The local AFL team, the Parkes Panthers, have taken on a life saving challenge off the field. Last month seven players lined up to donate blood as part of the Hutcheon & Pearce blood drive to save 1, 000 lives this year. Another 20 players will be donating blood when the Red Cross Blood Service is in town again in October.

Nicholas Ryan, who was one of the first players to go, donated blood for the first, and said he would be back next time. Barry Reidy, Branch Manager of Hutcheon & Pearce in Parkes said his company’s 11 branches in NSW wanted to create awareness of the blood shortage experienced during winter months. “Our aim is to try and raise donations to save 1, 000 lives.” Every donation counts for three lives, and about 150 donations had been made in the first seven months of the project. “We are going to struggle hitting our target at this rate, and I would like to encourage all residents to sign up on the Red Cross website.”

Barry said Hutcheon & Pearce sponsored the Parkes Panthers and they were keen to take up the challenge to donate
blood. Ronny Maroun, community relations officer of the Red Cross said over the winter months up to 900 people per week cancelled their appointment. This results in a shortage of blood. The Red Cross will be back in Parkes from 17th to 19th October. You can donate blood every three months so make sure to mark this date in your diary.

By Maggi Barnard

An action packed program is ready for the Parkes Show headlined by the amazing Showtime FMX team. They are set to dazzle with their mind blowing array of motorbike stunts. The fireworks display is on Tuesday evening, the Demolition Derby on Wednesday evening, and the popular animal nursery, sideshow alley and showbags will all be part of the this year’s Show.

KidsZone will be in operation on Tuesday and Wednesday with a range of free face painting, kite making and entertainment activities. The free mechanical bull ride arena will again be in the machinery area and is a great activity for the whole family. The best riders will compete in the finals on Wednesday evening.

Schedules with all the sections listed are available from the Show Office in Welcome Street or on our website parkesshow.org.au. It is also time to gather your entries. There are lots of sections for the kids in the Arts and Craft, Needlework and Cooking sections.

Our Facebook competition will see one lucky local winning 30 show ride tickets. All you need to do is like and share the Parkes Show Facebook page and tag three friends. Pick up your tickets today from Cunninghams IGA, Byrne Clothing or the Show Office not to miss out on a three-day show pass and to go in the Lucky Draw for one of two $500 open orders, or one of two sets of 30 Show Ride Tickets!

Students from five schools in Parkes joined schools from Forbes, Eugowra and Tullamore to celebrate Schools Tree Day at Eco Day 2016 last week. Central West Lachlan Landcare (CWLL) provided bus travel and workshops to Year
5 and 6 students in a variety of environmental and rural related activities. The workshops included making Net- Waste Worm Farms; Plant Care and Propagation with Bunnings; Travelbugs Insects; FishCare with Russell Spencer, who also talked about Wiradjuri culture; Parkes and Forbes Shire Councils weeds demonstration and talk and a saleyards tour with Cooper Byrnes from Langlands Hanlon.

The day finished with a hands on workshop from Paul Kirk, also known as ‘The Snake Man’. Paul let the students get up close with the reptiles, like a python, and he talked about snake safety, how to handle non-venomous snakes and what to do if bitten. Chris Lane and Jessica Marsh from Invasive Species CRC spoke about how domestic pets can become at pest in certain environments.

“We want the kids to go away thinking about what they can do at home and school to make a difference and prevent needless wastage. We hope that students leave with a wider perspective of the connection between humans and the environment we live in,” said Margot Jolly, CWLL Chairperson.

CWLL received funding for Eco Day from Central West Local Land Services, and support from the Parkes and Forbes Shire Councils.

By Marg Applebee

About 30 Parkes volunteers enjoyed a perfect winter’s day to plant over 320 trees on National Tree Day last Sunday. Central West Lachlan Landcare (CWLL) welcomed volunteers who planted Grey Box Grassy Woodland species, including Fuzzy Box, Grey Box, Yellow Box, Bimble Box, Kurrajong, Bull Oak and Acacias in the picturesque setting just off Condobolin Road. This effort contributed to the 50 Million Trees Program undertaken by Parkes Shire Council.

When the planting was complete, volunteers enjoyed a sausage sandwich prepared by the Parkes HQ of the Mid Lachlan Valley Rural Fire Service (RFS), and bread provided by Parkes Coles. The RFS brought their display trailer out for attendees to learn more about the RFS.

Margot Jolly, CWLL Chairperson, said: “We were fortunate to have the RFS help us out with the BBQ. They did a fantastic job and it was wonderful to have them here”. “CWLL have been fortunate to have the support of Parkes Shire Council and Toyota to bring Tree Day together. Our previous National Tree Day plantings are progressing well and we hope to see the same success at the Condobolin Road”.

The Skillset Green Army Team and Central West Lachlan Landcare will continue planting work over the next few weeks. A big thank you to all of our Volunteers who made National Tree Day possible. It is wonderful to join with over 300, 000 Australians across the country who took part in NTD.

By Marg Applebee

Parkes Shire Council would like to thank all the residents who participated in National Tree Day on Sunday, 31st July. As part of the 50 Million Trees Program, Parkes Shire Council teamed up with Central West Lachlan Landcare (CWLL) and more than 30 volunteers to plant 320 trees, just off the Condobolin Road. It turned out to be a perfect winter’s day for planting and participants were rewarded for all their hard work with a BBQ lunch, generously donated by Parkes Coles.

Local Cricket stalwart Greg Morrissey was honoured last Friday, 29th July with the official naming of the Greg Morrissey Field at McGlynn Park in Parkes. Council received a proposal to name the field in recognition of Mr Morrissey and his many years of dedicated service to the cricket fraternity within New South Wales, as well as his untiring devotion to the community of Parkes.

Council marked the occasion by unveiling the new Greg Morrissey Field sign. We wish all of the Shire’s Show committees the best of luck, with the first of the region’s shows kicking off next week. The 93rd Tullamore Show will have something for everyone on offer when the gates open to the public on Friday, 12th August. Staff from Parkes Shire Council will be there and we encourage everyone to swing by the Council exhibit and say hello.

Council has gone into caretaker mode with nominations for new councillors now open. Anyone planning on becoming a candidate must nominate with the Returning Officer before 12 noon on 10th August 2016. Nomination forms can be obtained on the election web page www.votensw.info The NSW local council general elections will be held on Saturday, 10th September 2016.

Enjoy your weekend.
Parkes Shire Council

Preparations are well underway for this year’s annual Parkes Show to be held Monday 29th, Tuesday 30th and Wednesday, 31st August. Show President, Garry O’Brien, advises: “Schedules and tickets are now available from the Show Office in Welcome Street. It’s time to put together your entries in anything from sponges to sheep, photos to ponies and everything in between. There are also some fun activities to enter for the kids in the Arts and Craft, Needlework and Cooking sections.”

Show tickets can be bought at Cunninghams IGA and Byrne Clothing, and of course the Show Office. Tickets purchased before the Show give you unlimited entry over the three days for just $5 for “schoolies” (anyone attending school), $15 for adults, and kids not yet attending school are free. This is an amazing deal as each entry ticket once the show starts is $15 per entry! Buy your tickets before the show and go into the draw to win one of the $500 open orders from our participating stores. Please note that concession tickets ($10) are only available from the Show Office.

“The Show Committee is working hard to ensure the Showground is in perfect order. NorthParkes Mines have been one of our major show sponsors for many years. Each year they also send a large team of workers to help clean up the showground, which is greatly appreciated,” said Garry. “McPhersons Parts and Service New Holland is our new 2016 major sponsor.

McPhersons is celebrating 30 years of servicing our community – it is great to see we have community minded, pro active businesses like NorthParkes, McPhersons and others that are willing to help make our annual Show a success.”

The McLachlan Group will be holding its annual bull sale on North Logan Road in Cowra on 10th August at 1pm.
The sale will be the business’ fifth annual sale, and McLachlan Group’s Warren Miller expects it to be popular. The sale will have 35 Angus, 20 Charolais and two Polhereford bulls. Angus bulls are the most popular for beef, and Warren said these should sell fast.

All the bulls are grass fed, meaning they live longer, and produce better quality beef. “Our bulls are of the highest quality, which means our buyers get the best grass fed beef they can,” said Warren The past four annual sales have been hugely popular with bulls selling for about $4,000 each.

Grass has grown very lush after good rains  and has lead to very good cattle sales across the region.

Parkes Public School hops into Education Week today with the annual Jump Rope for Heart event for K-2. Parkes Public is the only school to have been taking part every year since the inception of the event in 1983. Families are invited to attend the fun filled session and stay on for a picnic lunch.

This year the school will be educating parents too with two maths workshops planned to provide strategies for parents to help their kids with homework. Primary parents will get their maths lesson on Monday at 5:30pm, while Infants parents have their turn next Friday at 2:00pm.

The annual open classrooms event is on Wednesday at 12:00pm with a picnic lunch for students and families at 1:15pm, followed by a whole school assembly at 2:00pm. A book fair held at the school last week was wonderfully supported by students and parents with nearly $4, 000 raised, and more than 70 families donating a book to the library. The book fair kicked off with a dress up day with the teachers turning up as Where’s Wally’s and Wanda’s.

Parkes Public also had to say farewell to Principal, Leanne Breaden last week. After 28 years at the school and principal for the past ten years, she is moving on to become Co-ordinator of the NDIS in the State Office in Sydney.
“We wish Mrs Breaden all the best as she begins her new role,” said Ben Smith, relieving principal.