Roxane Manley

Parkes Shire Council is calling on all local community groups and organisations to join a brand-new online Community Directory designed to help residents connect, belong and get involved across the Shire.

The new directory will make it easier than ever for people to discover local clubs, groups and activities – from sporting teams and hobby groups to cultural organisations, charities and volunteer services.

The directory is now live www.parkes.nsw.gov.au/Community/Community-directory and is a key part of an exciting social cohe­sion project led by Parkes Shire Library and proudly funded by the NSW Government.

Parkes Shire Library & Information Servic­es Team Leader Tracy Dawson said the pro­ject is all about helping people feel welcome and connected, no matter where they live or how they’ve been part of the community.

Parkes Shire Mayor Neil Westcott said community groups are the backbone of the region and play a vital role in building a strong, resilient Shire.

“Our sporting clubs, cultural groups, chari­ties and volunteer organisations are the heart of our communities,” the Mayor said.

“This directory will make it easier for peo­ple to find the groups that make our towns great. The more groups that register, the stronger and more connected our commu­nity becomes.”

Council is encouraging community groups to register, including: sporting clubs, social and interest groups, arts, music and cultural organisations, multicultural groups, men’s and women’s groups, youth and seniors groups, community service organisations and charities. For information or to register your group, visit www.parkes.nsw.gov.au/Community/Community-directory

Flemings Property Services has expanded its footprint across regional New South Wales, entering the Central West through a new alignment with respected real estate leader Tara Kelly. Her established Forbes and Parkes offices are transitioning from the Century 21 franchise and will now oper­ate under the Flemings brand.

The move reflects Flemings’ continued confidence in the strength of regional prop­erty markets and its commitment to provid­ing greater opportunities for clients through stronger brand recognition, expanded re­sources and enhanced support for its coun­try-based teams.

Founded in Boorowa in 2000, Flem­ings has steadily grown its presence and now operates across Harden, Cootamun­dra, Young and Cowra. With the addition of Parkes and Forbes, the company now spans seven thriving regional communities and employs a team of more than 40 peo­ple.

Managing Director Justin Fleming said the expansion represents a natural next step for the business, which has always been built around the communities it serves.

“Our business has grown out of the places where we live and work and com­munities we care deeply about,” Mr Flem­ing said. “We’re proud of the business we’ve built, the service we provide and the way we contribute locally. The Forbes and Parkes offices are a perfect fit for our net­work and we’re proud to welcome Tara and her team to the Flemings family.”

Principal Tara Kelly said joining Flemings felt like a natural progression, with the com­pany’s values closely aligned with the way her team operates.

“This move allows our clients to continue working with the same local team they know and trust, now backed by a strong, country focused leadership and support network,” Ms Kelly said.

Over the coming weeks, locals will see new navy-and-white Flemings branding ap­pear across the Central West, representing trust, reliability and strong country values.

For information follow link https://linktr.ee/flemingspropertyservices

Tuesday 10 March was Safer Internet Day – a reminder that it’s never too early to help children start developing digital literacy and safe online habits. In regonition of this, the Federal Minister for Edu­cation, the Hon. Jason Clare MP joined Healthy Harold to launch a new module for the early years, Harold’s Safe Screen Time.

“According to the eSafety Commission, many toddlers can swipe on devices before they can even speak, and 81 per cent of Austral­ian parents report that their 2 to 5-year-old uses the internet,” said Karen Robertson, CEO at Life Ed Australia.

“This is confronting, but not a surprise when we look at the world that our children are growing up in. It’s more complex, more con­nected. We need to meet them where they are and support them with our most powerful tool; education.”

This is the purpose of Harold’s Safe Screen Time. It aims to initiate important conversations about online safety with our littlest learners.

It addresses critical topics with children aged three to five, such as:

early warning signs when something feels unsafe, help-seeking be­haviours, screen time management, autonomy and consent.

Like all of Life Ed’s early years modules, Harold’s Safe Screen Time is presented in an age-appropriate way. It uses the power of storytelling, through a specially crafted Healthy Harold Big Book, to explore basic concepts and encourage discussions that spark curi­osity, joy and a love for learning.

“We all have a responsibility to work together to keep children safe and to prepare them for the world – online and in real-time,” continued Ms Robertson.

Available nationally, bookings are open now at lifeed.org.au/har­oldssafescreentime

Member for Orange Phil Donato MP has re­sponded with strong criticism of Transport for NSW following the agency’s announced indefinite closure of the Great Western Highway at Victoria Pass. The independent MP has called on the NSW Government for urgent action to address the fragility of the transport corridor linking Sydney to West­ern NSW.

The closure is already disrupting freight movements, businesses and regional com­munities that rely on the highway as the primary east–west connection to the state’s capital.

The MP has warned that the problem will only worsen as freight volumes grow with projects such as the Inland Rail and the ex­pansion of the Parkes freight hub.

“If we don’t start planning long-term solu­tions now, this corridor will become one of the biggest freight bottlenecks in Australia,” Mr Donato said.

“For decades we’ve seen massive in­frastructure investment in Sydney — pro­jects like WestConnex and NorthConnex — while regional transport corridors are left struggling with ageing infrastructure.”

“Regional communities contribute enor­mously to the state’s economy, particularly through agriculture and mining, yet we are still relying on a single vulnerable corridor to move goods and people between West­ern NSW and Sydney,” said Mr Donato.

Henry’s Pantry is a food relief and food rescue social enterprise based in Parkes, established to support individuals and fam­ilies from the central west experiencing fi­nancial hardship.

Founded on 9 May 2013, Henry’s Pan­try (originally named Georgie’s Pantry) has been the only organisation in the dis­trict to deliver a consistent and sustainable charitable food service. Between 2018 and 2022, its services were expanded to in­clude drought relief supporting local farm­ers.

Pantry volunteers haven’t missed a service since, supporting an average of around 50 families, or around 150 and 200 people each week.

The Pantry operates with ten dedicated volunteers who contribute their time across three days each week. Volunteers under­take a range of roles, including collecting donated food from local supermarkets, stocking shelves, preparing grocery ham­pers, and welcoming customers.

Food donations are collected from Wool­worths six days a week and Aldi three days a week. They also purchase food from Foodbank, local supermarkets and Central West Food Rescue. Many local families supply dozens of eggs, offer oranges, spin­ach, honey and other fresh produce ensur­ing a reliable supply of food for the service.

Volunteer since day one, Shirley West­garth, who is a retired nurse in her 90’s said she volunteers because she loves it, “I love helping people.”

Shirley can only volunteer in the warmer months, but says she comes every day, “I am coming Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.”

Some patrons access the service regu­larly throughout the year, while others use it temporarily. Community support is vital to the ongoing operation of Henry’s Pantry, and both individuals and businesses are encouraged to contribute through dona­tions of food, partnerships, or volunteering.

Open Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 9am to 1pm, Henry’s Pantry is located in Jansen Lane (at the rear of the Lutheran Church, 96 Currajong Street). A parking area and ramp access is available.