Charity Wrap and Heart Token to raise vital funds for sick kids.

BIG W is calling on the community in Parkes to join it in championing some of the country’s bravest kids this Christmas, with the launch of its 2025 Charity Wrap and Heart Tokens, in stores nationwide un­til Christmas.

Featuring the heartfelt designs of 11 pas­sionate young kids in hospital care, 100% of proceeds from this year’s wrapping pa­per and tokens will go directly to helping kids like them. In NSW and ACT, all funds raised go towards fuelling the vital work of Sydney Children’s Hospitals Foundation.

In addition to its fundraising efforts, BIG W is contributing an additional $20,000 to Sydney Children’s Hospitals Foundation, further supporting programs that bring care and joy to sick kids and their families this Christmas.

Kristina Keneally, CEO of Sydney Chil­dren’s Hospitals Foundation, said: “Each year, the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network’s Child Life Therapy teams sup­port families nearly 25,000 times – helping children understand what’s happening to them, cope with treatment, and feel more in control. But the need is growing. With more children coming through our hospitals each year, and Sydney’s two new children’s hos­pital redevelopments close to opening, de­mand is higher than ever.

“Thanks to the generosity of BIG W’s customers, we can ensure no child misses out on the support of a program that truly transforms their hospital experience – eas­ing fear, building confidence and making hospital a little less overwhelming.”

BIG W’s Charity Wrap ($5) is available now in two festive designs, and Heart To­kens ($2) will be available until Christmas.

Customers can place their Heart Token on the BIG W Big Hearts Wall in store as a show of support.

Clean Up Australia Day returns on Sunday 1 March 2026, and we’re calling on indi­viduals, families, schools, and community groups across the country to register now and get in on the action to be part of Aus­tralia’s largest environmental movement.

Since its inception, over 23 million vol­unteers have joined the Clean Up effort.

In 2025, over 800,000 people volunteered across 8,000 events nationally during the Clean Up Australia Day campaign period.

Registrations for Clean Up Australia Day 2026 are now open. Volunteers can receive a free Clean Up kit, containing gloves, bags and other resources, with packs for indi­viduals, families, community groups and schools available (businesses are asked to pay a small fee to cover costs).As an added bonus, if you register your Clean Up Australia Day event before 31 December, you will automatically be en­tered into an early bird competition to win one of five donated $500 Coles vouchers.

Terms and conditions apply.

With Business Clean Up Day on Tuesday February 24, 2026 and Schools Clean Up Day on Friday February 27, 2026.

Register now at cleanup.org.au for Clean Up Australia Day March 1, 2026

Craft Corner set up at Parkes Homegrown with a stall full of gorgeous handmade items. Will you enter Craft Corner’s first ever Toy Challenge?

Craft Corner Parkes is bringing extra ex­citement to town with its very first Toy Chal­lenge, an uplifting competition that cele­brates the creativity and imagination of local makers. Craft Corner is located in the heart of Parkes, a vibrant community of passion­ate artisans and crafters dedicated to creat­ing and sharing handmade treasures. From unique home décor to one-of-a-kind gifts, each piece tells a story and is crafted with love.

Participants are invited to craft any hand­made toy—sewn, knitted, crocheted, or otherwise created. The judges will look for creativity, craftsmanship, and that special spark of charm. In the spirit of giving back, makers can also choose to donate their toys after judging to Sewing for Charity Aus­tralia (sewingforcharity.com) which provides handcrafted comfort items to families and children in need.

On Thursday, 7 November, two beloved members of the Parkes creative community.

Margaret Marshall and Joy Paddison will judge the entries. Their enthusiastic support for local crafters makes them the perfect choice for this debut event.

“This challenge really captures the es­sence of Craft Corner,” said a spokesper­son for Combined Crafts Group Inc. “It’s about inspiring creativity, nurturing com­munity, and spreading kindness—making something special by hand, and sharing it to brighten someone else’s day.”

All toys will be displayed at Craft Corner, Clarinda Street, Parkes, in the lead-up to judging, allowing the public to admire the skills and inventiveness of local craftspeo­ple.

To find out more information about Craft Corner’s inaugural Toy Challenge or to join in, visit craftcornerparkes.au or call into the store. You only have until the 31 October to get your entries in, so don’t miss out.

Friday October 10th come along and see the RAAF Roulettes Aerobatic Team who will be at Parkes Airport from 11.15am and on arrival will practice their aerial routine for the performance at the Bathurst Car Races. They will depart around 3pm to do their display at Bathurst.

The Roulettes display will be best be viewed from the Terminal Car Park adja­cent to the Museum which will be open to all visitors.

Searching for a great place to take the kids to during the school holidays, why not take them to the Aviation Museum at Parkes Airport, located in a former RAAF hangar, where kids can sit in helicopters and aircraft and feel the experience of be­ing a pilot.

The Museum has a range of aircraft to view that range from a recently retired AP3-C Orion maritime reconnaissance air­craft to a replica Fokker Tri plane, the Red Baron from WW1.

The Museum will be open from 9.30am to 3.30pm on Friday and the remainder of the school holidays with admission cost of $30 for a family of 2 adults and 2 children and $5 for children under 16.

Parkes and Forbes Shire Councils are en­suring that children are safe and secure when travelling in vehicles, with free child restraint checks by Authorised Child Re­straint Fitters in Forbes on Wednesday 24 September and Parkes on Thursday 25 September 2025.

The Council’s Road Safety and Injury Prevention Officer, Melanie Suitor, says that these free child restraint checking days are important in ensuring the safe travel of young children.

“Most of the restraints we have checked at previous events have had minor prob­lems that needed fixing to ensure the safety of the child – such as tightening and untwisting straps, fitting gated buckles and correcting the seatbelt’s path through the restraint.

“It is important to have your child restraint checked regularly after prolonged use and installed correctly before use to ensure that your precious cargo is safe” Ms Suitor said.

The child restraint checking days will be held in Forbes on Wednesday 24 Sep­tember from 11am – 3pm in the carpark at Forbes Rugby Club, and in Parkes on Thursday 25 September from 11am – 3pm in the carpark at Kelly Reserve.

Bookings are essential, phone 6861 2364 to secure your place.