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Thursday, August 1, 2024
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Education on agenda at CWA Far Western Group’s Trangie meeting
Vandalised railway Libraries supporting rollingstock gone local HSC students
STORY: PAGE 2
Uncertainty as Rex Airlines enters administration By SHARON BONTHUYS SHOCKWAVES rippled across the country earlier this week at the surprise news that Rex Airlines - and other subsidiaries of Regional Express Holdings Limited, known commonly as The Rex Group - has entered voluntary administration. In a statement released on July 30, the Rex Group indicated that only the company’s domestic routes between major cities serviced by its fleet of Boeing 737 aircraft were impacted at this stage, with all 737 fl ights grounded. The statement said that its regional Saab 340 fl ights will continue to operate. “Pre-paid ticket-holders will continue to have their tickets honoured by the Rex Group on regional routes,” the statement added. How long this guarantee will remain in place for regional ticket-holders, however, is unknown at this time, with competitor, Virgin Australia, offering Rex customers a lifeline. “Rex and Virgin Australia are also exploring opportunities to support regional customers, which include Virgin Australia selling Rex’s regional services through codeshare or interline arrangements, and making Velocity Frequent Flyer benefits available to Rex’s regional customers,” the statement indicated.
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STORY: PAGE 18
Put your hands up to help parkrun By SHARON BONTHUYS DESPITE the lingering bad weather last Saturday, and thanks to a dedicated group of volunteers, Narromine Wetlands parkrun clocked up its 204th event at the picturesque location on Narromine’s southern outskirts. Parkrun enthusiasts and visitors enjoy free fitness and fun in the great outdoors every week because of the efforts of these volunteers. Some 15 participants completed the five-kilometre course in the difficult weather conditions, in times ranging from 22 to 47 minutes. Two of them were volunteers carrying out an important duty: they were “tailwalkers” following the field around the course and coming home last, subsequently recording the longest participant times. Another six volunteers carried out roles behind the scenes needed for parkrun to be able to take place, including things like barcode scanning, timekeeping, and so on.
More volunteers needed NARROMINE Wetlands parkrun spokesperson, Wayne Coleman, said it is becoming increasingly difficult to stage the free weekly fitness event
Narromine Wetlands parkrun provides fun and fitness for the local community. Have you been to parkrun? PHOTOS: NARROMINE WETLANDS PARKRUN SOCIAL MEDIA.
Volunteer tailwalkers Jess and Fiona help ensure parkrun goes ahead.
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due to a lack of volunteers. Regular call-outs on social media ask people to put their hands up to volunteer, to make sure the Saturday runs around the Narromine Wetlands can go ahead. “Like any organisation, we’re reliant on volunteers and we struggle to get volunteers,” Mr Coleman said. “Few want to put their hands up, it seems,” he added. The Narromine group has between 80–100 registered participants, but only about 20 per cent of those are active, Mr Coleman said. A core group of eight to 10 people generally volunteer to help run the event. Some volunteers like his wife, Wendy, had done more than their fair share, he added. “My wife has volunteered at parkrun over 100 times.” Mr Coleman said the Narromine group is determined to soldier-on, despite the difficulties sometimes presented when they are unable to get their quota of volunteers. “We’ve never cancelled our parkrun due to the lack of volunteers,” he added, indicating that sometimes the volunteers had to “double-up” and take more than one role to keep the event going. This is not ideal as some roles simply cannot take on other duties. Continued page 6