Show your love and appreciation for your mother and support a local initiative to raise funds for a charity.

Parkes resident Marion Unger will be selling flowers from her garden on the front lawn of the Lutheran Church in Currajong Street (opposite Parkes Public School) from 8:30am tomorrow, Saturday 13th May. Her bunches start from $5 for the smallest size. The bunches of chrysanthemums, the traditional Mother’s Day flower, come mostly from Marion’s garden. She will be donating the money to a children’s ministry in Cambodia. She has attached a small card with information about the ministry to every bunch. Contact Marion on 0447 165 229 for more information. 

Parents and supervisors of local learner drivers are encouraged to attend a free workshop which will be held at the Cooke Park Pavilion in Parkes on Tuesday 23rd May. Commencing at 6pm, the two-hour Helping Learner Drivers Become Safer Drivers workshop will offer parents and supervisors practical advice on how to provide the most effective driving practice for learner drivers.

Parkes Shire Council’s Road Safety and Injury Prevention Officer, Melanie Suitor, says that after two years of COVID disruption, it will be great to return to face-to-face delivery.

Parents and supervisors of learner drivers have a crucial role to play in making our roads safer. That is why we have teamed up with Transport for NSW to hold this workshop.

The workshop covers the licencing system, how to use the Learner Driver Logbook (including the use of digital logbooks), licence conditions for learner and P-plate drivers, the benefits of on-road driving sessions, tips on supervising a learner driver and more.

Parents and supervisors who have attended this workshop have found that it boosted their confidence, helped them better plan driving sessions and allowed them to share their experiences with other parents and supervisors” Ms Suitor said.

We want our children to feel confident when they get behind the wheel of a car, and if you are a parent or supervisor in charge of helping a learner driver then this course help you guide them to be confident drivers. Bookings are essential and can be made by calling Ms Suitor on (02) 6861 2364. Refreshments will be available.

WHAT’S ON MONTHLY CALENDAR

With so much going on at the Library, Marramarra Makerspace & the Coventry Room come in and grab a copy of our new handy calendar to keep you up to date with all the events and activities. An online copy is also available on our Facebook page!

YOUTH BOOK CLUB NOW ONLINE!

Download the book we are reading The Theory of Hummingbirds, by Michelle Kadarusman on the indyreads app and join the online book club guided forum at www.parkeslibrary.freeforums.net. Open toall Parkes Shire Library members aged 12 – 25 years until 20 May 2023. 

Parkes Library will also be hosting our Term 2 Youth Library Lock-in during Law Week for young people aged 12-18 with fun and games where you can learn something about the law and how it affects you. Tuesday 16 May from 5:30-8:00pm. Contact the library to book in.

STORYTIME AND RHYME TIME RETURN IN MAY! 

Storytime resumes on Tuesday 2nd May at 10:30am for 3–5-year-olds and their parents/carer. Rhyme Time resumes on Thursday 4th May at 10:30am for babies to 2-year-olds and their parents/carer. Bookings are essential for these programs.

LEARN SOMETHING NEW IN MAY

Recycled Art Workshops (FREE). Join Ronda Sharpe in this 2 hour workshop and turn repurposed recycled materials into art that you can submit into the Waste to Art competition! Sunday 7th May 10am – 12pm or 2pm – 4pm. Age 6 – 12-year-olds. Contact the library to book in.

Milk Crate Theatre Workshop (FREE) Milk Crate Theatre is coming to Parkes to offer a free community creative workshop in embodiment and play for adults! Artistic Director Margot Politis will lead the group in a session of collaborative and creative play. This will include movement, games and improvisations, leading to the creation of small sequences or scenes to share with the group. Saturday 20 May 11am – 2pm in the Marramarra Makerspace. Contact Parkes Library to book in and for details. 

Parkes and Forbes Shire Councils are ensuring that children are safe and secure when travelling in vehicles with free child restraint checks by Authorised Child Restraint Fitters in Parkes on Friday 12 May 2023 and Forbes on Saturday 13th May.

The Councils’ Road Safety and Injury Prevention Officer, Melanie Suitor, says that these free child restraint checking days will now be held bi-annually as they are usually well patronised and are important in ensuring the safe travel of young children.

“Due to the success of previous events, we’ve received funding to offer this service twice a year to residents in Parkes and Forbes – one round of checking days will be held in late November/early December and the other round will be in April/May,” Ms Suitor said.

The upcoming child restraint checking days will be held in Parkes on Friday 12 May from 11am – 3pm in the carpark at Kelly Reserve and in Forbes on Saturday 13 May from 10am – 2pm in the Bunnings carpark.

The correct fitting and adjustment of child restraints is vital. 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,” Ms Suitor said.

Bookings are essential – phone 6861 2364 to secure your place. Information about the child restraint laws, the types of restraints and advice on moving children from one restraint type to the next will also be available.

INGREDIENTS 

• 1 cup self-raising flour
• 2 eggs
• 1/3 cup milk
• 2 x 420g cans corn kernels, drained
• 2 tbsp chopped chives
• 100g fetta, crumbled
• 30g piece cold butter
• 1 small avocado, cut into wedges
• 30g baby rocket
• 2 tbsp Coles sweet chilli sauce, to serve 

INSTRUCTIONS 

1. Place flour into a large mixing bowl and make a well in the centre. Use a fork to whisk eggs and milk in a jug and pour gradually into the flour, stirring gently to combine. Fold in corn, chives and fetta. Don’t over-mix or the fritters will be tough. 

2. Wrap butter in a piece of paper towel. Heat a large frying pan over medium heat and wipe with the butter to grease. Drop 1/4 cupfuls of mixture into the pan (you’ll have to cook in batches). Cook for about 2-3 mins, until golden brown underneath, then turn and cook the other side. Repeat with the butter and fritter mixture. 

3. Serve fritters with avocado, bacon, cherry tomatoes, rocket and sweet chilli sauce.