More than 40 care packages were distributed to drought affected farmers following the initiative of a Parkes woman asking for donations.

“It has been pretty amazing,” said Karen White who created a Facebook page last month to ask people to donate items to make up care packages.

She said many people made up smoko packages, one woman donated $100 worth of dog biscuits and the Rural Fire Service at Forbes arrived with a vehicle loaded with everyday items, such as rice, pasta and sugar.

“We did not have enough room to fit everything in for the first drop off.” Karen teamed up with the NSW Farmers Association’s representative in Parkes and she took all the packages to the central distribution point in Cobar.

They have already received very good feedback from farmers. A couple who had received a package with home made fruit cakes sent a message saying, “It gave us a lift when we thought the world was against us.”

According to Karen the greatest need is drinking water as many farmers’ household tanks are running low. She said large water jugs or slabs of water bottles would be most welcome to farmers at this stage. “I am happy to keep going as long as there are donations,” Karen said.

Go to the Facebook page Central West Drought Care Packages for more information, or drop off donations at 172 London Road or at Kadina B & B at 22 Mengarvie Street.

The discovery of pulsars was announced fifty years ago and it has since become a major field of astronomical research, especially at the CSIRO Parkes Radio Telescope. As the Parkes telescope has discovered more pulsars than every other radio telescope in the world, combined it was only fitting that the keynote speaker at the 15th annual CWAS AstroFest last weekend was the discoverer of pulsars.

Dame Jocelyn Bell-Burnell said she was very excited to visit the Parkes Radio Telescope for the first time. “It is one of the major cutting edge telescopes in the world doing very important work.”

It was whilst spending endless hours analysing reams of paper chart recordings as a young research assistant at Cambridge University in 1967, where Jocelyn was helping to build a large radio telescope, that she noticed what she referred to as ‘scruff’ in the recordings.

This scruff was a pulsating radio source which reappeared exactly one Earth rotation later every day making it unmistakably a sign of a celestial object. Jocelyn had discovered a rapidly spinning neutron star, later termed a pulsar.

The discovery, hailed as “one of the most significant scientific achievements of the 20th century”, was recognised by the award of the Nobel Prize in Physics to her thesis supervisor Antony Hewish. Another highlight of the AstroFest is the David Malin Awards for astrophotography presented by world-renowned astrophotographer, Dr David Malin, himself. This competition has become the premier event of its kind in Australia with 260 entries this year.

“Two categories had some of the best images I have ever seen,” said David at the prize giving ceremony. The overall winner was Luke Tscharke with his entry titled Crescent Moon at Lake Oberon entered in the Night Scapes category.

An array of international and local guest speakers filled up the programme for the rest of the event attended by over 100 people.

There is something special sitting around a campfire, but sharing the experience with Australia’s country superstar could be extraordinary. This is exactly what Parkes residents will encounter tonight when Kasey Chambers is at the Parkes Services Club with her Campfire tour.

The Aussie country icon is just over halfway touring the country since the release of her 12th studio album in April. “I haven’t been to Parkes for a long time and is really looking forward to the show,” Kasey told The Phoenix earlier this week.

“We are mostly doing old songs and including new ones form the album.” She said the audience should expect a real
campfire atmosphere as she and her band, The Fire Side Disciples, use acoustic instruments. “A lot of my songs work acoustically, so it was not a huge stretch to make the change. That is how they all started any way,” she said.

Making the tour extra special for Kasey is her dad Bill Chambers, a Golden Guitar Award songwriter, who also plays in the band. “He gave me an unusual childhood growing up around campfires and was the inspiration for the album. We share so many stories.”

Kasey grew up on the Nullarbor Plain and the tiny fishing village of Southend, South Australia. They were touring as a family band, The Dead Ringer Band. With the 20th anniversary of her debut album The Captain Turns coming up next year, Kasey said she always wanted to make this record and it was the right time to strip back to the sounds she grew up with.

She realised another dream on the Campfire album doing a duet with her childhood idol Emmylou Harris. “She is probably the voice I heard the most growing up. She has been a great influence on me and doing a duet with her on my album made me so happy. It is so incredible that I’ve had the opportunity to work with so many of my idols. It is such a thrill.”

Living such a busy life, the campfire is a place where Kasey feels she can be present in the moment. “Sitting around a
campfire is one of those places where you never wish you were somewhere else. It is the perfect place to be in the moment.

“This is what we are creating with this gig and I hope everyone will enjoy it like they would sitting around a campfire.”

By Maggi Barnard

It was a big week for Parkes and it kicked off on Monday with the good news of a multi-million dollar grant to reinvigorate the CBD. Member for Riverina and Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack was the bearer of the news delivering more than $4.2 million towards an upgrade of Clarinda Street and a multi-purpose centre to
be constructed in Cooke Park.

The project, at a total cost of almost $8.5 million, will re-develop southern Clarinda Street with footpath upgrades, lighting and smart technology, street furniture and green areas to feed into Cooke Park to the new multi-use function and event centre.

“Congratulations to the Parkes Shire Council on its progressive attitude,” said Michael. “It is a great town indeed and will only prosper into the future looking better, prettier and more attractive for tourists and locals. It is money well spent.”

Parkes Mayor Ken Keith OAM said the project followed on from the CBD vibrancy strategy with “community groups screaming out for cultural facilities”. He said the new multi-purpose centre would not only provide a new and professional stage for the Elvis Festival, but also attract more cultural events to town and create new events, while the development of lower Clarinda Street would encourage business opportunities.

The multi-purpose centre will replace the current community hall in Cooke Park. The project is expected to be completed in two years’ time.

By Maggi Barnard

The Consumer Credit Code – Protection For Borrowers
Most credit arrangements, or contracts, are covered by the Consumer Credit Code (CCC). Before a credit contract is offered, the borrower must be given a statement by the credit provider. A document that sets out the borrower’s rights and obligations must also be provided.
Some of the items which must be disclosed under the code are:
• The amount of the credit;
• The interest rate, and how it is to be calculated. If it is a variable rate, you must be told how you can check this;
• All charges and fees must be disclosed, including ongoing loan maintenance fees and default costs and fees. This
must include any government fees and charges, including any stamp duty;
• Commissions paid to or by the credit provider;
• Details of any required security, such as a mortgage or a guarantee, and of any required insurance.

The contract must clearly set out what terms of the contract may be changed by the credit provider during the term of the contract, and the notice that must be given by the credit provider. These may include changes to the interest rate and changes to the repayment instalments. Where the contract sets out pegged interest changes and repayment instalments, a separate notice need not be given.

So be careful. Fully investigate any proposed credit arrangement and, if the terms are not fully understood, get professional advice before signing up.

If we at Matthews Williams can assist you on this or any other legal matter, feel free to phone me or one of our solicitors or call into our office for an appointment.

By Mark Olson

 

If you are travelling between Sydney and Parkes over the next six months be on the look out for SCT Logistics trucks advertising our town. Parkes Shire Council in partnership with SCT Logistics, has installed truck back advertising
on 12 SCT Logistics trailers that travel daily between Parkes and Western Sydney.

The new marketing initiative is part of the Parkes National Logistics Hub strategic marketing campaign to attract investment from new and existing business operators to relocate to Parkes and take advantage of our unique supply chain solutions.

“The advertising will be in market for six months with the aim to appeal to manufacturing, warehousing, distribution and other supply chain companies in the Western Sydney industrial parks to consider relocation or investment in the Parkes National Logistics Hub,” said Council’s Economic and Business Development Manager Anna Wyllie.

The Parkes National Logistics Hub is a 600 hectare intermodal estate, uniquely positioned at the intersection of the East/West rail line, the North/South Newell Highway, and the new $10 billion Inland Rail. The campaign dovetails perfectly with the 2018 Inland Rail Conference held in Parkes this week attended by more than 400 delegates.

More information is available in the Parkes Hub Prospectus at www.parkeshub.com.au.

If you have ever been hit hard in the thigh with someone’s knee or shoulder, you most likely know how painful and debilitating a corked thigh can be. A cork, or a muscle contusion as was formerly known, is a common occurrence in contact sports, as well as sports like cricket and hockey when a player is hit by the ball.

Contusions result from blunt trauma to a muscle such as when two players collide and one is hit in the thigh by the knee of the other. The underlying muscle and connective tissue are crushed without breaking the skin. This causes bleeding within or between muscles resulting in a haematoma. A cork may result in immediate pain, weakness, muscle spasm and stiffness.

Most contusions are minor and heal quickly, however if you lose joint range or power in the leg, have trouble with explosive bursts or kicking, it is time to come off the ground and not return to play. It is important that treatment of a muscle contusion starts immediately, with the first 48 hours post injury the most important.

Immediate treatment for a corked muscle should include ceasing activity, icepacks applied every two hours for 15 minutes, bandage the corked muscle with an elasticized bandage, elevate the injured limb above heart height whenever possible and avoid exercise, heat, alcohol and massage in the first 48 hours.

Range of motion is a good indicator as to the severity of the injury. Difficulty flexing the knee past 90 degrees may suggest a more severe injury that requires a physiotherapy assessment.

For the fitness of you,
Linda Reilly