Central West Lachlan Landcare (CWLL) won the Environmental Partnership of the Year Award at the glittering 35th awards gala of Skillset held in Bathurst recently. CWLL has hosted three very successful Green Army Projects over the past 18 months in partnership with Skillset. CWLL Co-ordinator Marg Applebee said they were thrilled to be recognised with this award.

The two organisations are now working on potential projects and further work together to bring mutual benefits to young people and the community. The last Green Army project finished in October.

Parents and supervisors of local learner drivers are encouraged to attend a free workshop at Parkes Christian School on Wednesday, 6th December at 6pm. The two-hour workshop, Helping Learner Drivers Become Safer Drivers, will offer parents and supervisors hands-on advice on how to provide the most effective driving practice for learner drivers.

Parkes Shire Council’s Road Safety and Injury Prevention Officer, Melanie Suitor, who is presenting the workshop said: “Parents and supervisors have a crucial role to play in making our roads safer.”

“The workshop covers the changes to the licencing system that has come into effect on 20th November, how to use the Learner Driver Logbook including the use of digital logbooks, licence conditions for learner and P-plate drivers, the benefits of on-road driving sessions, tips on supervising a learner driver and more.”

Melanie said parents and supervisors who had attended the workshop in the past found that it boosted their confidence, helped them better plan driving sessions and allowed them to share their experiences with other parents and supervisors.

Bookings are essential and can be made by calling Melanie on 6861 2364. Light refreshments will be available during the workshop.

Still not on a corner after their fourth move, but happy to remain in the heart of the central business area of Parkes, the Craft Corner officially opened their new premises at 257 Clarinda Street last Thursday. “The shop looks fantastic,” said Councillor Bill Jayet at the opening. “The Craft Corner committee is so resilient. They never despair,
and always look for a solution.” President Rosemary Mitchell said they were happy to be able to fit everything having
moved to a smaller premises. They managed to complete the move over a weekend with many helping hands.

With the range and variety of local items and goods on offer in the shop highlighting the creative talents of Parkes, Bill said his dream was to establish a facility where all the creative groups of the town were housed under one roof including the Craft Corner, the potters, painters and everyone else.

“The Craft Corner not only attracts a lot of visitors to our town, but also generates a lot of social capital through the engagement of the community,” said Bill.

With almost 100 members, the Craft Corner offers a delightful range of local goods from local produce, artworks and sculptures, hand-made household items, clothing and accessories. Pop in for your Christmas shopping – you won’t be disappointed.

By Maggi Barnard

Today is the start of the festive season, and Peak Hill is pulling out all stops to start it off with a bang with its annual Meet You Up The Street Festival. The streets will come alive with music, street stalls, raffles and loads more. You
can have an early start at 8:30am to see the Nativity Scene at the Commercial Gardens and from 9am onwards the street stalls and shop specials will provide you with a day of easy browsing and shopping.

Look out for the Red Cross stall with home cooking to support this worthy cause. There is also Live Art in the street from 9am with Maria Harrison, which will be judged at 4:30pm. The entertainment continues at 10:30am with Sing Australia, and at 11am the first round of the mighty Chocolate Wheel will commence, while the second round will be at 2pm. From 12 noon it’s time for lunch up the street of course.

At 1pm the Commercial Gardens will be the place to be for fun, including a mechanical bull ride, bungee run, gladiator and sumo, and a jumping castle.

Santa has promised to drop in and will be happy to pose for photos from 2:20 to 3:30pm at the Temple Lion Antiques & Patisserie. Speaking of Santa – children remember to post your letters to Santa at the letterbox near the post office.

Come up in your favourite outfit for the children’s dress up near the Library at 4pm, while from 5pm it is time again for dinner! There will be Twilight Busking between 6pm and 8pm with great money prizes up for grabs. Any act is welcome, contact Pat on 0429 000 050 to participate. There is also judging of the Christmas decorations with prizes for Best Town and Best Country Letterboxes, Best Decorated House, Best Decorated Shop and Best Shop Window.

Drop In At Mackenzies
Festivities tend to activate your appetite. If you are looking for a unique dining experience in Peak Hill, look no further than Mackenzies Kitchen.

You will find hot dogs with sour kraut and mustard, gourmet beef burgers, roo and lamb on turkish bread, and exclusively roasted coffee beans from Central West NSW. Mackenzies is also the only shop in town with fresh, hand battered fish.

Don’t walk past the green building with old-fashioned music pouring from its windows.

With possible rain forecast for today, all the Christmas events were still going ahead at the time of going to print.
The Peak Hill Meet You Up the Street Festival will go ahead regardless of weather as all stalls are under the awning and the children’s events and activities are in Southern Cross Hall. For events in Parkes, keep an eye on the Parkes Shire Council Facebook page for up-to-date posts on possible cancellations.

The Christmas Street Parade organisers will assess the weather at midday today to determine if the parade is going ahead. Alternate dates will be determined in case of the cancellation of the parade and Christmas Markets.

Shoulder impingement during swimming is largely due to dynamic muscle imbalances and biomechanical faults.
Dynamic muscle imbalances can be addressed by strengthening exercises for the rotator cuff and scapular stabilisers together with stretches for the muscles at the back of the shoulder. One good exercise is to stand facing a wall with your arm raised to shoulder height and elbow straight. Hold a tennis ball to the wall by leaning through your shoulder and pinch your shoulder blades together. Roll the ball in small circles for 15 seconds first clockwise then counter clockwise until you become fatigued or for two minutes.

Biomechanical faults can be addressed by correcting your swim technique. Achieving good symmetrical body rotation through an efficient bilateral breathing pattern helps to avoid shoulder impingement during the catch and pull through phase of the freestyle stroke.

Instead of entering thumb first change your technique to enter with a flat hand or fingertip first. This is made easier by avoiding reaching across your midline. A thumb first entry works the shoulder internal rotators excessively and when multiplied by approximately 3,200 strokes per hour contributes heavily to the muscle imbalance of strong internal rotators and weak external rotators causing shoulder impingement.

Most swimmers pull through with a straight arm or dropped elbow. This loads the shoulder muscles excessively rather than utilising the larger and stronger muscles of the chest and upper back.

Making these simple changes can help you achieve many hours of pain free swimming.

For the fitness of you.
Linda Reilly