With the new school year starting for thousands of students next week the Parkes Shire Council is reminding drivers and parents about children’s safety around schools. The Councils’ Road Safety and Injury Prevention Officer, Melanie Suitor said road crashes accounted for over half of all accidental deaths among children aged 5 – 14 years old.

“Children are vulnerable road users, and drivers need to pay extra attention and be patient with schools reopening.” “It is important that drivers slow down to 40km/h in school zones so they are in a better position to react to the unpredictable behaviour of children as well as the busy traffic environment.”

Melanie reminds drivers that when the orange (wig wag) lights on the back of a bus are flashing, you must slow down to 40km/h, as students are either getting on or off the school bus. Police will be targeting school zones to ensure drivers obey the 40km/h speed limit around all schools in NSW between 8 – 9.30am and 2.30 – 4pm on school days.
Other points to remember:
• Always make sure your children wear a seatbelt or use a child restraint.
• Always drop-off and pick-up your children on the school side of the road.
• Make sure children use the footpath-side door when getting in and out.
• Never call your children across the road to you.
• Use a pedestrian crossing where possible and avoid being distracted by friends, mobile phones or listening to music through headphones whilst walking.
• Children up to 10 years old should always be supervised when near traffic.
• Children up to eight years old should always hold an adult’s hand when crossing the road or walking near traffic.

The nominees for the 2018 Parkes Shire Australia Day Awards have been named ahead of the community celebrations tomorrow. The annual awards celebrate and acknowledge community, sporting and cultural contributions at a local level. Parkes Shire Mayor, Cr Ken Keith OAM said: “Each year we have the opportunity
to publically recognise the tremendous achievements and contributions of eminent members of our community.”

“These people are what make the Parkes Shire a wonderful place to live, work and visit.” Each nominee will be presented with a certificate with the recipient of each category awarded the honour by our 2018 Australia Day Ambassador. The nominees are:

PARKES
• Citizen of the Year: Barry Read, David Brock, Laurie Ashcroft, Roseanne Jones, Warwick Tom, Leanne Mathews
• Young Citizen of the Year: Gracey Denham Jones, Brenton Hawken, Yasmin Potts, Maddison Spence
• Community Event of the Year: Peak Hill Early Literacy, Paint Parkes Read, Rotary Fun Run, Rotary Peace Park Dedication, Parkes Open Houses, Show ‘n’ Shine Charity Day
• Marie Bashir Academic Award: Janie Green
• Cultural Award – Adult: Carmen Sharah, Scott “Sauce” Towney
• Cultural Award – Student: Gordon Richter, Gracey Denham Jones
• Cultural Award – Group: Parkes Action Club, St Elmo Shearing Shed Art Show – “Ducks on the Pond”, Sean James Cassidy, Scott “Sauce” Towney, Scott Turnbull – Sculpture in the Rotary Arboretum, Parkes Antique Motor Club, Ub Ubbo Exchange

PEAK HILL: Dean Colmer, James Jelbart, John van der Reyden, Bill Sanders, Peak Hill Golf Club, Chloe Gould, Brad Hart, Tom Symons, Ellie Parker, James Robinson

TRUNDLE: Les Whiley, Stella Farmer, Peter Kelly, Trundle Day Care – Sue Morrison, Julie Jones, Karen Quade and Suellen Taylor

TULLAMORE: Kevin Boneham, Troy Carey, Marie Darcy, Robert Mortimer, Sherryn Perks, Leanne Porter, Tallis Stevenson, Emma Williams.

Australian art educator and exhibition curator, Ann Snell is the Parkes Shire Australia Day Ambassador for 2018.
“We look forward to hearing Ann’s story, which illustrates the many opportunities Australia has to offer,” said Parkes Shire Mayor, Cr Ken Keith OAM.

Australia Day Ambassadors are people who provide inspiration and pride to the day’s events. Ann Snell, who first became an Ambassador in 2009, is the Managing Director of the Ann Snell Gallery in Surry Hills, as well as an art educator and advocate for cross cultural art collaborations.

“A primary motivation for working with Aboriginal Art is giving my clients access to Aboriginal philosophy and culture via beautiful paintings. Art is a great vehicle for healing and learning,” Ann said.

Celebrate the long weekend at the race track with the Parkes Jockey Club’s ‘Let’s Celebrate Australia Day’ meeting on Saturday. It is a full TAB meeting, seven race programme with the first race starting at 1.30pm.

As part of the club’s sponsorship with the Parkes Services Club, a courtesy bus is available to all members of the public, whether you are a member or not. The bus will be running from the Parkes Services Club from 12.30pm to 2pm, as well as going back to town after the last race.

There will be free entry for card carrying Services Club members as well as a raffle. The first prize will be a signed limited edition framed picture of champion race horse Winks.

A new feature will be a XXXX gold promotion with some sunhats and stubby holders to give away when purchasing XXXX products. D’Aquino’s Super Cellars is sponsoring the best Australian day themed bloke and sheila with some lovely gift baskets.

The usual amenities will be available: full bar, RFS barbeque luncheon, oncourse bookmaking and TAB facilities.

Minister for Racing Paul Toole and Parliamentary Secretary for Western NSW Rick Colless were in Parkes last week with good news for more than 1,000 registered sports players. They announced funding of $218,750 to upgrade lighting at Spicer and Woodward ovals in Parkes and Lindner Oval in Peak Hill providing a great boost for rugby league, rugby union, cricket, little athletics and soccer clubs. The grant is funded through a rebate on the state’s registered clubs’ gaming machines to reinvest profits back into community projects. Attending the handover were Deputy Mayor Barbara Newton and representatives and players of the different clubs.

Let’s Walk All The Way To Brisbane

Hello Phoenix Readers,
This January and February marks the start of our Year of Health. This is the time we all start making our resolutions for the year ahead and I bet most of them involve making better health choices. I know mine does! So, now is the time to kick it into gear and get your health sorted, and why not make your first stop, Parkes Pharmacy.

We have three pharmacists throughout the week ready and waiting for you to come in and get a quick and painless health check with us. It can be as simple or as extensive as you wish. We can offer blood pressure testing, blood glucose testing, a BMI check or medication review. We can also discuss weight management and quit smoking options and even sign you up to our walking challenge.

This year we hope to walk enough to make it all the way to Brisbane as a community. All you have to do is record your steps each day and hand it in each week until the end of February. Hey, that can even be something you do for your health – walk at least 10,000 steps each day (that’s about 7.5km). We certainly reach that here simply by just helping our customers around the pharmacy.

So, what are you waiting for? I know we’re waiting for you – waiting for you to start your Year of Health with us. The choice is yours, a simple blood pressure test or an extensive health check. Whatever you choose, we’re here to help.

Thanks for reading.
Caitlin Haase, Retail Manager