The Canowindra International Balloon Festival is renowned for its stunning hot air balloons and community spirit, but this year, the festival promises to soar even higher with the Home Ground Sounds Concert. Taking place on Friday, 2 May, at the Canowin­dra Oval, this electrifying event will feature some of Australia’s top musical talent, ensuring an unforgettable night for concert-goers.

Headlining the concert is Casey Barnes, a multi-award-winning Australian country music artist. With his impressive vocal range and captivating performances, Casey has earned his place as one of the country’s most respected talents. His chart-topping hits and energetic stage presence will undoubtedly light up the evening.

Joining Casey on stage are Furnace and the Fundamentals, the ultimate party band known for their high-octane performances.

Fresh from their UK tour, Furnace and the Fundamentals have played some of the world’s largest music festivals, and now they’re bringing their signature blend of funk, soul, and rock to Canowin­dra. Get ready for a show filled with infectious energy and non-stop dancing.

Also featured is Nathan Lamont, an up-and-coming star in the Australian country music scene. Known for his heartfelt lyrics and powerful performances, Nathan is making waves across the indus­try and will bring a fresh, exciting sound to the concert.

Bring your chairs, picnic rugs, organise a Grazing Box from IGA and come along for a great night out. There is a licensed bar on site and there is strictly no BYO or glass permitted into the concert.

Gates open at 5pm with the concert kicking off at 6:30pm. Hosted by Roundbox Group, this is a must-attend event for anyone look­ing to enjoy world-class music in the heart of Canowindra.

Locals from Parkes and Forbes and the sur­rounds, are invited to a Drop in Sessions be­ing run by Parkes Energy Recovery, a con­sortium led by Tribe Infrastructure Group, to discuss their proposed Parkes Energy Re­covery facility in the Parkes Special Activa­tion Precinct (Parkes Precinct). The drop in sessions began at The Cooke Park Pavillion on Thursday 10 April and will continue on Friday 11 and Saturday 12 from 8am – 5pm.

The proposed facility will divert an esti­mated 600,000 tonnes of waste per annum from landfill and generate at least 60 mega­watts of energy – enough to power 80,000 homes per year.

The consortium will now begin the pro­cess of wide community engagement and the planning and environmental approvals process for the facility that it will design, fund, own and operate on land leased from RGDC (Regional Growth NSW Develop­ment Corporation). If you have questions, concerns or are in­terested in knowing more information, then Council encourages residents to participate in the community engagement opportunities led by Parkes Energy Recovery. For infor­mation on the proposed facility, visit www.parkesenergy.com.au info@parkesenergy.com.au or call 02 8405 7915.

NSW Youth Week commences this week, with hundreds of events taking place across NSW between 9 and 17 April. In the lead up to Youth Week, the NSW Advocate for Chil­dren and Young People, Ms Zoë Robinson, undertook polling to understand how young people are feeling about life right now.

“Youth Week is a vital opportunity for young people to connect, celebrate, and have their voices amplified. The survey re­sults show us what issues young people are most concerned about. Our annual polling data tells us that there are ongoing con­cerns regarding the cost of living, housing affordability, and mental health,” Ms Robin­son said.

“It’s clear that cost of living and mental health remain significant issues for young people in NSW. The demand for accessi­ble mental health services, education, and financial support tell us there is room for improvement regrading access. We need to listen to these voices and identify where we can improve.”

This year’s Youth Week theme, ‘I am… We are the future, and the future is now! Young people are encouraged to participate in Youth Week 2025, to find events happen­ing near you, visit www.nsw.gov.au/arts-and-culture/nsw-youth-week-2025

Doug Michalk is pictured on the left, celebrating with supporters after the big chop.

Hundreds of generous individuals gath­ered at The Cambridge Hotel in Parkes on 8 March to support the Parkes Branch of CanAssist, which provides financial aid to those battling cancer in the community.

The fundraising event was organised by local hero Dougie Michalk and his band of helpers. Dougie had his iconic dreadlocks cut-off in front of the cheering crowd, sym­bolising his commitment to helping others during their most challenging times. Doug said, “[He had] been growing his dreads for over five years and he was inspired to do something to make a difference.”

In addition to the dramatic hair chop, Dougie also organised an exciting auction of 20 items donated by local businesses.

Raising an incredible $14,140 on the night.

The Parkes Branch of Can Assist was overwhelmed by the outpouring of support from both local residents and businesses.

“The generosity shown by the people of Parkes and our incredible business com­munity has been absolutely heartwarming,” said a Can Assist spokesperson.

“This event will have a lasting impact on the lives of those in our community who need it most. We can’t thank everyone enough for their support.”

The event was a true reflection of what can be accomplished when a community comes together for a common cause, and the people of Parkes should be incredibly proud of their collective generosity.

Can Assist is a vital community-based organisation that provides practical, finan­cial, and emotional support to people living with cancer, with branches all throughout New South Wales. The Parkes branch is committed to assisting local families facing cancer and the associated costs of treat­ment and care.

Well done Doug and well done Parkes!

The Parkes Potters at the last Homegrown Parkes event.

Homegrown Parkes is back for 2025, pro­viding an opportunity for visitors and locals to fill their Saturday in Parkes with plenty of good food and local produce next Sat­urday, 29 March between 9am and 2pm in Cooke Park.

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

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.

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 the Home­grown Parkes events, make sure you fol­low their social media, check out their website: centralwestlachlanlandcare.org/get-involved/homegrown-parkes/ or con­tact Marg Applebee on 0418 611 053 or via email homegrownparkes@gmail.com The Homegrown Parkes spring event will be held on Saturday, 11 October.

Get ready to be inspired as the immensely talented Julee-anne Bell and acclaimed pianist Melissa Buchholz join forces to pre­sent Perfectly Imperfect, a captivating musical experience at the Parkes Uniting Church. Scheduled for Wednesday, 26 March at 7pm, this show promises to leave audiences buzzing long after the final note. There is also a community vocal workshop from 4pm5:30pm open to anyone who loves to sing.

Julee-anne Bell, who soared to fame as a standout contestant on The Voice Australia in 2021, captured hearts nationwide with her stunning vocals and magnetic personality. Despite being blind since birth, Julee-anne’s extraordinary talent and unwavering de­termination to break down barriers have inspired countless indi­viduals from all walks of life. Joining her on this incredible journey is the illustrious Melissa Buchholz, a professional pianist with over 35 years of experience. Melissa’s musical prowess has taken her from Australia to stages around the globe, where she has accom­panied some of the world’s top artists.

Perfectly Imperfect is not just a concert; it’s a celebration of resilience, talent, and the power of music to unite us all. Expect an evening filled with unforgettable melodies and heartfelt sto­ries that resonate on a deeply personal level. Audiences will find themselves transported through Julee-anne’s powerful voice and Melissa’s masterful piano, forging a connection that is as real as it is relevant.

Everyone’s welcome to join us at the Parkes Uniting Church and witness the magic of Perfectly Imperfect. Mark your calendars for Tuesday 26th of March at 7pm. Tickets are available now at https://www.trybooking.com/CYTPZ

The amazing women from Birds in the Bush. Image credit: Clancy Paine.

The RAS Foundation will partner with Central West family and domestic vio­lence awareness organisation, Birds in the Bush, for its 2025 RAS Foundation Charity Brunch to help raise funds for family and domestic violence refuges in the Central West region.

Hosted annually at the Sydney Royal Easter Show, the RAS Foundation Charity Brunch brings RAS Members and Council­lors together to help raise funds for vital re­gional causes or organisations.

RAS Foundation Manager, Cecilia Lo­gan said “Birds in the Bush is an inspiring volunteer-led organisation that provides a voice for family and domestic violence in the Central West and the RAS Foundation is delighted to have them as the recipi­ents of our 2025 RAS Foundation Charity Brunch to help improve important facili­ties,” Logan said.

Birds in the Bush Founder, Vanessa Vasquez said “We are grateful to be the beneficiary of the RAS Foundation Charity Brunch. As a regional grassroots organisa­tion, dedicated to highlighting the unique experience of family and domestic violence in bush communities.”

The 2025 RAS Foundation Charity Brunch will take place on April 16 at the Sydney Royal Easter Show and will be hosted by the RAS Foundation and Birds in the Bush committees.

Tickets are available to RAS Members via (www.rasf.org.au). If you are not a RAS Member and are interested in attending, you can contact foundation@rasf.org.au.