A Parkes couple are packing their bags, dusting off their snorkel gear, and bringing their beloved dog along for the ride after scoring more than $100,000 in a recent game of Keno.

The Central West residents scored the Keno Classic 8 Spot jack­pot in Keno draw 431 on Thursday 2 October and can look forward to a total prize of $103,106.60.

When an official from Keno called to confirm the winning news, the stunned duo were still buzzing with excitement, sharing that they also scored a 6 Spot win in the same night.

“We’re over the moon! I was so excited. I was jumping out of my skin when it happened,” the winning husband said.

“We always use the same Keno numbers, and you won’t believe it, but we also put a 6 Spot on and about 10 minutes before, we won $3,800 on that.

“I just went ‘You’re joking!’. We were jumping up and down and even started shouting at others at the bar.”

With retirement on the horizon, the windfall couldn’t have come at a better time for the dynamic duo. “This will help us immensely for retirement,” they said.

“We’re actually thinking we’ll do a caravan trip up to Queensland.

Maybe go to Airlie Beach.

“Thank you so much. We’ll be spoiling our dog too!”Their winning Keno Classic entry was purchased from Parkes Bowling and Sports Club, 6 Cecile Street, Parkes.

In FY25, Keno players across the eastern states of mainland Australia celebrated wins collectively worth more than $1.2 billion.

The Leibstadt Nuclear Power Plant in Switzerland. By Hansueli Krapf – Own work: Hansueli Krapf (User Simisa (talk · contribs)), CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=110649554

Leader of The Nationals David Littleproud said the ground-breaking comprehensive ‘truth data’ of Labor’s renewables rollout proves the need for nuclear power in Aus­tralia.

Mr Littleproud said the Rainforest Re­serves Australia and Steven Nowakowski analysis, which can be found at www.rainforestreserves.org.au/renewablestruthmap shows the shocking impact La­bor’s all-renewables plan will cause on ag­riculture land, pristine natural landscapes and regional communities.

The mapping outlines the scale and size of every site in Australia and the footprint it will leave, with clickable, real-time data. It shows the vast amount of land being tak­en up by Labor’s 1126 projects, requiring 44,895.5 kilometres of new haulage roads for more than 300 wind projects, along with an additional 443,000 hectares of prime land for 545 new solar projects. The total number of solar panels proposed totals a staggering 584 million.

“This mapping vindicates The Nation­als’ calls for nuclear to remain a key policy for the Coalition,” Mr Littleproud said. “We need to lift the nuclear moratorium for a balanced and technology neutral energy mix if we want to save what’s left of our ag­ricultural land and our forests from Labor’s all-renewables approach.

“Australians need to understand, this mapping shows Labor is destroying the very thing we are trying to protect – the en­vironment.

Environmentalist Steven Nowakowski said the mapping, released today, is the most comprehensive to date. “This is a trillion-dollar industry yet no one has done this mapping before,” Mr Nowakowski said.

The calendar has a way of catching us off guard. One moment it is spring, and suddenly Christmas is here. At Buddy Boy Kitchen, we know how important it is to have a place ready for gathering, celebrating, and sharing meals.

That is why our Christmas Menu is available for groups of 15 or more, from 3 November to 20 December 2025. Whether it is colleagues toasting the end of a big year, or families coming to­gether before the holiday rush, our team makes planning simple and the celebrations effortless. Expect festive flavours, a warm atmosphere, and service designed to take the stress out of or­ganising. From Christmas ham and cured Salmon to filet mignon, pan-roasted turkey, and Christmas pudding.

A festive gathering is about more than what arrives at the table.

It is the laughter that lingers between courses, the conversations sparked over a glass of wine, and the small details that make a night feel unforgettable. At Buddy Boy Kitchen, we create the set­ting, you bring the people, and together the evening becomes a story worth remembering.

If you’re not ready to celebrate Christmas yet, we are also open for breakfast from 6:30am and dinner from 5:30pm, Monday to Sat­urday. Our restaurant serves Happy Hour everyday from 4:30pm to 6:00pm, there is no better way to raise a glass before a Christ­mas feast.

Do not wait until the calendar fills. Organise your festive gather­ing now. Christmas Menu bookings and details at buddyboykitch­en.com.au/christmas-functions-2025 or call 02 6862 5222.

Find out how a clear-out can give you more space, less stress, and even help the planet.

Following last year’s success, plenty of garage sales are expected across the Parkes Shire this November, as locals join over 400,000 Australians taking part in this year’s Garage Sale Trail – one of the country’s biggest second-hand shopping events.

Held over two weekends (8–9 and 15–16 November), the event sees thousands of garage sales pop up in streets, schools, front yards and community spaces around the country. Locals can host their own sale or join a market, taking part on one day or across both weekends.

Over 2,700 Parkes Shire residents par­ticipated in the two big weekends last No­vember extending the life of almost 8,500 pre-loved items.

“It’s a fun and meaningful way for locals to take climate action, meet their neigh­bours and make some extra cash,” said Parkes Shire Council’s Waste Manage­ment Coordinator, Sharyn Ware. “Garage Sale Trail makes it easy to give your stuff a second life – and keep it out of landfill.”

Registration is free and includes access to downloadable signs, how-to guides and promotion tools – making it easy to take part. Last year, the average seller made $499, proving that selling second hand is as good for the wallet as it is for the planet.

“There’s something for everyone – from designer fashion and retro homewares to kids’ toys, tools, plants and books,” said Sharyn.

NSW EPA Executive Director of Pro­grams and Innovation Alexandra Geddes said, “Garage Sale Trail is a fantastic cam­paign that supports the NSW Government’s target to reduce waste and illegal dumping.

“By taking part, you’ll be part of contribut­ing to a more circular economy by getting as much use out of products and materials as possible and helping us generate less waste.”

Participation is free thanks to the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) and Parkes Shire Council. Register now at bit.ly/GarageSaleTrailParkesShire.