Local Artist Jac Clark held opening night of her solo art exhibition on 15th November, at Parkes Library & Cultural Centre.
Pop in and vote for your favourite artwork for your chance to win a limited edition print.
Exhibition is open until 30 November. If you can’t make it, all artworks are available online at www.jacclark.com.au. Prints 15% off during exhibition only.
Inland Rail CEO Nick Miller and the Inland Rail Board of Directors visited the Parkes Special Activation Precinct on Wednesday 27th Novemeber, with Mr Miller declaring after the visit that Parkes has established itself as the flagship city on the Inland Rail project.
After visiting the Parkes Special Activation to review the freight and logistics facilities at the 4,800-hectare site, Mr Miller and the Inland Rail board held an official company board meeting in Parkes, the first time the board has ever met in the town.
Inland Rail will connect Melbourne to Brisbane via Parkes, while the Trans-Australian Railway connects Sydney to Perth via Port Augusta in South Australia and the Nullarbor Plain, with the Parkes Special Activation Precinct, sitting on the only junction of Australia’s two rail spines.
Inland Rail is expecting to be in full construction in every section between Beveridge and Parkes next year as it looks to complete the Beveridge to Parkes by sections by 2027.
Construction began on the Stockinbingal to Parkes section of the project in March this year, with 162 local residents employed on this section. Of this number, 28 are First Nations people. The section has also employed 54 women and spent more than $9 million with 97 local businesses.
Nick Miller, Inland Rail CEO, said “What we are seeing happening in Parkes with the Special Activation Precinct is just a taste of what is to come as Inland Rail gets built out further – there is no doubt that Parkes is the flagship town on the project right now.
“The Parkes Special Activation Precinct and Inland Rail complement each other to provide a compelling answer to questions of sustainable growth in Australia.”
The exhibition is generously sponsored by Alkane Resources, who also support the Peak Hill Community Hub.
Arts OutWest and Peak Hill locals will turn The Carrington into an exhibition space over summer. Arts OutWest will show ‘Behind the Lens’ photography and photo media by AOW Media Associates, previously shown in Forbes and Bathurst. ‘Peak in Focus’ are photos by local photographers in Peak Hill.
The exhibitions will be housed in the historic The Carrington building in Peak Hill, a community owned space ran as a community event / function centre that was once a pub. The exhibitions open Wednesday 4 December at 5pm and will run until 5 February 2025.
The exhibitions have been coordinated with photographer, Peak Hill local and Arts OutWest Media Associate Judi Unger. “A big thanks to Arts of West for bringing the ‘Behind the Lens’ to the Peak Hill Carrington to share this exhibition and to help promote the Carrington as an exhibition venue.
Also, thanks to our local photographers for taking part in the ‘Peak in Focus’ exhibition to help support and promote Arts OutWest, our town and the Carrington,” said Judi Unger.
The Peak Hill photographers include Cliff George, Dave Laming, Ruth Simmons, Annette and Ellie Parker, Marg Edwards, Judi Unger, Nathan Leach, Betty Zdan, Julie Westcott and Elizabeth Luke.
The opening event includes a raffle. Steve Lindsay is donating one night’s accommodation for two people at his grand Victorian style mansion in Parkes – The Buchanan.
Tickets $5 each. The lucky door prize is a glass Picasso style mosaic work created by Susan Maddison.
Well done everyone who participated and who attended in support of the Parkes Sharks Swimming Club Carnival.
That’s a wrap, thanks for attending the 2024 Official Parkes Sharks Swimming Club Carnival. It was an awesome day of racing, partying and friendships. There were some amazing results across the board for these dedicated little swimmers.
Special thanks to our wonderful sponsors that made day extra special with the introduction of the Dash for Cash.
For those interested in having a roll at bowls, please note the following: Social Bowls means anyone and everyone is welcome to have a game. If it’s your first time this is where you start. Just come to the club on the desired day at least 45 minutes prior to the advertised start times and see one of our dedicated volunteers and we will assist with getting you sorted and some bowls and point you in the right direction.
Social Bowls is competitive without being too serious. Players general use this time as practice. We have some experienced bowlers that are always happy to play with, and help new learning bowlers. Thursday evening Barefoot Twilight Bowls is currently running, and is a great way to start and learn. Call in to the club to have a chat.
The current round of the Jack Burch match plays have been extended to 8 December.
Please ensure your matches are completed by this date, or have approval for them to be extended.
A huge thank you to Club Lime for their generous sponsorship of Parkes Little Athletics! Your support means so much to our club and helps us provide fantastic opportunities for our young athletes to grow, thrive, and achieve their best. We’re so grateful to have you as part of our team, supporting the next generation of champions.
Connecting Melbourne and Brisbane via Parkes, this 1500km rail project will complete our national freight network.
Newly released figures from Inland Rail reveal the project has now spent close to $500 million with nearly 750 local companies on the Inland Rail alignment since construction on the project started in 2018, delivering a major boost to regional communities.
At end-September, Inland Rail had spent $496 million with local companies, with around $100 million spent with local companies over the last 12 months alone.
From the $496 million spent so far, around $46.5 million has been spent with thirty-six First Nations businesses in regional Australia, with $7.5 million spent in the last year.
Inland Rail has also continued to be a major jobs provider in regional Australia, with the project providing nearly 6,300 jobs at end-September, with just over half of these jobs being filled by local residents and nearly 480 First Nations workers employed.
Local businesses in New South Wales and Victoria can learn how to supply to Inland Rail by visiting: inlandrail.com.au/opportunities/suppliers/For construction job opportunities, visit Inland Rail’s construction contractors’ websites at: www.martinusrail.com.au/careers/Stephen Jones, Inland Rail Executive Director Program Health, Safety, Environment and Sustainability, said “Inland Rail has worked extremely hard to engage with local businesses and help to bring them on board as suppliers, and.to build skills in communities along the alignment, so local communities can participate and benefit from in this once-in-a-generation project and others in the future.”
Congratulations to Oscar Hendry for winning Best Regional Entry at the 2024 Parliament of NSW Parli-Flicks Short Film Awards.
Red Bend Catholic College: The creativity of young filmmakers was celebrated at the 2024 Parliament of NSW Parli-Flicks Short Film Award, and our Year 7 student Oscar Hendry won a medal for Best Regional Entry. This exciting competition challenged students from Year 5 to 12 across NSW to craft a one-minute short film exploring a thought-provoking question: If you were a Member of Parliament, what law would you pass and how would you implement it? Oscar’s video highlighted the doctor shortage in regional NSW and proposed incentives for doctors practicing in towns with a population of less than 20,000.
Parkes Musical & Dramatic Society: Less than two weeks until auditions for Mamma Mia. A lot of people have told us they are auditioning, but not yet registered.
Registrations are essential for those wishing to audition. So far we have about 40 people registered, but we can still fit more in. We will particularly need men. Mature men and young men (18-30ish). Please check out the audition pack at the link provided on their Facebook page, then get in touch with your favoured audition sessions.
NSW Government: Are you an essential worker who has moved to regional NSW (or thinking about it)? We’ve got a free service to help with all the life stuff—like finding housing, choosing childcare, job options for your partner, and more. You can check out The Welcome Experience here nsw.gov.au/welcomeexperience
PCYC Parkes: Calling all passionate community members! PCYC Parkes is in need of dedicated individuals to join our committee and help shape the future of our club.
We’re looking for enthusiastic volunteers who share our vision of providing positive programs and activities for the young people of Parkes. If you’re interested in making a difference and contributing your skills and time, please contact Kim via email ksherrett@pcycnsw.org.au
Regional Business Supplies: Big congratulations to Marty, our amazing winner of the September Step Challenge. Not only did she crush her steps, but she also stepped up in the most heartwarming way.
Marty used her prize money to buy groceries and generously donated them to Georgie’s Pantry, spreading kindness and making a real difference in our community.
Thank you to Marty for helping inspire us all to keep moving and to give back.
If you would like to make a donation to Georgies Pantry you can find them at 275 Clarinda Street, Parkes or contact them on (02) 6862 2954.
Forbes Youth Action Team hosted our annual Teddy Bears Picnic at Lions Park! It was a fantastic day filled with fun, laughter, and plenty of smiles.
It was wonderful to see so many faces come together to enjoy the beautiful weather and community spirit.
Thank you to The Forbes Shire Council and everyone who joined us and made the day so memorable.