It is not very widely known but there is a  plaque including a photo of Breaker Morant on a large rock facing the road  across from the clock tower in the village.

It was put there back in 2002 by local man, Robert Cocks because of the injustice Morant suffered.

Morant was executed in South Africa 100 years earlier.

He was a bit of a lad in his time, a brilliant horseman who worked regularly in this area in the 1890s.

Morant came through Parkes a few times breaking horses for local people.

In fact, the Breaker Yards were located to the north of Parkes, in an area at the end of Lorking Street.

Robert Cocks believes we should have some form of acknowledgement for Breaker Morant’s local association.

“I remember my father talking about Morant, he was certainly a character apparently,” he said.

“There’s one story where he was challenged in a local pub to test his horsemanship.

“He said he would jump his horse over a fence in Janson’s Lane.

“The locals said it was   impossible and Morant played along with them.

“But he said he was prepared to give it a go.

“Of course, there was a wager put down for 100 pounds, a huge amount back then.

“He accepted the challenge.  There was not a great deal of area for the run up but he jumped the fence; then promptly jumped back over again.

“Then went back into the pub and said, I’ll have my money now, thanks.

“It’s a pity his local time here is not commemorated in some fashion.”

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We live in an era of scammers who will resort to any length to suck money out of people.

It appears especially the elderly are targeted.

Con men have been around for centuries.

But with the internet, they are now a curse which can affect each and every one of us from anywhere in the world.

We’ve highlighted many scams over recent years, but one brought to my attention this week was really low.

A local couple received a call during the night asking if they had family overseas.

They did, so said so.

The scammer said the person had been seriously injured, which immediately had our local residents extremely concerned.

The emotion tended to cloud whatever commonsense might have been required to deal with the late call.

Then however, the caller said he could assist in handling the crisis.

Nothing further needed to be said, with the local man quickly assessing it was a con, and hung up.

His concerned wife was worried of course, but as he quickly explained, the police would have notified them of any serious incident, not someone with an Indian accept.

It is vital we are prepared for any attempt to gouge money out of us.

Because they appear to be coming thick and fast - and sadly, quite convincingly.

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And finally,  I just had to mention this.

I received quite a few comments on my view of  ‘modern-speak’ last week.

“I seem to be more in the dark now than I have ever been,’ one wag said.

Well, here’s another doozy!

Renovating a home, building, even fixing up furniture, is now referred to as.....wait for it.....’repurposing!’

That’ll do me!! I think I’ll stick to Double Dutch.   At least I have that down pat.

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“After all is said and done, a lot more will be said than done.”

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​There are many country communities which are desperate to find some form of festival which will work.

They see the hugely popular Elvis Festival and think, ‘what can we do like Parkes?’

There have been many suggestions of musical acts - I remember Dubbo thinking about Michael Jackson for example.

I never believed they would work. 

Elvis fans are unique.  They’re devoted and happy to enjoy his music all the time.

That devotion is not there with other artists.

However, the suggestion of ABBA came up and I had no doubts it would work.

If a party is fading, and you put on ABBA music, it will spark up immediately.

Everybody knows and loves to sing ABBA tunes, even if they say they are not fans.  ABBA gets things going!

Trundle hit on a real winner when it decided to test the ABBA phenomenon.

It started rather gingerly five years ago, but with Ruth and Gary Crowley leading the charge, they now have an amazingly successful festival.

Last weekend was fantastic.  About 5000 fans, quite happy to laugh at themselves while enjoying the music, turned out.

Congratulations on yet another outstanding festival.  

I know from the many people I have spoken to they had an ABBAsolute ball!