The Parkes PA & H Association Secretary Liz Brown stepped into a Santa role recently when she donated various items to four welfare organisations in Parkes.

The items were donated by the Royal Agricultural Society Foundation (RASF).

Natalie Quince from Georgie’s Pantry received an assortment of items that will go into their Christmas gift baskets for needy families. The items included Lego kits, games, drink bottles, stationery sets, sanitiser, hand wipes and bath wash.

Liz also donated hand sanitiser and wipes to Vinnies, CanAssist, Men’s Shed and Georgie’s Boutique volunteers. The volunteers welcomed the donations as they are in contact with the public and handle lots of items every day.

The RAFS provide grants and scholarships to help rural Australians realise their potential through education, make a difference in their communities and achieve their ambitions.

The Parkes PA & H Association also received funding earlier this year to upgrade its luncheon room, committee room and baby change room and grandstand. Work has also started on a new animal nursery and environmental shed. More details will follow once all the work has been completed and ready for the 140th show in 2021.

National Recycling Week celebrated its 25th anniversary last week with councils, workplaces, schools and individuals to help improve their recycling knowledge, build better recycling habits and build trust in recycling.

The theme ‘Recovery – A future beyond the bin’ encouraged residents to think about how to value resources, and giving them a second life by reducing, reusing and recycling.

Parkes Shire Council announced that Parkes residents would be able to dispose of problem wastes such as paint, gas bottles, batteries and more, free of charge at its new Community Recycling Centre at the existing Parkes Waste Facility.

“As a community, reducing our waste not only keeps valuable materials out of landfill it also benefits the environment by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and our need for new materials,” said Chair of Parkes Shire Waste Committee, Cr Alan Ward. “By reducing and reusing we can all save money at home and in the workplace.”

To celebrate National Recycling Week, Netwaste, developed a game so you can test your skills on what stream different wastes go to. You can find the link on Council’s website to play along and see
how quickly you can sort rubbish. Go to https://recycle.netwaste.org.au/

The Netwaste Group of Councils will also be coordinating a community survey to assess our local community’s usage and satisfaction with the current kerbside recycling, food, garden and general waste service. The survey will be conducted via telephone to Parkes Shire residents or alternatively, you can take the survey online before Sunday, 29th November. The survey is available on Council’s website www.parkes.nsw.gov.au or go direct to the survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/W55M7JN

Many NSW residents took the opportunity to explore their own state over the school holidays with over 10,000 people visiting the Parkes Radio Telescope.

Thousands of visitors streamed through our town during the school holidays as NSW residents explored more of their own state under current COVID restrictions.

The Parkes Radio Telescope Visitor’s Centre welcomed just over 10,000 visitors over the two weeks making it an extremely busy time. “These holidays felt a lot busier with so many families travelling,” said Tricia Trim, Visitor Centre Coordinator.

After being closed for three months earlier in the year, it was a pleasant surprise.

“Visitors came from all parts of NSW,” Tricia said. Owner of The Dish Café Craig Smith said he was really busy too with most people coming from Sydney, Wollongong and the Northern beaches. “Everyone I spoke to were excited about visiting the Central West and loving it!”

Tricia said they received some lovely comments about how beautiful it is out here. The Visitor’s Centre had to increase its daily staff numbers to ensure the safety of every visitor under current COVID regulations with social distancing in place, contact tracing, and hand sanitising. “In addition, we cleaned all contact surfaces,” said Tricia.

While the extra pressure, and a long queue of people waiting outside to enter, kept the staff on their toes every day, Tricia said: “It was really wonderful to be open again these holidays and to welcome so many first-time visitors to The Dish.”

At the opening last Friday were (L – R) Parkes Councillor Neil Westcott, Deputy Group Captain Ian Westcott, Group Captain Grant Byrne, Peter Green, Supt. Ken Neville AFSM, Neville Woods, Philip Donato MP, Acting Area Director Jayson McKellar AFSM, and Parkes Deputy Mayor Cr Barbara Newton.

The Parkes Shire is going into this fire season well equipped and prepared with a fourth new station opened last Friday at Mickibri between Alec Town and Peak Hill.

The new single bay station, built at a cost of almost $50,000, will house one of the two brigade trucks based at Mickibri. Another single bay station was built several years ago.

Over the past month three other new stations were opened at Parkes, Coradgery and Waratah.

The Mickibri Brigade has a long history of service to the community spanning back over 80 years, with local families on the land banding together as part of the brigade to help protect their own and neighbours’ properties.

Speaking at the opening Member for Orange Phil Donato said: “I am in total admiration of the men and women who drop everything, temporarily abandoning their work and family commitments to help fight fires to protect life and property, in many cases at financial loss in their absence from work. They display unity, courage and commitment.

The ceremony included an awards presentation, with 17 of the brigade’s 21 volunteer members recognised for a combined 651 years of service ranging from 10 to 58 years.

By Maggi Barnard