The Country Education Foundation of Australia (CEF) has made it possible for dozens of aspiring country university students to see a university campus, with fully subsidised trips to three of Charles Sturt University’s campuses for their open days in August.

Thirty-four students took advantage of this amazing opportunity provided by the CEF, which covered their costs for transport, accommodation, and meals in partnership with Charles Sturt University.

The opportunity allowed students to visit Charles Sturt’s Wagga Wagga, Albury and Bathurst campuses, with 16 students checking out Wagga Wagga, eight students seeing Albury, and 10 students experiencing Bathurst.

CEF transported students from many different towns, including Forbes and Parkes, to attend the open days, to experience what university life is like at Charles Sturt.

Kelsey Mann and Cameron Frogley from Parkes High School, Clarissa Azzopardi, Hunter Kriedemann and Laura Jones from Red Bend Catholic College, and Grace Barbary and Czarah Saladino from Forbes High School, took part in the Wagga Wagga trip.

Students took the opportunity to learn about each campus, the courses they offer, and all other benefits of studying there.

CEF Manager of Partnerships Hilary Matchett, who organised the trip, said, “CEF are excited to partner with Australia’s leading regional university, Charles Sturt University, to give the opportunity to regional students to access their Open Days across three of their campuses. 

“Students made the most of experiencing all that Charles Sturt can offer, from hands on learning in their state-of-the-art labs and facilities, to chatting to academic staff about course options, and accessing affordable and vibrant on-campus accommodation options”.

These experience camps offer more than a chance to see a university campus; they give regional students the chance to connect with like-minded peers, hopefully to then become friends for life.

In a separate program through its department ‘Three Rivers Department of Rural Health’, Charles Sturt has partnered with CEF for the last five years to offer scholarships to students studying a health-related degree at Charles Sturt. Students awarded grants by their local CEF foundation, from 18 local CEF foundations across the west are eligible to apply.

The CEF is a national for-purpose organisation that helps rural and regional youth aged between 16 and 25 access post-school education, training and employment through grants, scholarships, support services and resources.

Since 1993 CEF has awarded over 7000 individual grants and scholarships totalling over $15 million, with over 400 volunteers across its network of local foundations working hard to provide local students the support they need.

For more information on the CEF please visit www.cef.org.au or phone 1300 652 144.

Week to week throughout the 2023 season, the Parkes Boars struggled to get all grades on the field. Yet despite heading into the finals as the underdogs, the Boars took the honours from the fancied Mudgee Wombats last weekend.

Led by their Captain, and possibly the hardest working man in New Holland Cup rugby, Ben Ryan, the team streamed onto the Glen Willow rugby pitch.

Mudgee took the first points of the game after the Boars were penalised on the 15m line. But the conversion was spread wide.

Return of play saw Boars gifted a penalty attempt on the 22m in front, with Luke Bevan putting the Boars on the scoreboard. 

The players settled, and the Boars gathered a pod and worked the ball down the field with a well executed pick and drive to within 10m. The ball was passed to Soropepeli Soqe, who scored next to the posts. Luke Bevan added the extras and the Boars took the lead 10 points to five. 

The second half saw a lift in both sides but Boars Luke Bevan found a small gap in the Mudgee defence and put the ball over for a try, following with a successful conversion.

Mudgee found their rhythm and crossed the line twice to chase the Boars down, evening the scores at 17 a piece. Discipline let Mudgee down, and at the 57 minute mark, Luke Bevan was gifted another shot putting the Boars in front by three points. 

With seven minutes left in the match, another penalty was awarded to Parkes, Bevan took the shot and scored the three points. 

Moments before regular time was up Mudgee found a gap running on the wing and added another seven points to the tally, taking the score to Mudgee 24 to Parkes 23.

The Mudgee crowds went wild, but from somewhere deep, the Boars held tight and kept their discipline, focused on their own game and worked the ball down to within 15m. Mudgee couldn’t help but take that step too far and on the fourth minute of injury time, Luke Bevan took the penalty kick of his life right in front of goals, to give the Boars a two point lead and the win. The final score was Parkes 26 to Mudgee 24.

This was a record breaking match for the Boars, being the fourth Championship in as many years.

The whole team worked harder than ever for this honour and it was difficult to single out any individual player. The front row Jason Lowe, Rory Nock and Lewis Gravatt, although monstered by a much bigger pack, held their own making tackle after tackle to disrupt the Wombats flow. 

Chris Parker and Mitchell Westcott as flankers kept running all game, Mackenzie Green and Jacob Hardy in the second row put in the hard yards to keep the forward momentum. 

The whole forward pack was locked together by their Captain Ben Ryan both physically and emotionally.

Callum Reed in half back, Will Bevan and Mick Watt on the wings were well supported by Tupou Verti, Soropepeli Soqe and Mesake Kurukitoga.

Congratulations to the finishers, Dylan Hood, Jackson Guy, Rohan Kopp, Dyllan Philips, Tom Woods, Will Woods, Will Smith and Uraia “Junior” Sartibau.

A massive thank you is extended to team Manager Brendan Guy, Club President Kev Oliver and the families, friends and fellow Boars who came and supported the team throughout the year.

I wish to advise the residents of Parkes Shire, my fellow Councillors and Council staff of my desire to see a succession plan to a smooth transition to a new leadership team.

I thought it was appropriate to give advance notice of my intention to step down as Mayor so that my fellow Councillors have time to properly consider a new Mayor and Deputy Mayor they believe will be best placed to lead our team into the next election and beyond. I express my gratitude to all the dedicated Councillors I have served with over the years and the extremely talented staff that have helped guide our Shire.

In September of this year, it will be my privilege and honour to complete my 40th consecutive year serving the Parkes Shire Council and thus the Parkes Shire communities. I commenced my 17th year as Mayor in July, after serving my mentor and friend, the late Robert Wilson OAM, for 17 years as his Deputy Mayor.

I would like to acknowledge the outstanding leadership and advice of the two General Managers, the late Alan McCormack PSM and Kent Boyd PSM with whom I have worked closely during my term at the helm. As Sir Isaac Newton is credited to have said “I am standing on the shoulders of giants”. I believe as the current Councillors of Parkes Shire we are doing just that, as our predecessors have shown vision and foresight.

Parkes Shire Council is now highly regarded in Local Government circles around the State and has a very exciting future. 

In making this decision I acknowledge the wonderful support of my devoted wife, Sue, who was only engaged to a prospective Councillor way back in 1983. Our three sons, James, Max and Douglas, have accepted sharing their father’s time with his passion for Parkes Shire, for which I am most grateful. It is now time to repay their unwavering support. More time for visiting our beautiful grandchildren and having some holidays and travel without worrying about clashing with a Council meeting! 

I have also appreciated the support of my brother Tim and the many people who have assisted me in my farming operations over the years, this has allowed me to devote the time needed for this role. 

In closing, I have had the pleasure to meet so many kind and compassionate residents, who care deeply about the various communities which comprise the Shire we all call home. I thank you sincerely for your mostly voluntary contributions which I believe is the glue which holds us all together. 

By Cr Ken Keith OAM 

On Tuesday 25th July, members of Parkes CanAssist were delighted to gather at their store in Court Street, where they were presented with a cheque from the Parkes Elvis Revival INC committee. 

The cheque was for the amount of $6,870.07, the total amount of funds remaining in an account being held by Elvis Revival INC. The committee is regrettably folding, following the toll resulting from COVID combined with the devastating loss of a number of key members.

Elvis Revival Inc (ERI) were a group of dedicated Elvis fans who rallied with the common goal to manage and grow the Parkes Elvis Festival. 

Formed in 1992 with a few members and Festival Co-founder Bob Steel as President, the committee went on to have a hand in the Elvis Wall of Fame, Tent City, Home Hosting program, Elvis Central, Renewal of Vows, Miss Priscilla Dinner and finding for a dedicated Festival Manager in 2007.

The Elvis Revival INC committee discussed what to do with their remaining funds and it was agreed the entire amount should be donated to Parkes CanAssist, who provide much needed assistance to our local community and people who find themselves in desperate need of help. It was improtant to the committee that the funds filter back into the community to help local people.

With several of the big banks closing their regional branches, the newly refurbished Parkes National Australia Bank (NAB) offices are a strong indicator that NAB has no plans on leaving Parkes. 

During the recent refurbishment works, NAB’s Historical Services Curator was looking through the archives and discovered some incredible photographs of the branch dating back as far as 1877.

“It’s pretty amazing thinking how far back the history of this building goes. It shows we’ve been a key part of Parkes’ history. Some of the old records even show our first Branch Manager was the grandfather of Banjo Paterson,” said Parkes NAB Branch Manager, Heilala Mill. 

On 1st December 1873, the Commercial Banking Company of Sydney opened a branch in Parkes. The same year that Napoleon III of France died and a protective alliance was formed between Germany, Russia and Austria-Hungary. That year New South Wales also had its seventh Ministry under the Colonial Secretary, Sir Henry Parkes, after whom the town is named.

The original records reveal cash was supplied from Forbes and the safe came from Hill End where, the Commercial Banking Company of Sydney also had a branch at the time. 

According to the records in the original bank general ledger, the first entries through the branch were: Current a/cs 2/12/1873, Fixed Deposits £50 on 9/12/1873 and the first lot of gold bought on 4th December 1873 being 52oz. 5 dwt, 23 gr. £3/15/’- 0zt 196/2/40. 

Items of interest through bank expenditure were such charges as gold escort, candles and water; the latter a far cry from the town’s modern water supply today. In the early 1890s Mr. J.R.Dryhurst was second officer, later to be appointed General Manager. His salary was £50 p.a. plus £50 allowance and the Manager received £200 p.a. 

Aside from the bank’s name, the only written sign outside the office was the legend, “Gold Bought”, painted across a front window. The first manager was C.H. Barton, the maternal grandfather of the poet Andrew Barton (Banjo) Paterson. 

Gold bought from miners in the district had to be transported to Orange through Forbes, along the river and across the steep, rough ranges. Armed escorts were needed against attacks from bushrangers and, in 1876, a letter from Head Office warned the manager at Parkes to be on guard against the Kelly gang, known to be in the area. Fortunately for the Commercial Banking Company (CBC), Mr Kelly and his associates did not turn their attention to Parkes 

Branch records also revealed a branch opened at Tichbourne, six miles south of Parkes on 22nd June 1878 when they were debited £2955 for cash supplied. At that time Tichbourne was a very large mining center with a population between 30,000 and 40,000 people. This land has since reverted to wheat and sheep grazing country. 

Among the local mines doing business with the CBC in those early days were such names as “No Mistake”, “The Bushman’s”, “Welcome”, “Victoria Gully”, “Line”, “Flat”, “Racecourse”, “Possum Gully”, “Frenchman’s”, “Richardson” and “Sparling’s”. 

With the expansion of business in 1877, the bank moved to a slightly larger premises, later to be occupied by Tattersalls Hotel and now the site of the Coachman Hotel Motel. 

In 1901, what must have been a former pub was purchased in Taylor Square fronting onto Clarinda Street, the bank used the existing building until 1925 when the building was demolished, to be replaced by the bank’s current offices. 

 

 

The NSW Government is giving the old Parkes Fire Station building a new lease on life as a fire brigade museum, appointing the Parkes Antique Motor Club as Crown Land Managers.

The Parkes Antique Motor Club plans to revive the site as a museum to be opened to the community on special occasions, and on request of visiting tourist groups.

The Parkes Fire Brigade dates back to 1878 when it was first formed with a board of control headed by the town mayor, with a shed building erected in 1879 at the rear of the local courthouse to store fire brigade equipment.

The town’s first fire brigade station was built on land owned by the justice department and then a new, larger station was completed in 1924 at a cost of £1,564 at the corner of Court and Hill Streets.

In 2017 it was announced Parkes would get a new state-of-the-art fire station with two engine bays, which was completed in 2020 behind the former station that will now serve as a museum.

Crown Lands in the Department of Planning and Environment has appointed the motor club as the Crown Land Manager for the Want Street reserve.

Parkes Antique Car Club President Phil Dixon said “The old fire station is a beautiful building and all of our members are very enthusiastic and happy to be able to showcase our historic equipment there to do something positive for the town.”

Work has begun on one of the largest water infrastructure projects in New South Wales, with the Parkes-Peak Hill Water Supply Project designed to put the region in a stronger position to be able to manage water in a drier climate.

The $61.7 million project will deliver a suite of water infrastructure upgrades to safeguard water supply and boost drought resilience, funded in combined partnership between the Australian Government, the NSW Government and Parkes Shire Council. 

The project is expected to be completed in 2025, with major construction on the pipeline expected to get underway later this year in or around september.

Federal Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King said “The Australian Government is proud to have committed $11 million to ensure this much-needed water infrastructure project becomes a reality, bolstering drinking water security for the Parkes and Peak Hill communities.“Our Government has an unwavering commitment to continuing to invest in Australia’s regions to create jobs, build opportunity and unlock economic growth and productivity.”NSW Water Minister Rose Jackson was excited to tour the area and had this to say about the project “It is the priority of the NSW Government to ensure regional communities have access to safe and secure water. The $22 million investment is instrumental in getting this key project started.

“This is one of the largest investments in water infrastructure in the Central West region this century and it’s great to see that work is underway to deliver a stronger and more resilient water network for Parkes and Peak Hill. 

“We’re putting in 39 kilometres of new pipelines, two new pump stations, an upgraded Lachlan River pump station, a new pre-treatment plant at Eugowra Road and a new raw water storage lagoon at the Parkes Water Treatment Plant. 

“We need to make sure we are doing everything we can to shore-up water security for the community, especially during dry periods. The project will more than double Parkes’ current transfer capacity from the Lachlan River and bore fields, which is major win for the community as it will secure better access to safe, clean drinking water.” 

Minister for the Environment and Water Tanya Plibersek was proud to play a part and said “The Albanese Labor Government knows how important water security and availability is for economic growth and building resilient communities. 

“This is especially true in our regions as we continue to face increasingly uncertain climate conditions. 

“That’s why we’re investing in critical water infrastructure project across the nation so central western communities such as Parkes and Peak Hill can benefit from increased water security and climate resilience both now and into the future.” 

Parkes Shire Mayor Ken Keith was on hand to comment and said “This project will help the region grow and thrive. We want to welcome more tourists and residents into Parkes Shire and this project is a key part of our long-term vision. 

“We need to ensure a reliable supply of top-quality water for our residents and local businesses which will underpin our population and economic growth.”