The launch of the Wiradjuri Ngurambang Exhibition at Parkes Library & Cultural Centre will include a talk by two prominent guests to make for a very interesting and informative event.

Beau Williams and Bruce Pascoe will be at the centre on Tuesday, 26th July from 6-7:30pm for the First Languages Australia talk. Beau Williams is the CEO of FirstLanguages Australia, an organisation that works to maintain and strengthen Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages across Australia.

Bruce Pascoe will be discussing his award-winning book, Dark Emu, which offers an alternative perspective of Australia’s First Nations, a history that for many Australians has been largely silenced. 

Over the past 250 years significant environmental and cultural knowledge of Australia’s First Nations people has been lost or has become fragmented, including many of the languages that were spoken across Australia. More recently, there has been lots of work undertaken to preserve and revive First Nations languages, knowledge and culture. 

In the Parkes Shire many schools are teaching the Wiradjuri language to children.

“We are honoured to be hosting such esteemed guests as part of this First Languages Australia talk,” said Manager Cultural, Education & Library Services Kerryn Jones said. “Both Beau and Bruce have such a wealth of knowledge and experience to share with the community.”

This is a free event, but bookings are required as places are limited. Visit Parkes Shire Council’s website or Facebook page, or contact the Parkes Library on 6861 2309. The Wiradjuri Ngurambang Exhibition is a permanent display, located in the Parkes Library & Cultural Centre.

The incredible story of Kate Kelly, sister of Australia’s infamous bushranger, came to life last year when a Forbes author published her debut book.

Rebecca Wilson wrote ‘Kate Kelly, the true story about Ned Kelly’s little sister’ after she made a discovery about Kate. When Kate was a teenager, she had ridden as a decoy and delivered news and supplies to the Kelly gang when they were on the run in north-east Victoria from 1878 to 1880. “I was instantly intrigued, and jumped down the rabbit hole of research, hot on Kate’s heels,” Rebecca told The Guardian newspaper when her book was launched.

Rebecca has also completed a collection of paintings on Kate, and the official opening of her exhibition takes place tonight, 15th July in the Coventry Room at the Parkes Library and Cultural Centre at 6:30pm.

Rebecca, who is the first person to uncover the full story of Kate after years of research and investigation, will be hosting the opening of the exhibition.

The exhibition celebrates the retold story of Kate Kelly and her life as sister to infamous bushranger, Ned Kelly. 

Manager Cultural, Education & Library Services, Kerryn Jones said: “Kate became quite a celebrity until she vanished. Rebecca uncovers the story of this amazing woman’s life, 14 years of which she lived in Forbes.” 

The exhibition will be open to the public from Saturday, 16th July to Saturday, 6th August. Tickets for the official opening can be purchased at parkes.nsw.gov.au or via Parkes Shire Council’s Facebook page. Alternatively, you can book your tickets by visiting the Parkes Library & Cultural Centre.

Parkes is in for a fantastic musical treat this month when one of Australia’s most dynamic chamber music groups will give a concert at the Cooke Park Pavilion as part of the Music in the Regions’ Winter tour. 

Omega Ensemble will perform a high-energy program from Mozart’s cherished Clarinet Quintet to the world premiere of a new contemporary Australian work by Australian composer Carl Vine on Saturday, 23rd July. 

Audiences on the Winter Regional Tour will be among the first in the world to hear the new work by legendary Carl Vine, which Omega Ensemble commissioned especially for the program. 

“Omega Ensemble are lauded nationwide for their exceptional world-class performances, an incredible cultural experience these regional audiences would usually have to travel to a city for but can now enjoy close to home,” said Music in the Regions Executive Director, Janine Collins. 

Founded in 2005, Omega Ensemble has a mission to champion extraordinary Australian musical talent through high-energy and impactful performance. The Ensemble presents an annual National Touring Program to metropolitan and regional cities across Australia and frequently appears in national cultural festivals. They have also twice toured to China, delivering concerts and masterclasses in Shanghai and Beijing. 

To book tickets, visit www.musicintheregions.com 

MOVIE NIGHTS

We have our cult movie night tonight @ 6pm. We are screening a 2022 release of an all-time favourite superhero. This version comes 55 years after the original film was released. Rated M and almost three hours in length – free tea, coffee and popcorn! Bookings are essential.

SCHOOL HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES

Parkes Library will be hosting six school holiday activities for children in Kindergarten to Year 6. All activities are from 10:30am -12:30pm. Bookings are limited and are filling fast. 

Tuesday, 5th July: Junior Movie and Popcorn: a Disney classic about a little girl and her alien ‘puppy’.
Wednesday, 6th July: Hands-On Activity “Flags of Your World”. (Cost $2)
Thursday, 7th July: Junior Movie and Popcorn: a film about a fast-growing dog becomes a neighbourhood sensation.
Tuesday, 12th July: Junior Movie and Popcorn: a Disney classic about an unlikely friendship on the family farm.
Wednesday, 13th July: Hands-On Activity “Peculiar Pairs”. (Cost $2)

Thursday, 14th July: Junior Movie and Popcorn: a film about five friends who are definitely not good guys.

FAMILY & LOCAL HISTORY GROUP

Are you interested in researching your family history or the local history of the Parkes area, come along and join this new group on Wednesday, 6th July from 3 – 4pm. Please get in touch with the Parkes Library to register your attendance.

REBECCA WILSON ART EXHIBITION & AUTHOR TALK

We’ve all heard of Ned Kelly but have you heard of his little sister Kate Kelly? The Kate Kelly Collection, a series of narrative paintings and story cards based on the life of Kate Kelly will be on show in the Coventry Room from 16th July to 6th August. The opening is on Friday, 15th July at 6pm in the Coventry Room when Rebecca will also speak about her book Kate Kelly: The true story of Ned Kelly’s sister. Tickets are on sale through Humanitix or call the Parkes Library.

Turning Tables is set to hit the stage at The Little Theatre in Parkes from tomorrow night after over 12 months of rehearsals and cancellations due to COVID-19.

Going off reviews from community members invited to the preview on Sunday, it’s going to be another hit for the Parkes Musical and Dramatic Society.

The praise afterwards included: “An excellent show…has to be seen”, “I absolutely loved it and will be coming back again!”, “Fresh, fun, powerful, provocative, moving and memorable”, “Incredible show” and “Took my breath away – just an amazing production from start to finish”.

With a script written by the Parkes M & D’s stellar director Lyn Townsend, Turning Tables tells the story of five women (Christie Green, Christa Radley, Shev Brown, Ruth Barnes and Maddi Collits), all different, all unique with their own ‘baggage’ to carry.

During the course of the show, each of the women take you on their journey, the relationships they have endured and the strength and resilience they gain from the friendships they forge with each other, despite the differences in age or social status. There are four male roles, all played by one token guy (Aaron Kingham).

With songs like Can’t fight the Moonlight, Stronger, Girls just wanna have fun, Because of you, Holding out for a hero, Born this way, Warrior, Jesus take the Wheel, Danger Zone, I’m so Excited, This is me, and many more, there is bound to be a song you know and love.

Turning Tables will play over three weekends. Tickets are available from www.parkesmandd.com.au or for purchase at the theatre box office an hour before any show, or on Sundays from 10am to 1pm. If you live out of town, email parkesmandd2870@gmail.com to request tickets be reserved or call 0429 623 829 after 5:30pm. The production is not suited for children under 14 due to adult themes, but for adults, this is just a fantastic outing!

The call is out for amateur youth actors over the age of 16 across the Parkes, Forbes and Lachlan Shires to star in this year’s NOT A STATISTIC! Youth Driver Education Program.

“We are looking for four new actors to join our team and are holding auditions on Wednesday, 22nd June from 4pm – 7pm at the Parkes SES shed in Clarke Street,” said Melanie Suitor, Road Safety and Injury Prevention Officer for the three councils.

She said this road safety initiative had seen a 27% reduction in crashes involving young drivers since its inception more than 10 years ago.

“The auditions will give participants an overview of all aspects of the project. The youth actors will take part in both filmed and live ab-lib exercises,” said Melanie. 

Following two years of COVID disruption, this year’s mock crash is going to be developed into a training video. The video will replace the live mock crash demonstration for this year but will result in a resource which allows the program to be implemented in other areas and provides a back-up option for future years’ live demonstrations.

Pre-registration for the auditions is essential. Contact Melanie on 6861 2364 or Melanie.Suitor@parkes.nsw.gov.au for more information and to book your place.