Articles Archives - Page 20 of 412

Exciting Roles To Shape Future Of Forbes

October 9, 2025 by Roxane Manley

Step into a leadership role and guide our teams to help make Forbes shine. Apply for the roles of Team Leader – Water Construction and Team Leader – CBD Presentation.

These roles offer the opportunity to guide teams, deliver quality outcomes, and contribute to the presentation and infrastructure of our Shire.

Applications are closing soon. Apply at: www.forbes.nsw.gov.au/paid-employment

We welcome applicants from all walks of life. If you need adjustments to help you through the process, contact people@forbes.nsw.gov.au.

Council is seeking a passionate leader to head up our Suburban Presentation Team.

In this role, you will lead and coordinate a team to deliver quality outcomes in line with Council’s programs, plan and schedule work while ensuring safety protocols are followed, interact with the community and support all aspects of town presentation, bring your passion for horticulture and gardening to enhance our suburbs. If you love plants, people, and keeping our town looking its best, apply now. Applications close Sunday 12 October, www.forbes.nsw.gov.au.

Council is also seeking an experienced administrator ready to lead, mentor and inspire our Business Support and Customer Service Team. In this role you will oversee counter services, call centre, records, and customer requests, provide executive and administrative support across all Council divisions, coach and develop a professional, multi-skilled team and plan, schedule, and ensure high-quality service delivery. If you have top-notch admin, editing, and MS365 skills, and a passion for leading, apply now.

Applications close Sunday 12 October.

Why Young Australians Need Resilience, Not Just Restrictions

October 9, 2025 by Roxane Manley

As more than 200,000 Year 12 students across Australia prepare for their ATAR exams, the stress they face highlights a bigger national issue: too many young Australians are entering adulthood without the coping skills to manage life’s challenges. Without those tools, pressures can accumulate and contribute to serious mental health consequences – with suicide now the leading cause of death among 15-24 year olds.

At the same time, the Federal Government is preparing to tighten restrictions on young people’s access to social media, acknowledging growing concerns about its role in anxiety, loneliness, cyberbullying and harmful self-comparison. While reducing harmful online influences may provide some relief, bans alone will not solve the problem. Children also need to be equipped with the skills to manage stress, build resilience, and seek support much earlier.

LifeChanger Foundation is a preventative youth mental health and wellbeing non-profit that empowers young people to thrive. Through evidence-based school and community programs, it builds the social, emotional and resilience skills young people need to navigate life’s challenges.

For information about LifeChanger www.lifechanger.org.au

The Need For Nuclear Proven

October 9, 2025 by Roxane Manley

The Leibstadt Nuclear Power Plant in Switzerland. By Hansueli Krapf – Own work: Hansueli Krapf (User Simisa (talk · contribs)), CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=110649554

Leader of The Nationals David Littleproud said the ground-breaking comprehensive truth data’ of Labor’s renewables rollout proves the need for nuclear power in Australia.

Mr Littleproud said the Rainforest Reserves Australia and Steven Nowakowski analysis, which can be found at https://www.rainforestreserves.org.au/renewablestruthmap shows the shocking impact Labor’s all-renewables plan will cause on agriculture land, pristine natural landscapes and regional communities.

The mapping outlines the scale and size of every site in Australia and the footprint it will leave, with clickable, real-time data. It shows the vast amount of land being taken up by Labor’s 1126 projects, requiring 44,895.5 kilometres of new haulage roads for more than 300 wind projects, along with an additional 443,000 hectares of prime and for 545 new solar projects. The total number of solar panels proposed totals a staggering 584 million.

“This mapping vindicates The Nationals’ calls for nuclear to remain a key policy for the Coalition,” Mr Littleproud said. “We need to lift the nuclear moratorium for a balanced and technology neutral energy mix if we want to save what’s left of our agricultural land and our forests from Labor’s all-renewables approach.

“Australians need to understand, this mapping shows Labor is destroying the very thing we are trying to protect – the environment.

Environmentalist Steven Nowakowski said the mapping, released today, is the most comprehensive to date. “This is a trillion-dollar industry yet no one has done this mapping before,” Mr Nowakowski said.

The Journey Of Bartley’s Barkers

October 9, 2025 by Roxane Manley

Gail designed her paddock to disrupt and engage, there are other dog smells, roo’s, sheep, and plants smells. All designed to distract the dog while training, one of the goals is to get the dog to focus on you the owner instead of the distractions.

Gail Richardson, owner of Bartley’s Barkers, was born in Narrabri NSW in 1968 but now calls Parkes home. Bartleys Barkers had been many years in the making. In fact, the vision first began to take shape in Gail’s mind more than twenty years ago. Gail said “I knew I wanted to create something meaningful, something that combined my love of dogs with a service that could truly make a difference for people and their beloved companions.”

“When I completed my studies, I was both proud and humbled to achieve nine High Distinctions and one Distinction. These results gave me the confidence to move forward with my dream: to provide accessible, reliable dog training and support services, not only face-to-face but also online.”

“Living in rural and regional communities myself, I understand how challenging it can be to access professional dog training compared to the services available in big cities. In metropolitan areas, training often comes with a hefty price tag, making it out of reach for many. For me, it was essential to ensure that families in country areas could still afford quality help for their dogs and puppies.” said Gail

At the heart of Bartley’s Barkers is the belief that responsible dog ownership is both powerful and life-changing. Knowledge is the key—understanding the simple “do’s and don’ts,” learning to read a dog’s body language, and gaining confidence in your role as a leader. These things may sound small, but they are absolute game changers. With the right guidance, owners don’t just train their dogs—they build a partnership that results in a loyal, confident, and much-loved family member.

Gail’s training facilities are located at 78 Lindsay Thomas Rd.Parkes and she can be contacted on 0408 968 175 or at happydog.happylife14@gmail.com or find Bartleys Barkers on Facebook

RAAF Roulettes Aerobatic Team At Parkes Airport

October 9, 2025 by Roxane Manley

Friday October 10th come along and see the RAAF Roulettes Aerobatic Team who will be at Parkes Airport from 11.15am and on arrival will practice their aerial routine for the performance at the Bathurst Car Races. They will depart around 3pm to do their display at Bathurst.

The Roulettes display will be best be viewed from the Terminal Car Park adjacent to the Museum which will be open to all visitors.

Searching for a great place to take the kids to during the school holidays, why not take them to the Aviation Museum at Parkes Airport, located in a former RAAF hangar, where kids can sit in helicopters and aircraft and feel the experience of being a pilot.

The Museum has a range of aircraft to view that range from a recently retired AP3-C Orion maritime reconnaissance aircraft to a replica Fokker Tri plane, the Red Baron from WW1.

The Museum will be open from 9.30am to 3.30pm on Friday and the remainder of the school holidays with admission cost of $30 for a family of 2 adults and 2 children and $5 for children under 16.

Plan Your Christmas Early With Buddy Boy Kitchen Parkes

October 7, 2025 by Roxane Manley

The calendar has a way of catching us off guard. One moment it is spring, and suddenly Christmas is here. At Buddy Boy Kitchen, we know how important it is to have a place ready for gathering, celebrating, and sharing meals.

That is why our Christmas Menu is available for groups of 15 or more, from 3 November to 20 December 2025. Whether it is colleagues toasting the end of a big year, or families coming together before the holiday rush, our team makes planning simple and the celebrations effortless. Expect festive flavours, a warm atmosphere, and service designed to take the stress out of organising. From Christmas ham and cured Salmon to filet mignon, pan-roasted turkey, and Christmas pudding.

A festive gathering is about more than what arrives at the table.

It is the laughter that lingers between courses, the conversations sparked over a glass of wine, and the small details that make a night feel unforgettable. At Buddy Boy Kitchen, we create the setting, you bring the people, and together the evening becomes a story worth remembering.

If you’re not ready to celebrate Christmas yet, we are also open for breakfast from 6:30am and dinner from 5:30pm, Monday to Saturday. Our restaurant serves Happy Hour everyday from 4:30pm to 6:00pm, there is no better way to raise a glass before a Christmas feast.

Do not wait until the calendar fills. Organise your festive gathering now. Christmas Menu bookings and details at buddyboykitchen.com.au/christmas-functions-2025 or call 02 6862 5222.

The Little House

October 7, 2025 by Roxane Manley

On the way to work there is a little house. It sits off the side of the road, old brick chimney, nestled into the side of the house. It’s framed by large gum trees, glimmering in simple, understated beauty.

The kids are usually in the car, I point to it and tell them a story about who might have lived there, what life might have been like for them, it keeps them entertained for 5 minutes without an iPad so it’s a win.

Today, I drove by it alone, and I think about the woman who would have swept its floors every day, planted irises along the front, and cleaned out the fireplace. The stories it would hold.

Stories of a family sharing a bed, cuddling to keep warm on a frosty morning. Of laughter, hot soup and tales being told beside the glow of a fire.

The kids that grew up there wouldn’t have remembered if Mum rinsed the dishes or kept a clutter free house. But, they would remember her putting down the broom every now and then, running around outside with them, peals of laughter echoing through the trees, making the gum leaves dance and glimmer with joy.

And so I drive home, ignore the dishes, grab my boys and tickle them on the lounge, soaking up every laugh, smile and the sounds of their little voices. I ignore the ping of a new email coming in, the agitated beep of the washing machine’s completed cycle. And I think of the little house and its gum trees; smiling, nodding at me.

Bookings are now open for Kerin Health Mother’s Group, a place for new mothers and their babies to come together and share the adventure of Motherhood in a safe, supportive environment. To learn more, head to https://www.kerinhealth.com.au/mothers-group

What Do You Think About Inland Rail?

October 7, 2025 by Roxane Manley

Have you been keeping up with Inland Rail’s progress or would you like to know more about Australia’s largest infrastructure project?Inland Rail Pty Ltd is constructing the Inland Rail project, a 1,600km freight line linking Melbourne to Brisbane via inland Australia. With a staged delivery approach, prioritising the construction between Beveridge, Vic, and Parkes. Regional NSW communities will continue to benefit from Inland Rail construction between now and 2027.

At Inland Rail, we need your feedback to make sure that what we say and do is meeting the needs and expectations of project communities. All we ask is 10 minutes of your time to complete the survey at https://survey-au.yoursurveynow.com/survey/selfserve/53b/2509241?list=0 Please complete this survey before Tuesday 7 October 2025.

This survey is administered by independent market research company, Veracity. All feedback is confidential with only summary responses reported to Inland Rail.

If you would like to complete the survey by phone, or if you have any questions regarding this survey, or about Inland Rail in general, please call us on 1800 732 761 or visit inlandrail.info/learn-more for more information

Cash In On Clutter At The Garage Sale Trail

October 7, 2025 by Roxane Manley

Find out how a clear-out can give you more space, less stress, and even help the planet.

Following last year’s success, plenty of garage sales are expected across the Parkes Shire this November, as locals join over 400,000 Australians taking part in this year’s Garage Sale Trail – one of the country’s biggest second-hand shopping events.

Held over two weekends (8–9 and 15–16 November), the event sees thousands of garage sales pop up in streets, schools, front yards and community spaces around the country. Locals can host their own sale or join a market, taking part on one day or across both weekends.

Over 2,700 Parkes Shire residents participated in the two big weekends last November extending the life of almost 8,500 pre-loved items.

“It’s a fun and meaningful way for locals to take climate action, meet their neighbours and make some extra cash,” said Parkes Shire Council’s Waste Management Coordinator, Sharyn Ware. “Garage Sale Trail makes it easy to give your stuff a second life – and keep it out of landfill.”

Registration is free and includes access to downloadable signs, how-to guides and promotion tools – making it easy to take part. Last year, the average seller made $499, proving that selling second hand is as good for the wallet as it is for the planet.

“There’s something for everyone – from designer fashion and retro homewares to kids’ toys, tools, plants and books,” said Sharyn.

NSW EPA Executive Director of Programs and Innovation Alexandra Geddes said, “Garage Sale Trail is a fantastic campaign that supports the NSW Government’s target to reduce waste and illegal dumping.

“By taking part, you’ll be part of contributing to a more circular economy by getting as much use out of products and materials as possible and helping us generate less waste.”

Participation is free thanks to the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) and Parkes Shire Council. Register now at bit.ly/GarageSaleTrailParkesShire.

Nominations Open For 2026 Forbes Shire Australia Day Awards

October 7, 2025 by Roxane Manley

Image (L-R) – Councillor Aiden Clarke, Acting General Manager Richard Jane, Mayor Phyllis Miller OAM, 2025 Forbes Shire Citizen of the Year Maree Yapp, 2025 Australia Day Ambassador Ange Clarke, Councillor Brian Mattiske and Deputy Mayor Chris Roylance.

Do you know someone who goes above and beyond for our community? Now is the time to give them the recognition they deserve with nominations open for the Forbes Shire Citizen of the Year, Senior Citizen of the Year and Young Citizen of the Year Awards.

These prestigious awards celebrate locals who show a consistent record of excellence, have made outstanding achievements and contribute significantly to our community.

Forbes Shire Council Mayor, Phyllis Miller OAM said the awards are an important way to shine a light on the people who make Forbes such a strong and vibrant community.

“Our community is full of people who go the extra mile. Whether it’s through volunteering, leadership, or simply lending a hand when it’s needed most. This is a wonderful opportunity to recognise the remarkable people around us. Nominating them is a simple but meaningful way to show your gratitude and celebrate their efforts,” the Mayor said.

The 2025 Forbes Shire Citizen of the Year, was Maree Yapp who received her award atthe 2025 Australia Day Gala Dinner. Maree was recognised for her volunteer work supporting young families, championing the arts and environment.

Any resident is eligible for Citizen of the Year, while Young Citizen of the Year is open to residents aged 25 or younger. Anyone aged 65 years or older is eligible for Senior Citizen of the Year. Nominations close Friday 16 January 2026. Nomination forms can be downloaded from Council’s website or collected from Forbes Shire Council’s office at 2 Court Street, Forbes. Completed forms can be returned by email to community@forbes.nsw.gov.au or posted to PO Box 333, Forbes NSW 2871. Award winners will be chosen by a judging panel made up of community representatives and announced at the 2026 Australia Day celebrations in Forbes.

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