Articles Archives - Page 335 of 460

Hockey Players Bring Back World Cup Bling

September 6, 2018 By Maggi Barnard

Parkes was well represented at the recent Hockey Masters World Cup in Spain with two local players running out for Australia. Maureen Massey and Graeme Tanswell played in Barcelona last month where 23 nations competed in men’s and women’s teams from over 35 to over 60 years.

Graeme played for the Australian Over 50s Men’s team who came home undefeated with the gold medal. Maureen Massey was goalkeeper of the Australian Over 60s women’s team and they won bronze. “It was a brilliant experience and to come home with some bling was an extra bonus,” said Maureen, who played in her third World Cup event, and represented Australia for the sixth time in her age division. It was Graeme’s first time in the Australian jersey.

Despite extremely hot conditions in Barcelona with the temperature reaching 40 degrees Celsius on some days, the Australian teams performed very well. “We played six games and finished up playing off for third and fourth position
against a Wattles Australian team,” said Maureen. This game finished with a one all draw so the bronze medal was decided upon by a penalty shootout won by our team 2 goals to 1.”

According to Maureen the best part of the experience was wearing the green and gold. “To represent your country is a huge honour at any age, although it does not come easily. There is a lot of time put into training, on fitness and skills. The levels of fitness of the women in this team is absolutely remarkable considering our ages.”

After a short break, Maureen will be flying to Perth at the end of September to participate in the Australian Women’s Masters Championships at Bunbury as goalkeeper for the NSW over 65 years women’s team.

By Maggi Barnard

What’s On @ The Library

September 6, 2018 By Maggi Barnard

SATURDAY STORYTIME!
8 and 15 September from 11am – 12pm
For families with school aged kids. Families are invited to find the hidden library treasures! Fun, Play, Games, Stories, Make, Discover

PARKES FUN PALACE
Saturday, 22nd September, 9am – 3pm, Parkes Library ALL DAY!
Join the Parkes Library team for a family day of science, play, art and games! Activities include: fingerprinting, dancing ballerinas, stortyime with pets, community art collage, sausage sizzle and more…

ADVENTURE QUEST
9:30 – 10:30am AND 11am – 12pm Free. Book please.
All you need is a little imagination! Families are invited to join this interactive show based on the ideals in the “Choose Your Own Adventure” books. Music, storytelling, drama and dance in one all-inclusive show!

TRASH PERCUSSION
1pm – 3pm Free. Bookings required.
This workshop is a whole lot of LOUD fun! Anything and everything can be used as a musical instrument and everyone can play music. Kids aged 8 and older can join this music workshop hosted by Ian from Fun Day Out.

Glenroy – Fantastic Fattening Country

September 6, 2018 By Maggi Barnard

Glenroy, in the Parkes-Forbes district, has had a long history of improved pastures utilised to finish lambs. The property is equally well suited to cropping with the vendor producing up to 26 bags of prime hard wheat per acre (5
tons/ha) in recent years.

After a long history of pastures and regular fertiliser applications this country is primed for great results. Michael and Margaret Willmott are selling to scale back their livestock enterprise that has mainly been breeding and finishing prime lambs in conjunction with some opportunistic trading of sheep. They produced a long line of large well-bred first cross ewes and second cross prime lambs that are finished on the pastures.

Earlier this year, prior to the jump in lamb prices, the vendors sold grass fed lambs for over $180/head. On today’s market these lambs could be worth as much as $280/head.

With export lambs selling for up to $344/head there has never been a better time to buy a well improved property like Glenroy. The established pastures are mainly a mix of lucerne, clovers, chicory, plantain and ryegrass. In addition, there is 40 ha of oats included in the sale, plus a paddock of clover with one paddock of long fallow.

The majority of the land is cleared and has a park like scattering of Yellowbox and Rivergums. Other assets include a neat two stand woolshed, quality sheepyards, a silo and excellent dams with good catchment. For more information contact Ainslie Toole at Landmark Harcourts o 0407 946 838.

National Police Remembrance Day

September 6, 2018 By Maggi Barnard

Central West Police District Commander Superintendent Chris Taylor invites the Parkes community to join police in paying tribute on National Police Remembrance Day.

A service will be held on Friday, 28th September at St George’s Anglican Church at 10am. National Police Remembrance Day on 29th September each year is one of the most important events on the NSW Police Force calendar and holds special significance to police throughout Australia and the Pacific region.

It is a day to remember those officers who have given their lives in the course of their duties. Not only will the service pay tribute to fallen NSW Police Force Officers, but those from all Australian states as well as New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Samoa and the Solomon Islands.

Remembrance Day is also a time to remember both sworn and unsworn members of the NSW Police Force who lost
their lives through illness, accident or other circumstances in the previous 12 months.

Parkes Service Clubs Promote Peace

August 30, 2018 By Maggi Barnard

Some traditions have a lot of value as the Rotary Club of Parkes recently discovered. The club reinstated an event that was previously held annually by hosting a combined service clubs dinner. Parkes Action Club and the Quota Club of Parkes combined with Rotary to organise the dinner and host former Australian politician Kay Hull.

Kay was the first female NSW National to be elected to Federal Parliament and the first female Chief Nationals Whip.
In her address Kay spoke about peace, the value of the young people to our communities, reconciliation with Australia’s First Peoples, and ‘the good old days’ that were perhaps not as good as we’d like to remember them.

“Communal harmony is the tool in the process of peace. When we embrace the formula of caring, sharing and acceptance then we have a greater chance of living a peaceful and fulfilling life with fewer concerns for our health and well-being,” said Kay.

While we are subjected to doom and gloom on a daily basis, Kay said we needed to stop and take stock of the fact 95% of our society were good living and giving community members. “Australia is the most giving nation in the world. Every day groups of individuals band together and rise up to support others. We are a truly amazing country.”

Quota will organise a combined service clubs dinner in 2019, followed by the Action Club in 2020.

Specialist Services For Country Families

August 30, 2018 By Maggi Barnard

Royal Far West announced it will scale up services to support country children with disability. The children’s health charity was successful with a $1.339 million from the NSW Department of Industry’s Disability Sector Scale Up grants.

“This is great news for country families who have struggled to access local services through their NDIS package,” said Royal Far West CEO Lindsay Cane. “Our disability programs will support children aged 2-12 years with autism, intellectual and psychosocial disability concerns, for example”.

Services are scarce in rural and remote communities with long waiting lists for paediatricians, allied health and mental health professionals. “This grant will allow country families to get the help they need by implementing
new service delivery models to bring specialist disability services to the bush, to homes and schools.

“We will introduce new immersion programs in rural and remote areas and bring Royal Far West’s Speech and occupational therapists, psychologists and special education staff to communities to deliver therapy services where they are most needed.

“And we will also be able to offer intensive programs for families in need at our Manly headquarters. Country families now won’t have to go without service,” said the CEO.

Snippets…

August 30, 2018 By Maggi Barnard

Local benefits: have started to flow in the Inland Rail project. Last week the ARTC purchased five new Toyota Hilux vehicles from the local dealership in Parkes. In the photo are Kurt Davies, Sales Manager of Parkes Toyota
with Nelson Wallis, Stakeholder Engagement Lead – Inland Rail – NSW (middle) and Buffy Mair, Stakeholder Engagement Advisor Inland Rail – NSW.

Inland Rail Sessions: Community members can learn more about Inland Rail activities and opportunities at consultation sessions to be held in Parkes and Peak Hill soon. The sessions will cover the Parkes to Narromine and Narromine to Narrabri sections of the project, and will provide opportunities to hear directly from project representatives, to ask the experts questions and offer feedback, and to hear about the local benefits of the project. The Parkes drop-in session is on Tuesday, 11th September from 5 to 7:30pm at 290 Clarinda Street, and in Peak Hill it is on Wednesday, 12th September from 5 to 7:30pm at the Peak Hill Ex-Services and Citizens Club.

Parkes Relay For Life: Early bird entries are open for the Parkes & Districts Relay For Life (Parkes Relay) until 2nd September for the two-day event from 27th to 28th October at Pioneer Oval. Early bird registration will cost $15 per team member and includes a Relay For Life shirt and breakfast. The relay is open to all ages. The aim is to try to keep one team member walking or running at all times. There will also be live music, delicious food, games and activities for all ages, and a night under the stars. In Parkes just over $170,000 has been raised from the three previous events. To register, visit relayforlife.org.au/parkes or call 6392 0800. Use code word “parkesearlybird”
to receive 25% off your registration (ends midnight 2nd September).

Be REaDiculous! PAINT Parkes REaD is on Friday, 14th September from 9:30am at Cooke Park. This popular and annual community project encourages families to read, talk, sing and rhyme to their babies from birth. It is a morning filled with action packed fun including dancing and singing in the main street, performances by community
members, reading in stores, games and much more! Don’t forget to dress to the REaDiculous theme, and keep your eyes open for REaDiculous things around town.

Farm Household Allowance: Legislation was recently passed to amend the Farm Household Allowance (FHA) to help farmers in drought. The changes will deliver the $12,000 FHA supplement from 1st September for couples and $7,200 for singles. This brings the total payment for a couple to around $37,000 and to around $22,000 for a single. Contact the Rural Financial Counselling Service (RFCS) on 1800 686 175 or the Department of Human Services
Farmer Assistance Hotline on 13 23 16 for free advice.

Peak Hill Silos Turns 100!

August 30, 2018 By Maggi Barnard

In 1918 the very first upright bulk wheat silo was built in Peak Hill, and today the community will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the silos. What was a single 50,000 concrete bushel bin, is now a 35,000 tonne storage complex.

“Peak Hill’s central location within the state’s wheat belt made it the ideal site for the silo,” said Councillor Louise O’Leary. “Agricultural production is one of the largest contributors to our local economy, with cereal crops accounting for 51.3% of the Parkes Shire’s total agricultural output in value terms.

“Furthermore, Peak Hill’s positive lifestyle is underpinned by the agricultural sector, so it’s important that we celebrate the success of Peak Hill Silos over the past 100 years.”

Built by John Howie and Sons in 1918, it was two years before the silo was filled as the region had very dry conditions in 1918 and 1919. The silo filled for the first time in 1920 with a bumper year.

Since that time the complex has grown significantly to include a six-bin Metcalf, a weighbridge, additional storage sheds and bunkers. The complex is now owned and operated by GrainCorp.

The community are invited to attend a commemorative ceremony today (Friday) at 10am at the GrainCorp Silos.

Mayoral Notes…

August 30, 2018 By Maggi Barnard

Parkes Shire residents and affected business operators are invited to attend the Parkes Shire Drought Forum on Tuesday, 11th September at the Parkes Services Club commencing at 5:30pm. Council is hosting the forum to gain input from the community on how the Federal Government’s allocation of $1 million of drought funding can be applied for best effect across the Parkes Shire, in line with the guidelines. The forum is also an opportunity to communicate what other relief programs and support that are currently on offer for our farming and business community. Register your attendance for the forum via www.parkes.nsw.gov.au

Today we mark the 100th anniversary of the Peak Hill silos. Built by John Howie and Sons in 1918, the original single 50,000 concrete bushel bin was the first public wheat silo in Australia. The complex has grown significantly to include a six-bin Metcalf, a weighbridge, additional storage sheds and bunkers – now owned and operated by GrainCorp.

Congratulations to Parkes Jockey Club, and all involved in the restoration and rejuvenation of the historic grand stand at the Parkes racecourse. The grandstand was officially opened and named ‘Pritchard Pavilion’ at a ceremony held last Friday evening.

Congratulations is also extended to the Parkes Show Committee on delivering another successful annual show this week. Locals and visitors are encouraged to head out to Trundle this weekend for the annual Bush Tucker Day. Now in it’s 32nd year, the event is expected to attract over 2,000 to town with all profits from the event going back into the local community. Visitors can expect bush games, sheep shearing, cooking demonstrations, taste testing, free kids activities, market stalls and live music throughout the day – with headline act Richard Clapton taking to the stage at 6:30pm. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.trundlebushtuckerday.com

Have a safe and enjoyable weekend
Cr Ken Keith OAM
Mayor of Parkes Shire

Community Spirit Wins ‘Best In Show’

August 30, 2018 By Maggi Barnard

The spectacular fireworks display of the Parkes Show on Tuesday was symbolic of how our community can still shine despite the severe drought gripping the region. Speakers at the official opening of the 138th Parkes Show all agreed that without the support of the community, this annual highlight on the town’s calendar would not be possible.

“The community spirit and support for the Parkes Show remains strong,” said Forbes Showgirl Grace Allen, who placed third in the State-wide Sydney Royal Showgirl competition as she officially opened the show. Show President Peter Unger thanked the more than 200 people involved in staging the show, as well as all the exhibitors. “We would not have a show without all the entries.”

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