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Parkes Phoenix

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.

1,000 Bikes Ride Against Domestic Violence

April 3, 2025 By Roxane Manley

Organiser of the 1,000 Bikes Against Domestic Violence Ride, Grant Nicholson pictured with Tony Ticehurst, father of the late Molly Ticehurst.

A group of Central West Riders will soon be departing Forbes on a very special ride – 1,000 Bikes Against DV. The ride or­ganised by Forbes local Grant Nicholson, was inspired by the tragic loss of beloved local woman Molly Ticehurst to domestic violence. The bikes will depart Forbes on Friday 11 April at 8:30am from Bunnings.

The group will be riding from Forbes to Parliament House in Canberra, and have been granted permission to hold a rally from 1pm – 2pm. All riders are welcome to join and riders are invited to wear a white ribbon in support of ending domestic vio­lence.

When speaking of the ride, Grant Nichl­son, said: “We want to show our disgust in the lack of action by our leaders in combat­ing domestic violence in our communities all over Australia. We’re going to be peace­ful, but loud, to show society that we can­not tolerate this any longer.”

On the day, 117 red hearts will be laid on the lawn of Parliament House to represent the 117 women lost in the last 12 months to domestic violence. Members of the crowd will be asked to take one of 117 white car­nations and stand behind a red heart, the last carnation being carried by Nate who is Molly’s young son. Nate will carry Molly’s heart with her flower, during 117 seconds of silence.

Riders will meet at the general assembly point at the front of Parliament House Can­berra. Please head along and show your support against domestic violence. For more infomration follow the Facebook link: www.facebook.com/share/1BZRmk3RM7

Snippets…

April 3, 2025 By Roxane Manley

Carmen and Megan left the CSU Forum feeling inspired and grateful.

Kerin Health: Megan and Carmen rep­resented Kerin Health at the networking event and forum hosted by CSU Three Riv­ers Department of Health. The theme was Thrive 2025 ‘Innovations from the heart of rural health’. So many amazing things are happening within rural health and collabo­rating with other allied health providers to bridge the gap.

Calling All Youth Leaders: The NSW Youth Advisory Council (YAC) is looking for young people aged 12-24 from diverse backgrounds across NSW to help advise the NSW Government on issues that mat­ter. This is your chance to have your voice heard and represent children and young people across the state. Learn more and apply before 20 April at acyp.nsw.gov.au.

Young Farmer Business Program: Are you a tradie, farmer, or gardener aged 1825? The 2025 Global Footprints Scholar­ships is a chance to gain international work experience and make a real impact on the planet. If you’re passionate about sustain­ability and working in agriculture, horticul­ture, or trades, this is your opportunity to travel the world and make your mark! Ap­plications open 1 May 2025. Find out more and apply at www.globalfootprints.org.au

Parkes Musical & Dramatic Society: Tickets on sale now for Mamma Mia. Pur­chase your tickets online at www.parkes­mandd.com.au or pop in to the box office at Parkes Little Theatre on Sunday from 10.30am – 12pm.

Australian Schools Plus: Schools Plus Teaching Awards supported by Common­wealth Bank are closing in one week! Nominate or apply for the Awards before 9am on 8 April 2025. Twelve outstanding teachers or school leaders will receive a prestigious $20,000 award, including $10,000 for a high impact school visit pro­gram as well as a 12-month Teaching Fel­lowship. To nominate or apply, visit www.schoolsplus.org.au/teachingawards/

TAFE NSW Forbes: Statement of At­tainment in Aboriginal Site Works (90083366V01) ran from March 24 – 27 March. Students had the privilege of participating in a hands-on course, gaining valuable skills and knowledge from Uncle Victor. Students learned how to record informa­tion and knowledge on Country, while gain­ing insights from both the Aboriginal and Non-Aboriginal perspectives. The course culminated in a BBQ lunch at the Dreaming Centre, where high school student danc­ers showcased their talents with the Yanu Mun-Yana dance, gifted to them by Uncle Stu McMinn.

If you are interested in learning more about this course contact Forbes TAFE.

Be Seen @ Regional League With P&DNA

April 3, 2025 By Roxane Manley

A huge congratulations to our Parkes Opens team who competed at Regional League over the last couple of days in Orange.

 


These ladies played hard all weekend with some close scores, and earned themselves a place in the finals.

 


The team played well and placed fourth overall – a mas­sive accomplishment. Well done ladies!

Calls For Rural And Remote Healthcare To Be Prioritised

April 3, 2025 By Roxane Manley

ACRRM President Dr Rod Martin.

With the federal election now set for 3 May, healthcare is a key issue for voters, the Aus­tralian College of Rural and Remote Medi­cine (ACRRM) is urging all political parties to prioritise the needs of rural, remote, and First Nations communities.

More than seven million people living in rural and remote areas face significant barri­ers to healthcare, including geographic iso­lation, limited infrastructure, and the higher costs of delivering services in these regions.

ACRRM President Dr Rod Martin as­serts that every community, no matter how remote, has an undeniable right to access high-quality healthcare without the barrier of cost.

“There is a $6.5 billion annual underspend on healthcare in rural and remote communi­ties, and that’s unacceptable. This chronic underfunding directly impacts the health and wellbeing of people outside major cit­ies, but there are solutions available.”

Dr Martin says ACRRM has welcomed major parties’ commitments to bulk billing and medical training but is calling for further detail and a stronger focus on rural, remote and First Nations healthcare.

“Without targeted investment, rural, re­mote, and First Nations communities will continue to experience critical healthcare shortages.

For more information: accrm.org.au

Dougie Michalk Fundraiser For Parkes Branch Of Canassist

April 3, 2025 By Roxane Manley

Doug Michalk is pictured on the left, celebrating with supporters after the big chop.

Hundreds of generous individuals gath­ered at The Cambridge Hotel in Parkes on 8 March to support the Parkes Branch of CanAssist, which provides financial aid to those battling cancer in the community.

The fundraising event was organised by local hero Dougie Michalk and his band of helpers. Dougie had his iconic dreadlocks cut-off in front of the cheering crowd, sym­bolising his commitment to helping others during their most challenging times. Doug said, “[He had] been growing his dreads for over five years and he was inspired to do something to make a difference.”

In addition to the dramatic hair chop, Dougie also organised an exciting auction of 20 items donated by local businesses.

Raising an incredible $14,140 on the night.

The Parkes Branch of Can Assist was overwhelmed by the outpouring of support from both local residents and businesses.

“The generosity shown by the people of Parkes and our incredible business com­munity has been absolutely heartwarming,” said a Can Assist spokesperson.

“This event will have a lasting impact on the lives of those in our community who need it most. We can’t thank everyone enough for their support.”

The event was a true reflection of what can be accomplished when a community comes together for a common cause, and the people of Parkes should be incredibly proud of their collective generosity.

Can Assist is a vital community-based organisation that provides practical, finan­cial, and emotional support to people living with cancer, with branches all throughout New South Wales. The Parkes branch is committed to assisting local families facing cancer and the associated costs of treat­ment and care.

Well done Doug and well done Parkes!

Be Seen @ Regional League With Forbes Netball

April 3, 2025 By Roxane Manley

The Forbes Netball Open Representative team played outstanding netball to finish runner-up to Dubbo, in the West/Central West Regional League competition at the weekend.

 


The team played rounds over Saturday and Sunday, with two wins and a draw in round one, and a much improved team finished round two with four wins and a loss.

 


This put Forbes into the semifinals against Blayney, where the Forbes team again played outstanding skilled netball to defeat Blayney 17-13 to progress to the grand final against Dubbo.

Boars Strong In Pre-season Matches

April 3, 2025 By Roxane Manley

The Parkes Boars men’s side was too strong for the other teams on the day.

Last Saturday, 29 March the Parkes Boars men’s and women’s teams travelled to Boorowa to play in the Boorowa Beer and Rugby Festival. It was a success­ful day on the paddock with the women’s team winning two out of their three games, and the men’s side taking out all three of their games. The season is certainly look­ing promising after the weekend’s perfor­mances! If you are interested in playing rugby this year, show up to training at Spicer Oval on Tuesday and Thursday’s from 6:30pm and ask for Chris Summerhayes or Chris Reyn­olds. If you would like to know more please message the Parkes Boars RUFC through Messenger.

The Parkes Boars women’s team are looking forward to a successful 2025 season.


The Parkes Boars players that travelled to Boorowa last weekend.

Need Planning Approval For Your Next Project?

April 3, 2025 By Roxane Manley

Town Planner Eliza Noakes can help with your next development project.

If you’ve ever required planning approval for a development pro­ject, you know it is not always smooth sailing. Whether it’s zoning issues, confusing planning rules and regulations, or delays in ap­provals, getting the green light for a project can be overwhelming.

That’s where Acre Town Planning can help.

With over 36 years combined experience, Acre Town planning is skilled at cutting through the red tape, making the process sim­pler and faster. Acre has become a trusted name in navigating the complexities of town planning for projects ranging from residential developments to large-scale commercial and industrial develop­ments. After five years operating in southern NSW, Acre has re­cently expanded into central west NSW appointing Parkes local, Eliza Noakes to provide planning consultancy services to develop­ers and landowners in the region.

Eliza served as the Manager of Development and Planning at Forbes Shire Council, managing an array of complex develop­ment applications and strategic planning projects. From significant greenfield subdivisions to childcare centres, rural and manufactur­ing industries, as well as various rezonings and strategic planning projects, Eliza has a proven track record of delivering thoughtful and efficient solutions that support community growth and sustain­ability.

Acre’s reputation for excellence is built on a strong commitment to understanding each project’s unique needs and objectives.

Their comprehensive services include:

• Preparation of Development Applications

• NSW planning portal assistance

• Due diligence advice for new property purchases

• Planning Proposals and rezonings

• General planning advice

Acre’s extensive planning knowledge ensures that all Council re­quirements are met,ensuring a smooth and streamlined approval process. If you’re feeling stuck or unsure about how to move for­ward with your development plans, contact Acre Town Planning to discuss how they can assist with planning approvals on your next development project. Phone Eliza on 0447 314 359, email admin@acretp.com.au or visit www.acretp.com.au

Learn Something New This Saturday At Homegrown Parkes

March 27, 2025 By Roxane Manley

Register to attend one of the workshops on 29 March at Cooke Park to win.

Register to attend one of the workshops at Homegrown Parkes this weekend, and you will go into the running to win some won­derful prizes from local Homegrown Parkes businesses.

Chef Jack Brown will be providing a work­shop in the Cooke Park Pavilion from 11am.

Jack is an Indigenous Chef trained in tra­ditional French cuisine, who is redefining Australian cuisine by embracing native in­gredients.

Kath Whitchurch will be providing a pop­ular workshop on Sourdough Making at 12.30pm in Cooke Park Pavilion.

The day concludes with the final Pavilion Workshop at 2.00pm, with talented land­scape designer Elizabeth Briton, sharing her knowledge of local plant species and design concepts.

Clancy The Bee Man will provide informal workshops on the lawn in front of the Pavil­ion. He will be providing two formal presen­tations at 10.30am and 1.00pm.

There will also be a free, live reptile display throughout the day, with two formal presen­tations by Andrew at 11am and 1.30pm.

Funding has been granted to Parkes Shire Council under the Open Streets Pro­gram, funded by Transport for NSW to sup­port this event, in addition to support from Central West Lachlan Landcare and volun­teers from Parkes Community Arts.

Chef Jack Brown is providing a workshop at Homegrown Parkes with the support of Landcare NSW.

For further information, please go to www.centralwestlachlanlandcare.org or follow the Homegrown Parkes Facebook page.

Snippets…

March 27, 2025 By Roxane Manley

Please reserve a seat for Chef Jack Browns Workshop which is a free event scheduled for Homegrown on Saturday 29 March.

Homegrown Parkes: Help us welcome Chef Jack Brown to Homegrown Parkes this Saturday, 29 March. Jack, who has spent some time in the Central West, is an Indigenous chef trained in traditional French cuisine. Jack will be providing a workshop in the Cooke Park Pavilion from 11am – 12pm and you are invited to join in. For further information please go to www.centralwestlachlanlandcare.org twitter, fa­cebook or Instagram @cwllandcare

Forbes – It’s Your Turn For A Plot Twist! Young people aged 8 – 14 years are invited to choose the books they want to go into Forbes Library. There will be snacks, prizes and games! Be prepared to have fun. It is all happening on Friday 4 April from 4pm – 5pm at The Book Dispensary in Forbes, 4 Templar Street. Please note this location for the event. Choose the books you’d like to read for your local library and get first dibs on your selection. So come along and bring your parents for supervision if under 12 years of age or be signed in by a parent or carer for Plot Twist. Bookings essential online through Try Booking: www.trybook­ing.com/events/landing/1368351 or by call­ing Forbes Library on 6852 1463 or The Book Dispensary on 1300 002 871.

NSW Farmers: Farmers must not be left without the funding needed to put Aussie grown food on tables, NSW Farmers has warned as the Albanese Government deliv­ers its latest federal budget. Poor infrastruc­ture, telecommunications and biosecurity are just some of the challenges farmers will be left to face alone if federal funding is not increased, NSW Farmers President Xavier Martin said. “Our government keeps talking about a future made in Australia, but how about a future grown in Australia? As we head to the polls, our politicians can’t for­get the fact that people need fresh, Aussie grown food at fair prices. We need to keep our farmers farming.”

Charles Sturt University Health Forum: CSU is hosting a forum in Parkes today, Friday 28 March, 8am to 3.30pm for health students. Dive into a full day of insightful talks and presentations on ‘Innovations from the heart of rural health’ from health professionals working in speech pathology, physiotherapy, pharmacy, health promo­tion, paramedicine, First Nations health, dementia care, and research. The day in­cludes an incredible line-up of speakers. Find more details at: https://threerivers.csu.edu.au/news-and-events/events/2025/thrive-2025-parkes

Forbes Pharmacist Jack Buckey (The flying pharmacist) will be a guest speaker at the CSU forum on Friday 28 March.

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