Parents, carers and grandparents of young children are invited to attend one of two free online workshops being held next week 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. The workshops will be held online via Microsoft Teams, on Tuesday 13 May at 10am 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 to ensure 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 sec­ondhand 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.

“Local checking day events show that around 80% of the child car seats we 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’s so important to ensure your precious cargo is safe,” said Ms Suitor.

To book your place, use this link: https://bit.ly/WorkshopRegoMay25 or call on (02) 6861 2364.

Parkes Shire Council is pleased to an­nounce its involvement in the 2025 Waste 2 Art community exhibition and competition.

Waste 2 Art is open to all residents of the NetWaste region and showcases creative works made from reused waste materials.

The aim is to challenge peoples’ percep­tions about ‘rubbish’ and to celebrate the reuse and recycling of waste through arts and crafts.

Waste 2 Art provides an innovative ap­proach to waste education, invites individu­als, schools, and community groups to take up the challenge and create a new life for materials that would otherwise have been thrown away or considered useless. Over the years many materials have been used including soft plastics, tin cans, bottle tops, plastic bags, scrap metal and clothing, the options are endless. Instead of heading to landfill, these waste materials can be turned into fantastic works of art.

In the lead-up to the competition, Parkes Shire Library is running a Community Work­shop on Saturday 10 May, facilitated by Waste 2 Art artist Helen Standen. With a focus on the Year of Toys, participants will use items like Minecraft Cubeez and other supermarket collectibles to create their art­works. If you already have a project idea, this workshop is a great opportunity to gain creative input and expert guidance. Tickets are available via Humanitix: https://events.humanitix.com/waste-2-art-toy-workshop-with-helen

Each year a specific waste item will be featured, 2025 is The Year of Toys. That doesn’t mean that you have to use this ma­terial in your artwork, but we want to raise awareness each year of one particular prob­lem waste stream.

Entry forms are available online – https://bit.ly/2025Waste2ArtEntryForm. Visit the Parkes Shire Council website or the Marra­marra Makerspace Studio Facebook page for key dates. Or contact Sharon Degeling at Parkes Library and Cultural Centre on 6861 2309.

The skies over Canowindra are set to daz­zle as the beloved Canowindra Balloon Festival returns from 26 April to 4 May.

This vibrant week-long celebration of hot air balloons, music, art, food, and commu­nity spirit offers something for everyone.

Festivities lift off with the Welcome Street Party on 26 April, featuring live music from Nerida Cuddy and the Neil Gill Band, along­side a sizzling BBQ competition, delicious food, and market stalls. Throughout the week, enjoy Flicker Fest at Rosnay, crea­tive Paint and Sips, inspiring workshops from The Creative Cure, and Sue Hodges’ art exhibition at the Canowindra Services Club, just to name a few of the offerings for the week.

Test your trivia knowledge at the Trivia Night hosted by the Canowindra Public School P&C. Then, don’t miss the Home Ground Sounds Concert on 2 May, head­lined by country star Casey Barnes, with performances by Furnace and The Fun­damentals, Big Night Out, and Nathan La­mont.

Saturday, 3 May, begins with the thrilling Balloon Key Grab, followed by the CWA All Day Breakfast, a colourful street parade, and the spectacular Cabonne Community Glow—gates open from 3pm.

Whether you’re here for the balloons or the beats, the Canowindra Balloon Festival is an unforgettable autumn escape. Bal­loons fly from 27 April to 2 May mornings and afternoons, weather permitting.

Tickets and more information available at Balloon HQ located on Gaskill Street and 123tix.com.au.

On Friday 25 April 2025, Australian’s will mark the 110th anniversary of the Gal­lipoli landings, as well as commemorating all Australians who have served in times of peace and war. Parkes and Forbes residents are invited to attend the ANZAC Day Commemorative Services to be held across the Parkes and Forbes Shires:

PARKES ANZAC COMMEMMORATIONS

• Dawn Service 5:30am at Memorial Hill

• Breakfast Bistro 6:30am at Parkes Ser­vices Club

• Church Service 7am at Holy Family Catholic Church

• Church Service 7:30am at Parkes Angli­can Church

• ANZAC Day March 8:30am at Welcome Street, Chamberlain Square and Clar­inda Street to Cooke Park

• Commemorative Service am at Cooke Parkes

• Wreath Laying Pilgrimage 10:45am at Parkes Cemetery War Graves

• ANZAC Day Luncheon 12pm at Parkes Services Club

• Sound Retreat 5pm at Cooke Park

• The Ode 6pm at Parkes Services Club

FORBES ANZAC COMMEMMORATIONS

• Dawn Service 5:20am Harold Street, form up 5.15am Templar Street, adja­cent to Club Forbes

• ANZAC Day March 10:15am Cross Street, Cross Street, Lachlan Street, Harold Street terminating at Cenotaph

• Commemmorative Service 10:30am Harold Street

The Canowindra International Balloon Festival is renowned for its stunning hot air balloons and community spirit, but this year, the festival promises to soar even higher with the Home Ground Sounds Concert. Taking place on Friday, 2 May, at the Canowin­dra Oval, this electrifying event will feature some of Australia’s top musical talent, ensuring an unforgettable night for concert-goers.

Headlining the concert is Casey Barnes, a multi-award-winning Australian country music artist. With his impressive vocal range and captivating performances, Casey has earned his place as one of the country’s most respected talents. His chart-topping hits and energetic stage presence will undoubtedly light up the evening.

Joining Casey on stage are Furnace and the Fundamentals, the ultimate party band known for their high-octane performances.

Fresh from their UK tour, Furnace and the Fundamentals have played some of the world’s largest music festivals, and now they’re bringing their signature blend of funk, soul, and rock to Canowin­dra. Get ready for a show filled with infectious energy and non-stop dancing.

Also featured is Nathan Lamont, an up-and-coming star in the Australian country music scene. Known for his heartfelt lyrics and powerful performances, Nathan is making waves across the indus­try and will bring a fresh, exciting sound to the concert.

Bring your chairs, picnic rugs, organise a Grazing Box from IGA and come along for a great night out. There is a licensed bar on site and there is strictly no BYO or glass permitted into the concert.

Gates open at 5pm with the concert kicking off at 6:30pm. Hosted by Roundbox Group, this is a must-attend event for anyone look­ing to enjoy world-class music in the heart of Canowindra.

Locals from Parkes and Forbes and the sur­rounds, are invited to a Drop in Sessions be­ing run by Parkes Energy Recovery, a con­sortium led by Tribe Infrastructure Group, to discuss their proposed Parkes Energy Re­covery facility in the Parkes Special Activa­tion Precinct (Parkes Precinct). The drop in sessions began at The Cooke Park Pavillion on Thursday 10 April and will continue on Friday 11 and Saturday 12 from 8am – 5pm.

The proposed facility will divert an esti­mated 600,000 tonnes of waste per annum from landfill and generate at least 60 mega­watts of energy – enough to power 80,000 homes per year.

The consortium will now begin the pro­cess of wide community engagement and the planning and environmental approvals process for the facility that it will design, fund, own and operate on land leased from RGDC (Regional Growth NSW Develop­ment Corporation). If you have questions, concerns or are in­terested in knowing more information, then Council encourages residents to participate in the community engagement opportunities led by Parkes Energy Recovery. For infor­mation on the proposed facility, visit www.parkesenergy.com.au info@parkesenergy.com.au or call 02 8405 7915.

NSW Youth Week commences this week, with hundreds of events taking place across NSW between 9 and 17 April. In the lead up to Youth Week, the NSW Advocate for Chil­dren and Young People, Ms Zoë Robinson, undertook polling to understand how young people are feeling about life right now.

“Youth Week is a vital opportunity for young people to connect, celebrate, and have their voices amplified. The survey re­sults show us what issues young people are most concerned about. Our annual polling data tells us that there are ongoing con­cerns regarding the cost of living, housing affordability, and mental health,” Ms Robin­son said.

“It’s clear that cost of living and mental health remain significant issues for young people in NSW. The demand for accessi­ble mental health services, education, and financial support tell us there is room for improvement regrading access. We need to listen to these voices and identify where we can improve.”

This year’s Youth Week theme, ‘I am… We are the future, and the future is now! Young people are encouraged to participate in Youth Week 2025, to find events happen­ing near you, visit www.nsw.gov.au/arts-and-culture/nsw-youth-week-2025

Hundreds of generous individuals gath­ered at The Cambridge Hotel in Parkes on 8 March to support the Parkes Branch of CanAssist, which provides financial aid to those battling cancer in the community.

The fundraising event was organised by local hero Dougie Michalk and his band of helpers. Dougie had his iconic dreadlocks cut-off in front of the cheering crowd, sym­bolising his commitment to helping others during their most challenging times. Doug said, “[He had] been growing his dreads for over five years and he was inspired to do something to make a difference.”

In addition to the dramatic hair chop, Dougie also organised an exciting auction of 20 items donated by local businesses.

Raising an incredible $14,140 on the night.

The Parkes Branch of Can Assist was overwhelmed by the outpouring of support from both local residents and businesses.

“The generosity shown by the people of Parkes and our incredible business com­munity has been absolutely heartwarming,” said a Can Assist spokesperson.

“This event will have a lasting impact on the lives of those in our community who need it most. We can’t thank everyone enough for their support.”

The event was a true reflection of what can be accomplished when a community comes together for a common cause, and the people of Parkes should be incredibly proud of their collective generosity.

Can Assist is a vital community-based organisation that provides practical, finan­cial, and emotional support to people living with cancer, with branches all throughout New South Wales. The Parkes branch is committed to assisting local families facing cancer and the associated costs of treat­ment and care.

Well done Doug and well done Parkes!