Hello cold days, and hot chocolate, fuzzy socks, warm fires, frosty mornings, hot soup, good books and warm friendship… Yes it’s time to keep calm and welcome winter.

I am sure you can all add at least one favourite thing about winter to this list. Most of all, winter is a time to enjoy the comforts of your home, your family and friends and good food. With the long weekend ahead of us, we have brought you a decent read with a variety of stories and ideas what to do.

Over the past two weeks we have been getting a lot of stories about young people doing well, putting their stamp on life and looking at the future with hope and optimism.

May you feel inspired by them and have a week filled with optimism!

Enjoy Issue 66! Maggi Barnard Editor

Parkes is well known as a sports town, and many people would argue sport gets all the attention. But I would beg to differ as we continue to receive an influx of so many other wonderful stories every week.

I would not like to single out anyone or any group specifically, but feel the Parkes M & D Society deserves a mention for put- ting on an entertaining, quality show of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang with such a tal- ented cast and band.

To get back to sport, this week there was a lot of excitement at the PCYC when a professional basketball player from the US attended the newly-established basketball club’s training session. Who said nothing ever happens in Parkes? Enjoy Issue 63!

Maggi Barnard Edito

Dear Editor,

I wish to reply to the article “Kinesio Tape Help or Hype?” in the Phoenix on Friday, 7th April 2017 by Ms L Reilly.

Firstly, I want to highlight that Kinesio Tex Tape (KTT) is not K Tape or Kinesiology Tape. It is the original tape produced by Kensio Kase of Japan some 40+ years ago under the strictest scientific controls.

K Tape, Kinesiology tape, sport tape and others, which have been devised since, are made by other companies – they do not presume to do what Kinesio Tex Tape (KTT) does. They each work in different ways to support muscles whilst the muscle/ joint is active.

As Ms Reilly has pointed out there are several papers questioning the validity of each tape. Rightly so. It’s evident that prac- titioners are getting confused with the vari- ety available.

KTT was initially devised to work on the lymphatic drainage system and for increas- ing the blood supply to damaged muscles, from trauma or surgery. Its use ought to be kept in the hands of properly trained prac- titioners.

To state that any of these products are placebo in function is facile. Unless one has first-hand evidence that they are inef- fective, one ought to do the courses before writing articles without scientific basis.

If we as professionals are not scientific in our approach, our clients/patients will be at high risk. It is our responsibility to stay ahead of the crowd and know what works from what does not.

My advice to Ms Reilly and the Phoenix – do proper research, not Dr Google – before writing and printing libellous waffle.

Sharon Dixon Physiotherapist MCSP, MICSP, MAPA, CMP

Dear Editor,

We have a bit of a science theme in today’s issue. It just happened, and it is exciting to have this thread running through our big- gest issue of the year so far. There is so much talk about science and maths taking a back seat in the subject choice of many students these days, so it is encouraging to know science can make news in our community.

On the front page you will be inspired by Gary Tilley’s passion for teaching science, while Yasmin Potts’ science achievement featured on page 13 is a great achieve- ment. We meet a scientist in Our Bloke this week, and there is a story about the Ages of Fishes Museum’s expansion on page 12. We even have a scientific debate on our letters page.

Tomorrow you can study the science of dressing up when the name of the game changes to ABBA – enjoy!

Maggi Barnard Editor

With the the 24-hour news cycle and social media so easily taking centre stage in our lives, we can feel overwhelmed by all the bad news we are constantly bombarded with.

In contrast The Parkes Phoenix focuses on good news stories and once you start looking, there is literally an avalanche of positive things happening in our community. My most difficult task every week is trying to fit in all the wonderful stories that come our way.

So whenever you feel down and depressed by world events, just turn to The Parkes Phoenix to lift your spirits. Today we bring you once again a selection of what happened in our community over the past week.

As the school holidays start today, take time to do something special with your children. You will find a variety of holiday activities on offer for children and adults throughout today’s issue. Also take time to feel grateful for your kids and grandkids and all the joy they bring.

Enjoy Issue 57!

Maggi Barnard Editor