Charlie and Paula Rupe from Tynong North, Victoria for their first festival.

Jeff and Coral Pantlin from the Central Coast for their first festival.

Allan and Helen Politis from Wadonga for their first festival.

Cheryl and Rudi Riksman from Mandurah, WA for their third festival.

Loreen and Robert Bracken from Camden in Sydney for their third festival.

Lenore and Grahame Williamson from Swansea (first festival in 2007), NSW and Ann and Keith Lewis from Wollongong (first festival in 2013).

Mary and Greg Mann from Sussex Inlet for their first festival.

Peter and Diane Berry from Townsville for their first festival.

Wendy and Ian Petersen with Joey and Max from Mary-borough, Qld for their 10th festival.

There are some amazing Youth Week activities on offer in Parkes and the learn to skate workshop on Sunday was a great way to start the school holidays. (Photo: R Gallacher)

Children from Parkes Early Childhood Centre join in with Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star at the Blue-scope Orchestra performance.

The Bluescope Youth Orchestra from the Wollongong Conservatorium gave a special performance to the little ones on Monday morning at the Cooke Park Pavilion, and another free show on Monday night.

Soloist Aimee Ross (13) from Parkes on stage with Lucy Durack singing ‘I know it’s today’ from Shrek. Holly Hare from Bathurst also sang with them.

Lucy Durack with 12-year-old soloist Lexi Herden from Forbes. In her first ever performance before such a big audience Lexi sang “When I Gro Up’ from the musical Matilda.

Jessica Westcott, who grew up in Parkes, was the crea-tive director and performed the aria from Puccini “O mio Babbino Caro”.

The new Cooke Park Pavilion looked beautiful all lit up and filled with 170 performers!

Lucas Edwards

Tully Cassidy

Emrys Cassidy.

Arlo Cassidy

Paint the Town REaD (PTTR) presented at the QUE Club meeting recently. Pictured (L-R) are Ann-Marie Winter, PTTR NSW Co-ordinator Robyne Harrison, PTTR Executive Director Barbie Bates AOM, PTTR local co-ordinator Shonel Redfern, PTTR founder Rhonda Brain AOM and Jeanine Boland.

‘Wandering’ by David Ball was unveiled on Tuesday, 6.5km from Condobolin along the Lachlan Valley Way. It is number 18 on the Sculpture Down the Lachlan (SDL) trail. At the unveiling were (L-R) Forbes Arts Society Chairperson Trudy Mallick, sculptor David Ball and Lachlan Shire Mayor Cr John Medcalf.

Congratulations to Parkes High School student Hannah Dunn who was a featured vocalist at Pulse Alive this week. The large-scale performing arts event, celebrated talented students from NSW public schools in Greater Sydney and beyond. It provides high quality opportunities in music, dance, visual arts and public speaking to students from all over the state.

Cr Glenn Wilson caught up with Member for Orange, Phil Donato MP at the funding announcement.

At the funding announcement were also (L-R) Forbes Shire Mayor Phyllis Miller, Member for Riverina Michael McCormack, Christine Howard, Director -Three Rivers Department of Rural Health and Karen O’Donnell, executive officer – Three Rivers.

Cr Marg Applebee with Phil Donato MP attended the funding announcement for Allied Health student placements in Parkes and Forbes last week.

Norma Garment and Dianne Hewett had a great night out.

Leo Ruggiero and Janice Baker enjoyed the event.

Chris ten Cate and James Campisi at the dinner.

Paul Hocking and Korine Coleman attended the Australia Day Multicultural dinner at Bushman’s Motor Inn on Saturday.