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.” 

If you have been to any recent local events, it is highly likely you have seen The Dyagang Koori Dance Group perform. The group opened Frost and Fire in Forbes last weekend and they will once again be opening the Trundle Bush Tucker Day.

They are in high demand not just within the local area but for events further afield. Last year, the boys were invited to perform for the opening of the 47th parliament in Canberra with the Ngunnawal-Ngambri people, the traditional custodians of the Canberra area.

The founding members of The Dyagang Koori Dance Group, Tyrece, Keanau, Ashton and Abel Robinson, are four brothers from Parkes, who attend Middleton Public School. The group was formed when eldest brother, Tyrece started playing the didgeridoo. 

“His dad taught him a couple of things and he was watching YouTube clips of other people playing Didgeridoo, and he taught himself. Then he taught his three younger brothers how to play,” said the boys mother, Jade Alexander. 

Tyrece began dancing with another crew and really enjoyed it. The boys sometimes performed with their dad and his connections, and developed a passion for performance.

“It was NAIDOC week last year when the boys were asked to perform on their own, and we thought it would be a great way for the boys to share their culture with others,’’ said Jade. 

Following this event, the group was officially formed, so that others could join in.

In 2017, school teachers Adam DeMamiel, Richard Leahy, and Tim Sanson stepped out of the classroom, deciding there were more important lessons to be taught in their community.

The trio formed Boys to the Bush, a charity committed to curbing the growing cohort of disengaged young males in regional Australia through camps and MENtoring programs.

Now located in seven regional communities, including Forbes, Boys to the Bush are launching an online donation drive to raise money to fund 100 days of free MENtoring across its sites.

The donation drive starts on 6th June and aims to provide kids from the most challenging backgrounds with role models to help them build resilience, develop self-belonging, and implement practical life changes.

Adam DeMamiel, CEO and Co-Founder of Boys to the Bush said, “Boys to the Bush has worked with over 6,000 kids, and the support of our communities has been pivotal to the positive outcomes reached by the youth.” 

“We are launching 100 days of MENtoring to ensure access to such a life changing program is in reach of the kids that desperately need it. Any contribution is much appreciated and will go directly to the youth that need it most,” said Adam.

Boys to the Bush is a not-for-profit, community-based charity, and donations to the 100 days of MENtoring campaign are fully tax deductible. To donate, go to https://boystothebush.org.au/donate