Art Competition and Exhibition: The Forbes Arts Society invites avid, amateur and accomplished artists from across the region to enter this year’s Heritage Art Competition. The theme ‘Our Heritage for the Future’ encourages artists to celebrate all aspects of heritage including the built and natural environment, sacred sites and artefacts. Forbes Arts Society Chair, Dr Karen Ritchie said: “While artists do not have to be residents of Forbes, their entries do need to portray an aspect of Forbes Shire heritage. The competition has no set categories and is open to all art mediums and styles, with the finalists exhibited at the Platypus Gallery from 27th April to 15th May as part of the Our Heritage for the Future exhibition.” For more information visit www.forbesartssociety.com or follow @PlatypusGallery on Facebook and Instagram.

Biggest Morning Tea: Cancer Council’s Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea has never been so important and offers the perfect opportunity to check in with friends, family and colleagues over a cuppa and a bite to eat, while raising vital funds to support people affected by cancer. The official day to host a 2021 morning tea is Thursday, 27th May. However, you can register to host at any time throughout May or June. Whether it’s at home with friends or family, a simple morning tea in the office with workmates, virtually, or a gathering in a local community or at school, you can host a Biggest Morning Tea your way this year. These connections are particularly vital for people affected by cancer. For more information or to register, visit biggestmorningtea.com.au or call 1300 65 65 85. Dine & Discover NSW: You can now redeem your Dine & Discover vouchers in the Parkes Shire! Haven’t received your vouchers yet? NSW residents can easily apply online to receive their vouchers through the Service NSW website or by installing the latest version of the app. Find out where you can redeem your vouchers https://mybusiness.service.nsw.gov.au/dine-and-discover/business-finder

Pilot Program: Central West NSW is one of six regions across Australia to test the Carbon+Biodiversity Pilot Program. Ap-plications for farmers to participate in the $23.5 million pilot are now open. Under this pilot, farmers will be able to apply to receive a biodiversity payment in addition to what they would receive under the Emissions Reduction Fund (ERF). For more information go to: www.agriculture.gov.au/agriculturestewardship

Stork News: Matthew Joseph Blunden came into this world on 11th January 2021 at the Forbes Hospital weighing – 2,620 g (5.7 pounds) and 48cm tall. His parents are Erin and Alex Blunden from Parkes; grandparents Les and Heather Cheney from Parkes (first grandchild), and Lorraine and David Powter from Orange (fifth grandchild); great grandparents Doug and Lucy Allen from Parkes (16th great grandchild), the late Frank and Janet Cheney from Parkes (3rd great grandchild); the late Arthur and Noela Rawson from Bogan Gate, and Robin Blunden from Trundle.

Stallholders Wanted: The Parkes Show Society is calling all local stallholders who would like to take part in the Parkes show-ground monthly markets commencing Saturday, 24th April from 8am to 1pm. The markets will be run in conjunction with the CanAssist monthly sale. The Show Society is also looking for a community group, such as Scouts, Rotary, CWA, or Girl Guides to run a food stall (sausage sizzle and more) on a rostered basis. Open and undercover sites available at $30 per stall and must have current public liability insurance. Please call Liz on 6862 2580 to register.

Drugs And Driving: Senior students from local schools have learned about the effects of alcohol, drugs and distractions on driving. Students from Trundle and Tullamore Central Schools and Parkes Christian School participated in training on a driving simulator provided by the Rotary Club of Young in collaboration with Parkes Rotary and Neighbourhood Central. The ‘impaired driving’ module first gives a participant about five minutes to experience normal driving conditions. The simulator screens then blur a little, and delays are inserted into braking and steering response, and the participant drives again for about five minutes. The difference between normal and impaired driving is compared by means of a statistical report. The experience provides a powerful demonstration of the effects of drugs and alcohol on driving ability. “Neighbourhood Central and the Rotary Club of Parkes have formed a partnership to pursue purchasing a simulator to be based in Parkes and available to schools within a radius of about 100km,” said secretary of the Rotary Club of Parkes, Ken Engsmyr. One student’s feedback on the experience says it all: “Driving under the influence is not only illegal, it’s very difficult.”

What do you call six nurses who have stepped up to brave the shave for Leukaemia?

The Funky Crowd of course! And tomorrow Helen Nash, Sharon O’Brien, Jenni McGee, Tania Elsley, Susan Cornish and Wendy Baigent will send a powerful message of hope at the Coachman Hotel from 6:30pm. Sharon and Tania will be colouring their hair and the rest will have their hair shaved by the barber from Inkredible Experience.

It will be a very special big-hearted act of bravery for Helen who has not cut her hair for over 40 years! There is a competition on to see how long her hair is going to be.

The Funky Crowd was formed to support Wendy who lost her husband seven years ago to Leukaemia. “The Leukaemia Foundation supported my husband and my family with accommodation in Sydney and with counselling, for what we were about to go through,” said Wendy. “My colleagues and friends from work have also been touched by cancer of some sort and are very kindly supporting me.

To support The Funky Crowd and donate to the Leukaemia Foundation, go to the World’s Greatest Shave website and look up their names or the team name. You can also join the action at the Coachman Ho-tel tomorrow from 6:30pm that includes an auction of a bloke’s pack and a ladies pack and a lucky door prize.

Voices Rejoice: There is great excitement in the air for the restart of the Parkes Community Choir. It has been a whole year since the choir was silenced because of COVID-19 making it a long and very difficult time for some members. The first meeting will be on Thursday, 22nd April from 7 – 8:30pm at the Parkes Community Centre, Rose Street. The choir welcomes anyone who loves to sing and it is free!

Grab A Free Cuppa: If you’re travelling this Easter in regional NSW, make sure you check out freecuppa.com.au, plan your trip, have regular breaks and collect your free cuppa at one of more than 100 participating businesses. Parkes, Forbes and Lachlan Shire Councils’ Road Safety and Injury Prevention Officer Melanie Suitor said drivers were entitled to a free cuppa at participating businesses if they were more than 100km away from home. “Drivers claiming a free cuppa can also go into the draw to win fuel vouchers, travel vouchers or a coffee machine, with a total prize pool of $1,200. Drivers can avoid fatigue crashes by recognising the early warning signs – yawning, tired eyes, restlessness, poor concentration, drowsiness, daydreaming, head nodding, oversteering, slow reactions and boredom.

Dine & Discover: Parkes residents can now apply for their Dine & Discover vouchers online. The NSW Government launched Dine & Discover NSW to encourage the community to get out and about and support dining, arts and tourism businesses. Every NSW resident aged 18 and over is eligible for four $25 vouchers.

Five Days Of Double Demerits: Double demerits will be in place for five days over the Easter holiday period from 1st April to 5th April inclusive. Double demerit points will apply for all speeding, seatbelt, motorcycle helmet and mobile phone offences. Drivers getting caught illegally using their phones during a double demerit period will be hit with a $349 fine and 10 demerits. Parkes Highway Patrol Sergeant Martin Ling is encouraging all road users to pay attention to road conditions and allow plenty of travel time. “Despite seatbelts being legal since the early 1970s, complacency seems to have crept in and not wearing a seatbelt has been a factor involved in the last three fatal crashes on our local roads. There will be more Police on the roads and therefore more chance of getting caught,” Sergeant Ling said.

Rate Relief: Landholders across NSW will see their Local Land Services (LLS) rates showing a zero balance for 2021. LLS Chief Executive Officer, David Witherdin said the rate relief was part of the NSW Government’s latest drought support package. “Landholders will still have access to our technical experts, programs and training, while making valuable savings.” Head to the LLS website at https://www.lls.nsw.gov.au, contact your closest office, or call 1300 795 299 if you would like more information about your rates notice or to find out more about the services offered by LLS.

Photography Competition: The hugely popular Spirit of the Bush photography competition is back. Rural Aid is putting the call out to snappers of all ages and abilities to submit their most stunning photographs of life on the land. The winning photographs will be turned into a beautiful 2022 calendar available to purchase.
A panel of judges will determine the best bush snaps in 12 categories: Farming Generations; Drought; Fire; Flood; Life On A Farm; Farm Animals; Rural Women; Rural Men; Outback Kids; Rural Landscapes; Man’s Best Friend and Small Towns. Winners will be awarded a feature in the 2022 calendar, and a Rural Aid prize pack. Photos can be submitted at https://woobox.com/srqwkg until 5pm (AEST) Monday, 31st May. For more information, contact Rural Aid media on 0447 116 757 or media@ruralaid.org.au

30 Years Of Rural Storytelling: ABC program Landline is celebrating its 30th anniversary of telling stories about farming, agriculture, food, economics, innovation, climate, infrastructure, and communities from Australia’s rural and regional heartland. Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management David Littleproud said Landline had played a key role showcasing agriculture, fisheries and forestry industries and Australia’s regional and rural communities. “Landline highlights the initiative and resourcefulness of our farmers.

Youth Parliament deadline extended: Young local changemakers can still make their mark on NSW politics with the Y NSW extending applications for Youth Parliament to 5pm today (Friday, 26th March). Y NSW Youth Parliament brings together young people in years 10 to 12 (or equivalent age) to lead, learn and connect through parliamentary education, community engagement, confidence building and teamwork. Find out more or apply today visit the Youth Parliament website.

 

Noise Alert: The Australian Defence Force are conducting military training in the Dubbo and Parkes areas until the end of March during the day and night. The public should not be alarmed if they see or hear Australian Air Force aircraft, army helicopters, vehicles and military personnel carrying weapons. No ammunition will be used during the training. The ADF thanks Dubbo and Parkes residents for their patience and cooperation. For further Information visit www.army.gov.au or contact Defence Media on 6127 1999.

Volunteer Drivers Wanted: Neighbourhood Central in Parkes is looking for volunteer drivers to help take clients to appointments in regional centres. Applicants must be willing to undergo a criminal record check, be registered on Point to Point and undergo induction and training. Call the service coordinator on 6862 2825 or 0407 463 533.

Dine & Discover in Parkes: The NSW Government has launched Dine & Discover NSW to encourage the community to get out and about and support dining, arts and tourism businesses. All local Parkes Shire businesses are enouraged to sign up online. Every NSW resident aged 18 and over will be eligible for four $25 vouchers, worth $100 in total, to spend in participating businesses. Dine & Discover NSW vouchers will be divided into two $25 vouchers to be used for eating in at restaurants, cafes, bars, pubs and clubs from Monday to Thursday, excluding public holidays; and two $25 vouchers to be used for entertainment and recreation, including cultural institutions, live music, and arts venues, available seven days a week, excluding public holidays. The vouchers can only be used at eligible businesses that have implemented a COVID Safety Plan and are registered as COVID Safe. For more information, visit Dine & Discover NSW

Royal Far West CEO Retires: Lindsay Cane AM will retire from her role in July after a decade at the helm of the renowned charity. A new CEO will be chosen by the board after an extensive executive search. RFW Chair, Joan Treweeke OAM said: “In 2011, we numbered around 90 staff – today, we are 260. In 2011 we supported 800 country kids and their families, and in 2020 we were able to support 10,000 country kids and families, educators, and health providers in 500+ communities across NSW, WA, and QLD.”

Pollies Join Footy Tipping: The Phoenix’s annual footy tipping competition is going to be cajoling this year with two politicians signing up this week. Member for Orange Phil Donato, and Member for Riverina and Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack joined the ranks to add an extra edge to the competition as other participants would be keen to snatch the prize from under their noses. The competition runs for 33 weeks with a 43-inch television up for grabs for the winner. The first game of the season was played yesterday.

Organ And Tissue Donors: A 2020 re-port on organ and tissue donation and transplantation shows that despite the significant impact of COVID-19, around 4,000 Australians benefitted from the gift of organ, eye, and tissue donation from a deceased donor. “We are very grateful to these Australians and their families for making these donations possible,” said Minister responsible for the Organ and Tissue Authority, Mark Coulton. The report shows 1,270 Australian lives were saved through an organ transplant last year, due to the generosity of 463 deceased organ donors and their families. Another 2,277 Australians received corneal transplants from 1,318 donors. “Last year, 182 living donors improved the lives of another Australian; predominantly by donating kidneys and in one case, a partial liver. The minister said the report once again demonstrated the need for more Australians to discuss donation with their friends and family and to register as a donor. “We need all Australians to talk about organ and tissue donation, to understand what they and their loved ones wish, and to register to become a donor at donatelife.gov.au.”

Apprentice Subsidy Extension: The state’s peak business organisation, Business NSW, says the extension of the Commonwealth Government’s apprentice subsidy is great news for Western NSW’s skilled workforce. “The Commonwealth Government hit the right note with this initiative, with reports from right across Western NSW of unprecedented demand for new apprentices and trainees,”  said Business NSW Regional Manager – Western NSW, Vicki Seccombe. “This is a great result and testament to the Commonwealth Government’s commitment to supporting businesses and young people through this very challenging period. This initiative gives businesses the confidence to invest in training someone for four years and helps create jobs for our young people so they are able to stay and work locally,” said Vicki.

2021 World Day of Prayer: The annual World Day of Prayer will be hosted by the Parkes Community Church at the Parkes Christian School hall (Back Trundle Road) today (Friday, 5th March) at 7:30pm. The World Day of Prayer is a global ecumenical movement which brings Christians of many traditions together to observe a common day of prayer. This year the focus country is Vanuatu. The aim of the service is to learn about Vanuatu and its needs, and to pray for their people. Singing by Parkes community members from the Pacific Island Nations. There will be light refreshments after the service. For more information, contact John Henry – 0419635814.

Footy Tipping Competition: The Phoenix’s annual footy tipping competition starts 11th March. There are only 12 spots available at $80 for the whole season, which is 33 weeks long. It is a great opportunity to get your business name seen and have some fun! First prize is a 43-inch television generously supplied by Parkes Betta Electrical. To get involved call or email Zoe on 0498 202 025/sales@parkesphoenix.com.au before Wednesday,10th March. The first game of the season is Thursday, 11th March.

Visitor Restrictions Ease: There are no longer restrictions on visitors to aged care residents, including those in Multipurpose Service (MPS) across the Western NSW Local Health District (WNSWLHD). All visitors are still subject to COVID-19 screening and temperature testing. No restrictions on the number of visitors a resident can have each day or at one time. Visitors are not required to wear a mask. Subject to conditions, residents may leave to attend events. Local visiting rules may apply. If you have even the mildest symptoms, or if you’ve recently been to a location where COVID-19 has been a concern, please leave your visit to another time. For the latest information on COVID-19 and where you can have a test, go to www.health.nsw.gov.au

Choose to Challenge Exhibition: Members of the Forbes Arts Society are celebrating International Women’s Day (IWD) with an exhibition of mixed media work at the Platypus Gallery in Forbes from 5 to 21 March. In keeping with the IWD 2021 theme, #ChooseToChallenge, the exhibition will feature individual work and collaborative pieces that challenge gender bias and inequality. The Platypus Gallery opening hours are Tuesday to Friday, 10am to 2pm and Saturdays, 9am to 1pm.

 

 

Cheney Park Rehabilitation: The revised completion date for the rehabilitation of Cheney Park is now the end of March due to higher than average rainfall events early this year. The park is experiencing issues with high salt levels which is causing the playing field to be scalded. Parkes Shire Council engaged soil specialists and drainage designers to develop solutions to mitigate future instances of the salt scalding. The work includes the bulk removal of the salt affected soil and rebuilding of the area, the installation of sub-surface slit drains and the installation of new turf on the playing surface.

Free Community Meal Returns: The Uniting Church is starting the free Monday Monthly Meal again on 1st March from 6 to 7pm at the Uniting Church Hall. The popular community event has been shelved for the past year. The restart will be conducted in a COVID-safe environment with volunteers abiding to all regulations. A church member has done a restaurant COVID safe course to ensure the event is conducted according to the latest rules.

Call For Art Entries: The Cowra Art Group will be presenting the Lachlan Valley Biennial Art Awards in the Cowra Regional Art Gallery from 20th May to 12th June. The Group are calling for entries from artists within 100km of Cowra to enter. The major prize is $4,000, plus $1,000 for the Barbara Bennett Memorial People’s Choice award to be decided by popular vote. Entries close Friday, 30th April. Contact the coordinator on 0498 249 580 or email p.mlindsay@bigpond.com.

Trimming Trees: Essential Energy will begin vegetation management in Parkes and surrounding area in early March as part of its routine maintenance. Trees and powerlines can be a deadly combination, with branches coming into contact with over-head powerlines posing a serious hazard to people and wildlife. Essential Energy consults with councils, private landholders and National Parks on vegetation management activities.

Epic Long Lunch Is Back: Grazing Down the Lachlan will draw upon local history during the gold rush era for inspiration for this year’s menu. Renowned Sydney chef O Tama Carey is returning as creative director and will incorporate ideas of Chinese dishes found in regional restaurants of Australia with touches of native ingredients and flavours. The multi-award winning foodie adventure returns to Forbes on Saturday, 18th September. Ticket numbers have been capped at 500 – sign up to the e-newsletter at www.grazingdownthelachlan.com for information on tickets.

 

Bee-come Environmental Champions: Applications for the 2021 Woolworths Junior Landcare Grants Program are open to all primary schools and early learning centres in the Parkes Shire. Up to a thousand Woolworths Junior Landcare Grants are being offered, for up to $1,000 each. Recipients can use the grant to grow a vegetable or bush tucker garden, composting, worm farm or other environmental projects in their schools and communities, helping to educate the younger generation about the importance of the environment. Primary schools and early learning centres can also apply for a Bee Bonus of $500 of extra funding to support the conservation of Australia’s bee population by developing native beehives, pollinator gardens or bee education programs. An estimated 15.6 million hectares of native Australian forest was destroyed in the 2019-2020 bushfire crisis, resulting in a negative impact on the ability of honey bees to provide pollination services to Australian crops and horticulture. The program is funded through purchases of the Woolworths Bag for Good™, an initiative that was launched in June 2018 when Woolworths removed single-use plastic shopping bags across all stores. To find out more about the Woolworths Junior Landcare Grants Program and to apply, visit landcareaustralia.org.au/woolworthsgrants

COVID-19 Vaccines: Plans for the complex distribution process and safe and secure storage of the COVID-19 vaccines are well in hand. Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack and Minister for Regional Health, Regional Communities and Local Government Mark Coulton inspected DHL Supply Chain’s large scale ultra-cold storage infrastructure on Sunday before the arrival of the first 142,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine on Monday. People will begin receiving the vaccine from Monday, 22nd February with 60,000 doses to be rolled out by the end of the month. The Government is releasing 80,000 doses of the vaccine next week, with 50,000 going to states and territories to vaccinate front-line quarantine and health workers, and 30,000 to aged care and disability care residents and workers. DHL’s ultra-cold and secure storage facility will keep the supply safe, which needs to be stored at between minus 60 and 80 degrees. Australia will receive 20 million Pfizer-BioNTech doses. “Every person living in regional, rural, and remote Australia can rest assured they will have access to safe, effective COVID-19 vaccines at the same time as their city cousins,” said the Deputy PM.