Parkes Shire Council: Council were hon­oured to host a citizenship ceremony at the Parkes Shire Council Chambers where we welcomed Adan Salad Gonjobe, born in the upper eastern region of Kenya, Ann Tran, born in Vietnam, Leo Paul Pius, born in In­dia and Olamide Rhoda Kolawole, Olufemi Abefe Kolawole, Folakemi Adele Kolawole, and Damilola Louisa Kolawole, originally from Nigeria, the Kolawole family arrived in Parkes from Adelaide in 2023. Welcome to Australia and the Parkes community.

NSW Government: Encourage the wom­en in your life to get a breast screen with BreastScreen NSW. For women aged 5074, having a breast cancer screen every 2 years saves lives! Did you know – it’s free for women aged over 40, takes just 20 min­utes and no doctor’s referral needed. Learn more (the website is in 27 languages): bit.ly/BreastScreen_NSW

Evolution Mining Northparkes Opera­tions: We are pleased to share the 2024 Annual and Sustainability Report from Evo­lution Mining. This report highlights our op­erations, sustainability achievements, and overall business performance for FY24. To learn more about Northparkes and other Evolution Mining operations visit: https://evolutionmining.com.au/case-studies/

Kerin Health: Kerin Health have just opened up new clinic hours for Physiother­apy treatment before work every Thurs­day morning. The clinic will be open and available for appointments each Thursday from 7:30am in the old ANZ bank building at 74 Lachlan Street, Forbes. Don’t forget, Kerin Health are also located at Forbes Medicine and Mind, around the corner on Cross Street, every Tuesday between 9am and 1pm. To book an appointment at either location in Forbes, go to www.kerinhealth.com.au/book-an-appointment

Parkes Elvis Festival: Declare your love at the Parkes Elvis Festival with the popu­lar Renewal of Vows ceremony. Held under the ‘Love Me Tender’ arch, this is a once-ina-lifetime opportunity to renew your vows before an Elvis wedding celebrant. For more information and to register, visit: bit.ly/PEFvows

Forbes Shire Council: FSC are prepar­ing the dam for the busy summer season ahead by dredging to restore the water’s depth, so boat users can enjoy the dam.

The dam will be closed to boats from Thursday 24 October to Thursday 31 Oc­tober while the dredging takes place. It will remain open for fishing and exercise. For more information please contact Forbes Shire Council on (02) 6850 2300.

Parkes Elvis Festival: Applications for the Evolution Mining Northparkes Opera­tions Street Parade are open. This crowd favorite event will take place on Saturday, 11th January 2025, at 10am along Festival Boulevard. Whether you want to walk, ride, drive, or float, it’s time to join in on the fun! Be part of one of the biggest highlights of the Parkes Elvis Festival. Sign up at: bit.ly/ElvisParade

NSW Department of Communities and Justice: How would you use $1,000 to support your studies? Think laptop, uni­forms, tutoring, stationery, study furniture or more. Scholarships valued at $1,000 are available for students in years 10, 11 and 12 in 2025, who live in social housing or in out-of-home care. To find out more go to: dcjnsw.info/scholarships

Women NSW: This week is NSW National Aboriginal Languages Week (20th – 27th October). Language is sacred and con­nected to Country and culture. It brings to­gether generations and ties spirituality and identity. NSW is home to approximately 35 Aboriginal Languages, many of which cross borders into other States. Of the top ten Aboriginal Languages being renewed (in terms of speaker numbers), six are lan­guages used in NSW. Interested to learn more? Head to the Aboriginal Languages Trust website: https://www.alt.nsw.gov.au

National BBQ Championships Forbes: It’s time to start prepping for the National BBQ Championships Forbes on 9th – 10th November. Fire up the barbie or the smok­er put on a BBQ Spotify playlist and get in the groove. Get your mates together and register your team now on the Forbes Shire Council website: www.forbes.nsw.gov.au

Aruma: Imagine living with a disability and being labelled a ‘faker’ or ‘lazy’ simply be­cause it isn’t visible to others. From Oc­tober 20 to 26, Invisible Disabilities Week aims to raise awareness about invisible disabilities and challenge the stereotypes that often accompany them.

Forbes Shire Council: Thinking about a career change? Council has positions available in the following roles:

• Grants and Projects Control Officer

• Multi Skilled Civil Labourers

Applications for all positions close Sunday 10 November. Apply now on the Forbes Shire Council website: www.forbes.nsw.gov.au. FSC strive to make sure everyone is treated fairly and supported at every stage of getting a job. If you need any sort of adjustments or support to do this please reach out.

Trundle Central School: A huge thank you to Warwick Rippon and his daughter Emma for constructing an iron bark bench to be used as a fundraiser for the Student Repre­sentative Council. The chair was milled and air dried for 12 months before construc­tion took place. It is truly humbling when a member of the school community allocates their valuable time to assist the school. The workmanship in this bench is exceptional.

Country Women’s Association (CWA) of NSW: Our friends at QCWA are launching an online branch for those who find it dif­ficult to get to meetings, including younger members. Our online branch, called the CWA of NSW Virtual Branch, is open to all women in NSW. They meet on the 2nd Tuesday of the month at 7.30pm via Zoom. Email the Secretary, Melissa for informa­tion secretarycwanswvirtualbranch@gmail.com. If you prefer to meet in person, women of all ages are welcome at our branches: https://www.cwaofnsw.org.au/branches

Trundle ABBA Festival: Just two weeks to go until the Trundle ABBA Festival. It’s time to get your “Dancing Queen” on and enjoy a night of ABBA hits and unforgettable fun. Grab your tickets now and let’s make some memories bit.ly/ABBAtickets2024

BirdLife Australia: It’s finally time—the Aussie Bird Count has started. Get your apps ready, head outside, and start count­ing! Each count takes just 20 minutes, and you can do as many as you like until 20th October. https://aussiebirdcount.org.au/

Neighbourhood Central: CatholicCare Wilcannia-Forbes and Small Steps 4 Han­nah invite you to attend a free community education event (Hannah’s Story) present­ed by DV prevention educator Michael Jeh.

Hannah’s Story is a session that aims to create more awareness and empower members of the community about the early warning signs of coercive control and the tragic but inspirational story of Hannah Clarke, her three children and family. Reg­istration is essential via www.facebook.com/share/FNaj6M8D7fW6zQkM/

Parkes Services Squash Courts: Make sure you grab a bacon and egg roll at Parkes Services Doubles next Sunday morning. Club members Craig and Natalie Kelly have generously donated their time and ingredients to run the breakfast BBQ to help Henry Kross with his fundraising to attend the British Junior Open.

Parkes Shire Council: Parkes Shire Council is pleased to announce the official results of the recent local government elec­tions. Congratulations to Cr Neil Westcott, who has been re-elected as Mayor, and Cr Marg Applebee, who has been re-elected as Deputy Mayor, both serving their second terms. We look forward to their continued leadership. We also welcome the newly elected Councillors: Neil Westcott (Mayor), Glenn Wilson, Marg Applebee (Deputy Mayor), Bill Jayet, Louise O’Leary, Douglas Pout, Kenny McGrath, Joy Paddison, Mat­thew Scherer, George Pratt. Special thanks to all the candidates for their dedication, and to the residents of Parkes Shire for a voter turnout of nearly 86%! Your involve­ment plays a key role in shaping the future of our community. For information, visit: bit.ly/2024LocalGovernmentElection

Lifeline Central West: Did You Know – we offer free, independent, confidential Finan­cial & Gambling counselling all over the Central West? To make an appointment with us, call: 1300 798 258 or email: info@lifelinecentralwest.org.au

Regional Development Australia Cen­tral West: Register for free Cyber Security Workshops brought to you by NBN Co and RDA Central West. Small business owners in Central West New South Wales are invit­ed to participate in a series of free, handson cyber security workshops aimed at em­powering them with crucial knowledge and tools to safeguard their online operations. The workshops will be run in October 2024 in Wellington, Parkes, Condobolin, Lithgow and Blayney. The event is free but regis­tration is essential via link: https://events.humanitix.com/host/rda-central-west

R U OK? Four in five people say they feel better about managing their situation hav­ing talked it through. If you know someone is going through a tough time, check in, ask R U OK? and show them that you care and are there to support them. For tips on how to continue the conversation visit: www.ruok.org.au/how-to-ask

Forbes Shire Mayor and Deputy Mayor Election Results: At the declaration of the newly elected Forbes Shire Council on Wednesday 2 October, Councillor Phyllis Miller and Councillor Chris Roylance were reelected unopposed as Mayor and Deputy Mayor. Forbes Shire Councillors – Sarah Sweeney, Jenny Webb, Aidan Clarke, Phyl­lis Miller, Chris Roylance, Michele Herbert, Marh Duggan, Steve Karaitiana and Brian Mattiske, elected following the September Local Government election.

Parkes Elvis Festival: It’s under 100 days until the 2025 Parkes Elvis Festival, and we’re ready to roll with that Easy Come, Easy Go energy! With over 200+ events lined up, we can’t wait to see everyone soaking in the fun and feeling the rhythm.

Tickets here: bit.ly/ParkesElvisTickets Ap­plications for the 2025 Ultimate Elvis Trib­ute Artist Contest are closing soon. Enter bit.ly/ParkesElvisFestivalUETA

Fire and Rescue NSW Station 294 Forbes: Fire Permits are required in the Forbes, Parkes, Lachlan and Weddin LGAs for all fires during the Bush Fire Dan­ger Period which is between 1st October (Midnight Tonight) and 1st April 2025, and at All times in Fire and Rescue districts around the state.

Double Demerits: Motorists are being re­minded that double demerit points will be in place over the October long weekend for four days, commencing on Friday 4th Oc­tober 2024 and ending on Monday 7th Oc­tober 2024 (inclusive). Police will be target­ing speed, seatbelts, illegal mobile phone use and motorcyclists not wearing helmets. For more information, visit: bit.ly/3TIvBb5

Forbes Family History Group Inc: Un­derneath the Oxley Bridge, a series of vibrant Aboriginal artworks adorn the pil­lars. Each painting tells a unique story, from people and land, drought, night and the serenity of the river. While there is no specific information about the individual artists involved, their work is a beautiful and meaningful representation of the lo­cal area. If you have any information about the artists who contributed to this wonder­ful project, please feel free to share. The link will take you to the full set of paintings. https://streetartcities.com/cities/forbes

Taronga Western Plains Zoo: Calling all teachers – want free Zoo entry for your family? Join us on Friday, 11th October, for Taronga’s Teacher Open Day! Explore the Zoo, discover our unique wild education programs, and enjoy unforgettable animal encounters. For information contact edu­cation@zoo.nsw.gov.au

Forbes Art Society: Artists of all ages and abilities are welcome to join the Forbes Arts Society’s Painting Group. The group meets each Thursday at Northside Chapel, between 11am and 3pm. The cost is $5 per week which includes morning tea. Bring along your own art supplies. For more information, reach out via hello@forbesartssociety.com

Parkes Services Club: On Sunday morn­ing Parkes Services staff Jordan and Chloe attended a charity event in support of Little Wings and Leo Doyle. Leo was diagnosed with cone-rod dystrophy in April 2023 at six years of age. Leo’s medical needs are quite extensive and he is unable to receive the care he requires close to home. Parkes Services Club were more than proud to do­nate $1,000 to this heartwarming cause, with the hope that others who are able, can support the journey of Little Wings and Leo. Learn more about Leo’s story at https://rarevoices.org.au/personal-story/leos-story

Forbes Toy Library: Committee meeting will be held at 7pm on Wednesday 25th September, Forbes Golf Club. ⁣ If you’ve been interested to join the Toy Library Committee please join us. All welcome.

PCYC Safer Driver Courses: Shave 20 hours off your log book and learn essen­tial road safety while you’re at it. Courses will be held in Forbes on 30th September with fully funded places available. Contact Forbes Shire Council directly for voucher codes to use at the check out. Then in Parkes on 10th October 10th. Book at www.pcycdrivereducation.org.au

Boys To The Bush: Dust off those fishing rods and get ready to cast a line, all while supporting young and at-risk boys in need.

Boys to the Bush has hooked a great catch, hosting the inaugural catch and release fishing competition at the picturesque Lake Burrinjuck on 16th and 17th November. It will be a great chance to gather the family or a few friends and enjoy two wonderful days of fishing. And the best part? All mon­ey raised will go towards supporting boys in our programs. Register at: https://boys-to-the-bush-woolgarlo-fishing-competition.raiselysite.com/

Evolution Mining Northparkes Opera­tions: We have some amazing local busi­nesses and food vans ready to feed the crowds next Saturday. Stay tuned for our food van lineup dropping this Friday. Don’t forget to secure your free tickets at: https://www.123tix.com.au/events/44118/northparkes-cheers-to-30-years-festival

Forbes Town & District Tennis Club: What a fantastic day! A massive thank you to all the sponsors, auctioneers and those who attended the Charity Day for Leo Doyle and Little Wings on Sunday, 22nd September. It was a huge success, and on behalf of Forbes Town & District Tennis Club and the Doyle Family we say thank you to our community for their generosity and heartfelt support.

PCYC Parkes: A big congratulations to Summer Hurford for being nominated, and winning Sportsperson of the Year by the NAIDOC Advisory Group. Summer was an invaluable member of the recent Nations of Origin trip, where she contributed by fund­raising for the event and offering her sup­port in both the footy and senior leadership in our gymnastics events. She’s a true ray of sunshine in the gymnastics program and is proving to be a fantastic up-and-coming senior coach on the team.

Office Of Sport: The Local Sport Defibrilla­tor Grant Program is now open! The grant program is aimed at providing Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) and associat­ed equipment to NSW sport and recreation facilities and clubs. Grants of up to $3,000 are available to sporting and recreational organisations. Find out more here www.sport.nsw.gov.au/grants

Forbes Youth Action Team: The Sep­tember/October School Holiday Program is almost here and there are so many fun events taking place over the spring holiday break! Be sure to secure your spot in these events by registering online at https://www.forbes.nsw.gov.au/community/community-services-and-information/families-and-youth-services/youth-programs

1800RESPECT: Whether it’s you, a family member, a friend or a colleague experienc­ing domestic, family or sexual violence, 1800RESPECT provides confidential coun­selling, information and support. Counsel­lors can be contacted through call, text, on­line chat or video call. Available 24/7. Call 1800 737 732, text 0458 737 732 or online chat – Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm (except public hol­idays) Video call (no appointment needed).

Kerin Health: We’re pleased to announce that we will be holding two free information sessions in the next few weeks for Parents and Educators. Join us at Kerin Health to learn how to support children with their emotional, behavioural and sensory needs during these free Education Sessions with our experienced Occupational Therapist, Emilie. To learn more, or register for a ses­sion contact 0437 749 746.

Forbes Town And District Tennis Club: Bring the family this Sunday and have a fun day, win some prizes, spread awareness for Leo Doyle and help us raise some funds. To nominate for the pair’s competition please contact Peter Clifton on 0403 335 205. If you would like to know more about Leo’s journey so far, visit: https://rarevoices.org.au/personal-story/leos-story/

Forbes Shire Council: Access to the Forbes Croquet Club at Lawler Street is now much easier and safer thanks to the work of Council’s Works team. Works com­pleted include:
• Kerb cutting to create a new pathway.
• Installation of a ramp wide enough for prams.
• Digging out and installing wings.
• Installing fibre mesh.
• Concrete pouring.
• New topsoil to make the sides of the path neat and tidy.

R U OK? #RUOKDay2024 was on Thurs­day September 12th. But any day is the day to check in with those we care about and ask, ‘are you OK?’. If you’re not sure how to start the conversation, try these four steps. 1) Ask R U OK?, 2) Listen, 3) En­courage action, 4) Check in. You can find conversation tips and download social tiles and posters of the four steps at www.ruok.org.au/how-to-ask

Parkes Shire Council: Are you ready to kickstart your career in business? Look­ing for a role that offers hands-on experi­ence and growth? Applications for the 2025 Traineeship Program are open now. Appli­cations close 22nd September 2024 and successful applicants will begin their ca­reer with Parkes Shire Council in February 2025. Apply now bit.ly/PSCcareers

National BBQ Championships Forbes: Sponsorship opportunities are available. Join us in hosting the 2024 National BBQ Championships. Contact events@forbes.nsw.gov.au to be a part of this amazing event showcasing the fabulous produce of the central west. Team nominations are now also open at www.forbes.nsw.gov.au/events/events-2024/november-2024/2024-national-bbq-championships. Enter early for your chance to compete in the 2024 National BBQ Championships.

business.gov.au: You don’t need to be an adult to run a business in Australia. If you’re a young person with a great idea, you can go ahead and start your own busi­ness. You can follow the main steps to start a business, but there are some extra things to consider when you’re starting a business under 18 years old: http://spklr.io/6187tZcv

Parkes Musical & Dramatic Society: A massive thank you to Ellice, Bianca and the whole team at Worklocker Parkes. The Cinderella and the Crystal Slippers cast look amazing in their beautiful production jackets. Tickets for Cinderella & The Crys­tal Slipper are on sale now at www.parkes­mandd.com.au

Play Music for Life: Parkes Shire Concert Band’s legendary musician Doug Rich­ards has many titles to his name – song­writer, music arrangement maker, teacher of drums and guitar, band member keep­ing the beat going. He is testimony to the adage music has no age or mobility barri­ers, or the idea that if you used to play, you never lose it.

Doug is still sharing his passion for oth­ers to learn music and volunteers at Parkes Public School every Tuesday with the school band. If you carefully read the plaque inscription regarding his brother Digby, lo­cated at the Elvis Wall of Fame at Bush­mans Dam, you will learn Doug wrote his ‘hit song’ and was a lead player in the foun­dations of the Australian Music Industry.

Doug was awarded the Parkes Shire Cultural Lifetime Achievement Award in 2024 and will be involved in the Parkes Shire Concert Bands next performances at Homegrown on 12th October, and the ABBA Festival on 19th October.

Playing music has no barriers, and pro­vides many opportunities, so if you used to play, or would like to learn, head along to Tuesday rehearsals from 7 – 9pm during school terms above the Pool Complex. En­quires to Music Director Duncan Clement on 0405 035 164 or follow on Facebook.

NSW Government: Grants are available to support programs for seniors to learn, stay active and connect with their communities.

Organisations are encouraged to apply for grants up to $5,000, and local councils are able to apply for up to $10,000. Applica­tions for the Seniors Festival Grants Pro­gram close on 6th September. To Learn more or to apply, go to: nsw.gov.au/go/Seniors-Fest-Grants

Galari River Arts Forbes Inc: The Galari River Arts Forbes committee would like to express our sincere gratitude to everyone who supported our 2024 “Ripple” festival.

We are sometimes described as ‘the people involved in everything’, and it’s true: with limited volunteers, those who commit, commit wholeheartedly. Our dedication stems from a deep love for our community, and as a humble group, we thrive on con­nection.

Knowing us, you’ll understand that step­ping into the spotlight isn’t easy, rather, it is our way of truly acknowledging your in­credible support Forbes. This festival is a testament to our collective efforts and the support of our Forbes community.

For our fellow volunteers, thank you, once again for your unwavering support or contribution. For everyone else, thank you for your kind words, messages or for at­tending the festival.