The Sydney Royal Easter Show is back this year from 8th to 19th April and The Parkes Phoenix readers stand a chance to win a family pass by entering our competition

The show offers 12 hours of free entertainment every day and an astounding showcase of agricultural excellence.

The Royal Agricultural Society of NSW will also be celebrating its bicentenary, commemorating its heritage, and shining a spotlight on the evolution of the organisation and Australian agriculture.

Some of the highlights include the National Young Judges competitions featuring two students from Forbes competitors from 2021 and 2022.

The show has the biggest collection of rides in Australia. You will be spoilt for choice with all the classics and family favourites plus two new Australian rides including the Twister, and the Aviator, where you’ll see the show from new heights of 100 feet.

Peppa Pig Meet and Greet – everyone’s favourite bossy little pink pig is ready and waiting to say ‘oink oink’ and pose for a photo at the Pig Pavilion every day of the show. She’s cheeky, fun, and always looking for a muddy puddle to jump in!

To win a family pass to the Sydney Royal Easter Show answer the question below:

What is your favourite thing about the Sydney Royal Easter Show?

In the year of the Queen’s Jubilee grants will be made available to organisations to plant thousands of trees throughout the Central West and Riverina as part of our nation honouring the legacy of Queen Elizabeth II and her 70 years of service to Australia and the Commonwealth.

Member for Riverina Michael McCormack said eligible groups and organisations could lodge an expression of interest (EOI) in tree-planting grants being made available through the $15.1 million Planting Trees for The Queen’s Jubilee Program.

Grants from $2,500 to $20,000 will be available to a broad range of organisations, with each Federal electorate eligible to receive up to $100,000 for up to 10 projects.

To be eligible, applicants must have an Australian Business Number and be an incorporated not-for profit entity or eligible government entity. Schools and churches are also eligible to lodge an EOI, subject to sponsorship criteria which is available from Michael’s Wagga Wagga electorate office.

Trees planted may be native or non-native, but must be regionally appropriate and grow to more than two metres tall when mature.

EOIs for the Riverina electorate can be lodged until 5pm on Monday, 4th April. EOIs should include a short description of the project, total cost, grant funding sought, why the project is important to the community and contact details.

Expressions of interest forms can be requested by emailing michael.mccormack. mp@aph.gov.au or by contacting the electorate office on 6921 4600. The office can also provide further information about eligibility of organisations and the type of trees which can be planted.

The Queen has visited Australia 16 times and on many of these visits planted trees leaving a long-lasting reminder of the special occasion for the people in those communities. The Queen is said to have planted 1,500 trees throughout her reign.

After 18 months of Elvis leaving the building, Parkes Elvis Festival is back and on the lookout for volunteers to help make this year’s event a success.

Organisers are calling for the community to get onboard and help deliver the king-sized program filled with more than 150 Elvis and Speedway inspired events.

Volunteering at the festival is open to people from all walks of life, and with different skills and experiences. There are many ways to volunteer, including setting up event spaces and signage, ushering guests, assisting with a multitude of events both inside and outdoors and transporting VIPs.

“The change of date along with impacts of Covid-19 have resulted in a need for new volunteers,” said Festival Director, Tiffany Steel. “We have more than 100 volunteer roles to fill. If you have specific interests, we can place you in a role where you can learn and get on-the-job experience whilst helping on one of the most popular festivals in Australia.” said Tiffany.

There are ways local businesses can help too. Employee volunteering programs are a great way for businesses to show their corporate social responsibility and provide employees with the opportunity to contribute to the community. Local organisations such as Northparkes Mines give back to the community by providing volunteers each year.

“We’re absolutely thrilled to be involved with the sponsorship of the festival’s incredible volunteer program,” said General Manager of Central West Credit Union Brett Hartin.

“Volunteers are the life blood of regional areas, and this is a fantastic opportunity to give back to the community.”

In the spirit of Elvis, each volunteer will receive a t-shirt, hat, water bottle, bag and will get to have a whole lotta rockin’ and rollin’ fun.

To apply visit www.parkeselvisfestival.com.au. Volunteer inductions are on Saturday, 12 March from 10.00am – 11.30am and on Monday, 21 March from 6.00pm – 7.30pm at the Cooke Park Pavilion. Apply now to ensure you don’t miss out!

The Parkes Aquatic Centre opened its doors on Saturday and in line with the latest COVID Public Health Order you must check in with the QR code and should be prepared to show proof of your vaccination.

At this stage the only members of the public who can access the aquatic centre are fully vaccinated adults (16 and over); unvaccinated children between the ages of 12 and 16 accompanied by a fully vaccinated adult at all times; and unvaccinated children under the age of 12 must be accompanied at all times by a fully vaccinated parent or guardian.

The Parkes pool will also be closed to the public from Monday to Friday between 1:30 to 3pm for cleaning sanitation in line with COVID-19 Government regulations. Physical distancing measures include restrictions in changerooms and the number of swimmers per lane will be restricted.

“We ask that our community and visitors please respect these restrictions and changes as staff are doing their best to keep the facility a safe place for everyone to enjoy,” said Parkes Shire Mayor Ken Keith.

Registrations for the Learn to Swim Program are now open, and forms are available on Council’s website. Season tickets can be purchased from the Parkes Pool kiosk.

The pools at Peak Hill, Tullamore and Trundle are expected to open on Saturday, 30th October.

For the second year in a row the annual Parkes Show had to be cancelled because of COVID-19.

The Parkes PA&H Association Inc announced the cancellation of this year’s show on Wednesday after the committee made to the difficult decision at a meeting on Monday following the “unacceptable degree of risk to the community currently posed by the COVID situation in the east of our state”.

“Following the cancellation of the 2020 Parkes Show, the committee had high hopes for a spectacular 140th celebration and show, but it has become increasingly apparent in recent days that there is no guarantee that the show would be able to proceed in the first instance and certainly no way of knowing the conditions and limitations that may yet be imposed,” the committee said in its press release.

Show president Peter Unger said: “I feel for the community of Parkes, another event cancelled. I believe there was great anticipation for the 2021 Parkes Show to help bring some normality back.”

The 2021 Parkes Showgirl competition is still set to go ahead with the judging and dinner planned for Saturday, 14th August at the Parkes Services Club.

Young women aged 18-25 are encouraged to enter the competition for the chance to gain training, win great prizes, and represent Parkes at the Zone Judging in Condobolin for the chance to move forward to the Sydney Royal Easter Showgirl Competition.

Rebekah Auld, Parkes 2019 Showgirl highly recommends the experience. “It’s a great way to meet people, as well as to proudly represent Parkes.”

For entry forms and dinner tickets, contact Liz at the Parkes Show Office on 6862 2580.

The garden will offer a space to rekindle happy memories; a place to visit, reflect and remember.

Miss Lindy’s Garden was officially unveiled at the Parkes Early Childhood Centre (PECC) earlier this month in memory of the centre’s beloved director Lindy Farrant who passed away last year.

“We are here to celebrate an amazing garden space that has been created as a living memorial for our much-loved Miss Lindy,” said PECC’s Director Colette Genet-Marks.

“Lindy adored enchanting natural landscapes and artistic and colourful spaces. This garden is a melding of all these elements, with a child-like sense of fun.

“It will remind us of the power that can come from the planting of a small seed and the joy of watching that seed grow and blossom.

“Like adoring the beauty that a garden can bring to the world, Lindy celebrated the beauty of the people around her. She made people feel valued and heard, and we will always treasure the love and guidance that Lindy shared with her community,” said Colette.

“What Lindy has sown in our community; we will all continue to reap. Although Lindy cannot personally experience this garden, I truly believe in spirit Lindy will always be amongst us, continuing to support, guide, treasure and celebrate all that we are and all that we do.”

Lindy’s husband Bill Jayet said one of the last things he and Lindy did together during last year’s COVID lockdown, prior to her condition deteriorating, was to create a new garden at the front of their home.

“So, it was fitting that this beautiful space at PECC be dedicated as a garden to Lindy with all its quirky art bits and pieces by our three talented artists Deb Jones, Elsie Mahon and Pol Cruz.

“These three artists were all friends of Lindy’s: a friendship that especially flourished throughout a memorable couple of
decades of art and craft exhibitions that not only raised tens of thousands of dollars for PECC but also became one of the great social events of the Parkes calendar.

“Elsie, Deb and Pol – you really are treasures – again your artistic skills have come to the fore.

“We are absolutely delighted with what you have created and produced. Our heartfelt thanks go to all who were responsible
for making Lindy’s Garden a reality,” said Bill.

Burgers have been popular in Australia for some time, but it seems like burgers in Parkes are powerful. Just about every eating establishment in our town has at least one burger on its menu.

If you would walk around town asking people about burgers, most of them would not hesitate to name their favourite burger and where they get it in Parkes.

There are many reasons to love burg-ers, but it seems like a burger is like a good friend. You know it very well, and you like spending time with it.

“A burger is plain and simple food, and you can find them everywhere,” says my burger obsessed teenage son.

Apart from being cheap, burgers are also easy to eat, are some other testimonials from burgers lovers on the internet. “The meat is ground up, you don’t have to do much chewing. Because it’s served on a bun, it’s easy to eat. There’s no cutting, only lifting. And because burgers come with an array of sides, you can build yours to your own taste. That’s appealing too.”

The familiarity factor is a big one for some people. “Sometimes, when we go out to eat, we don’t want to be challenged. We want the taste of the familiar and nothing’s more familiar, than the taste of a burger.”

The seemingly endless variety of burg-ers available catering for every taste and many different diets, allergies and intolerances, also makes it a popular meal. While its base components – lettuce, tomato, ground meat, and bread – are simple and cheap, it has thrived because of how adaptable it is to change.

Burgers also seem to have fight off the rise of the foodie fitness and wellness trend, which has become very prominent in Australian culinary culture. Many cafes now serve kombucha, acai bowls, chia puddings, buckwheat noodles and well-ness smoothies because of its popularity.

“But salty, fatty and sugary burgers have stood up to that threat. They’re the ‘perfect cheat meal’ and really not that unhealthy, if made with top produce,” says one observer of the burger trend.

The burger has also kept up with the trend of photographing food, as it comes to the table in the perfect configuration to be photographed and put on social media.

All in all, burgers are popular because burgers are good. Burgers not only do the job of feeding us when we want to be fed, but can even serve as a comfort food when needed. And for that, we should all be grateful to the burger.

If you have a great burger memory, story or photo, why not share it with us. Send your contributions to editor@parkesphoenix.com.au

Bon Appetit!

By Maggi Barnard

After celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2019, the Parkes Garden Club had to be creative and flexible in 2020 with the challenges that the COVID pandemic presented.

The club was a nominee for the Community Event of the Year in the annual Australia Day awards for its inventive and supportive ways of keeping connected with members during the COVID lockdown and restrictions.

“COVID has tested us all this past year, and so our emphasis has been on keeping members informed, in touch and together as a community,” the club wrote in its submission for the award. “This has been achieved through the continuation of our monthly newsletter, which members said was a connection with others when they could not venture out.”

Club secretary Norma Garment said the easing of restrictions in July brought new challenges for meetings requiring a team effort from members to stay safe and abide by the rules, “and most importantly staying in touch and assisting each other during these challenging times”.

Despite the restrictions, the club managed to organise guest speakers, conduct a bonsai workshop and have a club ramble in September when members opened their gardens.

The club meets every second Saturday of the month. Contact Norma on 0409 622 888 for more information.

The Arts Revival Festival from 14th to 19th December aims to end a year of no creative stimulation and revive, celebrate and foster artistic activity in the Parkes Shire community.

The festival, organised by the Parkes Shire Arts Advisory Council and Parkes M&D Society, has a full program of a variety of workshops, three one-act plays, an art exhibition, a craft market and various musical performances.

“As there was hardly any creative stimulation during this year of the pandemic, the festival aims to help people have something to work towards,” said spokesperson Lisa Ramsay.

“We hope to make it an annual event and introduce new facets of artistic endeavours into our community. That is why we have included the improvisation workshops for instance for kids and adults.”

Improvisation, a collaborative method of creating live spontaneous theatre that is funny, often touching and frequently poignant, would broaden participants’ skills in how they react and be more authentic on stage, according to Lisa.

“It opens up a different avenue on stage, as musicals might not be for everyone.”

If there is enough interest after the workshops, Lisa is keen to start an improvisation group meeting on a monthly basis to inspire continuous engagement in new artistic endeavours. The workshops will run on 18th and 19th December.

Lisa is also very excited about the three one-act plays to be performed at the festival. “The M&D have not done a play for more than seven years, and we should attract a different audience.” The plays are The Proposal and The Wedding, adapted from Chekhov’s original plays to a farming landscape in 80s Australia, and a junior play Mother Duck and the Golden Goose.

The Arts Revival Festival is a wonderful way to end this tough year on a cheerful note. See the full program of events on the Parkes Shire Council’s website. Tickets for the shows are available online.