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Parkes Phoenix

Spend Your Dine & Discover NSW Vouchers

June 24, 2022 By Maggi Barnard

Customers are reminded to spend any remaining Dine & Discover NSW vouchers over the next few days as the 30th June deadline is just around the corner.

Upper House MP Sam Farraway said the program had been a game changer for local businesses and families, representing over $485 million invested across NSW.

“My message to the local community is simple – don’t miss out. Check your service NSW app to see if you have any vouchers remaining and spend them on local businesses now. 

“These vouchers have been an overwhelming success. During a period of instability, they boosted household budgets and ensured that more customers got through the doors of local businesses,” he said.

“Around 5.4 million customers registered for the program, receiving three $25 Dine and three $25 Discover vouchers, both of which went to supporting the businesses which were hit hard by the pandemic.”

Across NSW, 16,600 businesses have been supported with the vouchers, but around $330 million are still to be redeemed.

After 30 June, Dine & Discover Vouchers will move to the expired tab in the Service NSW app, but Discover NSW registered business can still accept Parents NSW Vouchers until 9th October.

Auditions For Mock Crash Youth Actors

June 17, 2022 By Maggi Barnard

The mock crash road safety initiative had seen a 27% reduction in crashes involving young drivers since its inception more than 10 years ago. Amateur actors are invited to audition for this year’s production.

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.

A Sleep Out With No Electricity

June 10, 2022 By Maggi Barnard

Judy and Robert Shore will be sleeping out on 25th June to raise money for Shelterbox in support of homeless people.

Two Parkes residents will be braving the icy elements on 25th June by sleeping out to raise money for the homeless.

Parkes Rotary President Robert Shore and his wife Judy have taken on the #offthegrid fundraising challenge of the charity Shelterbox, which is supported by Rotary.

“We plan to sleep out at the Jemalong Weir, outside Forbes, without any electricity and electronic devices,” said Robert. They chose a site near a river to make it colder.

The public is invited to support Robert and Judy’s challenge by making a donation on the Shelterbox page https://offthegrid.raisely.com/donate

Shelterbox supports people affected by disasters around the world. Earlier in the year Parkes Rotary donated a ShelterBox in support of the devastation in Haiti. There are currently 113 million people who are homeless because of disaster and conflict. Over the next 20 years the situation is only going to get worse with an estimated 200 million people to be displaced by intensifying storms alone.

Free Child Restraint Checks In Parkes

June 3, 2022 By Maggi Barnard

Two out of three child restraints are not being used properly putting children at risk. Make sure your child restraint is properly fitted on 14th June at Lions Park for a free check.

The safety of children when travelling is paramount and residents will have the opportunity to receive a free child restraint check on Tuesday, 14th June at Lions Park from 11am to 3pm. 

Parkes Shire Council has organised Authorised Child Restraint Fitters for the annual day to ensure the safe travel of young children.

“The correct fitting and adjustment of child restraints is vital,” said Parkes Shire Council’s Road Safety and Injury Prevention Officer Melanie Suitor. “Research shows that two out of three child restraints are not being used properly and this puts children at risk of injury in the event of a crash.

“Most of the restraints we have checked at previous events have had minor problems that needed fixing to ensure the safety of the child – such as tightening and untwisting straps, fitting gated buckles and correcting the seatbelt’s path through the restraint.

“It is important to have your child restraint checked regularly after prolonged use and installed correctly before use to ensure that your precious cargo is safe,” Melanie said.

Bookings are essential, phone 6861 2364 to secure your place. Free barista coffee will be available, with information about the national child restraint laws, the types of restraints and advice on moving children from one restraint type to the next.

Grand Opening For New Pet Shop On Saturday

June 3, 2022 By Maggi Barnard

The management team at PETstock Country Parkes are Ainsley Newton, Ellie Littlewood and Shirilee Jackson with some of their favourite pets.

PETstock Country Parkes is the first PETstock Country branded store in NSW, and tomorrow is the grand opening with a family fun day from 10am to 2pm at 138 Clarinda Street.

“The whole community is invited to come and enjoy a free coffee from The Fat Parcel, watch the reptile show and display by Kym, the Reptile Man, support the charity barbeque run by Parkes Rescue and Rehoming and enjoy the 20% off sale storewide,” said Ellie Littlewood of the management team. The local station 2PK/RokFM will be live streaming from the store.

PETstock Country Parkes keeps a wide range of products for all pets from your horse to your dog, cat, bird, fish, reptile, rabbit or guinea pig.

According to another management team member Shirilee Jackson all pets’ needs are catered for with a huge selection of pet products including flea, tick and worming treatments, premium dog and cat food ranges, horse ranges and rural supplies.

The Parkes store has already established a working relationship with Parkes Rescue and Rehoming and adopt cats out in store on their behalf.

At the moment virtual puppy training is on offer online with a trainer with 20 years’ experience. “We are working towards opening  a puppy school soon,” said Shirilee.

“We do not only focus on pets, but also cater for hobby farms and bigger farms with supplies of rural agricultural products like fencing and troughs,” said Ainsley Newton of the management team.

She said the store also had a wide range of equine products including locally sourced hay and chaff.

The management team of three supported by a casual staff complement of five are all locals with a wide range of knowledge of pets and local conditions. The store is open seven days a week.

Focus On Food Scraps

May 27, 2022 By Maggi Barnard

Parkes Shire Council received funding to run a new campaign to alert residents of the importance of using the green lid bin for food scraps.

There is a lot in the media about food waste, but do we really know why we need to recycle our food scraps?

Parkes Shire Council will be rolling out the Scrap Together Campaign to help residents understand what happens to food waste collected in the green lid bin as part of a partnership with NetWaste.

Orange City Council and Bathurst City Council are also part of a NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) grant of $40,000 that will help households become top food waste recyclers. 

Parkes Shire Councillor George Pratt said the Scrap Together campaign would not only help residents understand what happened to food waste, but also encouraged them to use the green lid bin well. 

Parkes Shire Council’s $10,000 share of the funding will help keep food and garden waste out of landfill to be processed into compost that will improve soil health. 

“It will enable Council to roll out an engaging campaign that will remind residents of the environmental benefits of recycling your food waste and how to use the service to your advantage,” said the Councillor. 

The campaign was piloted in Forbes, Clarence Valley and Kempsey local government areas last year and proved popular with residents, resulting in an average 10% increase in food waste recovered for recycling. 

Head of EPA Organics Unit, Amanda Kane said: “This funding round will enable 25 councils to deliver the Scrap Together campaign materials, which includes videos, radio adverts, mailbox drops and print advertising.” 

“The NSW Government allocated an additional $69 million over the next five years to further expand FOGO (food organics & garden organics) services and support councils to meet new requirements under the government’s Waste and Sustainable Materials Strategy 2041 to provides services to all NSW households by 2030,” she said. 

For more information visit www.epa.nsw.gov.au/fogo.

Better Together

May 20, 2022 By Maggi Barnard

John Niddrie and Greg Cregan volunteer at Vinnies in Parkes.

This week is National Volunteer Week and a chance for all of us to celebrate and recognise the vital work of volunteers and to say thank you. Volunteers do a lot of work behind the scenes that is vital to the functioning of groups and organisations that serve our community for its betterment.

At Vinnies in Parkes the female volunteers are always in the front helping out customers, but there is also a team at the back doing some vital work. Two of the behind-the-scenes volunteers are Greg Cregan and John Niddrie.

They do a lot of after hours work and on public holidays being responsible for emptying out the donation bins. “We also sort all the items, and pick up and drop off items to people,” said Greg.

Greg has been doing it for about six years, and John joined around 12 months ago. “It is all about helping people out and the comradeship. We all get along really well working here.”

Have you ever considered volunteering? It brings people together; it builds communities and creates a better society for everyone.Together, through volunteering, we are changing communities for the better. We are, Better Together.

More Funding For Parkes CBD Activation

May 20, 2022 By Maggi Barnard

The vacant block beside the Hong Loch Chinese Restaurant will be converted into an open-air plaza and improve pe-destrian connectivity between Clarinda and Welcome Streets under the new round of funding for the CBD activation.

The Parkes CBD makeover has received more funding to further expand the program that will see the transformation continue to create a vibrant precinct. 

Parkes Shire Council’s successful application resulted in $499,930 in grant funding from the NSW Government’s Streets as Shared Spaces Program. 

“The CBD is the community’s most important meeting space,” said Parkes Shire Mayor Cr Ken Keith OAM. “We’ve done a lot of work in recent years to improve the look and feel of the Parkes CBD to make it a more vibrant and welcoming precinct. 

“This next stage will focus on activating the southern end of Clarinda Street, including converting the vacant block beside the Hong Loch Chinese Restaurant into an open-air plaza for public space and improving pedestrian connectivity between Clarinda and Welcome Streets.” 

The works will include surface levelling and sealing, drainage works and landscaping, as well as the installation of new bollards, street furniture and festoon lighting. 

“Outdoor dining is more important than ever as we adjust to the ‘new normal’ way of life with COVID-19. This funding will allow us to construct two additional dining platforms, similar to those at Bella’s Restaurant and Packed Cones Gelato,” the Mayor said. 

The projects will commence this month, with completion expected in February 2023. 

Peak Hill Arts & Crafts Celebrated Over June Long Weekend

May 20, 2022 By Maggi Barnard

The historic and recently renovated Carrington Hotel in Peak Hill is one of two main venues for the 49th Annual Arts & Crafts Exhibition over the June long weekend.

The long weekend in June is going to be huge in Peak Hill as the 49th Annual Arts and Craft Exhibition is shaping up to be one of the biggest yet. 

With the two main venues at the Peak Hill Leisure Centre and The Carrington at full capacity the event is spilling over to Peak Hill Country Crafts for exhibitors, while other shops in the main street will be open for the weekend as well on 11th and 12th June from 9:30am to 4pm. 

Long-time Peak Hill resident May Chandler, who is well into her 90s and continues to crochet, cross-stitch and make cards, will share her story as the guest speaker at the official opening on Friday, 10th June at 6pm at the Leisure Centre. There will be a $5 fee for CanAssist catering. 

“The exhibition committee are thrilled to offer artisan and modern contemporary style arts and craft at this year’s exhibition,” said Judi Unger, Secretary of Peak Hill Leisure Centre. “Artisan arts and crafts demonstrations and static displays include Aboriginal Art, spinning, weaving, loom work, macrame and patchwork, and contemporary style demonstrations highlights acrylic painting workshop, machine embroidered reading cushions, metal work design resin jewellery and lampshade workshops.” 

The Leisure Centre will showcase members’ work created in art and craft groups throughout the year, and an opportunity to vote for the most popular work in The People’s Choice award. 

The Carrington building is an ornate, rustic venue which will feature artworks from the Parkes Art Group, artist-in-residence Leanne Hamblin, mosaic displays, local honey, knitting, sewing, embroidery, jewellery, candles, plants, artwork, sewing, scrapbooking, dolls and card-making. 

Peak Hill Country Crafts also known as the Open Cut Gallery, is a great addition this year’s event as it is already stocked with handmade and home made products created by members of the local community and surrounding district.

Parkes Christian School Enrolment Window Now Open

May 20, 2022 By Maggi Barnard

Parkes Christian School wants to maintain a small-school environment and will be limiting class sizes to cap the student numbers at 350.

Parkes Christian School (PCS) continues to experience a high level of growth, so now is the time to secure your enrolment for next year. 

The school currently has more than 300 students from Kindergarten to Year 12, having grown from around 200 just three years ago. In order to manage this rapid growth, the school is now taking applications for enrolments for 2023 Kindergarten and Year 7 students. 

School Principal Glen Westcott said while the school continued to grow, they also wanted to maintain a small-school environment. “We have made a tough decision to limit our class sizes from this point forward. In Kindergarten, we will only enrol approximately 21 students, and in Year 7 we will only take 50 students, split across two classes.

“Naturally, students who are in Year 6 will automatically be enrolled in Year 7 next year, but for everyone else, the earlier they get their applications in, the better chance they will have of securing a position,” said Glen. 

Parents of students in any year group thinking of enrolling at PCS should also apply as soon as possible, as almost a third of year groups are nearly full.

“We are big enough to have friendly competition in the classroom, all the HSC subjects that other schools offer, sporting teams, school musicals, bands and more, but we are small enough that everyone can be involved and create a really wonderful sense of community,” said Glen.

To find out more contact the school office on 6862 4164, email administration@parkescs.nsw.edu.au or take advantage of the online enrolment application form at www.parkescs.nsw.edu.au/enrolment

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