NAIDOC Celebrations at Parkes Public School: Parkes Public School held an assembly last Wednesday 3 July to celebrate the school’s NAIDOC activities. The assembly was hosted by the school’s Aboriginal Education Consultative Group (AECG), with a Welcome to Country performed by Lionel Lovett and his daughter Carly, chaperoned by local elder Aunty Pat Oliver. Lionel also spoke about this year’s NAIDOC theme, Voice, Treaty, Truth and how this theme foregrounds Indigenous Australians’ strive for recognition for their knowledge and culture. The assembly continued with performances by the school’s choir and cultural dance group and presentations of weekly awards.
Regional Tourism Awards: 25 leading Country and Outback tourism businesses, events, and visitor experiences have been announced as finalists in the 2019 Destination Country and Outback and Destination Riverina Murray Regional Tourism Awards. Congratulations to local finalists in Trundle – the Trundle ABBA Festival, and in Forbes – Grazing Down the Lachlan. Winners will be announced at the gala awards ceremony on July 27 in Dubbo. The winners gain finalist status upon entering the NSW State Tourism Awards, and if successful, go onto the National Tourism Awards.
Kids Helpline – 71,533 contacts go unanswered: Kids Helpline, Australia’s only free confidential 24/7 national children’s counselling and support service, has today released statistics showing 51% of requests for help to the service went unanswered over the first 6 months of 2019, due to funding shortfall. Responding to concerns children and young people have in relation to their mental health, general well-being and other developmental issues is a major area of Kids Helpline’s work. Kids Helpline relies heavily upon your town’s charitable art union and donations from the community to continue its operation. In order to meet the extra demand, an additional $5 million annually would be required to enable employment of additional professional counselling staff.
Book Launch by local Doctor: Dr Rick Newton, retired from his general practice in Tullamore, has written a small book of humorous short stories about his farming experiences, after moving from Sydney to the Central West. The Tullamore launch is on Saturday 13 July at the Tullamore Bowling Club. Then there will be a Parkes launch at the Parkes Library on Tuesday 23 July at 6pm. All funds raised go to Brain Cancer and Stroke Foundations, in memory of Geoff Williams and Geof Horsburgh.