If you have been to any recent local events, it is highly likely you have seen The Dyagang Koori Dance Group perform. The group opened Frost and Fire in Forbes last weekend and they will once again be opening the Trundle Bush Tucker Day.

They are in high demand not just within the local area but for events further afield. Last year, the boys were invited to perform for the opening of the 47th parliament in Canberra with the Ngunnawal-Ngambri people, the traditional custodians of the Canberra area.

The founding members of The Dyagang Koori Dance Group, Tyrece, Keanau, Ashton and Abel Robinson, are four brothers from Parkes, who attend Middleton Public School. The group was formed when eldest brother, Tyrece started playing the didgeridoo. 

“His dad taught him a couple of things and he was watching YouTube clips of other people playing Didgeridoo, and he taught himself. Then he taught his three younger brothers how to play,” said the boys mother, Jade Alexander. 

Tyrece began dancing with another crew and really enjoyed it. The boys sometimes performed with their dad and his connections, and developed a passion for performance.

“It was NAIDOC week last year when the boys were asked to perform on their own, and we thought it would be a great way for the boys to share their culture with others,’’ said Jade. 

Following this event, the group was officially formed, so that others could join in.

In 2017, school teachers Adam DeMamiel, Richard Leahy, and Tim Sanson stepped out of the classroom, deciding there were more important lessons to be taught in their community.

The trio formed Boys to the Bush, a charity committed to curbing the growing cohort of disengaged young males in regional Australia through camps and MENtoring programs.

Now located in seven regional communities, including Forbes, Boys to the Bush are launching an online donation drive to raise money to fund 100 days of free MENtoring across its sites.

The donation drive starts on 6th June and aims to provide kids from the most challenging backgrounds with role models to help them build resilience, develop self-belonging, and implement practical life changes.

Adam DeMamiel, CEO and Co-Founder of Boys to the Bush said, “Boys to the Bush has worked with over 6,000 kids, and the support of our communities has been pivotal to the positive outcomes reached by the youth.” 

“We are launching 100 days of MENtoring to ensure access to such a life changing program is in reach of the kids that desperately need it. Any contribution is much appreciated and will go directly to the youth that need it most,” said Adam.

Boys to the Bush is a not-for-profit, community-based charity, and donations to the 100 days of MENtoring campaign are fully tax deductible. To donate, go to https://boystothebush.org.au/donate

Parkes Shire Library received a whopping 40 applications from eager year five students to become Library Ambassadors this year. All of the 40 applications received were extremely well written, making the decision very difficult. 

This week, Parkes students attended a small presentation ceremony and afternoon tea at Parkes Library. Library staff also visited branch libraries and schools to present the 2023 Ambassadors with their official badges.

The role of a Library Ambassador is to inform their school community of upcoming events, programs, exhibitions and activities that are taking place at the Libraries in Parkes Shire and Marramarra Makerspace.

The Library Ambassador Program has successfully run in Parkes for several years, and this year, the smaller towns within Parkes Shire were invited to participate in the program. Interested students were asked to apply for the position of Library Ambassador for their town, and a total of 16 applications were received from four schools. As a result, Bogan Gate, Trundle and Peak Hill now also have their very own Library Ambassadors. 

Parkes Shire Library Ambassadors for 2023

 

 

 

Earlier this week, Member for Orange Philip Donato MP caught up with Parkes District Kennel Club Inc to inspect their newly completed fencing, funded by a $24,910 grant under the 2022 NSW Government’s Community Building Partnership.

Funding was allocated for the removal of existing ring pipework, construction of new post and rail, chain, wire and mesh fencing and construction of entry and exit gates for competition rings. All works have now been completed.

Parkes District Kennel Club member Fiona Watts was on hand to show Phil the completed works, saying, “An enclosed fence was a pipe dream for us. We’ve received a few smaller grants from Council for equipment, as that can be expensive, but the cost of the enclosed fencing seemed unobtainable.”

The club applied for a grant and under the Community Partnership Program. Phil explained the process, “The applications come to my office, I asses them, score them and rank them, whhich accounts for 60% of the overall ratings of the scores. Applications then go to an independent review panel where they get scored again and the scores are collated before funding is allocated.”

The new fencing was erected by local contactor, Matt Clarke from Central West Fencing. 

The Parkes District Kennel Club has been operating for 60 years, predominantly as a confirmation club for breeders. However, for the past six years, they have been focusing on sporting.

There is a stellar line up of guest speakers at next week’s Disaster Resilience – Australian Local Government Women’s annual conference which is being held in Forbes.

Starting on Thursday 27th April, city and regional council representatives will be travelling to Forbes to enjoy discovering our town. Guests will participate in tours and morning walks around the lake before settling in to share and learn about building stronger and more resilient communities in the wake of disaster.

On Friday, key speakers will be Tracey Spicer AM – author, journalist and broadcaster, Shane Fitzsimmons AO AFSM, Jo Beadle – GIVIT National Manager, Major Matina Jewell CSP and Elizabeth Rushbrook, Disaster Relief Australia.

On Saturday, guest speakers will include Heidi Stratford – NSW Reconstruction Authority and ANU’s Prfessor Tanya Jakimow.

Local speakers are Eugowra resident Jess Eijkman, Bailee Harrison and Paul Faulkiner who will share their first hand accounts, experiences and recovery from the 2022 central west floods. Rebecca Miller and Louise Bernardi will also be empowering conference guests with presentations.

There will be a Gala Dinner on Saturday night and everyone is welcome to attend – tickets are available for purchase at 2023 ALGWA NSW Branch Annual Conference Tickets (123tix.com.au).

Limited sponsored tickets are available for Forbes businesses and individuals impacted by the flood to attend the main addresses on Friday and Saturday. Please contact Briony Ferguson on 6850 2300 to discuss and make arrangements to attend or for more information regarding the event.