The Community Arts Spring Fling Festival is well underway in Parkes and has been a rousing success so far. 

If you have been in the Parkes CDB recently the Spring Fling vibe is hard to miss with over 1,000 handmade flowers adorning the main street and Cooke Park, and colourful signs and banners. 

“We have been thrilled with the community response,” said Parkes Community Arts secretary Kerryn Jones. Baz Luhrmann’s ‘Elvis’ movie last Friday was sold out, while the creative workshops in art, drumming and flower arrangement were also sold out. The upcoming Lindsay Morehouse memorial concert on Sunday at 2pm in the Starlight Lounge of Parkes Services Club is filling up fast. 

The main event, the Cooke Park Community Fun Day, has fallen victim to La Niña and will be postponed to the new date of Saturday, 19th November from 10am to 2pm. “Though disappointed, we are grateful that most vendors and performers are able to be flexible in this uncertain weather, though some clashes have been inevitable”, said Kerryn. 

Community members need not worry, the 19th is looking to be sunny and warmer for the free event with lots of activities, food and music performances. 

Quentin Park Alpacas will be ready to meet and greet people from 10am. There will also be artisan market stalls inside the Cooke Park Pavilion by local artists and creatives. 

The Best in Show art exhibition in the Coventry Room of Parkes Shire Library and Cultural Centre, funded by the CMOC Northparkes Community Investment Program, will be extended to 19th November. “This exhibition has been particularly special,” said curators Deb Jones and Helen Standen “with the most artworks ever submitted to a single exhibition here. We had over 400 artworks entered and there are a huge range of ages and mediums on display.” 

Visit www.facebook.com/PCAFestival for updates and infomation. 

By Roxanne Gallacher 

It is National Bird Week and residents can still make a difference for bird conservation by participating in the 2022 Aussie Bird Count until Sunday. 

All you need to do is pick a spot outside and count birds for at least 20 minutes to help researchers create a snapshot of Australia’s urban and more common bird species. Data collected is submitted through the Aussie Bird Count app or through an online web form. 

“The annual Aussie Bird Count is a great way for residents to enjoy the outdoors and learn about birds in our shire,” said Parkes Shire Council’s Environment and Sustainability Officer, Michael Chambers. 

“Last year 112 residents took part, and we would love to see even greater participation this year.” 

Starting in 2014, the Aussie Bird Count has become one of the largest citizen science projects in Australia. The 2021 Aussie Bird Count saw more than 100,000 Australians take to their local green spaces to count nearly 5 million individual birds. Across the Parkes Shire, residents recorded a total of 5,013 individual birds across 86 species. The most recorded species in the Parkes Shire was the Galah, followed by Crested Pigeons, House Sparrows, Apostlebirds and Australian Magpies. Several species listed as ‘vulnerable’ under federal legislation were also sighted, including Major Mitchell’s Cockatoo (Pink Cockatoo), Grey-Crowned Babbler, Brown Treecreeper, Dusky Wood Swallow, Superb Parrot and the Speckled Warbler. 

Data obtained from annual Aussie Bird Counts helps Council increase environmental engagement among residents, informs land management decisions and can indicate the impacts of tree planting efforts across the Shire. 

For residents interested in attracting more wildlife to their gardens, Council will be giving away native shrubs and trees at the Spring Fling Market that has been postponed to Saturday, 19th November. 

You can download the Aussie Bird Count app for free, or use the online form at https://aussiebirdcount.org.au/submit-a-count/ 

The Spring Fling Festival includes a performance by Parkes Shire Concert Band on 23rd October in celebration of Lindsay Morehouse featuring local and regional musicians. 

Lindsay Morehouse (1930-2022) was an accomplished musician playing in youth orchestras in his teens. He came to Parkes in 1973 as a radio engineer for 2PK and violin/ piano teacher. In 1974 he formed Sinfonia of the West and continued to conduct and play in community orchestras until he left Parkes in 2015. Lindsay established the music store and was a record label producer. 

In Lindsay’s eulogy, his daughter Caroline Chapman, said: “Dad soon gathered a group of musicians and formed the Sinfonia of the West in 1974. He never wasted any time in getting orchestras going where ever he went in Australia. In the 1970s the orchestra accompanied the M & D productions. The Sinfonia continued for around five years. 

“Dad was always on hand for providing PA systems for events and set up a new records label called ‘Strad Records’. The Strad came from a magazine name that they subscribed to and is of course short for Stradivarius. One of the records that dad recorded and produced was by a local band called Acid. I had a young man track me down around five years back wanting to know if I had any copies as they now sold for over $300 on eBay. Dad was amazed at this. 

“When the 35th Jazz Convention came to Forbes in 1980 he undertook the sound recording for the event. In the late 1970s we spent many happy afternoons at the Lachlan Vintage Village while Dad was installing the push button audio system which told you a story about every building. 

“With 2PK being sold and part of a network, Dad could see the writing on the wall, and as we had started our music shop in the old 2PK building the previous year, he decided to retire from 2PK and work full time in the shop. 

“Selling musical instruments and sheet music in Parkes was always going to be a challenge. Luckily video movie rental became popular and Dad bought 60 movies; 30 for Strad Music Centre and 30 for our store in Forbes, Hawkes Music Centre which we had recently purchased. People had an insatiable appetite for watching movies at home and our library grew to 2,000 movies and we had 20 outlets around the Central West. 

“Mum and Dad were not as active in the music world over this busy time, but Dad would soon gravitate back to what he loved after Mum’s untimely death starting up an orchestra once again in the Parkes Symphony. He travelled to Orange to rehearse and play in their orchestra and spent his time helping out with community pursuits such as the Lachlan Valley Community Radio station. He also started teaching violin again. His passion was to see music and the arts grow in the region.” 

Lindsay encouraged everyone to enjoy music, learn or pick up the instrument again. He organised for many other orchestras and choirs to play in Parkes. 

Lindsay was a trailblazer with great tenacity for promoting and sustaining music in our community. With respect, we honour him in a free community concert on Sunday, 23rd October at the Starlight Lounge at the Parkes Services Club. 

Afternoon tea and coffee will be provided. Book online to RSVP at https://events.humanitix.com/spring-fling-festival-lindsay-morehouse-memorial-concert 

By Ellen Tom

As excitement is mounting for the Parkes Elvis Festival, a call has gone out to residents in Parkes and Forbes to consider opening up their homes to festival goers to help ease the shortage of accommodation.

“We really need more people to come aboard with home hosting,” said Gail Richardson from Ray White. She has been managing home hosting for more than six years and said in the time no homes had been damaged and nothing had been stolen.

Gail assists homeowners every step of the way from giving them a checklist to marrying up the right guests with the right hosts.

She said at the moment she had a waiting list of over 200 people still looking for a place to stay. “I can understand people are still hesitant after COVID, but we had no issues this year.”

Teagan Massurit, who had done home hosting for a couple of years, said she would recommend it to anyone. “I’ve always had lovely people and they really got me involved in the festival. I never used to go to any events, but my guests asked me out with them. It is just great hearing their stories and they are so happy that it makes you happy too.”

Gail said the recommended price to charge is $90 per person per night, of which $72 goes to the howe owner. The $18 balance goes to the booking system. “Ray White has never made money and considers it a community service.”

If you would like to find out more about home hosting, contact Gail at Ray White in Parkes.

A new photographic display detailing the Australian response to the Bali terrorist attack will be on show at the Australian War Memorial.

“The Bali bombings will be remembered as the date that terrorism hit home,” Australian War Memorial Director Matt Anderson said.

The Royal Australian Air Force evacuated critically injured people out of Indonesia as part of Operation Bali Assist – the largest Australian aeromedical evacuation since the Vietnam War.

The Australian Federal Police were invited to assist the Indonesian National Police and played a key role in investigation breakthroughs that led to the arrest, trial and execution of some of the perpetrators.

A display detailing the aftermath, co-curated with the Australian Federal Police Museum, is dedicated to the victims of the 2002 Bali bombings and the government agencies, including the Australian Defence Force and Consular Officers who put themselves in harm’s way in the immediate aftermath of the bombing, and the Australian Federal Police, who sought justice for victims and their families.

The exhibition includes images taken by AFP members in the aftermath of the attack, including a photograph of former Prime Minister John Howard inspecting the site of the bombing.

Images taken inside Paddy’s Bar show where Australian Federal Police investigators were able to source several pieces of tartan fabric and other matter that made up the explosive vest used in the first detonation.

Visitors will need a free ticket to the Australian War Memorial to see this display, which will be on show until 20 November 2022.

The Spring Fling Festival will bring family fun, music, art and lots more to the Parkes community over the next two weeks with plenty of free events.

Hosted by Parkes Shire Council in partnership with Parkes Community Arts Inc (PCA) the festival will run from the 8th of October to the 23rd.

The jam-packed program of free events includes a Community Fun Day, a film screening of Baz Luhrmann’s ELVIS, creative workshops, music and art. The workshops cover a wide range of topics from community drumming, and an Inventing Insects Art Workshop to a spring flower-arranging workshop.

ELVIS, Baz Luhrmann’s latest film, will be screened at Cooke Park Pavilion on Friday, 14t October at 6pm.

“Movie goers are encouraged to come dressed up in their best Elvis or Priscilla gear, with prizes to be awarded for the best dressed,” said Parkes Shire Council’s Manager Cultural, Education & Library Services Kerryn Jones.

“Although these events are free, bookings are essential for the film viewing and all workshops. To reserve your spot, visit PCA’s Facebook page for further details.”

The Community Fun Day on Saturday, 22nd October at Cooke Park Pavilion from 10am to 2pm will have market stalls, six beautiful alpacas from Quentin Alpaca Park, face-painting, live music, free Rotary BBQ, coffee van, arts and crafts, and more.

On Sunday, 23rd October the Parkes Shire Band will team up with other musicians and bands to present a free concert at the Parkes RSL Starlight Lounge at 2pm, celebrating Lindsay Morehouse’s contribution to music in Parkes.

The Best in Show Art Exhibition (funded by CMOC-Northparkes Mines) opens tomorrow (8th October) at 10am and will be on display in the Coventry Room through-out the festival.

Other events in the Parkes Shire include the Peak Hill Arts Connect Workshops, Parkes Que Club’s Gardens and Galleries (9 October), Parkes M&D Spring into Summer events, and the Trundle ABBA Festival (15 October).

Visit www.facebook.com/PCAFestival for more information and to buy tickets.

COMMUNITY LOUNGEROOM

Libraries are terrific places. Full of wonder and interesting things. But have you ever thought about visiting the library just for a quiet place to sit, perchance to dream? We have created a lovely quiet community loungeroom where you can do just that. On display are some of our collection of magazines and beautiful, glossy coffee books. There are art books and garden books, books about food and books of the rich (and not necessarily famous). So the next time you are looking to treat yourself to some quiet, dream time, come visit us at the Library – we are pretty sure you won’t be disappointed.

BE BIFFSQUIGGLED!

Recently the library celebrated Roald Dahl Story Day with fun activities. Library users were able to vote for their favourite BFG word. BIFFSQUIGGLED was the winner, and it means to be confused or puzzled. Golden tickets were hidden in the library and those who found them won a prize.

AUTHOR TALK & HISTORY WRITING WORKSHOP

Jeanette M Thompson, author of Bone and Beauty: the Ribbon Boys’ Rebellion, will be giving an author talk and history writing workshop on Wednesday, 26th October. Make sure to call us to book your spot for this event.

MARRAMARRA MAKERSPACE WORKSHOPS

Two free workshops funded by the NSW Government’s Reconnecting Regional NSW Community Events Program. Numbers are limited, call 6861 2309 to book your place.
• 13 October: Inventing Insects with Helen Standen and Elsie Mahon, 9am-noon
• 12 & 17 October: Festival Community Drumming with Robert Shannon, 5:30-7pm.

BEST IN SHOW ART EXHIBITION

We have been inundated with paintings, sculptures, drawings and 3D creations for the Best In Show Art Exhibition! The exhibition opens on Saturday, 8th October at 10am and will be on display until 22nd October.

ABBA fans only have to wait two more weeks for the much-anticipated comeback of the Trundle ABBA Festival on Saturday, 15th October.

This year Parkes Shire Council has announced a hugely entertaining schedule full of ambition, breadth and range for Australia’s one and only ABBA festival.

Headlining the festival is the world’s number one ABBA tribute band, Björn Again. ABBA fans from all over the world are packing their dancing shoes and sparkly outfits to ensure Trundle’s Berryman Oval is full of Dancing Queens while they also enjoy the five fabulous bands supporting Björn Again.

The hottest live disco show on the circuit, Disco Revolution is set to have the crowd dancing to classic hits from the 70s and 80s, while those who prefer to shake their tailfeather will enjoy the fun-loving Blues Brothers Re-Booted with their soul, rhythm and blues set.

Plump, the dynamic five-piece band from Canberra will channel a Studio 54 vibe bringing some funky disco tunes to the party. Trundle ABBA Festival also continues to showcase local talent with Parkes trio, Amitie back by popular demand to harmonise with sweet sounds from the 50s, 60s and 70s. For the very first time teenage sensations, Plus One from Cowra will win over the crowds when the gates open at 12pm.

Irish born dancing sensation and co-host of Studio 10, Tristan MacManus will be the official festival host, bringing together the fabulous line-up and keeping the crowd dancing the day away.

The festival is a day of family fun and entertainment as Trundle comes alive with colour, glitter and music. It’s time to ‘dance and jive and have the time of your lives’ as the Trundle ABBA Festival returns to light up the region.

Don’t miss out! For more information on the festival and to purchase tickets, visit www.trundleabbafestival.com.au.