The Bogan Gate markets were well supported by ABBA festival goers last weekend.
“This is a good day. We are very pleased with the people making time to stop here,” said Mardi Pierpoint, a local artist and one of 13 stallholders in the Memorial Hall.
Organiser Shelley Nutley was a little disappointed that some people did not turn up with their wares, but was still happy with the support from people driving through Bogan Gate.
Doctors are warning about the risks of relying on smartphone mindfulness apps, offering meditation and breathing exercises, for your mental health.
The apps have become some of the most popular downloads, offering everything from improved creativity to pain relief.
“We noticed that apps are promising consumers quick, easy, effortless and often instant solutions, to what they’re framing as their health issues,” said Dr Quinn Grundy, a postdoctoral researcher with the University of Sydney’s Charles Perkins Centre.
She said that such quick-fix pledges could be damaging to those seeking help. “If your app has promised that you’ll get better really easily and really quickly and you don’t, consumers shouldn’t feel like there’s something wrong with them,” Dr Grundy said. “Or that their mental health can’t be treated.”
While the apps tout their healing credentials, only a small percentage of them have been created by universities or healthcare professionals.
“There was a couple from the government that we looked at, the Department of Defence for example, and a few from some prominent mental health organisations — and I would say that we had the most confidence in those.”
Many of the apps offer a small amount of content for free, after that users are asked to subscribe. While this has become common to many types of apps, Dr Grundy said those downloading mental health apps were already vulnerable.
“We would argue that mental health consumers are perhaps in a more vulnerable position to things like targeted advertising, or in-app purchases or a subscription model,” she said.
She said app creators, as well as moderators of online stores, needed to face increased regulation.
“Although developers are often the target of regulation, the big players like Apple and Google are really the de facto gate- keepers at the moment,” she said.
One PHD student said she started using a mindfulness app last year to help her with some ‘bouts of anxiety and stress’.
She decided to download an app that was highly-rated in the app store, however it soon began increasing her anxiety.
“The app would ask you to rate on a scale how you felt you’d done in certain areas of the day,” she said. “For example, had you exercised, eaten healthy, had you done any relaxation techniques.”
“If I missed out on a few activities in a day, the app would actually rate my day and it would sort of tell me that I hadn’t had a good day.”
The student said she no longer used a mindfulness app, and recommended us- ing any of these programs in conjunction with professional advice.
(Source: abc.net.au)
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.
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
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
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 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.
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.)
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.
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