Christmas Parade Is Back: The Parkes Action Club is busy planning the 2021 Christmas Parade and Carnival on Friday, 3rd December. It will be done in a COVID-safe way and promises to be as good as it was in 2019. There will be prizes for the best floats in the parade, and many stalls to shop for Christmas presents. Local entertainment groups will be able to perform on the new stage in Cooke Park. Put the date in your diary – contact Peter Guppy on 0448 166 016 for more information.

How Good Is Your ‘Hood’? The largest social research project in Australian history is underway with the 2021 Australian Liveability Census. After a year where local neighbourhoods were more important than ever, it is the perfect time to understand what would make them better. The census aims to capture what really matters to communities and how our cities, towns and neighbourhoods are performing today. “We encourage you to take just 15 minutes to sit down and share what the most important thing to you is and include our community’s perspective in a national forum,” said Parkes Shire Councillor George Pratt. From open green spaces, to better footpaths, a buzzing nightlife or play equipment. What is your idea, big or small to make your neighbourhood more livable? “Council can also use the data to inform the next Parkes Shire Community Strategic Plan, as well as targeted service planning.” Find the link on Council’s website at www.parkes.nsw.gov.au.

Rock The Flock: Retrovibe, a popular Central Coast cover band is set to ‘rock the flock’ at St George’s Anglican Church tomorrow performing a free gig from 5:30 pm. There will be a free sausage sizzle and face painting for the kids. The four-piece professional band has been together for over 12 years. The band’s lead guitarist, Kevin Simington, is also an Anglican minister who is currently conducting an eight-week ministry at St George’s Anglican Church. The other members are John Hed-ley (bass guitar and vocals), Adam Bradford (drums and vocals) and Karen Durand (lead vocals). Karen is relatively new to the group and currently has a solo album that is charting very well nationally. Karen will be coming back to Parkes for a solo concert at St George’s Anglican on Saturday, 19th June. Retrovibe will also be playing at the church service on Sunday morning, leading worship and performing an item. It is not every day that a top cover band offers a free gig in Parkes! Make sure to get there.

Get Your Yellow Ribbon: Next week Parkes, Forbes and Lachlan Shire Councils will be getting behind National Road Safety Week 2021 with a range of activities. The Week honours the memory of the 1,200 lives lost, and more than 44,000 seriously injured on Australia’s roads each year, and the councils’ fleet vehicles and staff will proudly display yellow ribbons. Staff email signatures will display the National Road Safety Week artwork for the week, while the monument on Memorial Hill and the Sir Henry Parkes statue in Parkes will be lit yellow. Parkes residents are encouraged to pick up a vehicle sticker and/or lapel ribbon for free from Council’s administration offices.

Skilled Migration Sessions: Regional Development Australia Central West (RDA Central West) has partnered with the Department of Home Affairs to deliver a series of free information sessions on visa options for employing workers in regional Australia. The information sessions will be held in Orange (9 – 11am) and Cowra (2 – 4pm) on Thursday, 27th May with Condobolin (9 – 11am) and Forbes (1 – 3pm) to host information sessions on Friday, 28th May. The sessions are a great opportunity for local businesses to learn more about skilled migration visa options. The sessions are free, however registration is essential. For more information, visit www.homeaffairs.gov.au/working-in-australia or www.rdacentralwest.org.au

Mouse Control Workshops: The NSW Government has expanded its series of on-farm mouse management workshops to give farmers the best tools and information available to manage mice.There will be 16 extra workshops with Australia’s leading mice expert, Steve Henry from the CSRIO helping farmers. He has more than 25 years’ experience. More information and tickets free of charge can be found via the NSW DPI website, www.dpi.nsw.gov. au/mice.

Michael Mccormack Pre-Selected: The NSW Nationals has announced that Federal Leader, Deputy Prime Minister and Member for Riverina Michael McCormack has been pre-selected to be The Nationals’ candidate for the Electoral Division of Riverina at the next federal election. He was chosen to be The Nationals’ representative at the party’s pre-selection meeting on Sunday at Cowra. “I am deeply humbled to have served this wonderful electorate for more than 10 years. I have lived my whole life, worked in and raised a family in the Riverina electorate and I am proud to have done so,” Michael said.

Most Trusted Charity 2021: The Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) has been announced as Australia’s ‘Most Trusted Charity’ based on Australian Reader’s Digest Trusted Brands’ survey of 2021. The RFDS is part of Australia’s broad national health system, and works closely with governments, industry, Aboriginal Medical Services, Primary Health Networks, Local Hospital Districts, GPs and rural and remote communities – to keep Aussies healthy and safe. The award is testament to these strong partnerships and relationships – particularly over the last 18 months (fraught with droughts, fires, floods and a global health pandemic). This also includes the wonderful ongoing efforts of first responders, local volunteers that clear and light dirt airstrips, long-serving custodians of medical chests, rural hosts for clinics, fundraisers and donors and much more. “We thank them all for their tireless work to keep Aussies safe,” said Frank Quinlan, RFDS Federation Executive Director.

Make Music Day: Local musicians, whose livelihoods were decimated during the pandemic, are invited to apply for a share of $90,000 as part of the annual Make Music Day event. The NSW Government is offering six grants worth $15,000 to coincide with Make Music Day on 21st June. Make Music Day originated in France in 1982 as the Fete de la Musique and now more than 1,000 cities around the world take part. Applications for the grants close on 16th May 2021.To apply visit: https://www.create.nsw.gov.au/funding-and-support/arts-and-cultural-funding-program/small-project-grants-make-music-day/

Free Fruit: To celebrate Woolworths’ milestone of 100 million pieces of free fruit given to kids in store, primary schools and early learning centres in the Parkes Shire can apply for the chance to receive free fruit for each of their students for a day. To apply, visit woolworths.com.au/fruitforschools.

Creative Kids: The NSW Creative Kids voucher can be used for Parkes Shire Con-cert Band membership or instrument hire. Membership is $30 per school term and instrument hire $25 per school term. PSCB is a registered Creative Kids provider. To apply for a NSW Government voucher for up to $100 per calendar year, go to https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/transaction/apply-creative-kids-voucher. PSCB rehearsals are on Tuesday from 7 to 9pm during school term above the Parkes Pool Complex in Dalton Street. Contact Duncan Clement, PSCB Music Director at duncanclement@hotmail.com or on 0405 035 164. The band plays at community events, fetes, Anzac Day, Elvis and ABBA festivals.

Australia’s Biggest Bogan Fest: The next edition of Australia’s Biggest Bogan Festival will be held at the Bedgerabong Racecourse from 11th – 13th June featuring the crème de la crème of redneck royalty from Pauly Fenech of Housos and Fat Pizza, comedian Chris Franklin, the Noll Brothers and special guest, Hype Duo, Balls N All and more! MC on the night will be Benny Bogan. Organiser Luke Acheson said while there was plenty of fun in store for everyone, the committee had decided to donate all the cash from cans at the event to Bedgerabong Public School, and to make a donation to Little Learners. With tickets limited and already nearly sold-out punters are encouraged not to wait to avoid disappointment. Buses and camping packages are available and patrons are encouraged to dress in their Best Shazza and Dazza bogan gear to go in the running to be crowned Australia’s Biggest Bogan 2021! See more info on Australia’s Biggest Bogan Festival Facebook page, and buy tickets at https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/australias-biggest-bogan-festival-tickets

Free Arts Business Course: Artists and creatives across the NSW Central West are invited to join a free weekly course covering arts business and industry skills. Delivered by industry experts over 12 weeks the content covers the business side of being a professional artist. It runs Wednesday nights 6pm-7:30pm via Zoom and starts on Wednesday, 12th May. Content includes a look at the whole arts sector ecology with an arts-specific look at copyright, contracts, tax and finance, business planning plus how to price your work, artist statements and online profiles and marketing. Also sessions on funding, understanding and respecting Aboriginal culture, working in the arts and health area and wellbeing tools for artists.
The course is only open to people living in the NSW Central West, and artists who complete the course will get a free one-year membership of the industry website ArtsHub. Full course details and application form at: https://artsoutwest.org.au/pf/springboard/

Why Is There So Much Suffering? That is the question that popular Christian author and apologist, Kevin Simington, will be addressing in a seminar at St George’s Anglican Church on Wednesday, 5th May 5 at 7:15pm. “My seminar aims to help people come to grips with this issue in a way that is intellectually robust, biblically sound and emotionally sensitive,” said Kevin. Kevin has written extensively on this and similar topics over many years and is the author of 13 books. His website, SmartFaith.net, tackles similar profound questions. More information on the St George’s Facebook page or website: parkesanglican.org.

Condolence Book In Parkes: A condolence book in honour of His Royal Highness The Duke Of Edinburgh is open at the Parkes Electorate Offices of Deputy Prime Minister and Member for Riverina Michael McCormack. The condolence book can be signed weekdays between 8:30am and 5pm until 1st May. An online condolence book is also available for signing at www.pmc.gov.au/pmc/condolences. All condolences will be collated and sent to Buckingham Palace. The messages will also be archived by the Commonwealth to form a lasting record of Australia’s close relation-ship with the Duke over many decades.

Small Business Rebate Scheme: Small businesses in the Orange electorate are encouraged to sign up for a new $1,500 rebate scheme to help cover the cost of NSW and local government fees and charges. NSW Nationals Upper House MP, Sam Farraway said claiming the rebate would be simple and could be done online. “Liquor licences, food authority licences, council rates and outdoor seating fees are just a few examples of the fees and charges that can be claimed back through this rebate scheme.” Small businesses with total wages below the new 2020-21 $1.2 million payroll tax threshold with a turnover of at least $75,000 per year, will be able to register through their MyServiceNSW account and claim back eligible state and local government fees and changes. The rebate will be available until 30th June 2022.

Free Screening For Kids: Project Sprouts and Royal Far West will be bringing the Healthy Kids Bus Stop to the Parkes Shire from Monday, 24th to Friday, 28th May. It is a free, developmental screening program bringing together audiometry, oral health, speech pathology and occupational therapy screening services. It is a great opportunity for children to undergo a comprehensive assessment prior to starting school or in their first year of school to identify any potential issues with school readiness. Screenings will take place at: Parkes East Public School on 24th May, Parkes East Public School on 25th May, Trundle Children’s Centre on 26th May, Parkes East Public School on 27th May and Peak Hill (Hall opposite Preschool) on 28th May. Registrations can be done over the phone 0408 555 249, or online for Parkes at http://www.royalfarwest.org.au/programs/healthy-kids-bus-stop/

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.