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Mayoral Notes

May 11, 2017 By Maggi Barnard

I am elated at this week’s federal budget announcement of $8.4 billion towards the devel- opment of the Melbourne to Brisbane Inland Rail project. This significant investment will see the project become the critical backbone of transport and logistics driving our nation’s global competitiveness into the future. I commend the Turnbull government on the announcement. It’s estimated that around 150 new jobs in the agriculture, manufacturing and mining sectors could be created in Parkes, Forbes and Lachlan local government areas.

Congratulations to the Trundle ABBA festi- val for delivering a record-breaking event at the weekend. Around 6,000 eager Dancing Queens and Fernandos packed Trundle’s main street to take part in the festivities, with feature artists Bjorn Again and the sold-out Kransky Sisters topping off a f-ABBA-lous weekend.

This week, Council turned yellow as part of National Road Safety Week 2017. Council’s fleet vehicles displayed a yellow ribbon, the Cooke Park fountain turned yellow and Council staff wore yellow lapel ribbons to raise awareness about the importance of safe driving. The newly upgraded children’s crossing at Holy Family was officially opened yesterday as part of the campaign to deliver improved

safety outcomes for students, teachers, parents and visitors. Residents can get involved online at www.sarahgroup.org.
Enjoy your weekend.

Yours Faithfully, Cr Ken Keith OAM Mayor of Parkes Shire

Plan For A More Inclusive Shire

May 11, 2017 By Maggi Barnard

Parkes Shire Council has committed to creating a more inclusive community, with the first Disability Inclusion Action Plan (DIAP) going on public exhibition until Friday, 2nd June.

The plan, which has been developed in conjunction with the community, sets out practical actions which Council can adopt and apply over its next three terms to support people with a disability.

Parkes Shire Mayor, Councillor Ken Keith said: “The development of a DIAP is the first step towards making our Shire a more accessible and inclusive place to live, work and visit.”

“Council conducted community engage- ment initiatives to gather the ideas and priorities of residents, carers and agency representatives during April. Their feedback formed the basis for the DIAP.”

“The actions will benefit everyone, not just people with disability. Improved access means that older people and parents with prams can access buildings more easily, information is easier to access and visitors to our towns can find their way around with legible signage,” the Mayor added.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, between 25 and 26% of the Central West population identify as having a long-term disability, with over 10% of the community taking on the role of carer.

With the incidence of disability expected to increase substantially in the future, Council need to plan to ensure people of all ages and differing abilities can access the full range of services and activities avail- able.

The DIAP is based on the principles out- lined in the NSW Disability Inclusion Act 2014 and aligns to the four focus areas of the NSW Government’s Disability Action Plan, which include attitudes and behav- iours, liveable communities, systems and processes, and employment.

Check Your Heart During May And June

May 11, 2017 By Maggi Barnard

Your heart is a muscle that pumps blood around your body. It can beat up to 100,000 times a day – that’s up to 3 billion heart- beats during an average lifetime!

Your heart delivers oxygen and the nutri- ents needed for your body to work properly and be healthy. This is why it’s so important to look after your ticker!

There are many conditions of the heart that need to be monitored closely. These include anginas, arrhythmias, coronary heart disease, heart attack, cardiomyopa- thy, rheumatic heart disease and stroke. If you have any of these conditions, please be sure to have regular check-ups with your doctor and do what you can to look after your heart.

Here are a few tips to keep your heart in good shape:

• Be smoke-free

• Manage your blood cholesterol

• Manage your diabetes

• Be physically active

• Achieve and maintain a healthy weight

• Enjoy a variety of nutritious food in your diet

• Look after your mental health

Our professionals at Parkes Pharmacy can help you achieve all of the above. We have a private consultation room to check your blood pressure, discuss your medica- tion and advise on how to make the right lifestyle choices to keep your heart in top shape! Come and see us today

Happy National Volunteer Week

May 11, 2017 By Maggi Barnard

It is with a heart full of gratitude that I thank you for volunteering with The Salvation Army. Your generous contribution of time, skill and commitment makes a real difference. The Salvation Army and the wider Australian community is a better place due to your collective volunteering impact.

I continue to be amazed that over 30,000 volunteers across Australia contribute to the mission of The Salvation Army. This number swells to over 100,000 during Red Shield Appeal!

Together we seek to bring practical care, dignity and hope to those who need it most. We commit ourselves in prayer and prac- tice to this land of Australia and its people, seeking reconciliation, unity and equity. As a Christian movement we share the love of Jesus by caring for people, creating faith pathways, building healthy communities and working for justice together.

Whilst National Volunteer Week gives us a specific opportunity to say “thank you”, please know that we extend genuine and continuous gratitude to our Army of Volunteers who serve with us throughout the year.

Thank you for being a part of The Salvation Army. Yours sincerely,

Floyd j. Tidd
Commissioner National Commander

$8.4 Billion For Inland Rail

May 11, 2017 By Maggi Barnard

Parkes Shire Mayor and Member for Orange both welcomed the Federal Government’s budget announcement of $8.4 billion for the development of the Inland Rail link.

In delivering his budget speech on Tuesday, Federal Treasurer Scott Morrison said: “In one of the biggest investments ever seen in regional Australia, the government will fund the Melbourne to Brisbane Inland Rail project with $8.4 billion in equity to be provided to the Australian Rail Track Corpo- ration. Construction on this 1,700 km project will begin in 2017- 18 and will support 16,000 jobs at the peak of construction. It will benefit not just Melbourne and Brisbane, but all the regions along its route.”

Mayor Ken Keith said he was ecstatic about the announcement. “This combined with the nearly billion dollars already an- nounced means that the momentum for the project will be built. It will also give industry confidence in investing infrastructure to compliment the Inland Rail”.

Orange MP Phil Donato said: “This funding commitment will provide a significant boost to our electorate, delivering many economic benefits.The ability to move produce quickly and cost-effectively is also vitally important in an agricultural area such as the Orange electorate.”

New Privacy Law

May 11, 2017 By Maggi Barnard

New privacy laws are set to come into force in the near future after the Federal Parlia- ment passed amendments to the Privacy Act.

These new laws will require the manda- tory reporting of certain data breaches for Australian Government agencies, busi- nesses and organisations which have an annual turnover of more than $3 million, health service providers, credit reporting agencies and any organisations holding personal tax file numbers.

A data breach would include such things as unauthorised access to or disclosure of information or where information is lost and a reasonable person would conclude that access or disclosure would be likely to result in serious harm to an individual to whom the information relates.

Penalties for such breach are $360,000 for individuals and $1.8 million for corpo- rations where there is a failure to notify of the breach to the individual or individuals concerned.

So those that retain data (or information) about individuals need to consider a review of employee’s access to information, the quality of your cyber security measures and the adequacy of privacy training to staff.

If we can assist in this or any other legal problem please contact Matthews Williams Solicitors.

Children Are Curious And Want To Engage In Science

May 4, 2017 By Maggi Barnard

A passionate science teacher has given new meaning to the saying It takes a village to raise a child by turning his school into a natural history museum with the help of the community.

Gary Tilley’s work has been recognised nationally and internationally and last year he became the first public educator from NSW to win the prestigious Prime Minister’s Science Award for Teaching Excellence in Primary Schools.

“In over 30 years of teaching, I’ve never seen a primary school student who isn’t curious and doesn’t want to be engaged in science. Once they’re switched onto science, it helps their literacy and numeracy skills, and their investigative skills. Science is the key to the whole thing.” says Gary.

Gary was in Parkes last weekend to present at an annual CSIRO-supported teacher’s course run at the Parkes Radio Telescope for about 20 teachers from all over the country. He talked about what he had done at his school in primary science education.

“Communicating science, getting children inspired with science, engaging the community and scientists themselves with science to make it a better place for the kids—that’s my passion.” Gary says.

And it all started with one bare wall. As a specialist science teacher, Gary’s Principal, gave him the opportunity to intro- duce a new curriculum for science about ten years ago. He enlisted the help of an artistic colleague Tarni Williams to start a Science as Art project.

According to Gary all you need to do is enlist the help of the community. “Teachers do not realise the power they have as everyone wants to see kids in science.”

Every Monday after school students and parents helped to turn the school walls into artistic science displays. “We started off with a couple of canvasses of dinosaurs, and it has since grown exponentially.”

Today the school walls are covered with murals of space images, cretaceous marine reptiles, and dinosaurs, as well as scaled-up models of stars and planets that the children and their families have built.

According to Gary it was all done on a miniscule budget. “The secret is to build contacts, create networks and make use of your local community, whether it is artists, dancers, trades people or anyone who can make a contribution.”

More advice he offered science teachers was to make the subject more exciting and interesting is to look at what is happen- ing in the world. “Share science news with students, take part in the Australian bird count or do citizen science projects.” He said simple activities such as measuring the temperature in different spots at school over a period of time and representing the data in graphs, could already make such a difference in how students look at science.

One of Gary’s many missions is to mentor the next generation of science and maths teachers to improve the way these subjects are taught in the classroom. He hopes to return to Parkes later this year and meet with local teachers to share his passion and inspiration.

(Go to YouTube to see a video of the Seaforth Public School science walls.)

Fun, Free & Funky Ideas To Celebrate Mum

May 4, 2017 By Maggi Barnard

Every Mum is different but special in her own way, and they all deserve to be spoiled and celebrated on Mother’s Day! Here are some fun, free or funky ideas that will help you honour and thank your Mum for her un- conditional love and support.

1. Ask for her to-do list, and take some- thing big off
Mum has things that she really wants done and keeps putting off. Take a weight off her shoulders and just do it.

2. Find an old friend of your mum’s and reconnect them
Help her find long-lost friends through Google, social networks or other services.

3. Host a gathering at your house

Host a brunch, lunch or dinner celebration in honour of Mum.

4. Go through old albums

Reminiscing for a few hours will bring back people we love, laugh out loud moments and even bring new insight into your cur- rent life.

5. Make her a new album

In an age of Facebook and Instagram, printed photos have become special. Make a personalised photo book that Mum will love looking through over and over again.

6. Get her your favourite book

Think of a book you love or one that has made an impact in your life. Write Mum a short note inside the book telling her why you think she’ll love this book too.

7. Give her a clean house

Whether you do it yourself, bribe her grandkids to do it, or get a professional cleaning service.

8. Have a movie marathon

Get a stack of chick flick classics, add popcorn, wine, blankets and a cozy couch for a girls night in.

9. Write her a letter

There’s nothing like a handwritten letter. Acknowledge your Mum for who she is and the contribution she has made in your life.

10. Make her a video

A video greeting for Mums who aren’t nearby, makes her feel like you are right there with her.

11. Learn a craft together

Knitting, scrapbooking, jewellery making, find out what Mum would want to learn. You might find a new hobby you can con- tinue together for years to come.

12. Make her something yourself

There are a tonne of DIY ideas on Pinter- est with instructions.

13. Give the gift of time

If you want to help younger Mums cele- brate Mother’s Day, they all want the gift of a little bit of relaxation, and a little time for themselves.

14. Give a gift that arrives more than once
A subscription keeps on giving! Whether it’s a magazine, a fresh food box, a wine club, whatever tickles Mum’s fancy – she’ll think of you every time her surprise comes in the mail.

Heritage Homes Are Talk Of The Town

May 4, 2017 By Maggi Barnard

More than 400 people took advantage of a glorious autumn day to step back in time visiting the six heritage homes that opened to the public on Sunday.

A mood of admiration and appreciation prevailed as residents and visitors from across the state as far as Sydney admired lovingly restored and cared for homes and gardens. “It is just so beautiful,” was a remark heard over and over again.

Parkes Shire heritage advisory committee chair, Councillor Alan Ward said it was a tremendous turnout for the inaugural year of the Sunrise to Sunset – Parkes Heritage Homes open day.

“It was a wonderful start and has created a lot of interest in the history of our build- ings.” said one of the home owners, Ann Olson. “I think it is the start of something really big. I like it that we still have people living in our heritage buildings and they have not all been turned into museums.”

Ann also hoped the involvement of the National Trust would result in some benefit to the community even if it was just to give owners advice on the restoration of and additions to old buildings.

Alan thanked the home owners for allow- ing people to explore inside their homes. “It was scary to open your home to the public,” said Ann. “But it is a way of sharing the way we live with others, and that was part of the message of the day.”

Ten lucky guests won a chauffeured tour with the Parkes Antique Motor Club transporting them between each of the homes in style.

“It is a wonderful experience.” said Lynne Hawley, regional director of Quota International who came from Condobolin for the day to be chauffeured by Bob Steel in his 1926 MG.

By Maggi Barnard

Local Legend Races Into Motorsport Hall Of Fame

May 4, 2017 By Maggi Barnard

Not many people would expect to win an award more than 20 years after competing in their last race, so it’s understandable that John Pizarro’s most recent accolades took him by surprise.

In March this year John was inducted to the Australian Motorsport Hall of Fame, a prestigious honour shared by other motor- sport greats, such as three-time Formula 1 world champion Sir Jack Brabham and five-time MotoGP champion, Mick Doohan.

John admitted that he was completely stunned when the Confederation of Aus- tralian Motorsports asked if he would be prepared to accept the award. “It was quite a surprise.” He said, “It was the last thing on my mind.”

The Parkes Rotarian was among 21 new inductees who were celebrated at a gala function in Melbourne.

Motorsports enthusiasts would know his recognition is well-deserved. John is one of the most recognisable names in Australian karting and is considered to be royalty in the scene.

He earned an impressive record of titles throughout his 30-year career including 15 Australian karting championships. He won races all around the world, competed in five world championships, and won the CIK Asia-Pacific championship.

His contribution to the sport is so well regarded that there is a trophy named after him. The perpetual John Pizarro Trophy is awarded to the champion of the Pro Gear- box class, recognising the highest per- forming karts.

While many consider karting to be a gate- way motorsport, John proves that it’s pos- sible to forge a highly-regarded career on the karting track. He credits his loyalty to the sport as a combination of pragmatism and competitiveness.

“Other motorsports are expensive, and I didn’t have the money for the winning equipment. I liked winning, and I could win in karting.” he said.

He started racing at just 18 years of age after being introduced to the sport by his brother-in-law. “We purchased an old kart with an even worse engine, and broke the con rod on the first race.”

While his brother-in-law was deterred by the experience, John found the challenge enticing. He purchased a bare chassis and embarked on a kart engineering odyssey that took him to the top. “I moved on to a Victor mower engine, and then a McCull- och engine, then proceeded onto an Italian rotary engine.”

It’s no surprise that he managed to strike a winning formula. “When you’re good at something, you work hard, and the harder you work, the luckier you get.” he said.

During his karting career John raced every other weekend, and worked his day- jobs in between; a commitment made more challenging because he had to travel to train on a kart track.

“I worked very hard.” he said. “My phi- losophy is when it’s good, make it better, and when it’s better, make it the best.”

It’s a work ethic that he has taken with him long after his retirement from the racetrack. John owns the 4.5 star Astro Dish Motel, which he built from scratch.

By Raen Fraser

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