Up to 70 volunteers have been busy at work on four farms, throughout the community and at local schools, doing pretty much whatever was needed of them.

This included maintenance, painting, gardening and landscaping - all while sourcing their products and supplies, including food, in Trundle or the Parkes Shire.

The Farm Army is here until Saturday.

Full coverage of the Farm Army's visit will appear in Tuesday's Parkes Champion Post and on our website very soon.

Charles Hawkins

As read by his family at his funeral.

Charles Reginald Hawkins was the last surviving member of nine children, three brothers and five sisters, of William and Mary Hawkins. Beloved husband of Loraine Hawkins, dear father and father in-law of Jane and Andrew, Nigel and Robyn. Adored grandfather of Joe, Michael, Keegan, Sam, Riley, Isabelle and Bradley. Precious great-grandfather of Chayse and Maddi.

Pop was born on May 22, 1929, at the Trundle Hospital. He lived in Long Street and started school at seven.

In 1940 Pop moved to Gillanbine and attended correspondence school, finishing at the age of 13.

Pop stayed on the farm at Gallanbine until it was sold after the war. He then moved around the district working on numerous properties over the years saving to buy a property of his own. He finally achieved his goal in 1960 when he purchased Wahgunyah. Wahgunyah was his pride and joy where he became a successfull farmer.

Nan came into Pop's life when he employed her as a live-in carer for his elderly mother. They fell in love, married and had two children, Jane and Nigel.

Pop was also a keen shooter and joined the gun club winning many trophies, spoons and cups. There is a memory of Pop and some of dad and mum's cousins, Pop was driving. I think he had forgotten they were on the back of the ute and he was going flat out trying to run over a fox. No one could get a shot because they were all holding on for dear life.

Pop grew crops and had livestock such as pigs and cattle, but mainly sheep. He also ran a poll dorset stud. With his poll dorset sheep Pop used to win lots of ribbons showing them around the district of Trundle, Tullamore, Parkes and Forbes shows. He was very proud of his and Nan's efforts.

My Mum tells me of a memory, of Pop and Nan making them look beautiful by washing them with tea in the water to give their wool that golden tinge, they also powdered their faces with talcum powder.

Obviously it worked they were champions.

Another story my Mum likes to tell me is of Pop trying to shear one and it wouldn't co operate, so he layed it on it's back and shore all around it. He then stood it up on all fours and shore what was left on it's back, job done.

I'm not sure, why but Pop along with Nan decided to have a go at the rabbit business. Well, they had sheds full of rabbits and once they were big enough they would send them off to the market.

Dad was also a very keen gardener, and grew most of our vegies for us all to enjoy. He gave us that much that we secretly had to discard the excess, sorry Dad God bless you.

Dad would try to encourage all of his grandchildren to grow their own vegies.

Many times he would be telling them its time to plant this or you can't plant that because it's the wrong time of year. Dad did know his vegies.

Dad also loved fruit trees and grew quite a lot of grape vines. He had one poor olive tree, that he watered profusely. When it beared it's fruit, he was so excited until he tried it.

He said "bitter little bastards aren't they?". Poor little tree never got watered again.

Making home brew and wine was quite a passion for him, making 36 long necks a week. He still couldn't keep in front of his wife and the wine.

When the grandkids started arriving, he was very proud of them, Joe, Mick and Keag being boys, I think he thought he had all these little farmers and workers. He was willing to teach them everything.

When Nigel's first born Sam arrived, I remember dad all excited. The family name would continue on for the next generation.

Then when Riley, arrived he thought great, the name will definitely go on.

Then along came a little girl, Isabelle. He was so over the moon that she melted his heart, like no other person could do.

Then Bradley came along, and he was just as proud to have another grandchild.

Dad did say to me, that it might be best to stop trying for that girl.

Dad also has two great-grandchildren, Michael's children Chayse and Maddi. They loved their old Pop very much.

One day his daughter-in-law got given a silkie terrier, that he wasn't very fond of at first. Charlie had the shits for five days, didn't speak to anyone. The little dog stood in the middle of the gateway and wouldn't let the sheep through the gate. The man was livid.

Until one day she followed him down to the chook pens and killed a mouse. From that day on, the bond of Charlie and Rosie was inseperable.

As a little girl I remember him making me laugh, carting me around in his wheelbarrow with his beloved dog 'Jonesy'.

Dad was a hero to us all, climbing trees to get my pet galah down. He also rescued me from my horse, when it ran into the middle of the dam. Dad had to wade in to get me.

He also once drove around half of the night, looking for my pet rabbit.

I don't know how many times he rescued Mum out of the trees, because she was raiding the birds nests.

He picked up pieces of Nigel as well.

This was Dad, our hero.

To finish I would like to share with you few of the many reasons why I admired my Dad.

First and foremost was his love and commitment for my Mother. Dad was commited to making her happy. If something was important to her, it became important to him.

I also loved and admired him for the kind of Father he was to us. He loved his family very much. I am so glad to have celebrated your 90th birthday with you.

Until we all meet again, your memories will always be first, and foremost with us.

Robin Blunden was pleased to see Kelli Blunden, Charlie and Ryder from Gunnedah, and Brett Blunden, Evette, Maverick and Xander from Yarramundi for the weekend.

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Bill Capell from Melbourne visited his mother Betty Capell last weekend.

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Visitors for Pat Bryden at Yarrabandai for the long weekend were Jason, Katie, Millie and Lachlan.

Amanda, Daniel, Mickalea and Braxonall from Wentworthfalls and Blackheath, and Allan LeBreeze from Leura.

Todd Porter is home from London visiting with family and friends for three weeks before flying back to finish his two- year visa.

. . . . .

I received this from a local and understand that Professor David Burke was a local.

Canberra Times recently reported on a robot named Rosa, for all arthritis sufferers "not soon enough".

Rosa measures all parts of the knee joint and ensures that no error can occur during operation. The specialist and Rosa took 90 mins for the 1st replacement, but at the 3rd only 50 mins was required. The photo of the recipient showed her smiling and she claimed "I danced in 48hrs".

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Trundle and Tullamore residents who are interested in having news in Friday's Champion Post are asked when they have news, could they contact Robin Blunden on 0457 445 384 or email news to trundletullamorenews@gmail.com.