Stage 3 boys Cultural Group set up their brand new fishing rods last week for a spot of fishing.
Thank you to Brett from NSW fisheries for teaching the boys about our native fish and the Wiradjuri language associated with our waterways.
GJ caught his first fish EVER – thank you to the boys who let him reel in the first catch of the day.
The latest employment figures on the Stockinbingal to Parkes section of Inland Rail illustrate how many people it takes to deliver one section of the 1600km rail project.
The latest employment figures from Inland Rail’s Stockinbingal to Parkes (S2P) section illustrate how many people it takes to deliver a major rail project like Inland Rail.
With major works now completed on S2P and only a few weeks of minor works remaining, February’s verified figures show it took 596 people to complete major works on S2P.
This figure is the total number of people directly employed by contractor Martinus Rail working in the rail corridor to deliver the project.
Major works at the Daroobalgie Loop, Lachlan River Bridge, Forbes Station and Wyndham Avenue have now been completed and the number of people needed on site has reduced, reflecting the progress made.
Regional NSW communities will continue to benefit from Inland Rail construction between now and 2027 as construction begins in the Albury to Illabo and Illabo to Stockinbingal sections of the project later this year.
From July 2023 to February 2025, Inland Rail from Stockinbingal to Parkes has led to:
• 596 people employed, of whom 55 are First Nations
• 184 local residents employed, of whom 34 are First Nations
• 60 women employed
• 39 tradespeople employed
• 129 local businesses engaged
• $12.2 million spent with local businesses
• $427,400 spent with First Nations businesses Australia-wide
Stephen Jones, Inland Rail Executive Director Program Health, Safety, Environment & Sustainability, said “We have a stated goal of delivering Inland Rail south of Parkes by 2027 so it’s important to be able to finish major works on S2P, and we can only be as successful as the teams on the ground.
“It is demanding work to upgrade rail infrastructure – it requires accuracy, safety and physical effort, often in testing conditions and sometimes while wearing hot and heavy protective equipment. I would like to express my gratitude to the many locals who have worked on S2P.”
Community pharmacy plays an important role in supporting men’s health, and this men’s health week (9-15 June the Pharmacy Guild of Australia is calling on patients to pop in for a chat with their community pharmacist.
Brad Butt is a community pharmacist and founder of Men’s Health Downunder. He has specialised in men’s health, specifically urological health and understands the role that a community pharmacy can play in supporting men to recover and build their confidence.
“Men are less likely to visit a GP and often delay their treatment,” says Brad Butt. “We need to make it as easy as possible for men to access care – and community pharmacy can play a key role in that. On average, people visit a community pharmacy every three weeks.”
“That means we are in a privileged position where we are able to have private conversations with patients to check in on their progress and identify where additional support may be helpful,” Brad Butt adds.
“All men should know that there is support out there for sensitive or ‘embarrassing’ issues – they are not alone and men should be able to access treatment and care wherever they live.”
“The ability to have discreet conversations at community pharmacies about medication, devices, continence support, erectile function and testosterone management can help men access the care, support and treatment that they deserve.”
If you’d like to see a Physio for a personalised consult, please give us a call on 0437 749 746.
Is there anything more powerful than a woman moving furniture around her house, alone, on a timeframe (before the baby wakes up)? I ponder this thought as I carry our large microwave/oven from the kitchen to its new resting place: in the laundry on top of the drinks fridge. The husband was not on board with this idea. “Leave it on the bench”, he says, “that makes the most sense”. It does, of course, seem sensible to have a kitchen appliance residing in the kitchen. But the kitchen has been newly renovated, with beautiful white pressed tin as a splashback, so the large, yellowed microwave felt out of place and took up valuable bench space.
So I decided to move it. Grunting, I shuffle to the outside laundry, using all my energy to carry the remarkably heavy metal box, praying my c-section scar would be up to the task.
No doubt, you’ve moved heavy furniture too. Or on the farm, you’ve lifted a heavy, wet ewe from the mud onto the back of a motorbike or ute. Maybe you regularly lift a drum of roundup, or the fat labrador that refused to “get up”. We ask a lot of our bodies, and sometimes, they give out on us.
Ever noticed when a tennis player hits the ball, they groan, or when a boxer makes a punch, they blow out through pursed lips? It’s how they let go of air during exertion: decreasing the pressure inside their body.
I’ve seen so many farmers that come to see me, after a hernia repair and I ask, how’d you do it? Often they aren’t sure – which terrifies them, as they don’t know if it will happen again.
Often, they are the breath-holders. Got to lift the tractor tyre? They’ll take a deep breath in, fill up the lungs with air, put maximum pressure on their abdomen, hold their breath and then lift a ridiculous weight, the perfect storm for a hernia or disc bulge to appear: a sign of a pressure system under great strain.
How to decrease the strain and still get the job done? Take a breath in, then breathe out as you lift. Your pelvic floor, back, and potential hernias will thank you for it.
Yours in pursuit of regular home-rearranging,
Rach x
Diabetes- Diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of avoidable vision loss and blindness in working-age Australians.
It is a chronic disease that occurs when there is too much glucose in the blood. This happens because the body is not producing insulin or not using insulin properly.
This National Diabetes Week, we’re shining a light on something many people don’t realise: your eyes can be one of the first places diabetes shows itself.
At Hansen Optometrist Parkes, we often see patients who feel perfectly fine and have good eyesight, but their eye exam has revealed early signs of diabetic eye disease.
Diabetes can quietly damage the small blood vessels in the retina which we call diabetic retinopathy. Diabetic retinopathy can be seen long before symptoms appear and leads to permanent vision loss. The good news? Early detection of diabetic retinopathy through regular eye checks can prevent severe vision loss.
If you live with diabetes, or are at risk due to family history, weight, or lifestyle, then a yearly eye exam is vital. It’s quick, painless, and could save your sight and at Hansen Optometrists Parkes we have the latest technology to assess your eye health.
Visit us at 267a Clarinda Street, Phone 6863 5577 or book online at hansenoptom.com.au
The winner of the Most Elegant Lady category in the Fashions on the Field is Elizabeth Paterson from Griffith.
Most Stylish Man category at this year’s Fashions on the Field was the stylish Luke Clyne from Parkes.
Best Dressed Couples category in the Fashions on the Field. It was Rhondda and Warren Cochrane from Leeton.
Day one of construction on the “Halo of Colour” sculpture.
The completion of a giant “halo of colour” sculpture in the centre of the Condobolin Road roundabout is among the key finishing touches now under way for the Parkes Bypass project.
More than 1000 heavy vehicles a day have been taken out of the Parkes town centre since the new 10.5-kilometre bypass alignment opened to Newell Highway traffic in April, and now crews are in the final stages of competing a number of activities linked to the bypass.
The first is the installation of a six-metre high and 18-metre diameter piece of public art standing on the 98-metre Condobolin Road roundabout, featuring 24 columns and a number of brightly-coloured panels that have been craned into place since work started this week.
Vibrant artwork on signage being erected at the northern and southern ends of the bypass will welcome motorists, acknowledging that the Bypass is on Wiradjuri land, while a second piece of Aboriginal artwork features images of native fauna is in the final stages of being installed high across the highway on the Victoria Street bridge.
Stephen Lawrence, MLC, said “The halo sculpture in the centre of the Condobolin Road roundabout has been created to reflect Parkes’ brand identity with an outer space theme reflecting Parkes’ iconic Dish, while the pair of Aboriginal artworks created by local Indigenous artists Scott ‘Sauce’ Towney and Kyah and Katlyn Turnbull represent the land, their elders, local fauna and also Parkes as a meeting place in NSW’s Central West.
“We expect the final touches to the halo artwork to be completed by the end of the month, with the entry signage and the Victoria Street Bridge artwork installation to be in place in July.” More information on the Parkes Bypass Project can be found at www.transport.nsw.gov.au/projects/current-projects/parkes-bypass
Arts OutWest invites the community to a day of networking and hearing local arts stories at their Regional Gathering and Annual General Meeting on Sunday 22 June in Condobolin.
“We call the day a regional gathering and AGM because it’s far more than a meeting,” said Arts OutWest’s executive director Kylie Shead.
“It’s always a great day of catching up with creatives and arts supporters and connecting with the Arts OutWest team. There’s an art exhibition and talks and tours to give an insight into the cultural life of Condobolin.
We also throw in a free lunch.”
“Never seen the Utes in the Paddock public art? Keen to explore Sculpture Down the Lachlan on your drive? Want to see behind-the-scenes at the Wiradjuri Cultural Centre or the Condobolin and District Historical Museum? This is your chance,” Ms Shead said.
A roving event, the day starts at 11am on Sunday 22 June for coffee at Utes in the Paddock at Lachlan at Shire Visitor Information Centre. Guests then choose between tours and talks at the Wiradjuri Study Centre and their gallery and Condobolin and District Historical Museum (11:45am – 1pm).Then heading to Condobolin Community and Arts Centre for lunch (1-2pm) and viewing the local ‘Showcasing the Lachlan’ art exhibition, followed by Arts OutWest and local artist presentations (2-2.30pm) and the official formal AGM at 2.30pm. The day should wrap up by 3pm.
Attendance is free. RSVP to artsoutwest@csu.edu.au or via Humanitix https://events.humanitix.com/aowagm-and-regional-gathering
Construction activities of the Quorn Park Hybrid Farm, on Back Trundle Road, ParkesNSW are progressing onsite, with materials delivered for access tracks and working areas. Road upgrades to Henry Parkes Way and McGrath Lane, including an upgrade to the intersection, have commenced.
Piling works are also progressing on site and are expected to be completed in the upcoming weeks. These works involve steel posts being driven into the ground by a specialised piling machine, forming the framework for panel installation. Due to the hammer-like nature of the piling machines, there will be some noise associated with these works.
The ‘golden rows’ – the first solar panel rows installed on-site, which serve as the benchmark for layout, quality, and installation pace – have been completed. With this key project milestone achieved, the mechanical crews are preparing to begin installation of the tracker components, which allow the solar panels to follow the sun’s movement and maximise energy production.
Panel installation will commence in the upcoming weeks, once the mechanical assembly of trackers is in progress.
Construction hours are Monday to Friday 7:00am to 6:00pm, and Saturday 7:00am to1:00pm.
Parkes Services Squash Courts
The 2025 Summer Volley Squash Competition is a wrap. Thank you to all the teams on a great Summer Comp and congratulations to our winners and runners-up. A Grade – Golden Boy def. Squally Voshers. B Grade – Squash Potatoes def. Hogsbreath. C Grade – Lucky 13 def. The Rookies. The 2025 Winter Comp kicked off this week on Thursday
Parkes Dance Co
The countdown is on, our mid year showcase is almost here and everyone is ready to hit the stage on Sunday 22 June. Tickets are live, secure your seats at https://midyear2025.parkesdanceco.com.au
Parkes & District Amateur Soccer Association Inc
Congratulations to three of our Parkes soccer boys, Hayden Lamond, Rylee Quigg and Caleb Rixen who represented Western NSW in the CHSS competition at Blacktown. After 6 games, they have won 3 against Riverine, South West Sydney and North Coast.
Parkes Boars RUFC
Ladies day! Dust off your denim, sparkle up those diamonds and celebrate the wonderful women within our club! Fast footy, flowing drinks, canapés and live music! What more could you want? Tickets available via www.123tix.com.au
Parkes Hockey Incorporated
Our PHI Men’s and Women’s Opens teams wrapped up a great weekend at the State Championships! It was a weekend full of top notch hockey with our men finishing in 7th and our women finishing in 6th. Well done to all teams who competed
Parkes & District Darts
Parkes Darts Doubles Championship Results 4/6/26. Winners Dave Rogan and Joe van Opynen, Runners Up Danielle Thompson and Orin McDermott. High scores, Joe van Opynen 8×100,121,140, Orin McDermott 7×100,2×140, Dave Rogan 3×100,2×125, Danielle Thompson 100,120, Steve Clegg 100,113, Darrell Bailey 2×100, Phil Barnard 100.
Parkes Panthers AFL
With the Panthers having a well deserved break last weekend with the general bye we take this opportunity to thank all team sponsors for their continued support. The Railway Hotel, Parkes Protector Pty. Ltd., Blatch’s, PCYC Parkes, MCA Engineering Pty Ltd, Duncan Stockcrates, Power Tools Plus, SportsPower Parkes, White’s Electrical, Trimech Pty Ltd, Royal Hotel Manildra.