Country music artist, and Olivia Newton John Tribute Artist, Anita Spring, will be at this year’s Parkes Elvis Festival performing Olivia Newton-John’s music with her tribute show “Forever Olivia”. Anita was Born in WA, her parents are both musicians, her dad was in the Troupadors with Jonny O’Keefe and her mum toured with local and international Artists including Bob Hope.

“I’ve loved country music from a young age, my parents were always playing and learning great music for their shows. I started writing my own songs when I was 17, I was signed to Universal Musical on a six album deal, my first single “Blink – stay a little long­er” reached No.7 on the ARIA Australian Singles chart” said Anita.

The idea for the “Forever Olivia” tribute show came after an Elvis Tour, An American Trilogy. “The Elvis Tribute Artists were encour­aging me to have my own Tribute Show and it came to me straight away, Olivia Newton-John. I loved her music and loved singing her songs and so I started putting an Olivia tribute show together five years ago” said Olivia.

Anita’s “Forever Olivia” show will take audiences on a journey through her biggest hits, from “Physical” to “I Honestly Love You” and beyond“My first memory of Olivia was watching Grease. I think the whole world fell in love with Olivia after that film was released, she was so beautiful and incredibly talented.”

2025 will be Anita’s fourth Parkes Festival. Anita said “I per­formed my Forever Olivia Show on the main stage twice last year and I am so excited to be returning again this year. It’s an absolute honour. This tribute show for me is a dream come true, I love per­forming Olivia’s music and I hope the audience can see how much I do.”

Come and embrace all the 1967 glory of the Elvis musical comedy Easy Come, Easy Go at the Amazing Forbes Street breakfast on Friday 10 January from 7am to 11am in Templar Street, Forbes.

Just as Elvis Presley – Ted Jackson – a deep sea diver and night club singer finds sunken treasure in the last of the Hal Wallis produced movies, you can come and find the treasures of Templar Street, Forbes’ plaza style street with open air dining, plen­ty of entertainment and shopping.

Easy Go, was shot at the Long Beach Naval Station, the Santa Monica pier and harbour and in the Hollywood Hills, it fea­tured the title song as well as the Love Ma­chine and Yoga Is as Yoga Does.

On Friday 10 January, you can step back into 1967 with the acclaimed Sydney Swing Katz and renowned Elvis entertainers Paul Sun Duo, Elvis Roberts and Ray of Elvis.

While in Forbes enjoy the Forbes Art So­ciety’s Elvis Exhibition – Easy Come, Easy Go! The exhibition is open from 10am to 4pm every day of the festival 8-12 January and is at the Forbes Town Hall. The exhibi­tion is showing all art mediums, including 3D pottery and sculpture and Elvis themed works.

Getting To Forbes

Have you heard about the Forbes Shuttle Bus – running during the Elvis Festival? You can purchase an unlimited shuttle bus pass for $35 or pay $10 per trip. It saves time and you won’t need to juggle cash.

An unlimited pass will give you unlim­ited shuttle bus trips between Parkes and Forbes from Wednesday 8 January to Sun­day 12 January as you want.

All buses operate to and from the Cooke Park bus stop. Approximate travel time to Forbes is 30 minutes and the buses are sponsored by Forbes Shire Council.

The Homegrown Parkes event is an op­portunity for local and regional businesses and individuals who are processing, repur­posing, sewing, propagating or producing fabulous local products, to share their skill and products with the community.

Homegrown Parkes was recently award­ed the Community Spirit and Inclusion Award at the 2024 Keep Australia Beautiful Tidy Towns NSW Awards.

Demonstrations will again be one of the highlights of the 2025 events, highlighting processes for using locally produced food and products with the aim of encouraging locals to grow produce in their own back­yard – or at least increase their conscious­ness of food miles and purchasing locally.

Education is an important part of Home­grown Parkes, encouraging our commu­nity to grow and prepare their own produce and supporting local and regional small businesses is an important element of the event. The inclusion of a Crop Swap at the event allows locals to share excess pro­duce and encourage others.

Homegrown Parkes will provide an op­portunity for visitors and locals to fill their Saturday in Parkes with plenty of good food and local produce! The autumn event will be held on Saturday, 29 March and the Spring event will be held on Saturday, 11 October. These events are being held be­tween 9am and 2pm in Cooke Park.

The Homegrown Parkes Committee, consists of members of Central West La­chlan Landcare, Parkes Community Arts and Parkes Shire Council.

If you are interested in joining us for ei­ther Homegrown Parkes events, make sure you follow our social media, find out more information via our website at https://cen­tralwestlachlanlandcare.org/get-involved/homegrown-parkes/ or contact Marg Ap­plebee on 0418 611 053 or homegrown­parkes@gmail.com

Bring your caravans, book accommodation or bring your friends! There’s an exciting event on the horizon that’s sure to make waves across regional Australia. Home Ground Sounds is bringing two incredible concerts to Cowra, NSW and Cohuna, Victoria, this February and March, combining live music with community fundraising efforts in a way that benefits everyone involved.

The ethos behind Home Ground Sounds is simple yet powerful—raise money for community groups through unforgettable live music events. With food trucks, market stalls, kids’ inflatable fun, and top-notch entertainment, these concerts promise to be an enjoyable experience for everyone. But it’s not just about the music—it’s about supporting and strengthening local communities.

With events like Home Ground Sounds, the power of live music and community spirit is taking centre stage across Australia. Get ready for an unforgettable experience this Summer—where the music is loud, the cause is strong, and the memories will last a lifetime.

Cowra: A Star-Studded Concert with a Touch of Hollywood

The first concert will take place on February 8th, 2025, at Sid Kallas Oval in Cowra, NSW. Featuring an exciting lineup of artists, this event promises an unforgettable night of entertainment and community spirit.

Highlights include:

• Furnace and the Fundamentals — Australia’s premier party band
• Rob Mills — performing the songs of Bon Jovi
• 19Twenty — a crowd favorite with their unique blend of folk, rock, and blues
• Large Mirage — indie rock at its finest
• Zak Armstrong — up-and-coming country talent to watch out for

Adding a very special touch to the day, Thomas Nicholas, best known for his role as “Kevin” in the iconic American Pie series, will be the emcee for the night. Not only will Thomas be engaging the crowd, but a few lucky ticket holders will also have the chance to meet him in person for a unique “Come and Have A Beer with Thomas” session—a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to share a drink with a Hollywood superstar!

For Cowra locals and visitors alike, this concert is more than just a chance to see some of the country’s best live acts—it’s a chance to help raise money for local community organisations that rely on events like Home Ground Sounds to fund vital services.

According to Bruce Wallace, President of the Cowra Magpies Football Club:

“Home Ground Sounds has been a game-changer for us. The concert brings people together, while at the same time raising much-needed funds for local charities and the Magpies Football Club. It’s an event where everyone wins—the crowd, the artists, and most importantly, our community.”

The event has also received the support of Magpies Major Partner Club Cowra who are proud to be associated with community activities. Club Operations Manager, Marc McLeish reiterated Magpie’s President Bruce Wallace’s comments:

“The wider community benefits from entertainment of this calibre in our town, we are very keen to support as much as we can.”

Club Cowra will be running courtesy buses to and from Home Ground Sounds throughout the day. Contact Club Cowra for more details on this service.

Cohuna: Two Days of Music, Food, and Fun

For those in Cohuna, Victoria, the Home Ground Sounds experience continues with a two-day festival at Cohuna Reserve on March 8th & 9th, 2025. This event promises to be a major drawcard for families, music lovers, and foodies alike.

The lineup for Cohuna includes:

• Zak Armstrong — kicking off the festivities with his country style
• Rewind 80’s — taking the audience on fun filled immersive trip through the best hits of the ‘80s
• Big and Horny — a 13-piece high-energy show that will have you on your feet
• Sam + Sam — a dynamic duo that’s sure to keep the crowd engaged
• 19Twenty — bringing their foot-stomping live energy
• Rob Mills performing the songs of Bon Jovi

And the headliners? Well, they are a surprise still to be revealed, but expect big names to grace the stage and cap off the weekend with performances that will have everyone talking long after the last note.

Like the Cowra event, the Cohuna Concert will feature food vans, market stalls, amusement rides, and plenty of kids’ entertainment, making it the perfect weekend out.

Wade Mathers, President of the Cohuna Kangas Football Netball Club, said:

“It’s about bringing the whole town together for a good cause. We’ve had so much support from Gannawarra Shire Council, local businesses and community groups, and the impact this will have on the fundraising efforts for the Football Netball Club along with the Cohuna Show, Cohuna Athletics and Nondies Cricket is huge. Everyone is looking forward to a weekend full of good music, food, and fun,”

More Than Just a Concert: A Community Movement

What makes Home Ground Sounds so special is its commitment to the local communities it serves. Each event is tailored to raise money for community groups.

“We’re not just putting on a concert. We’re partnering with community organisations to make a real difference in their towns,” explains Deb Clarke, the Director of Roundbox Group, the organising team behind Home Ground Sounds. “Our very experienced team take care of everything—the logistics, permits, and the event organisation—so that the community groups can focus on what matters most: raising money for their cause.”

The success of Home Ground Sounds is built on the belief that live music has the power to unite people, create lasting memories, and help fund vital services. Whether it’s a local sports club, a charity organisation, or a school looking to raise money, Home Ground Sounds works hand-in-hand with these groups to ensure that the benefits are felt by everyone.

And it doesn’t stop with Cowra and Cohuna. Home Ground Sounds is open to bringing this incredible fundraising event to other towns across Australia. If your community is interested in hosting a concert, Roundbox Group is eager to help bring the Home Ground Sounds experience to your area.

A Call to Action

If you’re looking for an incredible day of music, food, and community spirit—mark your calendars for February 8th in Cowra and March 8th & 9th in Cohuna. Not only will you be treated to world-class performances, but you’ll also be making a real difference in a regional community.

Get your tickets now and come along for an unforgettable experience!

For more information or to bring Home Ground Sounds to your town, visit www.homegroundsounds.com.au. Together, we can make a difference—one concert at a time.

Gail Richardson is a mother of two, a carer for her sister, a Property Manager at Ray White Parkes, and the owner and qualified trainer of Bartley’s Barkers.

Gail started Bartley’s Barkers with her first dog CJ, a Red Cloud Kelpie, approxi­mately 20 years ago. In addition to provid­ing one-on-one training in Parkes at her training facilities, Gail can also provide training via skype. Gail claims, “A dog is only ever as good as the owner is at train­ing it.”

“I also work with adults and children that have scare issues with dogs and children who have learning issues or are on the spectrum,” continued Gail.

Gail came up with the idea for the Hound Dog competition six years ago and pre­sented it to the committee as a concept that would add to the festival. “Elvis loved dogs and horses, so Hound Dog was an easy fit,” said Gail.

The Hound Dog competition will be held on Friday 10 January outside the Ray White Office on Clarinda Street. The competition features three categories: best dressed Elvis festival themed, best dressed owner/dog combo and best dressed Elvis jump­suit. Entry is $10 per dog and they can en­ter one or all categories. Dogs must walk the red carpet where they will be judged and prizes awarded. Entry forms are avail­able at the Ray White Office or by calling 6862 1900 and the cut-off time is 9am on the day of the event.

The 2025 Corvette National Convention will take place over four days in both Parkes and Forbes from the 28 – 31 March. The club is hoping in some small way to assist families of the floods that occurred in the region in November 2022. With close to 150 motel rooms booked and an anticipated $280,000 being brought into the area over the four days. The program for the event is as follows:

Friday 28th March 2025 – Welcome

• Registration: 11am – 5pm at Bushmans Conference room, Bushmans Motor Inn, 9-13 Peak Hill Road, Parkes.

• Welcome, Meet and Greet: 6.30pm – 10.30pm. Canapes and cash bar at Bushmans Conference room, Bushmans Motor Inn 9-13 Peak Hill Road Parkes.

Saturday 29th March – Day Two

• Breakfast: Parkes Rotary to provide BBQ at the Bushmans Motor Inn.

• Show ‘n’ Shine: Parkes Showground 8:30am – 3:30pm. Food trucks will be at the venue for lunch at your own ex­pense

• The National Presidents’ meeting will take place at 4pm.

Sunday 30th March 2025 – Day Three

• Breakfast: Parkes Rotary to provide BBQ at the Bushmans Motor Inn.

• Half the cars will take a leisurely ‘Ob­servation’ cruise to Forbes. Once at Forbes we’ll be visiting a local Car Mu­seum. A short drive back into Forbes and enjoy ‘Pizza in the Park’ for our lunch break. Locals will be given the opportunity to inspect our beautiful Corvettes.

• The other half of the cars will drive north, through Parkes and onto ‘The Dish’.

• In the afternoon cars will swap and do vice versa.

• The ‘Gala Dinner’ will be held at the Parkes Services Club at 6.30pm. Drinks will be available to purchase from the bar. The Show’n’ Shine awards will be presented along with the auctions and raffle winners.