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Majority Of Drivers Law Abiding

May 4, 2017 By Maggi Barnard

The majority of drivers in the Parkes, Forbes and Lachlan Shire area are law abiding when it comes to wearing seatbelts and using mobile phones.

The latest observations results indicate a combined 99.1% seatbelt wearing rate and a 0.8% mobile phone usage rate.

The surveys are conducted bi-annually. Councils’ Road Safety and Injury Preven- tion Officer, Melanie Suitor, said survey staff conducted observations for an hour in the morning and an hour in the afternoon.

According to Melanie the seatbelt wearing rate is higher than the state average of 98%. The best location was the Parkes Highway recording 100% compliance in the afternoon. The worst location was the Forbes Urban location with a 96% wearing rate in the afternoon with 14 people observed un-restrained.

Although it has been compulsory to wear seatbelts in NSW since 1971, each year more than 30 people are killed and 270 in- jured who were not wearing seatbelts.

“While our seatbelt wearing rate is better than the state average, it is disappointing to report that 59 people were observed not wearing a seatbelt.” Melanie said.

The combined mobile phone usage rate was 0.8%, with three survey locations re- cording 0%: Condobolin Highway, Parkes Urban and Parkes Highway. Forbes Urban was the worst location with a 4.2% usage rate as 13 people used a phone whilst driving.

Parkes Remembers

April 27, 2017 By Maggi Barnard

There was no rain on the parade as hun- dreds of Parkes residents turned out for the Anzac Day March on Tuesday. The Parkes Shire Concert Band led the procession. Ex- servicemen and women fell in behind, and a contingent of relatives, school students and community groups bolstered the parade in a show of support for the service men and women who have served our country.

Many braved the threat of rain to stay for the official civic commemoration service and wreath laying at the Cooke Park Cenotaph. Guest speaker Captain Anthony Klenthis of the Royal Australian Navy reminded the au- dience that Anzac Day honours the sacrifice of Australians in all wars. “This morning the last post sounds for them all,” he said.

Local youths gave rousing Anzac address- es. Libby Pepper, a Year 7 student from Parkes Christian School, extolled Flight Ser- geant Middleton’s legacy. Her speech highlighted the bravery and sacrifice that earned him the Victoria Cross, and emphasised the values that young Australians should take from such deeds.

“Standing together in the good times and the difficult times was a part of life for our service men and women, may we learn from them and make it an integral part of our lives also,” she said.

Parkes High School Captains Yasmin Potts’ and Ross Collins’ combined speech examined the Gallipoli campaign. They gave an emotive imagining of a young soldier’s perspective, noting that they were the same age as many of the soldiers who landed on those distant shores.

They spoke of the incomprehensible toll of war, and of the lessons learnt from the Anzacs.

“We feel the loss of war deep in our hearts and spend late nights wondering about what could’ve been with their lives, the potential they withheld,” Ross said.

“Stories of strength, determination, intel- ligence, compassion and Australian mate- ship still echo our walls today,” Yasmin said. “As the youth of today, we will strive to uphold the Anzac spirit.”

By Raen Fraser

Snippets…

April 27, 2017 By Maggi Barnard

Sunshine Clubs: The Parkes and District Historical Society is celebrating Heritage Week this year celebrating 80 years of 2PK and 2PK/ROK FM. As part of the topic Speaking Voices, the successful 2PK Sunshine Clubs will be included, which formed part of the radio station and raised so much money for the Royal Far West Health Scheme. The Historical Society would like to make contact with the Sun- shine Clubs at Forbes and Trundle. Please call Yvonne Hutton on 0418674 261.

Debutante Ball: The theme of the Anglican Debutante Ball on Friday, 5th May is Glitz and Glamor to be held at the Robert Wilson Auditorium of the Parkes League’s Club. The 20 Debutantes and their part- ners invite the community to St. George’s Anglican Church at 15 Church Street, for the viewing at 6pm. The Debutantes will support the Starlight Foundation this year. Gold coin donation entry to the viewing will assist this charity.

From the church they will be driven to the League’s Club in vintage cars provided by the Parkes Antique Motor Club. The debutantes will make their time-honoured and traditional entrance into society at the ball. The debutantes and their partners will be presented to Reverend Ron Spindler, Anglican Rector of St. George’s Parkes. The Matron for the ball is Norma Garment, while the duties of flower girls will be carried out by Lilly Phillips and Daisy Rice

Step Inside Six Heritage Homes On Sunday

April 27, 2017 By Maggi Barnard

Parkes residents and visitors will have a rare opportunity to enter some of the Parkes region’s most majestic heritage homes as part of the 2017 Australian Heritage Festival.

The Sunrise to Sunset – Parkes Heritage Houses open day will see the doors of six grand homes open on Sunday for people to discover the beauty and hear the stories of these stately properties.

Parkes Shire Heritage Advisory Committee Chair, Cr Alan Ward said: “This is a rare opportunity for locals and visitors to ignite their curiosity and gain some inspiration by taking a wander through some of the town’s most spectacular heritage homes.

“Participants will gain insight into Parkes’ history with a program providing facts about the properties, including the era of construction and special features within each of the homes.”

Volunteers from the Lachlan branch of the National Trust and Parkes Quota will be at each of the homes to greet visitors and guide them through the three Sunrise Houses in the morning and three Sunset Houses in the afternoon.

If you would like to make it a full day out, morning tea and lunch will be available at the Parkes Visitor Information Centre provided by Quota.

For the ultimate experience, a gold ticket will grant participants access to all six homes, morning tea and lunch at the Parkes Visitor Information Centre. Ten lucky gold ticket holders will be chauffeured to the open houses in an antique car, courtesy of the Parkes Antique Motor Club.

Contact the Parkes Visitor Information Centre on 6862 6000 or www.visitparkes. com.au. Buy tickets via Eventbrite.

PCYC News

April 27, 2017 By Maggi Barnard

Safer Drivers Course For Learner Drivers

The Parkes PCYC will present a Safer Drivers Course on Monday, 22 May. The course has two modules:

Module one is a three-hour facilitated group discussion on how to manage risks on the road. This will involve a maximum of 12 participants and will be delivered by a facilitator.

Module two is a two-hour, in-vehicle coaching session to develop low-risk driv- ing strategies. This will involve two participants and a coach.

The course cost is $140. Participants must have completed 50 hours of actual on-road driving experience to be eligible for the course. Credits gained under the 3-for-1 scheme cannot be included.

Learner drivers who complete the course will receive 20 hours off their log book.

All participants must:

• hold a valid NSW learner licence
• be under 25 years of age
• havecompleted50logbookhours(ofactual on-road experience)

Contact Parkes PCYC on 6862 3825 for more information or to book a place.

War Correspondent Commemorated On Stamp

April 27, 2017 By Maggi Barnard

Australia Post has issued a new World War I commemorative stamp issue honouring war correspondent Charles Edwin Woodrow Bean.

Australia Post Philatelic Manager Michael Zsolt said: “This year’s issue is the fourth in a five-year program commemorating the centenary of WWI. Correspondent Charles Bean was a key non-combat figure, who recorded Australia’s part in the war and initiated our national military heritage collection. We hope his place in this stamp issue reminds all Australians of his significant legacy.”

The photograph in the stamp design was taken by Herbert Baldwin on 26th February 1917. It shows Bean as the keen observer he was, watching the Australian advance through a telescope near Martinpuich, France.

Bean won the Australian Associated Press ballot in 1914 to become Australia’s official war correspondent. He departed for the war in November of that year with the first contingent of the AIF, which disembarked in Egypt. The war would come to dominate his career and life: as well as writing dispatches from the front, he wrote the multi-volume official history of Australia’s part in WWI, commenced the Australia’s WWI collection, and conceived of the Australian War Memo- rial as a place to house our national military heritage.

The stamps also represent four other thematic strands: the Australian Flying Corps, which entered the skies above the Western Front in late 1917; the Third Battle of Ypres, which cost so many Australian lives; the Sinai–Palestine campaign, which waged in the East; and the crucial home-front support for the troops by an army of mainly women.

The five domestic base-rate ($1) stamps are designed by Phil Ellet of Castlemaine- based Creative Ethos.

Mayoral Notes

April 27, 2017 By Maggi Barnard

Thank you to everyone who supported this week’s Anzac commemorations across the Parkes Shire. It was wonderful to see such a big turnout, a reflection of community spirit.

Guided by the feedback received during the Parkes 2030 Community Consultation Workshops, Council has prepared the draft suite of strategic plans. These documents outline the programs and projects Parkes Shire Council will undertake over the next four years, and how these will be funded. Residents can view the draft plans at www. parkes.nsw.gov.au. Council welcomes and encourages your feedback.

Last week we welcomed Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Darren Chester MP who announced a $1.3 million dollar invest- ment towards the construction of two new rail bridges along the Melbourne to Bris- bane rail route.

On Sunday, residents and visitors have a rare opportunity to go inside some of Parkes’ majestic heritage homes as part of the 2017 Australian Heritage Festival. The Sunrise to Sunset – Parkes Heritage Houses open day will see the doors of six grand homes open. Contact the Parkes Visitor Information Centre on 6862 6000 or www.visitparkes.com. au to purchase your tickets.

Parents and supervisors of local learner drivers are encouraged to attend a free two- hour workshop at Trundle Central School on Wednesday, 3rd May at 6pm. Bookings are essential, call 6861 2364.

It’s time to dust off those platform heels for the 2017 Trundle ABBA Festival. Be sure to purchase your tickets for next weekend’s festivities via www.trundleabbafestival.com. Have a fantastic week.

Yours Faithfully, Cr Ken Keith OAM Mayor of Parkes Shire

Two New Rail Bridges Between Parkes and Narromine

April 27, 2017 By Maggi Barnard

Two new railway bridges will be build between Parkes and Narromine to support the delivery of the Inland Rail project.

Two timber bridges at Tomingley West and Narwonah on the Australian Rail Track Corporation’s (ARTC) national rail network will be replaced by reinforced concrete culvert structures at a cost of $1.3 million.

Federal Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Darren Chester made the an- nouncement in Parkes last week. He said the upgrades were particularly significant as the new structures would meet the In- land Rail standard to future proof the bridg- es for longer, heavier and more efficient trains.

“The Inland Rail project will provide a rail freight connection between Melbourne and Brisbane, connecting regional Australia with global markets. The region will play a major role in the delivery of Inland Rail, with the Central West region of NSW set to see $480 million in economic benefits,” the minister said.

“One Inland Rail train will support the movement of approximately 2,500 tonnes of freight in a single trip, equivalent to tak- ing 110 B-double trucks off the roads.”

The Parkes to Narromine section of the Inland Rail project involves upgrad- ing the existing 107km of track. Overall, the Inland Rail project takes advantage of 1,200km of existing rail corridor and will involve the construction of around 600km of new track. For more information visit www. inlandrail.artc.com.au

Come And Commemorate Anzac Day

April 20, 2017 By Maggi Barnard

Parkes Shire residents are invited to attend the Anzac Day Commemorative Services to be held across the region on Tuesday, 25th April.

The Parkes Shire RSL sub-branches, in combination with Parkes Shire Council, have planned special services in each of the townships to pay tribute to veterans and current defence personnel.

Parkes Shire Mayor, Cr Ken Keith OAM said: “Historically, 25th April is a day for the Parkes Shire to come together to acknowledge our history, honour the Anzac legacy and show our strength as a community.

“The day will begin with Dawn Services in Parkes, Alectown, Tullamore, Peak Hill and Bogan Gate and will be followed by the Anzac Day march, wreath laying and commemorative services mid-morning.”

A number of guest speakers have been invited, including Captain Anthony Klen- this from the Royal Australian Navy. He will acknowledge the 75th anniversary of the 1942 World War II campaigns, the Battle of the Coral Sea, and share an insight into his time in the Navy at the 9am com- memorative service in Cooke Park.

Council’s roads and footpath crew have constructed a new footpath at Memorial Hill connecting with the existing granite walkway further down the hill to significantly improve pedestrian access.

The full Anzac Day program is available at www.parkes.nsw.gov.au or can be collected from Council’s Administrative Building on Monday.

Poppies

Shire residents are also invited to commemorate the sacrifice and service of Anzac veterans by personalising a poppy to go on display at the Parkes Visitor Information Centre (VIC).

Free handmade paper poppies are available with space to write a message of commemoration on the back.

Parkes Shire Council’s Tourism Leader, Jaimee Timmins said: “The idea stems from the Australian War Memorial’s roll of honour, where thousands of red poppies adorn the tribute walls, each commemorating a fallen soldier.”

“The Flanders red poppies have long been part of Anzac Day observances and are considered an emblem of remembrance.”

During the First World War, red poppies were among the first plants to spring up in the devastated battlefields of northern France and Belgium.

In soldiers’ folklore, the vivid red poppy symbolises the sacrifice of shed blood, and has since become a symbol of remembrance.

The poppies have been on display at the VIC since Wednesday and will be there until Anzac Day.

Parkes East Students Write Winning Tributes

April 20, 2017 By Maggi Barnard

Two Parkes East Public School students have made their own Anzac history in the annual Riverina Anzac Writing Awards.

Year 5 student Brienna Brown was the Northern district winner with her lyrical poem about the soldier’s experience, utilizing the recurring motif of a field of poppies to create a sense of futility and loss.

“We have to remember them because they died for our country,” Brienna said.

The Northern district’s Highly Commend- ed award went to Year 6 student Madeline Blackstock for her short story that tackles a different aspect of war-time sacrifice. Made- line tells the story of a nurse stationed over- seas to tend the wounded, seen through the eyes of a child left behind on the farm.

“It’s important to remember the Anzac’s because there’s no war in Australia anymore,” Madeline said.

The Federal Member for Riverina Michael McCormack received almost 800 entries for the annual competition, with students across the electorate exploring the theme Anzac Day in the Riverina and Central West.

Michael said judging this year’s competition was tough. “I was not only impressed with the quantity of entries, but also extremely proud of their quality.”

Parkes East Public School teacher Leanne Matthews coordinated the school’s entries for the competition. “We’re all extremely proud of the girls,” she said.

“The information pack that the Minister sent out was very stimulating and managed to spark their interest, ” she said. “All the students really responded to the resources.”

By Raen Fraser

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