Roxane Manley

Snippets…

October 9, 2025 by Roxane Manley

Teamwork in action.

Forbes Shire Council: On 5 October, Council’s Projects and Town Presentation Grants teams joined forces to lay 3,000 square metres of fresh turf at Lions Park. A fantastic example of collaboration across departments, making a real difference for our community spaces. The Lions Park improvement works are part of the Forbes Lake Activation Parks and Amenities Resilience and Betterment Project, jointly funded by the Australian and NSW Governments under the Community Assets Program. Learn more about the project here www.forbes.nsw.gov.au/major-projects

Gooloogong Recreation Park Markets: Sunday 12 October starting 9am – 1pm. Gooloogong Park Markets. Come along for a great day out. Coffee, BBQ, Donuts, Japanese, gluten free crepes, pies, fresh sweets, art, soaps, bric a brac, resin, candles, crystals, macrame, fabric, clothing, something for everyone. Make the trip, as always EFT can out so please bring cash.

Mental Health Australia: October 10 is World Mental Health Day. This year, Mental Health Australia is encouraging everyone to connect with the communities that matter most. Connection helps us feel cared for and supported, and that’s vital for good mental health. This October, reach out to your federal parliamentarian and let them know that mental health matters to you. Learn how here: https://bit.ly/4pPKbMr

Flannery’s Pharmacy: This October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australia. Regular check-ups and screenings are one of the best ways to detect breast cancer early. If you’re unsure when your next check should be, pop in to ask our friendly pharmacy team for guidance. We’re back with our Pink October Ladies Night where we discuss the many health issues plaguing women in Australia. Head to https://www.eventbrite.com/e/flannerys-ladies-night-2025-tickets-1689921734399 and book your seat for 30 October.

Parkes Shire Council: Parkes Shire Council is proud to announce its successful participation in the NSW Government’s Fresh Start Program, unlocking exciting employment opportunities for jobseekers and young people across the region. Through this program, Parkes Shire Council has secured funding for 11 new roles across rounds one and two, with 100% wage support and 15% on-costs covered by the NSW Government. These roles span a variety of fields, offering people a valuable entry point into local government. For more information, visit Current vacancies Parkes Shire Council.

Join Parkes Shire Council.

Free Workshops To Help You Understand Medicines

October 9, 2025 by Roxane Manley

Community members across Central West NSW are invited to attend a free workshop held between October 20 to 24 in Wellington, Cowra, Canowindra, Grenfell or Parkes.

These interactive workshops are designed for anyone who takes medicines or cares for someone who does – including family members, carers and support workers.

Western NSW Primary Health Network (WNSWPHN) is funding these workshops.

They are led by expert pharmacists John Woodward and Lisa Pulver from MedicinesEd. Each workshop includes a free morning or afternoon tea, and offers a relaxed, welcoming environment to learn, ask questions, and share experiences.

“We want people to feel confident when using medicines,” says Lisa Pulver. “These workshops are about giving people practical tools and knowledge to make safe, informed choices.”

The workshops in Wellington and Grenfell will be held as yarning circles, thoughtfully created for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members, where everyone is welcome. These sessions will offer a culturally safe space to share stories, ask questions, and learn from each other.

Whether you’re managing your own medicines or supporting someone else, these workshops will help you feel more confident and informed.

• Wellington: Monday, 20 October, 10am – 12:30pm, WINS Community Centre

• Cowra: Tuesday, 21 October, 12:30pm – 3pm, Information Neighbourhood Centre

• Canowindra: Wednesday, 22 October 10am–12:30pm, Connections Centre

• Grenfell: Thursday, 23 October 10am–12pm, venue to be confirmed

• Parkes: Friday, 24 October, 10am–12:30pm, Neighbourhood Central

To book call John on 0406 730 656.

Flannery’s Pink October Ladies Night

October 9, 2025 by Roxane Manley

The large crowd that attended last year’s Pink October Ladies Night at Flannery’s Pharmacy.

Everyone is invited to join the Flannery’s Pharmacy team for their annual Pink October Ladies Night on Thursday 30 October, 6pm at Flannery’s Pharmacy. There will be something for everyone, so head along and get some information, whether it’s for yourself, a friend or loved one.

Information on the evening will cover heart disease – the leading cause of death for women worldwide, osteoporosis, healthy living to help in these areas,in addition to breast cancer.

All attendees on the evening will receive a free pink goodie bag packed with information, samples and pamper goods to take home. There will be merchandise for sale, and nibbles and bubbles from 5.30pm, so arrive early.

Forbes’ Flannery’s Pharmacy Pink October Ladies Night started in 2023 when a NSW Women’s Health Nurse was visiting the store periodically and Flannery’s Pharmacy wanted to get the word out about how she could support the female community throughout the different stages of life.

In order to cover a wider range of health issues, they also invited Physiotherapist, Matiese Byrnes and Naturopath, Alice Flannery. The aim was also to discuss the importance of Pink October, so breast cancer nurse Di Green also joined in to discuss the importance of regular breast screening and self checks. Di will be there to explain it all again this coming Ladies Night on 30 October. There’s no cure for cancer and early detection is key as this dramatically improves survival rates and treatment optionsCustomers can call to put their name down or head to www.eventbrite.com.au to book online. Bookings are preferred as refreshments will be provided on the night.

There are just 100 spots available.

Flannery’s are also running a raffle through the month of October with an evergrowing hamper of goods, head in store to purchase your tickets.

Exciting Roles To Shape Future Of Forbes

October 9, 2025 by Roxane Manley

Step into a leadership role and guide our teams to help make Forbes shine. Apply for the roles of Team Leader – Water Construction and Team Leader – CBD Presentation.

These roles offer the opportunity to guide teams, deliver quality outcomes, and contribute to the presentation and infrastructure of our Shire.

Applications are closing soon. Apply at: www.forbes.nsw.gov.au/paid-employment

We welcome applicants from all walks of life. If you need adjustments to help you through the process, contact people@forbes.nsw.gov.au.

Council is seeking a passionate leader to head up our Suburban Presentation Team.

In this role, you will lead and coordinate a team to deliver quality outcomes in line with Council’s programs, plan and schedule work while ensuring safety protocols are followed, interact with the community and support all aspects of town presentation, bring your passion for horticulture and gardening to enhance our suburbs. If you love plants, people, and keeping our town looking its best, apply now. Applications close Sunday 12 October, www.forbes.nsw.gov.au.

Council is also seeking an experienced administrator ready to lead, mentor and inspire our Business Support and Customer Service Team. In this role you will oversee counter services, call centre, records, and customer requests, provide executive and administrative support across all Council divisions, coach and develop a professional, multi-skilled team and plan, schedule, and ensure high-quality service delivery. If you have top-notch admin, editing, and MS365 skills, and a passion for leading, apply now.

Applications close Sunday 12 October.

Why Young Australians Need Resilience, Not Just Restrictions

October 9, 2025 by Roxane Manley

As more than 200,000 Year 12 students across Australia prepare for their ATAR exams, the stress they face highlights a bigger national issue: too many young Australians are entering adulthood without the coping skills to manage life’s challenges. Without those tools, pressures can accumulate and contribute to serious mental health consequences – with suicide now the leading cause of death among 15-24 year olds.

At the same time, the Federal Government is preparing to tighten restrictions on young people’s access to social media, acknowledging growing concerns about its role in anxiety, loneliness, cyberbullying and harmful self-comparison. While reducing harmful online influences may provide some relief, bans alone will not solve the problem. Children also need to be equipped with the skills to manage stress, build resilience, and seek support much earlier.

LifeChanger Foundation is a preventative youth mental health and wellbeing non-profit that empowers young people to thrive. Through evidence-based school and community programs, it builds the social, emotional and resilience skills young people need to navigate life’s challenges.

For information about LifeChanger www.lifechanger.org.au

The Need For Nuclear Proven

October 9, 2025 by Roxane Manley

The Leibstadt Nuclear Power Plant in Switzerland. By Hansueli Krapf – Own work: Hansueli Krapf (User Simisa (talk · contribs)), CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=110649554

Leader of The Nationals David Littleproud said the ground-breaking comprehensive truth data’ of Labor’s renewables rollout proves the need for nuclear power in Australia.

Mr Littleproud said the Rainforest Reserves Australia and Steven Nowakowski analysis, which can be found at https://www.rainforestreserves.org.au/renewablestruthmap shows the shocking impact Labor’s all-renewables plan will cause on agriculture land, pristine natural landscapes and regional communities.

The mapping outlines the scale and size of every site in Australia and the footprint it will leave, with clickable, real-time data. It shows the vast amount of land being taken up by Labor’s 1126 projects, requiring 44,895.5 kilometres of new haulage roads for more than 300 wind projects, along with an additional 443,000 hectares of prime and for 545 new solar projects. The total number of solar panels proposed totals a staggering 584 million.

“This mapping vindicates The Nationals’ calls for nuclear to remain a key policy for the Coalition,” Mr Littleproud said. “We need to lift the nuclear moratorium for a balanced and technology neutral energy mix if we want to save what’s left of our agricultural land and our forests from Labor’s all-renewables approach.

“Australians need to understand, this mapping shows Labor is destroying the very thing we are trying to protect – the environment.

Environmentalist Steven Nowakowski said the mapping, released today, is the most comprehensive to date. “This is a trillion-dollar industry yet no one has done this mapping before,” Mr Nowakowski said.

The Journey Of Bartley’s Barkers

October 9, 2025 by Roxane Manley

Gail designed her paddock to disrupt and engage, there are other dog smells, roo’s, sheep, and plants smells. All designed to distract the dog while training, one of the goals is to get the dog to focus on you the owner instead of the distractions.

Gail Richardson, owner of Bartley’s Barkers, was born in Narrabri NSW in 1968 but now calls Parkes home. Bartleys Barkers had been many years in the making. In fact, the vision first began to take shape in Gail’s mind more than twenty years ago. Gail said “I knew I wanted to create something meaningful, something that combined my love of dogs with a service that could truly make a difference for people and their beloved companions.”

“When I completed my studies, I was both proud and humbled to achieve nine High Distinctions and one Distinction. These results gave me the confidence to move forward with my dream: to provide accessible, reliable dog training and support services, not only face-to-face but also online.”

“Living in rural and regional communities myself, I understand how challenging it can be to access professional dog training compared to the services available in big cities. In metropolitan areas, training often comes with a hefty price tag, making it out of reach for many. For me, it was essential to ensure that families in country areas could still afford quality help for their dogs and puppies.” said Gail

At the heart of Bartley’s Barkers is the belief that responsible dog ownership is both powerful and life-changing. Knowledge is the key—understanding the simple “do’s and don’ts,” learning to read a dog’s body language, and gaining confidence in your role as a leader. These things may sound small, but they are absolute game changers. With the right guidance, owners don’t just train their dogs—they build a partnership that results in a loyal, confident, and much-loved family member.

Gail’s training facilities are located at 78 Lindsay Thomas Rd.Parkes and she can be contacted on 0408 968 175 or at happydog.happylife14@gmail.com or find Bartleys Barkers on Facebook

Low Scores In Canadian Foursomes

October 9, 2025 by Short Putt

Jake Banks about to send his drive down the 12th hole.

The long weekend brought great golfing weather which contributed to the low scores returned by the Forbes golfers in Saturday’s competition.The event was a Canadian Foursomes sponsored by Peter Dawson.

Most of the field of 66 players got off to an early start with only a few late starters.

The winning pair were Niel Duncan and Stephen Uphill who came in with a nett 66.

They turned at 1-over and despite a few hiccups on the back-9 used their handicap well.

The runners-up were the pair of Sam Williams and Jarrod Andrews who just missed out with their 66.5 nett but got through on count back. They had an even card of 40- 40 but needed a few birdies.

The ball sweep went to 68 nett on count back. Two visitors were in the field – Jarrod Andrews (Mudgee GC) and Jack Sharkey (Dubbo GC). Both were pleased with their games. The NTP’s were well contested and went to: 9th Allan Rees; 18th Shane Sallaway. Both of them converted for a ‘2’. The 3rd hole Super Pin went to Ecky Dawson with a shot to 62 cm which made for an easy ‘2’. He looks to be in form for the Championships.

Our Club Championships begin this weekend with rounds on 11 and 12 October.

The final rounds will be played on 18 and 19 October. Players please note that the Mixed Foursomes Championships originally scheduled for Sunday 26 October has been shifted to Sunday 2 November. This Saturday, 11 October is Round 1 of the Championships with Round 2 played on Sunday 12 October.

By Short Putt

Lachlan Valley Branch Spring Walks Calendar

October 9, 2025 by Roxane Manley

The Lachlan Valley Bushwalkers Group have a number of upcoming walks:

• Tuesday 2 September – Gunning Gap NP: Meet Forbes Railway Station 9.30am. Some off-track but quite easy, 3-4kms walk in morning, lunch at lagoon nearby. Leader Peter Cannon 6866 1225.

• Saturday 20 September – Glen Echo Trail: Towards Mt Taylor, starting from Juliet and Hugh’s property. Meet at 10.00am at Glen Echo, 305 Puzzleflat Lane, Eugowra (contact leader for directions if unsure) 5- 6kms medium – hard (different route than previous walk). Leader Juliet Hunt 0432 470 025.

• Tuesday 30 September – Wombin State Forest: Meet at Bushmans Dam, Kelly Reserve cnr Thomas St and Peak Hill Rd at 9.00am 5kms easy on/off track. Should be good for birds. Leader Martin Bell 0429 346 586.

• Thursday 16 October – Bumberry Ridge: Meet 9.00am at Lions Park Molong Rd, Parkes. 7kms medium, some off track Leader Martin Bell 0429 346 586.

Please contact the listed walk leader the night before the walk if you intend to come.

A $2 donation for each walker is hugely appreciated. Walkers are reminded to bring along enough food and water for the entire day as well as suitable clothing, footwear, hat and sunscreen.

RAAF Roulettes Aerobatic Team At Parkes Airport

October 9, 2025 by Roxane Manley

Friday October 10th come along and see the RAAF Roulettes Aerobatic Team who will be at Parkes Airport from 11.15am and on arrival will practice their aerial routine for the performance at the Bathurst Car Races. They will depart around 3pm to do their display at Bathurst.

The Roulettes display will be best be viewed from the Terminal Car Park adjacent to the Museum which will be open to all visitors.

Searching for a great place to take the kids to during the school holidays, why not take them to the Aviation Museum at Parkes Airport, located in a former RAAF hangar, where kids can sit in helicopters and aircraft and feel the experience of being a pilot.

The Museum has a range of aircraft to view that range from a recently retired AP3-C Orion maritime reconnaissance aircraft to a replica Fokker Tri plane, the Red Baron from WW1.

The Museum will be open from 9.30am to 3.30pm on Friday and the remainder of the school holidays with admission cost of $30 for a family of 2 adults and 2 children and $5 for children under 16.

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