Forbes Phoenix

Alf Davies Scores Repeat

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The Forbes golfers enjoyed the sunny weather for their competition play on Satur­day and as a welcome to the KENO Region­al Finalists on Sunday. The Saturday Men’s Competition was the October Monthly Med­al, sponsored by Forbes Concrete. The field of 71 players used the conditions to good effect.

The A-Grade Winner was Alf Davies with a nett 69. A double-bogey start gave him in­centive to fire up, to score well and to win consecutive Monthly Medals. Runner-up was Jono Roylance with 71 nett. He played solidly but had a few too many hiccups.

The B-Grade was won by Ash Hogan with a nett 68, although he was ineligible for the Medal. He played the back-9 well under his handicap. Runner-up was Pat Murphy with nett 70. After a shaky start he played the back-9 tidily.

The C-Grade went to Lachlan Alley with 69 nett. He scored well on the holes he hadmultiple shots on. Runner-up was Frank Hanns with 73 nett. He relished the return to his glory days.

The ball sweep went to 74 nett on count back. There were four visitors, two from Parkes and Wayne Ford (Wagga Wagga) and Steve Pike (Temora). The NTP’s went to: Anthony Alley; 18th: Brian Everest. Nei­ther of them scored a ‘2’. The 3rd hole Su­per Pin went to Robert Hey (Parkes) with a shot to 220 cm, but he also missed his ‘2’.On Sunday, Forbes hosted a KENO 2-Person Ambrose Regional Final with 70 players participating. Forbes success came through the Mixed Division win by Niel and Carolyn Duncan with a score of nett 63. In the Ladies Division Veronica Rebellato andAnn Simmons were runners-up on 70.5 nett. The Men’s Division was won on count back by James Smith and Ben O’Loughlin (Cootamundra) with 61.5 nett.

This Saturday, 4 October will be a Cana­dian Foursomes, sponsored by Peter Daw­son. Sunday and Monday have Stableford Medleys and the start of Daylight saving.

Plan Your Christmas Early With Buddy Boy Kitchen Parkes

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The calendar has a way of catching us off guard. One moment it is spring, and suddenly Christmas is here. At Buddy Boy Kitchen, we know how important it is to have a place ready for gathering, celebrating, and sharing meals.

That is why our Christmas Menu is available for groups of 15 or more, from 3 November to 20 December 2025. Whether it is colleagues toasting the end of a big year, or families coming to­gether before the holiday rush, our team makes planning simple and the celebrations effortless. Expect festive flavours, a warm atmosphere, and service designed to take the stress out of or­ganising. From Christmas ham and cured Salmon to filet mignon, pan-roasted turkey, and Christmas pudding.

A festive gathering is about more than what arrives at the table.

It is the laughter that lingers between courses, the conversations sparked over a glass of wine, and the small details that make a night feel unforgettable. At Buddy Boy Kitchen, we create the set­ting, you bring the people, and together the evening becomes a story worth remembering.

If you’re not ready to celebrate Christmas yet, we are also open for breakfast from 6:30am and dinner from 5:30pm, Monday to Sat­urday. Our restaurant serves Happy Hour everyday from 4:30pm to 6:00pm, there is no better way to raise a glass before a Christ­mas feast.

Do not wait until the calendar fills. Organise your festive gather­ing now. Christmas Menu bookings and details at buddyboykitch­en.com.au/christmas-functions-2025 or call 02 6862 5222.

The Little House

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On the way to work there is a little house. It sits off the side of the road, old brick chim­ney, nestled into the side of the house. It’s framed by large gum trees, glimmering in simple, understated beauty.

The kids are usually in the car, I point to it and tell them a story about who might have lived there, what life might have been like for them, it keeps them entertained for 5 minutes without an iPad so it’s a win.

Today, I drove by it alone, and I think about the woman who would have swept its floors every day, planted irises along the front, and cleaned out the fireplace. The stories it would hold.

Stories of a family sharing a bed, cud­dling to keep warm on a frosty morning. Of laughter, hot soup and tales being told be­side the glow of a fire.

The kids that grew up there wouldn’t have remembered if Mum rinsed the dishes or kept a clutter free house. But, they would remember her putting down the broom every now and then, running around out­side with them, peals of laughter echoing through the trees, making the gum leaves dance and glimmer with joy.

And so I drive home, ignore the dish­es, grab my boys and tickle them on the lounge, soaking up every laugh, smile and the sounds of their little voices. I ignore the ping of a new email coming in, the agitated beep of the washing machine’s completed cycle. And I think of the little house and its gum trees; smiling, nodding at me.

Bookings are now open for Kerin Health Mother’s Group, a place for new moth­ers and their babies to come together and share the adventure of Motherhood in a safe, supportive environment. To learn more, head to https://www.kerinhealth.com.au/mothers-group

What Do You Think About Inland Rail?

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Have you been keeping up with Inland Rail’s progress or would you like to know more about Australia’s largest infrastruc­ture project?Inland Rail Pty Ltd is constructing the Inland Rail project, a 1,600km freight line linking Melbourne to Brisbane via inland Australia. With a staged delivery approach, prioritising the construction between Bev­eridge, Vic, and Parkes. Regional NSW communities will continue to benefit from Inland Rail construction between now and 2027.

At Inland Rail, we need your feedback to make sure that what we say and do is meeting the needs and expectations of project communities. All we ask is 10 min­utes of your time to complete the survey at https://survey-au.yoursurveynow.com/sur­vey/selfserve/53b/2509241?list=0 Please complete this survey before Tuesday 7 Oc­tober 2025.

This survey is administered by independ­ent market research company, Veracity. All feedback is confidential with only summary responses reported to Inland Rail.

If you would like to complete the survey by phone, or if you have any questions re­garding this survey, or about Inland Rail in general, please call us on 1800 732 761 or visit inlandrail.info/learn-more for more information

Be Seen @ Galari River Arts

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Just Ad Kids: A three-day Filmmaking Program for Kids 10+ recently took place at the Club Forbes Auditorium over three days. On day one the kids learned about screenwriting, storyboarding, and casting. 

Day two, saw the kids bring the script to life. Rehearsing lines, learning acting techniques, and working together to get ready for the shoot. Taking on the role of both the cast and the crew to film their very own TV ads. 

The final day was all about bringing everything together! The basics of editing, including how to cut your footage, add sound effects, music, and other finishing touches.

Cash In On Clutter At The Garage Sale Trail

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Find out how a clear-out can give you more space, less stress, and even help the planet.

Following last year’s success, plenty of garage sales are expected across the Parkes Shire this November, as locals join over 400,000 Australians taking part in this year’s Garage Sale Trail – one of the country’s biggest second-hand shopping events.

Held over two weekends (8–9 and 15–16 November), the event sees thousands of garage sales pop up in streets, schools, front yards and community spaces around the country. Locals can host their own sale or join a market, taking part on one day or across both weekends.

Over 2,700 Parkes Shire residents par­ticipated in the two big weekends last No­vember extending the life of almost 8,500 pre-loved items.

“It’s a fun and meaningful way for locals to take climate action, meet their neigh­bours and make some extra cash,” said Parkes Shire Council’s Waste Manage­ment Coordinator, Sharyn Ware. “Garage Sale Trail makes it easy to give your stuff a second life – and keep it out of landfill.”

Registration is free and includes access to downloadable signs, how-to guides and promotion tools – making it easy to take part. Last year, the average seller made $499, proving that selling second hand is as good for the wallet as it is for the planet.

“There’s something for everyone – from designer fashion and retro homewares to kids’ toys, tools, plants and books,” said Sharyn.

NSW EPA Executive Director of Pro­grams and Innovation Alexandra Geddes said, “Garage Sale Trail is a fantastic cam­paign that supports the NSW Government’s target to reduce waste and illegal dumping.

“By taking part, you’ll be part of contribut­ing to a more circular economy by getting as much use out of products and materials as possible and helping us generate less waste.”

Participation is free thanks to the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) and Parkes Shire Council. Register now at bit.ly/GarageSaleTrailParkesShire.

Nominations Open For 2026 Forbes Shire Australia Day Awards

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Image (L-R) – Councillor Aiden Clarke, Acting General Manager Richard Jane, Mayor Phyllis Miller OAM, 2025 Forbes Shire Citizen of the Year Maree Yapp, 2025 Australia Day Ambassador Ange Clarke, Councillor Brian Mattiske and Deputy Mayor Chris Roylance.

Do you know someone who goes above and beyond for our community? Now is the time to give them the recognition they deserve with nominations open for the Forbes Shire Citizen of the Year, Senior Citizen of the Year and Young Citizen of the Year Awards.

These prestigious awards celebrate locals who show a consistent record of excellence, have made outstanding achievements and contribute significantly to our community.

Forbes Shire Council Mayor, Phyllis Miller OAM said the awards are an important way to shine a light on the people who make Forbes such a strong and vibrant commu­nity.

“Our community is full of people who go the extra mile. Whether it’s through vol­unteering, leadership, or simply lending a hand when it’s needed most. This is a won­derful opportunity to recognise the remark­able people around us. Nominating them is a simple but meaningful way to show your gratitude and celebrate their efforts,” the Mayor said.

The 2025 Forbes Shire Citizen of the Year, was Maree Yapp who received her award atthe 2025 Australia Day Gala Dinner. Ma­ree was recognised for her volunteer work supporting young families, championing the arts and environment.

Any resident is eligible for Citizen of the Year, while Young Citizen of the Year is open to residents aged 25 or younger. Anyone aged 65 years or older is eligible for Sen­ior Citizen of the Year. Nominations close Friday 16 January 2026. Nomination forms can be downloaded from Council’s website or collected from Forbes Shire Council’s of­fice at 2 Court Street, Forbes. Completed forms can be returned by email to communi­ty@forbes.nsw.gov.au or posted to PO Box 333, Forbes NSW 2871. Award winners will be chosen by a judging panel made up of community representatives and announced at the 2026 Australia Day celebrations in Forbes.

Special Thanks To Parkes College For Seniors

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Jenny McLeod, Parkes and Forbes McDonalds Fran­chisee owner and Board Member Ronald McDonald House Central West, Geoff Rice, Board Member Ronald McDonald House Central West and Rebecca Walsh, Executive Officer Ronald McDonald House Central West.

The Parkes College for Seniors generous­ly donated a collection of knitted items for Ronald McDonald House Charities Central West. Ronald McDonald House Central West has been receiving support from the Parkes College for Seniors Group for many years knitting items for our families such as blankets, teddys, booties and beanies. To celebrate the 10th anniversary of Ronald McDonald House Central West the Group created dolls of Ronald McDonald, Gri­mace, Hamburglar and Birdie the Early Bird.

You can bid on an item even if you are not able to go to the Ball. Follow link to bid htt­ps://galabid.com/orange2025

Be Seen @ Parkes Shire Library

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Parkes Library has been thrilled with the response to their travelling exhibition Questacon housed in the Coventry Gallery. We’ve seen hundreds of school kids and community members visit and attempt to solve these tricky challenges! Adults will quickly discover that these activities and problems aren’t just for the kids.

 

Questacon’s travelling exhibition Fascinating Science is a free interactive exhibition that covers everyday scientific principles and problem solving puzzles in a fun, hands-on way. The exhibition mainly targets visitors aged 8 to 14 years, but can be enjoyed by people of all ages.

 

Questacon is open each day during the School Holidays from 9.30am – 5pm and on weekends from 10am – 2:00pm. Questacon finishes on 31 October. Closed Labour day public holiday.

Snippets…

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Local filmmaker, Dane Millerd with Tree Faerie (far right) facilitators of “Just Ad Kids”, with assistance from Galari – river – Arts Forbes Inc members Kathy and Maree.

Galari – River – Arts Forbes Inc: Day one of Just Ad Kids, did not disappoint. Brain­storming, ideas forming and creative con­nections. Kids from different schools and different towns came together. Bonds were made and new skills were learnt. Huge shoutout to Club Forbes for sponsoring Just Ad Kids and thanks to Forbes Shire Council for their support. Biggest thanks to Dane Millerd for trusting us with his idea, and Tree Faerie for her creative genius and energy. Stay tuned for Day two, when these little legends start filming their ad!

Parkes Shire Council: Council is seeking community feedback on two important draft studies: Draft Parkes Town Centre Flood and Drainage Study: bit.ly/3JVPKIW Draft East Parkes Flood Study: bit.ly/4n3Bw7p Both studies are on public exhibition un­til 5pm Monday 13 October. Submissions can be made in writing via: email coun­cil@parkes.nsw.gov.au, post The General Manager (Draft Parkes East Flood Study), Parkes Shire Council, PO Box 337, Parkes NSW 2870 or in-person at Council’s Ad­ministration Centre. Help shape the future of flood management in our community.

R U OK? The signs that someone is do­ing it tough might not be obvious. Connec­tion and kindness can help them feel less alone. It might take someone a while to open up about how they’re feeling. If you’re worried about them, let them know you care and will be there for them. And con­tinue to check in so when they are ready to talk, they know who to turn to. For more conversation tips, visit: www.ruok.org.au/how-to-ask

Forbes Shire Council: Were you part of the magic of Street Dreams 2025? We’d love to hear what you thought. Street Dreams was the first in a three-year series and your feedback will help us shape future festivals and make them even better. Share your thoughts and ideas by completing our short online survey: https://yoursay.forbes.nsw.gov.au/street-dreams-2025-feedback

Parkes Early Childhood Centre Inc: Chil­dren and staff enjoyed listening to Sen­ior Constable Mullins about keeping safe on our bikes. We also had our helmets checked by Haylee and Kylie from Trans­port NSW. Did you know that children aged under 12 years must ride on the footpath when out with their families in the commu­nity? We had so much fun!

Celebrating Bike Safety with the Bilawi Children a Parkes Early Childhood Centre.

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