Nedd Brockman, born in Forbes and raised in Bedgerabong, has been named NSW Young Australian Of The Year for his con­tinued efforts to raise money and aware­ness for homelessness in Australia.

In 2020, Nedd decided to run 50 mara­thons in 50 days to raise $50,000 for home­lessness. Then in 2022, Nedd set himself the challenge of running 4,000km across the country from Perth (Cottesloe Beach) to Bondi (Bondi Beach), raising money and awareness for the homeless along the way.

But he didn’t stop there, he kept showing up for the cause, and in 2024, Nedd started “Nedd’s Uncomfortable Challenge” and set off again, with a 1,000 mile running chal­lenge at a track at Sydney Olympic Park.

Nedd and his team have so far raised over $8 million for Australians experiencing homelessness.

Upon being named 2026 NSW Young Australian of the Year, Nedd said, “I feel honoured and very grateful for the award, but I equally feel a little bit disheartened because I wouldn’t be getting the award if there wasn’t homelessness in this country.”

“I don’t love running, running is just the tool I use in order to push my limits and show people that if you’re willing to com­mit to something wholeheartedly and throw yourself in the fire good things will come of it if you’re willing to go all the way. It is my tool that allows me to champion the desire to help end homelessness in this country,” concluded Nedd.

The state’s most innovative and forwardthinking businesses have come together and been celebrated at the NSW State Business Awards. Topsoil Organics from Forbes won the Excellence in Large Busi­ness Award.

The Excellence in Large Business Award recognises a business with more than 20 employees that has effectively driven growth and is able to demonstrate the spe­cific strategies implemented to achieve business success and/or resilience.

Business NSW, Regional Director – Western NSW, Vicki Seccombe said “This is Topsoil Organics’ third win at the State Business Awards, having won Excellence in Small Business in 2022 and Excellence in Sustainability in 2023.

“Topsoil Organics is such an exciting and dynamic business and they are paving the way for our future. They have gone above and beyond in respect to innovation, sus­tainability and leadership. The initiatives being pursued demonstrates great ingenu­ity and it’s so exciting that it’s happening right here in Western NSW,” said Vicki Sec­combe.

Topsoil Organics is a family-owned busi­ness that launched the Central West Nu­trient Return Centre in 2021, diverting 200,000+ tonnes of organic waste from landfills into premium compost for broada­cre farming. By transforming waste into energy and regenerative solutions, they are creating lasting environmental, agricultural, and community benefits for a cleaner future.

“All three winners should feel incredibly proud to be named amongst the State’s leading businesses and business leaders for 2025 and this win truly highlights the strength of the Western NSW business community,” said Ms Seccombe.

A motion for a Parliamentary Inquiry into energy from waste proposals in NSW was successful after mounting opposition in Regional NSW. The Select Committee was established on 6 August 2025 and is chaired by Nationals MP Nicole Overall.

“I encourage anyone who hasn’t yet made a submission to consider doing so – this is the opportunity to formally raise any questions or concerns as we work to com­prehensively address these proposals.” said Nicole.

Parkes Clean Future Alliance are urging those who have not yet made submissions, to do so today, as submissions close at 5pm. Ben Stead of PCFA said “The pro­posed Sydney landfills are projected to run out of space over the next 5 to 10 years.

After thermal energy from waste was re­jected in Sydney, the NSW Government developed a framework that prohibits facili­ties in NSW as a precautionary measure to protect human health, but excludes Lith­gow, Goulburn, Parkes and Tomago from those health protections.”

“Submissions under 250 words will still be counted but will be grouped together. Submissions over 250 words are more im­pactful.” said Ben.

The deadline for submissions is today, 5pm Friday, 31 October. Both individu­als and organisations can make submis­sions, and you do not have to be located in Parkes. Anyone can make a submission and every submission counts.

To lodge a submission go to the Inquiry webpage www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/committees/listofcommittees/Pages/committee-details.aspx?pk=337 and select the ‘Submissions’ tab.

Local lads Sam Parish, Bill Ryan and Sam Johnston were so inspired by Nedd Brock­man’s thousand mile run in Oct 2024 that they set themselves the goal of doing 10% of his 161km a day (16.1km). After completing that goal, they started to think “what’s next?”.Sam Parish said, “Someone suggested, ‘how far is it from Condo to Forbes?’ It was pretty hard to back down from the crazy idea once it has been said out loud, so the preparations began.”

A lot of training was involved – 15 weeks of running three times a week, with various types of running including easy runs, long runs and tempo runs.

“On the day itself, the support we had from friends, family and partners was un­believable and quite frankly the only way we finished,” said Sam.

The three are raising money and aware­ness for homelessness, through a charity called We are Mobilise. Sam said, “The three of us, with our close friends group also ran the Nedd Brockmann Gala Ball last year to really support Nedd from his hometown and celebrate the amazing movement he has started.

“Through that we all got to meet Noah Yang, Founder/CEO of We are Mobilise, so we got to form a personal connection to We are Mobilise and the amazing team.”

The trio have raised $18,800. You can still make a donation or even start your own challenge at: www.neddsuncomforta­blechallenge.com/fundraisers/FRC.

If you haven’t already planned your day, now is the time to check out what is hap­pening at Cooke Park, with proceedings kicking off at 9am and wrapping up at 2pm.

Parkes Shire Concert Band will be wel­coming everyone to the Park at 9.10am.

Event organisers look forward to wel­coming Parkes Dance Co to Homegrown Parkes for the first time. They will be taking the stage at 10.30am, followed by Parkes M&D with a preview of their upcoming pro­duction Little Shop of Horrors at 11am.

Unfortunately the coffee roasting work­shop has to be cancelled. There will still be giveaways and goodies that will be drawn at the workshop with Phil and Nadia Do­nato, being held at 12.30pm. Join them to learn how to make Tiramisu! Registrations essential.

Our Fijian friends will be performing on the main stage at 1.30pm to send everyone off. What a fantastic way to finish the day at Homegrown Parkes!As part of the Keep Australia Beautiful Tidy Town’s weekend, Homegrown Parkes attendees will have the opportunity to join one of three bus trips leaving from Cooke Park at 2pm.

This event is made possible with fund­ing and in-kind support from Parkes Shire Council, Evolution Mining Northparkes op­erations and Central West Lachlan Land­care.

We look forward to seeing you between 9am and 2pm on Saturday at Cooke Park.

Motorists are being reminded that double demerit points will be in place over the Oc­tober long weekend with police targeting speed, seatbelts, illegal mobile phone use and motorcyclists not wearing helmets.

Double demerit points will be in force for four days commencing on Friday 3 Octo­ber 2025 and ending on Monday 6 October 2025 (inclusive).Parkes Highway Patrol Sergeant Mitch­ell Gage said there will be more police on the road which means a greater chance of drivers being caught if they are doing the wrong thing.

“Double demerits were implemented 20 years ago, in a bid to encourage drivers to obey road rules during busy traffic peri­ods. They occur on select holiday periods and long weekends and have proven to be an effective deterrent. Statistics show that there’s a 30% reduction in casualty crash­es when double demerit points are opera­tional.

“No-one wants to get a fine, lose their li­cence or worse still be involved in a crash.

So, make sure you give yourself plenty of time to travel, don’t speed, drive to the con­ditions, wear your seatbelt, avoid distrac­tions, make sure you’re well rested and if you’ve been drinking or have taken drugs – don’t drive” Sergeant Gage said.

Parkes, Forbes and Lachlan Shire Coun­cils’ Road Safety and Injury Prevention Officer, Melanie Suitor said “During dou­ble demerit point periods the penalties for breaking the road rules are Severe” and is encouraging all road users to stay safe this October long weekend.

Forbes’ newest event, Street Dreams is shaping up to be a hands-on night of crea­tivity, culture and connection. On Saturday 27 September from 5pm to 9pm, Victoria Park will come alive with light, art, perfor­mance, and interactive activities designed for all ages. Step into a glowing wonderland of larger-than-life flowers, birds, bees, but­terflies and dazzling garden archways.

A special feature of the event is that at­tendees can fully immerse themselves in a range of creative experiences, including; drumming workshops, lino printmaking, lan­tern making workshop, facepainting, hair braiding, photobooth, silent disco, short films, roving entertainment by CirqueUm Navigate, school-led imaginative displays by students from Forbes North, Forbes Pub­lic and Forbes High School and an outdoor youth art exhibition featuring artworks by lo­cal youth.

Alongside these interactive activities, the festival precinct will feature market stalls, food vendors and live entertainment, mak­ing it a vibrant community celebration for locals and visitors alike.

The Street Dreams Festival is the first of a three-year series that aims to strengthen social connection, support local creatives, and enhance the vibrancy of the Forbes community through inclusive, accessible arts programming.

Street Dreams Festival is proudly funded by the NSW Government’s Open Streets Program, led by Transport for NSW. Coun­cil was successful in receiving $108,550 through the program, enabling the event to be delivered over the next three years.

The initiative is designed to reimagine pub­lic streets as lively, welcoming spaces that support local businesses and community connection.

An Australian bike event company, good­nessgravel, will partner with Parkes Coun­cil to run the first edition of goodnessgravel Parkes on Saturday, 1 November.

Parent company, twowheeltours, has years of experience in the bike industry, coordinating events, tours and races both here in Australia and around the world. So they created goodnessgravel to combine their passion for creating memorable riding experiences with the real need to support local Australian communities.

The event will showcase the excel­lent gravel roads and stunning scenery throughout the Parkes Shire and bring rid­ers from all over the state and inter-state for a gravel cycling festival.

On Saturday riders will depart from Har­rison Park and have the option of selectingone of the three different courses; 130km ride, with +1,200m of ascent or the shorter 110km ride, with +1,000m of ascent or fi­nally there is a 50km ride, with 350m of ascent.

All courses will be signposted and will travel through the gravel roads and coun­tryside to the south-east of Parkes includ­ing Cookamidgera, Mandagery, and for the full 130km, the course will go south to Eugowra.

On the Sunday, riders will be provided with options for a recovery ride from ‘The Dish’. Come and challenge yourself on these gravel roads and have an adventure. For more details of this exciting gravel ride and to book your gravel experience head to goodnessgravel.com

Parkes Auto Electrician and Mechanic, Jack Mill has just won the prestigious award of Young Street Machine of the Year.

The competition was run online by “Street Machine”, Australia’s largest Automotive platform for modified vehicles, and spon­sored by Hare & Forbes Machinery House.

Jack has attended the Summernats since he was a young child and loves the burn­out scene. Wanting to be part of the action, Jack hatched a plan to build a little burnout car, nothing flash – but that plan soon went out the window.

“We bought the swift for $500 in a poor state. We built it in the back shed after hours and finished it just before Summer­nats 35, but we weren’t ready for the atten­tion it received,” said Jack.

The Young Street Machine competition was open nationally to car enthusiasts under the age of 24 years. Entrants were required to submit photos of their vehicle, along with a story about their car and what they had done to it. The next step was to promote themselves on social media, tag Street Machine and ask people to vote.

Thousands of vehicle entries were re­ceived, with the top 16 entries moving to the finals. The final vehicles were present­ed at the closest Hare & Forbes Machinery House venues for a final car show, where people voted for the best entry.

Jack was thrilled to take out his category in the final, and is now gearing up to get back out on the pad of Summernats 37.