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NSW Seniors Festival

March 2, 2017 By Maggi Barnard

JOIN THE BOLLYWOOD FUN AT PARKES SENIORS FESTIVAL

Bollywood is coming to Parkes for the Seniors Festival from today to 12th March.

Neighbourhood Central is hosting the 2017 Seniors Festival in Parkes with a va- riety of events. You can come dressed in your most colourful outfit and watch The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel movie, enjoy a barbeque lunch or be part of the Central West Olympics activites in Orange.

The program kicks off on Monday, 6th March with a local concert at the Parkes Bowling Club with sing-a-long and morn- ing tea and lunch. Tickets are $10. On

A group barbeque will be held at Bun- nings in Orange on 5th March. Money raised will off set the cost of representatives going to the annual state conference.

The Eugowra Branch will have a stall at Eugowra Country Fair on 8th April.

A free exhibition on the Spirit of Anzac Centenary Experience will be in Orange from 12th to 17th March.

International Women’s Day celebration in Boorowa on Sunday, 12th March at Boorowa RSL. Keynote speaker Ailsa Piper, writer, director and performer. Cost $25. RSVP Janene Hurley on 6835 1330 or Janene.hurley@hilltops.nsw.gov.au

Wednesday, 8th March go for Bollywood with a movie morning at Neighbourhood Central from 9:15am to 12pm. Tickets for The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel are $5.

Thursday, 9th March the Central West Elders Olympics take place in Orange. Tickets are $5. All tickets and bookings can be made at Neighbourhood Central, 80-82 Currajong Street Parkes. For more infor- mation call Samantha Radburn on 6862 3757.

STAYING HEALTHY IS IMPORTANT FOR SENIORS

Staying healthy means you can make the most of your life as you get older. There are many health-related issues associated with ageing including diet, exercise, heart conditions and diseases. Parkes GP offers a broad range of general health services including preventive health, chronic dis- ease management, podiatry and osteopathy. If you’re over 65 you can get free influenza (flu) and pneumococcal vaccinations.

The 75+ year old annual health assessment is a comprehensive health check that can give your GP a better picture of your current health condition and medical needs, and will consider physical, psychological and social factors that may be affecting your health and well-being. Parkes GP is open six days a week and is a bulk- billing practice.

Love Quotes for Valentine’s Day

February 9, 2017 By Maggi Barnard

The best love is the kind that awakens the soul, that makes us reach for more, that plants the fire into our hearts and brings peace to our minds.
Love is our true destiny. We do not find the meaning of life by ourselves alone – we find it with another. – Thomas Mer- ton
Love is what makes two people sit in the middle of a bench, even if there is plenty of room at both ends.
I don’t mind when our conversations get a little boring or when we’re texting and we run out of things to say. I don’t care when we’re hanging out but doing noth- ing, because just having you is enough to make me happy.
I love you every day, not just on Valen- tine’s Day!
All you need is love, but a little chocolate now and then doesn’t hurt. – Charles M. Schulz

Before I met you, I never knew what it was like to be able to look at someone and smile for no reason.
Women are meant to be loved, not to be understood. – Oscar Wilde
Gravitation is not responsible for peo- ple falling in love. – Albert Einstein
When someone else’s happiness is your happiness, that is love. – Lana Del Rey
Romantic Songs for Valentine’s Day

1. Endless Love, Diana Ross & Lionel Richie
2. I’ll Make Love to You, Boyz II Men
3. You Needed Me, Anne Murray
4. Be Without You, Mary J. Blige
5. We Found Love, Rihanna featuring Calvin Harris
6. How Deep Is Your Love, Bee Gees
7. And I Love Her, The Beatles
8. Something, The Beatles
9. I Will Always Love You, Whitney Houston
10. I Can’t Stop Loving You, Ray Charles

Make Love Count Again

February 9, 2017 By Maggi Barnard

We all crave love and companionship in our lives, so why ignore the celebration of love this Valentine’s Day on Tuesday, 14th February.

Think back to the beginning of a relationship where sparks flew, gazes longed and passion was ignited. What happened you must be thinking? Effort is the answer, and too often people slip into what is easy and comfortable. Make the change this Valentine’s Day and bring the romance back into your life.

Romance is the key to keeping that burning passion alive for one another. Whether it be big or small gestures, just make them count. Be thoughtful in giving and grateful in receiving. Be spontaneous, go on a daring adventure, cook a meal (even if you are a horrible cook), make something special (even if you don’t have a creative bone in you) and most importantly, listen. Listen to not only your loved one’s tedious rants and raves but his or her goals, aspirations, dreams, wants and desires. Get to know one another again, like really get to know each other.

Valentine’s Day is known as the day of roses, chocolates and cards but where did it actually come from and surely there is more to it?

It is believed that Valentine’s Day originated from the ancient Roman fertility festival Lupercalia. During this festival young women would place their names in a large urn, young men then drew a name out and whomever they drew they were now romantically linked to them for the next year.

Another version is that the day originated as a Western Christian liturgical feast day honoring one or more early saints named Valen- tinus., and is recognised as a significant cultural and commercial celebration in many regions around the world.

According to Wikipedia, the day first became associated with romantic love within the circle of Geoffrey Chaucer in the 14th century, when the tradition of courtly love flourished. In 18th-century England, it evolved into an occasion in which lovers expressed their love for each other by presenting flowers, offering confectionery, and sending greeting cards.

Whatever the origin of Valentine’s Day, why not celebrate what all humans crave in life, being loved. Celebrate it, rejoice in it and enjoy it.

Elvis’ Mystery Train’ Is Now A Party Train

January 19, 2017 By Maggi Barnard

As a local I have heard lots of stories about the Elvis Express or party train. Arriving at Central Station, camera and strong coffee in hand I was overwhelmed to see the masses of people to watch the performances and take photos of the outfits. “This is the best day of the year,” one UK photographer said to me. I was swept up in the vibe of music, costumes and everyone ready to board.

Once on the train I met people from all around the world and I sang along with the Elvis tribute artists. Everyone was happy to pose for photos. I even received hugs from some friendly travellers after offering them some local advice on places to eat and visit.

Time ticked away as I watched the conga line travel through the carriages, the performer’s passion and speaking with die- hard Elvis fans. I even found myself shoe- less standing on a chair bopping along while trying to take photos.

As the train pulled into the Parkes station my excitement built. Being around so many Elvis fans had rubbed off. During the rest of the weekend, I was approached many more times by people from the train saying hello. It was an overwhelming experience which far outweighed my expectations!

By Sylvie Maloney

Elvis Snippets

January 19, 2017 By Maggi Barnard

Winners:

• 2017 Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest was won by Brendon Chase from New Zealand, followed by Sean Spiteri from Sydney and Matt Birse from Adelaide in third. Brendon will travel to Memphis, USA, to represent Parkes at the Contest Semi -Final during Elvis Week in August.

• The 2017 Miss Priscilla, Face of the Festival, was awarded to Jackie Batt of Parkes.

Star of Parkes Shire: The Parkes Shire Council presented Bob and Ann Steel with the Star of Parkes Shire in recognition of their dedication and the sacrifices they made to initiate and grow the Parkes Elvis Festival. A Binary star in the Orion Belt will be known as the Bob Steel and Anne Steel Star.

Providing high quality education and care for children from birth
to 6 years!

Poets’ Breakfast: The Poets’ Breakfast has become a legend of its own. More than 200 poetry lovers shared breakfast and some laughs at the Parkes Bowling and Sports Club. The MC was Barry “Elvis” Green, who entertained the rather crowded crowd with Elvis songs,. The competition was fierce – and funny. Parkes’ Amy Butler won the Best Novice Poet for her poem ‘The Elvis Train’ – a jaunty verse about the Elvis Express featuring Mayor Ken Keith. Jane Ferrari’s hilarious poem ‘Hooked Up In Parkes’ took out both the Open Contender and People’s Choice awards.

Outback Elvis: Around 60 people rocked up to the Parkes Shire Library for the launch of the Outback Elvis book. Authors, John Connell and Chris Gibson – both academics and well-seasoned festival fans – compiled a collection of anecdotes and personal stories that detail the evolution of the festival from its humble beginnings to the event that has quite literally put Parkes on the international map. Parkes Shire Librarian Shelly Buckle said it had been her dream to launch a book during the Elvis Festival.

Miniature Elvis Express: A group of repeat festival-goers from Sydney loved the Elvis Express so much that they made their own. Vivian Cronin, Graham Gardiner, Elizabeth

Bromhead and Mort Hansen kept the party going when they disembarked for the Elvis Festival. The novice train engineers scavenged an old box from a stall holder, and decorated it to recreate the Elvis Express, which they drove in the street parade. They eventually departed the train in Cooke Park, but various other Elvis revellers caught the cardboard train over the weekend, with one group riding it up and down Clarinda Street, before it was finally derailed.

Back to School

January 19, 2017 By Maggi Barnard

Start The School Year On A Positive Note

While your kids might be worried or excited about new friends and teachers, mums have to be organised, create routines and support children. Here are some tips.

Easy lunch boxes: get healthy lunchbox ideas and plan accordingly.
Washing: look at tips to make your washing crease-free to save
time on ironing.
Organised mornings: this is the key to starting the day happy
and prepared.
Keep time: Explaining time, routines and showing children how
to read the time will give them the power to keep themselves or-

ganised.
Breakfast: Kids as young as four or five can get a bowl of cold
cereal, and the older ones can learn to safely use the toaster or

microwave.
Labels: Label all your child’s belongings. Encourage your child
to dress themselves so they can manage taking jumpers or coats on and off at school. Explain the concept of lost property, so they know how to find lost items.

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