Articles Archives - Page 105 of 424

CMOC-Northparkes Mines – Sports Grants Recipients

July 6, 2023 by Roxane Manley

A total of $31,683.94 was distributed in grants this round. The next round, which opens in September, will see a total of $32,460.36 available for sports related projects within the Parkes Shire.

CMOC-Northparkes Mines and Parkes Shire Council have announced the successful applicants from the latest round of the Sports Grants Funding Program.

Parkes Sports Council Chairperson, Alan Gersbach said it was fantastic to see a broad range of projects during this round for selection.

“Parkes Shire has a strong sporting culture and programs such as this promote and increase participation within the community,” said Mr Gersbach.

This round, which closed in March 2023, included a grant to the Peak Hill Swimming Club to purchase equipment for training including lane ropes, pool noodles, long blade fins, handle paddles and a learn to swim platform.

Cr Louise O’Leary thanked Northparkes for its continuing support of not only this program but also the many other community programs throughout Parkes and Forbes.

“Thank you to the community groups who applied for this round of sporting grants. We encourage any local groups considering applying to make use of the resources of the Parkes Shire Grants Team in helping you with your application,” Cr O’Leary said.

Northparkes Managing Director Jianjun Tian said, “At Northparkes, we are committed to a number of long-term community partnerships, including the Sports Grants Program, which not only benefits our people, but the community in which we live and work.”

Snippets…

July 6, 2023 by Roxane Manley

Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) is encouraging producers to register for the MeatUp Forum in Cowra.

MeatUp In Cowra For Red Meat Update: Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) is encouraging producers to register for the MeatUp Forum in Cowra on Thursday 10 August 2023. The forum, to be held at the Cowra Civic Centre will include insights on MLA initiatives, grazing management, sheep and beef updates, carbon, a visit to the Cowra Agricultural Research and Advisory Station and more. Pre-registration is essential, visit mla.com.au/meatup or phone Pinion Advisory on 1300 746 466. Tickets are $25 for MLA members and $50 for Non-members (GST inc).

NSW Sport And Rec Active Kids Vouchers: July is here and that means there’s a new $50 Active Kids voucher available. The voucher is available to all NSW children aged 4.5 to 18 who are currently enrolled in school. The new Active Kids voucher will be valid until 31 January 2024, so you can use it to register the kids for a summer sport they love or try a new activity! Download yours now from the Service NSW website: www.service.nsw.gov.au/active-kids

Creative Ways To Entertain Kids These Holidays: Arts OutWest, has developed a concise list of events, workshops, shows, exhibitions, tours and other activities for kids and families right across Central West NSW. Access the list at https://artsoutwest.org.au/whats-on/list/

Community groups and organisations are also encouraged to contact Arts OutWest to have their events added to the list if they aren’t mentioned.

Looking for a Central West Road trip? Or a map to find museums and galleries? Eugowra, Cowra, Manildra, and Molong all have beautiful murals to look at. Another fun day trip is the Animals on Bikes from Molong to Dubbo, spotting the fun mailboxes and sculptures along the way. To download the culture maps for Central NSW go to: www.centralnsw.com/

Vote Now!: Voting is now open for the Essential Energy 2023 Community Choices program.There are several local community groups listed in the program. Vote now for a group making a difference in your community – your vote may help them receive a share of $250,000. Voting is super easy. Go online to www.essentialenergy.com.au/choices, search for your favourite group by name, postcode or zone and click vote. Voting closes midnight Monday, 17th July.

Entries Open For 2023 Aboriginal Art Prize

July 6, 2023 by Roxane Manley

2021 competition judges Wilcannia-Forbes Bishop Columba Macbeth-Green, CatholicCare Wilcannia-Forbes CEO Anne-Marie Mioche and artist Raymond Thorpe with the winning painting ‘Mirri’ by Robert Sloane of Condobolin.

CatholicCare Wilcannia-Forbes is excited to launch its 2023 Aboriginal Art Competition to discover talented Aboriginal artists in western NSW.

CatholicCare Wilcannia-Forbes chief executive officer Anne-Marie Mioche encouraged Aboriginal artists living in the Diocese of Wilcannia-Forbes, or in communities where its services are available, to enter.

“At CatholicCare Wilcannia-Forbes we are passionate about creating opportunities for Aboriginal people and empowering all to succeed and this competition will generate opportunities and recognition for three aspiring artists,” Ms Mioche said.

“We know there is a lot of unrecognised talent in this region and we hope this competition will showcase these artists.

“This is the third time we have run the competition and this year we hope to attract even more talent from our communities.”

Raymond Thorpe of Forbes won the inaugural CatholicCare Wilcannia-Forbes Aboriginal Art Competition in 2019 with his painting, Platypus Waterholes.

In 2021 Robert Sloane of Condobolin claimed top honours with his artwork, Mirri (dragonfly).

The competition offers a total prize pool of $4,000 to encourage emerging Aboriginal artists to create and share meaningful artwork that shows the rich Aboriginal culture and artistry in our diocese.

First prize for the winner is $2,000, second prize is $1,500 and third prize is $500.

Artists living in the Diocese of Wilcannia-Forbes, or in communities where CatholicCare Wilcannia-Forbes offers services, including from Broken Hill, Wilcannia, Cobar, Bourke, Brewarrina, Nyngan, Warren, Narromine, Dubbo, Parkes, Forbes, Bathurst, Orange, Cowra, Lake Cargelligo, Condobolin or elsewhere within the Diocese of Wilcannia-Forbes are encouraged to submit an artwork.

The closing date for entries is Monday 28th August, so get your entries in now.

Restraint Checks Securing Child Safety In Forbes

July 6, 2023 by Roxane Manley

Research shows children who are not restrained correctly are seven times more likely to
sustain life-threatening injuries in a crash than those who are properly secured.

The recent, free child restraint checking event held by Forbes Shire Council, has revealed all of the child restraints checked on the day were incorrectly fitted. Six child restraints were brought in by parents and grandparents for checking – a combination of baby capsules along with rearward/forward facing convertible seats.

Forbes Shire Council’s Road Safety and Injury Prevention Officer, Melanie Suitor, said this bi-annual event continues to be popular. “All of the child restraints that were checked had minor problems that needed fixing to ensure the safety of the child, Ms Suitor said.

While this was a free bi-annual event, local Authorised Child Restraint Fitters can install and check child restraints every day for a small fee. The local fitter in Forbes is Jelbart Dawson. Local fitters in Parkes include Col Fletcher Ford and Kia and Parkes Tyrepower.

National child restraints laws have been in effect since 2010. All children must be safely fastened into the correct child restraint for their age and size. Children need to be at least 145cm or taller to use an adult lap sash seatbelt.

Six Inland Water Sharing Plans Extended

July 6, 2023 by Roxane Manley

The NSW Government has announced a two-year extension of six water sharing plans across the Murrumbidgee, Macquarie-Bogan, Gwydir, Lachlan, Belubula, Namoi and Peel regions to implement recommendations to their replacements.

Executive Director of Water Planning Giselle Howard said water sharing plans are legal documents which lay out clear rules for the equitable and sustainable distribution of water among users over a 10-year period.

“We’ve extended six plans by an extra two years to give us more time to collect detailed data, complete analysis and hear from stakeholders which will help inform each new water sharing plan that will now come into effect on 1 July 2025,” Ms Howard said.

The following water sharing plans will remain in effect until 30 June 2025:

• Water Sharing Plan for the Murrumbidgee Unregulated River Water Sources2012

• Water Sharing Plan for the Macquarie-Bogan Unregulated Rivers Water Sources 2012

• Water Sharing Plan for the Gwydir Unregulated River Water Sources 2012

• Water Sharing Plan for the Lachlan Unregulated River Water Sources 2012

• Water Sharing Plan for the BelubulaRegulated River Water Source 2012

• Water Sharing Plan for the Namoi andPeel Unregulated Rivers Water Sources2012

What’s On @ The Parkes Shire Library & Cultural Centre

July 6, 2023 by Roxane Manley

GET THE FACTS ABOUT THE VOICE REFERENDUM

Australia is having a conversation about the Voice referendum being held later this year. It’s about whether we should change the Constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice. The Parkes Shire Library has information booklets available that have been issued by the Australian Government providing information on how a referendum works; the referendum question and constitutional amendment; what the Voice is and what would it do?

SCHOOL HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES

Board Games Day Friday: Families are invited to drop into Parkes Library to enjoy playing a board game with friends and family. Friday 7 July during library opening hours. FREE event.

Kids Flicks @ Parkes Library: For students in Kindergarten to Year 6. Come and enjoy a junior movie and popcorn! Wednesday 12 July, 10:30am – 12pm. FREE event in person bookings essential.

Picasso Faces: Learn about Picasso and play a game to create an art-work in his style. Tullamore Library Wednesday 12 July, 11:30am – 1pm. $2pp, bookings essential on 6861 2309.

Paint Like A Pro: Learn about Pro Hart and create an artwork using his methods. Peak Hill Library Thursday 13 July. $2pp, bookings essential on 6861 2309.

LITTLE BANG DISCOVERY CLUB RETURNS TO PARKES LIBRARY

Young scientists and their lab assistants gathered in Parkes Library during June for the Little Bang Discovery Club. The children made amazing discoveries by predicting, testing, conducting experiments and more! Stay tuned for information on future sessions of Little Bang Discovery Club.

YOUTH LIBRARY LOCK-IN

Young people aged 12-18 years are invited to come to our popular Library Lock-In event. Enjoy games, a free dinner and exclusive use of the Parkes Library. Monday 31 July, 5:30-8pm. Bookings open 17 July at events.humanitix.com/July23youthlockin

Fresh Spark For Old Fire Station

July 6, 2023 by Roxane Manley

Some of the Parkes Antique Motor Club’s Executive are pictured at the handing over of the keys of the former Parkes Fire Station from Scott Tucker, of the NSW Dept of Planning and Environment, and Craig Gibson, Captain of Parkes Fire and Rescue. Behind them, and in the old Station’s driveway, is the Club’s 1926 Garford; the same as the first motorised Fire Appliance to be stationed in Parkes, when the former Station was opened in 1924.

The NSW Government is giving the old Parkes Fire Station building a new lease on life as a fire brigade museum, appointing the Parkes Antique Motor Club as Crown Land Managers.

The Parkes Antique Motor Club plans to revive the site as a museum to be opened to the community on special occasions, and on request of visiting tourist groups.

The Parkes Fire Brigade dates back to 1878 when it was first formed with a board of control headed by the town mayor, with a shed building erected in 1879 at the rear of the local courthouse to store fire brigade equipment.

The town’s first fire brigade station was built on land owned by the justice department and then a new, larger station was completed in 1924 at a cost of £1,564 at the corner of Court and Hill Streets.

In 2017 it was announced Parkes would get a new state-of-the-art fire station with two engine bays, which was completed in 2020 behind the former station that will now serve as a museum.

Crown Lands in the Department of Planning and Environment has appointed the motor club as the Crown Land Manager for the Want Street reserve.

Parkes Antique Car Club President Phil Dixon said “The old fire station is a beautiful building and all of our members are very enthusiastic and happy to be able to showcase our historic equipment there to do something positive for the town.”

Tiny Home Co. Open Day Big Success

July 6, 2023 by Roxane Manley

Nearly 300 people attended the open day last weekend.

Last Saturday, 1st July, The Modular and Tiny Home Co. held its first ever Open Day in Parkes. Business owner, Daniel Relyea was happy to report the day was a smash thanks to the support of the community who helped him promote the event and the people who came along on the day.

The flow was non-stop with many great enquiries. The mood was relaxed with many positive comments. People were excited that there was a local manufacturer of Modular and Tiny Homes. It was encouraging for us to be able to engage with so many locals who are looking for accommodation alternatives.

Snippets…

June 29, 2023 by Roxane Manley

Visit during the school holidays to see the two new additions to the Aviation Museum.

Open Everyday Of School Holidays: The Aviation Museum at Parkes Airport has been steadily growing and are excited to announce two new additions, an ex RAN Grumman Tracker and an ex RAAF Macchi jet trainer to the line up and while they both are undergoing extensive restoration work they will be on display during the coming school holidays.

The Museum has an extensive range of aircraft on display that you can visit on board and some you can even sit in the pilot’s seat. The Museum houses many aircraft that are significant to Australian aviation history.

The Museum is located at Parkes Regional Airport and is open each and every day of the school holidays from 9.30am to 3.30pm, cost of entry for a family is only $30. For more information you can contact Mike De La Hunty on 0418 473 175 or follow HARS Parkes facebook page.

Backpackers To Pack It In Over Labor Visa Hike: Federal Member for Riverina Michael McCormack has slammed the Albanese Labor Government’s decision to hike the cost of a Working Holiday Maker (WHM) visa by $130 to $640 from 1st July and its plan to limit these visas to just one year.

Mr McCormack said the price increase would now make it the highest fee visa of its kind in the world.

Caravan And Camping Holidays Surge In Face Of Economic Uncertainty: Numbers for the March quarter showed a strong surge in travel numbers with people embarking on 4.5 million trips (up 24%) around our beautiful country with and 18 million nights (up 22%) spent caravanning and camping. That takes the annual rolling figure for trips to 15.5 million trips and 62.3 million nights and $11.2bn in visitor expenditure.

Caravan Industry Association of Australia CEO, Stuart Lamont, said: “seeing growth in the industry is always great to see, but in the face of uncertain economic times, these numbers demonstrate the everlasting strength of our customer offering and our immense value for money proposition.”

“We’re continuing to see Australian’s love affair with their country grow, spending more and more time in our beautiful regional and rural towns. That makes the growth even more encouraging, knowing that 89% of these trips are being spent in areas needing the support” said Stuart.

Caravanning and camping is the number one provider of nights for holidays in the country in the March quarter, this means strong support for our regional and rural economies with 90% of trips taken in regional areas.

Rural Aid Supports Food Education Campaign

June 29, 2023 by Roxane Manley

Wheat Grains at harvest.

Rural Aid has thrown its support behind a campaign to help Australians better understand where their food comes, how to eat seasonally and ways they can stretch their “food dollars”. The National Farmers Federation (NFF) inspired campaign featuring Sydney-based culinary experts Alex Elliott-Howery and Jaimee Edwards from Cornersmith will showcase a different Aussie-grown product every week for the next six weeks. Recent research commissioned by the NFF found that 51 per cent of the Australian population is “extremely” concerned about fresh food and grocery costs.

Rural Aid CEO John Warlters said it’s concerning that same number of people said they only “know a little” about Australian farming and agriculture, according to the new research.

Mr Warlters said while Australian farmers were world-renowned for the quality of their produce and their efficiency, closer to home many people were less familiar with how their food was grown and how to make the most of their food purchases.

The adventure begins this week on the Australian Farmers social media accounts. Tips, tricks, recipes and farmer profiles can be found at farmers.org.au

GET THE FACTS ABOUT THE VOICE REFERENDUM

SCHOOL HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES

LITTLE BANG DISCOVERY CLUB RETURNS TO PARKES LIBRARY

YOUTH LIBRARY LOCK-IN

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