Dear Editor,

Each morning my husband and I take our little white dogs, Buddy and Holly for their walk. As I lost a beautiful little dog a few years ago to two stray Staffies, we pick our dogs up and carry them until all is clear when we see dogs loose in the street.

I am appealing to all dog owners to keep their dogs securely locked in their yards. Last Wednesday we were walking along Russell Street when one large white dog and one large tan dog suddenly bounded through the trees and attacked our little dogs. My husband managed to pick up Holly, but I could not catch Buddy before the tan one had a secure hold on his rear and started dragging him away. John, with Holly in his arms, got the tan dog to let go of Buddy.

Poor Buddy was yelping in pain and shaking like a leaf. We left the vet armed with antibiotics for the puncture wound in one hip and a very sore second hip which became quite swollen.

Please people choose dogs suitable to your conditions and exercise them adequately on a lead. We will continue to walk our dogs, but will always be anxious for them.

Pamela Ward

To the community of the Parkes Shire,

It has been my great pleasure to have served you as a Councillor over nearly 35 years. I am very proud of the decisions that Council has made which have seen our wonderful Shire grow and prosper. I believe that Parkes and the Central West are in a unique situation where they are on the verge of significant investments and economic opportunity. I believe that our Shire and the wider community need a strong leader who will take the message to Sydney to ensure that our region gets its fair share of economic investment from the State Government. This is why I have decided to stand for pre-selection for the National Party for the State seat of Orange.

I will continue to serve as Mayor during the pre-selection process and if successful the ensuing months leading up to the election. It has been an honour and privilege to serve this community and I trust you will appreciate and understand this new direction I seek to embark on.

Yours sincerely,
Mayor Ken Keith OAM

Dear Editor,

I recently retired as a volunteer with Meals On Wheels. After more than 20 years I can say: “Oh what a journey!” To have met and known some great characters: those humble and grateful with happy eyes of seeing someone today, and those who always had a historic story of great significance.

There have been many that I had made contact with as a nurse many years ago, and then as part of a wonderful small town community. I am the one who has to say thank you to everyone for the small part of these wonderful people that rubbed off on me and the opportunity to leave something of myself with them.

All these moments have helped to make my life bigger and filled with immeasurable joy and pleasure.

Thank you
Helen Huntley

Dear Editor,

In March, the World’s Greatest Shave will be celebrating its 20th birthday and to commemorate this milestone, the Leukaemia Foundation is calling on record numbers of Australians to register and join in the fun. Over the past two decades, more than 1.9 million Australians have supported the campaign to help the Leukaemia Foundation.

Every day, another 35 Aussies are diagnosed with a blood cancer such as leukaemia, myeloma and lymphoma. Your support also means regional families continue to be provided with free home-away-from-home accommodation near their treating centres.

Our commitment to fund research projects continues to help more Australians with blood cancer survive and live a better quality of life. I’d like to invite the Parkes community to join us and register for World’s Greatest Shave to help beat blood cancer. Let’s make this year the boldest and bravest year ever! Register today at www.worldsgreatestshave.com

Bill Petch
CEO- Leukaemia Foundation

Dear Maggi,
I was delighted to win the “Get it Sorted” competition in the Phoenix. The $100 gift card is very welcome at this time of year!

Thank you for running the competition. Hopefully it will raise people’s awareness about recycling.

We do enjoy your informative paper each week.

Wishing you a happy and safe Christmas.
Yours sincerely,
Nancy Kingham

Dear Editor,
Same sex marriage: the call for human beings to be able to commit to a life together with the legal union called marriage. Many would say that’s not such a big ask You might be surprised that before this debate began, a group of Christians decided it was time to band together in support of LGBTIQ fellow Christians, and a national movement was born: Equal Voices.

A branch has started up in the Central West, based in Parkes. Our focus is on giving opportunity for those who have been hurt by comments and attitudes, to find their voice, and be heard.

We invite LGBTIQ people to tell their stories, in the hope that attitudes will change and people will become more loving and affirming in their interactions.

We have an open invitation to sign a national apology via our website: https://equalvoices.org.au/apologise/
Our sincere hope is that the present gulf will narrow into the future. If you would like further information, or are keen to be involved, connect with us on Facebook at ‘Equal Voices Central West NSW’, or email us at centralwestev@gmail.com

Rebecca Baxter
(For Equal Voices Central West Branch)