The Parkes Uniting Church has been providing a free meal to the community of Parkes for over six years. On the first Monday of every month the church sees between 35 – 50 people come through its doors to enjoy a fresh home cooked 2 course delicious meal. 

Doors open at 5.45pm and the meal is served at 6pm all year round. So if you would like some company or meet new people, or have trouble making ends meet or just want a night off from the kitchen, a beautiful meal awaits you. Just turn up. 

A team of approx. 12 people including church members plus a few members from the community are on a roster each month and provide a very warm and welcoming atmosphere. 

It is this church’s mission to reach out to the local community and try to be there in time of need. 

The following is some feedback which has come from those who support the dinner. Some of whom have been attending since the very first dinner. 

MMM Guests share the following thoughts about the meal they enjoyed on the 2nd of October 

“Always beautiful meals and good service”, “A great service here giving some of us local battlers a cooked delicious meal then a nice bowl of dessert. Finished off with a coffee or tea. Always very pleasant staff here”, “We have been here every month since it has started, except when they stopped for covid. The meals are fantastic and very delicious every time. 

We are very appreciative of the efforts given by the helpers for our monthly meals which are always delicious.” 

The Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) and insurers will be in Parkes and Eugowra in November to assist insurance customers with their claims following last year’s floods. 

More than 90 per cent of all claims from the November 2022 flood event are now closed, with insurers actively working through remaining claims. 

This will be the fourth community consultation held in the region by the ICA and insurers since the floods that devastated the community almost one year ago, causing $246 million worth of insured damage. 

The in-person meetings are an opportunity for customers to discuss their claim directly with their insurer at a time that suits. 

Event details: 

• Tuesday, 7 November 2023 – Venue Parkes Services Club, Address 9/17 Short St, Parkes. Time 10.00am to 6.00pm 

• Wednesday, 8 November 2023 – VenueEugowra Community Bowls & Recreation Club, Address 5 Hill St, Eugowra. 10.00am to 6.00pm 

Policy holders from surrounding areas are also encouraged to book an appointment. To check appointment availability and to book go to www.insurancecouncil.com.au/Bookings 

Insurance Council of Australia CEO Andrew Hall said that “The severity of the floods in Central West New South Wales is evident in the scale of damage caused and the ongoing effects on impacted communities one year on”. 

Following a successful 2022 tour with Omega Ensemble, Music in the Regions returns to NSW’s Central West and Orana regions, featuring vocal ensemble Luminescence.

Since 2015, Luminescence has performed extensively in Canberra and the surrounding regions, presenting an annual concert program as well as appearing for a range of festivals, collaborations, and special events. Performance highlights have included appearances at the Sydney Opera House (2023), the National Museum of Australia (2022), and the National Gallery of Australia (2023), as well as appearances for the Enlighten Festival (2018), Four Winds Festival (Bermagui, 2019; 2020; 2022), and the Bowral Autumn Music Festival (2023).

Since 2017, Luminescence has appeared annually at the Canberra International Music Festival, and performing in more than 20 festival programs alongside many of Australia’s finest musicians.

Recent accolades have included a 2022 Canberra Critics Circle Award for Ave Regina: God Be With The Mother, a 2022 CAPO Award, and a 2022 ABC Classic FM Commission. In Drawing Breath Luminescence Chamber Singers explore first breaths, last breaths, and music as diverse as the vast compass of human life and feeling in between: from Machaut and Gesualdo, to Pink Floyd, and newly commissioned works by Australian composers Brenda Gifford, Connor D’Netto, and Dan Walker.

Luminescence will perform Drawing Breath at:

Condobolin, Saturday 4 November 4pm, at the Condobolin Community Centre inpartnership with the Lachlan Arts Council

Forbes, Sunday 5 November 3pm, at,and in partnership with, Club Forbes

For more information and to book yourtickets please visit www.musicintheregions.com. Tickets are free for under 18s.

Parkes Shire Council is encouraging the Shire’s residents to get involved in Australia’s largest citizen science project by participating in the 2023 Aussie Bird Count, running from 16 to 22 October 2023. 

To complete the Aussie Bird Count, participants are required to spend 20 minutes in their backyards recording and counting the birds and species they observe. Observations are submitted through the Aussie Bird Count app or online web form. 

Parkes Shire Council’s Environment and Sustainability Officer, Michael Chambers, said that the Aussie Backyard Bird Count is a fun and safe activity that can be enjoyed by all ages and experience levels. 

“This is a great opportunity for residents to explore the outdoors, whether it be on their own property or local, state, and national parks, and learn about the birds local to the Parkes Shire. Parkes Shire residents have embraced this event in past years, and we would love this trend to continue in 2023,” said Mr Chambers. 

The 2022 Aussie Bird Count saw more than 77,000 Aussies take to their backyards and local green spaces to count more than 3.9 million birds from 620 species. Across New South Wales, the most recorded species, for the ninth year in a row, was the rainbow lorikeet, followed by Noisy Miners and Sulphur Crested Cockatoos. 

Data obtained from the annual Aussie Bird Count will be provided in a report to Council, which will help increase environmental engagement among residents, inform land management decisions, and monitor the success of tree planting efforts across the Shire. 

Register for the 2023 Aussie Bird Count at https://aussiebirdcount.org.au/

 

 

ABBA fans from all over the world are set to pack their dancing shoes, sparkly outfits and head to the worlds one and only ABBA Festival in Trundle this Saturday, 14th October 2023.

We hope you’re in the mood for a dance, as returning to headline the festival is the world’s number one ABBA tribute band, Bjorn Again. These super troupers put on a fantastic show at the Parkes Leagues Club last year following the cancellation of the festival and we’re keen to see them have the time of their lives as they perform on this year’s festival stage.

Three fabulous bands will support Bjorn Again and ensure Trundle’s Berryman Oval is full of Dancing Queens throughout the day. The hottest live disco show on the circuit, Disco Revolution is set to have the crowd dancing to classic hits from the 70’s and 80’s.

For those who prefer to shake their tailfeather, the fun-loving Blues Brothers Re-Booted will entertain with their soul, rhythm and blues set.

Trundle ABBA Festival also continues to showcase local talent, with Parkes trio, Amitie, back by popular demand to harmonise with sweet sounds from the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s.

Mayor of Parkes Shire, Councillor Niel Westcott, said “We are delighted to finally be hosting the Trundle ABBA Festival again this year. We have secured some of the best acts in live music and are thrilled to have Bjorn Again headlining.”

“Trundle is the home of the ABBA Festival, and we can’t wait to light up the streets with music and glitter once again,” he added.

It’s time to dance and jive and have the time of your lives at the Trundle ABBA Festival. Tickets go on sale Monday 3rd July, with youth and group discounts available. For more information, visit www.trundleabbafestival.com.au

Parkes resident Marion Unger is currently preparing to welcome special visitors this weekend. Marion’s long time friend Tim Fisher and his wife, are travelling with a Cambodian family who are visiting Australia to share and give thanks for the amazing work of the holy spirit in bringing the good news of salvation to the children and the families of Cambodia.

Everyone is invited to head along to the St Paul’s Lutheran Church on Sunday at 10am to join in this unique ministry by sharing in prayer and thanksgiving. 

After 18 years of leading a children’s ministry team through Trans World Radio in Cambodia, Charia You, felt God calling her to change her ministry to concentrate on independently training the children’s teachers and reaching out to all Cambodian children through face to face teaching and printed and electronic media. 

Marion Unger sells roses every Mother’s Day and raises money to send to Cambodia to help support Charia’s ministry. Marion’s husband Ian, had an uncle who generously left a significant legacy to the ministry which has helped in enabling the printing costs of “The Best News Ever” which is a bilingual book that has now printed 100,000 copies and given to the children of Cambodia for free.

Charia and her husband Thearith will both be guest speakers this Sunday 15th, at St Paul’s Lutheran Church at 10am for Service with Communion, followed by morning tea at 11.15am, the first guest speaker at 11.45am, lunch will then be provided at 12.30pm. After lunch there will be games and trivia finished off with afternoon tea at around 3pm. All welcome.

Kayla Hall, the enigmatic new talent of the Parkes Musical and Dramatic Society, will be making her performance debut in the upcoming production of Freaky Friday.

Kayla has been a part of the band at the M&D for many years, playing clarinet in musicals including Wicked, Big and Anne of Green Gables. Kayla said that “Being in the band was great, getting to play the music and provide for the cast on-stage.”

This month however sees Kayla take on a new challenge: taking the stage herself in the new show Freaky Friday.

Kayla is taking on the role of Ellie Blake, a (somewhat) wild teen eager to take on ‘The Hunt’ – a scavenger hunt full of crazy challenges. There’s just one issue with that: her mother Katherine. On the eve of her mother’s wedding, there is no way her mother will allow her to go. In the ensuing argument where mother and daughter argue that the other doesn’t understand them, the two magically switch bodies and are then faced with experiencing the other’s challenges. 

For Kayla this means taking on the acting challenge of Ellie and also the challenge of being Katherine in Ellie’s body – often with surprising and amusing results.

When asked about the experience, Kayla said, “Getting to be on-stage and being in a different position of the theatre is life changing and extraordinary seeing everything from above. Everything is more immersive and delicate.”

Kayla has always dreamed of having a career in musical theatre and has taken this opportunity to gain experience for her studies in Sydney next year.

For your chance to see Kayla’s incredible talent, head to www.parkesmandd.com.au to secure your tickets. Freaky Friday will be performed at the Parkes Little Theatre throughout the months of October and November and it’s not to be missed.

Parkes QUE members look forward to your company this Sunday, 8th October, 10am-4pm at the Parkes Racecourse and in the five open gardens. Money raised stays in our local community, supporting hearing, speech, and wellbeing. 

291 Back Yamma Road

Two years ago this property was a cow paddock! Last November the nearby creek flooded the garden and the house, and during this last winter the garden has endured severe frosts! This garden was chosen for our Open Gardens event to show people how quickly a garden can be established, and what plants will survive the “sometimes

harsh” weather conditions. We anticipate opening this garden again in a year or two so that viewers can measure progress.

5 Arana Place

The drought-tolerant front garden is easy care and sustainable. The back garden provides the visitor with a totally different perspective and includes a Balinese hut, decorative items such as water fountains, plants, shade, and garden art – all providing a calming and relaxing atmosphere.

1 Jubilee Street

This is a plant lovers haven, especially under the back deck where the owner has a huge variety of very loved indoor and outdoor plants and hanging baskets. Screening trees surround the house and provide a wonderful forum for the collection of artworks, sculptures, mirrors etc.

35-37 Thomas Street

With over a hundred different species, these extensive surrounding gardens have been

through quite the makeover in the last two years! Featuring a broad range of unique Australian natives alongside a careful selection of exotic plants, this garden abounds with vibrancy and colour.

Cnr Reymond and Jones Street 

This is a wanderer’s paradise with lavender, pink jade, a vibrant Loropetalum with its unique tussle flowers, and a wonderful Bohemia Butterfly Tree, all with a magnificent view to the east of Parkes. (best parking in Jones Street)