Throughout 2024 Northparkes Opera­tions has directly or in partnership contrib­uted nearly 900 thousand dollars to com­munities in the central west.

One of the recipients of that funding was the Eugowra Community Children’s Cen­tre that received over $400,000 from Evo­lution Mining to contribute to their new pur­posebuilt day care centre. The donation will help to fund the long day care room in the new centre – that is set to open in 2026.

This is an extremely important facility for Eugowra as the original centre was de­stroyed in the 2022 floods and now oper­ates out of a temporary location. With more space, there will be more children who can benefit from the centre as Eugowra contin­ues to rebuild to be better than ever follow­ing the devastating floods.

The Eugowra Community Children’s Centre Management Committee said this donation will allow our community owned service to continue to provide long day care for working families in a new, purposebuilt facility. “We are absolutely certain that the impacts of this donation will be long last­ing as we can now ensure that future gen­erations of local families will have ac­cess to this critical service for many years to come.”

Northparkes Operations General Man­ager Rob Cunningham said that this is an outstanding project for Evolution to be in­volved in and really reinforces the strong commitment to support communities where we operate. “Childcare is a need through­out Australia, but Eugowra, as it recovers from the 2022 floods, is such a worthy re­cipient.

We are thrilled to partner with the team at Eugowra Community Children’s Centre and we’re looking forward to seeing the final re­sults as the build progresses,” he said.

The Eugowra Flood Recovery team were named the 2024 NSW Volunteer Team of the year at a special ceremony that was held in Sydney. The announcement was made at a Gala Ceremony in Sydney, at­tended by more than 300 community, busi­ness and political leaders.

The work of the volunteer team has be­come folklore, not just locally, but right across NSW and the entire country.

The Eugowra Flood Recovery Committee was established in 2022 to lead the com­munity recovery in response to the devas­tating flash flood that hit in November 2022.

The seven member committee – working closely with the entire town, council and state recovery agencies – set about the task of rebuilding the town and supporting its people.

Almost one million dollars was raised, volunteers recruited, and so many items and support were donated. It’s two years on, and so much has been achieved – but the work still goes on.

The Centre for Volunteering CEO Gem­ma Rygate “Few communities have been hit with something so devastating and un­expected as the people of Eugowra after the 2022 floods. Lives were lost, homes and property completely destroyed, and people faced a long and hard path to recovery.

“The flood recovery committee did an in­credible job helping to raise money, coordi­nate donations and support, and liaise with agencies on how to rebuild the town. They provided a human connection with people in the town. They gave them hope and sup­port and were an inspiration”.

Double demerit points will be in force for 13 days over the Christmas and New Year period. Parkes, Forbes and Lachlan Shire Councils’ Road Safety and Injury Preven­tion Officer, MelanieSuitor said that double demerit points would run from Friday 20 December 2024 to Wednesday 1 January 2025 inclusive for all speeding, seatbelt, motorcycle helmet and mobile phone of­fences.

Ms Suitor said double demerit points have proven to be an effective road safety initiative to make holiday travel safer for everyone on New South Wales’ roads.

“Traffic on roads to popular holiday desti­nations, increases by up to 50% during the Christmas and the New Year holiday pe­riod, so it is important to obey all the road rules and drive safely.

“While driving, focus on driving. Don’t al­low yourself to be distracted by your mobile phone, follow the road rules and drive to suit the conditions. Please make sure that you and your passengers are buckled up.

Parkes Highway Patrol Sergeant Mitch­ell Gage is warning drivers that they are at greatest risk of losing their licence during this period.

“There will be more Police on the roads which means a greater chance of drivers being caught if they are doing the wrong thing.

“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.

State Member for Orange Philip Donato MP hosted an award ceremony at the Cooke Park Pavilion in Parkes on Tuesday 3rd De­cember 2024, to recognise 10 brave local firemen for placing their lives in peril to save their town from a catastrophic fire in 1983.

“It is a true honour and a privilege to per­sonally recognise ten local heroes, who pulled off an almost impossible feat and saved their town from certain catastrophe,” said Mr Donato.

Before a gathering of invited guests and dignitaries, Mr Donato personally present­ed to each of the five living firefighters, and families of the five deceased firefighters, Statements of Appreciation signed and is­sued by Fire and Rescue NSW Commis­sioner Jeremy Fewtrell AFSM.

“On the 23 rd of May 1983, a rail tanker carriage loaded with 33,000 litres of pet­rol, which was being decanted into storage tanks at the Mobil fuel depot in East Street Parkes, ignited.

“Ten members of the Parkes Fire Brigade rapidly responded to the fire, finding the fu­el-laden rail tanker completely engulfed in flames which threatened to ignite adjacent fuel tanks that held millions of litres of fuel,” Mr Donato said.

The ten brave firefighters: Captain Gor­don Northey, now deceased; Engine keep­er Rodney Bradley, now deceased; Fire­fighter Robert Tinker; Firefighter Graham Dixon; Firefighter Roger Larsen; Firefighter Graham Thompson; Firefighter Robert Mc­Donald, now deceased; Firefighter Don Jewell; Firefighter Bruce Shanks, now de­ceased; and Firefighter John Ashcroft, now deceased.

“The fire and potential explosion threat­ened not only the lives of the responding firefighters, who fought to control and extin­guish the fire, but also the lives of Parkes residents. The firefighters placed their own lives at risk to fight this fire, each believing they would not survive it.

“It was a miracle that the tanker and adja­cent fuel depot did not explode; These cou­rageous men put their own lives on the line to save peoples’ lives and property, and they managed to succeed in defeating the fire and averting explosive disaster.

“It is regrettable that it has taken over forty years for these brave firefighters to be appropriately recognised. “It is regrettable that those courageous firefighters who are now deceased were not recognised during their lifetime, and although this late recog­nition provides them no solace, perhaps it does, for their families, fellow fire fighters and the community.

“On behalf of the Parkes community, I ex­tend enduring gratitude to these men, and their families, not only for their bravery and courageous actions which saved the town, but also for the many years of dedicated service to the community,” Mr Donato said.

Aussies have rallied to help raise a remark­able $6.03 million for McHappy Day this year, with McDonald’s crew and customers showing up like never before to make this one of the most memorable McHappy Days in Australia to date.

The overwhelming support will provide more than 37,600 nights of accommoda­tion at Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) nationwide for families of seriously ill or injured children, so they can stay to­gether and close to the care they need, while undergoing surgery or treatment in hospital.

Licensee of McDonald’s Forbes and Parkes, Jenny McLeod said “The day was a huge success, with both (Parkes and Forbes) restaurants raising a combined amount of $9,500.

“We couldn’t have achieved this without our generous customers, motivated crew and dedicated management teams.

“The Parkes RFS were also greatly ap­preciated – they brought along one of their trucks and a huge bunch of volunteers, who helped with customer service and fundrais­ing on the day.”

This is the second consecutive year McHappy Day has raised over $6 million. All funds raised from McHappy Day go towards helping RMHC continue to support families in need through Ronald McDonald Houses, Family Rooms, Family Retreats, Hospital­ity Carts and Learning Program to support families through and after their child’s illness or injury.

Newly released figures from Inland Rail re­veal the project has now spent close to $500 million with nearly 750 local companies on the Inland Rail alignment since construction on the project started in 2018, delivering a major boost to regional communities.

At end-September, Inland Rail had spent $496 million with local companies, with around $100 million spent with local com­panies over the last 12 months alone.

From the $496 million spent so far, around $46.5 million has been spent with thirty-six First Nations businesses in re­gional Australia, with $7.5 million spent in the last year.

Inland Rail has also continued to be a ma­jor jobs provider in regional Australia, with the project providing nearly 6,300 jobs at end-September, with just over half of these jobs being filled by local residents and near­ly 480 First Nations workers employed.

Local businesses in New South Wales and Victoria can learn how to supply to In­land Rail by visiting: inlandrail.com.au/op­portunities/suppliers/For construction job opportunities, visit Inland Rail’s construction contractors’ web­sites at: www.martinusrail.com.au/careers/Stephen Jones, Inland Rail Executive Director Program Health, Safety, Environ­ment and Sustainability, said “Inland Rail has worked extremely hard to engage with local businesses and help to bring them on board as suppliers, and.to build skills in communities along the alignment, so local communities can participate and benefit from in this once-in-a-generation project and others in the future.”

Parkes Early Childhood Centre hosted a special morning tea on Friday, 8th Novem­ber to celebrate the 70th anniversary since its opening, back in November 1954.

Families were invited along to help cel­ebrate the day, and the current Director of PECC Amii Marchant, who has been in role for almost two years, took special guests on a tour of the facilities, before cutting the cake and enjoying a delicious morning tea.

Originating as a two unit preschool ser­vice with entry via Dalton Street, the Centre is still situated on its original site. In 1994, former Director, Lindy Farrant led the way to introducing the PECC long daycare service.

Fast forward 70 years and the Centre now operates two preschool rooms and three long daycare rooms. PECC has approxi­mately 200 children enrolled each year, with an average of 60 children leaving each year to move on to Kindergarten.

The Centre currently employs 40 staff, preferring to maintain their staff numbers above the legal ratio. “If a room should have two staff, we will have four,” said Amii.

“We believe in building relationships and making children feel safe and secure so they can learn and grow and develop.”

It was a wonderful celebration that was enjoyed by all. “I would like to extend a huge thank you to all past parents, children, fami­lies, employees, committee members and volunteers who helped PECC be the amaz­ing service that it is,” concluded Amii.

Recognised for our commitment to sus­tainability and community spirit, Parkes Shire Council will now represent NSW at the Australian Tidy Towns Awards in Beech­worth, Victoria, in May 2025.

KAB NSW has been running the Tidy Towns program since 1981 which cel­ebrates, recognises and rewards projects that reduce litter, minimise waste, encour­age recycling, promote heritage and culture, biodiversity, and waterways protection, cel­ebrate community spirit and many other en­vironmental areas.

Deputy Mayor of Parkes Shire, Cr Marg Applebee, expressed pride in Council’s achievement, “This award demonstrates the hard work and vision of everyone in the Parkes Shire. It reflects our community’s shared commitment to sustainability and resilience, from Council initiatives to the dedication of individuals, businesses, and local organisations. We are proud to bring this recognition back to the Parkes Shire and are excited to represent NSW at the na­tional level.”

Cr Bill Jayet also shared: “This award is a proud moment for the Parkes Shire, as it ac­knowledges the forward-thinking approach of our Council teams, community groups, and residents. Each project, no matter how big or small, has contributed to this achieve­ment. We look forward to continuing our journey toward sustainability and setting new standards for environmental care and community engagement,” Cr Jayet said.

In addition to the Overall Tidy Towns Award, Parkes received top honours in the Liveable Towns, Biodiversity Conservation, Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation, and Community Spirit and Inclusion categories.

Galing Gindhay Water Play: Liveable Town Award, Population Category C Joint Winner. This inclusive space combines wa­ter play, adventure elements, and shaded seating, making it enjoyable for all ages. The project integrates Wiradjuri cultural knowledge and highlights the local water story through design and storytelling.

Lake Endeavour Places To Swim Pro­ject: Liveable Town Award, Population Cat­egory C Joint Winner. Lake Endeavour was transformed into the first developed natural water location for recreational use in the Parkes Shire. The installation of new recre­ational infrastructure encourages people to get active in, on and around Lake Endeav­our – from swimming, kayaking and paddle boarding, to fishing, walking and relaxing by the water.

Waders and Woodlands: Biodiversity Conservation Award Population Category C Winner. Parkes Shire Council rehabilitated 25 hectares into a thriving wetland eco­system, supporting native flora and fauna, serving as an essential habitat for migratory and threatened bird species, featuring more than 3,000 native plants and macrophytes. This site is attracting a range of bird spe­cies, marking significant ecological restora­tion and fulfilling community desire for ac­cessible green spaces.

Raw Water Storage Lagoon (RWSL): Climate Change Mitigation & Adaptation Award, Population Category C Winner. The RWSL is a key water security project, stor­ing and managing water using solar energy and gravity. It ensures reliable water supply for the Shire while reducing CO2 emissions by over 900 tons annually.

Homegrown Parkes: Community Events Community Spirit and Inclusion Award, Population Category C Winner. Homegrown Parkes is a free, community-driven event that brings together people of all ages to celebrate local food, art, and sustainability, fostering community engagement and pro­motes sustainable living.

 

Forbes Pharmacist Jack Buckley has been named the Pharmacist of the Year at the Independent Pharmacies of Australia (IPA) annual Pharmacy Excellence Awards.

The part owner of Flannery’s Pharmacy and Life Pharmacy in Forbes received the accolade for his dedication to rural health­care. A trained pilot, Jack’s innovative ap­proach to healthcare delivery was first recognised during the NSW flood crisis in November 2022, when he utilised his fly­ing skills to transport medical supplies and pharmacy staff to towns along the Lachlan River.

By combining his professional expertise as a pharmacist, with his passion for fly­ing, Jack has revolutionised the delivery of essential medical services to remote com­munities.

Jack said “I think the key message is, don’t underestimate what community phar­macy can offer patients, particularly in re­gional centres. We are very service based and place a huge emphasis on patient management and, the great thing is, we are making a difference to the community.”

The award is one of Australia’s most prestigious and regarded pharmacy acco­lades, with LPG CEO, Michael Flannery saying “This award is a credit to Jack and all the work he puts into the Forbes stores and his local community. He has been a wonderful addition to LPG since joining us over 12 years ago”.

Jack has embraced the Forbes commu­nity, and is an excellent Pharmacist. The impact he has made in recent years, par­ticularly utilising his love of flying, highlights his dedication and commitment to commu­nity health.”

Nedd Brockmann once again captured the hearts and minds of the country with his epic 1,000-mile or 1,609-kilometre run that he described as ten times harder than when he ran across Australia.

“To say I’m proud is an understatement,” Brockmann said.

“You don’t know the extent of something until you’re in it, and when you’re in it, you’re shocked by its enormity.”

The man from Forbes finished the 1,000 miles in 12 days, 13 hours and 45 seconds at the Sydney Olympic Athletic Centre, which is 3,760 laps of the athletic track.

This time places him in the top 10 in the world and ranks him as the second fastest Australian to run the 1000 miles.

Brockmann constantly remarked on how he felt support from the local community, particularly from the countless donations, including the very generous $30,000 dona­tion from the Forbes Gala Ball.

Brockmann’s efforts have led to a stag­gering $3,700,000 raised for We Are Mo­bilise, with the fundraising efforts not over.

The second part of Nedd’s Uncomfortable Challenge invites workplaces, schools, gyms and individuals to commit to their own challenge that takes you out of your comfort zone.

“ This is about making people under­stand that any real growth comes with adversity and by taking an intentional chal­lenge, they might be more prepared when they’re faced with a challenge they hadn’t expected” Brockmann said.

Choose your own adventure at www.neddsuncomfortablechallenge.com