What a fantastic influx of visitors came to Parkes for the Apollo 11 50th celebration.

One of the many local businesses to benefit from this was the Parkes HARS Aviation Museum which experienced a large number of out-of-town enthusiasts for it's Sunday opening.

The museum has had an increase in popularity during the last six months with the addition to the other exhibits of the Lockheed Orion P3, the Neptune and Wessex Helicopter.

Attendances recorded over the last six month period are the following figures; 57 locals, 153 state, 113 national and 12 international - half of which would be couples or families, making in excess of 500 patrons, even though opening times are restricted to six hours twice a week, Thursdays and Sundays.

Currently the workforce of volunteers consists of the director Mike De La Hunty and assistants from Albion Park when time permits, about six local members rostered on a regular basis and a contingent of high school students doing work experience on Thursdays during the school term.

With the increase in visitors more volunteers are required to have the museum open on the current days, plus the group visits which are occurring more frequently.

The museum would welcome Parkes residents with spare time to become volunteers, a membership fee of $20 covers induction as a guide and insurance.

Anyone interested can enquire during opening times.

As another attraction in the Parkes Shire, the museum is boosting Parkes region as a tourist attraction, bringing outside visitations to the town.

Dear Editor

In an ideal world it would be nice if council could mow and maintain the alleys at least once a year.

The alleys are the arteries of the heart of Parkes and used to play a vital role for sanitation when pan toilets were all the rave.

They are still used extensively today for residents to access their driveway to park their cars. Today however some of the alleys are in a shocking state.

Overgrown with weeds and bushes, and some of them are potholed and patched, and quite rough.

Perhaps council could slot this into their work program or seek a grant to upgrade and renovate all of them?

Dear Editor

The latest release of plastic toys by the two big supermarkets proves that complete hypocrisy has taken over the big two supermarkets. And of course, just about everything you buy is wrapped in plastic.

There is one conclusion to be drawn here - the plastic bag ban was a money-making scheme. Most people I see in the shops now are using plastic bags purchased from Coles or Woolies. So they are still using plastic. When the bags become worn out, you are expected to recycle them.

So then, what do you do? You go and buy more bags off the big two of course! What a grand scheme. How gullible are we? But it is beyond reproach that the big two even accept plastic money or plastic credit cards. Total hypocrisy!