Families are invited to dive into a fun-filled underwater adventure these school holidays, with a familiar face from Australian television bringing a free puppet show and workshop to the Parkes Shire.

Parkes Shire Council is excited to welcome Abi Tucker, best known for her appearances on ABC’s Play School.

Abi will bring her entertaining puppet show, The Mermaid’s Recycled Tail, to Parkes, Peak Hill and Trundle during the September school holidays.

Designed for families, preschool-aged children and up, the musical show combines puppets, songs, storytelling and plenty of laughs to introduce children to recycling and sustainability in a fun and engaging way.

Children will meet Hester, an environmentally conscious puppet who loves turning recycled materials into creative treasures. Along the way, they’ll meet a colourful cast of recycled puppets.

Abi will also host a special workshop for Kindergarten to Year 6 students at Parkes Marramarra Makerspace on Monday, 28 September 2026 from 2.30pm–3.30pm.

Places are limited and bookings are essential for both the shows and workshop.

Book free tickets via Humanitix at https:/collections.humanitix.com/abi-tucker-performances-and-workshop

Since 1997, Trek4Kidz has been hitting the dirt to help sick kids smile, laugh and escape the weight of illness – even if just for a moment.

Every August, the convoy of big hearts and dusty cars sets off on a week-long trek through regional Australia. Along the way they visit incredible towns, meet wonderful locals and explore the backroads that make this country so special.

Since day one, Trek4Kidz has rolled through more than 526 towns, visited 60 schools and raised over $3,327,965 for the Starlight Children’s Foundation – an extraordinary achievement for such a small but passionate group of trekkers.

Seventy trekkers in 35 cars kicked off their journey from Wagga Wagga on Saturday 22 August, and the trek will end in Parkes on Saturday 29 August. Along the way, the Trekkers will travel through towns in NSW and SA including Barham, Renmark, Nuriootpa, Wentworth and Hillston.

If you want to cheer on the Trekkers as they enter Parkes they will be arriving at somewhere between 3pm-5pm so keep your eye out for the cars heading from the Station Motel down to Mitchelle St and onto Bogan St and then up into Dalton St to finish up at the Coachman Hotel Motel where they will have their cars parked up for anyone wanting to come down and say hi or take some pics

Trek4Kids is completely run by volunteers. Yep, no salaries and no fancy offices, just good people doing great things. That means 100% of the money we raise goes straight to the Starlight Children’s Foundation. Donations can be made to the group in person on the day or on the website: www.trek4kidz.com/donate

Too many people don’t discover Can Assist until they’re already in crisis. This August, let’s change that.

Join the Parkes Can Assist branch and help raise funds and awareness, so more people know support is available before the financial pressure of cancer becomes overwhelming.

Every dollar you raise stays with your local branch, helping local people with the everyday costs of treatment, fuel, accommodation, travel, parking, medical expenses and more.

You don’t need to be the fastest. You don’t need to walk the furthest. You just need to take the first step to help make Can Assist visible in our community, because every person who hears about Can Assist today is one more person who knows where to turn tomorrow.

Walk for someone you love. Walk for a friend. Walk for a neighbour. Walk because no one in our community should face cancer alone.

On Sunday, 23 August, the neighbouring communities of Parkes and Forbes unite for the annual Can Do the Distance community event supporting Can Assist, walking and raising vital funds for rural cancer patients. Meet up with old friends and make a few new friends. Be part of this event knowing every step counts toward easing the burden for country patients.

Parkes Fun-Walk

Join in a walk, sprint or run around the Northparkes Oval.

Families, local volunteers, friends and survivors are invited for the 10:00 AM start, ready to put in the hard yards for people we love facing the long road of cancer treatment.

Morning tea will be served as an incentive to support Can Assist.

Forbes Lake Walk

Down the road in Forbes, a parallel wave of walkers will set off near the picturesque Lake Forbes, tracing the winding paths alongside the water.

No set start time, come along and enjoy a relaxed stroll, walk one lap or as many as you like. At midday a sausage sizzle will be held at Forbes Sport and Recreation Club All of the funds raised from the day’s strides will go directly to local Can Assist at Forbes and Parkes ensuring that rural families wrestling with cancer diagnosis and travel costs never have to walk alone.

Donations can be made on the day or through our website canassist.org.au

Join us for an evening as we officially kick off the River Arts Festival “Drift” 2026 A beautiful celebration of local creativity, music, and community.

Here is a taste of what’s drifting your way at the festival launch taking place at the Forbes Music Academy, Riley Street on 31 July from 6pm for a 6:30pm start:

• A fantastic Youth Art Exhibition showcasing our incredible local talent

• A special sneak peek of the newest edition to the Lantern Parade – a giant goanna

• Special Guest MC, Monte In the Morning from 2LVR 97.9 Valley FM.

The excitement is building as we prepare to welcome artists, performers, creatives and our community for 10 incredible days of art, music, culture and connection.

Whether you’re joining us for opening night, exploring exhibitions, enjoying live entertainment or discovering something new, there’s something for everyone to experience.

The River Arts Festival on Saturday, 8 August is a free celebration designed to unite our community through art and creativity.

Explore local market stalls and delicious food vendors, relax and enjoy incredible live music, jump into creative workshops, and soak in the atmosphere.

Have you ever thought about joining the Parkes Shire Concert Band? Did you know that playing community music leads to plenty of opportunities to play with others? Members of the Parkes Shire Concert Band (PSCB) recently played in the fantastic Sister Act musical with the Parkes M&D Society, and they look forward to the opportunity to play in more shows.

Next up for the band members is the Combined Riverina Bands Regional workshops and concerts. Also coming up on the calendar, the Griffith District Band will host the Kapooka Army Band workshop and concert on 22 August. The West Wyalong band will host Conductors from the Riverina Conservatorium workshop on 12 September and the Leeton Outback Band Spectacular will be on 7 – 8 November.

The PSCB will be performing at the Parkes Homegrown markets and workshops on 12 September. They will also be performing alongside other musical acts at a new community event, Connect the Dots on 26 September in a wonderful show of community connection.

This Sunday 26 July PSCB legend band muso Doug Richards and others will play a few numbers at EJs. Come along for an afternoon of amazing local talent at the Open Mic, 2pm at the Coachman Hotel.

If you used to play an instrument or wish to learn an instrument, there are many opportunities to be involved with others and play live music. Whether it be brass, strings, percussion, woodwind or even the sax, Parkes Shire Concert Band can teach and hire out instruments.

Head along to rehearsals and join in, every Tuesday during school term above Pool Complex 7-9pm. Parkes Shire Concert Band is keeping community music playing.

For more information you can contact PSCB via Facebook or PSCB Musical Director Duncan Clement on 0405 035 164.

Dust off your flannels, tease up your hair, and get ready for a night of pure fun and frivolity. Canowindra is set to play host to an unforgettable Bogan Bingo fundraising night, raising vital funds for Trek4Kidz, with all proceeds directly supporting the Star­light Children’s Foundation.

The night promises to be a hilarious, ac­tion-packed evening featuring a dedicated air guitar competition, plenty of games, lucky door prizes, and an impressive lineup of major raffles.

Punters can buy raffle tickets at $2 each or 3 for $5 to win incredible prizes, includ­ing a first-place hot air balloon flight for two donated by Balloon Aloft Hunter Valley, a high tea for two at Montrose House, and various local vouchers and merch packs.

Attendees are highly encouraged to grab their crew and dress up in their finest bogan attire to really lean into the theme.

Organised by Canowindra local, Michelle Fisher, the event will take place on Satur­day 25 July at the Canowindra Services Club Hall, kicking off at 6pm. Tickets are just $20 and are available now from Law­rence’s IGA in Canowindra or at the door on the night.