesshire-libraries/my-online-library/

EBOOK AND EMAGAZINE HOW TO
Parkes Library, Friday 25th May 10.30am
Bring your device or laptop and join us for a cuppa as the Library team shows you how to access the Library’s online downloadable collections.

Inland Rail leadership inspected its $2 million upgrade works between Parkes and Narromine this week. Recently appointed Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) Inland Rail CEO Richard Wankmuller and new ARTC Chairman Warren Truss joined ARTC Managing Director John Fullerton to view bridge upgrade works at Goonumbla.

The upgrade work will support ongoing delivery of Inland Rail when construction begins on the project’s Parkes to Narromine section in the middle of this year. According to the Managing Director ARTC took advantage of planned operational rail line shutdowns to build four new concrete bridges to replace four timber top bridges that have reached their end of operational life.

“The concrete bridges are stronger to support the longer, heavier and more efficient trains that will carry the lion’s share of domestic freight between Melbourne and Brisbane. “The Inland Rail standard allows for a significant increase in axle loads, which means regional producers can get more of their payload on each train. One 1.8km long train with ‘double stacked’ container capacity will support the movement of about 2,500 tonnes of freight in a single trip, which will slash freight costs by around 30% compared to road.”

Mother’s Day is a celebration honouring the mother of the family, as well as motherhood, maternal bonds, and the influence of mothers in society. It is celebrated on various days in many parts of the world, most commonly in the months of March or May.

It complements similar celebrations honouring family members, such as Father’s Day, Siblings Day and Grandparents Day. In the United States, celebration of Mother’s Day began in the early 20th century. It is not related to the many celebrations of mothers and motherhood that have occurred throughout the world over thousands of years, such as the Greek cult to Cybele, the Roman festival of Hilaria, or the Christian Mothering Sunday celebration
(originally a commemoration of Mother Church, not motherhood). However, in some countries, Mother’s Day has become synonymous with these older traditions.

The day is celebrated in more than 40 countries worldwide. Whether you go full out or feel the day has become too commercial, take time on Sunday, 13th May to honour the mother figure in your life. Something as simple as a phone call will make her feel loved!

Once a year in May we applaud our mothers.
Unlike Christmas when we rush and
stress to find a present for everyone, this
day is simple and easy: time to spoil just
one person. Here are some local ideas
how to best go about celebrating this day.
If your mum is the type of person who
says: “I’d rather wear flowers in my hair
than diamonds around my neck,” you are
spoilt for choice in Parkes.
At Pink Orchid you can get a special, individualised
creation if you tell them about
your mother and what she loves. You can
also get your mum to attend a floral bouquet
masterclass offered by Pink Orchid.
(Only limited space available, so hurry!)
With the help of Ivy Lane you can organise
the perfect gift for your mum! They offer
a huge range of stunning floral arrangements,
homemade candles, and special
gift boxes especially made for Mother’s
Day! Get your orders in quick! Ivy Lane will
be open on Mother’s Day too from 8am to
5pm, and make deliveries in town.
If your mum loves dressing up, why not
get her something special and unique at
Adela Rose where you will find an eclectic
range of dresses, crystals and jewellery.
Food is a vital ingredient to make celebrations
memorable, and Mother’s Day is no
exception. If it is your special day to treat
the family to a meal out – Parkes has a lot
to offer.
The Station Restaurant’s new autumn
menu is one you can definitely give a go.
With fresh produce form their very own
veggie patch, the menu is guaranteed to
be fresh and delicious.
Other favourite places for families in
Parkes are The Railway Hotel’s Hart Bar
and Ikon at Hotel Gracelands where there
are always specials on offer or old favourites
to enjoy. Mother’s Day is a celebration honouring
the mother of the family, as well as motherhood,
maternal bonds, and the influence of
mothers in society. It is celebrated on various
days in many parts of the world, most
commonly in the months of March or May.
It complements similar celebrations honouring
family members, such as Father’s
Day, Siblings Day and Grandparents Day.
In the United States, celebration of Mother’s
Day began in the early 20th century.
It is not related to the many celebrations
of mothers and motherhood that have
occurred throughout the world over thousands
of years, such as the Greek cult to
Cybele, the Roman festival of Hilaria, or
the Christian Mothering Sunday celebration
(originally a commemoration of Mother
Church, not motherhood). However, in
some countries, Mother’s Day has become
synonymous with these older traditions.
The day is celebrated in more than 40
countries worldwide.
Whether you go full out or feel the day
has become too commercial, take time on
Sunday, 13th May to honour the mother figure
in your life. Something as simple as a
phone call will make her feel loved!

The Parkes community flocked in huge numbers to the Anzac Day events in Parkes last week making it the biggest attendance yet. Parkes RSL Sub Branch secretary Paul Thomas said it was the biggest attendance he had seen and was full of praise for the hundreds of people attending the dawn service, the Anzac Day march and the civic ceremony in Cooke Park.

He was particularly happy with the representation by all the schools in town at the march. The Parkes RSL Sub Branch also unveiled two memorials dedicated to two Parkes men who served in World War II on Anzac Day.

The memorials at the Parkes Services Club, were of Victoria Cross recipient Flight Sergeant Rawdon Hume Middleton and first Corporal, then Flying Officer Colin Francis Hendry. The unveiling was done by former Parkes resident and one of Australia’s most senior officers in the Royal Australian Air Force, Air Vice-Marshal Stephen Osborne.

Marty Davies and Alana Folau, school captains of Middleton Public School, after whom the school was named, were also invited to the unveiling of the memorials at the Parkes Services Club. Middleton school’s Anzac choir were also invited to sing at the civil service in Cooke Park.

Plans are well underway for this year’s NOT A STATISTIC! Youth Driver Education Program, with the youth actors for the mock car crash demonstration selected, dates set for filming the establishing videos and the rehearsal schedule locked in.

“There was a lot of interest in the auditions this year – we had the largest turn-out of youth actors yet. Most had been to mock crash last year and wanted to be involved, especially as this year we are celebrating our 10th anniversary,” said Parkes, Forbes and Lachlan Shire Councils’ Road Safety and Injury Prevention Officer, Melanie Suitor.

“Casting was very difficult – everyone was so talented. Whilst there are only four roles available for the mock crash demonstration, we offered the other actors roles in the establishing scenes.” “Our youth actors have already been put
through their paces, attending Road Crash Rescue Training with the Parkes State Emergency Services, to see how they cope being cut from a car and carried on a casualty board.”

“Work now turns towards the table reads and getting ready to film the establishing scenes and victim impact statements.” “Once filming is completed, there will be briefings from NSW Ambulance about injuries, a table read to get a feel for the script and ab-lib opportunities, with rehearsals kicking off in July,” Ms Suitor said.

“During the 10 years that this program has been running we have recorded a 27% decrease in crashes on local roads involving a young driver (17 – 25 years old),” Ms Suitor said.

The mock car crash demonstration is scheduled for Friday 17th August 2018. More than 500 Year 10 students from across the Parkes, Forbes and Lachlan Shire Councils will be attending. The final dress rehearsal on Monday 20th August will be open to the public.

For further information please contact Parkes, Forbes and Lachlan Shire Councils’ Road Safety and Injury Prevention Officer, Melanie Suitor, on (02) 6861 2364.

As part of the Parkes Cemetery Tree Replacement project, 100 per cent of the eleven trees removed from the cemetery entrance will be repurposed for environmental sustainability projects. Following a severe storm in November 2016, Council commissioned a consulting arborist to inspect the trees. The arborist determined that the trees must be removed due to their deteriorating condition, which posed a risk to visitors of the cemetery.

Parkes Shire Council’s Environmental and Sustainability Coordinator, Michael Chambers said “while we are sad to see the old eucalypts removed from the cemetery, it is fantastic that we are able to use all eleven of the trees for a range of other environmental projects throughout the Parkes Shire.”

“The leaves and smaller branches will be turned into mulch for re-vegetation and general Parks and Gardens use.” “The larger branches and main trunks will be stock piled off site and used in future rehabilitation projects, including the rehabilitation of the old Sewage Treatment Plant effluent ponds into a wetlands habitat. The eucalypts will create the perfect habitat for water birds, turtles, yabbies and other native fauna.”

Last year, Council successfully repurposed several trees removed from Kelly Reserve by installing them as habitat in PAC Park. Council will remove the declining trees lining the cemetery entrance, totally rehabilitate the site and replace with a smaller deciduous tree species, as well as install irrigation, construct kerb and guttering along the internal road, and install a new footpath.

The Parkes Cemetery Tree Replacement Strategy is available for download from Council’s website, www.parkes.nsw.gov.au.

Do you feel like you have a novel, a memoir or a travel book in you, waiting to be crafted? Do you like to journal, write poetry or short stories? Sometimes writing can be highly rewarding but also a very lonely enterprise. It can also be a daunting one, if you haven’t written anything before, or when you realise how many words you still need to write!

There is a writer’s group in Parkes that provides the space and time for adult and teen writers of all skill levels to gather together to talk about their writing. Author-rised began 5 ½ years ago and has had a range of guest speakers visit to provide presentations, including published authors, editors and media organisations. Some members of the group have self-published their works in hard-copy books, or as e-books. Others have won awards for poetry competitions.

For those who are busy with work and family commitments, the writing group offers the time to get some words down. Dan Fredericks, the coordinator of the group, prepares a program for the evening based on the groups’ topics of interest. There is also time to Share if you Dare. This time provides the opportunities for writers to read their work
aloud to the others in the group and ask for feedback, if they would like it. Reading out loud is a great practice for writers, and for those interested in participating in the Elvis Poet’s Breakfast, this may be a good opportunity for you to practice performing your would-be winning poem.

Author-rised meets at the Parkes Library on the first Tuesday of every month, between 6pm-8pm. There is time allocated for a BYO supper at the end of the meeting. For any enquiries regarding the group, contact Dan Fredericks on 02 6861 2309.