Parkes Christian School is celebrating 40 years of Christian education in the Central West with a spring fair and celebration service this weekend (29th and 30th October).

Past principals, staff, students and families that have been involved with the school over the past 40 years are all invited to attend.

The spring fair is also open to the general public, and will go from 9am to 2pm with market stalls run by students, vendors, lots of food options and coffee, Devonshire tea, an art exhibition, live entertainment and fun games and competitions.

The school procured a framed and signed Nathan Cleary jersey, and everyone who makes a small donation on the day stand a chance to win this piece of sporting memorabilia. There will also be a display of photos, uniforms and video footage of the school over the past 40 years to show just how far the school has progressed.

The fair is also a wonderful opportunity for prospective students and parents to come and have a look at what the school has to offer.

On Sunday, 30th October from 10am former staff, students and families of the school are invited to attend a celebration service in the school hall. Staff, students and members of the Parkes Community Church will perform worship songs, and reminisce about the beginning and development of the school.

Principal Glen Westcott is delighted to be hosting the 40-year celebrations. “Parkes Christian School was the first Christian school to be built in NSW west of the Blue Mountains.”

Glen said from humble beginnings, the school was now well and truly thriving. “With a growing population of 300 students from Kindergarten to Year 12 and more than 40 staff, the school has impressive facilities.”

For more information follow the school on Facebook, or contact the school office on 6862 4164.

Celebrating 40 Years of Parkes Christian School

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It is National Bird Week and residents can still make a difference for bird conservation by participating in the 2022 Aussie Bird Count until Sunday. 

All you need to do is pick a spot outside and count birds for at least 20 minutes to help researchers create a snapshot of Australia’s urban and more common bird species. Data collected is submitted through the Aussie Bird Count app or through an online web form. 

“The annual Aussie Bird Count is a great way for residents to enjoy the outdoors and learn about birds in our shire,” said Parkes Shire Council’s Environment and Sustainability Officer, Michael Chambers. 

“Last year 112 residents took part, and we would love to see even greater participation this year.” 

Starting in 2014, the Aussie Bird Count has become one of the largest citizen science projects in Australia. The 2021 Aussie Bird Count saw more than 100,000 Australians take to their local green spaces to count nearly 5 million individual birds. Across the Parkes Shire, residents recorded a total of 5,013 individual birds across 86 species. The most recorded species in the Parkes Shire was the Galah, followed by Crested Pigeons, House Sparrows, Apostlebirds and Australian Magpies. Several species listed as ‘vulnerable’ under federal legislation were also sighted, including Major Mitchell’s Cockatoo (Pink Cockatoo), Grey-Crowned Babbler, Brown Treecreeper, Dusky Wood Swallow, Superb Parrot and the Speckled Warbler. 

Data obtained from annual Aussie Bird Counts helps Council increase environmental engagement among residents, informs land management decisions and can indicate the impacts of tree planting efforts across the Shire. 

For residents interested in attracting more wildlife to their gardens, Council will be giving away native shrubs and trees at the Spring Fling Market that has been postponed to Saturday, 19th November. 

You can download the Aussie Bird Count app for free, or use the online form at https://aussiebirdcount.org.au/submit-a-count/ 

A new photographic display detailing the Australian response to the Bali terrorist attack will be on show at the Australian War Memorial.

“The Bali bombings will be remembered as the date that terrorism hit home,” Australian War Memorial Director Matt Anderson said.

The Royal Australian Air Force evacuated critically injured people out of Indonesia as part of Operation Bali Assist – the largest Australian aeromedical evacuation since the Vietnam War.

The Australian Federal Police were invited to assist the Indonesian National Police and played a key role in investigation breakthroughs that led to the arrest, trial and execution of some of the perpetrators.

A display detailing the aftermath, co-curated with the Australian Federal Police Museum, is dedicated to the victims of the 2002 Bali bombings and the government agencies, including the Australian Defence Force and Consular Officers who put themselves in harm’s way in the immediate aftermath of the bombing, and the Australian Federal Police, who sought justice for victims and their families.

The exhibition includes images taken by AFP members in the aftermath of the attack, including a photograph of former Prime Minister John Howard inspecting the site of the bombing.

Images taken inside Paddy’s Bar show where Australian Federal Police investigators were able to source several pieces of tartan fabric and other matter that made up the explosive vest used in the first detonation.

Visitors will need a free ticket to the Australian War Memorial to see this display, which will be on show until 20 November 2022.

It might be a good idea to get to see Baz Luhrman’s Elvis movie before the 30th anniversary of the Parkes Elvis Festival next year from 4th to 8th January.

The exciting news announced at the official launch of the festival last Wednesday was that the new exhibition at next year’s festival will feature a number of the movie sets, including the famous jungle room.

“Every year we try and get something new, and thanks to Warner Brothers and Baz Luhrman we’ve been gifted some of the movie sets,” said Festival Director Tiffany Steel. “You will actually get to see the full movie set of the jungle room, as well as the carnival house of mirrors, the world’s largest hound dog and some neon signs.

“We also have a number of items from the Bendigo Art Gallery Elvis exhibition.” These include the giant Elvis letters, the Elvis portico, and the giant neon sign that was at the front. “These items will all be on display with some of our own memorabilia of previous Elvis festivals.”

The other great announcement was the special concert to kick off the 30th anniversary celebrations on Wednesday, 4th January. The Elvis Wall of Fame event will take place at 10am with Ross Wilson as inductee. Ross will then join three previous inductees, Brian Cadd, Joe Camilleri and Russel Morris at 12:30pm for a fantastic opening concert.

Parkes Shire Mayor Ken Keith thanked all the volunteers who have been involved over the past 30 years for their hard work and contribution to the event. Also attending was Deputy Premier Paul Tool who said the festival had become a regional product and was a showcase for people to see what is great about living in regional NSW.

The festival has more than 350 events and tickets are available to purchase online at www.parkeselvisfestival.com.au. The festival also has a new website to make navigation of the five-day event easier.

Forbes residents can look forward to a big concert of four bands joining together on 29th October at the Forbes Town Hall at 6pm.

Following the fellowship between all the participating bands at this year’s Eisteddfod, the Forbes Town & District Band has invited the Parkes, Grenfell and Cowra town bands to join them for a major concert.

“Each individual band will perform, and the four bands will join together to play pre-rehearsed musical selections at the concert,” said Sueanne Nixon, secretary of the Forbes Town Band.

The concert will also serve as a fundraising event for the Forbes Town Band. “Community members can bring their own non-alcoholic drinks and nibbles and make up a table with friends to enjoy the big band feeling in our town hall.”

Tickets are $10 and available at the door. Enquiries/Bookings: 0402 093 785.