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.

Be Seen @ Parkes Christian School DOE Hike

September 25, 2025 By Roxane Manley

Duke of Edinburgh participants set out on their adventurous journey at Nangar National Park. Over two days, the students hiked an impressive 23km, set up camp, and prepared their own meals.

The hike was both challenging and rewarding, providing a wonderful opportunity for teamwork and personal growth and enjoy spotting local wildlife along the way.

All participants successfully completed the Adventurous Journey component of their Bronze Award and continue to work towards their individual goals in physical recreation, skills, and volunteer service.

Parkes Croquet Spring Tournament

September 25, 2025 By Roxane Manley

Everyone is welcome to come along to the Parkes Tennis Court this Saturday for a fun day of Croquet.

The Parkes Croquet Club have organised a Regional Spring Croquet Tournament, set to take place this Saturday, 27 September.

Players will be travelling from neighbouring towns including Bathurst and Orange to take part.

There will be plenty of prizes on offer on the day, with prizes for the croquet place getters, as well as prizes for those taking part in the fun activities planned for between the games.

A big thank you to Bryce at Liquorland and Peter at Cammeray Wines for sponsoring the prizes for Saturday’s Tournament.

Normally the Parkes Croquet Club holds one tournament a year, and the Spring Tournament will be an annual tournament going forward.

Parkes Croquest Club President Beth Thomas said “Currently the club has around 20 members, and we love to see people come along and give it a go.”

Regular croquet games are played on Saturday mornings at 9.30am and anyone interested in trying out the sport can come along to the Parkes Tennis Courts and give it a go.

Parkes To Host Goodnessgravel Cycling Event

September 18, 2025 By Roxane Manley

Picture from a recent goodnessgravel visit to Parkes. Image credit to @goodnessgravel and @VisitParkes.

An Australian bike event company, goodnessgravel, will partner with Parkes Council to run the first edition of goodnessgravel Parkes on Saturday, 1 November.

Parent company, twowheeltours, has years of experience in the bike industry, coordinating events, tours and races both here in Australia and around the world. So they created goodnessgravel to combine their passion for creating memorable riding experiences with the real need to support local Australian communities.

The event will showcase the excellent gravel roads and stunning scenery throughout the Parkes Shire and bring riders from all over the state and inter-state for a gravel cycling festival.

On Saturday riders will depart from Harrison Park and have the option of selectingone of the three different courses; 130km ride, with +1,200m of ascent or the shorter 110km ride, with +1,000m of ascent or finally there is a 50km ride, with 350m of ascent.

All courses will be signposted and will travel through the gravel roads and countryside to the south-east of Parkes including Cookamidgera, Mandagery, and for the full 130km, the course will go south to Eugowra.

On the Sunday, riders will be provided with options for a recovery ride from ‘The Dish’. Come and challenge yourself on these gravel roads and have an adventure. For more details of this exciting gravel ride and to book your gravel experience head to goodnessgravel.com

Snippets…

September 18, 2025 By Roxane Manley

The school holiday program at Parkes Shire Libraries.

Parkes Shire Libraries: Calling all school aged children! Parkes Shire Libraries have an absolutely jam-packed two weeks coming up for the school holidays. Think robotics, movies, Questacon, after hours sessions, sketching and musical theatre. Bookings are open now at https://humanitix.com/au.

Forbes Safe Driver Course: is scheduled for Monday 29 September at the Youth & Community Centre. The Safer Drivers Course is designed to help young drivers feel confident and safe on the road. You will get 20 hours off your logbook, learn practical safe driving strategies, build confidence driving solo and be one step closer to your P’s. You are eligible if you are under 25 years old, current Learner’s Permit and already have 50+ logbook hours. Food provided on the day and the course includes theory and practical. Free if you have your own concession card. Book here: https://pcycdrivereducation.org.au/book-a-course

Vinnies NSW: The NSW Government is offering assistance through its Social Impact Programs for eligible households. Energy rebates are available for low income households, families, seniors and people with certain medical conditions to pay their electricity and gas bills. These rebates support around 1 in 3 households in NSW each year, helping households to reduce their electricity bills by 15%. Find out what rebates you might be eligible for and how to apply at energy.nsw.gov.au/rebates, call 13 77 88 or visit a Service NSW Centre.

Visit Parkes Region: Elvis fans, this one’s for you. Step into the spotlight at ‘The King’s Castle’, Australia’s only permanent exhibition of authentic Elvis Presley memorabilia, right here in Parkes, NSW. Curated by Greg Page (yes, the original Yellow Wiggle!), this dazzling collection features stage-worn costumes, rare artefacts, and personal items that once belonged to the King himself. Located at the Henry Parkes Centre, also home to the replica ‘Gates of Graceland’, it’s a must-see for fans of rock ’n’ roll, pop culture, and timeless charisma. Make your visit unforgettable. Fore more information visit bit.ly/3JFrFpB

Forbes Shire Council: The spring school holiday program has been designed to keep young people engaged and active during the holidays, while also providing parents with affordable options for school holiday fun. For information and ticketing details, head to www.forbes.nsw.gov.au.

Upcoming spring school holiday program in Forbes.

Free Child Restraint Checks In Parkes And Forbes

September 18, 2025 By Roxane Manley

Parkes and Forbes Shire Councils are ensuring that children are safe and secure when travelling in vehicles, with free child restraint checks by Authorised Child Restraint Fitters in Forbes on Wednesday 24 September and Parkes on Thursday 25 September 2025.

The Council’s Road Safety and Injury Prevention Officer, Melanie Suitor, says that these free child restraint checking days are important in ensuring the safe travel of young children.

“Most of the restraints we have checked at previous events have had minor problems that needed fixing to ensure the safety of the child – such as tightening and untwisting straps, fitting gated buckles and correcting the seatbelt’s path through the restraint.

“It is important to have your child restraint checked regularly after prolonged use and installed correctly before use to ensure that your precious cargo is safe” Ms Suitor said.

The child restraint checking days will be held in Forbes on Wednesday 24 September from 11am – 3pm in the carpark at Forbes Rugby Club, and in Parkes on Thursday 25 September from 11am – 3pm in the carpark at Kelly Reserve.

Bookings are essential, phone 6861 2364 to secure your place.

Be Seen @ Parkes East Public School Library Visit

September 18, 2025 By Roxane Manley

The Parkes Shire Library hosted Parkes East Public School Kindergarten students for a visit.

The students were excited to have a tour of the library and to visit the current Questacon display.

Students were lucky enough to listen to a brand new story and make their very own badges.

Special Screening Of Just A Farmer

September 18, 2025 By Roxane Manley

Parkes Show Society Vice President Michael Hocking pictured with Steve Chester at this year’s Parkes Show. Proceeds from the screening of ‘Just a farmer” will help support the Parkes Show Society.

Parkes Show Society extends an invitation to the community to attend its rescheduled screening of Just A Farmer. Taking place this Friday night, 19 September, at the Parkes Christian School Hall.

A moving and powerful movie that shines a light on the real stories behind life on the land, this film transcends traditional cinema and authentically portrays the challenges and triumphs of a resilient farmer in rural Australia.

In a time when the voices of rural and regional communities can often be overlooked, Just A Farmer gives farmers the spotlight, not just as food producers but as innovators, parents, caretakers of the land and deeply connected members of local communities. This film captures the raw emotion, mental toll and challenges of ruralisolation and the resilience that defines life beyond city limits.

Whether you come from a farming background, or you live and work in a regional area and care about the future of rural Australia, this special event offers a chance to come together with your community and reflect on what binds us together.

The committee is proud to have organised this event for the community to enjoy.

September is National Suicide Prevention month and this is a great opportunity to get together with family and friends as well as create new connections while sparking meaningful conversations.

Kindly sponsored by Black Dog Institute, tickets are $10 each, with a full range of all your favourite movie snacks and refreshments available to purchase.

Tickets are available through 123tix or can be purchased at the door on the night, subject to availability. Bring your friends and family and be a part of this fantastic night of entertainment. Book your ticket now https://www.123tix.com.au/events/49914/parkes-show-just-a-farmer-screening

School Holiday Activities At Parkes Library

September 18, 2025 By Roxane Manley

What do you have planned for the upcoming Spring School Holidays? The Parkes Library and Culture Centre has organised some amazing activities, including:

• Scientists in training (years K-2): Learn how to be a scientist and visit Questacon exhibition.

• Scientists in training (years 3-6): Learn how to be a scientist and visit Questacon exhibition

• After hours for Youth: Solve puzzles, eat pizza and visit Questacon exhibition after hours.

• Robotics (years 2-6): Work in pairs using our LEGO robotics kit.

• Robo Battles (years 5-10): Build LEGO robots and battle it out

• Senior Study Lock-in (HSC students): Study after hours with pizza and snacks plus a few extra surprises• Holiday Flicks (years K-6): Watch a movie in the Makerspace. Popcorn and juice provided

• Upstage Workshops (years 3-6): Super fun sessions on acting, singing and dancing lead by industry professionals.

• Upstage Workshops (years 7-12): Super fun sessions on acting, singing and dancing lead by industry professionals.

Most activities are free, just check the information when booking at https://collections.humanitix.com/school-holiday-activities-8e8676

My Does Myopia Matter?

September 18, 2025 By Roxane Manley

Myopia, or short-sightedness, is an eye condition in which near objects are seen more clearly than objects that are far away.

People with myopia have poor distance vision. Myopia is also known as ‘near-sightedness’ or ‘short-sightedness’ because people with myopia can still see things clearly that are up close. Myopia is mostly found in children, but adults can have it as well.

In recent years, the prevalence of myopia has grown at an alarming rate. If current trends continue, by the year 2050, roughly half the people on the planet (5 billion people) will be myopic.

Myopia affects approximately 15 percent of the population. It is the most common vision impairment in the world for people under the age of 40.

Although myopia usually stops getting worse around 20 years of age, the condition in children tends to get worse as they grow.

Generally, the younger a child is when they first develop myopia, the faster their vision will deteriorate, and the more severe it is in adulthood.

Studies have shown that when children spend more than two hours a day outdoors (green time) , the risk of myopia is reduced.

That holds true even when both parents have myopia and even when the children continue to do near-work.

While green time is not a direct cure for myopia, it can provide a helpful balance for the developing child. By increasing time outdoors you will reduce time on your digital devices – and promote healthy lifestyle habits.

Contact Hansen Optometrists Parkes to discuss the most suitable treatment with our optometrist. ‘We are locals caring for locals’

Be Seen @ Forbes Public School – Prep 4 Big School

September 18, 2025 By Roxane Manley

Forbes Public School Prep 4 Big School program has begun and the children are making new friends, exploring the classrooms, and getting to know their teachers.

These sessions are a wonderful way to support transition to school, helping FPS future Kindy students feel confident and excited about starting school.

There are endless smiles amongst the group as the Prep 4 Big School children are all learning, playing, and growing together.

Roxane Manley

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