The final Parkes Christian School MADD Night of 2025 was chaotic and fun.
As usual, there were some great groups in bands, duets and trios.
Even art took the stage this year, with some awesome upcycled and wearable art.
More than 19 hectares of Crown land will be returned to the ownership of Peak Hill Local Aboriginal Land Council following a successful Aboriginal land claim by the NSW Aboriginal Land Council.
Crown Lands in the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure has assessed and granted a claim over 19.65hectares of land near Albert in Central WestNew South Wales. The land will be returned to the ownership of Peak Hill Local Aboriginal Land Council providing new opportunities for cultural, social and economic benefits for the Wiradjuri community.
Under the Aboriginal Land Rights Act1983, the NSW Aboriginal Land Council and Local Aboriginal Land Councils have a right to lodge land claims on Crown land.
Land claims must be assessed against non discretionary statutory criteria in the Act, including whether the land was lawfully usedor occupied at the time of the claim, or was needed for an essential public purpose.
If the land is found to be lawfully used, occupied, or likely to be needed for an essential public purpose, the land claim is refused. If a land claim is granted, the Crownland is transferred as freehold land to theownership of the claimant land council.
Peak Hill Local Aboriginal Land Council board member Christine Peckham said“The Aboriginal community has longstanding continuous connections to that land andthe Bogan River and Dandaloo and Albertareas. The return of this land is great as it isa place of significance.”
Minister for Lands and Property SteveKamper said “I’m pleased to see this sectionof land returned to the ownership and stewardship of the local Aboriginal community.”
Left to right: Sandra Clark – Treasurer Companions Thru Cancer Inc, Angie White – Secretary Parkes Domestic & Family Violence Committee and Kay Ivey – Vice President Companions Thru Cancer Inc.
Companions Thru Cancer lnc was established to provide and promote a confidential, non-denominational, non-religious support network distinct from other groups,societies, associations and the time, for people whose lives have been touched bycancer in some way.
Companions Thru Cancer lnc began from a newspaper article featuring Dianne Tanswell’s 40th birthday party, headed ‘Cancer a word, not a death sentence’. lt expressed Dianne’s passion to form a support group in Parkes for cancer patients and their carers’. This article prompted well-known sportsman Len Gosper to contact Dianne about her idea. Together Dianne, Len Gosper and Dorothy Tanswell formed Companions Thru Cancer on 10 December 2001. Unfortunately, all three founders were cancer patients and have sadly passed away, but their legacy lives on.
Companion Thru Cancer lnc meet every third Wednesday of the month for social outings where friendships and support have grown, and many experiences have been shared in a relaxed and informal atmosphere. This sharing and friendship is reflected in the group’s logo designed by local artist Julie Hamilton, in memory of her late mother, Patricia Bigelow.
Companions Thru Cancer lnc have in the past made donations to Care West Lodge Orange, Currajong Enterprises, AngeI Flight, Currajong Disabilities, PCYC, RuraI Fire, Encore and Red Cross to name a few.
The group have also fundraised for Relay for Life and annually hold a Biggest Morning Tea for the Cancer Council.
This year they donated $1,000 to the Parkes Domestic & Family Violence Committee.
Companions Thru Cancer lnc was formed to share experiences, to laugh, to cry and to embrace life! lf you would like to join please contact: President Mavis Moon 6862 2582 or vice president Kay lvey 0459 931 799.
The 2025 Parkes Christmas Parade starts at 6pm in Short St on Friday, 5 December.
The Parade and Carnival have been running for nine years, since 2017, however the Apex Club did co-ordinate Christmas functions prior to that. Each year the parade and carnival are organised by the Parkes Action Club which is a group of volunteers raising money for local children.
It’s expected most of the schools will participate in the Parade as well as many businesses. Previous parade winners McPhersons are sure to be there to reclaim their Parade crown from The Fergie Group.
There will be a prize for the best commercial float and also school participation.
There will be approximately 30 local stalls in the Carnival in Cook Park featuring the wealth of talent from across the Parkes Shire. Jo Burke will be selling her beautiful sewing, Parkes Potters will have their wares on display. Spuddy Buddy will be one of the many food vendors along with the Rotary BBQ.
The Parkes Action Club would like to thank participants for supporting the Parade and Carnival over the years. More details on the Action Club Facebook page.
Forbes High School recently had the pleasure of welcoming Year 6 students from various primary schools for Year 7 Transition.
This was a fantastic opportunity for them to explore our school over three days and prepare for their exciting journey into high school.
Staff and students are eagerly looking forward to welcoming the new Year 7 students to Forbes High next year.
Pictured are the Saturday Competition winners.
Last Saturday 101 players attended the Kelly Golf Ambrose, the highest members comp since Zac has taken over which is great to see. The comp raised $200 for the juniors from the sausage sizzle lunch so thank you very much to Zac and Maddi and all who helped make that happen.
Winners on the day were first Melissa Matthews, Craig Matthews, Fletcher Matthews and Nicholas Strudwick – 58.75 Nett.
Second Arthur Medcalf, Tony Evans, Scott Winter and Sean Sloane – 61.25 Nett. Third Lex Hodges, Rob Cheney, Tony Hendry and Robert Staples – 61.75 Nett. Well done to all the winners.
Monthly Medal this Saturday and save the date, 13 December for when LIV Golf comes to Parkes. Get ready for the Greenkeepers’ Revenge, the greens are fighting back.
Pictured are the Lachlan Dragons. Dragon boating will broaden your horizons and introduce you to a healthy lifestyle.
Forbes Dragon Boat Club recently competed at the Masters Games in Weston ACT. The 3-day event included 200m races and 1km turn races in both small and full boats. Forbes combined with four other clubs for this competition. Team Forge included paddlers from Forbes, Geelong Vic, Parkes, Adelaide Survivors abreast and Powerblades SA.
In November FDBC also competed in the Western Region Regatta this year held in Orange. Races included 10’s and 20’s crews over 200m and “a dash for cash “over 100m. We combined with Parkes and Blue mountains on that day.
Forbes Dragon Boat Club is offering a 4 week introduction to paddle plan, aimed at recruiting some new members. Dragon pass is a free program to trial dragon boating before joining a club.
We aim to run sessions on Sundays from 30th November until 21st December. Sessions will be for 30-40mins from 9am. It’s all about fitness, friendship and fun. There is no requirement to attend all sessions. You are also welcome to join our regular training sessions during the dragon pass period.
Paddles and life jackets are provided. All you need to bring is a bottle of water, a cap and closed in shoes.
So, if you have ever wondered about giving dragon boating a try – this is your chance. We challenge businesses, sporting teams, anyone looking for something new, who loves the water, to come along and give it a try. Minimum age 11 yrs.
Paddling with Forbes Dragons can be social or competitive – you decide on your level of participation.
For more information search Forbes Dragon Boat Club on Facebook and register to attend.
Parkes Elvis Festival Founders Bob and Anne Steel on the Nine Network set of Today Extra.
Parkes Elvis Festival Founders Bob and Anne Steel made an appearance on the Channel Nine morning talk show Today Extra, Tuesday 25 November. On Today Extra, hosted by David Campbell and Sylvia Jeffreys, Bob and Anne talked about the Parkes Elvis Festival and its long running success.
After their appearance on Today Extra, Bob and Anne, along with daughter Tiffany Steel and Parkes Elvis Festival Director Brendan Shipley had a scheduled one on one private sit down with Priscilla Presley, prior to her State Theatre show “Life After Elvis” at the State Theatre in Sydney.
We were curious how the meeting with Priscilla came about so we asked Festival Director Brendan who said it took a couple of months to organise with FANE Productions, but once he got the go ahead, he delivered the news to the Steel’s over lunch.
“Bob and Anne, myself and my family and their daughter Tiffany, got together for a BBQ, a couple of weeks ago, Anne cooked a lavish meal and welcomed us into her home, I stopped in the middle of lunch and said – Well, I have something to tell you, your going to Sydney to meet Priscilla,” said Brendan.
Bob and Anne were stunned to hear the news “We were in shock actually” said Anne.
And when asked if they were at all nervous about meeting Priscilla or featuring on the Today Extra Program Anne replied calmly “Not at all, no good being nervous, that doesn’t do any good at all.”
October was breast cancer awareness month and all branches of the CWCU were busy raising funds.
Donations were made to CanAssist Parkes and CanAssist Forbes and Cancer Action Group (Cowra).
Thank you to all members and staff for making October a month to remember.
Local Government NSW (LGNSW) and the Country Mayors Association of NSW (CMA) have extended a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration between the two bodies and to amplify the voice of local government across the state.
LGNSW President Mayor Phyllis Miller OAM signed the agreement alongside CMA Chairman Rick Firman OAM during the first day of the 2025 LGNSW Annual Conference.
The extension of the existing MoU continues to strengthen the relationship between the two organisations and sets out a framework for cooperation on issues impacting councils, particularly those in remote, rural and regional communities.
Through the partnership, LGNSW and the CMA will collaborate on policy development, advocacy campaigns and information sharing, working together to deliver stronger outcomes for councils and communities right across New South Wales.
Mayor Miller said the agreement would help ensure the challenges and opportunities of regional and rural communities remain front and centre in statewide advocacy efforts. “This MoU reflects our shared commitment to strengthening the collective voice of local government and ensuring every council – no matter how large or small – has a seat at the table,” Mayor Miller said.