Thomas and Maddison Day recently graduated from the University of Wollongong. It was a special day for Paula Day to have her son and daughter graduate. Tom graduated with a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) but sadly had to miss out on the official ceremony due to COVID. He is now working as an Electrical Engineer in Sydney. Maddi graduated with a Bachelor of Primary Education Honours (first class) and is now teaching at a school supporting children with autism and mental health also in Sydney. Congratulations to both!
Nominate A Tradie: Today is the last day to enter our Tradie of the Month competition for May. Simply send your nomination to us by email: editor@parkesphoenix.com.au stating your favourite tradie’s name, workplace and contact number. We would love to see some female tradies going in the draw too! The winner each month wins a fabulous prize from Totally Work Wear, Parkes!
Parkes M & D Box Office: Get your theatre tickets at the Little Theatre’s box office every Sunday between 10am and 12pm. Discover and Parenting vouchers welcome.
Lightweight Bag Ban: The NSW Government’s ban on lightweight plastic bags will come into force from 1st June, and from November more problematic plastics, such as cutlery, plates and polystyrene food ware and cups will be banned. Single-use plastic items and packaging make up 60% of all litter in NSW. Stopping the supply of problematic plastic will help prevent it from entering our environment as litter, or going into landfill. The ban will prevent almost 2.7 billion items of plastic litter from entering the environment in NSW over the next 20 years. So-called “compostable” and “bioplastic” alternatives are also being banned. For more information about the NSW plastics ban, visit www.dpie.nsw.gov.au/plastics-ban
More Return And Earn Points: More return points are being added to the NSW Government’s popular Return and Earn scheme after a new contract was signed with network operator TOMRA Cleanaway. The container deposit scheme has seen more than 7.4 billion containers returned since it began in 2017, and more than $30 million raised for charities and community groups. This resulted in a 52% reduction in the volume of drink container litter and recycling more than 672,000 tonnes in materials. TOMRA Cleanaway will expand the network with 48 new return point locations. More information on Return and Earn is available at www.returnandearn.org.au.
Birth Certificate Blitz: Hundreds of free birth certificates will be made available to vulnerable people in NSW, including people experiencing economic disadvantage, Aboriginal people and survivors of domestic and family violence. A new agreement will provide up to 700 free birth certificates for vulnerable people, particularly in regional and remote NSW. The free birth certificate blitz will run up to 30 June 2022.