What's On Archives - Page 31 of 36

Actor Sam Webb In Parkes For Mental Health Expo

June 17, 2022 By Maggi Barnard

Actor and mental health champion Sam Webb.

Actor and mental health champion Sam Webb will be the guest at a free mental health event in Parkes on Monday, 20th June. Community members are invited to the Parkes Mental Health Expo organised by CatholicCare Wilcannia-Forbes at Parkes Services Club from 11:30am to 1:30pm.

Sam, who is known for his appearances in Home and Away, Neighbours and Australian Survivor, co-founded the mental health charity LIVIN in 2013 after the death of a good friend to suicide.

“We’re thrilled that Sam Webb has come on board,” said Kate Shambrook, CatholicCare Wilcannia-Forbes mental health programs manager.

“He is committed to helping people and organisations understand the importance of mental health and making wellness a priority. We think the community will gain a lot from his talk. Mental health as an issue is growing in communities, especially in young people and it is an area of concern.”

Kate invited schools, parents, carers, students and other community members to the expo. Representatives from mental health support providers at Parkes will also be at the event for community members to meet and talk to. It is free to attend, but people are asked to register through Eventbrite.

12 Ambassadors Spread The Word About Books

June 17, 2022 By Maggi Barnard

The biggest group of library ambassadors so far are at the back (L-R) Elly Leach, Asher Gould, Thys Hutchings, Zahli Gillingham, Lila Thompson and Curdie Butler. In front are Aliza Roberts, Addison Wild, Breanna Powell, Sienna Hewett, Grace Mayo and Peggy Swift.

The Parkes Library Ambassadors program has 12 participants this year boasting the biggest number since its inception in 2019.

The 12 students come from all five primary school and includes two students representing the local home school network for the first time. The Year 5 students represent Parkes Christian School, Parkes Public, Parkes East and Middleton Public School and Holy Family.

The group was invited to afternoon tea at the Parkes Library last Wednesday to meet each other and Parkes Shire Councillors Marg Applebee and Jacob Cass, and go on a tour of the library. It also included a creative session in the Marramarra Makerspace

“I just love reading, and that is why I wanted to become a library ambassador,” said 10-year-old Peggy Swift from Parkes Christian School. Her friend Grace Mayo from Parkes Christian School, is also a book lover and is into reading Enid Blyton’s Malory Towers. “It is the best story!”

For Elly Leach (11), who is home schooled, it was about seizing the moment when the opportunity to become a library ambassador came up. “I will also enjoy telling other kids about activities at the library at our home school meets.”

She said her favourite book was The Chronicles of Narnia The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by CS Lewis. She also enjoyed the Dork Diaries and Diary of a Wimpy Kid.

The role of the ambassadors include the promotion of and communication about what is happening at the Parkes Library with their respective school communities. They are also invited to events at the library and invited to write book reviews of new books.

The program was started in 2019 after a trial was run in 2018 and it was found that when students heard something from their peers it had more value.

Free Heavy Vehicle Forum In Forbes

June 17, 2022 By Maggi Barnard

Registrations are open for this year’s Central West NSW Heavy Vehicle Breakfast Forum at the Forbes Inn on Thursday, 30th June.

Local farmers, contract harvesters, couriers, truck drivers and transport company operators are invited to attend.

“We are really excited to be back and to be able to deliver this format which allows for more two-way discussion about the topics that are affecting the local freight industry,” said organiser Melanie Suitor, Parkes, Forbes and Lachlan Shire Councils’ Road Safety and Injury Prevention Officer.

This year will feature three sessions: 1) Effluent, load restraint and Chain of Responsibility from 7.10 – 8.10am; 2) Heavy vehicle access from 8.30 – 9.40am; 3) PBS vehicles from 10 – 11am. You can register for all of the sessions, just one or two.

The forum is free, but registration is required for catering purposes. To register online at: https://forms.office.com/r/ETBbmuA2K1, via the Councils’ Facebook pages or call Melanie on 6861 2364.

Auditions For Mock Crash Youth Actors

June 17, 2022 By Maggi Barnard

The mock crash road safety initiative had seen a 27% reduction in crashes involving young drivers since its inception more than 10 years ago. Amateur actors are invited to audition for this year’s production.

The call is out for amateur youth actors over the age of 16 across the Parkes, Forbes and Lachlan Shires to star in this year’s NOT A STATISTIC! Youth Driver Education Program.

“We are looking for four new actors to join our team and are holding auditions on Wednesday, 22nd June from 4pm – 7pm at the Parkes SES shed in Clarke Street,” said Melanie Suitor, Road Safety and Injury Prevention Officer for the three councils.

She said this road safety initiative had seen a 27% reduction in crashes involving young drivers since its inception more than 10 years ago.

“The auditions will give participants an overview of all aspects of the project. The youth actors will take part in both filmed and live ab-lib exercises,” said Melanie.

Following two years of COVID disruption, this year’s mock crash is going to be developed into a training video. The video will replace the live mock crash demonstration for this year but will result in a resource which allows the program to be implemented in other areas and provides a back-up option for future years’ live demonstrations.

Pre-registration for the auditions is essential. Contact Melanie on 6861 2364 or Melanie.Suitor@parkes.nsw.gov.au for more information and to book your place.

A Sleep Out With No Electricity

June 10, 2022 By Maggi Barnard

Judy and Robert Shore will be sleeping out on 25th June to raise money for Shelterbox in support of homeless people.

Two Parkes residents will be braving the icy elements on 25th June by sleeping out to raise money for the homeless.

Parkes Rotary President Robert Shore and his wife Judy have taken on the #offthegrid fundraising challenge of the charity Shelterbox, which is supported by Rotary.

“We plan to sleep out at the Jemalong Weir, outside Forbes, without any electricity and electronic devices,” said Robert. They chose a site near a river to make it colder.

The public is invited to support Robert and Judy’s challenge by making a donation on the Shelterbox page https://offthegrid.raisely.com/donate

Shelterbox supports people affected by disasters around the world. Earlier in the year Parkes Rotary donated a ShelterBox in support of the devastation in Haiti. There are currently 113 million people who are homeless because of disaster and conflict. Over the next 20 years the situation is only going to get worse with an estimated 200 million people to be displaced by intensifying storms alone.

Paint Parkes Rhymingly…

June 10, 2022 By Maggi Barnard

Rhonda Brain (PTTR Creative Director), Shonel Redfern (Paint Parkes REaD committee member), Barbie Bates (PTTR Executive Director) and Robyne Harrison (NSW PTTR Co-ordinator) are looking forward to have the 9th National PTTR conference in Parkes next year.

The theme for this year’s annual Paint Parkes REaD Day is Rhymingly… traditional nursery rhymes, contemporary rhymes, ditties, and made-up rhymes!

The annual community reading day will take place on Friday, 26th August to celebrate literacy and spread the ‘read, talk, sing and rhyme to children from birth’ message to the community.

Schools and preschools will be doing craft and artwork based on the theme and create banners for the art exhibition at the Parkes Show.

Parkes is recognised as the town that knows how to stage a great reading day among the Paint The Town REaD (PTTR) communities.

Some more exciting news is that Parkes has been chosen to hold the 9th National Paint The Town REaD Conference in September next year with delegates coming from all over Australia. The conference will also mark the 25th anniversary since the first Parkes Community Reading Day, and a huge silver and red celebration will be held in conjunction with the Conference.

Acclaimed Author In Parkes Next Weekend

June 3, 2022 By Maggi Barnard

Author Meredith Jaffe will be discussing her new novel The Tricky Art of Forgiveness at the Parkes Library on Friday, 10th June at 6pm, and the Peak Hill Arts and Craft Exhibition at Open Cut Gallery on Saturday, 11th June at 2pm.

After thirty years of marriage, can there be any secrets left?

Diana Forsyth is in the midst of planning the big party, a combined celebration of her husband Will’s 60th and their 30th wedding anniversary. The whole family is flying in Diana is planning a big surprise.

But then she finds a torn scrap of paper hidden inside the folds of one of his cashmere sweaters, with the words ‘I forgive you’. And all of a sudden, Diana realises she’s not the only one keeping big secrets.

Author Meredith Jaffé is the former festival director of StoryFest on the NSW South Coast, she wrote the weekly literary column for the online women’s magazine The Hoopla, and her feature articles, reviews, and opinion pieces have appeared in The Guardian Australia, The Huffington Post, and Mamamia.

Meredith will be discussing her new novel The Tricky Art of Forgiveness on Friday, 10th June at 6pm at Parkes Shire Library, and at the Peak Hill Arts and Craft Exhibition at the Open Cut Gallery on Saturday, 11th June at 2pm.

Her most recent novel, The Dressmakers of Yarrandarrah Prison, was published in 2021 to wide acclaim.

Best Social Event For 122 Years!

June 3, 2022 By Maggi Barnard

Two things happen in Australia on the June long weekend: ‘Liz’ has a birthday and Parkes Coradgery and Diggers Amateur Picnic Races are on.

“For more than 120 years we have been holding the best social event on the calendar in the Central West,” said club chairman Tim Keith. “We have survived two world wars, two pandemics, bushfires, floods and plagues of all proportions. They just can’t stop us!

“The committee is very proud of the work to stage yet another massive annual social gathering for the Parkes and wider community on Saturday, 11th June,” said Tim.

According to long-standing club secretary Mark Olson, locals and expats have assembled at the Parkes racecourse in June for generations to catch up, reconnect and socialise. “It’s quite the spectacle.”

Committee member Karen O’Neill said: “I have been to Royal Ascot, attended a Melbourne Cup and witnessed Winx winning her last race, but nothing compares to a Parkes Picnic Races and Fashions on the Field experience.”

Tent site bookings are still welcome for what is hoped to be a classic winter’s day to help smash attendance records on 11th June. A range of catered marquees will be offering packaged food, beverage tickets and seating, while patrons are welcome to bring their own food hampers and picnic on the grass.

Book your tickets at 123TIX to enjoy a day of live entertainment by local band Foxxy Cleopatra, five races, fashions, bookmakers, beers and bubbly!

Parkes Services Club is the major sponsor, and Platinum sponsors Agri-West, Telscope Tyres and McPhersons, while the Railway Hotel and Coats Hire joined the sponsorship pool.

Free Child Restraint Checks In Parkes

June 3, 2022 By Maggi Barnard

Two out of three child restraints are not being used properly putting children at risk. Make sure your child restraint is properly fitted on 14th June at Lions Park for a free check.

The safety of children when travelling is paramount and residents will have the opportunity to receive a free child restraint check on Tuesday, 14th June at Lions Park from 11am to 3pm.

Parkes Shire Council has organised Authorised Child Restraint Fitters for the annual day to ensure the safe travel of young children.

“The correct fitting and adjustment of child restraints is vital,” said Parkes Shire Council’s Road Safety and Injury Prevention Officer Melanie Suitor. “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,” Melanie said.

Bookings are essential, phone 6861 2364 to secure your place. Free barista coffee will be available, with information about the national child restraint laws, the types of restraints and advice on moving children from one restraint type to the next.

What’s on @ the Parkes Shire Library & Cultural Centre

June 3, 2022 By Maggi Barnard

MOVIE NIGHTS

Feel like a free night out at the movies with tea, coffee and popcorn? We have two movies coming up:

Our next Cult Movie Night is tonight, 3rd June @ 6pm and features the fourth in a sci-fi action series spanning two decades. With an amazing cast of actors returning to their original roles, this film is a fitting and long-awaited conclusion to the series.

Friday, 24th June @ 6pm we are screening a 2020 comedy which is unbelievably based on a true-crime story. A good old-fashioned underdog tale with eccentric characters – don’t miss it!

Bookings are essential, contact Parkes Library on 6861 2309 to book.

AUTHOR TALK WITH MEREDITHJAFFÉ

Join us on Friday, 10th June @ 6pm and at the Peak Hill Arts & Craft Exhibition at the Open Cut gallery on Saturday, 11th June at

2pm for the two wonderful author talks by Meredith Jaffé on the release of her new book “The Tricky Art of Forgiveness”. For more information and to register your attendance please contact the Parkes Shire Library.

MARRAMARRA MAKERSPACE STUDIO ART CLASSES

Ever wanted to try your hand at art, or learn some new techniques? Join Karen Ritchie’s art classes on Thursdays at the Makerspace. Classes for kids: 4-5:30pm and adults: 6-8pm. Call the Makerspace on 6862 9101 or email makerspace@parkes.nsw.gov.au

ART EXHIBITION

The annual Waste 2 Art Community Art Exhibition in the Coventry Room will be on show from 6th to 25th June with free entry. The official opening of the exhibition and announcement of the winners will be held on Saturday, 4th June at 10am. This is ticketed event with morning tea – $10 adult; $5 children (0-4 year free). Tickets on sale at https://events.humanitix.com/waste-to-art-2022-exhibition-opening

MOVIE NIGHTS

AUTHOR TALK WITH MEREDITHJAFFÉ

MARRAMARRA MAKERSPACE STUDIO ART CLASSES

ART EXHIBITION

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