Parkes Shire Council has embraced renewable energy signing a new electricity contract with a wind energy supplier at Wellington.

The new electricity contract with Iberdrola Australia was finalised last week for the supply of energy for Council’s large sites and streetlighting from 1st January next year. The Bodangora Wind Farm near Wellington in NSW will supply the electricity, while Council will also have the option to change to the Flyers Creek Wind Farm near Blayney when it becomes operational.

“We know that electricity prices are skyrocketing, and this new deal means Council has security in terms of pricing in the coming years,” said Mayor of Parkes Shire Ken Keith OAM.

“The eight-year contract is a huge achievement for Council, and we are excited that we have been able to secure such a great deal in the current electricity market.”

Iberdrola Australia Managing Director and CEO Ross Rolfe AO said: “We are delighted to be partnering with councils in the Central NSW and Riverina regions, enabling them to access reliable and affordable clean energy backed by our wind farms and flexible, fast-start assets.

“We have worked with the councils and communities in these regions for many years. These councils have supported the Australian economy’s green energy transition.”

The new contract is for 50% renewable energy, which means Council can reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 2,318t CO² annually, while also helping to support new renewable energy development.

“We’re all looking for ways to keep costs as low as possible and this contract allows us to do that while reducing our carbon footprint,” said the Mayor.

Central NSW Joint Organisation Chair, Cr Kevin Beatty said: “Collectively, the Central NSW region will source around 78% of its electricity for councils’ large sites and streetlighting from renewable energy under this deal. This is a huge win for the region,” he said.

Both students and staff were eager to celebrate Education Week this year by promoting a love for learning and having some fun along the way.

“Inspiring students today to shine tomorrow” was the theme for primary students on Wednesday. In line with this year’s Education Week theme, Creating Brighter Futures, students had the pleasure of working with the team from Bright Future STEM Program from AREEA (Australian Resources and Energy Employer Association) in conjunction with CMOC Northparkes Mines and Howden Australia to explore the wonders of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education and career opportunities. The students were inspired and their love for learning was ignited as they engaged in plenty of hands-on activities, including the use of virtual goggles and puzzle solving that encouraged plenty of critical thinking, teamwork, imagination, and FUN!

The week started with the Forbes Public School Book Fair which encouraged many of our students from the most avid readers to those who simply enjoy listening to and/or reading along with others to purchase books for their home libraries. We were excited to welcome our community along to share in our love for books. The day proved a huge success raising over $7,000. These proceeds will go back into providing resources and activities for our students to both benefit from and engage in. 

We are thrilled to know that our students have added to home libraries, their imaginations and time with loved ones at home sharing a story or two having purchased books.

The highlight of Education Week is always, the Book Character parade, where book characters are brought to life by both staff and students who proudly showed off their costumes by parading to music in front of the school community on Friday. The parade is always a welcomed opportunity to connect with our families over plenty of fun and laughter. The parade was followed by a family picnic and open classrooms where teachers, students and their families were able to share in student learning experiences and opportunities that have occurred so far this year. 

It was wonderful to have our wider school community on site, joining in the fun of the book fair, the parade, picnic, and classroom activities. We are grateful during these current times to be able to come together as a whole school to not only celebrate a love for learning, but also the fun and community spirit that comes with being a part of the FPS community. 

Three years ago Kerry Willems was sleeping in her car with no money to buy food, no clothes, and no facilities for personal hygiene. 

Kerry, who now lives in Forbes in secure accommodation, still has not forgotten the despair she felt. 

Speaking at a Homelessness Week event in Forbes last week hosted by CatholicCare Wilcannia-Forbes, she said: “Those days are now gone for me, but they will never be forgotten. 

“It is still very real and can happen to any one of us at any time.” 

She had an “absolutely intoxicating fear of being alone”. 

Kerry had always been employed, and even owned a successful florist business in Sydney before she became homeless. 

Her experience is not uncommon – the number of homeless people aged 55 years and above increased by 28% between the 2011 Census and the 2016 Census. 

“I was one of those statistics,” Kerry said expressing concern about the rates of homelessness among women in that age bracket. 

Through CatholicCare Wilcannia-Forbes, Kerry received accommodation in the women’s refuge, and was able to regain employment. 

“Once I was employed, I was able to start applying for private rental properties. I have now been employed for three years with Woolworths and live in my safe little home.” 

Kerry said sharing her story meant the world to her. “Sadly, so many people do not have the strength and the courage to get where I am today,” she said. 

“I fought my homelessness and won.”