General Interest Archives - Page 10 of 351

Handmade For Mum

April 30, 2026 By Lorraine Everest

Last minute gift ideas for Mother’s Day.

Are you looking to buy a small home created gift for your mum this Mother’s Day? You will be able to do just that on Saturday 2 May from the Forbes Evening Branch of CWA (FEBCWA) Mother’s Day Stall in the CBD of our Forbes Community.

Members of the FEBCWA will be creating beautiful items for you to browse and purchase. There will also be tickets available for three Mother’s Day Pampering Parcels with the lucky winners being drawn on Thursday 7 May.

The contents of the pampering pack prizes have been donated and presented by the Members of the FEBCWA. The first pampering pack will contain a hand created lap quilt, while the second contains a $50 gift voucher (to be spent in Forbes) and the third contains pampering treat similar to packs 1 & 2.

Forbes Evening Branch would also like to thank all members of the community and local businesses who supported our Christmas Raffle, especially Cahills for multiple vouchers, Serendipity Studio for the donated piece of pottery, and Spok Wooldridge for his artwork. A total of 18 prizes were drawn, with all winners receiving their surprises prior to Christmas.

By Lorraine Everest Publicity Officer, FEBCWA

Llew O’Brien MP Appointed Shadow Special Envoy For Men And Boys

April 30, 2026 By Roxane Manley

The Coalition is committed to addressing the unique issues facing men, boys and fathers, and is pleased to announce the appointment of MP Llew O’Brien as Shadow Special Envoy for Men and Boys.

Mr O’Brien said the new position was a privilege, enabling Australian men to overcome entrenched disadvantages and new and emerging challenges where men and boys are falling behind.

The announcement comes after The Nationals recently hosted a Men, Boys and Dads Forum to address the issues that are often overlooked.

Leader of The Nationals Matt Canavan said men and boys were facing real challenges in all aspects of life, such as health, family law, education and the workforce, but too often these issues go unaddressed in the public debate.

“There are issues across all areas and all ages – men’s health doesn’t discriminate.

“It is vital men and boys can access the services they need.

“This is why the Coalition appointed Llew O’Brien as the Shadow Special Envoy for Men and Boys. Llew will be tasked with developing a comprehensive approach that ensures that our brothers, sons and dads are not left behind.”

Come Along To Parkes Fire & Rescue Open Day

April 30, 2026 By Roxane Manley

Parkes Fire Station has been holding Open Days so long they’ve lost count, but it has been decades. Head along to 20 Hill St in Parkes this Saturday 9 May.

Parkes Fire Station will be open from 10am – 2pm on Saturday the 9th of May, with fire trucks and equipment on display for the community to check out. You’ll also have the opportunity to meet and talk to some firefighters, ask them questions and watch live demonstrations. There will be a range of free activities and fun for all including station tours, safety presentations and firefighting demonstrations.

There are 19 retained firefighters employed here at Parkes Fire Station. Retained firefighters are highly trained, professional firefighters who are on-call 24hrs a day, 7 days a week. They attend a vast range of calls every year including building and residential fires, bush/grass fires, automatic fire alarms, hazmat incidents, rescue and motor vehicle incidents and ambulance assists.

Savannah-Lee Bevan from Fire and Rescue here in Parkes said “Open Days are a lot of fun! We get to play around with our equipment, do firefighting demonstrations and enjoy a sausage sizzle. We also enjoy just being able to get out and interact with the community we serve. We get to show them what we do, provide them with all the information they need to keep themselves safe and what to do if an emergency occurs, it definitely builds a strong relationship between the community and our firefighters.”

Open Day is a great time for kids, but it’s an even better opportunity for the adults to learn first-hand how to keep safe from fire. The public are encouraged to engage our firefighters with questions about home fire safety and smoke alarms. We can even help book a free Home Fire Safety Visit from the crew here at Station 417. If you can’t make it on the day, you can still get your free safety visit by booking online at fire.nsw.gov.au/Visits.

Parkes Woman Snags $100,000 Lucky Lotteries Win

April 30, 2026 By Roxane Manley

Thirty years after dreaming she’d one day win the lottery, a Parkes woman has experienced a string of chills down her spine after discovering she’d scored $100,000 in a recent Lucky Lotteries draw.

The Central West player held the first prize winning entry in Lucky Lotteries Super Jackpot draw 11068, drawn Monday 13 April 2026. She looks forward to $100,000.

While repeated attempts to contact the winner went unanswered, she finally checked her winning ticket three days after the draw.

Her winning entry of one random number was purchased at Parkes News & Gifts, 284 Clarinda Street, Parkes. With $100,000 soon to boost her bank account, the stunned woman had a few ideas on how she’d enjoy her prize. “I bought a house recently and it needs a lot of work done,” she shared.

Parkes News & Gifts manager Melissa Cowling shared she was thrilled a major lottery win had landed in her town. “It’s just so exciting to hear that someone in our small country town has been lucky enough to win a major prize,” she said.

Sometimes We Forget That Rest Matters Too

April 30, 2026 By Rachel Kerin

I made an impractical decision as a farmer’s wife. But I am too far in to let him know that he was right and I was wrong.

I bought a gorgeous outdoor furniture set for our verandah, with cream white cushions.

“How do you think that will stay clean?” he asked, eyeing it off as it arrived.

And so it began.

My ongoing mission to prove him wrong.

The work dogs would take full advantage of not being tied up at night, and I’d find them curled up there in the morning, their black bodies a stark contrast against the cream cushions.

But there was one kelpie I felt had earned the right to a little luxury.

Pete. He was retired, and my favourite.

He could shoot around a mob of sheep at record speed, then stand quietly while my baby sprawled all over him, using his back as a cushion.

He’d mustered goats in Queensland. Burnt his paws on hot ground moving thirsty stock closer to water. Found lambs alone

and hungry beside a creek bed. Taught pup after pup how to work. Then shared his kennel with them at night to keep them warm.

And so, I let him have his warm patch of sun on my outdoor lounge.

To sleepily gaze over hills he knew well.

The white dots of sheep he’d moved up the laneway.

The glimmer of dams he’d swum in at the end of a hot day.

At sunset, I’d often walk past the window and see a tired farmer and his trusty dog sitting together, on the outdoor lounge.

A hand gently stroking a soft ear. An easy silence.

A decade of shared moments between them.

A fading pink sky stretched above them.

Deep green hills before them.

And cushions, that used to be cream white, beneath them.

And I think there’s something in that for us too.

We are very good at admiring hard work.

Especially in the country.

We respect grit.

We notice endurance.

We get on with it.

But sometimes we forget that rest matters too.

Not because all the work is done.

But because bodies need it. Minds need it.

Hearts need it.

Sometimes health looks like movement.

Sometimes it looks like strength.

And sometimes it looks like sitting on the verandah at sunset, beside someone who knows the road you’ve walked.

And so I am learning that;Maybe wellbeing isn’t always found in doing more.

Maybe sometimes it’s found in the pause.

Let’s make room for that kind of health too.

The kind that knows real rest is not laziness,It’s part of being well.

I hope you find a moment this weekend to sit, and just be.

By Rachel Kerin

Old Girls Nursing Provide Personalised In-home Support

April 30, 2026 By Roxane Manley

Pictured in pink are Elita Coughlan and Dayle Penny from Old Girls Nursing.

Old Girls Nursing aims to provide dedicated in-home nursing and support specifically for rural clients, with a mission to deliver high quality care through a team of highly trained, professional staff.

The business was started in April 2025, by Registered Nurse Dayle Penny. Based in Eugowra, this venture began after hearing many concerns throughout the region regarding the lack of available support services.

Dayle Penny is a registered nurse of twenty years; with the bulk of her nursing completed in residential aged care/nursing homes. Aged care is a specialised field of nursing and Dayle is extremely compassionate to the elderly.

“As a small business, we truly feel that we can make a positive impact by providing dedicated and personalised support.

We are committed to ensuring our clients receive the professional support, assistance and care the need, within the comfort of their own home,” said Dayle.

Elita Coughlan has worked in the aged care and NDIS sector for only a few years but finds it extremely rewarding.

“Aged care, NDIS and mental health support has been a very rewarding career choice emotionally. We have absolutely amazing clients and I love being able to help people as a job,” said Elita.

Old Girl Nursing services include medication management, complex clinical care, wound care, diabetes management, and support for those living with dementia, age related illnesses, behavioral challenges and mental health conditions.

They also provide respite care, giving families and carers peace of mind while ensuring their loved ones receive atten

tive, high-quality support and care. Support services extend to transport to and from appointments or social outings, domestic assistance, and personal care such as showering and toiletingContact Old Girls Nursing to discuss how they can help you. Call Dayle Penny RN 0425 411 122, Elita Coughlan 0423 910 011 or email oldgirlsnursing@gmail.com

Colonel Michael Robert Mudie Will Be Guest Of Honour At Parkes 2026 Anzac Day Celebrations

April 23, 2026 By Roxane Manley

Former Parkes resident, Colonel Mudie received his commission in the Australian Army in 2000, graduating from the Royal Military College of Australia as a Lieutenant in the Royal Australian Corps of Signals.

Special guests of honour at the Parkes Anzac Day 2026 commemorations this Saturday 25 April, will be Australian Army Colonel Michael Robert Mudie and his wife Kelly.

The day will commence with the traditional dawn service at 5.30am held at Parkes Memorial Hill. Colonel Mudie will lay a wreath on behalf of the Australian Army. This event will see students from the Parkes Christian School MC the morning’s event.

Following the dawn service, an Anzac Day breakfast will be held at the Parkes Services & Citizens Club.

The Anzac Day March will commence at 8.35am under the watchful eye of Parade Commander Sgt Wayne Skinner. The march will depart from the front of the club in Short Street and it progress up Welcome Street to Chamberlain Square in Clarinda Street, where it will then turn right and proceed down Clarinda Street, before turning right into Short Street and coming to a halt outside the Parkes Services & Citizens Club.

At 9am the Anzac Day commemoration service will be held in Cooke Park in front of the Cenotaph. Assisted by Parkes Shire Council, the commemoration service will feature an address from both local youth and the special guest of honour, Colonel Mudie. Wreaths will then be placed at the Cenotaph.

At approximately 10.30am a small delegation of returned service personnel and local dignitaries proceed to the war graves section at the local cemetery for a brief service and laying of wreaths.

Colonel Mudie will attend and address the traditional Anzac Day luncheon which is held at the Parkes Services & Citizens Club commencing at 12 noon.

The Colonel’s final duty on Anzac Day will be at 5pm for the “Retreat” and this event takes place once again at the Cenotaph in Cooke Park, with the Parkes Services Club to sound the ODE at 6pm.

Four Days Of Double Demerits This Anzac Day Long Weekend

April 23, 2026 By Roxane Manley

Double demerit points will be in place for four days this ANZAC Day long weekend.

Parkes, Forbes and Lachlan Shire Councils’ Road Safety and Injury Prevention Officer, Melanie Suitor, is encouraging people to drive safely and take care on the roads.

“Double demerit points will be in place for all speeding, seatbelt, mobile phone and motorcycle helmet offences between Friday 24 April and Monday 27 April 2026 inclusive.

“This will be a busy period on local roads.

The increase in traffic leads to an increased risk of crashes occurring. We all have a part to play in keeping the roads safe.

“Watch your speed, drive to conditions, limit distractions in the car, ensure you and your passengers are wearing their seatbelt and don’t drive if you have been drinking or consuming drugs.

“Pay attention to your fatigue levels, plan your trip and if you are experiencing any of the early warning signs (tired eyes, yawning, poor concentration) stop and have a break,” Ms Suitor said.

Parkes Highway Patrol Sergeant Mitchell Gage is reminding drivers that there will be extra Police in the area over the four days.

“Police will be focusing on the fatal five – speeding, drink and drug driving, fatigue, mobile phones and seatbelts.

“People may think that a crash is never going to happen to them – but the statistics tell a different story. Driving is one of the most dangerous things that we do every day.

“Please take care on the roads, we want everyone to make it home safely,” Sergeant Gage said.

Men’s Health Education Rural Van (MHERV) To Visit Parkes

April 23, 2026 By Roxane Manley

The MHERV Project has been operating for over six years, travelling regional and rural NSW offering free health checkups to people who haven’t seen the inside of a doctor’s room since they don’t remember when! ln that time, blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol levels may have reached seriously high levels and there are no symptoms, until it’s too late and a heart attack or stroke strikes.

Saving local lives is the objective of the Rotary Men’s Health Education Rural Van, and thanks to the Rotary Club of Parkes, MHERV is coming to our local area. MHERV is operated by the Rotary Club of Warners Bay in collaboration with local NSW Rotary clubs and other local community organisations.

The program is focussed on men because unlike women, they are not good at caring for their own health. The service is offered in a relaxed, confidential and informal setting and nobody is turned away. The MHERV registered nurse conducts the tests and discusses any health concerns seated in the privacy of the van.

You’re invited to take the opportunity to have a quick, free health check. Just ten minutes invested with MHERV can save your life or the life of someone you love. The MHERV will be located in Short Street opposite Parkes Services Club Monday 4 May and Tuesday 5 May from 9.30am – 3.30pm on both days.

Our Rotary team this year is proudly supporting DV Safe Phone.

All that is required is for people to drop their used phones into the box when MHERV is in town. Rotary will collect them at the end of the tour and send them on for refurbishment and distribution.

Refurbished phones are then provided to women’s shelters and similar organisations. Your old phone could save a life.

Applications Open For Variety Heart Scholarships

April 23, 2026 By Roxane Manley

Variety – the Children’s Charity NSW/ACT is calling on families to apply for a 2026 Variety Heart Scholarship, offering life-changing support for young people living with disabilities, chronic illness or financial hardship.

The scholarship provides practical, financial assistance to help children aged 8 – 18 years reach their full potential in sport, music and the creative arts.

Whether its funding for specialist equipment, competitions or training programs, the scholarship is designed to empower children to pursue their passions, build their talent and participate fully in their chosen field.

Variety NSW/ACT CEO, Tony Warner, said the program continues to deliver meaningful, long-term impact for families doing it tough.

“Every child deserves the chance to follow their dreams and feel included, regardless of circumstances,” he said.

“The Variety Heart Scholarship is about recognising potential and providing the support needed to help children thrive – on the field, on the stage, and beyond.”

Parents, carers and guardians of eligible children are encouraged to apply now with applications open until Thursday 21 May at 4pm. For information visit https://nsw.variety.org.au/variety-heart-scholarships/.

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