If you love live music, Parkes is the place to be this November on a Sunday with special sessions at the Broadway Hotel to celebrate Ausmusic month.

Following some changes made at the ‘Broady’ over the past two years it has become the home of live music in Parkes. In conjunction with Arts OutWest the Broadway will be hosting free live music at its Sunday Live & Kicking Lunchtime Sessions for the whole month.

The first session this Sunday (6th November) kicks off with Americana Blues served up by Cletis Carr and his trio from 12noon.

Cletis is an accomplished songwriter and has toured the world sharing stages with Tom Petty, John Mellencamp, Elvis Costello, Joan Jett, Nick Lowe and Huey Lewis. He has also performed with members of AC/DC, Rose Tattoo, the Easybeats and the Saints. Cletis, a consummate storyteller who entertains his audience with tales of backstage life, will be performing his new full-length blues album ‘Trouble & Me’.

On Sunday, 13th November it is the turn of Raptor County, a four-piece band who know how to rock with a touch of country blues, singing their songs about life from a regional perspective. They’ll have Parkes local Twiggy opening for them with his acoustic pop tunes from his ‘Now & Then’ release plus some crisp new tunes.

Sunday, 20th November Central West duo Smith & Jones will perform their finely crafted songs with their gorgeous harmonies. Opening their show will be Parkes local Gracey Denham-Jones like you’ve never heard her before. 

Finishing off the month with their good time funk ‘n soul vibe is the dynamic duo Jaffer. Featuring the big bass sound of Luke Ferguson, who has toured nationally and appeared at major festivals including Blues Fest, Woodford folk festival and Splendour in the Grass. Twiggy will be opening the session. 

Find out more at www.artsoutwest.org.au

Parkes Christian School is celebrating 40 years of Christian education in the Central West with a spring fair and celebration service this weekend (29th and 30th October).

Past principals, staff, students and families that have been involved with the school over the past 40 years are all invited to attend.

The spring fair is also open to the general public, and will go from 9am to 2pm with market stalls run by students, vendors, lots of food options and coffee, Devonshire tea, an art exhibition, live entertainment and fun games and competitions.

The school procured a framed and signed Nathan Cleary jersey, and everyone who makes a small donation on the day stand a chance to win this piece of sporting memorabilia. There will also be a display of photos, uniforms and video footage of the school over the past 40 years to show just how far the school has progressed.

The fair is also a wonderful opportunity for prospective students and parents to come and have a look at what the school has to offer.

On Sunday, 30th October from 10am former staff, students and families of the school are invited to attend a celebration service in the school hall. Staff, students and members of the Parkes Community Church will perform worship songs, and reminisce about the beginning and development of the school.

Principal Glen Westcott is delighted to be hosting the 40-year celebrations. “Parkes Christian School was the first Christian school to be built in NSW west of the Blue Mountains.”

Glen said from humble beginnings, the school was now well and truly thriving. “With a growing population of 300 students from Kindergarten to Year 12 and more than 40 staff, the school has impressive facilities.”

For more information follow the school on Facebook, or contact the school office on 6862 4164.

Parkes Christian School Celebrates 40 Years 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Arts OutWest will run a free arts funding workshop in Parkes next Wednesday, 2nd November from 10:30am to 12.30pm at the Parkes Library.

The workshop will help people prepare applications for the annual Country Arts Support Program and brush up on their grant writing skills.

The Country Arts Support Program (CASP) is a small annual funding round supporting arts activities in the NSW Central West. Applications for the 2023 round are now open.

CASP funds the payment of artists and arts workers to undertake or manage arts activities that offer exciting creative outcomes. Grants of up to $3,000 are available.

“The free workshop will explain the CASP funding, help people plan an application, chat through their project ideas and take a look at the application process,” Arts OutWest executive director Kylie Shead said.

CASP applications for 2023 close at 5pm on Monday, 5th December.

Projects funded by CASP could include (but are not limited to) arts or heritage-based workshops, classes, performances, installations, exhibitions, tours, screen/film making, writing or composition, development of new work, tours or talks, artist-in-residence programs, recordings or podcasts, and new arts activities attached to festivals or events – as long as they have some element of public outcome.

The funding is open to individuals, groups, not-for-profit organisations, arts businesses and councils.

If you can’t make the Parkes workshop, there will be an online information session on Wednesday, 16th November.

Book for the Parkes workshop at either Parkes Library, Arts OutWest or find it on Eventbrite.

Read the full CASP criteria at www.artsoutwest.org.au/pf/casp/

The Melbourne Cup is Australia’s most famous thoroughbred horse race held over a distance of 3,200 metres at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne.

With a total prize money of almost $8 million, it is the richest “two-mile” handicap in the world and one of the richest turf races.

It is held on the first Tuesday of November each year, and known as the ‘race that stops a nation’.

This year the Melbourne Cup will be held on Tuesday, 1st November at 3pm. 

The Melbourne Cup has a long tradition, with the first race held in 1861 when the winner received a gold watch. The first Melbourne Cup trophy was awarded in 1865 and was an elaborate silver bowl on a stand that had been manufactured in England. This is currently owned by Australian wine personality Wolf Blass and is on display at the Wolf Blass Gallery & Museum/Adelaide Hills Wine Bar in Hahndorf, South Australia.

In 1876 Edward Fischer, an immigrant from Austria produced the first Australian-made trophy. In the Second World War years (1942, 1943 and 1944) the winning owner received war bonds valued at 200 pounds.

A new trophy is struck each year and becomes the property of the winning owner. In the event of a dead heat, a second cup is on hand. The present trophy is hand spun from 1.65 kg of 18-carat gold, and the gold for this year’s trophy came from Evolution’s Cowal Mine west of Forbes.

That is why Forbes was included in the annual Melbourne Cup Tour this year. Many residents lined up last month to get a photo of them holding the 18-carat trophy.

The festive season is fast approaching, and the good news for the Parkes community is that the Christmas Parade and Carnival will be back on Friday, 2nd December! 

It’s been a long two years without the Christmas Parade, which makes this year’s event extra exciting and special. The parade kicks off the festive cheer in the shire and sets the tone for the rest of the celebrations. 

Organised by the Action Club Parkes, the Parkes Shire Council has agreed to fund the cost of road closures and putting up the barricades to keep everyone safe. 

So, it is time to start planning your float for the parade or a stall for the carnival, and make a date with your friends and family to come and enjoy the school choirs and entertainment. 

There will be plenty of activities for everyone and lots of food and local gift stalls to start your local Christmas shopping. 

See you at Cooke Park on 2nd December! 

The Community Arts Spring Fling Festival is well underway in Parkes and has been a rousing success so far. 

If you have been in the Parkes CDB recently the Spring Fling vibe is hard to miss with over 1,000 handmade flowers adorning the main street and Cooke Park, and colourful signs and banners. 

“We have been thrilled with the community response,” said Parkes Community Arts secretary Kerryn Jones. Baz Luhrmann’s ‘Elvis’ movie last Friday was sold out, while the creative workshops in art, drumming and flower arrangement were also sold out. The upcoming Lindsay Morehouse memorial concert on Sunday at 2pm in the Starlight Lounge of Parkes Services Club is filling up fast. 

The main event, the Cooke Park Community Fun Day, has fallen victim to La Niña and will be postponed to the new date of Saturday, 19th November from 10am to 2pm. “Though disappointed, we are grateful that most vendors and performers are able to be flexible in this uncertain weather, though some clashes have been inevitable”, said Kerryn. 

Community members need not worry, the 19th is looking to be sunny and warmer for the free event with lots of activities, food and music performances. 

Quentin Park Alpacas will be ready to meet and greet people from 10am. There will also be artisan market stalls inside the Cooke Park Pavilion by local artists and creatives. 

The Best in Show art exhibition in the Coventry Room of Parkes Shire Library and Cultural Centre, funded by the CMOC Northparkes Community Investment Program, will be extended to 19th November. “This exhibition has been particularly special,” said curators Deb Jones and Helen Standen “with the most artworks ever submitted to a single exhibition here. We had over 400 artworks entered and there are a huge range of ages and mediums on display.” 

Visit www.facebook.com/PCAFestival for updates and infomation. 

By Roxanne Gallacher 

It is National Bird Week and residents can still make a difference for bird conservation by participating in the 2022 Aussie Bird Count until Sunday. 

All you need to do is pick a spot outside and count birds for at least 20 minutes to help researchers create a snapshot of Australia’s urban and more common bird species. Data collected is submitted through the Aussie Bird Count app or through an online web form. 

“The annual Aussie Bird Count is a great way for residents to enjoy the outdoors and learn about birds in our shire,” said Parkes Shire Council’s Environment and Sustainability Officer, Michael Chambers. 

“Last year 112 residents took part, and we would love to see even greater participation this year.” 

Starting in 2014, the Aussie Bird Count has become one of the largest citizen science projects in Australia. The 2021 Aussie Bird Count saw more than 100,000 Australians take to their local green spaces to count nearly 5 million individual birds. Across the Parkes Shire, residents recorded a total of 5,013 individual birds across 86 species. The most recorded species in the Parkes Shire was the Galah, followed by Crested Pigeons, House Sparrows, Apostlebirds and Australian Magpies. Several species listed as ‘vulnerable’ under federal legislation were also sighted, including Major Mitchell’s Cockatoo (Pink Cockatoo), Grey-Crowned Babbler, Brown Treecreeper, Dusky Wood Swallow, Superb Parrot and the Speckled Warbler. 

Data obtained from annual Aussie Bird Counts helps Council increase environmental engagement among residents, informs land management decisions and can indicate the impacts of tree planting efforts across the Shire. 

For residents interested in attracting more wildlife to their gardens, Council will be giving away native shrubs and trees at the Spring Fling Market that has been postponed to Saturday, 19th November. 

You can download the Aussie Bird Count app for free, or use the online form at https://aussiebirdcount.org.au/submit-a-count/ 

The Spring Fling Festival includes a performance by Parkes Shire Concert Band on 23rd October in celebration of Lindsay Morehouse featuring local and regional musicians. 

Lindsay Morehouse (1930-2022) was an accomplished musician playing in youth orchestras in his teens. He came to Parkes in 1973 as a radio engineer for 2PK and violin/ piano teacher. In 1974 he formed Sinfonia of the West and continued to conduct and play in community orchestras until he left Parkes in 2015. Lindsay established the music store and was a record label producer. 

In Lindsay’s eulogy, his daughter Caroline Chapman, said: “Dad soon gathered a group of musicians and formed the Sinfonia of the West in 1974. He never wasted any time in getting orchestras going where ever he went in Australia. In the 1970s the orchestra accompanied the M & D productions. The Sinfonia continued for around five years. 

“Dad was always on hand for providing PA systems for events and set up a new records label called ‘Strad Records’. The Strad came from a magazine name that they subscribed to and is of course short for Stradivarius. One of the records that dad recorded and produced was by a local band called Acid. I had a young man track me down around five years back wanting to know if I had any copies as they now sold for over $300 on eBay. Dad was amazed at this. 

“When the 35th Jazz Convention came to Forbes in 1980 he undertook the sound recording for the event. In the late 1970s we spent many happy afternoons at the Lachlan Vintage Village while Dad was installing the push button audio system which told you a story about every building. 

“With 2PK being sold and part of a network, Dad could see the writing on the wall, and as we had started our music shop in the old 2PK building the previous year, he decided to retire from 2PK and work full time in the shop. 

“Selling musical instruments and sheet music in Parkes was always going to be a challenge. Luckily video movie rental became popular and Dad bought 60 movies; 30 for Strad Music Centre and 30 for our store in Forbes, Hawkes Music Centre which we had recently purchased. People had an insatiable appetite for watching movies at home and our library grew to 2,000 movies and we had 20 outlets around the Central West. 

“Mum and Dad were not as active in the music world over this busy time, but Dad would soon gravitate back to what he loved after Mum’s untimely death starting up an orchestra once again in the Parkes Symphony. He travelled to Orange to rehearse and play in their orchestra and spent his time helping out with community pursuits such as the Lachlan Valley Community Radio station. He also started teaching violin again. His passion was to see music and the arts grow in the region.” 

Lindsay encouraged everyone to enjoy music, learn or pick up the instrument again. He organised for many other orchestras and choirs to play in Parkes. 

Lindsay was a trailblazer with great tenacity for promoting and sustaining music in our community. With respect, we honour him in a free community concert on Sunday, 23rd October at the Starlight Lounge at the Parkes Services Club. 

Afternoon tea and coffee will be provided. Book online to RSVP at https://events.humanitix.com/spring-fling-festival-lindsay-morehouse-memorial-concert 

By Ellen Tom