It’s time to show New South Wales what locals already know – Forbes is a top tour­ism town! The community is being encour­aged to throw its support behind Forbes by voting in the 2026 NSW Top Tourism Town Awards, celebrating the very best destina­tions across New South Wales.

The 2026 NSW Top Tourism Town Awards give nominated towns the opportunity to shine, recognising places that deliver out­standing visitor experiences and showcase the best of regional NSW.

Forbes has been nominated in the Top Tourism Town Award category (popula­tion over 5,000), alongside Ballina, Moree, Shellharbour, Coffs Harbour, Kiama, Or­ange and Wollongong.

Run by the NSW Tourism Association, the program brings a strong focus to regional tourism, highlighting standout destinations from coast to country, as well as the opera­tors who bring these towns to life.

Forbes’ nomination reflects its rich herit­age, vibrant events calendar, beautiful La­chlan River setting and strong visitor offer­ing, making it a destination locals are proud of and visitors love to explore.

Forbes Shire Mayor, Phyllis Miller OAM said, “Forbes really is amazing, and this nomination is a fantastic endorsement of the Forbes Shire as a destination and eve­rything we have to offer visitors.”

“I encourage everyone to jump online and vote for Forbes showing the rest of NSW exactly what makes our town stand out.”

Vote now and support Forbes in the 2026 NSW Top Tourism Town Awards at https://nswtourismassoc.kartra.com/survey/anmWRKOLCr9c

The winners will be announced on 27 May at Local Government NSW Destination & Visitor Economy Conference in Maitland.

To celebrate Harmony Day on Saturday 21 March, Parkes Community Choir brought their voices to the welcoming space of Ink­wood and Ivy Books and Curiosities, sing­ing their hearts out in a morning of fun and music. Songs included rounds from around the world, partner songs and some pop fa­vourites. Customers enjoyed the unexpect­ed concert and passersby were invited in to listen.

Inkwood and Ivy Books and Curiosities is a new shop in Parkes which opened on 8 December 2025. It is run by Deb Jones who moved from Cobar to start the business.

“We have many exciting and community engaging plans for our shop and already have a book club meeting here. Thursday evenings offer a quiet reading time between 7-9 pm and we are running junk journalling classes on Fridays.”

“Our future plans involve book readings, author talks and book launches with events on some Saturday mornings especially in the lead up to Anzac Day. You can check out our Facebook page or pop into the shop for a chat and find out what’s coming up.

We are open to supporting local and inde­pendent writers and are happy to promote their work” said Deb.

The shop offers an immersive shopping experience with not only an extensive range of books and gifts but a unique atmosphere and opportunities to relax. A lovely, old pi­ano is waiting to be played at any time by anyone. A guitar waits to be strummed, a jigsaw puzzle challenges you to fit in some pieces and a chess set is ready for a game.

The many couches and chairs scattered around are irresistible for settling in with a good book or your knitting.

The fostering of harmony in our commu­nity and our world is important, so, read, sing with and talk to each other and create harmony.

Parkes is set to come alive with colour as the Healthy Harold Colour Run returns, with local community groups, sporting clubs, health services and businesses invited to get involved.

Stallholder expressions of interest are open for the free, family-friendly event, tak­ing place on Wednesday 20th May 2026 from 3.30pm to 5.00pm at Keast Park, Hooley Street, Parkes.

The Colour Run forms part of the Healthy Harold Parkes Festival of Health, a twoweek initiative promoting positive health and wellbeing across the region.

“We know Parkes has an incredible network of community organisations and health services,” said Ken Keith OAM, Chair of Life Ed NSW and former Mayor of Parkes. “The Colour Run is a great oppor­tunity for local groups to connect with fami­lies, showcase their services, and be part of a fun event that celebrates community pride.”

The festival coincides with visits from Life Ed NSW’s specialist health educators, with more than 1,500 local children taking part in the Life Ed program at their school or early learning centre, exploring topics including nutrition, cybersafety, respectful relation­ships and drug and alcohol education.

The Colour Run has previously attracted hundreds of locals who walked, ran and danced through clouds of colourful pow­der while exploring interactive stalls hosted by community organisations. These stalls sparked conversations about health and wellbeing, while families discovered local services and support programs.

“Events like the Colour Run highlight the strength of community partnerships,” Ter­ese Hooper, CEO of Life Ed NSW said.

“When local organisations come togeth­

er, we create meaningful opportunities to support the health and wellbeing of families across Parkes.”

Local organisations interested in hosting a stall, activity or interactive display are en­couraged to get involved. To express inter­est or find out more, visit https://go.lifeed.org.au/FOH2026 or email nsw@lifeed.org.au

The closure of the Great Western Highway at Victoria Pass continues to impact travel, freight and tourism across the Central West. It has again highlighted how vulnerable our region is when key infrastructure fails, with flow-on effects for local businesses and communities.

This reinforces the need for long-term investment in reliable road and rail infrastructure. In the interim I have worked closely with the government to get services from sydney out west.

Fuel supply issues and rising prices remain a serious concern across regional NSW. With the cost of living already high, unreliable supply and price volatility are placing added pressure on households, small businesses and those who rely on fuel every day. I will continue to call on the Government to work with the Commonwealth to secure supply chains and ease the burden on regional communities.

Recent changes to firearms laws continue to raise strong concerns across the Central West and NSW. While the events that led to these changes were tragic, many in our community believe the response has been rushed, with limited consultation and scrutiny. More than 98,000 people signed a petition raising concerns-one of the largest ever recorded­which shows the strength of community feeling. There are real concerns these changes place further restrictions on law-abiding firearms owners, while doing little to address illegal firearms. Questions have also been raised about limits that don’t reflect the practical needs of hunters, primary producers and sporting shooters. I will continue to advocate for fair, balanced laws that target crime-not responsible people.

The proposed energy-from-waste facility at Parkes continues to raise strong community concerns. Many locals are questioning why regional communities should manage metropolitan waste, particularly given Parkes’ agricultural setting and the need to transport waste long distances. While I am not opposed to the technology, it must be in the right location and have genuine community support. I will continue to stand with the Parkes community and ensure their voices are heard.