Articles Archives - Page 66 of 452

Community Impact: Parkes Return And Earn

October 24, 2024 By Roxane Manley

A big thank you to the Parkes Shire community for your involvement in the Return and Earn container deposit scheme – you are making a difference!

With every bottle, can, and carton you recycle, you’re not only reducing litter but also earning along the way, helping keep our environment clean and putting money back into the community.

You can find three return points in the Parkes Shire, including: Parkes Metroplaza 299 Clarinda St (Machine), the newest return point at Parkes Services Club (machine) and Peak Hill Caravan Park at 2 Ween St (over the counter).

Machines offer you cash vouchers, electronic payment (via the Return and Earn app) or the option to donate. Over the Counter sites offer you cash refunds and some offer the opportunity to donate.

Not all bottles, cans and cartons are included in Return and Earn. Remember, even if a container isn’t eligible for a Return and Earn refund, it can still be recycled through your household recycling collection, offering a 10c refund to consumers for depositing eligible drink containers.

Calculate the impact of yourself, your school, or business, visit: https://returnandearn.org.au/

Mamma Mia, Here We Go Again

October 17, 2024 By Roxane Manley

Make sure to have cash on hand before arriving—ATMs will be limited, and we don’t want you to miss out on the fun.

Parkes Shire Council is excited to announce the F-ABBA-LOUS lineup for the 2024 Trundle ABBA Festival, returning on Saturday 19th October.

As Australia’s only and original ABBA festival, this year’s Trundle ABBA Festival will be bigger and better than ever, featuring a spectacular array of performances that will have fans dancing the afternoon and night away. Headlining the festival is the worldrenowned ABBA tribute band, Bjorn Again.

These super troupers are back by popular demand after their sensational performance last year, bringing us all ABBA’s greatest hits.

This year’s festival marks the 10th anniversary of Trundle ABBA Festival and the 50th anniversary of ABBA’s historic Eurovision win with “Waterloo.” Join us for a day of F-ABBA-LOUS fun as we celebrate the music and magic of ABBA in the charming regional town of Trundle. Joining the lineup are: Furnace and the Fundamentals, Disco Revolution, Andante Andante Choir and DJ DiggzGeneral Manager of Parkes Shire Council, Kent Boyd, shared his enthusiasm for the upcoming event: “The Trundle ABBA Festival was created by the Trundle community, from humble beginnings it is now a landmark event for our whole community and beyond. We are thrilled to be celebrating the 50th anniversary of ABBA’s Eurovision win in such a spectacular fashion.

“With this year’s incredible lineup and the continued support from ABBA fans worldwide, Trundle is set to shine brighter than ever. We can’t wait to welcome everyone to Trundle for a day of music, dancing, and unforgettable memories,” Mr Boyd said.

Tickets for the 2024 Trundle ABBA Festival are on sale now bit.ly/ABBAtickets2024.

For information, visit www.trundleabbafestival.com.au or contact the Parkes Visitor Information Centre on 02 6862 6000. Trundle ABBA Festival is proudly supported by the NSW Government through its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW.

The Future Of Housing For Parkes Assured

October 17, 2024 By Cr Neil Westcott

Parkes Shire Council has recently purchased the 330-hectare property Harrowvale, to commence designing a future residential suburb. We anticipate the land purchase will be funded by future industrial land sales and will not be activated until existing residential land is significantly taken-up.

Harrowvale is situated on the eastern edge of Parkes, between Henry Parkes Way (Orange Road), Military Road and Cookamidgera Road. It has quality arable soil, slopes gently from east to west and is predominantly above major flooding levels. The location of Parkes on the national transport network is an unassailable fact and has driven the NSW Government investment in the Parkes Special Activation Precinct (SAP). It is forecast that the SAP has the potential to create up to 3,000 jobs across a range of industries over the next 30 years, particularly, Freight and Logistics, Warehousing, Value-add agriculture, Plant based meat substitutes, Innovative Grains, Cold-Chain Logistics, Resource recovery and recycling, E-Waste Recycling, Plastics Recycling, Renewable energy, Critical minerals and Data Centres.

The State Government is progressing industrial development in the SAP and has a potential of over a billion dollars of investment over the next five years in leading edge energy and recycling technology, right on the edge of Parkes. It is important to ensure there is suitable land to meet the needs of our existing community, looking for their first home, seeking to upsize or moving to downsize existing homes.

By Cr Neil Westcott
Mayor of Parkes Shire

Snippets…

October 17, 2024 By Roxane Manley

Emma and Wariwick Rippon with the bench they crafted and donated to Trundle Central School.

Trundle Central School: A huge thank you to Warwick Rippon and his daughter Emma for constructing an iron bark bench to be used as a fundraiser for the Student Representative Council. The chair was milled and air dried for 12 months before construction took place. It is truly humbling when a member of the school community allocates their valuable time to assist the school. The workmanship in this bench is exceptional.

Country Women’s Association (CWA) of NSW: Our friends at QCWA are launching an online branch for those who find it difficult to get to meetings, including younger members. Our online branch, called the CWA of NSW Virtual Branch, is open to all women in NSW. They meet on the 2nd Tuesday of the month at 7.30pm via Zoom. Email the Secretary, Melissa for information secretarycwanswvirtualbranch@gmail.com. If you prefer to meet in person, women of all ages are welcome at our branches: https://www.cwaofnsw.org.au/branches

Trundle ABBA Festival: Just two weeks to go until the Trundle ABBA Festival. It’s time to get your “Dancing Queen” on and enjoy a night of ABBA hits and unforgettable fun. Grab your tickets now and let’s make some memories bit.ly/ABBAtickets2024

BirdLife Australia: It’s finally time—the Aussie Bird Count has started. Get your apps ready, head outside, and start counting! Each count takes just 20 minutes, and you can do as many as you like until 20th October. https://aussiebirdcount.org.au/

Neighbourhood Central: CatholicCare Wilcannia-Forbes and Small Steps 4 Hannah invite you to attend a free community education event (Hannah’s Story) presented by DV prevention educator Michael Jeh.

Hannah’s Story is a session that aims to create more awareness and empower members of the community about the early warning signs of coercive control and the tragic but inspirational story of Hannah Clarke, her three children and family. Registration is essential via www.facebook.com/share/FNaj6M8D7fW6zQkM/

Parkes Services Squash Courts: Make sure you grab a bacon and egg roll at Parkes Services Doubles next Sunday morning. Club members Craig and Natalie Kelly have generously donated their time and ingredients to run the breakfast BBQ to help Henry Kross with his fundraising to attend the British Junior Open.

Grab a bacon and egg roll and help Henry raise money to attend the biggest Junior Squash Tournament in the world – the British Junior Open.

Music Industry Mixer In Forbes

October 17, 2024 By Roxane Manley

Music NSW and Arts OutWest will host a Music Industry Mixer to bring together people in the music scene in the Forbes and Parkes area.

Head along for networking on Thursday 23 October 6pm to 7.30pm at the Vandenberg Hotel Forbes.

This event is led by MusicNSW Regional Coordinator for the Central West, Outback and West Darling regions, Sophie Jones.

Join Sophie and Arts OutWest’s Kylie Shead for an opportunity to connect, collaborate, and explore opportunities in your local music scene. Let these organisations know who you are and what you do.

Local bands and independent artists, venues and others in the live performance and recording industry have been invited.

No need to book, just turn up.

Working with regional arts development organisations like Arts OutWest, the Regional Music Coordinator delivers development, builds relationships between local industry and artists, and provides support for regional musicians, venues and live music professionals to grow regional touring.

Sophie Jones is an experienced touring musician, one half of the duo Smith & Jones.

If you can’t make it to the Mixer you can book a one-to-one chat with Sophie Jones via sophie@musicnsw.com

Australian Summer

October 17, 2024 By Roxane Manley

Little bodies sprinting through sprinklers on the lawn. Shady swimming holes in the local creek. A bag of mixed lollies from the pool canteen, the smell of chlorine and hot chips wafting through the hot afternoon air. The heat is fast approaching us and so much of our lives revolve around water.

Last year, in a neighbour’s pool, my son swam for the first time. He kicked his little legs and managed, somehow, to get across the pool unaided. For the first time in what felt like his lifetime, I breathed deeply.

He had learnt how to move through the water and get to the edge independently.

The very infancy of a lifetime of being able to swim. His little face was radiant. The red circle google marks only accentuating his beaming smile.

I want my son to thrive in an Australian summer. To jump with glee into the shady creek hole with his friends. To swim across the local pool with pace when he sees the hot chips arrive. To feel the thrill of moving through the water to play ‘classic catch’. To burn some teenage energy by following the black line up and down during swim training.

To learn to swim: for safety, for confidence, for exercise and most importantly – for fun.

We are excited to offer our community swimming lessons with our fully qualified swimming teachers this summer commencing 4th November 2024 in Forbes and Parkes. You can book your child’s place by phoning our reception on 0437 749 746.

Head to our website for more information.

Don’t #uck With A Truck Campaign

October 17, 2024 By Roxane Manley

The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) has launched the third phase of the Don’t #uck With A Truck campaign, teaming up with young drivers to spread a critical message; to drive safely around trucks.

NHVR Acting Chief Operations Officer Michelle Tayler said by co-designing the new phase of the campaign with young drivers, the regulator has been able to create a series of road safety videos that use a combination of humour and serious messaging to engage young viewers.

“The new Don’t #uck With A Truck videos depict young drivers as ghosts after they have been in an accident with a truck due to their unsafe driving” Ms Tayler said.

“Even a minor distraction can have devastating consequences.

“Our goal is to prevent situations where an inexperienced driver could be in a lane next to a turning truck, they pull in front of a truck too soon or they linger in a truck’s blind spot.”

The campaign will be broadcast across social media including TikTok, Instagram and YouTube, meeting young drivers where they are consuming content.

For more information and to watch the latest videos, visit: www.dontmuckwithatruck.com.au

Aspiring Ag Leaders Wanted

October 17, 2024 By Roxane Manley

The National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) has opened applications for its National Agriculture Leadership Program.

The flagship program provides exclusive opportunities for emerging leaders in the agriculture sector, including mentoring, policy development guidance, and meetings with Parliamentarians.

NFF President David Jochinke said the program is targeted at Australians aged under 35. “The program immerses our participants in the policy and advocacy worlds; they’ll have the opportunity to tour Australian Parliament House and meet with federal politicians and government departments, and be mentored by leading policy experts,” Mr Jochinke said.

Now entering its fifth year, Mr Jochinke said the limited spots in the NALP are always hotly contested.

“I encourage everyone with a passion for ag and an interest in leadership to apply.”

“Applications are only open for a month, so please don’t delay if you’re interested in this fantastic program,” Mr Jochinke said.

Program participants will meet up for a three-day advocacy retreat in Canberra where they’ll be matched with an industry leader and work on a policy project.

The program kicks off February 2025, applications are open until 14 November 2024.

Find out more at https://nff.org.au/nalp/

Parkes Bypass Project Enters Heavy Lifting Phase

October 17, 2024 By Roxane Manley

NSW Regional Transport and Roads Minister Jenny Aitchison said “These upgrades are vital to better connect our regional communities and improve efficiency on one of our busiest regional routes.

Two bridges being built as part of the Parkes Bypass project will move one step closer to carrying traffic, as massive girders to support the bridge decks are lifted into place.

The $287.2 million Parkes Bypass project will feature five key intersections and two new bridges, including one over Hartigan Avenue and the rail corridor and a second over the bypass on Victoria Street.

Preliminary work including construction of the abutments, or bridge ends, at either end of the bridges is now nearing completion and two giant cranes will be mobilised to the bypass site to lift six girders into place at each of the bridges.

Each of the 60-tonne girders will be hoisted high in the air and lowered into place on the bridge supports weather permitting – on 15 October. These girders, add to the 30 girders lifted into place in October 2023.

Once the cranes are set up, a 600-tonne crane will pass the girders one-by-one to the 750-tonne crane so they can be installed between the northern abutment and the next pier. The process will be repeated on 5 November, when one of the cranes is again used to lift six more girders into place for the new Victoria Street Bridge.

Once it’s completed, the 10.5-kilometre bypass on the western outskirts of Parkes will reduce travel time, improve freight productivity and efficiency on the Newell Highway,improve pedestrian access through Parkes and benefit traffic flow.

BreastScreen Australia Encourages Women To Look, Lift, Feel

October 10, 2024 By Roxane Manley

BreastScreen Australia is the national breast screening program and actively invites women aged 50—74 to have a free two yearly mammogram. Women aged 40—49 and those aged over 74 are also eligible to receive a free mammogram.

Associated Professor Sanjay Warrier said “I’ve formulated an easy system to help women undertake self-examinations at home and I call it ‘LOOK, LIFT, FEEL”.

“LOOK, LIFT, FEEL only takes a few minutes and should be done regularly. Look at your breasts in the mirror to identify any changes in shape, colour or texture. Stand in front of a mirror with your shoulders straight and your arms on your hips. Look for any changes in the size, shape or symmetry of your breasts. Check for dimpling, puckering or changes in the skin texture.

“Then lay flat and lift your arm up over your head and with two fingers together, using the pads of each finger, place gentle pressure on the breast moving your fingers around in a circular motion. Cover the entire breast from top to bottom and side to side. Also feel up under the armpit. Change sides and repeat.

“Take your time and feel for lumps or changes in the breast. Remember that your breasts may be dense and will naturally feel uneven. If you encounter any changes or unusual lumps, thickening or hardened knots, or nipple discharge, book an appointment with your doctor. The majority of issues are benign, but it’s always important to check things with your doctor.”

“Regular self-exams can help you become familiar with how your breasts normally look and feel, making it easier to notice any changes.”

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