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.

Forbes’ Jack Buckley Announced Pharmacist Of The Year

October 31, 2024 By Roxane Manley

Forbes Pharmacist Jack Buckley has been named the Pharmacist of the Year at the Independent Pharmacies of Australia (IPA) annual Pharmacy Excellence Awards.

The part owner of Flannery’s Pharmacy and Life Pharmacy in Forbes received the accolade for his dedication to rural healthcare. A trained pilot, Jack’s innovative approach to healthcare delivery was first recognised during the NSW flood crisis in November 2022, when he utilised his flying skills to transport medical supplies and pharmacy staff to towns along the Lachlan River.

By combining his professional expertise as a pharmacist, with his passion for flying, Jack has revolutionised the delivery of essential medical services to remote communities.

Jack said “I think the key message is, don’t underestimate what community pharmacy can offer patients, particularly in regional centres. We are very service based and place a huge emphasis on patient management and, the great thing is, we are making a difference to the community.”

The award is one of Australia’s most prestigious and regarded pharmacy accolades, with LPG CEO, Michael Flannery saying “This award is a credit to Jack and all the work he puts into the Forbes stores and his local community. He has been a wonderful addition to LPG since joining us over 12 years ago”.

Jack has embraced the Forbes community, and is an excellent Pharmacist. The impact he has made in recent years, particularly utilising his love of flying, highlights his dedication and commitment to community health.”

Snippets

October 31, 2024 By Roxane Manley

This memorable day was shared with friends, family, and distinguished guests, including Michael McCormack, Senator Perin Davey, Jamie Chaffey, Councillors, and staff.

Parkes Shire Council: Council were honoured to host a citizenship ceremony at the Parkes Shire Council Chambers where we welcomed Adan Salad Gonjobe, born in the upper eastern region of Kenya, Ann Tran, born in Vietnam, Leo Paul Pius, born in India and Olamide Rhoda Kolawole, Olufemi Abefe Kolawole, Folakemi Adele Kolawole, and Damilola Louisa Kolawole, originally from Nigeria, the Kolawole family arrived in Parkes from Adelaide in 2023. Welcome to Australia and the Parkes community.

NSW Government: Encourage the women in your life to get a breast screen with BreastScreen NSW. For women aged 5074, having a breast cancer screen every 2 years saves lives! Did you know – it’s free for women aged over 40, takes just 20 minutes and no doctor’s referral needed. Learn more (the website is in 27 languages): bit.ly/BreastScreen_NSW

Evolution Mining Northparkes Operations: We are pleased to share the 2024 Annual and Sustainability Report from Evolution Mining. This report highlights our operations, sustainability achievements, and overall business performance for FY24. To learn more about Northparkes and other Evolution Mining operations visit: https://evolutionmining.com.au/case-studies/

Kerin Health: Kerin Health have just opened up new clinic hours for Physiotherapy treatment before work every Thursday morning. The clinic will be open and available for appointments each Thursday from 7:30am in the old ANZ bank building at 74 Lachlan Street, Forbes. Don’t forget, Kerin Health are also located at Forbes Medicine and Mind, around the corner on Cross Street, every Tuesday between 9am and 1pm. To book an appointment at either location in Forbes, go to www.kerinhealth.com.au/book-an-appointment

Parkes Elvis Festival: Declare your love at the Parkes Elvis Festival with the popular Renewal of Vows ceremony. Held under the ‘Love Me Tender’ arch, this is a once-ina-lifetime opportunity to renew your vows before an Elvis wedding celebrant. For more information and to register, visit: bit.ly/PEFvows

Forbes Shire Council: FSC are preparing the dam for the busy summer season ahead by dredging to restore the water’s depth, so boat users can enjoy the dam.

The dam will be closed to boats from Thursday 24 October to Thursday 31 October while the dredging takes place. It will remain open for fishing and exercise. For more information please contact Forbes Shire Council on (02) 6850 2300.

Have you noticed dredging machinery in the water at the Forbes Ski Dam?

Be Seen @ Lions Park On The Lake

October 31, 2024 By Roxane Manley

The Community Fishing Day on Saturday was a fun filled day for the whole family.

Attendees enjoyed fishing and Red Cross workshops, delicious food, Elite Event Hire jumping castle, blue sky forbes merchandise, free fishing lures, and catch mats.

Women’s Health Services Transformation

October 31, 2024 By Roxane Manley

Australian women in every state and territory can now access treatment for uncomplicated urinary tract infections at a community pharmacy, without a prescriptionIt follows a decision to empower community pharmacists to do more for their female patients. UTIs are the second most frequent preventable cause of hospitalisation and on average 1 in 2 women develop a UTI in their lifetime.

Pharmacy Guild of Australia National President Trent Twomey said “Women are busy mothers, carers, bosses who need timely easy-to-access access relief to get on with their day and prevent long-term health complications.”

Professor Twomey said increased access to UTI treatment was part of a larger evolution of women’s health services in community pharmacies across Australia.

There are more than 6000 community pharmacies across Australia that have the opportunity to provide additional services and prescriptions for everyday health conditions.

“The widening of the services provided in community pharmacy is meeting the expectation of the modern patient and is relieving the pressure on other parts of the health system.

“Community pharmacists are highly skilled health professionals and we’re ready, willing and able to deliver more for our patients,” Professor Twomey said.

Parkes Shire Council Named Finalist In Tidy Towns Awards

October 31, 2024 By Roxane Manley

Parkes Shire Council is proud to announce we have been selected as a finalist in the prestigious 2024 Keep Australia Beautiful NSW (KAB NSW) Tidy Towns Awards. The Parkes Shire has been recognised as a finalist in multiple award categories including:

Galing Gindhay Water Play and Lake Endeavour Project – Finalist for Liveable Towns Award: This inclusive space combines water play, adventure elements, and shaded seating. Integrating Wiradjuri cultural knowledge and highlights the local water story through design and storytelling.

Homegrown Parkes Community Events – Finalist for Community Spirit and Inclusion Award: Homegrown Parkes is a free, community-driven event that brings together people of all ages to celebrate local food, art, and sustainability.

Waders and Woodlands: Parkes Wetlands – Finalist for Biodiversity Conservation Award:

Parkes Shire Council has rehabilitated 25 hectares into a thriving wetland ecosystem, supporting native flora and fauna. The wetlands serve as an essential habitat for migratory and threatened bird species and feature more than 3,000 native plants and macrophytes.

Raw Water Storage Lagoon (RWSL)

– Contributing to the Overall Tidy Town Award: The RWSL is a key water security project, storing and managing water using solar energy and gravity.

Deputy Mayor of Parkes Shire, Cr Marg Applebee, celebrated the recognition and commended the efforts of everyone involved in delivering these impactful projects.

“We are incredibly proud to see Parkes Shire recognised at this level. These achievements would not be possible without the collaborative efforts of Council staff, lo

cal contractors, community volunteers, and the generous support of our partners,” Cr Applebee said.

The 2024 Tidy Towns Awards winners will be announced on Saturday 2 November in Bathurst. Parkes Shire Council is honoured to be recognised among the state’s best in sustainability, community development, and environmental preservation. This acknowledgment reinforces our commitment to creating a cleaner, greener, and more inclusive community for all.

Inland Rail Skills Academy Graduates Get On The Tools

October 31, 2024 By Roxane Manley

Inland Rail Skills Academy graduates (from left) Hamilton Currie, Brett Whyman and (far right) Lawrence Button with Inland Rail’s Cathy Duncan, Senior Program Skills and Training Advisor, and Adam O’Sullivan, Rail Superintendent, Martinus (second right).

A trio of Inland Rail Skills Academy graduates have used their new-found skills to find employment with Inland Rail contractor Martinus Rail and make their own contributions to the project.

The three graduates: Brett Whyman, Lawrence Button and Hamilton Currie, each completed a five-week Certificate II in Rail Infrastructure course through the Inland Rail Skills Academy earlier this year. The course, provided by First Nations training provider Yakka Training, took place over five weeks in March and April in Wagga Wagga.

The graduates then started work with Inland Rail contractor Martinus Rail and were assigned to the Stockinbingal to Parkes (S2P) section during the September possession, a 100-hour period where the rail line was closed and an intense period of construction took place.

Inland Rail is an approximately 1,600km freight rail line that will connect Melbourne and Brisbane via regional Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland, enhancing Australia’s national freight network and supply chain capabilities, connecting existing freight routes through rail, roads and ports, and supporting Australia’s growth.

The Inland Rail sections between Beveridge in Victoria and Parkes in New South Wales are prioritised for completion by 2027.

Brett Whyman, Martinus employee and Inland Rail Skills Academy graduate, said “The Inland Rail Skills Academy appealed to me because it gave me an opportunity to put my foot in the door and start in the rail industry. The advice I’d give to locals about the Inland Rail Skills Academy is: go for it.

It’s very rewarding once you get into the industry and the Inland Rail Skills Academy will help you with everything to get into the industry.”

Help Henry Get To The British Junior Open

October 31, 2024 By Roxane Manley

Henry representing Australia to win the 2024 Trans Tasman Test Match. Photo Credit to Rogue Gun Photography.

Fourteen year old Henry Kross from Parkes is working hard to achieve his dream to compete on the biggest global stage in the world for junior squash – the British Junior Open.

Henry has recently returned from the Australian Junior Championships, where he was crowned the Australian Under 15 Champion. This caps off a stellar year which has seen him win the NSW State Championships, NSW Combined High School Championship and represent Australia to win the Trans-Tasman Test Match earlier in the year.

Henry was also selected as the Number 1 Australian player for the Australian All Schools in New Zealand earlier in the year, following on from his success in NZ last year where he won the Oceania Under 15 Championship. Henry is also in the Next Gen Squash Australia Squad and the Squash NSW Talent Squad.

To get to the British Junior Open, being held in Birmingham, England from 2nd to 6th January 2025, Henry is busy fundraising to cover the substantial costs involved.

Only limited Internationals are able to enter the event, and once Squash Australia extended his invitation he has been busy.

He is collecting cans and bottles from the community to cash in at the return and earn stations, running a mega raffle (drawn 11th December) which local businesses have really got behind with great prizes and is also running a lamington drive (orders close Friday 1st November).

Henry will also be holding a Longest Drive Competition at Parkes Golf Club on 10th November from 2pm. Everyone is welcome to come along on the day to compete or spectate, Henry would love to see a big crowd.

You can follow Henry’s squash results and find the details of how to get involved in Henry’s fundraising which is on his Facebook page – Henry Kross Squash.

Parkes Athletic To Host Inaugural Pa Games

October 31, 2024 By Roxane Manley

Parkes Athletic (PA) is set to launch its first ever PA GAMES on 2nd November. Inviting all local fitness enthusiasts to come and witness an exciting functional fitness competition. The event will run from 8am to 2:30pm and will featuring 27 teams of three athletes, with participants hailing from across the Central West, including Forbes, Bathurst, and Dubbo, as well as interstate from Cobram, Victoria, competing against local PA teams.

The competition will kick off at McGlynn Park at 8am before moving to the PA gym at 42 Alluvial Street at around 10am for the remainder of the events. Athletes will compete for big cash prizes and various awards, adding to the excitement of the day.

Spectators are encouraged to attend and cheer on their local teams, making this a community event like no other. With a focus on camaraderie and competition, the PA GAMES promises to showcase the best of local talent and foster community spirit among fitness enthusiasts. Come join in on the fun and support our athletes, you may be inspired to join the PA crew.

Nedd’s Incredible 1,600km Run For Charity

October 24, 2024 By Roxane Manley

Nedd Brockmann once again captured the hearts and minds of the country with his epic 1,000-mile or 1,609-kilometre run that he described as ten times harder than when he ran across Australia.

“To say I’m proud is an understatement,” Brockmann said.

“You don’t know the extent of something until you’re in it, and when you’re in it, you’re shocked by its enormity.”

The man from Forbes finished the 1,000 miles in 12 days, 13 hours and 45 seconds at the Sydney Olympic Athletic Centre, which is 3,760 laps of the athletic track.

This time places him in the top 10 in the world and ranks him as the second fastest Australian to run the 1000 miles.

Brockmann constantly remarked on how he felt support from the local community, particularly from the countless donations, including the very generous $30,000 donation from the Forbes Gala Ball.

Brockmann’s efforts have led to a staggering $3,700,000 raised for We Are Mobilise, with the fundraising efforts not over.

The second part of Nedd’s Uncomfortable Challenge invites workplaces, schools, gyms and individuals to commit to their own challenge that takes you out of your comfort zone.

“ This is about making people understand that any real growth comes with adversity and by taking an intentional challenge, they might be more prepared when they’re faced with a challenge they hadn’t expected” Brockmann said.

Choose your own adventure at www.neddsuncomfortablechallenge.com

Snippets…

October 24, 2024 By Roxane Manley

The street parade is one of the most highly anticipated and colourful events on the Parkes Elvis Festival calendar

Parkes Elvis Festival: Applications for the Evolution Mining Northparkes Operations Street Parade are open. This crowd favorite event will take place on Saturday, 11th January 2025, at 10am along Festival Boulevard. Whether you want to walk, ride, drive, or float, it’s time to join in on the fun! Be part of one of the biggest highlights of the Parkes Elvis Festival. Sign up at: bit.ly/ElvisParade

NSW Department of Communities and Justice: How would you use $1,000 to support your studies? Think laptop, uniforms, tutoring, stationery, study furniture or more. Scholarships valued at $1,000 are available for students in years 10, 11 and 12 in 2025, who live in social housing or in out-of-home care. To find out more go to: dcjnsw.info/scholarships

Women NSW: This week is NSW National Aboriginal Languages Week (20th – 27th October). Language is sacred and connected to Country and culture. It brings together generations and ties spirituality and identity. NSW is home to approximately 35 Aboriginal Languages, many of which cross borders into other States. Of the top ten Aboriginal Languages being renewed (in terms of speaker numbers), six are languages used in NSW. Interested to learn more? Head to the Aboriginal Languages Trust website: https://www.alt.nsw.gov.au

National BBQ Championships Forbes: It’s time to start prepping for the National BBQ Championships Forbes on 9th – 10th November. Fire up the barbie or the smoker put on a BBQ Spotify playlist and get in the groove. Get your mates together and register your team now on the Forbes Shire Council website: www.forbes.nsw.gov.au

Aruma: Imagine living with a disability and being labelled a ‘faker’ or ‘lazy’ simply because it isn’t visible to others. From October 20 to 26, Invisible Disabilities Week aims to raise awareness about invisible disabilities and challenge the stereotypes that often accompany them.

Forbes Shire Council: Thinking about a career change? Council has positions available in the following roles:

• Grants and Projects Control Officer

• Multi Skilled Civil Labourers

Applications for all positions close Sunday 10 November. Apply now on the Forbes Shire Council website: www.forbes.nsw.gov.au. FSC strive to make sure everyone is treated fairly and supported at every stage of getting a job. If you need any sort of adjustments or support to do this please reach out.

Our amazing Urban Services team has been busy planting some stunning ANZAC Rose garden beds in Victoria Park

Roxane Manley

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