You may see signage in place when you enter your local Woolworths store Monday-Friday between the hours of 10.30am-11.30am.

Woolworths has expanded its low-sensory Quiet Hour to five days a week, an expe­rience designed to reduce anxiety and sensory stress for customers with specific needs.

During Quiet Hour, most Woolworths stores will lower lights, turn down music or radio, turn off beeps at the register and turn off oven buzzers for an hour, every Monday to Friday between 10:30am and 11:30am.

Quiet hour was developed in consultation with disability service provider Life Without Barriers and launched in 2019 one day a week to meet the need in the community for a low-sensory shopping experience.

Since then, the initiative has rolled out to over 900 stores across Australia.

Jeanette Fenske, Woolworths Director of Stores, said: “We continue to receive positive feedback from customers on the initiative, and our teams take great pride in ensuring the stores are quieter and less stressful for customers during this time.

“Quiet Hour is now an integral part of how we aim to assist independence in our stores, in addition to the opportunity pro­vided by Direct to Boot and delivery options for many customers.

Life Without Barriers Chief Executive Claire Robbs said: “The expansion of Quiet Hour at Woolworths from one to five week days is a fantastic initiative that recognis­es and is actively responding to different needs in the community.

“Life Without Barriers has been delighted with Woolworths leadership to give people more options to do their shopping in store and increase their independence in an en­vironment that is not stressful and over­whelming to them.”

Quiet Hour now runs from 10:30am – 11:30am every Monday to Friday in most stores nationally.

A higher proportion of people in regional NSW have participated in the Return and Earn Scheme (72%), significantly more than those in metropolitan NSW (65%).

The NSW Return and Earn scheme has hit a new record, celebrating a staggering 13 billion bottles, cans and cartons returned through the return point network since the scheme began. This means over $1.3 bil­lion in container refunds have gone back into people’s pockets, helping with the cost of living, saving for a special goal or supporting amazing causes. Over $72 mil­lion has also been raised for charities and community groups through donations and return point hosting fees.

Following a record-breaking summer, with 23 December 2024 setting a record for the biggest single day ever at 10.3 million containers, 2024 ended as our biggest year yet with 2.125 billion containers returned.

“This achievement shows just how im­portant drink container recycling is across NSW. With over 650 convenient and ac­cessible return points, it has never been easier to recycle in our state,” said James Dorney, CEO of network operator, TOMRA Cleanaway.

“Thanks to all the people of NSW, what was once seen as waste is now a valuable resource, delivering significant environ­mental, social and economic benefits. “ “Recycling isn’t just about cleaning up the environment – it’s about turning waste into valuable resources to grow our circular economy. Together, we are contributing to a more sustainable future, where the mate­rials that our bottles, cans and cartons are made of are kept in use and out of landfill,” said Ms. Smalley.

Return and Earn has raised funds for everything from weddings and holidays to free care flights for sick children and meals for people who are doing it tough. Com­munity members can donate their refund to one of over 300 donation partners listed on the Return and Earn app or to the cur­rent statewide donation partner, food relief charity, Foodbank NSW & ACT. 

For more information visit www.returnan­dearn.org.au.

The front page of “The Music Stand” where PSCB feature with their winning photo of them leading the local Christmas Parade. The PSCB performing Christmas Carols at Southern Cross Village with the beautiful Mia dancing.

Parkes Shire Concert Band members were thrilled when they were chosen to feature on the cover of “The Music Stand”, a pub­lication produced by the NSW Band As­sociation. Their purpose is to connect and communicate with bands across NSW.

Club member Elly Tom said of the hon­our, “It was amazing to win the Christmas Cover competition, mainly because we are such a small band in number, though dedi­cated in commitment. I thought a larger band photo would be more appealing. The win was a great boost as we make a huge voluntary commitment to the band to play at community events.”

Christmas and Elvis was a busy time for the PSCB, their next community event will be on 20 February at the Anglican Church, then during March, April and May at Homegrown, ANZAC Day, and some mem­bers will attend a Riverina Con workshop and concert. The club also looks forward to playing Mothers Day at the Southern Cross Village fete.

This year will mark the Parkes Shire Concert Band’s 30th Anniversary as a Con­cert Band, inclusive of woodwind, strings, and keyboard etc. Prior to 1995 we were the Parkes Brass Band, originating in the 1890s. Stay tuned for the celebratory 25 July weekend workshops and concerts with many previous members returning. If you used to play with the band, please con­tact Duncan 0438 678 916.

The PSCB recently played for the South­ern Cross residents at Christmas and dur­ing Elvis. “We do look forward to playing at Southern Cross, it’s always a highlight for us. The residents are very apprecia­tive, as they can not easily attend the com­munity events we play at. With us visiting them, they feel part of the community,” said PSCB member Elly Tom.

Most school zones are operational between 8am – 9.30am and 2.30pm – 4pm on school days, when the lights are flashing.

The new school year is set to resume for thousands of local students in the coming weeks and the Parkes, Forbes and Lachlan Shire Councils are reminding local drivers and parents about children’s safety around school zones.

The Councils’ Road Safety and Injury Prevention Officer, Melanie Suitor, said that road crashes account for over half of all accidental deaths among children aged 5 – 14 years old.

“Please obey the parking signs around schools. They are there to keep children safe. There are 40km/h school speed zones around all schools in NSW. The school zone in Bushman Street, Parkes, is operational all day from 8am – 4pm. Police will be targeting school zones to ensure drivers obey the 40km/h speed limit when school returns,” she said.

Child restraint laws require children up to seven years old to be restrained in an ap­proved child restraint. For more information visit www.childcarseats.com.au

Some road safety rules to follow

• Where possible, drop-off and pick-up your children on the school side of the road.

• Make sure children use the footpathside door when getting in and out of a car – this is called the safety door

• Use a pedestrian crossing where pos­sible and avoid being distracted by friends, mobile phones or listening to music through headphones whilst walk­ing.

• Children aged up to 10 years old should always be supervised when near traffic.

• Children aged up to eight years old should always hold an adult’s hand when crossing the road or walking near traffic.

• Make sure your children always wear a helmet when riding a bike, scooter or Skateboard.

• If your children catch a bus, always walk with them to the bus stop.

“Road safety around schools is every­body’s responsibility – students, teachers,parents, carers and drivers. We all have a part to play” Ms Suitor said.

Cr Neil Westcott, Mayor of Parkes Shire.

It’s an absolute pleasure to welcome Elvis fans from across the globe to our vibrant community. Now in its 32nd year, the Parkes Elvis Festival continues to grow as a premier event on the Australian calendar, bringing together thousands of fans to hon­our the timeless legacy of Elvis Presley.

This year is particularly special, marking what would have been Elvis Presley’s 90th birthday. Our new theme, “Easy Come, Easy Go,” promises to bring a fresh energy to the festival. Whether you’re dressing up in your best jumpsuit, A-line mod dress or simply soaking in the electric atmosphere, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

We’re thrilled to bring back many be­loved festival highlights, including the Miss Priscilla Dinner—a glamorous evening cel­ebrating the elegance and style of Priscilla Presley. This year also marks the 30th an­niversary of our Elvis Wall of Fame, now refreshed as the “Gates of Graceland” trib­ute. This iconic event celebrates those who have made significant contributions to Elvis’ legacy and is a must-see at the Parkes Visi­tor Information Centre.

In 2025, we are also introducing a brandnew festival app. Designed to enhance your experience, this app puts Elvis in your pocket, helping you plan your days and ensure you don’t miss any of your favour­ite activities, performances, or events. Ad­ditionally, we’ve worked hard to make the festival more accessible and affordable in light of rising living costs, including reducing ticket prices for Leagues Club shows and offering more free and interactive experi­ences along Clarinda Street.

To our incredible local community—thank you for the warmth and hospitality you show to visitors year after year. To our visitors—please take the time to explore the beauti­ful Parkes Shire region and experience the charm of our towns and villages.

On behalf of Parkes Shire Council, I ex­tend a heartfelt thank you to our volunteers, local businesses, Council staff, and com­munity members, whose passion and dedi­cation shine through in every aspect of the event. A thank you also goes to our gener­ous sponsors and partners—your contribu­tions play an invaluable role in bringing the magic of this festival to life.

Whether it’s your first time or you’re a returning visitor, I hope your time in the Parkes Shire is filled with unforgettable moments, and may The King live on in our hearts. Thank you for being part of this extraordinary celebration. Enjoy the 2025 Parkes Elvis Festival!Cr Neil WestcottMayor of Parkes Shire