It was another great Sunday at Generosity Church Parkes.
We love seeing the smiles and new faces.
This Sunday come to Cooke Park from 9am for our Easter Egg Hunt and Church Service. Bring your deck chairs, blankets and picnic basket.
The Canowindra International Balloon Festival is renowned for its stunning hot air balloons and community spirit, but this year, the festival promises to soar even higher with the Home Ground Sounds Concert. Taking place on Friday, 2 May, at the Canowindra Oval, this electrifying event will feature some of Australia’s top musical talent, ensuring an unforgettable night for concert-goers.
Headlining the concert is Casey Barnes, a multi-award-winning Australian country music artist. With his impressive vocal range and captivating performances, Casey has earned his place as one of the country’s most respected talents. His chart-topping hits and energetic stage presence will undoubtedly light up the evening.
Joining Casey on stage are Furnace and the Fundamentals, the ultimate party band known for their high-octane performances.
Fresh from their UK tour, Furnace and the Fundamentals have played some of the world’s largest music festivals, and now they’re bringing their signature blend of funk, soul, and rock to Canowindra. Get ready for a show filled with infectious energy and non-stop dancing.
Also featured is Nathan Lamont, an up-and-coming star in the Australian country music scene. Known for his heartfelt lyrics and powerful performances, Nathan is making waves across the industry and will bring a fresh, exciting sound to the concert.
Bring your chairs, picnic rugs, organise a Grazing Box from IGA and come along for a great night out. There is a licensed bar on site and there is strictly no BYO or glass permitted into the concert.
Gates open at 5pm with the concert kicking off at 6:30pm. Hosted by Roundbox Group, this is a must-attend event for anyone looking to enjoy world-class music in the heart of Canowindra.
Jake Banks lets rip with a drive.
The Forbes Golf men’s event played on Saturday saw a scintillating performance by Neil Duncan as he recorded one of the lowest scores this year. The event was an Individual Stroke sponsored by ‘J&J Ridley’. The field of 57 players enjoyed the sunny conditions.
The A-Grade Winner was Neil Duncan with a score of 66 nett. He managed a 39 scratch on the front-9 which included a ‘9’ on the 7th hole. His back-9 was equally impressive with a 39 scratch again. Runnerup Fons Melisi with a nett 70. This also was compiled through steadfast golf with a 4241 split.
The B-Grade went to new member Anthony Boshoff with a nett 69. He had a steady front-9 but lost concentration on the back-9. Runner-up was Brian Clarke with craftsman-like 70 nett. He also was fairly even on both halves with a better score on the back-9.
The ball sweep went to 75 nett on count back. Check in the Pro Shop to see if you were successful.
There were two visitors, being Charlie Goodsell (Condo) and Wayne Harriott (Headland GC). Charlie enjoyed his outing having played here before but Wayne had a few problems, notably starting each half with two double-bogeys.
The NTP’s went to: 9th Jarrod Hall; 18th Archie Quirk, with both converting for a ‘2’. The 3rd hole Super Pin went to Jenny Fletcher with a shot to 60 cm.
On Sunday a 3-Person Ambrose was played. The winning team comprising Glen Hooper, Cooper Byrnes and Scott Northey took the prize with a 60 nett. Scott also got the NTP on the 18th.
This Saturday, 19 April will be an 18-Hole Par event, sponsored by Forbes Tuesday Golfers. Across Easter there will be Stableford Medleys offered on Friday, Sunday and Monday.
By Short Putt
On Saturday 5 April Aussie croquet was played with 28 in attendance. It was a cool start, but a very pleasant morning.
Three games were won by Elvy Quirk, Lyn Simmonds, Marie Spry and David West. Whilst two games were won by Colleen Liebich, Robin Pols, Vince Roberts, Kevin Rubie, Cheryl Toohey, Rex Toole, Kevin Wenning and Peter West.
Golf croquet was played on Tuesday 8 April with 39 players in attendance. Three games were won by John Browne, Sally Perry, Fay Picker, Elvy Quirk, Vince Roberts, Lyn Simmonds and Rex Toole. Whilst two games winners included John Farah, Allan Jones, Noel Jolliffe, Ray Martin, Robin Pols, Mal Smith, Lyall Strudwick, Peter West and Kevin Wenning. Congratulations to all of these players.
Robin Pols is our longest serving member and still plays a great game. Well done.
On Thursday 1 May the Forbes Croquet Club will be hosting a special day of croquet to celebrate World Croquet Day. There will be some fun games on the day, along with prizes and a light lunch will be served in the shade area after play. Everyone is welcome to come along.
By Elvy Quirk
President, Forbes Croquet Club
Lynn Harmson, Lyn Ward, Member for Orange Phil Donato MP, Bruce Adams and Margaret Adams.
Members of the Forbes Neighborhood Watch Committee met with Member for Orange Phil Donato MP at his Forbes office, on Thursday 3 April, to hand over a petition filled with 2,760 handwritten signatures asking for a 24-hour Police Station and extra police for Forbes.
Mr Donato was grateful for the hard work put in by the committee to collect the signatures, unfortunately a petition needs 10,000 signatures in order to be debated in Parliament. However, the fact that this petition has over 500 signatures, means it will cause a written response from the Police Minister.
Mr Donato said, “Forbes is a considerable sized regional town which deserves to have a 24-hour police presence to ensure community safety.”
Neighbourhood Watch relies entirely on volunteers working together with the aim of minimising preventable crime, improving security and reporting crime activity. The Forbes Branch had been holding regular committee meetings and had been in operation in excess of 30 years.
President of the Forbes Branch, Lyn Ward has sadly announced, “Forbes Neighbourhood Watch has folded due to a lack of members. Forbes residents have been rightly concerned about the rate of crime and the lack of police presence in the evenings, but after being unsuccessful in attracting new members, the previous committee consisted of a handful of members, the eldest being 96 years and the youngest in their late 60’s.
Both Lyn Ward and Phil Donato want the Forbes community to stay vigilant and keep reporting crime and any suspicious activity.
I am really delighted to be a part of a small but enthusiastic group of people who will be presenting the play The Trial of Ben Hall written by Forbes solicitor Dominic Williams. To be held on Friday, 9 May – 188 years after the notorious Hall was born and 160 years since his death on 5 May. The play will be presented in the former St Andrews Church at 6pm.
Dominic’s play was originally written for the inaugural Ben Hall Festival and rewritten for Law Week in 1986. Ben Hall was of course shot dead without a trial and is buried at Forbes Cemetery.
Forbes Shire Council Heritage Advisory Committee were the inspiration for bringing Ben Hall back to commemorate 160 since his death. Several other committee members and community volunteers will be in the play. Ben Hall will be played by Lewis Wilde.
We will also be encouraging our audience to fully participate in the evening. We need you to react to the good and bad, to the police bias and inequity in the court process. It will be a great night out for the whole family to enjoy.
Free tickets are available on 123tix. Due to the space there will only be 100 tickets available. Tea and refreshment will be served while the jury deliberates – no one knows the outcome of the judgment until the night. The cast has prepared for both guilty and not guilty findings.
I encourage everyone to come along and find out the imagined past if Ben Hall had been given a trial and discover more about our notorious Mr Hall, who was in fact the first person in Australia to be declared a bushranger.
In Dominic’s words, “…Ben Hall whose name continues to grow in Australian legend as a folklore hero, more wronged against than wrong himself. I trust the Trial of Ben Hall will not only entertain and educate but lead to a better understanding of the enigma that was Ben Hall – it being the trial that Ben Hall never received. (April 1986).
There is something for everyone to get involved in during Youth Week 2025.
Forbes Youth Action Team: We are so excited to celebrate Youth Week 2025 with an awesome line-up of events and activities happening across Forbes during Youth Week and the April school holidays. From workshops and creative sessions to fun social events and hangouts. This is your time to connect, create and celebrate what makes young people in our community so amazing. To register go to: www.forbes.nsw.gov.au/community/community-services-and-information/families-and-youth-services/youth-programs
Parkes Shire Council: With Easter, school holidays, and Anzac Day all in April, our roads will be busier than ever. Parkes, Forbes, and Lachlan Shire Councils, alongside NSW Police, are urging all road users to take extra care. Double demerits apply for speeding, seatbelt, mobile phone, and helmet offences apply druing the following periods: Easter 17-21 April Anzac Day 2427 April. Expect extra police patrols focusing on speeding, drink and drug driving, seatbelts, fatigue, and distractions. Stay alert, obey the road rules, and drive to conditions. Read more at: bit.ly/4cgrdIn
Rural Women’s Network: The Hidden Treasures Honour Roll for 2025 is now open. Established in 2010 the Honour Roll has to date enshrined 1,348 women and girls as a lasting acknowledgement of their volunteer work. Whether it’s a family member, friend, colleague, community leader or yourself, now is the perfect time to nominate unsung heroes who go above and beyond. Find out more, check the eligibility criteria and nominate a volunteer in your life today to shine a light on their incredible contributions at: hiddentreasures.awardsplatform.com
R U OK? April is Stress Awareness Month. Someone that you know could be dealing with stress or going through a difficult time. Financial pressures, relationship difficulties, change at work or home, parenting struggles, health issues and grief can all take a toll. Check in with the people in your life. Talking things through can really help. For conversation tips, visit ruok.org.au/how-to-ask
PCYC Parkes: Book a Safer Drivers Course this School Holidays in Parkes on 23 April and Forbes on 14 April. In just five hours, get 20 hours off your log book and get one step closer to your P-plates Fully funded spots available for the Parkes Course, simply email the club for a voucher number: parkes@pcycnsw.org.au.
A massive thanks to the Forbes Youth Action Team – Sarah, Jolene, Brittany and the junior ambassadors for offering Bedgerabong such a wonderful event.
We are truly blessed to have such dedicated people supporting our community. Thank you also to everyone who came to make the night a success.
we hope you enjoyed the experience, catering and company. Thank you Matt- ELITE Event Hire Gotta luv Spuddy Buddy and Mr Whippy, but can you go past the popcorn and fairy floss?
Locals from Parkes and Forbes and the surrounds, are invited to a Drop in Sessions being run by Parkes Energy Recovery, a consortium led by Tribe Infrastructure Group, to discuss their proposed Parkes Energy Recovery facility in the Parkes Special Activation Precinct (Parkes Precinct). The drop in sessions began at The Cooke Park Pavillion on Thursday 10 April and will continue on Friday 11 and Saturday 12 from 8am – 5pm.
The proposed facility will divert an estimated 600,000 tonnes of waste per annum from landfill and generate at least 60 megawatts of energy – enough to power 80,000 homes per year.
The consortium will now begin the process of wide community engagement and the planning and environmental approvals process for the facility that it will design, fund, own and operate on land leased from RGDC (Regional Growth NSW Development Corporation). If you have questions, concerns or are interested in knowing more information, then Council encourages residents to participate in the community engagement opportunities led by Parkes Energy Recovery. For information on the proposed facility, visit www.parkesenergy.com.au info@parkesenergy.com.au or call 02 8405 7915.
Supporting acts on the night will be Foxxy Cleopatra, Baker Boys (pictured) and EasyGoin.
Don’t miss the opportunity to see an up and coming Brisbane singer-songwriter in the making, Ripley Alexander, right here in the Central West at Frost and Fire in Forbes on Saturday 21June. Ripley describes his music as “a modern spin on a classic sound”. Ripley’s standout Australian Idol performance went viral around the world, racking up more than 100 million views on TikTok.
There’s no one like the Wolfe Brothers to warm up a crowd with their high energy performance of iconic truly Australian anthems.
The most awarded country rock duo ever, the brothers took away three Golden Guitars at the 2024 Country Music Awards bringing their total to 9 Golden Guitars to date.
Buy Your Frost & Fire Tickets: Tickets are essential. No ticket – no entry! Under 18’s are free entry. Over 18’s are $30 per person. Tickets are available via 123tix.
Book Your Accommodation: Plan your stay in Amazing Forbes with some great accommodation options.
Book Your Bus Transfer Tickets To The Event: Don’t forget to pre-purchase bus tickets before the event. Tickets are exclusively available via 123tix.
BYO Chair and Warm Winter Clothes: Keep nice and toasty with warm clothes. Enjoy the entertainment in comfort by bringing your own chair.
Plan The Rest of your Weekend: Amazing Forbes has an abundance of exciting attractions and activities to see and do. Come for the night – stay for a weekend.
Getting to the Event: Frost & Fire is held at the Forbes Ski Dam. During our event there is no public parking onsite, so we have a variety of public transport options to get you and your family and friends here safely.
By Bus: There is a free shuttle bus service running to and from the event on the day, operating on a continuous loop.