Only 32km separates them, but the annual rugby league rivalry between the Parkes Spacemen and the Forbes Magpies reaches much further. On Sunday the Parkes Spacemen took the honours at home with a 34 – 10 victory over the Magpies. The other scores for the day were League Tag: Parkes 32 – Forbes 8; 18s Forbes 34 – Parkes 6; Reserves Forbes 16 – Parkes 14.
Sports Grants For Five Clubs
At the announcement of the grants were at the back (L-R) Northparkes Managing Director Jianjun Tian, Parkes Mayor Ken Keith, Northparkes Community & External Relations Advisor Gabe Albert, Marist Junior Rugby President Andrew Thomas and Parkes & District Amateur Soccer Club President Wayne Osbourne. In front are Peak Hill Bowling Club Treasurer Anne O’Leary, Peak Hill Bowling Club Secretary Anne McIntyre, Parkes Sporting Shooter Association President Brian Drabsch and Cr Louise O’Leary.
Five sports clubs were successful in the latest round of the Sports Grants Funding Program of CMOC-Northparkes Mines and Parkes Shire Council.
A total of $23,312.06 in grants were distributed to the five clubs in Parkes, Peak Hill and Trundle.
Parkes Sports Council Chairperson Alan Gersbach was pleased to see a range of projects being put forward for selection, although the total applications were down on previous rounds.
The Peak Hill Bowling Club received $4,400 to replace worn out shade clothes and plinths in the ditches around their bowling greens.
Anne McIntyre of Peak Hill Bowling Club said: “We’re very excited to be able to fix up some of the areas at our club. This money will make all the difference.”
The Trundle Amateur Swimming Club will be purchasing training equipment for members and the wider community with their grant of $925.
The Parkes Sporting Shooters Association of Australia received $4,400 to fit covers over the top of the 25m shooting frames to stop bullets going over the 8m stop butt, while the Parkes & District Amateur Soccer Club will erect a goal backstop fencing behind the current practice goals at Parker/Stone Field with their $6,200 grant.
The Parkes Marist Junior Rugby League club will be purchasing the latest training equipment using their $7,387 grant.
Cr Louise O’Leary thanked Northparkes for their continued support. “Thank you to all the community groups who applied this round. We have extra funds in the next round and strongly encourage any local sporting groups to apply in September. If you would like assistance with your application, please make use of the resources of Council’s grants officer,” said Louise.
“We recognise the importance of sport in sustaining a healthy and happy community,” said Northparkes Managing Director Jianjun Tian.
The next round will see a total of $36,688 available for sports related projects in the Parkes Shire.
Sports Grants For Two Parkes Clubs
The Parkes Australian Football Club Inc. received $2,400 as part of the NSW Government’s Local Sporting Grant Program for the purchase of uniforms and equipment. Member for Orange Philip Donato MP met with club treasurer Ron Hetherington on Tuesday to formally congratulate the club. Phil said he was always happy to support clubs.
The Parkes Rugby League Football Club Inc. secured $3,000 as part of the 2019/20 NSW Government’s Lo-cal Sporting Grant Program. Member for Orange Philip Donato MP was in Parkes on Tuesday to congratulate President of the club, Tony Dwyer (left). Tony said the funding would be used to subsidise the women when they travel for away games.
Sports Oval Gets Spiced Up
SPECIAL DAY… At the commencement of construction of the redevelopment of Spicer Oval on Tuesday were (L-R) Cr Neil Westcott, Deputy Mayor Barbara Newton, Ben Howard (Parkes Shire Council), Phil Donato MP, Parkes Shire Mayor Ken Keith, Glen Tilston (Hines Construction), Allan Ryan (Parkes Boars), Scott Knights (President Parkes Senior Cricket), Duncan Blair (Project Manager Parkes Shire Council) and Kevin Oliver (President Parkes Boars).
By the end of June next year the Parkes Boars Rugby Union Football Club will have its own $1.6 million facility at the Spicer Oval.
“I can’t express how much this means to our club,” said Allan Ryan of the Boars at the commencement of construction this week. “There is nothing like having your own club house. We are very, very grateful. This is going to be a game changer for our club and give us pride and identity.”
The redevelopment of Spicer Oval will include a modern amenities block, a club-house and canteen with additional function capabilities, plus a viewing platform accommodating 300 people to service year-round participation of a range of different sports. The building contract was awarded to Hines Construction.
While it will provide the Parkes Boars with a dedicated facility and accommodate junior, senior and women’s rugby matches, the oval will also be used for cricket matches of all grades and ages.
Phil Donato MP said it was a very special day for the Parkes Community and a significant project for the Boars, who had won the premiership two years in a row. “It will be good for the Boars to have their own facility and a venue to match other clubs’ facilities in the region.”
Parkes Mayor Ken Keith said it was a great move forward for the oval that was known as the People’s Park originally where the great Donald Bradman had played many years ago. “It has been the home of so much sport in our community and it still is.
He said the next phase would be to level the playing field to include two rugby fields and the cricket pitch.
Stage 1 of the redevelopment of Spicer Oval included the upgrade of the LED lighting in line with the lighting code for night time football and cricket.
By Maggi Barnard
Sports Shorts
Rhona Went and Liz Byrne won the Open Pairs to become the Zone Pairs Champions at Regional Bowls Play-Offs hosted by the Parkes Bowling and Sports Club last week. They qualified to play at state finals later in the year. Congratulations!
Parkes won both the men’s and women’s top divisions at last weekend’s Dave Fuller Intertown Teams Squash event in Parkes. Nathan Fuller (left) handed over the prizes to the Parkes players (L-R) Jennifer Condie, Darryn Piper, Geoff Leonard, Jay Kross, Lockie Miller, Shanna Nock and Beck Connell.
A total of $21,881 were handed to five clubs under the latest round of the Sports Grants Funding Program. The clubs are Parkes & District Kennel Club, Parkes Boars Rugby Club, Parkes & District Amateur Soccer Association, Peak Hill Pony Club and the Parkes Tennis Club. At the presentation were (back L – R) Brendon Hunt, Cr Louise O’Leary, Denise Gersbach, Kevin Oliver, Anthony Stewart and Angela Bottaro-Porter. In front Sharon and Sienna Hunt, Northparkes MD Hubert Lehman, Michelle Wetherell and Parkes Shire Mayor Cr Ken Keith.
Panthers Pair Perform
Billy Burns.
Two Central West NRL players were the star performers for the Penrith Panthers last Saturday scoring five tries in total.
Billy Burns from Parkes scored in the 55th minute, while former Forbes Magpies star Charlie Staines made the headlines scoring an amazing four tries on his debut. The final score against the Cronulla Sharks was 56-24. He told Fox Sports afterwards just playing was a dream come true. “I’m lost for words at the moment.”
Billy, who made his debut against the Sydney Roosters in September last year, played 33 minutes.
Local NRL Star
Congratulations to Parkes player Darby Medlyn on his selection for the Canberra Raiders in the NRL Nines in Perth starting today.
Chanticleers Bring Joy To Currajong
John Carrey (right) of Currajong with members of the French rugby league side.
The French Rugby League team spent time in Parkes last week before playing the Western Rams last Wednesday at the Jock Colley Field.
Part of the team’s program included morning tea with clients at Currajong Disability Services. The top class French players were more than happy to interact, chat to and play with participants in a number of football passing games and it wasn’t long before Currajong clients took centre stage.
“The Chanticleers have had a jam-packed promotional schedule since arriving in Parkes with Currajong being one of our most important,” said Team Manager Tas Baitieri.
“We’ve had visits to Peak Hill, Trundle, Forbes and Manildra during our four-day stop in the region. “Yet it’s moments like this that will live long in the memories of our squad,” Tas said.
Currajong’s Timbo Wheeler echoed the sentiments of the French. “I think it’s great they came and saw us. It makes us feel special. They are really good people,” he said.
“Our guys loved it!” said Indigo Kriedemann of Currajong. “They all had a blast and most love their footy, so meeting these stars is a big day for them,” she said.
Nail Biter International Against France In Parkes
PRIDE… The Western Rams team playing France last week included four Parkes Spacemen players. (Photo: Steve Ostini)
Last Wednesday was a night to remember for footy fans in Parkes with an international game played in our backyard.
A record four Parkes Spacemen players were included in the Western representative team against the French Rugby League side.
It was a very tight game towards the end with the Chanticleers just beating the Western Rams 22 – 20 in front of a packed crowd at the Jock Colley Field. The local Spacemen players included in the Western Rams team were Sam Dwyer, Chad Porter, Jordo Pope and Brandon Tago.
Action from the game between the Western Rams and the Chanticleers.
Peter McDonald, Western Rams Rugby League Chairman said the fixture provided the country boys of the Western region a cherished opportunity to test their mettle against their international counterparts.
“To Chaddy, Sammy, Tago and Jordo, Ethan and the rest of the Rams boys, you made a whole region proud and gave many young kids something to dream about,” the
Parkes Spacemen committee said afterwards. “To play such a huge match in our back yard, and give a team loaded with professionals such a great game demonstrates the talent our region is producing.”
The Spacemen also thanked the people of Parkes and surrounds for making the event what it was. “A brilliant crowd for Wednesday night footy – it was a pleasure to host and something we’ll all remember.”
It was the sixth clash between France and a Western division team, and the second match played in Parkes. The previous game was played on 20th July 1955 at Pioneer Oval. The other matches took place in Forbes (1951), Dubbo (1960), Orange (1964) and Bathurst (1990).
Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack was in Parkes on Wednesday to hand over the winning trophy to the French captain Romain Navarrete. (Photo: Dan Fredericks)
Every major rugby league playing nation have played games in Parkes over the past decades. Great Britain played here in 1928, 1936 and 1966, and New Zealand in 1963.
By Maggi Barnard
Finnley Scores With NSW Selection
Finnley Neilsen started playing rugby league when he was five, and last week the Year 11 Red Bend student was lost for words.
“I thought Dad was joking when he told me I was selected for the NSW team,” said the Parkes Marist junior player.
Since last October he’s been living for the sport he absolutely loves. He travels to Forbes every week for training, and quite often to Dubbo and Orange too after being selected to play for the Western Rams for the first time.
He then got into the Country team, which was already very special for the lock. But when he realised last week that his Dad was not joking about his first selection for the NSW team, he “was pretty excited”.
The squad was selected after Finnley played in the NSW Country Under-16s team against a Harold Matthews Representative team at Penrith Stadium on Friday, 17th May.
Finnley is the only player of the Country team selected for the squad. There are seven players from the premiership-winning Newcastle Knights team and four players from grand finalists Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs.
Next Friday he will travel to the Homebush Centre of Excellence for two days of intensive training with the NSW 20-man squad, and on Sunday, 9th June the NSW Under 16s team will play a game against the Under 16s Pasifika team at Belmore Sports Ground.
The Pasifika is an international side with players from Papua New Guinea, Tonga and Samoa.
For Finnley this is the start of his big dream to play NRL one day.
By Maggi Barnard