I am hoping that you can help me with some publicity to advance my research.

I am writing a book about James McMillan Padley, of Lithgow. He was the driving force behind the Lithgow Progress Association in the early 1900s and the chief instigator of development of visitor facilities at Hassans Walls Lookout. He had a furniture shop in Lithgow from 1902 until his death in 1918.

1. Location of Padley's Parkes shop

In July 1909 James Padley took over a similar shop in Parkes — Millar's Mart, in Welcome Street. He moved to Parkes and stayed a year then handed the store over to his brothers George and Thomas. He returned to Lithgow and continued his work in the Progress Association and many other community groups.

The Padleys ran the Parkes shop until January 1928. Officially it was J. Padley & Co., but often still called Millar's Mart. Research shows that the shop was on the eastern side of Welcome Street and backed on to Lowing Lane — a story in the Western Champion (20 June 1918, p13 c3, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article113471842) of a horse which bolted in the lane confirms this. Other clues to its location are that it was not far from Johnsons Bakery and almost opposite the Western Champion office (which was in Welcome Street in those days).

On a recent visit to Parkes and with help from Dan at the Parkes Library, we think the shop may have been where Kinsela's Motorcycle store is today.

Can any Champion Post readers help in pinning down the location? Does anyone have some photos of Welcome Street shops in the early 1900s?

2. Parkes Cemetery records

James Padley had six siblings: five brothers (William, Heber, Thomas, George, Arthur) and one sister (Hannah). All of them, except for Arthur, lived in Parkes at some stage. Only Arthur and George were married. And George was the only one who had children.

Three members of the family died in Parkes and were buried in the Presbyterian section of the Parkes Cemetery — George's wife Sarah (April 1919), Thomas (August 1919) and Heber (February 1939). We don't know exactly where they were buried because of a lack of records and there is no surviving headstone.

Unfortunately the Parkes Shire Council does not have records of burials in the Parkes Cemetery prior to the council taking responsibility about 1970. Before then the records were kept by the churches which had trustees for the cemetery. What happened to these records? Do any of the churches still have them?

An article in the Western Champion in 1924 (1 May 1924, p16 c3, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article113494362) about monumental masons C. J. Shakespeare & Son setting up a branch in Parkes stated: "The firm are now completing among others, the following memorials for the Parkes cemetery: ... the Padley, Clarke, Livingstone, Lawso, Lucas and several other artistic memorials." That means the Padley grave must have had a memorial stone on it — but there is none today. There is one double grave with concrete surround and cover that has had a headstone but it is missing. Does anyone know if this is the Padley grave? Did a tree fall on it and smash the headstone and cause the damage that can be seen? See photo above.

3. Stanley and Eva Freeman descendants

George and Sarah Padley had two children, William Wallace (born at Yarram, Victoria in 1909), and Eva Agnes (born at Parkes in October 1912). Early this year a grand-daughter of William Wallace Padley made contact with me.

Eva married Stanley Freeman of Nelungaloo in 1935. They had two children, Ray and Jean. The family lived in Peak Hill in the 1940s and 50s. Are there any descendants of Ray and Jean in the Parkes district? I would love to hear from them.

4. Booklaunch

A booklaunch for "Padley of the Pedestal" is planned for Friday 19th October at Lithgow Library followed the next day with a rededication of a restored Padley monument at Hassans Walls Lookout. October 20 will be the centenary of the death of James McMillan Padley, making it an appropriate time to remember him.

Dear Editor

The importance of and access to technology is sometimes underestimated for rural communities in Australia. We must fully harness the potential that technology provides for our towns, industry, home, employment and education.

With this in mind we have developed a community based initiative, the NSW Regional Technology Expo, which will cover Central NSW and Orana regions. It will be the first of its kind for regional Australia to feature home, business, education, and agriculture and automotive.

The expo will be held in Orange from Friday, June 22-24 and has now expanded to fill two venues with over 70 exhibitors. We expect more than 5000 attendees.

Features include a wide range of exhibits and demonstrations eg what’s new for home and business, robotics, how to operate your smart TV, cyber security, educational sessions and workshops targeted specifically at students and parents, the world’s safest car, home energy solutions, cyber bullying presentations, software and hardware, virtual and augmented reality, crypto currencies (eg. bitcoins), Telstra, NBN, jobs in the future, to name just a few.

Our region also needs to become smarter with technology to ensure future prosperity and jobs. With this in mind a Smart Region Technology Forum will also be held in conjunction with the expo.

Further details are available on website www.regionaltechexpo.com.au or by phoning me personally on 0427 291664.

To Councillor Kenny McGrath for helping us to put our cans and bottles through the recycle machine. He’s an all-round good person and contributes so much to our wonderful town of Parkes. A happy nan and granddaughter.

Thumbs up to Craig Dumensy and the Parkes Harness Racing committee/ helpers for their assistance at the last two Peak Hill Trotting meetings. Your help is much appreciated.

To the person who backed their vehicle into my 21-year-old daughter’s Blue Holden Berlina on Monday, May 23 in front of the Commonwealth Bank, causing extensive damage to the front left wheel panel and drove away. We did go to the Police and have footage of the incident on CCTV camera, but to your fortune and my daughter’s misfortune, are unable to see your licence plate number. There was also a witness who saw this incident - but as you didn’t stop and leave your CTP Insurance details, my daughter now has to pay for the $1500 in repairs and her insurance premium will now be increased BECAUSE OF YOU.