Roxane Manley

Snippets…

January 7, 2026 by Roxane Manley

Don’t Forget Your Parkes Elvis Festival Merch: Available during the festival, 2026 Parkes Elvis Festival Official Merchandise range in-store at ‘Elvis Central’ located on Festival Blvd, plus we have an exclusive range only available upstairs at the Parkes Leagues Club during the Feature Concert Shows. Note: Our clothing and souvenir range is available in store only at the Festival and is not available online.

The NSW TrainLink Elvis Express is proudly supported by Transport for NSW.

Parkes Elvis Express: Let the Festival fun begin! Parkes Railway Station will turn into party central at 3:30pm on Wednesday 7 January when The NSW TrainLink Elvis Express rolls into town. Come along, bring your best dance moves, and welcome the festival crew in true rock ‘n’ roll style.

Amitie: It’s the most wonderful time of the year, it’s the Parkes Elvis Festival 2026 and we are so excited to welcome you all to our fabulous town. Throughout the festival we will be performing practically everywhere so come along, say hi and join in on all of the festival fun.

Parkes Shire Concert Band: Musicians are invited to join the Parkes Shire Concert band in the Evolution Mining Northparkes Operations Street Parade on Festival Boulevard. Taking place on Saturday 10 January from 9am – 10am, come along and enjoy the party. Contact Music Director Duncan Clement on 0405 035 164.

Can Assist Parkes: Don’t let those empty bottles and cans go to waste! You can turn your recyclables into real support for country cancer patients by choosing CanAssist at your local Return and Earn machine. A small act can make a big difference.

Bluey Live Interactive Experience: See Bluey and her little sister Bingo during their Live Interactive Experience at Cooke Park Main Stage. Get ready to play Magic Asparagus, Magic Xylophone, Keepy Uppy and more with your favourite Heeler duo. Saturday 10 January, 10:45am on the Cooke Park Main Stage (after the Parade) This is a free event.

Cool Off In The Parkes Region Pools: Including Parkes Aquatic Centre, Peak Hill Pool, Trundle Pool, Tullamore Pool. Kelly Reserve Splash Park, is a free water play area for kids, offering shaded seating and picnic spots. Lake Endeavour is also a scenic spot for swimming, kayaking and picnics surrounded by nature. Pack your swimmers and make a splash. For more information visit: bit.ly/4fWlQzW

Don’t miss your chance to take home a piece of Elvis magic.

Enjoy the 2026 Parkes Elvis Festival!

January 7, 2026 by Mayor Neil Westcott

Welcome to the 2026 Parkes Elvis Festival! It is a great pleasure to welcome Elvis fans from across Australia and around the world to our vibrant community. Now in its 33rd year, the Festival continues to shine as a premier event on the Australian calendar and is proudly recognised as a NSW Government Foundation Event. Each year, thousands gather in Parkes to celebrate the enduring legacy of Elvis Presley.

This year is especially meaningful as we commemorate what would have been Elvis’ 91st birthday. Our 2026 theme, Love Me Tender, inspired by his 1956 film debut and iconic song, sets the tone for a heartfelt celebration of devotion, joy and timeless charm. From western flair and familyfriendly activities to dancing competitions and live entertainment, there is truly something for everyone.

We are delighted to welcome back popular festival favourites, including the Miss Priscilla Dinner, the Evolution Mining Northparkes Operations Street Parade, and the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest, with the winner earning the chance to compete in Memphis. The Elvis Wall of Fame induction at the Gates of Gracelands will honour Marcia Hines, followed by her spectacular Disco Inferno show.

On behalf of Parkes Shire Council, I sincerely thank our volunteers, sponsors, local businesses, staff and community for their passion and support. To our visitors, enjoy the Festival and explore all that the Parkes Shire has to offer.

Enjoy the 2026 Parkes Elvis Festival!
Mayor Neil Westcott

Castle Fit For A King: The Story Of Greg Page’s Elvis Museum In Parkes

January 7, 2026 by Roxane Manley

Tucked inside the Henry Parkes Centre stands a treasure trove that feels a world away from the Central West, it’s known as the King’s Castle, and is a tribute to the life and legend of Elvis Presley. What began as a personal passion for Greg Page, best known as the original Yellow Wiggle, has grown into one of Australia’s most remarkable private Elvis Presley collections.

Greg, a lifelong Elvis devotee, started gathering memorabilia long before the spotlight found him. His collection evolved from small keepsakes to rare and extraordinary artefacts, stage-worn costumes, personal items, vintage merchandise, and pieces that offer intimate glimpses into Elvis’s life and career.

When Greg chose Parkes as the home for his “King’s Castle,” it cemented the town’s unique connection to the global Elvis community.

Visitors wander through themed rooms glowing with nostalgia. Glass cabinets shimmer with rhinestones, iconic jumpsuits stand proudly on display, and handwritten letters remind guests of the man behind the music. Each item comes with a story, many told directly by Greg through video narration, creating an immersive journey that feels both personal and reverent.

More than a museum, King’s Castle is a labour of love and a gift to Elvis fans who travel from across Australia and beyond to experience its magic. It stands as a testament to how one person’s dedication can ignite a legacy.

Open every day, all year round and the perfect place to visit during the festival.

Bob And Anne’s Unforgettable Meeting With Priscilla Presley

January 7, 2026 by Roxane Manley

In November last year, Parkes Elvis Festival founders Bob and Anne Steel had the privilege of a one-on-one meeting with Priscilla Presley, at the State Theatre in Sydney prior to her show “Life After Elvis.”

Bob said, “I thought she was very approachable and I quite enjoyed being with her.” We asked Bob if hugging Priscilla was allowed, but he assured us, “Oh no, she hugged me.”

Anne laughed when recalling Bob said to Priscilla, “Give me your hand,” to which Priscilla asked why? Bob simply told her, “Because I want to hold it.”

What did they chat abut with Priscilla? “She talked about Elvis’ popularity. She’s very aware of the Parkes Elvis Festival, she knows it, and she’s over the moon that we’ve done it,” said Bob.

Bob and Anne’s daughter Tiffany told Priscilla they would love to have her at the Parkes Elvis Festival. There was some family debate as to her response to the invitation, with both Tiffany and Anne claiming Priscilla said, “You never know,” while Bob is adamant she said “Never say never!” It was agreed to let Bob have the last word on this one.

After her star encounter, while waiting for the others at bottom of the stairs of the theatre, Anne smiled at those who seemed to recognise her. People started approaching her, to share their own stories of the Parkes Elvis Festival, further proving its appeal.

12 Days Of Double Demerits For The Christmas Holidays

December 18, 2025 by Roxane Manley

Acting Sergeant Joshua Tolley who said “There will be more Police on the roads which means a greater chance of drivers being caught if they are doing the wrong thing.”

Double demerit points will be in force for 12 consecutive days over the Christmas and New Year period to improve road safety during the holiday season.

Parkes, Forbes and Lachlan Shire Councils’ Road Safety and Injury Prevention Officer, Melanie Suitor, said that double demerit points would run from Wednesday 24 December 2025 to Sunday 4 January 2026, inclusive for all speeding, seatbelt, motorcycle helmet and mobile phone offences.

Ms Suitor said “Drivers should ensure that they are well rested and not under the influence of drugs or alcohol before they get behind the wheel. While driving, focus on driving. Don’t allow yourself to be distracted by your mobile phone, follow the road rules and drive at a speed suitable to conditions.

And please make sure that you and your passengers are buckled up.

“Drivers should also check that their vehicle is ready for the journey too – check the brakes and tyres, check the levels of your engine oil, coolant and windscreen washer reservoir, make sure all your lights and indicators are working and ensure you have clear view,” Ms Suitor said.

Parkes Highway Patrol Acting Sergeant Joshua Tolley is warning drivers that they are at greatest risk of losing their licence during this period. “Too often we see the tragic aftermath of drivers making poor decisions. No-one wants to get a fine, lose their licence or worse still be involved in a crash.

Mayoral Notes

December 18, 2025 by Mayor Phyllis Miller

The final touches are nearing completion on Johnny Woods Crossing. The extension of the footpath, connecting the new section with the existing pathway, creates a seamless link for walkers, runners and cyclists to enjoy.

Funded through the NSW Public Spaces Legacy Fund, the redevelopment has enhanced pedestrian access and safety, as well as improved flood resilience.

I’m excited to share that the Lions Park playground reopened on Saturday, just in time for the school holidays. A huge thank you to our Projects Team for planning, delivering, and testing the new equipment to ensure everything was ready for families to enjoy.

This upgrade was part of the Forbes Lake Activation Parks and Amenities Resilience & Betterment Project, jointly funded by the Australian and NSW Governments under the Community Assets Program.

Council has recently seen a rise in nonflushable items entering the sewer network. Items like baby wipes and “flushable” wipes, sanitary products, nappies, cotton buds, and even cutlery and sprinkler heads have been causing serious blockages.

These items lead to costly repairs and increased staff exposure to raw sewage when manually clearing the blockages.

Please help us keep the sewer network running smoothly by only flushing the three P’s – pee, poo, and toilet paper. Everything else belongs in the bin.

There will be a number of changes to Council’s operations heading into the festive season.

Forbes Waste Facility will be closed on Christmas Day. If your usual roadside bin collection day is Thursday, please place your bins out on Christmas Eve. The drivers will start extra early on Christmas morning to complete their rounds so that they can spend the remainder of the day with their families.

Forbes Visitor Information Centre will close on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

Council’s Administration Office will close from midday on Christmas Eve and reopen at 8:30am, Monday 5 January 2026.

Essential services will continue to operate during this period. We wish everyone a safe, happy, and relaxing festive season!

God Bless
Mayor Phyllis Miller OAM

Snippets…

December 18, 2025 by Roxane Manley

Thanks for helping make everyday living brighter in Forbes this Christmas – your support is appreciated.

K-HUB Forbes: The Kmart Wishing Tree Appeal is back at K-hub Forbes. If you are in the position to brighten someone’s Christmas this year, you can drop a new, unwrapped gift under the tree in store which will then be collected by our local Salvation Army for local children in need this Christmas.

R U OK? As all of us process recent distressing events, please know that support is available. It’s normal to have feelings of sadness, anger, hopelessness, or to feel overwhelmed. You can find a full list of free and confidential support services at https://bit.ly/3Me8D6Y

Rural Women’s Network: Know someone doing great things in vocational education and training? Nominations are open for the 2026 NSW Training Awards. From learners to teachers, apprentices to organisations – there’s a category for everyone. Apply today! https://education.nsw.gov.au/skillsnsw/nsw-training-awards/how-to-enter

NSW Health: If someone is experiencing mental health distress, or you are worried about your own or someone else’s mental health, contact:

• Lifeline (24/7) crisis support 13 11 14

• Kids Helpline (24/7) support for children or young adults 1800 55 1800

• Beyond Blue (24/7) for mental health advice and support 1300 22 4636

• Mental Health Line (24/7) on 1800 011 511 for advice and connection to specialist mental health services

• Transcultural Mental Health Line (Mon to Fri, 9am – 4.30pm) 1800 648 911.

In a life-threatening emergency, call Triple Zero (000). For more: www.health.nsw.gov.au/mentalhealth/Pages/services.aspx

WIRES: Every year, WIRES assists many orphaned animals whose parents have perished on our roads. This is a difficult and time consuming responsibility shouldered by our carers. It is one they graciously accept. But without your support, many animals would not receive this life saving care. Learn more at https://hubs.la/Q03Y4Vqt0

Parkes Clean Future Alliance: With your help we can fight the NSW Government’s plan to send Sydney’s red-bin waste hundreds of kilometres to Parkes, to a waste incinerator near our farms, schools and homes. The Public Health Association of Australia states new incinerators should not be located near areas of food production and food grown near these facilities should not be consumed. Donate if you can and please share www.parkescleanfuture.org/action/donate

Be Seen @ Forbes North Public School

December 18, 2025 by Roxane Manley

Our Stage 2 students had an amazing time celebrating together with delicious pizza, yummy poppers, and lots of smiles and laughter.

It was wonderful to see everyone enjoying themselves and sharing such a fun, positive experience.

Thank you to Dominos Pizza Forbes for providing the delicious pizzas. What an amazing way to finish a fabulous year.

Forbes Garden Club Final Report For 2025

December 18, 2025 by Green Thumb

Claire Haley, Michelle Mahlo and Robyn Liebich at the FGC Christmas luncheon.

Forbes Garden Club held our last meeting for the year at the Vandenberg Hotel recently, as we celebrated with a Christmas Lunch. President Marg Dent and helpers on the day had the Christmas decorations looking very festive, and over 30 members arrived, all dressed with a touch of Christmas.

The best dressed prize on the day went to Dave Sanderson with his marvelous Christmas hat.

Once everyone was seated Marg entertained with lots of jokes, presents and fun filled competitions, and all of our members showed their amazing skills whilst playing along.

The winners of the monthly flower competition for the year were Denise Thurston who took out 1st place, Lee Sanderson with 2nd place and Noel Hocking with 3rd place, each were presented with a lovely gift.

Our members were rewarded with a baked dinner served by our hosts at The Vandenberg Hotel, followed by a delicious apple crumble and ice cream. Not one person left hungry at the end of the celebration.

The Forbes Garden Club will now be in recess until the next meeting which will be held at the Forbes Men’s Shed on 24 February 2026 at 2pm, this will be our AGM.

Members of the Forbes Garden Club want to wish everyone happy gardening over the summer heat, and are looking forward to more rain.

A big thank you to club President Marg Dent, Secretary Robin Lyell, Treasurer Lloyd Gerdis, Programme organiser Denise Thurston and all of the committee members who made this a very enjoyable year.

Wishing all of the Forbes Garden Club and the Forbes Community a Happy Christmas and safe New Year.

By Green Thumb

Wild Summer Fun At Taronga Western Plains Zoo

December 18, 2025 by Roxane Manley

New arrivals are making a splash at Taronga Western Plains Zoo – NSW’s Best Major Tourist Attraction – this summer. The Dubbo Zoo, which claimed the gong at the recent NSW Tourism Awards, has welcomed four Black-handed Spider Monkey babies, three African Lion cubs, two Quokka joeys and a critically endangered Scimitar-horned Oryx calf this year.

“Lion cubs Kaari, Mzuri and Nguvu have turned into quite the handful for parents Marion and Lwazi as well as their four big sisters,” said Director Steve Hinks. “They love playing with and pouncing on their siblings, as well as anything they find in their exhibit from balls to sticks and even tree roots!” The best time to see the cubs is between 10am and 10:30am.

The Black-handed Spider Monkey troop has welcomed four new arrivals to the Primate Islands on Savannah Lake, and the awesome foursome can be spotted from Cafe Wild. The best time to see the troop is at the Spider Monkey feed between 12:30pm and 1pm daily.

The final new arrival is a Scimitar-horned Oryx calf. “This calf is a fantastic little ambassador for his species, which is a true conservation success story. Once extinct in the wild, Scimitar-horned Oryx were reintroduced to their native Chad by a coalition of zoos from the USA and Europe in recent years and have since been reclassified as critically endangered,” Mr Hinks said.

Taronga Western Plains Zoo is open every day of the year including Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. All tickets are valid for two days and include access to more than 10 free keeper activities, The Waterhole waterplay area, Waterhole Cafe and Frozen Coke Kiosk between 10am and 3pm. You can buy tickets online at taronga.org.au

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