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| Pictured above is newly inducted President David Hughes | Pictured above is Changeover Chairman Charlie Pecenka |
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| Pictured above is outgoing President Greame Hunter | Cliff Cowell giving the toast to Australia |
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| Phillipa with her family | Phillipa O'Donnel is pictured being inducted as by DG Rep Rob Anderson |
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| State member for Orange Phil Donato | Peter Thompson receiving the Arthur Roeder Award from Greame Hunter |
Rotary Christmas Raffle 2025:
Pictured is Dot Charlton, President of Parkes Services Club, with Rotarian Ken Engsmyr in the background, drawing out the raffle winners.
The winners of the Rotary Christmas Raffle for 2025 are:
1st Prize $1,000 Cunningham IGA voucher - Rhonda Wilson of Parkes
2 nd Prize $200 Cunningham IGA Voucher - Griffey of Parkes
3 rd Prize $100 Parkes Services Club Voucher - Robin Dean of Parkes
4th Prize $50 Cunningham IGA Voucher - N Woods of Trundle
Thank you to everyone for supporting our raffle and special Thanks to Steve at Cunningham IGA Parkes for their contribution towards our raffle.
Parkes ELVIS FESTIVAL 2026:
Parkes Shire Citizen for 2026:
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
Service Above Self
Parkes, NSW 2870
Australia