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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.

Snippets..

March 10, 2023 By Roxane Manley

Calling all caravan owners to come along and have their vans checked.

Free Caravan Testing Days Worth The Weight For Owners: Caravan owners across western NSW will be offered free caravan weighing and safety advice during three events planned for Parkes, Dubbo and Moree in the lead-up to this year’s Easter break.

Transport for NSW is hosting the free weighing days to educate caravanners about correctly calculating their caravan weight, how to load their caravan for even weight distribution, safe towing tips and ways to reduce the risk of being involved in a crash.

“We welcome all caravan owners living in and around Parkes to book a free 20-minute session when we visit their town to have their caravan properly weighed,” Mr Lunn said.

The local caravan weighing day will be on Sunday, 2nd April at Parkes Showground on Mitchell Street, Parkes from 8.30am- 4.30pm. Book online at www.trybooking.com/events/landing?eid=1013797&

Figures show that between 2016 – 2020 there were 90 crashes involving caravans across western NSW and, sadly, three people lost their lives.

More information on safe caravanning is available at https://roadsafety.transport.nsw.gov.au/stayingsafe/drivers/caravan-safety

Celebrating all women on and off the land who contribute
to their local communities.

Women From Northparkes Mines Celebrate IWD

March 10, 2023 By Roxane Manley

The women from Northparkes Mines and the women from Parkes Painting group show off their amazing creations.

Celebrated annually on 8th March, International Women’s Day (IWD) is a global event and focal point of the women’s rights movement – bringing attention to issues such as gender equality, reproductive rights, and violence and abuse against women.

This year, Brooke Plunkett, Organisational Development Specialist for Northparkes Mines organised for their female employees to attend a painting workshop, run by the Parkes Painting Group, to create a series of large artworks that will be donated to the Forbes Women’s Refuge.

Brooke said, “I wanted to create an activity for International Women’s day where we could celebrate our women, do something meaningful and give back to the community.”

Brooke wanted to make sure all of the hard working ladies at Northparkes felt a little spoiled, so along with the painting activity she organised a lovely spread for morning tea. There has been only positive feedback from everyone involved, with the women saying it was a very relaxing activity.

“It shows how Northparkes appreciate the women they employ, by allowing them three hours, on the clock, to volunteer their time to do something enjoyable and at the same time give back to the community. We are very valued,” said Brooke.

Parkes Painting Group representative, Kerry said “Brooke from Northparkes Mines reached out to us to organise the event. The Parkes Painters have never done anything like this before so it has been a bit of a learning curve for us.”

The five large-scale paintings are going to the Forbes Women’s Refuge where they will certainy brighten up the walls for the women and children who use the facility.

Families Set To Save With Voucher Swap Scheme

March 10, 2023 By Roxane Manley

Parents will have more choice when it comes to cost of living support thanks to the NSW Liberal and Nationals Government’s Active Kids and Creative Kids voucher swap initiative.

Premier Dominic Perrottet said families would be able to use the two vouchers interchangeably from Term 2, letting kids do more of what they love.

“Our Active Kids and Creative Kids vouchers have been incredibly popular with parents across the state, with almost 7 million vouchers already downloaded and redeemed saving families $694 million,” Mr Perrottet said.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW Paul Toole said the change would allow families to lean into the activities their kids loved.

“Whether it’s playing netball, footy or the violin, we want kids to be able to extract the most out of every day. Helping families with costs like these means they can focus on seeing their kids grow and kick goals, no matter what they love doing,” Mr Toole said.

Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government Victor Dominello said families across the State could use the digital voucher in just a few clicks through the Service NSW app.

The voucher swap program will commence from the start of Term 2, 26th Apriland only apply to:

• $100 Active Kids voucher for sport and recreation costs including school holiday programs.

• $100 Creative Kids voucher for arts and cultural activities costs including school holiday classes and workshops.

Families can download their child’s vouchers via the Service NSW app or website and by calling 13 77 88.

Crown Land Development – A Vote Of Confidence In The Growth Of Forbes

March 10, 2023 By Roxane Manley

Pictured last week at the major Crown Land development announcement was The Hon Sam Farraway MLC, Forbes Mayor Phyllis Miller and Candidate for Orange Cr Tony Mileto.

Forbes Mayor Phyllis Miller, and the citizens of Forbes have welcomed the announcement last week of a major development in the activation of 10.29 hectares of Crown Land to provide affordable homes for local families.

The land is located across three blocks at Farnell Street and Dawson Street and in a few short years, will be completely transformed into a community of affordable houses just 2.2 kilometers north of the Forbes town center.

“We all know that housing availability has been a major issue in Forbes for quite some time, particularly for people looking for rentals or even a first home purchase,” Mayor Miller said.

“The shortage of land especially, has contributed to pushing up the prices of houses being sold in Forbes. Now combined with rising interest rates and pressure on cost of living the prospect of owning a home for many is moving further out of reach,” Mayor Miller said.

“This activation of Crown Land is a very welcome step in easing some of this pressure, and providing a new supply of homes for the next generation.”

“We are very excited for this project and very grateful to the NSW Government,” she said.

The development will see 101 new housing lots, with around 30 percent of this dedicated to social and affordable dwellings.

“This is fantastic news for Forbes particularly as our projected population growth far exceeds the State average and the need for housing and facilities to accompany this growth is paramount,” Mayor Miller said.

NSW Nationals Upper House MP Sam Farraway said the NSW Liberal and Nationals Government was moving the state forward by increasing the housing supply in Forbes with the activation of 10.28 hectares of Crown land to deliver up to 100 housing lots.

“The NSW Liberal and Nationals Government is listening to the concerns of local families by increasing the supply of housing in our region and helping them to get into an affordable home,” Mr Farraway said.

“We’re able to do this thanks to our economic management ensuring that NSW continues to have the strongest economy in the country.”

Minister for Lands and Water Kevin Anderson said this announcement is part of a three-year Crown Lands program, designed to activate underutilised government land for housing projects in regional areas facing housing stress.

Songs That Make You Smile – Stories That Make You Laugh

March 10, 2023 By Roxane Manley

The talented Keith Potger will be performing in Peak Hill at a free event on Friday, 17th March.

Keith Potger was born 21st March 1941 in Colombo, Ceylon. His family migrated to Australia and he began teaching himself to play the banjo, guitar and keyboard. Potger performed in vocal groups which evolved into the Seekers in early 1962.

Keith Potger’s solo acoustic performances appeal to audiences for whom his music is a breath of fresh air; the fans who appreciate the man and his guitar – and boy, can he play that 12 string!

As a founding member of the internationally famous group The Seekers, he is known to countless fans and this is obvious in the welcome given to him by audiences around the world. In September 2014, along with his colleagues in the Seekers, Potger was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO).

His program contains some timeless favourites from The Seekers, a touch of Nashville, some beautiful original ballads from his three solo CDs and a few hits from the ‘60s to the ‘80s that appeal to the generation who grew up playing Seekers albums at home or in the car. Throughout his show, Keith shares some amusing anecdotes from almost 60 years on the international music scene.

During his performance Keith offer a special tribute to his colleague and dear friend of 60 years, the late and great Judith Durham. Keith unfailingly delivers up-beat, heart-warming events that leave audiences reliving their fondest memories while sharing the joy of new beginnings that are the hallmarks of Keith Potger’s solo concerts.

This is a free event, proudly funded by the NSW Government’s Reconnecting Regional NSW Community Events Program and Parkes Shire Council.

Do Your Kids Love Sport, Adventure Or Nature?

March 10, 2023 By Roxane Manley

The NSW Office of Sport is offering free Holiday Break camps to kids from regional NSW in the April school holidays.

Regional kids aged 12-15 can enjoy a free overnight camp at four sport and recreation centres.

A range of activities, including mountain biking and BMX, stand-up paddleboarding and survival skills, camps include all meals and accommodation.

Office of Sport Chief Executive Karen Jones said the Holiday Break camps were an opportunity for regional kids to challenge themselves, learn new skills and have fun.

“With camps at Berry, Jindabyne, Lake Keepit and Broken Bay on the Central Coast, we’ve got all corners of the State covered. Register your kids and give them a once in a lifetime experience,” said Karen.

The Holiday Break camps are funded through the Office of Regional Youth’s Children and Young People Wellbeing Recovery Initiative as part of the NSW Government’s COVID-19 Economic Recovery Strategy.

Camp dates and locations:

• Berry: 17th – 19th April
• Lake Keepit: 17th – 19th April
• Jindabyne: 12th – 14th April
• Broken Bay: 17th – 19th April

For further information and to register call 13 13 02 or visit: www.sport.nsw.gov.au/holiday-break-camps

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