Welcome to Our Club!
The Rotary Club of Parkes, NSW
A Rotary club was chartered in Parkes on March 27, 1939. That same year Poland was invaded on 1st September marking the outbreak of World War II.
Membership of the Rotary Club of Parkes brings opportunities for both fellowship and service.
Rotary clubs are self-governing but also form part of Rotary International. National and international networks enable Rotary clubs and Rotary members to pursue service work in their local community, nationally, and internationally. We are fortunate to live in a relatively wealthy country, so our national and international work is usually focused on helping the less fortunate.
National and international science schools, leadership programs, a safe driving program, and involvement with the Parkes Police Citizens Youth Club form part of the club's youth service work.
We support - and sometimes partner with - local service groups and charities including Anglicare, Angelcare, St Vincent de Paul, Can Assist, Ronald McDonald House, Cancer Care Western NSW, the Que Club, the View Club, the Action Club, and the Lachlan Reconciliation Group to fundraise and organise or support local activities.
Vale: Arnold Joseph (Arnie) Byrne:
Parkes Rotary Club was saddened to hear of Arnie's death last Monday week.
Arnold was a member of our Club for 55 years. Arnie was born on 5 August 1932 and died on 19 May 2025.
Arnold joined Rotary on 1st April 1970. Geoff Nash was President, there were 49 members.
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Arnold was awarded the Paul Harrison Fellowship in 1996 by President Brian Single.
Arnold members talk -11th December 2017
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Margaret and Arnie billeted an exchange student from Toronto, Canada, for 3 months in 2004, which was a pleasure. In 2010, they visited him in Toronto. He now has two boys.
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Arnie & Margarets family consists of 3 sons, 2 of whom are now retired. Tony, who trained as an electrician, now owns and manages Byrnes Clothing Shop.
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The shop has been trading for 45 years. Marg and Arnold had 9 grandchildren.
French Exchange Student:
Manon, our French Exchange student went home last week after 12 months in Parkes. Manon was surprised by six other Rotary Exchange Students who came to her farewell BBQ in Parkes.
Rotary Board 2024-2025
Pictured is the Board for 2024-2025:
Charlie Pecenka, Peter Thompson, David Hughes, Gareme Hunter, Pam Symonds, Colin Offner, and Mark Ritchie.
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Healthy Harold:
Parkes Rotarians cooked a BBQ sausage sizzle for all the school students who joined in the fun for a healthy afternoon. Thanks to Peter, Mark, Greame and Pam for being cooks on the day. Parkes Rotary Driving Simulator
Central School students learn from driving simulator
June 22, 2024
Students from Trundle and other central schools spent time learning about the effects of alcohol, drugs, fatigue, and distractions when they participated in experiences provided on a driving simulator.
A practice drive on the simulator.
"Students organised in pairs were provided two experiences " said Ken Engsmyr of Parkes Rotary Club.
With the "impaired driving" module a participant first drives for about five minutes to experience normal driving conditions, a practice drive. Then they stop, the simulator screens blur, the screen image rocks, braking and steering become less responsive.
The participant drives again for about five minutes.
The difference between normal and impaired driving is compared by means of a report (traffic violations) generated by the simulator.
The experience provides a powerful demonstration of the potential effects of drugs, alcohol, and fatigue on driving ability.
It is an experience that cannot be responsibly provided "for real" with real drugs or real alcohol in a real vehicle on a real road.
The effect of distraction is demonstrated by asking a driver to maintain control of a vehicle while being distracted by text messages, trying to pick up an object from the cabin floor, and taking selfies.
The participant experiences how difficult it is to maintain control when distracted.
Approaching a roundabout and texting while driving, done on a simulator to demonstrate that no one can drive safely while texting on a mobile phone! This cannot be demonstrated safely with a real driver driving a real car on a real road in real traffic! “We also talk with participants about the detrimental effect passengers can have on a driver’s ability to maintain control.”
Research from the United States has revealed that, compared with driving alone, the risk of a young driver dying in a road crash increases fourfold per mile driven if the driver is carrying three young passengers.
And if a young driver is accompanied by one passenger aged 35 years or older, their risk death in an automobile accident decreases by 62%, according to American Automobile Association research.
“While the research comes from the United States, from talking with young Australian drivers it is not hard to see why a young driver conveying young passengers is at increased risk of being involved in a fatal accident.” said Ken.
Media contact: Ken Engsmyr, Rotary Club of Parkes, Phone 0418 246 662
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Parkes Rotary Changeover Dinner
Jun 28, 2025 6:30 pm
Service Above Self
Parkes, NSW 2870
Australia