Parkes Phoenix Editor

Next year’s Year 5 students can look forward to a fun day with Australia’s most famous gardener when Costa will be visiting for the annual Schools Eco Day in March.

He is instantly recognisable by his bushy beard, and he will be back next year! 

Australian landscape architect and television presenter Costa Georgiadis came to Forbes last year, and Central West Lachlan Landcare shared the great news that he would presenting at Schools Eco Day in March 2023 again. 

Central West Lachlan Landcare organise the annual event for Year 5 students in the Forbes and Parkes Shires and Eugowra. 

It is a fun and educational day, bringing together students to learn about the environment. 

Central West Lachlan Landcare’s Marg Applebee said Costa also agreed to be the keynote speaker at the Landcare dinner. “To finish off Costa’s visit, he will be joining us at a new event Straight from your Backyard, which we will be holding in partnership with Parkes Shire Council.” 

Costa was in Forbes last year for the Schools Eco Day, Landcare Dinner and Forbes Riverside Garden Open Day. His visit was so popular, Marg said: “We knew we had to invite him back to our area once again.” 

When Costa heard about the recent flood events impacting our region, he prepared a special video message, which had been shared on social media. 

For further information go to www.centralwestlachlanlandcare.org, Twitter, Facebook or Instagram @cwllandcare. 

I did get behind the lens on a few occasions like this one at the 2020 Parkes Elvis Festival with Joe Camilleri and Greg Page. (Photo: Keith Turk)

I clearly remember the thrill of having a camera and notebook in my hands again returning to journalism close to seven years ago when I started as reporter for the newly established community newspaper, The Parkes Phoenix. 

I had not worked as a journalist for a number of years, and did not have any real prospect of getting a taste of reporting in Australia as so many newspapers were downsizing. And then this opportunity at The Parkes Phoenix came along out of the blue. Little did I know at the time what a lifeline it would become, and how much joy it would bring.

As a relatively new immigrant to Australia with a young child, and having only done some casual work at a school in Parkes, my world was very small and my knowledge of everything Australian was rather limited.

Working for both The Parkes Phoenix and later The Forbes Phoenix catapulted me into every corner of both communities and the wide array of events, traditions,stories and customs, and exposed me to experiences I would otherwise never have had.

From meeting so many amazing and interesting locals and listening to their inspiring stories, countless visits by politicians 

including several premiers and prime ministers, the craziness and buzz of the Parkes Elvis Festival to covering Anzac Day, Australia Day, Parkes Show, natural disasters, sporting events and milestone anniversaries… the list goes on and on.

I have learned from every experienced, gained valuable insights in what makes Australians tick, and even became an ‘Elvis expert’ as a bonus! Getting to know our communities inside out has made me even more grateful that my family could make this great country our new home.

In our regular Our Bloke/Gal column we asked people what they like about living in Parkes or Forbes, and so often they would say the community. I couldn’t agree more. I have never felt such a sense of community anywhere else, and the recent flood events once again demonstrated the abundance of kindness and generosity that binds us all together.

Sadly, it is time for me to say goodbye and leave my beloved Phoenix job. Thank you for sharing your stories with me, smiling for my photos and accepting me into the community. It has made me feel very welcome and helped me become Australian.

Maggi Barnard

With the deadline fast approaching, the Rotary Club of Forbes is once again calling on employer groups in Forbes or employees (18 – 28 age group) to nominate candidates to attend the 2023 Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA).

The 2023 RYLA will be held from 7th to 13th January at the Warrambui Retreat and Conference Centre in Murrumbateman, NSW.

Forbes Rotary President Chris Finkel said after all the strive caused by the floods, this was an excellent program to support young people in their leadership development. He said two current members of the club could not speak highly enough about the benefits of the program they had attended.

Rotary will make a generous subsidy towards the sponsorship fee for each participant, and may attract a further subsidy from the Robes Rotary Club depending on the applicant’s financial situation.

All applications need to be received by Monday, 5th December. There are only two spots left. Participants can complete an online application form by accessing https://forms.gle/bYo1tqn8GduCJ3kL9, or contact Forbes Rotary Youth Director Ross Williams on 0428 531 132.