A massive effort was put in by all volunteers involved in the 2025 Parkes netball carnival held on 13 April.
It was a great day of Netball! A massive congratulations to all the teams on fantastic games.
Congratulations to all of the playes in the teams who were winners and runner-ups on the day.
A big thank you to all involved, without whom carnivals like this can’t run.
Lynn Harmson, Lyn Ward, Member for Orange Phil Donato MP, Bruce Adams and Margaret Adams.
Members of the Forbes Neighborhood Watch Committee met with Member for Orange Phil Donato MP at his Forbes office, on Thursday 3 April, to hand over a petition filled with 2,760 handwritten signatures asking for a 24-hour Police Station and extra police for Forbes.
Mr Donato was grateful for the hard work put in by the committee to collect the signatures, unfortunately a petition needs 10,000 signatures in order to be debated in Parliament. However, the fact that this petition has over 500 signatures, means it will cause a written response from the Police Minister.
Mr Donato said, “Forbes is a considerable sized regional town which deserves to have a 24-hour police presence to ensure community safety.”
Neighbourhood Watch relies entirely on volunteers working together with the aim of minimising preventable crime, improving security and reporting crime activity. The Forbes Branch had been holding regular committee meetings and had been in operation in excess of 30 years.
President of the Forbes Branch, Lyn Ward has sadly announced, “Forbes Neighbourhood Watch has folded due to a lack of members. Forbes residents have been rightly concerned about the rate of crime and the lack of police presence in the evenings, but after being unsuccessful in attracting new members, the previous committee consisted of a handful of members, the eldest being 96 years and the youngest in their late 60’s.
Both Lyn Ward and Phil Donato want the Forbes community to stay vigilant and keep reporting crime and any suspicious activity.
There is something for everyone to get involved in during Youth Week 2025.
Forbes Youth Action Team: We are so excited to celebrate Youth Week 2025 with an awesome line-up of events and activities happening across Forbes during Youth Week and the April school holidays. From workshops and creative sessions to fun social events and hangouts. This is your time to connect, create and celebrate what makes young people in our community so amazing. To register go to: www.forbes.nsw.gov.au/community/community-services-and-information/families-and-youth-services/youth-programs
Parkes Shire Council: With Easter, school holidays, and Anzac Day all in April, our roads will be busier than ever. Parkes, Forbes, and Lachlan Shire Councils, alongside NSW Police, are urging all road users to take extra care. Double demerits apply for speeding, seatbelt, mobile phone, and helmet offences apply druing the following periods: Easter 17-21 April Anzac Day 2427 April. Expect extra police patrols focusing on speeding, drink and drug driving, seatbelts, fatigue, and distractions. Stay alert, obey the road rules, and drive to conditions. Read more at: bit.ly/4cgrdIn
Rural Women’s Network: The Hidden Treasures Honour Roll for 2025 is now open. Established in 2010 the Honour Roll has to date enshrined 1,348 women and girls as a lasting acknowledgement of their volunteer work. Whether it’s a family member, friend, colleague, community leader or yourself, now is the perfect time to nominate unsung heroes who go above and beyond. Find out more, check the eligibility criteria and nominate a volunteer in your life today to shine a light on their incredible contributions at: hiddentreasures.awardsplatform.com
R U OK? April is Stress Awareness Month. Someone that you know could be dealing with stress or going through a difficult time. Financial pressures, relationship difficulties, change at work or home, parenting struggles, health issues and grief can all take a toll. Check in with the people in your life. Talking things through can really help. For conversation tips, visit ruok.org.au/how-to-ask
PCYC Parkes: Book a Safer Drivers Course this School Holidays in Parkes on 23 April and Forbes on 14 April. In just five hours, get 20 hours off your log book and get one step closer to your P-plates Fully funded spots available for the Parkes Course, simply email the club for a voucher number: parkes@pcycnsw.org.au.
A massive thanks to the Forbes Youth Action Team – Sarah, Jolene, Brittany and the junior ambassadors for offering Bedgerabong such a wonderful event.
We are truly blessed to have such dedicated people supporting our community. Thank you also to everyone who came to make the night a success.
we hope you enjoyed the experience, catering and company. Thank you Matt- ELITE Event Hire Gotta luv Spuddy Buddy and Mr Whippy, but can you go past the popcorn and fairy floss?
Locals from Parkes and Forbes and the surrounds, are invited to a Drop in Sessions being run by Parkes Energy Recovery, a consortium led by Tribe Infrastructure Group, to discuss their proposed Parkes Energy Recovery facility in the Parkes Special Activation Precinct (Parkes Precinct). The drop in sessions began at The Cooke Park Pavillion on Thursday 10 April and will continue on Friday 11 and Saturday 12 from 8am – 5pm.
The proposed facility will divert an estimated 600,000 tonnes of waste per annum from landfill and generate at least 60 megawatts of energy – enough to power 80,000 homes per year.
The consortium will now begin the process of wide community engagement and the planning and environmental approvals process for the facility that it will design, fund, own and operate on land leased from RGDC (Regional Growth NSW Development Corporation). If you have questions, concerns or are interested in knowing more information, then Council encourages residents to participate in the community engagement opportunities led by Parkes Energy Recovery. For information on the proposed facility, visit www.parkesenergy.com.au info@parkesenergy.com.au or call 02 8405 7915.
Parkes Mayor Neil Westcott, Member for Orange Philip Donato MP, Lachlan Mayor John Medcalf OAM.
Member for Orange Philip Donato MP, joined with mayors of Lachlan and Parkes Shires, calling on the NSW Government to urgently fund repair of critical water infrastructure which was damaged in the 2022 Central West Flood Event.
“The flood event of 14th November 2022 ravaged communities across the Central West, causing unprecedented damage to property – including critical water infrastructure, “said Mr Donato.
“I am extremely grateful to both our state and federal governments for their rapid support and the essential disaster funding they’ve so far delivered to help our region rebuild in the wake of this devastating natural disaster.
“Unfortunately, existing flood recovery funding measures have failed to incorporate the repair or replacement of critical water and sewer assets that were damaged or destroyed in the 2022 Central West Flood Event,” Mr Donato said.
Mr Donato is the chair of the Central West Community Leaders Forum, whose charter is to direct federal and state government disaster funding through the NSW Reconstruction Authority to flood- impacted communities of the Central West following the November 2022 flood event. It was identified that local government’s flood-damaged or destroyed critical water and sewer infrastructure did not fit any existing criteria of funding, although the Northern Rivers flood event benefited from government funding for flood-damaged critical water and sewer infrastructure Repair. Mr Donato has raised this issue on this on the floor of NSW Parliamen.
Mayor of Parkes, Cr Neil Westcott said “We are not asking for special favours, our assets are no less destroyed than the northern rivers and they were fully funded by the NSW Government”. “Water supply to a town is surely essential infrastructure. Our peak supply has been reduced by 30%, we cannot afford to fix it, we need Government help, this is a very serious issue,” Mayor Neil Westcott said.
NSW Youth Week commences this week, with hundreds of events taking place across NSW between 9 and 17 April. In the lead up to Youth Week, the NSW Advocate for Children and Young People, Ms Zoë Robinson, undertook polling to understand how young people are feeling about life right now.
“Youth Week is a vital opportunity for young people to connect, celebrate, and have their voices amplified. The survey results show us what issues young people are most concerned about. Our annual polling data tells us that there are ongoing concerns regarding the cost of living, housing affordability, and mental health,” Ms Robinson said.
“It’s clear that cost of living and mental health remain significant issues for young people in NSW. The demand for accessible mental health services, education, and financial support tell us there is room for improvement regrading access. We need to listen to these voices and identify where we can improve.”
This year’s Youth Week theme, ‘I am… We are the future, and the future is now! Young people are encouraged to participate in Youth Week 2025, to find events happening near you, visit www.nsw.gov.au/arts-and-culture/nsw-youth-week-2025
The resilience of the women who have gone before me inspires me every day, as well as the current stories of men and women battling the flood water in QLD recently.
After I finished my Physio degree, Luke and I moved into his grandma’s house and I thought about her when I raced outside to use the toilet on the verandah in the middle of winter. I thought about her when I stood barefoot on the cool concrete floor of the laundry. I thought about her when I was alone and isolated with a new baby, wondering what she did to get her through.
Six weeks before I was due to give birth, we had a flood and we were stranded on all sides. Luke woke me up as the water was rising and we grabbed the 2 year old and the hospital bag and got across the water in the tractor.
Grandma Kerin however told the story of when she was 40 weeks pregnant, there was an unexpected flood and the local men came and using thick wire cable ropes, set up a flying fox system to winch her across the raging flood waters in a 44 gallon drum.
I think of her, swinging across the raging water in the middle of the night, 40 weeks pregnant and then spilling out of the drum onto the mud on the other side. A car racing down the dirt road to the local hospital. The party line calling hours later. A new baby born, a flood miracle.
Supporting new mothers has been on my heart and it’s such a privilege to create a space for them and their babies to come together at Kerin Health, in our new program “Kerin Health Mother’s Group”. A place for them to connect, learn and support one another in this new chapter of their lives.
Interested in hearing more about the Kerin Health Mother’s Group? Follow the link: https://www.kerinhealth.com.au/mothers-group
Parkes PCYC are excited to welcome their amazing gymnasts back for term two.
The energy, determination, and smiles brought to the gym make every session something to look forward to.
Flipping into another term full of fun, progress, and plenty of new skills.
Early education is critical and this investment will also support mums and dads to get back to work, rebuild and plan for the future.
A Coalition Government will triple capacity at the new Eugowra Children’s Community Centre in long day care, increasing available places for 0-5 year-olds from 15 children to 45 children.
Leader of The Nationals David Littleproud said the Coalition would deliver $1 million to fully fund the long day care component of the new Eugowra Children’s Community Centre, ensuring local families have childcare availability and affordability.
“This exciting announcement is about making sure Eugowra families – who’ve already been through so much – can access quality childcare close to home,” Mr Littleproud said.
“We know regional childcare isn’t just about affordability but availability. Increasing placements to an extra 30 children in long day care is significant and will help many families in Eugowra.
The new facility will replace the temporary modular building that’s been in use since the devastating 2022 floods and marks a major step forward in Eugowra’s recovery.
The Nationals candidate for Calare Sam Farraway said the announcement was a huge win for local families. “I’m proud to announce that the final million dollars has been secured to fully fund the long day care component of the new Eugowra Children’s Centre.
“Access to childcare shouldn’t be a barrier for any family. This investment means Eugowra’s youngest residents have a safe, modern place to learn and grow, while giving local parents the chance to work, study and contribute to their community. Getting Eugowra back on track means backing families,” Mr Farraway said.