Articles Archives - Page 82 of 452

Youth Actor Auditions Mock Crash 2024

May 9, 2024 By Roxane Manley

Filming a scene from the 2023 Youth Driver Education Program.

Calling all amateur actors across the region! Parkes, Forbes and Lachlan Shire Councils are on the search for youth actors to star in this year’s NOT A STATISTIC! Youth Driver Education Program.

The Councils’ Road Safety and Injury Prevention Officer, Melanie Suitor, is encouraging local up-and-coming youth actors to audition to be part of this road safety initiative which has seen a 27% reduction in crashes involving young drivers since its inception more than 10 years ago.

“We are looking for four new actors to join our team and are holding auditions on Thursday 16 May from 5pm – 8pm at the Parkes SES shed in Clarke Street.

“The auditions will give participants an overview of all aspects of the project, then youth actors will take part in both filmed and live ad-lib exercises. The youth actors will also undergo road crash rescue training to see what it’s going to be like being cut out of a car and removed on a spine board.

“We are hoping to uncover some undiscovered talent who will bring something new to mock crash. So, if you are interested in getting involved and are over the age of 16 be sure to register and come along,” Ms Suitor said.

The program offers youth actors experience with filming as well as a live performance. Dates are still being set for the live mock crash demonstration, but will likely remain in its August timeslot at Parkes High School.

Pre-registration for the auditions is essential. Contact Ms Suitor on either 6861 2364 or Melanie.Suitor@parkes.nsw.gov.au for more information and to book your place.

Do It For Dolly, And Help End Bullying

May 9, 2024 By Roxane Manley

Dolly Everett, who we remember each year on Do it for Dolly Day and her parents, Tick and Kate Everett who are determined no other family should suffer the loss they did.

Dolly Everett was only 14 years old when she tragically took her life in January 2018, following relentless and sustained bullying and cyberbullying. Sadly, six years later the problem is not going away.

A recent report from the eSafety Commissioner has shed light on a troubling trend: cyberbullying is on the rise. There has been a staggering 40% increase in cyberbullying reports. What is particularly worrying is that two-thirds (67%) of these reports were concerning children aged 12-15 years old – just like Dolly – highlighting the vulnerability of young people to online harassment and abuse.

Determined that no other family would suffer from the same devastation, Dolly’s parents Tick and Kate Everett established the anti-bullying organisation Dolly’s Dream. They have committed to changing the culture of bullying by addressing the impact of bullying, anxiety, depression, and youth suicide, through awareness, education and direct support to young people and families.

“We don’t want other families to ever have to go through the heartache we have experienced. We are proud that Beacon provides easily accessible support and information to families, especially in our rural, regional, and remote communities, that we wish we had,” Kate Everett.

Each year in May thousands of wonderful communities come together to remember Dolly by going blue, donating and participating in fundraising activities to help support the important anti-bullying work of Dolly’s Dream, sharing the message to be kind and speak even if your voice shakes.

To register, donate or to find out more visit www.doitfordollyday.org.au

Free Online Child Car Seat Safety Workshops

May 2, 2024 By Roxane Manley

Over 30 local families have attended the online workshops since their inception. Participants rated the workshop 4.8 out of 5, said they would be very likely to recommend it to a friend or family member.

Parents, carers and grandparents are invited to attend one of two free online workshops being held to provide important safety information about child car seats.

The workshops are being conducted by Parkes, Forbes and Lachlan Shire Councils in partnership with Transport for NSW West Region.

The workshops will be held via MS Teams, on Tuesday 7 May at 11am and again at 7pm, and will run for about an hour.

The Councils’ Road Safety and Injury Prevention Officer, Melanie Suitor, said the correct selection, installation and adjustment of child car seats is vital in ensuring children’s safety when travelling in vehicles.

“The workshop will cover the National Child Restraint Laws, types of child car seats available, correct installation and adjustment, when to move to the next car seat, accessories, tips for second-hand car seats and much more.

“It will be a great refresher for grandparents, as child car seats and the rules have changed a lot since they had their children, but also for parents and carers as they are navigating their way through their child or children’s growth.

“The results of our local checking day events show that around 80% of the child car seats that were checked were incorrectly installed. Transport for NSW research shows that children who are not restrained correctly are seven times more likely to sustain life-threatening injuries in a crash than those who are properly secured. It is so important to ensure your precious cargo is safe” Ms Suitor said.

The online workshops were the first of their kind in NSW when they were trialed in May 2023 and were held again in November 2023.

To book your place, visit the event listing on the Councils’ Facebook pages, use this link: https://bit.ly/WorkshopRegoMay24 or call Ms Suitor on (02) 6861 2364.

Snippets

May 2, 2024 By Roxane Manley

The entire community is invited to come along.

Philip Donato

MOLLY MATTERED

Join in a walk around Lake Forbes to honour the life of Molly Ticehurst.

A morning for the Forbes community to wrap their arms around each other in a show of support and say no to violence against women. Wear something bright.

WHEN: Sunday 12th May 2024, 8.30am- 10.00am. WHERE: Lions Park, Forbes.

R U OK?Day

Some days are easy. Some days are hard.

When things get tough for someone you care about, reach out to see how they’re going. Ask what you can do to support them.

Parkes East Public School

We were honoured to have Mr Keith Woodlands, President of the Parkes RSL Sub-branch as a guest speaker at our ANZAC Service on Tuesday 30th, April.. Our school captains and prefects did a wonderful job leading this service. May we never forget the sacrifices our service men and women made and continue to make for us.

Forbes Shire Council

Apply Now – The Manager Engineering will provide management of:

– Council’s survey and design functions.

– Technical expertise to other Council departments and divisions to ensure successful completion of operational and project requirements in line with Council’s Community Strategic Plan, Delivery Plan and Operational Plan.

– This role will be accountable for high quality, timely designs across all operational, and major strategic projects.

– Management of external agencies involved in highly technical design.

PCYC Parkes

KINDER GYM Term 2 bookings are open.

Each week we create a new circuit challenging our students, followed by free play on the equipment. Join us Tuesday and Friday 9:30-10:15am. Bookings can be made by email, phone, online or in the club.

SBS News

Rallies calling for an end to violence against women have been held across Australia in recent days. Here’s how to spot potential signs of domestic violence, and support those who may be experiencing it. Read more: https://trib.al/1vMM6RB

CatholicCare Wilcannia-Forbes

We have a fantastic event planned at Parkes for National Families Week. The aim of National Families Week is to celebrate the vital role families play in Australian society. National Families Week runs from May 13 to 19, 2024 and this year’s theme is “celebrating family diversity and connections”. Our event on Friday May 17 will mark the week with playgroup activities, sausage sizzle, face painting and goodie bags. Bring your family and friends for some fun to the Cooke Park Pavilion at Parkes.

Holy Family School, Parkes

We are thrilled to announce the launch of our Kitchen Garden Program and what a joy it has been to see our Year 4 students dive into this hands-on learning experience!

Our Year 4 class has been busy planting beans, chives and carrots, and they’ve had an absolute blast doing it. It’s wonderful to see them engage with nature and learn about the process of growing their own food.

Let’s continue to cultivate a love for nature and healthy eating in our students.

By Mrs Wheeler

Stay tuned for updates on the growth of the HFS garden.

Author And Illustrator Of All Things Weird And Wonderful

May 2, 2024 By Roxane Manley

Sami Bayly is pictured with children who took part in a workshop at Trundle Library.

Parkes Shire Libraries had the pleasure during April school holidays of hosting Illustration Workshops with author and illustrator, Sami Bayly.

Nearly 50 children and young people at Parkes and Trundle Libraries enjoyed hearing some fascinating, fun, and revolting facts from Sami’s vast knowledge of animals, birds and insects. Sami then walked our young library members step by step through the process of illustrating different interesting animals.

Sami’s works include The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Ugly Animals and Creatures of Camouflage and Mimicry. She is also the feature artist for the 2024 NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge promotion.

This was Sami;s very first visit to the Central West and many young fans were excited to meet her, have a photo and have their books autographed. Call in to Parkes and Trundle Libraries to borrow Sami’s beautifully illustrated Junior Non Fiction books.

One young person who attended commented that the workshops were “very unique and gave a lot of information about what is in the world.” Another said “My favourite part of the activity was hearing the disgusting stories, but I didn’t think they were disgusting!”

Sami commented that she had a fun and joyous trip to Parkes and Trundle and will be sure to visit again. “I really had a wonderful time!” she said.

These illustration workshops were generously funded by NSW Office of Regional Youth for the benefit of young people in regional and remote communities. Keep an eye out for more children and youth activities hosted by Parkes Shire Libraries.

Applications Extended For Leadership Program

April 25, 2024 By Roxane Manley

Women wanting to increase their leadership skills and contribute to narrowing the gender gap in agriculture still have time to apply for the National Farmers’ Federation flagship Diversity in Agriculture Leadership Program.

The mentorship-based initiative aims to deliver on the NFF’s goal to double the number of women in agriculture’s leadership ranks by 2030 – a goal the industry is well on its way to achieving.

NFF President David Jochinke said the Program had made a significant indent in increasing the number of women on boards, stepping up in their communities and in leadership roles, but there was still more work to be done.

“It’s time to level up the imbalances in gender and take on roles to lead our agriculture forward,” Mr Jochinke said.

The program has alumni across Australia, including Alison Hamilton from Wagga Wagga who said this to potential applicants:

“The opportunity and the ongoing benefit from the learnings of the program are unique. Grab it with both hands and throw your hat in the ring, there is so much to be learned and experienced on many levels. The investment in your time and commitment will pay dividends.”

Mr Jochinke said the program was held up through the support from 31 dedicated partners, including multinational corporations, advocacy bodies and government entities, all who are leading by example in ensuring diverse voices are represented and championed within their organisations.

The Diversity in Agriculture Leadership Program provides 12 women with a retreat in Canberra, a five-month intensive one-on-one mentoring opportunity, graduation ceremony, and the opportunity to join a supportive alumni base of 64 graduates. Applications are open until 5pm, Sunday the 28th of April.

Snippets

April 25, 2024 By Roxane Manley

If you need someone to talk to or just someone to listen, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.

Lifeline Central West

If this week’s news events are causing you distress, it is really important you speak to someone about how you feel.

Please call us on 13 11 14 and speak to one of our telephone crisis supporters who canrefer you to the services you need. We are here to listen.

You can find some self help guides here https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/topics/trauma/about-trauma

1800RESPECT

If you are supporting someone who has experienced domestic, family and sexual violence, it is important to know that you do not have to be an expert, or have all of the answers.

If you know someone who has experienced domestic, family and sexual violence, let them know they are not alone – 1800RESPECT is available for support.

Call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732, text on 0458 737 732 or visit www.1800respect.org.au for online chat and video call services

Forbes Sports Person of the Year

Association

The next regular meeting of the Forbes Sportsperson of the Year Awards is scheduled for Thursday 2 May commencing 5:30pm at Club Forbes. All Welcome

Kerin Health

Hey Forbes,Swimming lessons available – Book your child’s place.

We have just released our new classes for swimming lessons and now is your chance to grab a spot and keep the momentum going for your child’s swimming skills.

Swimming lessons for Term 2 will be held at the Forbes Indoor Heated Pool, commencing on May 6th running for an 8 week term.

Swipe to see the class times by ag group!

Book online to reserve you spot now! Head to this link https://linktr.ee/kerinhealth

Parkes Shire Libraries

Please remember, that in order to complete a thorough stocktake and keep our service running smoothly, that Parkes Library will be closed next Tuesday, 30th April. Thank you for your understanding.

Flannery’s Pharmacy

We’re giving away ONE Phillips Air Fryer and JBL Speaker for lucky mothers in our community this Mother’s Day.

Simply come in store and tell us in 25 words or less why your mum (or motherly figure) is the best and deserves something extra special.

Competition starts today, and ends 6/05/2024.

T&Cs apply. Ask in store for more details

Country Women’s Association of NSW

Today CWA of NSW turns 102! After many years of supporting communities, we’re still going strong today.

We have a proud history but we’re not slowing down yet. Find out what you can do at your local branch: https://www.cwaofnsw.org.au/branches

Forbes High School

Yoorana Gunya Girls Empowerment Group.

In Week 11 for their last group, the girls headed to Revolution Aerial, an aerial fitness studio in Orange. Under the expert guidance of their instructor, they learned various aerial poses and manoeuvres, feeling exhilarated as they challenged their strength and flexibility. They then enjoyed a delicious lunch at Smoking Brothers / Elwood’s Eatery and a game of Ten Pin bowling. Thank you Yoorana Gunya for a fantastic term.

Pictured are the Yoorana Gunya Girls Empower-ment Group.

Connectivity Issues Spotlighted

April 25, 2024 By Roxane Manley

Communities across regional, rural, and remote Australia can now have their say on telecommunications issues as public submissions open on the Regional Telecommunications Review.

The input of local communities will form an essential part of the Review – held once every three years – which will see the Regional Telecommunications Independent Review Committee deliver recommendations to Government.

The Review is closely examining the experiences of people in regional, rural, and remote parts of Australia with telecommunications delivery, as well as considering the unique needs of First Nations communities.

Residents, businesses and community organisations can make a submission, with the Terms of Reference – announced by Minister for Communications, the Hon Michelle Rowland MP – outlining key issues for the Committee to examine. An issues paper has been released to help frame ideas.

Feedback from the public has been essential in previous reviews to ensure the Committee’s recommendations are well-targeted and based on evidence. For this Review there are three options available to have your say: attending a face-to-face consultation, providing a formal submission or completing a survey. The survey will be published in May 2024.

Since March 2024, the Committee has visited Western Australia and Tasmania for face-to-face consultations with local issues also forming an important part of the Committee’s considerations. More locations for face-to-face consultations will be announced shortly.

The 2024 Review is being led by the Hon Alannah MacTiernan, former Western Australian Minister for Regional Development as Chair of the Review Committee. She is supported by the Hon Fiona Nash, Ms Kristy Sparrow, Dr Jessa Rogers and Mr Ian Kelly.

To have your say just visit www.infrastructure.gov.au/have-your-say/2024- regional-telecommunications-review

Chair, the Hon Alannah MacTiernan went on to say “Access to telecommunications services is critical for regional residents and businesses across so many aspects of everyday life – and we want to understand the lived experience of these services so that future policy actions are well-targeted and backed up by evidence.

“We really encourage Australians in the bush to have their say via a submission or completing the survey in coming months, while we continue our face-to-face consultations across the country.

‘Waiting For Rain’ Finds New Home In Forbes Town Centre

April 25, 2024 By Roxane Manley

Pictured is the sculpture “Waiting For Rain” and the artist Jimmy Rix. For more information, visit www.sculpturedownthelachan.com

The latest addition to the Sculpture Down the Lachlan public art trail has found a green oasis in the heart of Forbes to call home.

‘Waiting for Rain’ is now permanently located on the intersection of Rankin and Lachlan Streets (formerly known as the Pitt Stop takeaway site). The site has been transformed into a public greenspace in recent months.

Forbes Arts Society Chairperson, Trudy Mallick commended Forbes Shire Council for integrating the sculpture into its plans for the site and helping to make public art more accessible.

“Locals and visitors now have a greater opportunity to engage with world-class sculpture,” Trudy said.

“Art in public spaces plays an important role in regional communities. Public art provides economic, cultural and social benefits, and improves the aesthetic and overall experience of the built civic environment.”

Made from Corten steel and enamel paint, ‘Waiting for Rain’ represents the importance of seasonal rainfall for farming communities. Sculptor Jimmy Rix was compelled to create the piece following a trip to Forbes in 2018 amidst the then drought.

‘Waiting for Rain’ is Jimmy’s second sculpture to feature along the Sculpture Down the Lachlan trail; ‘Road Kill’ is located at the 4 Mile Reserve, and was unveiled in 2021.

The Sculpture Down the Lachlan expansion is part of the $7.2 million ‘Boosting the Lachlan Valley Economy Art Project’ which is proudly funded by the NSW Government’s Regional Growth – Environment and Tourism Fund, the Forbes Arts Society, Forbes Shire Council, Lachlan Shire Council and Evolution Mining.

Antique Motor Club 50th Anniversary at CHMC Rally

April 25, 2024 By Roxane Manley

Over the Easter long weekend, motoring enthusiasts from all over New South Wales gathered at Parkes Racecourse to celebrate the 53rd Council of Heritage Motor Club (CHMC) Annual Rally coinciding with the 50th Anniversary of the Parkes Antique Motor Club.

A total of 79 vehicles were entered into the rally, showcasing a remarkable variety of automotive history. Among them were 9 XY Falcon 4X4’s and 29 vehicles belonging to club members. The vehicles hailed from all corners of NSW, demonstrating the widespread appeal of the event.

The oldest vehicle on display was a meticulously preserved 1921 Douglas Motorcycle, juxtaposed by the youthful charm of a 1990 Mercedes Benz, representing the breadth of motoring heritage on display.

Sunday’s activities included a well attended Easter Service conducted by Father Brian Schmalkuche and afternoon tours which took participants on a journey through the picturesque landscapes of Eugowra Murals, Forbes Sculptures, Sculptures Down the Lachlan, and iconic Utes in the paddock, offering a blend of sightseeing and motoring.

The highlight of the weekend was Sunday evening’s Presentation Dinner, with 204 attendees to commemorate the Parkes Antique Motor Club’s 50 years of legacy and excellence. All trophies and shields were presented on the night with our very own Philip Dixon taking out ‘Best Veteran’ for his 1912 Albion Fire Engine. The club that won ‘The Mal Mason Shield’ for 2024 was the Central Coast Historic Car Club.

The Parkes Antique Motor Club remains dedicated to fostering a vibrant community of motoring enthusiasts and welcoming visitors to experience the warmth of Parkes hospitality. As they celebrated their Golden Anniversary alongside the 53rd CHMC Annual Rally, they extended a warm invitation for all to join the festivities and revel in the joy of motoring heritage. The next CHMC Annual Rally will be held in Dubbo for 2025.

https://www.facebook.com/p/Parkes-Antique-Motor-Club-100067164804858/

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