Snippets…

Men’s Shed working for the birds: The Parkes Men’s Shed have been making several hundred bird nesting boxes for mining companies in the region and the Roads and Maritime Services over the past couple of years. They currently have a contract to build sugar glider nesting boxes, which is keeping a group of the men busy on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings. While this work is going on there is always a group of men sitting at the table of knowledge discussing the problems of the world. There are also members who use the vast selection of tools to make toys for their grandchildren or to restore furniture. Morning tea at 10:00am is an important time in the shed when all work stops for half an hour and the men enjoy tea, coffee and nibbles. For $15 membership per year, this is a golden opportunity to enjoy a chat and make use of all the available equipment to be creative.

Help Kris walk 35km: On 4 September Kris Kent, Spinifex Regional Manager, is taking on a 35km Bloody Long Walk challenge from Palm Beach to Manly in Sydney for the Australian Mitochondrial Disease Foundation (AMDF). “I am taking on this challenge to raise money to help find a cure for mito – a debilitating genetic disorder that robs the body’s cells of energy, causing multiple organ dysfunction or failure and potentially death,” said Kris. One Australian child born each week will develop a severe or life-threatening form of mitochondrial disease. Kris aims to raise $100 for every kilometer walk to raise a total of $3 500 and gives a shout out to businesses to support her. Please follow the link below to make a donation on her fundraising page: https://blw-sydney-north2016.everydayhero.com/au/kristie All donations over $2 are tax deductible and you will be sent a receipt after you make your donation.

New Tourism Destination Networks in NSW: Six new Destination Networks have been created throughout NSW. The Parkes Shire will now form part of the Country and Outback NSW network. Minister for Trade, Tourism and Major Events, Stuart Ayres said the new networks would work closely with local government, tourism organisations and operators, as well as collaborate on campaigns with Destination NSW. Tourism produces $58 million gross regional product per year, with the tourism and hospitality industry employing around 6% of the Parkes Shire workforce.

Small Business Minister meets Parkes Chamber: The new Minister for Small Business and the Federal Member for Riverina, Michael McCormack, met with members of the Parkes Chamber of Commerce last week. From the left are Alice Milne (Pink Orchid Florist), Geoff Rice (Langlands Hanlon), Michael McCormack and Suzanne Hill (Parkes Diagnostic Imaging).