Joe Costello is now servicing the local area with his Jim’s Mowing franchise.

Meet Joe Costello, who lives in beautiful Canowindra with his wife Alison. Born in Bankstown, Joe left Sydney in 1988 and moved out this way because he loves the Central West of NSW.

Joe has recently started a franchise with Jim’s Mowing in Canowindra, because af­ter a 40 year rail career, he felt it was time to take control of his work life balance. “I’m ready to deliver the same trusted qual­ity and professionalism that Jim’s name is known for,” said Joe.

Whether you need a simple tidy-up or a complete garden makeover, Jim’s Mowing Canowindra brings skill, care, and a pas­sion for outdoor spaces to every job. Joe’s team works with homeowners, landlords, and businesses alike, tailoring their ser­vices to suit gardens of all sizes and styles.

You can enjoy peace of mind knowing your property is in experienced hands, with quality results that will make your outdoor areas shine year-round.

The list of services is extensive, includ­ing: lawn mowing, edging, ride‑on mowing, slashing and turf repair garden mainte­nance including mulching, fertilising, aera­tion, weed and pest control, hedge trim­ming, pruning, tree and shrub care, garden clean-ups, green waste removal and rub­bish collection, gutter cleaning and odd jobs.

Why choose Jim’s Mowing Canowindra? Every project Joe takes on is carefully tai­lored to suit your personal preferences, needs, and budget.

“Our team is renowned for meticulous at­tention to detail, ensuring nothing is over­looked and every corner of your garden is cared for.

“With reliable scheduling and a commit­ment to leaving your property spotless,we’re dedicated to turning your outdoorspace into a place you’ll truly enjoy cominghome to,” said Joe.

Servicing Canowindra, Cargo, Blayney,Parkes, Forbes, Eugowra, Cudal, Manildraand all the surrounding areas. Messageor call today to get your garden looking itsbest. Call Joe on 0404 474 536 or email joseph.costello@jimsmowing.net

It is less than six months before Australia’s social media age re­strictions kick in. But while the onus is on social media platforms to prevent underage access, child protection experts say the conver­sation about online safety doesn’t stop there.

UniSA’s Associate Professor Lesley-Anne Ey says parents and schools must continue online safety conversations, so children can navigate the digital world safely and responsibly – no matter what their age.

“From the moment children start using devices, parents need to be having age-appropriate conversations about the content they access and how they interact and behave online.”

“Because children’s brains are still developing, they often act on impulse without considering consequences. They’re naturally more inclined to take risks and assume they’re safe – but the real­ity is they’re not, and they need strategies to protect themselves.”

says Associate Professor Ey.

On 10 December, Australia’s new social media laws will take effect, with social media platforms – including TikTok, Snapchat, Reddit, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube – required to take ‘rea­sonable steps’ to prevent children under 16 from having an ac­count on their platform.

The legislation intends to protect young people from being ex­posed to social media content that could be damaging to their health and wellbeing at too young an age. While legislation is one part of the solution, Assoc Prof Ey says the real impact lies in build­ing digital literacy across all platforms.

Because in the end, it’s not just about keeping children off so­cial media – it’s about giving them the knowledge, confidence and skills to thrive safely in a digital world that will only keep growing.

ABOVE: Phil Donato MP speaking to ride organiser, Grant Nicholson before the group departed from Bunnings carpark in Forbes to make the trip to Parliament House.

An estimated 4.2 million Australian adults (21 per cent) have expe­rienced violence, emotional abuse or economic abuse by a part­ner, according to information released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). Women are more likely than men to have experienced this type of abuse by a partner, and when Forbes woman Molly Ticehurst was murdered by her ex-partner on 22 April, 2024, it didn’t just shake the Forbes community, it rocked the nation.

Forbes’ Grant Nicholson was inspired by the loss of Molly to lead 120 motorcycles on a Ride Against Domestic Violence. The ride kicked off on Friday 11 April from Bunnings carpark in Forbes, with local member Phil Donato MP in attendance to farewell the riders.

“There were many failures in the system that should have pro­vided Molly more safety and security,” said Mr Donato.

The group rode 280km, picking up riders along the way, to hold a meeting in the assembly area of Parliament House in Canberra to demonstrate their concern over “The lack of action by our leaders to combat DV in our communities,” said Grant. The date, 11 April was chosen as it was the day before Molly’s birthday.

Grant spoke in front of the crowd in Canberra, with the intent to be loud and peaceful, in an attempt to show society that domestic violence of any kind will not be tolerated.

The event was covered by television crews including Channel 7, Channel 9 and ABC, but Grant wont accept praise for raising awareness to this cause, humbly stating, “We’re trying to do some­thing, it’s the only thing I know how to do.”

Grant, who is part of the Central West Riders Forbes group, says in a few weeks he will meet up with fellow riders from Dubbo in an effort to start planning next year’s ride.

BELOW: One of the riders clearly demonstrating their support of this important cause.

Parkes Shire is among the four Local Government Areas (LGAs) receiving support, with $3.3 million allocated for vital infrastructure projects damaged by the catastrophic flooding. The funded initiatives will focus on restoring essential community assets, ensuring they are better equipped to withstand future severe weather events.

Minister for Regional NSW, Tara Moriarty, outlined the importance of the program. “The Community Assets Program is not just building back for now – we’re building back better for the future by improving the resilience of these essential assets.”

Parkes Shire projects include:

• New facility for NSW SES Parkes Unit: $1,310,530

• Berryman Oval Flood Repair (Trundle): $636,300

• Bushman’s Dam Flood Repair: $668,252

• PAC Park Flood Damage Repair: $701,545

General Manager of Parkes Shire Council, Kent Boyd, welcomed the support from theAustralian and NSW Governments.

“This significant investment is important for Parkes Shire, allowing us to not only restore flood damaged infrastructure but also build resilience against future floods.

“We will be particularly delighted to see our dedicated SES volunteers move into a new, purpose-built facility, which they so richly deserve”, Mr Boyd said.

For more information on the Community Assets Program 2024 and a list of funded projects, visit: www.nsw.gov.au/communi­tyassetsprogram2024