Parkes Phoenix Editor

With some planning and a bit of creative thinking, there are plenty of activities you can do with your kids. Here are some ideas to get you started.

Plant a vegetable garden: Even if you only have a small outdoor area you can create a simple vegetable patch with your kids. If you don’t have a yard, you could plant seeds in pots and even decorate the pots. It is a good idea to choose fast growing plants so the kids can see the results quickly.

Camp out: Why not set up a tent in the backyard and have a night out camping? If the weather is bad you could set up your tent inside the house instead.

Cooking: Plan a day of cooking or baking with your kids – you could even have a cooking competition with members of the family. This is usually a popular activity because you get to eat the results.

Movie night: Borrow some movies from your local library, pop some popcorn and you’ll have an authentic cinema experience in your home.

Arts and crafts: Try face painting, paper mache, building a collage, painting or making masks or beaded jewellery.

Build a cubby: Who doesn’t love a pillow fort? Try building a cubby out of boxes, sheets or other things around the house. Putting sheets or blankets over a washing line or kitchen table can be a quick, fun way to make a hideout for your kids.

Treasure hunt: Hide some things around the house or yard and write some clues or create a treasure map to lead your kids on an exhilarating adventure with a prize at the end.

Stay active

Enjoy a game of squash at the Forbes Squash & Sporting Club. It’s not only a sport for all seasons but also for all ages and levels. Or for a real treat visit the Pee Wees Play Centre in Orange. Your kids won’t believe their eyes when they see the large threelevel play structure, jumping castles and ball pits!

Get Tapping These School Holidays

Ever been interested in learning how to tap dance? Kristens Dance Studio will be running a one-day beginner tap workshop for juniors and seniors at their studio on Friday, 12th October! The very talented tapper, Savanna Guglielmino from Griffith, will be conducting the tap classes.

The junior workshop will run for an hour and a half in the morning and the senior workshop will run for two hours in the afternoon. An array of tap related topics will be covered.

Contact Kristen if you are interested in attending the workshop on 0437 181 519.

Twelve nervous young people took to the dance floor to the delight of their families and friends to raise valuable funds for the Forbes Breast Cancer Support Group last Saturday.

The debutantes and their partners along with their gorgeous flower girls, Evie Nikolic and Sienna Gibson, and page boys, Jarrod Thornton and Maison Campbell, were presented to Denise Jelbart, representative of the Forbes Breast Cancer Support Group. Denise expressed her extreme gratitude that the group had chosen to support this worthy organisation and raised in excess of $1,500.

Dance instructor, Kate Ralph choreographed a beautiful dance to Parallel Lines by Keith Urban and Maria Bullock performed the duties of Master of Ceremonies for the evening.

The debutant group consisted of Jodi Williams and Xander Williams, Tahlia Harpur and Jack Peters, Zoe Willis and Corey Williams, Brielle Thornton and Jack Cole, Georgia Palazzi and Kyle Bolam and Bree Schaefer and Joe Fisher. They conducted fundraising barbeques, 100 clubs and raffles to raise money for their chosen charity and looked absolutely amazing on the night according to the event coordinator, Anita Morrison.

“I could not be happier with how this group has conducted themselves in the lead up to and on the day of the event. Families and friends of these young people should be extremely proud of what they have achieved in such a short amount of time,” said Anita.

With school holidays approaching, motorists are being reminded that double demerits will be in force. Police will be targeting speed, seatbelts, mobile phone use and motorcyclists not wearing helmets.

Double demerit points will be in force for four days commencing on Friday, 28th September and ending on Monday, 1st October (inclusive).

Parkes Highway Patrol Sergeant, Dearne Jeffree said there will be more police on the road which means a greater chance of drivers being caught if they are doing the wrong thing.

“Police enforcement figures show that double demerit points do deter motorists from speeding and not wearing their seatbelt/ helmet when roads are at their busiest.

“Drivers are reminded that the demerit points increased for mobile phone offences to five in mid-September, so drivers caught illegally using their phone could be at risk of losing their licence,” said Jeffree.

Parkes, Forbes and Lachlan Shire Councils’ Road Safety and Injury Prevention Officer, Melanie Suitor said: “Small reductions in speed can make a large difference to impact speeds, stopping distance and the time you have to take evasive action to avoid a collision occurring. All these things can mean the difference between life and death.

Just when you think you’ve seen the best Forbes has to offer, we manage to showcase even more talent! Forbes local, Matt Prow was named open division winner after wowing the adjudicators of the Forbes Karaoke & Talent Quest hosted by the Forbes Services Memorial Club last Friday.

Matt and 14 other finalists from three categories selected during heats held over the previous two Fridays, had to perform three songs during the Grand Final.

Matt’s impressive vocals and equally impressive dance moves made him a crowd favourite and sealed the deal for a win.

He also walked away with $600 from the $1,500 prize money that was up for grabs. Trina Dolan took second place and Lily Adele Gaffaney came third.

In the Junior division Georgia Goodrick came first, Hannah Dun took second place and Birdee Sideris came third. The Subjunior division winners were Gemma Ellis (first), Anabelle van Wyk (second) and Ebony Hopley (third).

Event organisers and professional performers, Bill Kosseris and Kirsten Minnick from Kosmik Country said: “Congratulations to not only the winners but to all of the entrants! The talent continues to amaze us and it is a great pleasure to provide this event on behalf of the Forbes Services Memorial Club and management.

“Obviously with such great entrants and patronage we will be able to make this an ongoing event. We have come to see the enormous talent and improved performances grow from competition to competition. If we can encourage the talent to shine as we know we can do then our connection with this event is very fulfilling indeed,” said Bill and Kirsten.

Other locals among the finalist were Katelin Small, Jade McGovern, Ryan Hennock and Luther Crawley.