Celebrity chef Hayden Quinn has graced our television screens with his show Taste of Australia airing on Channel 10 and of course made his debut on Masterchef in 2012.

The National BBQ Championships are just around the corner, being held at Grinsted Oval, Forbes, on Saturday 28th October 12 noon – 8pm.

Celebrity guest chef Hayden Quinn will be accompanied by three local judges in deciding who is the best on the barbecue!

Forbes’ BBQ Championships promise something for everyone with a range of entertainment by local favourites Em, Jo and Cler and Georgia Sideris, along with market stalls, children’s entertainment and bar.

“The competition is the real focus of this event and judges will be looking for winners in four cooking sections – beef, pork, chicken and lamb, as well as the best dressed team, tent, and best team name,” Forbes Mayor Phyllis Miller OAM said.

“This event is about food, but it is also about having fun – make a day of it, dress up, come up with a great name – put all your culinary and creative skills to the test!” Mayor Miller said.

The $10,000 prize pool is just as enticing as the aroma of a good steak on the chargrill, including Why Leave Town Cards, a Weber and so much more lined up for the day’s winners.

Registration forms, information and rules can be found on Council’s website; www.forbes.nsw.gov.au/events. Spectator tickets are free but must be booked online at 123tix.com.au. This event is proudly funded by the NSW Government via the Reconnecting Regional Communities Event Funding.

If you are over 18 you must vote this Saturday. Find your nearest polling place at https://www.aec.gov.au/referendums/voting

This Saturday, 14 October 2023, Australians will have their say in a referendum about whether to change the Constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing a body called the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice. Voters will be asked to vote ‘yes’ or ‘no’ on a single question. The question will be:

“A Proposed Law: to alter the Constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice. Do you approve this proposed alteration?”

The Voice will be an independent, representative body for First Nations peoples. It would advise the Australian Parliament and the Government and give First Nations peoples a say on matters that affect them.

If approved at the referendum, the following words would be added to the Constitution: Chapter IX Recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples 129 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice In recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Peoples of Australia: there shall be a body, to be called the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice; the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice may make representations to the Parliament and the Executive Government of the Commonwealth on matters relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples; the Parliament shall, subject to this Constitution, have power to make laws with respect to matters relating to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice, including its composition, functions, powers and procedures.

Members of the Pink Up Parkes Committee L-R Kerryn Jones, Carolyn Ricr, Marg Applebee, Margot Jolly, Vee Vian Higgins, Ken Kieth and Hannah Farrant-Jayet.

The Pink Up Parkes (PUP) Committee welcomes support from community members to join their fundraising efforts during the month of October to raise funds for the McGrath Foundation Breast Care Nurses. 

In Australia, one in seven women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime. Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women in Australia.

There are currently 200 McGrath Breast Care Nurses in communities across Australia, who have supported over 123,000 families since 2005. It costs around $140,000 to fund a McGrath Breast Care Nurse for a year including training and development.

You can help support the Pink Up Parkes campaign in so many ways: pink up your business, pink up your school, hold a pink up event, fundraise, attend a pink up parkes event, donate and support the pink up parkes campaign on social media.

PUP Chairperson Carolyn Rice said, “The Committee is still encouraging organisations and businesses to register to be a contributor to Pink Up Parkes. It isn’t too late to be involved. Just go to our webpage at www.pinkupparkesnsw.wordpress.com and all of the information on how to be involved or donate is in one place.” 

“We want to support the McGrath Foundation to raise funds and awareness for our Breast Care Nurses, of whom we are fortunate to have one working to support patients and their families in Parkes, Forbes, Condobolin, Trundle, Tullamore, Tottenham and Peak Hill,” said Carolyn.

Newly elected Mayor Neil Westcott, new Deputy Mayor Marg Applebee and Cr Ken Keith OAM.

Parkes Shire has welcomed a new leadership team with Neil Westcott successfully elected as Mayor and Marg Applebee as Deputy Mayor. 

Mayor Neil Westcott went on to say, “To the directors and staff at PSC, to my fellow councillors, to the people of Parkes and to my family present with me here today. I am truly honoured to stand here now as the newly elected mayor of Parkes Shire.

“A newly elected Mayor in this place doesn’t happen very often. In fact, before today it has only happened four times in the last 57 years.

“I wish to express my heartfelt gratitude to our previous Mayor – Ken your leadership has taken Parkes Shire from good to great, your hard work and passion for our patch on this earth is an inspiration and I look forward to continuing and hopefully building on all you have initiated. Thanks most certainly also goes to your wife Sue for the huge role she has played in making your civil service possible. Enjoy the back benches – go easy on me.

“Congratulations Cr Appleby, Parkes has a wonderful new Deputy Mayor, one whom I already know will be a more than adequate spare to the mayor. 

“My family bring me great joy, great support and they give me courage and strength. Thank you once again for this huge honour, I don’t take it lightly and look forward to building on your significant legacy Ken.”

NAIDOC 2023 celebrations kicked of at The Cooke Park Pavillion with performances by local groups and guest speaker, Australian Elder of The Year Aunty Dr Matilda House-Williams, pictured with General Manager of MLAHMC Seth Toomey.

The Parkes NAIDOC celebrations were launched last week at the Cooke Park Pavilion, with special guest, Australian Elder of The Year, Dr Matilda House-Williams. The day featured awards, performances and speeches, with a focus on bringing the youth and the elders together and showcasing the many talents of the local indigenous groups. 

This year’s theme, “For Our Elders,” is a beautiful way to acknowledge and show gratitude for the older generation’s wisdom, guidance, and resilience in preserving and passing on the cultural heritage to future generations.

NAIDOC celebrations will continue with a Family Fun Day this Saturday, 16th September at the Wiradjuri Amphitheatre on Bushman Hill. It will be a fantastic event that celebrates the Wiradjuri people’s rich Indigenous culture and heritage and is expected to be bigger and better than ever.

The day will showcase various cultural activities, including local performances, a smoking ceremony and Wiradjuri artefacts on display, providing insight into the rich heritage and craftsmanship of the Wiradjuri people. This display serves as a reminder of the rich history that continues to shape the local community. There will also be service information stalls, a free sausage sizzle, and children’s activities.

The Parkes NAIDOC Family Fun Day promises to be a joyful and inclusive event for anyone interested in learning more about indigenous traditions, supporting the community, and having a great time with family and friends.

JLL sells Parkes Arbour Shopping Centre with a significant vacancy from Target’s 2021 national store closure.

Parkes Arbour Shopping Centre has sold for $8.9 million to a Sydney-based private investor, as demand for neighbourhood centres with value-add opportunities continues to outstrip supply.

JLL’s Sebastian Fahey, Dylan McEvoy, Nick Willis and David Mahood sold the shopping centre via an Expressions-of-Interest campaign on behalf of a Brisbane-based private investor.

In 2021, parent company Wesfarmers announced the closure or rebranding of more than 160 sites with many of the locations being rebranded to Kmart/K-Hub. The increasingly competitive market was too much for the Target business with landlords scrambling to backfill the vacancies.

Parkes Arbour is anchored by a Coles supermarket and supported by a Liquorland and two speciality retailers. The asset included a 4,019sqm vacant ex-Target space, allowing an opportunity to reposition and or redevelop the centre.

“Parkes Arbour Shopping Centre offered the purchaser an attractive repositioning play with the potential to significantly increase the centre’s income by splitting the major vacancy into smaller offerings. This resulted in the campaign attracting unprecedented demand for a regional neighbourhood centre with over 200 groups and 10 offers being received at the close of the campaign.”

Colleague David Mahood added “Parkes Arbour reaffirms the increase in demand for retail assets with value-add initiatives. Investors are continuing to seek these opportunities as they provide a secure holding income with significant upside through a repositioning.”