Deb Ball: The 2017 Holy Family Catholic Debutante Ball takes place at the Parkes Leagues Club tonight. Eleven debutantes will enjoy the Style and Grace themed evening while being presented to Most Rev Bishop Columba Macbeth Green, Bishop of the Diocese of Wilcannia-Forbes, and Ma- tron of Honour, Kay Craft. The debutantes will arrive at the Parkes Leagues Club in vehicles owned by members of the Parkes Antique Motor Club from 6.15pm. The debutantes and their partners are: Kate Rice and Jackson Burton, Lucy Blackstock and Benjamin Gibson, Sophie Cusack and Mitchell Rubie, Layne Neilsen and Cooper Neilsen, Alana Ryan and Jackson Goon- rey, Jessica Todd and Jaiden Burke, Anita Nov partnered by Nathan Pye Charlica Schnitger partnered by Oliver Douglas Jor- ja Whatling and Harrison Davies, Ellie Ma- caulay and Riley Thomson, Piper Hennock and Billy Payne. The pageboy is Ashton McQuie and flowergirl Luca Barnes .

Australian Illustrators: Parkes Library will host two free exhibitions that celebrate Australian children’s picture books and their creators during May, June and July. The first exhibition Never be Late for a Pa- rade from 16th May to 15th June features a collection of illustrations from Shaun Tan’s best-known picture books including The Arrival, The Red Tree, The Lost Thing and the Singing Bones.

Lazy Lions Lounging in the Library from 20th June to 20th July features illustra- tions from A Bird in the Hand! by Bob Gra- ham; ANZAC Illustrated; Chester & Gil, life is what you make it; Kids Antarctic Art Project a creative collaboration by Alison Lester; Running with the Horses and The Many Story Treehouse.

Dice Run: The Midstate Motorcycle Club will be holding its annual charity Ironbark Dice Run on Saturday, 20th May for the 13th time. The Dice Run is a social day out for owners of road registered motor- cycles and aimed at raising money for lo- cal charities. The ride, of approximately 250km, will go from Parkes to Eugowra and Gooloogong, on to lunch at the Rail- way Hotel in Grenfell before riding on to Forbes and finishing in Condobolin. Each motorcyclist rolls the dice at stops along the way, and the highest combined score is declared the winner of $200 at the end of the day.

Registration at Kelly Reserve in Parkes at 9.30am and the first dice roll before the ride starts at 10.30am. Entry is $20 per rider and $10 per pillion. For more infor- mation contact Martin Bell (Parkes) on 0429 346 586.

Roadside Timber: Residents are remind- ed that the collection of firewood from all roadsides across the Parkes Shire is pro- hibited. Under a resolution made in April 1998, the collection or cutting of timber from the roadside will incur an on-the-spot infringement notice.

Parkes Shire Council’s General Manager, Kent Boyd said: “The resolution is in place to prevent the further degradation of road- side vegetation and to preserve rare plant and animal species. Species unique to our Shire, including the Grey-crowned Babbler, Pink Cockatoo and Superb Parrot, use the timber on the roadside for habitat at vari- ous times throughout the year.”

Activities prohibited without prior authori- sation in any roadside reserve area: col- lection of firewood, rock, sand, gravel, dirt or any vegetative material; burning, clear- ing, grading, ploughing or any disturbance to soil or vegetation; grazing, tethering or droving of stock or bee keeping activities; trimming or lopping of trees or other veg- etation. Residents can check with Council on 6861 2343 if they are unsure if their planned roadside activities are prohibited. The same restrictions apply to Crown Re- serve, Travelling Stock Routes and State Forests.

Auditions: Parkes Shire Council is looking for youth actors over 16 to star in this year’s mock crash demonstration. Auditions will take place on Thursday, 11th May at 5pm in the Parkes Shire Council Chambers.

The Councils’ Road Safety and Injury Prevention Officer, Melanie Suitor, is en- couraging local up and coming youth ac- tors to attend the auditions. “It will give par- ticipants an overview of all aspects of the project. They will take part in both filmed and live ad-lib exercises.

Local actor Krystle-Lee McMurray, has been involved in the project for the last few years. “It’s a really interesting mix of acting in front of a camera as well as a live audi- ence of over 500 year 10 students.”

Pre-registration for the auditions is essential. Contact Melanie on 6861 2364, or 0428 400 627 or Melanie.Suitor@parkes. nsw.gov.au.

Raffle Winners: Friends of Parkes Hospi- tal Easter Raffle winners are: Bec Parkes – seafood voucher donated by SouthSea Seafood; and Ameila Gersback – Easter eggs donated by Woolworths.

Red Shield Doorknock: The Salvation Army is asking Australians to spare a few hours on 27th – 28th May to collect for its annual Red Shield Doorknock. To volun- teer call 13 SALVOS (13 72 58) or register online at salvos.org.au/volunteer.

Visual arts program: A series of eight small workshops will run in the Central West, in- cluding Parkes from April to June. Arts Out- West has set up the workshops, in close consultation with mental health and disabil- ity support services, on behalf of House with No Steps, who provided the funding.

Each of the programs specifically targets particular groups. Some of the programs are for existing groups, while others are open to the public. The program in Parkes will be a visual arts workshop running over 10 weeks from May to June. Sign-ups for the Parkes program will be announced soon.

Telstra Business Women’s Awards: Member for Orange, Philip Donato is en- couraging people in his electorate to cele- brate the achievements of exceptional busi- ness women by nominating them for the 2017 Telstra Business Women’s Awards. Donato said the awards, now in its 23rd- year, seeked to raise the profile of women in business by recognising and rewarding their courage, leadership and creativity.

Entries open on 26th April until 15th June across five award categories. State and Territory winners will be announced later this year, with the national awards in Syd- ney on 1st December. To nominate or enter go to https://www.telstrabusinesswomen- sawards.com/nominate/ or call Telstra on 1800 817 536.

St George’s Day: This Sunday St George’s Anglican Church is celebrating the Pa- tronal Festival, St George’s Day. This festi- val is to honour Saint George, after whom the church was named. The service will be at 9:00am, followed by morning tea in the hall. Reverand Dr Ian Coutts will be speak- ing at the service.

According to legend, St George was a Roman soldier born in what is now mod- ern-day Turkey around 280AD and died around 303. Emperor Diocletian, as part of a crackdown on the growing influence of the Christian community, ordered that all Christian soldiers in the army should be expelled and all Roman soldiers be forced to make the traditional pagan sacrifice. St George refused and denounced the edict in front of his fellow soldiers, declaring he was a Christian. Diocletian initially tried to convert him with offers of wealth and land, but he refused and was beheaded on 23 April 303.

Trundle, Tullamore, Tottenham and Bogan Gate News: Send us your news, photos and snippets to editor@parkespho- enix.com.au.

Double demerits for Easter: Double demerit points will be in force for five days over the Easter holiday across the state starting today until Monday, 17th April. Double de- merit points will apply to all speeding, seatbelt, mobile phone and motorcycle helmet offences. NSW Police will also be target- ing dangerous driving behaviours such as drink driving and driver fatigue.

“Drivers should be warned they are at greatest risk of losing their licence dur- ing this period. There will be more Police on the roads and therefore more chance of getting caught and losing points,” said Parkes, Forbes and Lachlan Shire Coun- cils’ Road Safety and Injury Prevention Of- ficer, Melanie Suitor.

“I ask all drivers to remain vigilant over the Easter holiday period. We all have a part to play in reducing the amount of crashes and risks.”

Cultural grants: Applications for the 2017 Parkes Shire Council Cultural Grants are open to local groups and organisations un- til Thursday, 4th May.

The aim of the grant program is to encourage and support the development of local community organisations, services and strategies which make a positive contribution to the community and cultural life of the Shire. Applications must request a grant of at least $2,000 with the total funding pool at $9,800.

Funding categories include subsidy for a new project, extension or enhancement of an existing project, purchase of equipment or minor capital works.

Application forms are available on Council’s website, www.parkes.nsw.gov.au, or at any Parkes Shire Library (Parkes, Peak Hill, Trundle and Tullamore). Contact Council’s Grant Officer Sally Chap- man, 6861 2398 for advice and support in completing the application. Successful ap- plications will be announced in June 2017.

Fashions on the green: Lights, camera, fashion! The Tullamore Irish Music Fes- tival invites guests to put their greenest foot and fashion forward to rock the green runway. There are categories for the Lady, Leprechaun and the Wee Ones under 13, each with a lush little prize. Fashions on the Green will be judged early Satur- day afternoon. Each year on the Easter Long Weekend, Tullamore turns green with visitors from across the country, cel- ebrating all things Irish. Across the three days, there’ll be plenty of music, dancing, games, food, fun and fashion (of course) to keep everyone entertained. For more information visit www.tullamore.org.au.

The Loaded Dog: On Thursday, 20th April at 6pm the Splash Theatre Company will perform Henry Lawson’s The Loaded Dog at Parkes Library.

This is in celebration of Henry Lawson’s 150th anniversary. He is one of Australia’s best short story writers and was born on 17th June 1867. The Splash Theatre Com- pany is travelling NSW, Victoria and the ACT performing his most popular comic story, The Loaded Dog.

The explosive yarn about three gold miners and their overgrown pup, Tommy, will entertain. “The Loaded Dog has plenty of action and humour to engage and enter- tain audiences aged 5 to 95,” said Shellie Buckle, Manager Cultural, Education & Li- brary Services.

Please book your chair for the performance with Parkes Library on 6861 2309 or library@parkes.nsw.gov.au. The event is free and families are welcome.

Here’s your chance to fly: Plummeting towards the ground at 180km an hour from 14,000 feet above. The Phoenix is sending a reporter to see what all the fuss is about. Skydiving is a popular bucket list item and there is a good reason why – the adrena- line rush of free falling is but one. Adrena- line junkie or not, skydiving is a chance to overcome your fears and feel free. Places still available this weekend to Skydive in Dubbo with Skydive Oz. www.skydiveoz. com.au/skydive-dubbo/

MP celebrates Parkes Elvis Festival founders: Member for Orange Philip Do- nato last week celebrated the contribution of Bob Steele OAM and Anne Steele OAM in the NSW Parliament’s Hansard as the founders of the Parkes Elvis Festival in 1993.

“Ensuring that the efforts of locals in my electorate are recognised for years to come through the NSW Parliament, is im- portant,” Philip said.

In his Private Member’s Statement, Philip recounted the history of the festival from its small beginnings in 1993 and paid tribute to the couple saying: “Bob and Anne Steele might not have envisioned such growth nor the widespread interest it would generate around the globe, but that’s exactly what they’ve achieved.

I wish for Bob and Anne to be recognised for their vision, enthusiasm and all of the many hours expended growing this iconic fixture, for without their zeal, we’d not have the blossoming event it is today.” Anybody with a story of an unsung hero in the Orange electorate should contact Philip’s office with details for consideration.