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Parkes Phoenix

Roxane Manley

Roxane is a true local to the Forbes and Parkes areas. Having been with the Phoenix for a number of years, she is passionate about her region and loves being involved with the local community.

$56,000 Funding To Support Volunteers

May 9, 2024 By Roxane Manley

Federal Member for Riverina Michael McCormack is excited to see more than $56,000 in funding delivered to community volunteer organisations to support the efforts of volunteers in the Riverina and Central West under the 2023-24 Volunteer Grants program.

“Across the Riverina and Central West, 16 organisations were successful in their application for grants valued between $1,000 and $5,000,” Mr McCormack said.

In our local area, the following organisations were named among the funding recipients:

• NSW Small Winemakers Wine Show, Forbes $1,000

• Parkes Musical and Dramatic Society $5,000

• Peak Hill Bowling Club $5,000

“This funding will make a world of difference to the volunteers who make such important contributions to our community.

“Among the equipment to be purchased under the grants are barbecues, groundskeeping equipment, first aid equipment and electronics.

“It was so heartwarming to hear the wonderfully positive reactions from organisation representatives when I told them their applications had been successful.

“As we all know, community organisations and the wonderful volunteers involved in them form the backbone of our strong and vibrant communities. However, it can be very difficult for some clubs and organisations, particularly those in the smaller villages and towns in the Riverina and Central West, to raise money for vital equipment to keep volunteers safe or to improve their services to the community — that’s why this funding is so important.

Kerin Health Opens New Clinical Facility

May 9, 2024 By Roxane Manley

For the past two years, the team at Kerin Health have been dreaming, planning and finally building a brand new state of the art clinical facility. It is the first of its kind in the whole of New South Wales and you are invited to help celebrate its grand opening on Friday 17th May from 5:00pm at 28 Armstrong Street, Parkes.

Rachel Kerin, Director and Physiotherapist said, “This facility increases our service capacity – meaning we can treat more clients, support more families, and bring more specialised clinicians to the local area.”

Head along, as Kerin Health showcase their wide range of services, and how they can support you and your family. It will be a night of celebration, including goodie bags, live music, nibbles, a raffle, and a whole lot of free resources.

MacGregor Cousins Set The Scoreboard Alight

May 9, 2024 By Roxane Manley

IMAGE LEFT: Elizabeth and Maely pictured at Spicer Oval in Parkes for training. IMAGE RIGHT: Elizabeth and Maely pictured together at last Saturday’s game against CSU.

Parkes cousins Elizabeth and Maely MacGregor are continuing to amaze the crowds whenever they strap on a pair of footy boots. Last weekend the Parkes Boars Women’s team took on CSU Bathurst, winning the game 50 – 0, and notwithstanding a great all round team effort, incredibly all 50 points on the board were scored by the two cousins.

Eighteen year old Maely only just played her first season of rugby union for the Parkes Boars in 2023, and has been very exciting to watch. Last Saturday Maely scored one try and kicked 5 from 8 conversions.

We asked Maely what teams she thought would be some of their biggest competition this year, she said: “Wellington has become strong and Mudgee is always really strong, so they will be two tough teams to beat.”

When asked what the girls were focusing on at training this week Maely said “I think just our structure is mostly what we are working on, and making sure that we can complete our plays and retain the ball to score tries.”

Seventeen year old Elizabeth played her first ever game of Rugby Union last Saturday in the hit out against CSU. Elizabeth is an established up and coming rugby league star and credits her extension into rugby union to her cousin, saying: “Maely tried to get me to play union last year and didn’t get me, but this year she convinced me”.

Before heading out on the field for her first match, Maely gave her younger cousin Elizabeth a solid piece of advice: “Just get the ball and run.”

“I didn’t know the rules, I kept running back to try and get on side, before realising I didn’t need to do that. I was nervous, and a bit confused at the start, but I got the hang of it a little bit more at the end”.

Heading into the away game this weekend against Wellington, Elizabeth will be focused on scoring more tries. “I am still very new, but I will try stay on the outside of Maely, she should set me up and put me in a couple of holes, and just run,” she said.

Marion Jones’ Mothers Day Flowers

May 9, 2024 By Roxane Manley

Marion Jones busily working in her garden.

Each year for the past 15 years, Parkes woman Marion Jones has been selling flowers from her garden in order to raise money for charity.

She previously donated the proceeds to the local Uniting Church to go towards their Monthly Monday Meal, but recently Marion has been raising funds to donate to a Ministry in Cambodia that is printing children’s books for local children to learn bible stories. This year Marion is being helped by the wonderful women from the Que Club.

Bunches of flowers will be available for sale at the front of the Uniting Church, this Saturday 11th May from 9am.

Snippets…

May 9, 2024 By Roxane Manley

The students practiced hard during Term 1 and should be immensely proud of their effort and performances.

Forbes High School Eisteddfod Performance: Congratulations to all the students who attended Cowra Eisteddfod last Thursday. The adjudicator and audience were certainly entertained by the FHS group and solo performances.

NSW Government: New laws on coercive control will come into effect in NSW from 1 July 2024. Coercive control is when someone repeatedly hurts, scares or isolates another person to control them. It’s domestic abuse and it causes serious harm. Learn the signs of coercive control at nsw.gov.au/go/CoerciveControl-FB If you or someone you know needs help, 24/7 support is available. Contact 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732

Parkes Shire Council: You’re invited to a Community Forum with the NSW Premier and Cabinet Ministers on Friday 17 May in Orange. Register now at nsw.gov.au/communitycabinet to attend and have a say about the priorities for your community. Registrations close Friday 10 May.

Forbes High School P&C Association: Meeting will be held Wednesday 29th May, 5pm, Club Forbes (Coffee Lounge). We welcome new faces who are keen to help form a fundraising team to share ideas and to contribute to the success of our school.

Lachlan NSW SES: Your community needs you. When disaster strikes, we step up to support those in need. You can too. At NSW SES, we believe that everyone has a role to play. Whether you’re a Storm & Flood Damage volunteer, a Road Crash Rescue Operator or an Admin & Logistics Officer, there’s a place for you in the Orange Army. Join us and help your community today! Visit to learn more about volunteering: https://tinyurl.com/VolunteerNSWSES

Visit Parkes Region: The Peak Hill’s 51st Annual Arts and Craft Exhibition will take place over the course of two days, 8-9 June 2024 between 9:30am-4pm. Come and witness a variety of artisan and modern contemporary style arts and crafts including paverpol, wool and yarn crafts, weaving, patchwork quilts, mosaics, pot plants and so much more! Admission is $2 pp. The Exhibition’s Official Opening is Friday June 7th at 6:00pm.

Get Out And About This Mother’s Day: Glencara is situated halfway between Grenfell and Young in the Hilltops region and the property will be open for Mothers day from 10am until 3pm. There is an entry fee but it may just be worth it to secure yourself a little ‘me’ time in that amazing maze!

Have a bit of fun with mum this Sunday.

Youth Actor Auditions Mock Crash 2024

May 9, 2024 By Roxane Manley

Filming a scene from the 2023 Youth Driver Education Program.

Calling all amateur actors across the region! Parkes, Forbes and Lachlan Shire Councils are on the search for youth actors to star in this year’s NOT A STATISTIC! Youth Driver Education Program.

The Councils’ Road Safety and Injury Prevention Officer, Melanie Suitor, is encouraging local up-and-coming youth actors to audition to be part of this road safety initiative which has seen a 27% reduction in crashes involving young drivers since its inception more than 10 years ago.

“We are looking for four new actors to join our team and are holding auditions on Thursday 16 May from 5pm – 8pm at the Parkes SES shed in Clarke Street.

“The auditions will give participants an overview of all aspects of the project, then youth actors will take part in both filmed and live ad-lib exercises. The youth actors will also undergo road crash rescue training to see what it’s going to be like being cut out of a car and removed on a spine board.

“We are hoping to uncover some undiscovered talent who will bring something new to mock crash. So, if you are interested in getting involved and are over the age of 16 be sure to register and come along,” Ms Suitor said.

The program offers youth actors experience with filming as well as a live performance. Dates are still being set for the live mock crash demonstration, but will likely remain in its August timeslot at Parkes High School.

Pre-registration for the auditions is essential. Contact Ms Suitor on either 6861 2364 or Melanie.Suitor@parkes.nsw.gov.au for more information and to book your place.

Do It For Dolly, And Help End Bullying

May 9, 2024 By Roxane Manley

Dolly Everett, who we remember each year on Do it for Dolly Day and her parents, Tick and Kate Everett who are determined no other family should suffer the loss they did.

Dolly Everett was only 14 years old when she tragically took her life in January 2018, following relentless and sustained bullying and cyberbullying. Sadly, six years later the problem is not going away.

A recent report from the eSafety Commissioner has shed light on a troubling trend: cyberbullying is on the rise. There has been a staggering 40% increase in cyberbullying reports. What is particularly worrying is that two-thirds (67%) of these reports were concerning children aged 12-15 years old – just like Dolly – highlighting the vulnerability of young people to online harassment and abuse.

Determined that no other family would suffer from the same devastation, Dolly’s parents Tick and Kate Everett established the anti-bullying organisation Dolly’s Dream. They have committed to changing the culture of bullying by addressing the impact of bullying, anxiety, depression, and youth suicide, through awareness, education and direct support to young people and families.

“We don’t want other families to ever have to go through the heartache we have experienced. We are proud that Beacon provides easily accessible support and information to families, especially in our rural, regional, and remote communities, that we wish we had,” Kate Everett.

Each year in May thousands of wonderful communities come together to remember Dolly by going blue, donating and participating in fundraising activities to help support the important anti-bullying work of Dolly’s Dream, sharing the message to be kind and speak even if your voice shakes.

To register, donate or to find out more visit www.doitfordollyday.org.au

Be Seen

May 9, 2024 By Roxane Manley

Parkes High School Year 10 boys are participating in a five week TAFE course introducing them to construction. The students will attend Parkes TAFE for four weeks then go on an industry tour visiting local builders. Thank you to Senior Project Officer and Regional Industry Education Partnerships co-ordinator, Mr Troy Kelly, to Mrs Morrissey, PHS Transition Adviser for helping to organise the course and Mr Carter who accompanies the students each week.

 

 

Free Online Child Car Seat Safety Workshops

May 2, 2024 By Roxane Manley

Over 30 local families have attended the online workshops since their inception. Participants rated the workshop 4.8 out of 5, said they would be very likely to recommend it to a friend or family member.

Parents, carers and grandparents are invited to attend one of two free online workshops being held to provide important safety information about child car seats.

The workshops are being conducted by Parkes, Forbes and Lachlan Shire Councils in partnership with Transport for NSW West Region.

The workshops will be held via MS Teams, on Tuesday 7 May at 11am and again at 7pm, and will run for about an hour.

The Councils’ Road Safety and Injury Prevention Officer, Melanie Suitor, said the correct selection, installation and adjustment of child car seats is vital in ensuring children’s safety when travelling in vehicles.

“The workshop will cover the National Child Restraint Laws, types of child car seats available, correct installation and adjustment, when to move to the next car seat, accessories, tips for second-hand car seats and much more.

“It will be a great refresher for grandparents, as child car seats and the rules have changed a lot since they had their children, but also for parents and carers as they are navigating their way through their child or children’s growth.

“The results of our local checking day events show that around 80% of the child car seats that were checked were incorrectly installed. Transport for NSW research shows that children who are not restrained correctly are seven times more likely to sustain life-threatening injuries in a crash than those who are properly secured. It is so important to ensure your precious cargo is safe” Ms Suitor said.

The online workshops were the first of their kind in NSW when they were trialed in May 2023 and were held again in November 2023.

To book your place, visit the event listing on the Councils’ Facebook pages, use this link: https://bit.ly/WorkshopRegoMay24 or call Ms Suitor on (02) 6861 2364.

Snippets

May 2, 2024 By Roxane Manley

The entire community is invited to come along.

Philip Donato

MOLLY MATTERED

Join in a walk around Lake Forbes to honour the life of Molly Ticehurst.

A morning for the Forbes community to wrap their arms around each other in a show of support and say no to violence against women. Wear something bright.

WHEN: Sunday 12th May 2024, 8.30am- 10.00am. WHERE: Lions Park, Forbes.

R U OK?Day

Some days are easy. Some days are hard.

When things get tough for someone you care about, reach out to see how they’re going. Ask what you can do to support them.

Parkes East Public School

We were honoured to have Mr Keith Woodlands, President of the Parkes RSL Sub-branch as a guest speaker at our ANZAC Service on Tuesday 30th, April.. Our school captains and prefects did a wonderful job leading this service. May we never forget the sacrifices our service men and women made and continue to make for us.

Forbes Shire Council

Apply Now – The Manager Engineering will provide management of:

– Council’s survey and design functions.

– Technical expertise to other Council departments and divisions to ensure successful completion of operational and project requirements in line with Council’s Community Strategic Plan, Delivery Plan and Operational Plan.

– This role will be accountable for high quality, timely designs across all operational, and major strategic projects.

– Management of external agencies involved in highly technical design.

PCYC Parkes

KINDER GYM Term 2 bookings are open.

Each week we create a new circuit challenging our students, followed by free play on the equipment. Join us Tuesday and Friday 9:30-10:15am. Bookings can be made by email, phone, online or in the club.

SBS News

Rallies calling for an end to violence against women have been held across Australia in recent days. Here’s how to spot potential signs of domestic violence, and support those who may be experiencing it. Read more: https://trib.al/1vMM6RB

CatholicCare Wilcannia-Forbes

We have a fantastic event planned at Parkes for National Families Week. The aim of National Families Week is to celebrate the vital role families play in Australian society. National Families Week runs from May 13 to 19, 2024 and this year’s theme is “celebrating family diversity and connections”. Our event on Friday May 17 will mark the week with playgroup activities, sausage sizzle, face painting and goodie bags. Bring your family and friends for some fun to the Cooke Park Pavilion at Parkes.

Holy Family School, Parkes

We are thrilled to announce the launch of our Kitchen Garden Program and what a joy it has been to see our Year 4 students dive into this hands-on learning experience!

Our Year 4 class has been busy planting beans, chives and carrots, and they’ve had an absolute blast doing it. It’s wonderful to see them engage with nature and learn about the process of growing their own food.

Let’s continue to cultivate a love for nature and healthy eating in our students.

By Mrs Wheeler

Stay tuned for updates on the growth of the HFS garden.

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