The Federal budget delivered on Tuesday night had many measures for the Riverina and Central West in health, defence, infrastructure, social services and easing costof-living pressures, according to Member for Riverina, Michael McCormack.

Cost Of Fuel: Events abroad are pushing up cost-of-living pressures, and the government is cutting fuel excise in half. Australians will save 22 cents a litre for the next six months. This could mean a saving of $30 a week for a family with two cars, or $700 over the next six months.

Extending Tax Relief: Around 61,700 taxpayers in Riverina will benefit from tax relief of up to $1,500 this year, made up of the $1,080 low and middle income tax offset and a $420 cost of living tax offset.

Cost Of Living: Government is also providing a one-off cost of living payment of $250 for Australians most in need. In Riverina, these payments will be delivered to: 20,326 pensioners; 6,607 disability support recipients; 2,258 carers; 8,233 jobseekers; and 14,180 eligible self-funded retirees.

Health: Charles Sturt University will receive $14.8 million through its Rural Clinical School to establish training sites and accommodation at Cootamundra and Parkes.

A digital artist from Parkes has been included in the Arts OutWest showcase of some of the Central West’s most exciting visual artists as they each responded to the sounds of the region.

Stephan de Wit created a 40 second animation loop for the song ‘Not together, just breathe’ on the compilation album called While the World Waits commissioned by Arts OutWest last year.

Fifteen Central West songwriters, including Gracey Denham-Jones from Parkes, each wrote a track reflecting their experiences of 2020 for the album. “Then we opened the conversation up to visual artists to see what they were feeling,” said exhibition curator, Arts OutWest’s Steven Cavanagh.

Stephan started his career as a music composer and sound designer, creating songs and film scores. He has won many international awards for his work including best original score at the IWFF awards in Montana, USA. Expanding into visual art in 2017, he now works on audio visual projects using site responsive projection mapping to create interactive digital art.

“The last two years have been tough and loss of work ran right across all artforms. We wanted to help by creating opportunities for those most affected,” said Steven.

The first leg of a 12-month regional tour for the While the World Waits Exhibition opens in Bathurst tomorrow, and it will come to Parkes in March next year.

The exhibition includes works across all mediums from painting, sculpture, drawing, ceramics, moving image, animation, photography to glass and textiles. The other artists are: Bridget Thomas, Gemma Clipsham, Heather Dunn, Timothy Seager and Henry Simmons and the River Yarners from Bathurst, Heather Vallance, Hugh McKinnon and Jane Tonks from Orange, Cate McCarthy (Yetholme), Gus Armstrong (Rylstone), Harrie Fasher (Portland), Helen Carpenter (Grenfell), Laura Baker (Blayney), Lise Edwards (Lithgow), Robert Hirschmann (Portland), Shani Nottingham (Cowra), Aleshia Lonsdale (Mudgee), Steven Cavanagh (Hill End) and Christine McMillan (Kandos).

Some of the country’s top tutors and professionals in singing, drama, music and dance will be in Parkes and Orange over the next two weekends to conduct free workshops in the lead up to Overture on 2nd April.

The workshops are presented by UpStage Australia, a not-for-profit organisation that seeks to create links between metropolitan and regional young artists. UpStage Australia have partnered with Parkes Shire Council to deliver the concert, and workshops.

“We encourage anyone who has a creative bone in their body to use this as an opportunity to up skill, discover and be inspired,” said UpStage Australia Director Jessica Westcott.

Brad Carter from the Sydney Dance Company will bring his wealth of skill and expertise to Parkes next weekend for four workshops at the Parkes School of Dance. The workshops focus on Industry Dance (15 and up), Junior Dance (8 – 14), open adult dance (16 and up), and Dance Teacher Professional Development Seminar.

At the same time there will be four workshops at the Cooke Park Pavilion with Manon Gunderson-Briggs and Estevan Martin to introduce and improve acting skills for all ages. The workshops are Junior Improve (11 and under), Introduction to Acting (12+), Acting for Teens (13 – 19) and Open Acting for Adults (18+).

For more information and registration go to https://upstageaustralia.com.au/workshop/

The Sydney Royal Easter Show is back this year from 8th to 19th April and The Parkes Phoenix readers stand a chance to win a family pass by entering our competition

The show offers 12 hours of free entertainment every day and an astounding showcase of agricultural excellence.

The Royal Agricultural Society of NSW will also be celebrating its bicentenary, commemorating its heritage, and shining a spotlight on the evolution of the organisation and Australian agriculture.

Some of the highlights include the National Young Judges competitions featuring two students from Forbes competitors from 2021 and 2022.

The show has the biggest collection of rides in Australia. You will be spoilt for choice with all the classics and family favourites plus two new Australian rides including the Twister, and the Aviator, where you’ll see the show from new heights of 100 feet.

Peppa Pig Meet and Greet – everyone’s favourite bossy little pink pig is ready and waiting to say ‘oink oink’ and pose for a photo at the Pig Pavilion every day of the show. She’s cheeky, fun, and always looking for a muddy puddle to jump in!

To win a family pass to the Sydney Royal Easter Show answer the question below:

What is your favourite thing about the Sydney Royal Easter Show?

In the year of the Queen’s Jubilee grants will be made available to organisations to plant thousands of trees throughout the Central West and Riverina as part of our nation honouring the legacy of Queen Elizabeth II and her 70 years of service to Australia and the Commonwealth.

Member for Riverina Michael McCormack said eligible groups and organisations could lodge an expression of interest (EOI) in tree-planting grants being made available through the $15.1 million Planting Trees for The Queen’s Jubilee Program.

Grants from $2,500 to $20,000 will be available to a broad range of organisations, with each Federal electorate eligible to receive up to $100,000 for up to 10 projects.

To be eligible, applicants must have an Australian Business Number and be an incorporated not-for profit entity or eligible government entity. Schools and churches are also eligible to lodge an EOI, subject to sponsorship criteria which is available from Michael’s Wagga Wagga electorate office.

Trees planted may be native or non-native, but must be regionally appropriate and grow to more than two metres tall when mature.

EOIs for the Riverina electorate can be lodged until 5pm on Monday, 4th April. EOIs should include a short description of the project, total cost, grant funding sought, why the project is important to the community and contact details.

Expressions of interest forms can be requested by emailing michael.mccormack. mp@aph.gov.au or by contacting the electorate office on 6921 4600. The office can also provide further information about eligibility of organisations and the type of trees which can be planted.

The Queen has visited Australia 16 times and on many of these visits planted trees leaving a long-lasting reminder of the special occasion for the people in those communities. The Queen is said to have planted 1,500 trees throughout her reign.

After 18 months of Elvis leaving the building, Parkes Elvis Festival is back and on the lookout for volunteers to help make this year’s event a success.

Organisers are calling for the community to get onboard and help deliver the king-sized program filled with more than 150 Elvis and Speedway inspired events.

Volunteering at the festival is open to people from all walks of life, and with different skills and experiences. There are many ways to volunteer, including setting up event spaces and signage, ushering guests, assisting with a multitude of events both inside and outdoors and transporting VIPs.

“The change of date along with impacts of Covid-19 have resulted in a need for new volunteers,” said Festival Director, Tiffany Steel. “We have more than 100 volunteer roles to fill. If you have specific interests, we can place you in a role where you can learn and get on-the-job experience whilst helping on one of the most popular festivals in Australia.” said Tiffany.

There are ways local businesses can help too. Employee volunteering programs are a great way for businesses to show their corporate social responsibility and provide employees with the opportunity to contribute to the community. Local organisations such as Northparkes Mines give back to the community by providing volunteers each year.

“We’re absolutely thrilled to be involved with the sponsorship of the festival’s incredible volunteer program,” said General Manager of Central West Credit Union Brett Hartin.

“Volunteers are the life blood of regional areas, and this is a fantastic opportunity to give back to the community.”

In the spirit of Elvis, each volunteer will receive a t-shirt, hat, water bottle, bag and will get to have a whole lotta rockin’ and rollin’ fun.

To apply visit www.parkeselvisfestival.com.au. Volunteer inductions are on Saturday, 12 March from 10.00am – 11.30am and on Monday, 21 March from 6.00pm – 7.30pm at the Cooke Park Pavilion. Apply now to ensure you don’t miss out!

The Parkes Aquatic Centre opened its doors on Saturday and in line with the latest COVID Public Health Order you must check in with the QR code and should be prepared to show proof of your vaccination.

At this stage the only members of the public who can access the aquatic centre are fully vaccinated adults (16 and over); unvaccinated children between the ages of 12 and 16 accompanied by a fully vaccinated adult at all times; and unvaccinated children under the age of 12 must be accompanied at all times by a fully vaccinated parent or guardian.

The Parkes pool will also be closed to the public from Monday to Friday between 1:30 to 3pm for cleaning sanitation in line with COVID-19 Government regulations. Physical distancing measures include restrictions in changerooms and the number of swimmers per lane will be restricted.

“We ask that our community and visitors please respect these restrictions and changes as staff are doing their best to keep the facility a safe place for everyone to enjoy,” said Parkes Shire Mayor Ken Keith.

Registrations for the Learn to Swim Program are now open, and forms are available on Council’s website. Season tickets can be purchased from the Parkes Pool kiosk.

The pools at Peak Hill, Tullamore and Trundle are expected to open on Saturday, 30th October.

For the second year in a row the annual Parkes Show had to be cancelled because of COVID-19.

The Parkes PA&H Association Inc announced the cancellation of this year’s show on Wednesday after the committee made to the difficult decision at a meeting on Monday following the “unacceptable degree of risk to the community currently posed by the COVID situation in the east of our state”.

“Following the cancellation of the 2020 Parkes Show, the committee had high hopes for a spectacular 140th celebration and show, but it has become increasingly apparent in recent days that there is no guarantee that the show would be able to proceed in the first instance and certainly no way of knowing the conditions and limitations that may yet be imposed,” the committee said in its press release.

Show president Peter Unger said: “I feel for the community of Parkes, another event cancelled. I believe there was great anticipation for the 2021 Parkes Show to help bring some normality back.”

The 2021 Parkes Showgirl competition is still set to go ahead with the judging and dinner planned for Saturday, 14th August at the Parkes Services Club.

Young women aged 18-25 are encouraged to enter the competition for the chance to gain training, win great prizes, and represent Parkes at the Zone Judging in Condobolin for the chance to move forward to the Sydney Royal Easter Showgirl Competition.

Rebekah Auld, Parkes 2019 Showgirl highly recommends the experience. “It’s a great way to meet people, as well as to proudly represent Parkes.”

For entry forms and dinner tickets, contact Liz at the Parkes Show Office on 6862 2580.