Registrations are now open for this year’s Central West NSW Heavy Vehicle Break­fast Forum, which will be held at Club Forbes on Thursday the 11th of June.

Local farmers, contract harvesters, cou­riers, truck drivers and transport company operators are invited to attend.

Parkes, Forbes and Lachlan Shire Coun­cils’ Road Safety and Injury Prevention Of­ficer, Melanie Suitor, who is organising the forum said this year’s event will focus on legislation and policy updates, access im­provements, safety, compliance, an indus­try case study and more.

“Since its inception in 2012, the breakfast forum has brought together the local freight industry to discuss issues affecting them.

“Come along to listen, learn and ask questions of industry experts from NHVR, Transport for NSW, Parkes Shire Council, Forbes Shire Council, Lachlan Shire Coun­cil, NTI, NatRoad, NSW Rural Fire Service and NSW Police.

“The topics include; HVNL Reform 2026, Transport for NSW Freight Branch update, access improvements, NTARC Accident Report, NatRoad’s Truckies First Aid Pro­gram, mental health and a Q & A with NSW Police,” Ms Suitor said.

You can register online with this link: htt­ps://www.trybooking.com/DMCAS, via the Councils’ Facebook pages or alternatively you can call Ms Suitor on 6861 2364.

The forum will kick off at 6.30am with breakfast. The official program starts at 7am. The event will finish at 11.30am.

The forum is free, but registration is re­quired for catering purposes. If you are unable to make it on the day, the event is being recorded and the link to the video will be shared on the Councils’ Facebook pages and in follow-up media articles or contact Ms Suitor to register your interest in receiving the link.

International Nurses Day was celebrated on 12 May, and we want to take the oppor­tunity to recognise one of our local nurses Dianne Green, a McGrath Cancer Care Nurse at Parkes Health Service.

Dianne’s mum was a nurse and Dianne said, “From when I was little it was all I wanted to be. I completed my training and commenced working as a registered nurse at Prince of Wales Hospital Sydney in 1988.

“I then returned to work at Dubbo base in emergency for 12 months until I moved home to marry my husband Rowan in 1990 and have remained working for Parkes Health Service and this area for 36 years.”

Dianne has been a McGrath Cancer Care Nurse specialising in breast cancer since 2011. “I moved into this area after looking after multiple women as a commu­nity nurse and seeing there was a need to be able to explain their pathology to them and their treatment plan as they struggle to take in what they are told.”

“Nursing can take all you have to give, but the rewards of the difference you can make and the variety of areas you can work in, is life changing and well worth it.”

Each year on the Sunday of the October long weekend, Dianne holds a mini field of women event at the Lions park in Parkes to honour those women and men diagnosed with early and metastatic breast cancer and remember those we have lost.

“My family and I all cook to provide a morning tea for the public for a gold coin donation which goes to the Breast Cancer Network of Australia,” said Dianne.

Dianne expressed extreme pride to be a McGrath Cancer Care Nurse and part of our team of local cancer services. Learn more at https://mcgfdn.com/IND2026

MAJOR FUNDING WINS 

Two organisations in the Orange electorate have secured a combined $599,757 through the Clubgrants Category 3 Fund!  Bogan Gate Recreation Reserve Land  Manager has been awarded $299,757 to  redevelop the Bogan Gate Sportsground.  Forbes Rugby Union Club will receive  $300,000 to install new lighting. Congratulations to both organisations on this fantastic achievement. These upgrades will support local sport, strengthen community connections, and deliver lasting benefits for years to come. Well done to all involved. 

SIGN THE E-PETITION – FIX THE GREAT WESTERN HIGHWAY 

The ongoing closure at Victoria Pass is hitting our region hard – disrupting freight, hurting local businesses, increasing safety risks, and adding pressure on families and volunteers. I’ve taken this directly to the NSW Government. This isn’t just an inconvenience, it’s exposed a major failure. A critical corridor carrying over 12,000 vehicles a day should never be this vulnerable. 

I’m pushing for immediate support, proper transport alternatives beyond Bathurst, action on fuel costs, and a long-term solution, not a temporary fix. 

Regional communities are tired of being an afterthought. We deserve safe, reliable infrastructure, and I will continue holding the Government to account.  Sign the ePetition. Share it with others. Visit https://shorturl.at/GKly8 

MEN’S HEALTH WEEK EVENT:  GETTIN’ ·A·GRIP

Men’s health remains an issue that doesn’t get the attention it deserves and that needs to change. That’s why I’m launching Gettin’ a Grip, a major event to kick off Men’s Health Week in June, in Orange. 

This isn’t just an event, it’s about starting conversations and saving lives. With high­profile participants, health professionals, and strong community engagement, the goal is simple: 
Get men talking 
Get men checked 
Get men connected 

This builds on years of work supporting mental health initiatives across our region, and I’m proud to continue that advocacy.  For more details visit: 
https://www.facebook.com/Gettinagrip

Regional Business Supplies: On Thurs­day 21 May, Regional Business Supplies are taking part in Australia’s Biggest Morn­ing Tea, raising funds to support those af­fected by cancer. We all know someone.

A friend, a parent, a colleague, and that’s why this matters. Pop in on the day, do­nate and grab a morning tea goody box filled with homemade treats, or support the cause by donating using the link www.big­gestmorningtea.com.au/fundraisers/regio­nalbusinesssupplies

Forbes Heritage Week Art and History Competition: Celebrate the rich heritage and history of Forbes by getting creative.

The art and history competition welcomes entries across four categories: Artistic (paintings or drawings), Literary (stories, poems or songs), Photos (photography), Video (video essays or short videos). Winners will be announced at the Forbes Heritage Awards evening. Download entry form at: www.forbes.nsw.gov.au/heritage-week-2026

Generocity Church Parkes: Join Gener­ocity Church for bargains galore at their Op Shop from 9:30am to 12pm, this Saturday 2 May, at 25 Dalton St. All items are being sold for $2 each or just $20 to fill a bag.

There are a mountain of great quality items that need a home.

Central West Lachlan Landcare Inc: Save the Date for National Tree Day events in Forbes, Saturday 25 July and Parkes, Sunday 26 July. Note that if weather condi­tions are not conducive to planting events on National Tree Day, alternate events will be planned. For registrations, go to: https://centralwestlachlanlandcare.org/2026/04/23/looking-at-landcare-23-4-2026-save-the-date-for-national-tree-day-in-forbes-parkes/

Kerin Health Pre-employment Medi­cals: Parkes businesses no longer need to send workers hours away for essential pre-employment checks. Kerin Health now offer pre-employment assessments locally, including spirometry, hearing and vision testing, drug and alcohol testing, plus com­prehensive functional and fitness assess­ments. To enquire or book, contact the Kerin Health team: www.kerinhealth.com.au/corporate-services-kerinhealth

Forbes Shire Council: Got bulky items taking up space? Place them on the kerb this weekend for collection. Collections run from 4 May to 8 May, so putting items out early will help ensure they’re picked up.

Please separate items into the four accept­ed categories: scrap metal & whitegoods, garden organics, e‑waste and general bulky items. Total amount must be no more than 2 cubic metres.

Federal Member for Parkes Jamie Chaffey is urging not-for-profit organisations in the federal electorate of Parkes to apply for the 2025-26 Volunteer Grants Round.

Expressions of interest are now open for grants of between $1,000 and $5,000 for el­igible not-for-profit organisations to support and increase participation in volunteering.

“Volunteers contribute so much to the Parkes electorate across every aspect of our lives,” Mr Chaffey said. “From sports to emergency services, to events and health support, people in our communities give their time and skills freely.

“These grants can help make a difference to organisations who in turn make a differ­ence in their communities. I encourage eli­gible organisations to reach out to my office for an expression of interest form.”

“Twenty-one organisations in the Parkes electorate benefitted from a total of about $60,000 through the 2024-25 Volunteer Grants Round,” Mr Chaffey said.

Applications close 5pm, Friday 27 March, 2026, and the expression of interest form can be found at www.jamiechaffey.com.au, or contact one of the offices of Jamie Chaf­fey MP to find out more or send an email to jamie.chaffey.mp@aph.gov.au

A life-long passion for performing and live entertainment has led Brendan Shipley to his current position as Fes­tival Director of the 2026 Parkes Elvis Festival.

At a young age, Brendan was in­spired to join the school choir after first hearing them perform. Years later he attended Campbelltown Performing Arts High School, where he was heav­ily involved with the annual School Spectacular, before moving on to roles with Campbelltown Theatre Group.

His corporate career with Bunnings provided the opportunity to move to the Gold Coast, where Brendan then worked at The Australian Out­back Spectacular. During this time, he also worked across a number of theme parks including Movie World, Sea World, Wet N Wild and Paradise Country, where Brendan’s team put to­gether a Shaun The Sheep character suit show. Brendan even worked on the Gold Coast theatre production of “Wicked” the musical.

Brendan then landed a role with the Bluey and Bingo team, which for the next five years saw him tour around the country and overseas. He has also worked in the role of merchandising coordinator for The Wiggles.

Fast forward to 2025 and Brendan took on the prestigious role of Parkes Elvis Festival Director, saying with the national media coverage the festival has received, “It’s all eyes on us.”

According to Brendan the 2026 event is shaping up to be massive, with sales for shows well ahead of pre­vious years in the weeks leading up to the five day Elvis extravaganza. “The numbers don’t lie,” said Brendan.

We asked Brendan what festival go­ers should be excited for this year, and his first response was “Everything!” He

went on to say, “Marcia Hines, she is coming to be honoured on the Wall of Fame and to perform her Disco Infer­no concert, which was one of the fast­est selling shows we have ever done.

“Joshua and Toki with the Ultimate Tribute Show, the eight feature con­certs at the Parkes Leagues Club, Elvis After Dark, UETA Competition, Elvis Express, Elvis Central for offi­cial merchandise, busking in the main street, the Memphis stage, market talls, Miss Priscilla, Poets Breakfast, Kidszone and the Parade which will kick off at 9am on Saturday in an effort to beat the heat.”

Get ready to shake, rattle, and yee-haw! as dancers aged three to adult bring a bootscootin’, hip-swivellin’ celebration to this year’s Parkes Elvis Festival.

Parkes School of Dance Inc is a commu­nity-run regional dance school established in 2013. Committed to providing ageappropriate dance education in various styles, fostering creativity, and celebrating cultural icons like Elvis Presley through performances at events like the Parkes Elvis Festival is part of its bespoke DNA.

Parkes School of Dance Inc will be per­forming across multiple festival locations, showcasing line dancing, feel-good fam­ily routines, and a whole lot of rhinestonesparked fun. With everyone from tiny tots to dance parents hitting the dance floor, it’s a true all-ages, all-in family shindig.

“Our performers have embraced the country vibes this year — expect plenty of line dancing, classic Elvis charm, and the biggest smiles in town,” says President Catherine McQuie.

“It’s such a joy to bring our community together in a celebration of music, move­ment, and pure festival fun.”

Audiences can catch the dancers throughout the weekend at several festival hotspots, adding colour, movement, and feel-good rhythm wherever they go.

Whether you’re a die-hard Elvis fan, a country-music lover, or simply chasing a good time, these local dancers are ready to make your festival experience better when you’re dancing.

You can see Parkes School of Dance performing across the Parkes Elvis Fes­tival during the following days and times, Wednesday 7 January 2026: Wall of Fame 9.30am-10am, Friday 9 January 2026: Memphis Stage 9am-9.25am, Saturday 10 January 2026: Street Parade 9am, Cooke Park Main Stage 11.15am-11.30am and the Dance Showcase Cooke Park Main Stage 4pm.

Get involved at Ronald McDonald House Central West – volunteer, donate, become a corporate partner or find out if you or a close friend or relative is eligible to stay with us.

Staying close to treatment when a child is ill or injured is vital for families when they need it most. Our accommodation, programs and services are provided free of charge to the families of sick and injured children, and women experiencing a high risk preg­nancy – helping them when they need it most. We strive to serve more families, better and enable parents and carers to stay close to each other and vital treatment in the Central West.

Our purpose built House is located on the Hospital grounds in Orange and our Hospitality Cart in Dubbo visits families at their child’s bedside in the Paediatric Ward and Special Care Nursery so that they can close and together.

Our families come from across the region so that their children can receive treatment in our major hospitals in the Western Health District in Orange and Dubbo.

We rely on fundraising for 79% percent of our funding to keep the House and our programs available to families when they need it most – caring for a sick or injured child needing treatment in our region.

To find out more about what Ronald McDonal House Charities Central West do, or to get involved, please follow the link cwn­swfundraising.rmhc.org.au/event/redtember-2025 or visit www.rmhccwnsw.org.au

Nedd Brockman, born in Forbes and raised in Bedgerabong, has been named NSW Young Australian Of The Year for his con­tinued efforts to raise money and aware­ness for homelessness in Australia.

In 2020, Nedd decided to run 50 mara­thons in 50 days to raise $50,000 for home­lessness. Then in 2022, Nedd set himself the challenge of running 4,000km across the country from Perth (Cottesloe Beach) to Bondi (Bondi Beach), raising money and awareness for the homeless along the way.

But he didn’t stop there, he kept showing up for the cause, and in 2024, Nedd started “Nedd’s Uncomfortable Challenge” and set off again, with a 1,000 mile running chal­lenge at a track at Sydney Olympic Park.

Nedd and his team have so far raised over $8 million for Australians experiencing homelessness.

Upon being named 2026 NSW Young Australian of the Year, Nedd said, “I feel honoured and very grateful for the award, but I equally feel a little bit disheartened because I wouldn’t be getting the award if there wasn’t homelessness in this country.”

“I don’t love running, running is just the tool I use in order to push my limits and show people that if you’re willing to com­mit to something wholeheartedly and throw yourself in the fire good things will come of it if you’re willing to go all the way. It is my tool that allows me to champion the desire to help end homelessness in this country,” concluded Nedd.