The day will be a particularly special one for the Parkes Historical Society, as they gear up to celebrate a number of heritage milestones this year.

The Society is celebrating 80 years of 2PK ROK FM radio, 50 years of the Parkes country music event, 50 years of Henry Parkes Museum and 50 years of the Emmanuel family living in Parkes.

Parkes Historical Society president Yvonne Hutton is inviting all of Parkes to come up to the museum and help them celebrate the special event.

“We will be cutting a cake and it will be broadcast on the radio,” she said.

“2PK will be celebrating with us at the museum by broadcasting from Henry Parkes Museum from 9am to 12pm.

“They will be having interviews and playing country music, and Wayne Horsburgh and Steve Cheney will be interviewed at the museum.”

Yvonne said the displays they have put together for 2PK, country music, Henry Parkes Museum and the Emmanuel Family are quite striking.

There will also be the handicaft aprons from Betty’s Sunshine Club days.

2PK was opened 80 years ago by Mr Frank Spicer.

“Its history is quite fascinating,” Yvonne said.

“2PK commenced on October 5, 1937 and was opened in a most unusual way.

“Mr H.V Thorby (Assistant Minister for Customs) opened the station by telephone from Temora.

“The radio station could be heard from Orange to Condobolin and north to Dubbo and was considered to be quite a success.”

The station became one of seven radio stations in country NSW. It was named Radio 2PK the” Voice of the  Golden West” and still retains that name.

It became one of the seven radio stations transmitters in the country, installed by standard telephone and cables.  

Mr Frank Spicer formed a very important relationship with Revered Drummond of the Far West West Health Scheme in Manly. 

The 2PK Sunshine Club was formed and the Kids Koala Club to raise funds for the scheme in 1939.

This is continuing today in Orange, Manildra, Molong, Forbes, Trundle, Dubbo and West Wyalong, even though Parkes closed down when the station was sold to today’s owners.

“We will be raising funds on the day on behalf of these groups by re-printing and selling the 2PK Sunshine  Club Cooking Book,” Yvonne said.

2PK was also responsible, through Don Maguire, for the country music event, which is celebrating its 50^th anniversary throughout this long weekend.

There is a display of photos from the Masonic Building for the 50 years of the museum.

And there is a display from the Emmanuel family, highlighting their timeline of the achievements.

“The Society is privileged to have the musical history of Tom and Phil Emmanuel. Some of the photos and  posters are very valuable and one-offs,” Yvonne said.

“So Parkes people come and share September 30 with us and 2PK at the museum.”

A barbecue lunch will be available and entry fee to the museum is $5.