Pictured are attendees at a recent Forbes Field Day

Farmers, contract harvesters, truck drivers, transport companies, pilots and agricultural machinery retailers are invited to attend this year’s Be Road Ready for Harvest Field Days in Forbes, Condobolin and Parkes.

The Forbes Field Day will be held on Thursday 23 July at the Forbes Central West Livestock Exchange with breakfast provided from 7.30am. The official program will run from 8am – 11.30am.

The Condobolin Field Day will be held on Tuesday 4 August at the Condobolin Showground from 3pm – 6.30pm followed by a free BBQ.

The Parkes Field Day will be held on Thursday 3 September at the Parkes Racecourse with breakfast provided from 7.30am. The official program will run from 8am – 11.30am.

Parkes, Forbes and Lachlan Shire Councils’ Road Safety and Injury Prevention Officer, Melanie Suitor, said that this year’s events will deliver new content and focus on the rules and regulations for safely and legally moving agricultural vehicles, combinations and trucks on the road.

“Attendees will hear from experts from NHVR, Transport for NSW and Service NSW about a range of topics.

“There will be a deep dive into dimensions, signage and other travel conditions.

Plus a hands-on machinery display and other interactive activities.

“Safety and compliance during harvest is very important. Operators need to be aware of their responsibilities and ensure that all warning devices and travel requirements are adhered to.

“Regulations are constantly changing and events like this are important to ensure people are up-to-date on what’s required before the upcoming harvest period,” Ms Suitor said.

Registration is free but spaces are limited, so get in quick. Register via the Parkes, Forbes or Lachlan Shire Councils’ Facebook pages or: https://bit.ly/FieldDays26

On Wednesday 24 June, Parkes resident Mr Geoff Rice, Board Member Ronald McDonald House Central West NSW and Rebecca Walsh, Executive Officer, Ronald McDonald House Central West NSW were in Parkes for the collection of wonderful knitted puppies created by the Parkes College for Seniors.

The puppies will be available for sale through a silent auction which will be drawn at the Gala Ball on Saturday 29 August 2026. Bids can be placed on all items when the website opens from 14 July – please visit the Gala Ball page at  www.ronaldmcdonaldhousecwnsw.org.auto stay up to date on the auction and the event, and place a bid when the auction opens.

There will be some incredible auction items including exclusive sporting event experiences, artwork, holiday packages and much more.

RMHCW are also excited to announce the major fundraising raffle prize this year is a 2026 Ford Ranger Black Edition V6 3.0L valued at $62,000. You could drive away with Australia’s number one selling vehicle. Tickets are $20 each or purchase 10 tickets for $150.

Grab a ticket and help sick kids by going to Ronald McDonald House Central West and follow the ‘Win a Ranger’ link for a 1 in 10,000 chance to win.

All proceeds stay in the Central West and help support families with sick kids when they need it most. The raffle will be drawn at the Gala Ball on Saturday 29 August 2026 at the Orange Function Centre. Entry is open to NSW residents aged 18 and over. Ticket sales will close at 8pm on 29 August 2026.

To learn more about Ronald McDonald House Central West and buy a ticket in the raffle visit their website at www.ronaldmcdonaldhousecwnsw.org.au/

Members at the Parkes Red Cross AGM.

The Parkes Red Cross opens on the first Friday of each month for teas and refreshments. Delicious sandwiches, home made cakes and slices with tea and coffee are served by volunteer staff .

The enthusiastic team are keen to continue and make Red Cross a valuable and effective community support.

The tea rooms, open since 1924, are a continuing social hub for all the community.

The rooms are available for event hire with several community groups booking their meeting and catering events.

The hall has a fully equipped kitchen, perfect for many clubs to cater, gather and enjoy. Attracting new volunteers recently has boosted the capacity of the Parkes Red Cross Rooms.

The popular Elvis Festival saw the rooms open for display entertainment and hydration. This was enthusiastically embraced by the avid Elvis visitors. The Rooms were a safe haven in the cool for rest and relaxation from the heat.

AGM of the Parkes Red Cross was held this week.

Our Zone Rep, Sue Sharp, of Cowra, conducted the election and all executive positions remained constant.

Parkes Branch Australian Red Cross members Val Glasheen volunteer, Marg Ward Vice President, Alison Dixon President, Hannah Dixon Secretary, Julie Westley Treasurer, Ellen Tom Publicity Officer and Norma Oliver Patron.

The AGM meeting ended with enthusiastic thanks and praise from Sue Sharp, who is the Zone Rep, and the President gave a special thanks to all who so kindly contributed to the group’s success, with time, cooking and serving.

The Parkes Red Cross Tea Rooms are located at 29-31 Church Street, Parkes. The Red Cross are always there for people in need: www.redcross.org.au.

Federal Member for Parkes Jamie Chaffey MP and Shadow Envoy for Men and Boys and Member for Wide Bay Llew O’Brien MP held a Men’s, Boys’ and Dads’ Forum in Dubbo on the weekend to allow a safe space for people to talk about their con­cerns.

Mr Chaffey said in a speech to Parliament that “It was a real pleasure to have Shadow Envoy for Men and Boys Llew O’Brien in Dubbo for this special event,” he said.

“It is critical to have these conversations.

Men die younger from preventable diseas­es and have much higher rates of suicide.

They have lower life expectancy, higher rates of chronic disease and lower rates of education.

“I particularly thank Warwick and Ky­lie Mitchell of Peak Hill in my electorate of Parkes, who lost their 17-year-old son Mack to suicide in 2024. They have found a way to celebrate their son and to raise awareness of mental health through their MACK Label and a ball planned for Parkes in October. You can find out more on their website themacklabel.rocks. “We can only make a positive difference by sharing the concerns and sharing the resources.”

Thousands of landcarers are out in paddocks, parks, coastlines, classrooms, creeks and community spaces doing the work that protects the places and productive landscapes we all rely on.

With just one month remaining until nomi­nations close for the 2026 State and Terri­tory Landcare Awards, Landcare Australia is calling on communities to shine a light on the local people and groups making a real difference to the health of our land, water and environment.

Who in your community deserves recog­nition? It could be: A farmer improving soil health and biodiversity on their property, A volunteer who’s spent years restoring a lo­cal reserve, A landcare, Coastcare, bush­care or rivercare group making a differ­ence, A Traditional Owner or First Nations organisation caring for Country, A teacher inspiring students through environment projects or A young person leading positive change in their community.

From farmers improving soil health and productivity, to volunteers restoring native vegetation, Traditional Owners caring for Country and young people leading envi­

gronmental projects, these are the kinds of everyday efforts that often happen quietly but make a lasting difference to communi­ties and the environment.

It might also be the neighbour who

spends weekends replanting a creek line, the farmer trialling new ways to keep soil healthy, the teacher helping students grow a habitat garden, or the volunteer group that turns up month after month to restore a local reserve.

Many landcarers do this work quietly and consistently, often over many years, so a nomination is a simple but powerful way to say their work matters. The awards celebrate the people helping create a more resilient future for Australia.

Anyone can put forward a nomination.

Nominations close Friday, 31 July 2026.

If there’s someone in your commu­nity who is helping protect landscapes, strengthen local connections and leave the environment in better shape for future gen­erations, now is the time to tell their story.

For more information or to nominate please go to www.landcareaustralia.org.au/awards