Living & Lifestyle Archives

Canowindra Balloon Festival Ready To Take Off

April 23, 2025 By Roxane Manley

Balloons taking off at the 2024 Canowindra International Balloon Festival. Image Credit: Farmpix Photography

The skies over Canowindra are set to dazzle as the beloved Canowindra Balloon Festival returns from 26 April to 4 May.

This vibrant week-long celebration of hot air balloons, music, art, food, and community spirit offers something for everyone.

Festivities lift off with the Welcome Street Party on 26 April, featuring live music from Nerida Cuddy and the Neil Gill Band, alongside a sizzling BBQ competition, delicious food, and market stalls. Throughout the week, enjoy Flicker Fest at Rosnay, creative Paint and Sips, inspiring workshops from The Creative Cure, and Sue Hodges’ art exhibition at the Canowindra Services Club, just to name a few of the offerings for the week.

Test your trivia knowledge at the Trivia Night hosted by the Canowindra Public School P&C. Then, don’t miss the Home Ground Sounds Concert on 2 May, headlined by country star Casey Barnes, with performances by Furnace and The Fundamentals, Big Night Out, and Nathan Lamont.

Saturday, 3 May, begins with the thrilling Balloon Key Grab, followed by the CWA All Day Breakfast, a colourful street parade, and the spectacular Cabonne Community Glow—gates open from 3pm.

Whether you’re here for the balloons or the beats, the Canowindra Balloon Festival is an unforgettable autumn escape. Balloons fly from 27 April to 2 May mornings and afternoons, weather permitting.

Tickets and more information available at Balloon HQ located on Gaskill Street and 123tix.com.au.

ANZAC Day In Parkes And Forbes

April 23, 2025 By Roxane Manley

On Friday 25 April 2025, Australian’s will mark the 110th anniversary of the Gallipoli landings, as well as commemorating all Australians who have served in times of peace and war. Parkes and Forbes residents are invited to attend the ANZAC Day Commemorative Services to be held across the Parkes and Forbes Shires:

PARKES ANZAC COMMEMMORATIONS

• Dawn Service 5:30am at Memorial Hill

• Breakfast Bistro 6:30am at Parkes Services Club

• Church Service 7am at Holy Family Catholic Church

• Church Service 7:30am at Parkes Anglican Church

• ANZAC Day March 8:30am at Welcome Street, Chamberlain Square and Clarinda Street to Cooke Park

• Commemorative Service am at Cooke Parkes

• Wreath Laying Pilgrimage 10:45am at Parkes Cemetery War Graves

• ANZAC Day Luncheon 12pm at Parkes Services Club

• Sound Retreat 5pm at Cooke Park

• The Ode 6pm at Parkes Services Club

FORBES ANZAC COMMEMMORATIONS

• Dawn Service 5:20am Harold Street, form up 5.15am Templar Street, adjacent to Club Forbes

• ANZAC Day March 10:15am Cross Street, Cross Street, Lachlan Street, Harold Street terminating at Cenotaph

• Commemmorative Service 10:30am Harold Street

Forbes Garden Club Report

April 16, 2025 By reen Thumb

Pam Baass hosted our garden club meeting.

At our last meeting President Marg Dent welcomed 29 members with five apologies. Our hosts Pam and John Baass made us very comfortable, seated under large trees in their beautiful, well established garden.

After the reports and birthday wishes, extended general business was discussed. Denise Thurston has organised a bus trip for Thursday 15 May leaving at 9.30am to visit the Tumbling Downs Olive Grove at Bogan Gate where a Devonshire tea will be enjoyed, before proceeding on to Parkes to visit three gardens and a picnic lunch at Cooke Park. At least 30 members will be needed to make this a success and the cost will be $35. Families and friends are all welcome. Money will need to be collected at the April meeting in an envelope, or given to Treasurer Lloyd at 7 McMillan Place if you are unable to attend the meeting. Enquiries can be made by calling 0428 540 272 or emailing forbesgardenclub@gmail.com

Our guest speaker was Yvonne Tracey from Orange who spoke on Dahlias. Her collection of different varieties was outstanding and her knowledge takes her overseas as a judge to many countries, although she said Australia has the best dahlias in the world! She provided valuable tips on growing them that were much appreciated. Denise presented Yvonne with a thank you gift.

In the flower of the month competition, first went to Denise Thurston (Dahlia), second was Janette Thomas (Rose ‘Bloomfield Abunda’) and third was John Browne (Canna Lily).The raffle was won by Jan Stewart with Lee Sanderson second.

President Marg thanked Pam and John for making their garden available for our meeting. The next meeting will be held at 111 Flint Street at the home of John Browne on Tuesday 22 April and don’t forget a chair, hat and a mug, and flower of the month.

By Green Thumb

Heavy Long Weekend Traffic Expected On The Great Western Highway

April 16, 2025 By Roxane Manley

Motorists travelling on the Great Western Highway over the Easter and Anzac Day long weekends are urged to plan their trips and allow extra travel time, with high traffic volumes and delays expected.

The Great Western Highway has several known pinch points for travel connecting the Greater Sydney area with the Central West.

Historical traffic data shows the busiest day for westbound travel towards Lithgow will be Friday 18 April and Saturday 19 April, and for those heading east towards Greater Sydney the busiest day will be at the end of the long weekend on Monday 21 April.

Delays are also expected on Friday 25 April (Anzac Day) for motorists travelling across the Blue Mountains, with significant traffic volumes also anticipated eastbound on Sunday 27 April as holiday makers return to Sydney.

The Govetts Leap Road intersection at Blackheath can be a pinch point where there are often queues for motorists heading east. Traffic queueing also often extends west from Blackheath to Hartley and beyond.

When queueing begins eastbound at Mount Victoria, a traffic management plan is put in place with motorists held at Hartley to prevent further congestion and a start/stop movement up Victoria Pass. Vehicles are then released in small groups, allowing them to travel up the Pass to prevent further delays in the event of breakdowns and to avoid nose-to-tail crashes.

For more details about predicted delays on the Great Western Highway see the NSW Holiday and Journey planning website. For information, visit https://www.livetraffic.com/incident-details/230828, or download the Live Traffic NSW app.

World-class Performers In The Heart Of Canowindra

April 16, 2025 By Roxane Manley

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.

Parkes Energy Recovery Drop In Sessions Have Begun

April 10, 2025 By Roxane Manley

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.

Frost And Fire Artist Line Up To Heat Up Forbes

April 10, 2025 By Roxane Manley

Supporting acts on the night will be Foxxy Cleopatra, Baker Boys (pictured) and EasyGoin.

Don’t miss the opportunity to see an up and coming Brisbane singer-songwriter in the making, Ripley Alexander, right here in the Central West at Frost and Fire in Forbes on Saturday 21June. Ripley describes his music as “a modern spin on a classic sound”. Ripley’s standout Australian Idol performance went viral around the world, racking up more than 100 million views on TikTok.

There’s no one like the Wolfe Brothers to warm up a crowd with their high energy performance of iconic truly Australian anthems.

The most awarded country rock duo ever, the brothers took away three Golden Guitars at the 2024 Country Music Awards bringing their total to 9 Golden Guitars to date.

Buy Your Frost & Fire Tickets: Tickets are essential. No ticket – no entry! Under 18’s are free entry. Over 18’s are $30 per person. Tickets are available via 123tix.

Book Your Accommodation: Plan your stay in Amazing Forbes with some great accommodation options.

Book Your Bus Transfer Tickets To The Event: Don’t forget to pre-purchase bus tickets before the event. Tickets are exclusively available via 123tix.

BYO Chair and Warm Winter Clothes: Keep nice and toasty with warm clothes. Enjoy the entertainment in comfort by bringing your own chair.

Plan The Rest of your Weekend: Amazing Forbes has an abundance of exciting attractions and activities to see and do. Come for the night – stay for a weekend.

Getting to the Event: Frost & Fire is held at the Forbes Ski Dam. During our event there is no public parking onsite, so we have a variety of public transport options to get you and your family and friends here safely.

By Bus: There is a free shuttle bus service running to and from the event on the day, operating on a continuous loop.

Free Screenings Of Avarice And Q&A Session

April 10, 2025 By Roxane Manley

Galari-River Arts Forbes Inc and Club Forbes are excited to bring free screenings of Avarice with Q&A Session Featuring Forbes Filmmaker Dane Millerd.

Fans of action thrillers are in for a treat as two special free screenings of Avarice will take place on Sunday, 13 April at Club Forbes. The screenings, at 4pm and 6pm, will be followed by a Q&A session with the film’s writer, local journalist, filmmaker, and screenwriter, Dane Millerd.

Forbes’ local talent behind the film, Dane Millerd, who wrote and developed the screenplay, will be available for a post-screening Q&A, providing insight into the creative process and sharing behind-the-scenes stories from the making of the film – suitable for anyone wanting an insight into a film making career.

About Avarice

Avarice is an action-packed thriller. Shot in stunning Australian locations, the film combines heart-pounding action with an intricate, suspenseful storyline, starring the talented Luke Ford in a role that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Dane Millerd is an Australian journalist, filmmaker, and screenwriter with a passion for storytelling. Known for his unique perspective and powerful narratives, Millerd’s work on Avarice brings to life a gripping tale of ambition, danger, and human nature.

Don’t miss this exclusive opportunity to experience Avarice on the big screen. Admission is free, but seats will be limited. To reserve your spot, please visit https://events.humanitix.com/avarice-q-and-a

Success At The Land Cookery And Handicraft Day

March 27, 2025 By Roxane Manley

Oxley Group CWA held their annual ‘The Land’ Cookery and Handicraft Day on Tuesday 11 March in Condobolin. The Land Cookery Judge, Ann McIntyre, and Handicraft Judge, Ruth Hando, found many impressive items presented for judging from our local community.

For the cooking section there were entries in 10 sections ranging from boiled fruit cakes, butter, sultana and chocolate cakes, slices, biscuits, apricot rolls, sponges, relishes, marmalade and jams.

This year entries were submitted from Forbes CWA and Forbes Evening CWA Branches, Condobolin, Myamley, Parkes, Tullamore and Kiacatoo. The Cooking Officer for Oxley Group CWA, Linda Brangwin commented, “It was wonderful to see all branches in Oxley Group represented.”

The competitor to gain the most points was Ruth Worthington from Kiacatoo and Champion Cake was a sultana cake entered by Pat Hurley from Myamley.

In the Handicraft section, entries were received from Forbes, Tullamore and Myamley. The Eight Item Group Competition was won by Tullamore Branch with Emily Hunt of Forbes Branch taking out the highest score in this section.

Myamley won the Branch Challenge and Myamley Branch member, Janette Manwaring, won ‘The Land’ Champion Article Natural fibres Section 8 with a white child’s dress with navy smocking and trim. Janette also won the Over 80’s section with her smocking. Other successful entrants were Dawn Ible (Forbes) for her Assisi work winning the Chairperson’s Award, Zita Carey (Tullamore) taking away the Handicraft Officer’s Award for her striking black, white and red quilt and Marian Gutherie (Myamley) for her knitted garment.

Winning entries in Handicraft progress to State and be judged at the CWA State Conference held at Wagga Wagga in May.

Contact your local CWA branch to enter in 2026.

Parkes M&D Society Presents Mamma Mia

March 20, 2025 By Roxane Manley

Tickets have gone on sale for the eagerly anticipated production of Mamma Mia and by all accounts, this is going to be another hit for Parkes M&D Society.

The show is led by two powerhouse voices, Kimberley Ryan playing Donna and Maddi Collits in the role of Sophie, but that’s not the only talent on stage.

Cue Shev Brown as the irrepressible Tanya, Cath Welsh as the zany Rosie, Parkes Mayor Neil Westcott playing Architect Sam, Greg Ballantyne as the intrepid traveller, Bill, Aaron Kingham as Headbanger Harry and Matt Prow returns to the Parkes stage to play Sophie’s love interest, Sky.

Supporting the lead cast is Gracie Townsend playing Ali and newcomers, Thomas Glastonbury as Pepper, Loki Ramsay as Eddie, and Annabella Brown as Lisa.

Backed by an immensely talented band led by Anthony Leonard and an all singing and dancing ensemble second to none, Mamma Mia promises to be something very special.

Many have seen Mamma Mia in professional theatres, but this production will have a few surprises in store for audiences – a point of difference for the Parkes production. Audiences will feel like they are right there on the Greek island of Kalokairi.

Mamma Mia opens on 3 May and runs until 25 May. Tickets can be purchased online at www.parkesmandd.com.au or you can purchase them from box office at the theatre on any Sunday between 10.30am – 12pm. Don’t miss out – tickets are selling fast!

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