General Interest Archives - Page 101 of 352

Do You Want To Join The Parkes Shire Concert Band?

March 24, 2023 By Roxane Manley

The story of Bogan Gate has been commemorated on a plaque.

The town of Bogan Gate celebrated its 125th anniversary on Tuesday, 11th March. The Parkes Shire Concert Band (PSCB) were invited to lead the vintage car parade. They marched, playing Colonel Bogey before setting up beside the ‘gate’ to entertain the crowd after the speeches and the unveiling of the plaque.

PSCB member Elly Tom said, “It was a privilege to be part of this historic occasion.”

PSCB is a committed community band, always ready to welcome new members. If you want to play music again, dust off that instrument, join in and give it a try. At present the band has two members who are new to Parkes and here for a work period, it’s a great way to make friends.

Don’t fret if you no longer have an instrument, the band have a range of instruments for hire and if you’re a beginner, don’t let that stop you, as PSCB offer group beginners lessons.

The PSCB rehearse every Tuesday during the school terms, above the Parkes Aquatic Centre. Head along to Homegrown this weekend between 10am – 11am to meet the members of the PSCB.

The PSCB leading the vintage car parade to the Bogan Gate 125th Anniversary.

The PSCB entertaining the crowd after the official unveiling of the plaque.

A Rural Medical Experience

March 17, 2023 By Roxane Manley

School of Rural Health student Amy Malligan will complete her entire 4-year Doctor of Medicine degree in Dubbo.

Amy Malligan has recently started her journey to becoming a doctor, studying the University of Sydney’s Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree at the School of Rural Health in Dubbo. Amy will complete the entire four-year postgraduate degree in Dubbo with clinical training centered on Dubbo Hospital.

Amy studied an undergraduate degree in science in Sydney, unsure of what to do when she finished school. After living in Sydney for her degree she moved back home to Bathurst for her final year due to COVID-19 restrictions.

It was a friend’s medical emergency and spending time in the hospital that inspired Amy to pursue a career in medicine. She began working in Bathurst Hospital as a Patient Experience Officer while applying to study medicine at rural clinical schools.

“My brother had a great experience studying medicine at a rural clinical school and training in a rural hospital, so I knew that I wanted that experience too. When I found out I could study the entire Doctor of Medicine in Dubbo, I knew that was where I wanted to be. I love living in the country and I love that I’m still so close to family in Bathurst,” she says.

Amy is part of the second cohort of students now studying the University of Sydney’s entire four-year Doctor of Medicine program in Dubbo. Students in Dubbo study the same world-class medical education as in Sydney, while gaining hands-on experience in rural and remote medical practice.

The Dubbo Stream is only available to students eligible for Commonwealth Supported Places and pathways are available for First Nations students and those with rural backgrounds.

The School of Rural Health in Dubbo features state-of-the-art medical education facilities including learning studios, anatomy teaching lab, and six-suite simulation training centre.

For information visit sydney.edu.au/medicine-health/dubbo

Skip The Que And Get Your Vote In Early

March 17, 2023 By Roxane Manley

The upcoming NSW State Election will be held on Saturday, 25th March. However, early voting will be taking place from this Saturday, 18 March to Friday, 24th March.

If you are in Parkes or Forbes, and would like to avoid the huge crowds and long lines on election day, then you are encouraged to get out and vote early.

Early voting in Forbes will be available at the Forbes Town Hall in Harold Street, Forbes at the following times:

• Monday – Wednesday 8:30am – 5:30pm
• Thursday 8:30am – 8:00pm
• Friday 8:30am – 6:00pm
• Saturday 9:00am – 6:00pm

Early voting in Parkes will be available at the Parkes Early Voting Centre, 30 Welcome Street, Parkes at the following times:

• Monday – Wednesday 8:30am – 5:30pm
• Thursday 8:30am – 8:00pm
• Friday 8:30am – 6:00pm
• Saturday 9:00am – 6:00pm

If you are an Australian citizen aged 18 years or more, you are required to vote in federal, State and local government elections and by-elections. Ensure your voting registration details are correct.

A full list of local election cadidates will be available in next week’s edition of The Forbes & Parkes Phoenix.

Nats Invest In The Future Of Our Kids

March 17, 2023 By Roxane Manley

Every child in NSW will gain a financial head-start under a life-changing Liberal and Nationals plan to futureproof the finances of generations to come, giving them the best start to life.

This is the most significant financial security investment in NSW history. Under a re-elected Liberal and Nationals Government, every child in the Orange Electorate aged 10 and under – and continuing each year with every newborn child – will be eligible for a Kids Future Fund account, which will receive a $400 starting payment from the Government.

Parents will be able to contribute to the fund, with payments matched by the Government up to $400 per year, with interest also earned over time.

Once the child turns 18 they will be able to withdraw from their fund – which could be worth between $28,000 and $49,000 per child.

Nationals candidate Tony Mileto for the Orange Electorate said this landmark initiative is the first of its kind in Australia and will help provide financial security to an entire generation in the Orange Electorate.

“This investment will change the lives of children in NSW in the Orange Electorate forever,” Tony Mileto said.

Get Your Tickets Now For The World Premiere Of Cracks In The Mirror

March 17, 2023 By Roxane Manley

Front: Amelia Regnier, Kimberley Ryan, Maddison Collits, Jade McGovern. Back: Nigel Thomas, Tom Rivett, Lyn Townsend, Phil Redenbach, Anthony Leonard, Gail Smith, Ruth Barnes.

The world premiere of locally written musical, Cracks in the Mirror will be held at The Little Theatre in Parkes, on 22nd April, but plans are afoot to market this musical to theatre companies nationally.

It all began in January 2022, when Lyn Townsend, along with 20 other people around the world, undertook a short online musical song writing course with composers Pasek and Paul (The Greatest Showman, Dear Evan Hanson).

She engaged the services of Gail Smith to assist with music composition for the course song – the outcome, Cracks in the Mirror was an epic 11 minutes long!

Lyn dedicated herself to writing topical and relevant storylines into a script, while regularly meeting with Gail to continue working on more songs. Six months later, Lyn and Gail had written an entire musical.

A very capable local musician, Anthony Leonard, was called in to give feedback on the songs and eagerly agreed to join them on the journey, collaborating on musical arrangement.

Workshops were held in August last year with five ladies who willingly gave their time to test the script and songs and provide valuable feedback.

Auditions were held in December to secure the small but very talented cast of Maddison Collits, Jade McGovern, Kimberley Ryan, Amelia Regnier and Ruth Barnes and band members Phil Redenbach (lead guitar), Tom Rivett (Base guitar), Nigel Thomas (Drums/percussion), with Anthony and Gail both playing keyboard.

As Lyn and Gail own the music, there are no royalties to be paid. At their request, the Parkes Musical and Dramatic Society will donate $10 from every ticket sold, to the Eugowra GIVIT flood appeal.

Tickets for Cracks in the Mirror are on sale now at www.parkesmandd.com.au. Group reservation requests made by emailing parkesmandd2870@gmail.com.

Get Back To Peak Hill This Weekend

March 17, 2023 By Roxane Manley

A historic photograph of The Carrington Hotel in the main street of Peak Hill.

Parkes Shire Council is pleased to be partnering with the Carrington Association to host the Back to Peak Hill weekend event from Friday, 17th to Sunday, 19th March.

Peak Hill invites you to revive your memories of the way things were. Of school days, sports, local families, farms, railways, harvests and local shops within the community.

Event organisers welcome you to visit Peak Hill this weekend, either once again or maybe for the first time, to see what all the fuss is about and create some new memories.

Susie Collett, chairman of the Carrington Association says, “History must be treasured and celebrated, but never become an anchor to the future.”

The Back to Peak Hill Weekend will be centered on The Carrington, formerly the Carrington Hotel, which was nearly destroyed by fire. After years of determination and persistence by wonderful local enthusiasts, The Carrington is now close to being completed and reopened to the community. It is a significant place from history that is now headed into the future, which is what this weekend is all about.

Activities will include open schools, displays of artifacts and memorabilia, social games, street busking, an official opening of The Carrington, history and craft displays, live entertainment, and much more.

The Carrington will be open daily as the weekend’s hub, whilst many local businesses and organisations will also open their doors for extended hours.

The event is being funded by the NSW Government’s Reconnecting Regional NSW Community Events Program.

Local Fundraiser Planned For Royce Simmons “Big Walk” For Dementia

March 17, 2023 By Roxane Manley

A sign that was made to encourage Royce on his “Big Walk” last year when he raised over $1M.

In 2022, at the age of just 61, Penrith Panthers’ rugby league legend Royce Simmons announced that he had been diagnosed with Dementia.

The diagnosis sent shock waves through the rugby league and broader community. However, Royce wasted no time at all, throwing himself behind the “Big Walk” to raise money for Dementia Australia to fund further research.

“I’ve got dementia, but not too bad at the moment, I’m just trying to make people aware of how bad dementia is,” said Royce.

“I don’t think people realise how bad it is, over 400,000 people are currently living with dementia in Australia and experts say that is expected to double in the next few years.”

Royce has gathered a huge amount of support from the rugby league community that he was a part of for decades and has many supporters on board sponsoring the walk.

Royces “Big Walk” kicks off on Tuesday, 18th April in Dubbo. He will travel through Parkes on Thursday, 20th April, and is scheduled to arrive in Bathurst on Saturday, 29th of April where the Panthers Vs Wests Tigers will be playing for the Royce Simmons Cup.

Royce has called upon fellow footy and sporting legends to join him on his walk through regional towns including Parkes and Eugowra. Part of Royces initiative is for the junior footy clubs in the towns they pass through to utilise the opportunity to raise funds for their own clubs, in addition to helping Royce raise money for Dementia Australia

Royce went on to explain, “We organise and supply a couple of guest speakers for the local fundraisers, we supply some memorabilia for the auctions and we are happy that it helps raise money for Dementia Australia and local junior footy.”

Local President of the Parkes Marist Junior Rugby League Club, Andrew Thomas spoke to The Forbes & Parkes Phoenix about why this is such an important fundraising event for people to get behind. “Royce is so driven by junior league and grassroots football, they’ve asked the clubs to hold an event and we have decided to hold a fundraising dinner.”

Royce’s Big Walk, and the Fundraiser to coincide with his walk, will be on Thursday, 20th April. The Fundraiser will be held at the Parkes Services Club and tickets will be $35 each, which will include dinner. On the night there will be a number of guest speakers, an auction, raffle, and lucky door prizes.

The Parkes Marist Junior Rugby League Club will put any funds that they receive from the “Big Walk” fundraising event towards upgrading the outdated facilities.

“We are pushing for a new grandstand, that’s the biggest ticket item that we are working towards. Parkes Council has been great, they funded a $76,000 Master Plan that was designed by an architect from Newcastle. He has submitted a design that has already been approved and its sitting there ready to go once we find enough funding. It’s up to us to be the driving force to make it happen,” said Andrew Thomas.

Tony Mileto – There For You

March 17, 2023 By Roxane Manley

Tony Mileto loves nothing more than delivering on promises for regional communities.

As someone who’s called the Central West home since I was 12, I want to ensure young people living in regional NSW can look to a future filled with endless opportunity. Not despite the fact they live in the regions, but because of it.

That’s why, four years ago, the NSW Nationals appointed a dedicated Minister for Regional Youth and set up a youth taskforce to inject young voices from the bush into government decision-making.

It’s why we asked 2,000 young people from the regions about what mattered to them and created a $40 million fund to invest in their ideas.

No young person in the regions should have to leave their home community because there are no high-tech or high-paying jobs there.

It’s why we’re helping regional businesses grow, and why we’re attracting interstate and international businesses to relocate to the bush.

We’re offering real help – like rebates for energy bills and tools to make sure you’re getting the best possible deal, subsidised training to help you get the job you want, and vouchers for those with young families to help with extra costs like school and sport.

There is always more to do, but we have seen a 60 per-cent reduction in regional youth suicide from 2019 to 2022. As a former police officer who worked as a police/student liaison officer in Forbes and who continued that role with the PCYC in Orange, I know the importance of giving our young people a hand. It’s why I undertook community work in the fields of mental health and suicide prevention.

Only The Nationals are committed to putting regional people first – from their first steps to their first job and onwards.

Before you vote in the Central West on March 25, consider which party is there for you.

Boosting Mobile Reception In The Bush

March 10, 2023 By Roxane Manley

The NSW Liberal and Nationals Government will invest $250 million to boost mobile reception in the bush in small communities, tourism hotspots and along key transport corridors through the Mobile Coverage Program.

The new program will target three key areas:

Small regional communities with little to no existing coverage;

Key transport corridors, where a boost to coverage can help drive increased productivity and improved safety; and

Visitor economies where major events draw large crowds.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW Paul Toole said the NSW Liberal and Nationals Government had already invested in more than 120 mobile towers across regional NSW to boost coverage in known blackspot areas.

“Our $250 million investment in this program shifts away from traditional ‘one tower, one provider’ model thinking in favour of a nation-leading approach to deliver shared infrastructure available for use by all carriers,” said Paul Toole.

The Mobile Coverage project is part of the Regional Digital Connectivity program and funded through the Snowy Hydro Legacy Fund. For more information, visit: www.nsw.gov.au/connectregionalnsw

Early Access To One Year Free Preschool

March 10, 2023 By Roxane Manley

Tens of thousands of kids across the state will have access to free preschool sooner, with a re-elected NSW Liberal and Nationals Government to accelerate the rollout of its $5.8 billion one-year free pre-Kindergarten program.

The commitment will bring forward $1 billion to commence construction on the first of the new preschools in the second half of this year, with the first 500 on public school sites to be completed within four years.

By 2030, every single child in NSW will have access to a full year of free, play-based learning in the year before school.

A re-elected NSW Liberal and Nationals Government will also legislate the right to one-year free pre-Kindergarten in the next term of government.

Premier Dominic Perrottet said this would kick-start learning for tens of thousands of kids across the state, setting them up for future success.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW Paul Toole said the accelerated delivery of universal pre-Kindergarten represented a huge investment in regional communities.

“The bush is leading the charge on this major education reform, with 34 of the universal pre-Kindergarten pilot sites and more than half of the first 500 universal pre-Kindergarten schools being in regional communities – helping kids from Kempsey to Coonamble take the first steps to a brighter future,” Mr Toole said.

Minister for Education and Early Learning Sarah Mitchell said that she was pleased to be able to unveil the first 500 schools that will have purpose-built infrastructure for universal pre-Kindergarten.

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