Monday 11th September saw the official launch of the 2024 Elvis Festival Program with the theme Jailhouse Rock. 

Festival Producer, Julien Poulson said “Our 31st edition shows how Elvis: the 20th century cultural phenomena, the Prince from another plane, the hunk-a-hunka burning love, returns stronger and brighter than ever!”

“The incredible legacy of Elvis Presley delivers the magical kind of power people no longer see in rock ‘n’ roll singers, and we’re proud to present a great line-up.

“This is a great program. Many of the best Elvis tribute artists will be here in Parkes alongside a great program of local talent and a real spotlight on our creative community and homegrown Elvis events, from jailbird doggies in Jailhouse Rock outfits through to the ever popular Poet’s Breakfast and Miss Priscilla competition.

“It’s going to be big, hot and totally amazing with not one but two of the worlds best Ultimate Elvis winners, Cote Deonath and Taylor Rodriguez, returning to Parkes, backed by the sensational TIC band, it’s an Elvis dream come true!”

Parkes Mayor, Ken Keith said, “I have mixed emotions today, being the last time that I will launch the festival as Mayor of the town, but I will still be there getting dressed up, it’s in my DNA now.” 

Ken went on to say, “I have a group of students, that I taught 40 odd years ago, who are coming back as a group to enjoy the Elvis Festival with me in 2024.”

To start planning your schedule ahead of ticket sales next Tuesday 19th September, from midday, check out the 2024 Parkes Elvis Festival Program. Follow the link www.parkeselvisfestival.com.au/events

It’s one of the most exciting times of the year, the Forbes Show. Come along and enjoy the fireworks, sideshow alley, pavilions, dog high jump, ring events, shearing, young woman, rural ambassadors, dog trials and so much more. 

The CMOC Northparkes Mines firework display will be at 8pm on Friday 8th September. Head to the Forbes Show to get the best view in town. A big thank you to Northparkes Mines for their continued support of the Forbes Show. 

Remember pre-purchase your tickets and save yourself time at the gate. https://www.123tix.com.au/events/39629/forbes-show 

The Parkes NAIDOC Family Fun Day to be held on Saturday, 16th September, at the Wiradjuri Amphitheatre on Bushman Hill is a fantastic event that celebrates the Wiradjuri people’s rich Indigenous culture and heritage. 

This year’s theme, “For Our Elders,” is a beautiful way to acknowledge and show gratitude for the older generation’s wisdom, guidance, and resilience in preserving and passing on the cultural heritage to future generations.

There will be local performances, a smoking ceremony and Wiradjuri artifacts on display, providing insight into the rich heritage and craftsmanship of the Wiradjuri people. This display is aimed at educating attendees and to serve as a reminder of the rich history that continues to shape the local community. In addition to the cultural performances, there will be service information stalls, a free sausage sizzle, and children’s activities.

The Parkes NAIDOC Family Fun Day is an excellent opportunity for people from all walks of life to come together and celebrate the vibrant Indigenous culture of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait people. It promises to be a joyful and inclusive event for anyone interested in learning more about Indigenous traditions, supporting the community, and having a great time with family and friends.

Get ready to savour the essence of the finest wines of the season as the 2023 Orange Wine Festival returns to the Orange region with a month-long program, from 29th September to 29th October. This year’s highly anticipated event promises an extraordinary celebration of our region’s cool-climate wine and wine culture, attracting connoisseurs, enthusiasts, and travellers from near and far.

An opportunity to immerse yourself in the enchanting allure of Orange, where lush vineyards meet rolling hills, and the art of winemaking comes alive. The 2023 Orange Wine Festival showcases the diverse array of vineyards, each boasting their own unique terroir and distinctive varietals. From seasoned wine aficionados to those discovering their palate, there’s something to delight every taste bud.

Ned Sweetapple, Orange360 General Manager added; “Wines of the Orange region get noticed and Spring is such a beautiful and colourful time to visit. This year’s Orange Wine Festival is all about colour and taste and we’re thrilled to offer such a diverse program to entice visitors to the region. There are so many good things to enjoy in spring, our region’s latest wine offerings, paired together with fresh local produce and great dining, art, culture, and music.”

Events include: 

• Orange Wine Show Tasting: 14th October

• Food & Wine @ Altitude: 28th October

• Boree Lane Ramble: 7th October

• NRL Grand Final at Mortimers: 7th October

However, if these big-ticket items aren’t for you, there are plenty of low-cost events that allow everyone to get involved in celebrating the 2023 Orange Wine Festival, including the popular Night Markets on Friday, September 29th. Further low-cost events include:

• Orange Wine Festival Night Market: 29th September

• Wine and Cheese, Yes Please!: 12th and 26th October

• Yoga in the Vines: 15th October

For information and tickets, visit orange360.com.au/Events/Orange-Wine-Festival

On 6th–8th of September 2023 we will celebrate our 9th National Conference, on Wiradjuri Country at Parkes, NSW, the birthplace of Paint The Town Red (PTTR). Rhonda Brain, the then principal of Parkes Public School started PTTR with six other local school principals and it’s in over 100 communities across Australia.

Our theme is Storytelling and Told Stories. We have been liaising with local elders in planning and preparation.

It is fitting that it will fall in National Child Protection Week and on Indigenous Literacy Day. Told Stories give every child everywhere a fair go at learning who they are, and where they have come from. The Conference will begin with Indigenous storytelling the very best and right place to start. We’re an early literacy movement. Encouraging people to read with children from birth, so they start school ready to learn.

Our brains do most of their critical development in the first three years of life. A baby’s brain doubles in weight in the first year, tripling by age three.

Every time we read, talk, sing and rhyme with children brain connections grow, and build the foundations for learning. Children with good foundational early literacy skills arrive at school:

• able to communicate their needs.

• understanding conversations

• able to take direction, and

• ready to learn to read and write, with a healthy brain.

PTTR have been helping children since 1997. From humble beginnings, PTTR has grown into a thriving community of over 100 local groups, helping over 500,000 pre-school aged children get ready to learn at school.

The movement is making a difference. If children start school without early literacy skills, no matter how good the teaching, these initial cognitive gaps increase as children go through school. Head along and help Paint The Town Red.

The Black Dog Institute is calling on Australians to take a stand in solidarity for the 1 in 5 Australians experiencing symptoms of mental illness each year by participating in One Foot Forward – a national virtual challenge taking place in October – Mental Health Month.

The challenge is to walk, run, or roll 40km, 60km, 100km, 150km, or a distance that suits them throughout October, to show people experiencing symptoms of mental illness that they are not alone and to raise funds for Black Dog Institute’s crucial mental health research and support services in Australia. One in five Australians experience a mental illness each year which means around 5 million people are personally affected.

One Foot Forward can be a great way to take a positive step forward for your own mental health and show Australians impacted by mental illness that they’re not alone. You can take part solo, with a team or with your colleagues.

With mental illness costing Australian businesses $39 billion in lost revenue each year, Black Dog Institute is calling on corporate groups and businesses to join in.

This national virtual event is a great team building exercise for colleagues, can increase staff morale and help promote mental wellbeing in the workplace.

In 2022, over 28,000 participants walked, ran and rolled over 2,286,105km during Mental Health Month and joined in on the fun, got active, and raised funds to help Black Dog Institute. 

Funds raised by One Foot Forward participants this year can assist in the research and development of digital mental health tools and apps for adults and children, support novel and innovative suicide prevention programs, and help community presenters reach school students to talk about mental health in schools and how to get support.

Register online today at www.onefootforward.org.au 

This week saw a big week of celebrations for the Parkes Meals On Wheels (MOW) branch with National Meals On Wheels Day on Wednesday and their 60th anniversary celebrations being held today, Friday 1st September.

Chair of Meals on Wheels Australia, Paul Sadler says the 70-year milestone is something to be truly proud of, as well as the many ways that Meals on Wheels supports communities, far beyond delivering food.

“One thing that has remained clear over Meals on Wheels’ 70 years is that the service we provide with the support of committed volunteers, is vital,” said Paul.

The Parkes Meals On Wheels branch has been operational since 6th January 1963 and they currently service 120 clients. In order to service those clients, MOW have around 180 volunteers covering the Parkes Shire including Parkes Peak Hill, Trundle and Tullamore.

The lease on their previous location was coming to an end, and they wanted to be able to be more self-substantial and return to the grassroots of cooking nutritional meals for their clients, delivered hot and fresh daily.

The new MOW premises, located at the corner of Forbes Road and Callaghan Street will allow for the reintroduction of a production kitchen for the fist time in over 30 years.

A MOW spokesperson said, “The open day is a chance to celebrate our 60th birthday. It is a great leap forward to deliver to the people of Parkes hot nutritional meals every day as well as a welfare check. We are more than just a meal.”

The Meals On Wheels open day will kick off at 12pm with The Mayor, councilors, Phil Donato MP and MOW volunteers in attendance. Phil Donato will also hand out certificates to some of the long serving volunteers. A BBQ and cake will be provided.

Last weekend, teachers and students at Parkes School of Dance Inc were thrilled to host guest teacher and Royal Academy of Dance examiner, Miss Sharyn Constable at their May Street Studio for a weekend of winter workshops.

The weekend workshops were proudly supported by Northparkes Mines and the Parkes Shire Council 2023 Sports Grant. Parkes School of Dance Inc is thrilled to be recognised by the arts and sport. Without their support, these workshops wouldn’t be such a huge success.

The two big days of ballet and dance workshops saw 24 dancers, between the ages of 18 months and adult, and three teachers, participate in coaching across 14 hours of dance workshops. Many dancers had their first experience of dancing, three hours of ballet across two days with a highly regarded guest teacher.

“Thank you so much for inviting me out to Parkes. It was such a joy to see, and finally meet everyone in person. Both the students and teachers were so delightful,” said Miss Sharyn. 

“I look forward to a time when we might have the chance to do it all again.”

Parkes School of Dance students are in the midst of working towards their Royal Academy of Dance Ballet exams, coming up in early September.

“The opportunity to learn from different teachers does not happen often, let alone with a Royal Academy of Dance Examiner! Miss Sharyn inspired our dancers and teachers to think like ballerinas,”

Parkes School of Dance RAD teacher said, “Welcoming Miss Sharyn to our studio was such a wonderful experience for dancers of all ages and our teachers. As a teacher, I am always trying to find ways to improve my teaching. Miss Sharyn’s generosity of knowledge is invaluable!”

Each year the Forbes Community marks NAIDOC Week and 2023 is gearing up to be an amazing celebration and display of culture. 

The NAIDOC Committee and Forbes Shire Council has organised a day of workshops, demonstrations, activities and more, all aimed at celebrating the local culture to be held on Thursday 7th September. 

The day will kick off with an official ceremony at 10am during which the 2023 NAIDOC Award winners will be announced, along with the winner of the NAIDOC design competition. 

Forbes Preschool will be performing, whilst Dinawan’s Connection will complete the smoking ceremony and opening dance. 

“Come and see the completion of the Yarning Circle mural, join in weaving, cultural dance and language workshops, make damper, see demonstrations for making clapsticks and hand carving,” Forbes Mayor Phyllis Miller said. 

There will also be tools and weapons, and reptile displays, amusement rides, and girri girri grown at Forbes High School, just to name a few. 

“Everyone is welcome to come and learn more about the Indigenous culture of this region. Forbes Shire Council would like to thank the NAIDOC Committee and the Wiradjuri Dreaming Centre for their organisation and support,” Mayor Miller said. 

NAIDOC Week is a time to reflect and celebrate the histories, cultures and achievements of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and recognising them as ongoing custodians of the land. The theme for this year’s event is ‘For Our Elders’. 

It is an opportunity for all Australians to learn about First Nation cultures and histories and participate in celebrations of the oldest, continuous living cultures in the world. 

NAIDOC Celebrations will be held at Wiradjuri Dreaming Centre from 10am until 2pm. So save the date, 7th September in your calendar and make sure to come along and enjoy NAIDOC.