PJL Group have recently expanded their operations, adding a fifth site to their Australian footprint. PJL have purchased Parkes Heavy Mechanical Repairs, allowing them the opportunity to expand their capabilities and become a major shutdown supplier, infrastructure maintenance and construction service provider throughout NSW.

Heading up the Parkes operation is Clayton Maynard, who brings with him industry specific and managerial experience. Keen for the challenge, Clayton has worked with PJL for 7 years, previously managing PJL’s Engineering facility in Orange.

The existing operation in Parkes has been co-ordinating and running shutdowns for a number of years with various clients in the local area. This required a particularly unique skillset within management and trade based staff, therefore 90% of the existing Parkes Heavy Mechanical Repairs employees accepted roles under the new PJL business management.

“With the majority of the existing employees coming over to PJL, we hope to integrate these skills and processes throughout our other operations.” Clayton said. The Parkes operation brings with it a number of different service offerings, allowing PJL to expand their capabilities and increase efficiencies across the group. New services such as poly welding, sheet metal folding, pressing and rolling will be leveraged by PJL’s Orange, Cobar, Perth and Mt Isa facilities, allowing them to offer more fit-for-purpose services for their clients.

PJL’s existing operations and experience within them will also complement the Parkes business model and enable the group to offer a more specialised service to clients in this area. “This, combined with PJL’s scale, in house qualified engineers and internationally accredited operating systems will assist local clients with upcoming projects as well as planned maintenance events”. Clayton explained.

PJL currently have a contract in place to supply shutdown services, scaffolding and poly welding to CMOC at Northparkes Mines, which is not something any of the other operations specialise in. “Engineering opportunities into solutions is something PJL has seen great success with since its inception back in 2006, and it is something that will take us forward into the future” Clayton went on to say. “We are excited to now be a part of the Parkes community.”

Tullamore local, Jenny Harvey, has recently participated in the Get Healthy Information and Coaching Service. Jenny struggled with mobility due to her bad knees, back and arthritis. She was unable to walk or stand for very long and Jenny’s doctor told her she would need a wheel chair in the future if she didn’t get healthier.

Spurred on by her doctor’s advice, Jenny joined the Get Healthy Information and Coaching Service and was given a dedicated health coach named Jordon. “I loved hearing from Jordon every fortnight. I felt really comfortable with him and fantastic after each call. He really made me motivated,” Jenny said; “I have never exercised. I registered with the Get Healthy Service as part of the Healthy Towns Challenge and started with the local aqua fitness group. I felt so light the first time and now I can’t go enough! I even did two, one hour sessions in a row!”

In the winter Jenny stays motivated by her coach, trying Tai Chi and joining an adult exercise class. She has improved her eating habits, can do more gardening and has lost weight from around her waist. “Since joining the Get Healthy Service I get a lot more satisfaction from life. It means I get out more and the social benefits are really great. One thing leads to another!” Jenny said.

“I feel fantastic! I have had fantastic people around me. I get off my backside and do much more and my family are all proud of me. I’d be so happy if my story helped other people get healthier.” Have you heard about the Get Healthy Information and Coaching Service? If you’d like to find out more about this free service, go to www.gethealthynsw.gov.au.

The Central West Astronomical Society (CWAS) is proud to announce the shortlisted finalists in the 2016 CWAS Astrophotography Awards – the ‘David Malin Awards’. Astrophotography is taking a photo of an object in space, from the Milky Way to the Moon and will be featured during the CWAS AstroFest held in Parkes this weekend.

The 2016 winners will be announced and presented with their awards at the 2016 CWAS AstroFest Conference Dinner tomorrow. Congratulations to the 28 finalists for their mesmerising contributions. To view the shortlisted finalists’ pictures view them online www.cwas.org.au or visit the exhibition at the CSIRO Parkes Observatory’s Visitors Centre from 17th July.

This year’s competition had eight categories: Deep Sky, Wide-Field, Solar System, Nightscapes, Animated Sequences (Scientific and Aesthetic), Themed Section ‘Light Pollution: The Bad and the Beautiful’, and a junior section (18 years old or younger). The entries were judged by world renowned astrophotographer and award namesake, Dr David Malin. The judging process accessed not only the technical skill, but the ability to capture the beauty of the sky and the intrinsic interest of astronomy.

“This year’s pictures maintained the high standards we have come to expect from the Australian community,” said Dr David Malin. “There are some splendid examples of modern astrophotography among the finalists.” Canon Australia continues to support the astrophotography competition with E-store Voucher prizes to the value of over $10,000. “These awards showcase the extraordinary beauty of our night sky and wonderful night time landscapes,” said Alan Brightman, General Manager of SUNSTUDIOS, Canon Australia; “With patience, commitment and good equipment, these photographers capture breath-taking images.”

The astrophotography competition finalists will be exhibited at the CSIRO Parkes Observatory’s Visitors Centre from 17th July for 12 months. For more information about the 2016 CWAS AstroFest, visit www.cwas.org.au/astrofest/

Next time you visit a new mother in the maternity ward at Parkes or Forbes Hospitals, follow the signs to Yinaagalang Nguranggu – Wiradjuri for ‘woman’s place’. If you need pathology, look for Guwany Barramali (to take blood). The new signage is part of a project to integrate Wiradjuri language signage and translations into the new Forbes and Parkes Hospitals, which has recently won one of the Western NSW Local Health
District’s top awards.

Lachlan Health Service’s Mali Marambir Ngurang: to make better place; has won the Chief Executive’s Award at the Western NSW Local Health District’s annual Living Well Together Health and Innovation Awards. More than 50 projects were received for the Awards, which is a record number of entries. Key directional signage around the hospitals is written in English beside the Wiradjuri interpretation, which is then translated back into English. Local Wiradjuri Elders worked closely with Dr Stan Grant, co-author of the Wiradjuri dictionary, to ensure the words were correct and close to their English meaning. The project aimed to make the hospital spaces more inviting and less daunting for Aboriginal people.

The English translations also helps to educate non-Wiradjuri people about the Wiradjuri language. For example, the Wiradjuri words Marrin Mumali (to rub the body between the hands) points to the physiotherapy department while Mungarr Ngadhurinya (care for kidneys) points to the renal department. More than 20 key places in the hospitals have bilingual interpretation. Others include Ngaagigu Mulunma, (to see inside) which is used alongside signage for ‘medical imaging’; Ngurang Mindyali (to be fixed fast) are the words for ‘operating theatre’. Waluwin Ngaan (‘healthy mouth’) points the way to ‘oral health’; and Wambuwanbunmaldhaany (medicine maker) points
to the pharmacist. The wayfinding signage has been informed by The Lachlan Health Service Culture and Arts Working Group.

The Lachlan Health Services Project team engaged regional arts development organisation Arts OutWest to integrate culture and arts into the Forbes and Parkes Hospital redevelopments. The Culture and Arts Working Group includes representation from the Lachlan Health Service Project team, Arts OutWest, the Lachlan Health Council, health staff and the Aboriginal community and is responsible for implementing a flexible and sustainable program that promotes well-being and creates a welcoming, vibrant place for the Forbes and Parkes communities. For more information about the Lachlan Health Service Culture and Arts program, please contact Arts OutWest.

Bruce and Gail Lindbeck took over ownership of Smeaton’s Bakery 19 years ago in May 1997. Bruce, who had previously worked in a bank, as Club Manager and in the Bathurst Goldfields, had to learn to bake from scratch from the previous owner. Today, Bruce and Gail have built up a bakery famed for its rustic, handmade products that look like food from the era before mass produced products. “We make a timed dough at our bakery,” says Bruce; “This means the dough is fermented or proved over a few hours.” The process allows the bread to create its own sweetness through the fermentation process.

“We add approximately 500g of sugar into 25kg of flour, which accounts for 2% sugar, while the Australian standard is a maximum of 6% sugar in bread.” Smeaton’s has the same philosophy for all its products, whether it be pastries, slices, fruit buns or pies. “We are very proud of our pies at Smeaton’s. We regularly receive comments from our customers about how much they enjoy them.” The pastry is made in-house and the meat locally sourced, making the traditional meat pies very popular as well as the curry and mushroom and cheese and bacon pies.

Bruce and his son Braden have exciting plans to expand the handmade brand by introducing new products for sale every Saturday morning from 13th August until the end of October. The new range includes a sourdough loaf, spelt loaf and multi-grain bread, as well as chicken and vegetarian pies, and quiches, croissants, bagels and donuts. “We will make all these products in our bakery. This is something we pride ourselves on – not ordering products from large suppliers that are frozen or filled with preservatives to give them a longer shelf life.”

Smeaton’s has also introduced hot and cold beverages, including espresso coffee, available from 5.30am every weekday morning.

What better way is there to encourage your children to exercise than going to a dance class? Dance develops skills in co-ordination, musicality, strength and fitness. The music, the moves, the wonderful dance studio environment, great teachers … it’s all at Twinkle Toes Dance Studio. There are classes on offer for all ages from 2 years up to adults in jazz, tap, hip hop, acrobatics, ballet, contemporary and musical theatre.

On Monday afternoons the boy’s hip hop class teaches the boys to bust a move or three, and judging by the smiles of those attending, the class is a big hit! Classes for younger children are held in the afternoons after school and Saturday morning, and the older dances attend classes at the later times. All classes are working on their dances for the End of Year Concert which will be at the Parkes Leagues Club on Sunday 11th December. Everyone is welcome at Twinkle Toes – we are focused on providing technical, fun and safe dance tuition so we can share our love of dance with the people of Parkes.
By Jenny Kingham