General Interest Archives - Page 13 of 311

Fire Meets Flavour In Forbes

September 25, 2025 by Roxane Manley

World-renowned live-fire chef Patrick De Leon will be joining the National BBQ Championships in Forbes on 18 and 19 October. Visit www.forbes.nsw.gov.au/2025-nationalbbq-championships.

World-renowned live-fire chef Patrick De Leon will be joining the National BBQ Championships pit when the sizzling event returns to Forbes on Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 October 2025.

Barbeque fans won’t want to miss the chance to see one of the world’s most dynamic chefs in action as the Central West heats up for another unforgettable weekend.

With over two decades of smoke and seasoning behind him, Chef Patrick is internationally recognised for his fusion of classic American BBQ, South American asado and South African braai. A favourite on the competitive circuit and a mentor to aspiring grillers, Chef Patrick is known for coaxing deep, layered flavours from flame, coal and hardwood smoke.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Chef Patrick De Leon to the National BBQ Championships in Forbes,” said Mayor Phyllis Miller. “His incredible talent and dynamic live-fire skills will add something truly special to the event, celebrating the flavours and passion that make barbeque such a beloved tradition both here and around the world.”

Attendees can catch Chef Patrick in live demos throughout the weekend. Chef Patrick’s live-fire cooking, global BBQ fusion, coal and wood-fire control, and dry rub & condiment design will impress both seasoned pitmasters and backyard BBQ lovers.

This year’s event promises a full weekend of grilling, smoking, live demonstrations, music, market stalls, and kids’ entertainment – all in celebration of BBQ culture. The event is proudly presented in partnership with the Australasian Barbecue Alliance.

“This event brings our community together, attracts visitors from near and far, and showcases the incredible talent and flavours that make BBQ such a celebrated tradition, both here and around the world,” the Mayor added.

Lions Park Works To Enhance Popular Space

September 25, 2025 by Roxane Manley

Already one of Forbes’ most popular spaces for families, visitors and events, Lions Park is undergoing a major transformation, designed to improve access, usability and appeal for all ages.

The project will deliver new shade sails, an expanded playground with soft-fall rubber surfacing, and full restoration of the carpark to include all-abilities access from vehicles directly into the park.

The Lions Park improvement works are part of the Forbes Lake Activation Parks and Amenities Resilience & Betterment Project, jointly funded by the Australian and NSW Governments under the Community Assets Program. The Lions Park shade structures are funded under the NSW Government’s Community Building Partnership.

Forbes Shire Mayor Phyllis Miller OAM said the project builds on the park’s existing strengths and further positions it as a key community and events destination. “Lions Park is a favourite for family outings, weekend events, and community gatherings. This transformation will enhance what’s already great, making the space more inclusive, resilient, and welcoming,” Mayor Miller said.

“With better access, upgraded play spaces, and landscaping that complements the other improvement works being delivered around Lake Forbes, this park will be a true showcase of Forbes’ outdoor Forbes Shire Council lifestyle.”

Due to the level of construction activity and for public safety, areas of Lions Park will be closed to the public while works are underway. Access to walking paths and Oh So Sugar will remain open to pedestrians throughout the project.

Council looks forward to unveiling a refreshed, more inclusive and event-ready Lions Park later this year. For more information, visit www.forbes.nsw.gov.au.

Parkes To Host Goodnessgravel Cycling Event

September 18, 2025 by Roxane Manley

Picture from a recent goodnessgravel visit to Parkes. Image credit to @goodnessgravel and @VisitParkes.

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

Free Child Restraint Checks In Parkes And Forbes

September 18, 2025 by Roxane Manley

Parkes and Forbes Shire Councils are ensuring that children are safe and secure when travelling in vehicles, with free child restraint checks by Authorised Child Restraint Fitters in Forbes on Wednesday 24 September and Parkes on Thursday 25 September 2025.

The Council’s Road Safety and Injury Prevention Officer, Melanie Suitor, says that these free child restraint checking days are important in ensuring the safe travel of young children.

“Most of the restraints we have checked at previous events have had minor problems that needed fixing to ensure the safety of the child – such as tightening and untwisting straps, fitting gated buckles and correcting the seatbelt’s path through the restraint.

“It is important to have your child restraint checked regularly after prolonged use and installed correctly before use to ensure that your precious cargo is safe” Ms Suitor said.

The child restraint checking days will be held in Forbes on Wednesday 24 September from 11am – 3pm in the carpark at Forbes Rugby Club, and in Parkes on Thursday 25 September from 11am – 3pm in the carpark at Kelly Reserve.

Bookings are essential, phone 6861 2364 to secure your place.

School Holiday Fun Returns To Forbes With New Format

September 18, 2025 by Roxane Manley

Forbes Shire Council’s much-loved school holiday program is back with a new format, packed full of fun, creativity, and entertainment for children and young people of all ages.

As usual there will be a great variety of activities for our youth, including a circus workshop, skateboard painting, first aid training and art sessions. An exciting new Youth Connect event will also be part of the program.

For the upcoming school holidays, Council is introducing a small ticket fee for selected events as part of a new trial. The change aims to reduce no-shows and giving more families the chance to enjoy these popular activities.

Mayor Phyllis Miller OAM said the trial was about supporting fairness and accessibility. “Our school holiday events are always in high demand, and when people don’t turn up, it means other children miss the chance to take part. By introducing a small ticket fee for selected activities, we’re hoping to encourage families to commit to their bookings and give more kids the opportunity to take part.”

Families are encouraged to secure their spots early. For more information about booking head to www.forbes.nsw.gov.au.

Forbes Garden Club Report

September 18, 2025 by Roxane Manley

Faye Blackstock spoke about growing succulents and demonstrated how to make a Christmas tree from succulents at the August Forbes Garden Club meeting. Faye on the left, is pictured with Denise.

Our last meeting had a wonderful attendance of 45 members on a sunny afternoon held in the garden of Phil and Fleur Wells.

The guest speaker was Fay Blackstock of Parkes, who spoke about succulents.

We visited her garden early this year, and together with her husband, they have an outstanding display of metal art and a huge variety of plants that made their garden memorable. Fay demonstrated how to make a Christmas Tree using succulents, chicken wire, sphagnum moss and potting soil. Jennifer Purdie thanked Fay and presented her with a small gift.

Marg Dent conducted the business meeting, welcoming all and noting how nice it was to see such a great attendance. Bev Gerdus reminded all to have show flower entries ready.

Phil Wells shared the history of their garden, which featured many Japanese maples to provide shade in summer and a stone wall to prevent flooding of the river which the garden overlooks. David Sanderson thanked Phil and Fleur for hosting the meeting and presented them with a gift.

Flower of the month winners were Marie Langfield 1st (rose), joint 2nd Pam Baass (geranium) and Noel Hocking (daffodil), 3rd Carolyn Dewaegeneire (hellebore). Raffle winners were Evelyn Mahlo, Claire Haley and Noel Hocking.

When you come along to one of our meetings you will have the opportunity to view the garden, buy plants, flowers or fruit from the trading table, enter the Flower of the Month competition and have a cuppa with members after the meeting. Contact forbesgardenclub@gmail.com for details.

The next meeting will be held at Joy and Noel Hocking’s garden, 84 Farrand Street on Tuesday 23 September at 2pm. Our guest speaker Noel will talk on irises.

By Green Thumb

Netball Stars

September 18, 2025 by Roxane Manley

It’s a brisk Tuesday night as the local stragglers appear at the netball courts, some of us dazed from the trauma of dinner time with toddlers, others fresh from work in their jeans and boots.

It’s netball season in our little town, and it’s pretty spectacular. My favourite is the banter between husbands and wives, long term friends and siblings. The two sisters paired against each other in the circle, GS and GK, pushing and barging, cracking inside jokes from their childhood. The ref doesn’t bother to pull them up on it, they are evenly matched and it’s entertaining to watch.

My sister yells at her husband, who has worn his gum boots to the match after a wet day in the sheep yards. “Mark your player!” Babies sit in prams on the sideline, and it’s part of the refs unspoken duty to rock the pram or pick up the cranky baby. Most times we only have enough players for two teams, and we don’t bother with a ref.

It’s a chaotic, unpredictable and beautiful game, with no tally of goals, no timers.

One of the players will usually just yell out, “surely it’s half time?!” And we will all agree and head over for a drinks break, a mere 7 minutes into the game.

To signal the end of the match, someone will just yell out “next goal wins!!”. Then we all shake hands, have a chat and head home, faces red from the exercise, hearts happy for the connection.

It reminds me of an age of primary school, where we would run around just for the fun of it, with no thoughts to calories or weight loss. Reminds me that exercise doesn’t need fancy nike shoes or the latest Lulu lemon tights.

Sometimes, it can be running around on a netball court, with limited knowledge of the rules and verbal aggression from your wife when you’re confidently (and constantly) in the shooting circle. Dressed in gumboots and jeans, with a brightly coloured bib thrustover your chest with the letters “WD”.This is small town sport, and I’m a big fan.

Just $25 Will Help Support Families Like Henry’s

September 18, 2025 by Roxane Manley

Henry was born prematurely in 2021 and Ronald McDonald House has been helping him ever since. He often returns to Orange for medical appointments with specialists. Henry loves visiting ‘Hen’s House’ as he calls it – a comforting place for him that has been the family’s ‘home away from home’ for over 4 years.

Henry from Parkes has been staying with Ronald McDonald House, on and off, since before he was born.

During a routine antenatal checkup in Parkes, Lou and Gary were advised to travel to Orange hospital immediately where Lou was admitted that night and Garry was luckily offered a room at Ronald McDonald House Central West, within walking distance of the Hospital.

The next day Lou was asked to stay in Orange so that their baby could continue to be monitored. Lou was 22 weeks at this stage, and Ronald McDonald House in Orange became their ‘home away from home’.After two weeks the decision was made to transfer to Newcastle’s John Hunter Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit suitable for premature babies in anticipation of Henry’s arrival.

“The staff in Orange went out of their way to assist with travel and transfer arrangements,” said Garry. This also included booking them a room at Ronald McDonald House in Newcastle. “It eases the financial pressures and the physical toll of having to be a distance away.”

Henry didn’t keep Lou and Garry waiting long once they arrived in Newcastle – he was born the next day, at 24 weeks weighing 560 grams.

To help support Henry, and kids just like him, you can enter the Ronald McDonald House Central West raffle and go in the draw to win a Hyundai Kona.

Simply buy a $25 ticket to enter and you’ll be in the draw to win, plus you’ll also be helping Ronald McDonald House support sick kids from across the Central West.All proceeds from the raffle stay in the Central West at Ronald McDonald House Central West and help support families with sick and injured children from across the region.

To learn more about Ronald McDonald House Central West and buy a ticket in the raffle to win a Hyundai Kona visit their website at www.rmchcwnsw.org.au

Jack Mill And His Car “Swifty” Win Young Street Machine Of The Year

September 11, 2025 by Roxane Manley

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.

September Is Prostate Cancer Month

September 11, 2025 by Roxane Manley

Cancer remains a leading cause of mortality in Australia. Prostate Cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among men, with approximately 25,000 men diagnosed with the disease each year in Australia, September is Prostate Awareness Month and the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia are encouraging men to take preventative action.

In Parkes, the Prostate Cancer Awareness and Support Group will be co-ordinating a number of outreach activities from 8-12 September, including an information table at Parkes Pharmacy. Community members are invited to consult with group representatives for further information.

Initial symptoms may include abdominal pain, blood in the urine, difficulty urinating or sometimes no noticeable signs. Men with a family history of cancer, especially those aged forty or even younger, are advised to consult with their doctor for appropriate testing on an annual basis. The same recommendation is made for all men aged fifty or over, as timely detection is important.

Many men are reluctant to undergo digital rectal examinations (DRE), but recent studies indicate that DRE is no longer the primary diagnostic tool, and alternative tests are available. Further information at: www.pcfa.org.au.

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