Articles Archives - Page 27 of 405

Snippets…

May 8, 2025 by Roxane Manley

Free Printing is Back at CUC Parkes

CUC Parkes: Our printer has made the journey to our new Centre at 7–9 Court Street. We know everyone learns differently — for some, having hard copies of notes and study materials is essential. Come and check out our new Centre, register for free, and enjoy access to free printing

Forbes Blue Sky Outdoor Experts: Mick and Karen Roylance and all the Team at Blue Sky Forbes and their Families would like to thank all the emergency services involved in the devastating fire, which has sadly taken the entire inside of our store.

We would also like to thank the wonderful community of Forbes, Parkes and surrounds for the many well wishes, flowers and touching comments. We will keep everyone updated with our next steps. We will come back from this stronger than ever.

Northparkes Oval Lighting Update: A light pole at the south-west corner of Northparkes Oval has been removed due to safety concerns. Power to all lights is currently off, but a temporary solution will be in place within two weeks to support night training. Please avoid the area near the removed pole. For information, visit: bit.ly/3YrjMbT

Ronald McDonald House Charities Central West NSW: Jenni McGee, Nurse Manager – Parkes Hospital will be joining us for CEO Walk in my Shoes (CWIMS) Parkes is the number one town where our families come from. Since opening RMHC Central West has supported 356 families from the Parkes Shire, over 2,223 nights, representing accommodation savings of $333,450.

Jenni said: “I am doing this because I know how much it means to have support when you need it most and to make sure that no-one feels like they have to go through things alone.” Learn more and show Jenni your support – visit https://www.ceowalkinmyshoes.org.au/fundraisers/jennimahon

The Forbes Historical Museum: Longstanding and dedicated volunteer, Shane Wode will be selling his book “The Streets of Forbes” on Friday night at The Trial of Ben Hall. If you are one of the lucky 100 people to have secured tickets for this hotly contested trial, please consider bringing some cash to buy a copy of Shane’s book. We will also have CD’s and DVD’s for sale. These items are for sale every day at the Museum.

Author of “The Streets of Forbes” Shane Wode.

Radio 2pk Welcomes New Station Manager

May 8, 2025 by Roxane Manley

Greg Magnus is the new Station Manager at 2PK/ROK FM.

There has been an official appointment with a restructure for Parkes Broadcasting, 2PK/ROK FM.

Greg Magnus has taken over the Station Managers role from Paul Batchelor following his appointment to the Managers position for the networks group of QLD stations. Greg has been involved in both print and radio media since he left school in mid 1980’s and originally started his radio journey at 2PK in 1989.

Having worked at many and varied stations across NSW, QLD and WA in roles from on-air, Production Manager, Music Director, Sales, Greg has now been welcomed to the position of Station Manager at 2PK/ROK FM.

Greg’s first on-air job was on 2PK as a night/evening announcer from 6pm. Greg said “It seemed to be the timeslot where all of the newbies started.”

With such a long spanning career in the industry, Greg found it hard to pick a highlight because there were so many, but he said: “I suppose landing that first radio job was the biggest highlight, but also to be able to wake everyday to go to work in a job that is fun is a bonus. The listening audience also makes everyday a highlight.”

Greg has been lucky enough to work with some big names over the years, from comedians to politicians and musicians, but when we asked him to drop some names he said “To be honest the local people have always been the best to talk to or interview because they keep it real.”

Farmer To Face Court After Allegedly Pumping Water With Faulty Meter

May 8, 2025 by Roxane Manley

The Natural Resources Access Regulator (NRAR) has begun a prosecution against a Condobolin region farmer who allegedly pumped water from a creek when the meter wasn’t working, and in breach of licence conditions.

The farmer faces a total of six charges in Condobolin Local Court, including:

• one count of taking water when the meter was not working

• one count of taking water when the meter was not working, while having reasonable grounds

• to believe the meter was not working

• three counts of contravening terms and conditions of water access licences

• one count related to failing to supply documents to NRAR investigatorsThe potential maximum penalty the Local Court can impose for the offences is $132,000.

The offences are alleged to have taken place between April 2022 and March 2024, involving water allegedly taken from Island Creek, a tributary of the Lachlan River.

NRAR will allege that the farmer took water on two occasions without having obtained an exemption to take water when the meter wasn’t working.

NRAR will allege that the second offence was despite repeated reminders and warnings even though they knew that there was a requirement to report the faulty meter to WaterNSW within 24 hours of discovering it.

NRAR will further allege that the farmer also failed to place orders with WaterNSW before pumping, a breach of licence conditions.

NRAR Director Investigations and Enforcement Lisa Stockley said rules requiring reporting faulty water meters were taken seriously by the regulator.

Ms Stockley said licence holders could continue to use the water while repairs were undertaken by submitting a section 91I exemption form.

“Once notified that a meter is not working, WaterNSW will email the customer an exemption authority with an expiry date and advice that the customer must follow very carefully,” she said.

Free Online Child Car Seat Safety Workshop

May 8, 2025 by Roxane Manley

Parents, carers and grandparents of young children are invited to attend one of two free online workshops being held next week to provide important safety information about child car seats.

The workshops are being conducted by Parkes, Forbes and Lachlan Shire Councils in partnership with Transport for NSW. The workshops will be held online via Microsoft Teams, on Tuesday 13 May at 10am and again at 7pm, and will run for about an hour.

The Councils’ Road Safety and Injury Prevention Officer, Melanie Suitor, said the correct selection, installation and adjustment of child car seats is vital to ensure children’s safety when travelling in vehicles.

“The workshop will cover the National Child Restraint Laws, types of child car seats available, correct installation and adjustment, when to move to the next car seat, accessories, tips for secondhand car seats and much more.

“It will be a great refresher for grandparents, as child car seats and the rules have changed a lot since they had their children, but also for parents and carers as they are navigating their way through their child or children’s growth.

“Local checking day events show that around 80% of the child car seats we checked were incorrectly installed. Transport for NSW research shows that 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. It’s so important to ensure your precious cargo is safe,” said Ms Suitor.

To book your place, use this link: https://bit.ly/WorkshopRegoMay25 or call on (02) 6861 2364.

Slope Assessments Taking Place Across The Central West

May 8, 2025 by Roxane Manley

Transport for NSW will carry out geotechnical slope assessments at multiple locations across the Central West as part of ongoing efforts to maintain a safe road environment.

From Monday 12 May, crews will assess slopes on the Great Western, Castlereagh and Mitchell highways as well as on Sofala Road, The Escort Way, Chifley Road, Trunkey Road, Jenolan Caves Road and Duckmaloi Road.

A Transport for NSW spokesperson said the work is crucial for identifying potential issues and informing decisions about risk management and mitigation.

“Assessors will be looking for slope instability and the potential for landslides. This routine work helps provide a safe road environment now and into the future,” the spokesperson said.

“Slope management is vital for the upkeep of our road network and to maximise safety for all road users.

“Motorists may notice our assessment teams working on foot in these areas and we ask that they drive with added awareness and caution.”

Work will take place between 7am and 5pm on weekdays and is expected to take five days to complete, weather permitting. For the safety of workers and motorists, single lane closures, intermittent stopping and a reduced speed limit of 40 km/h may be in place during work hours. Access for residents and emergency services will be maintained at all times.

Motorists are advised to drive to the conditions and follow the directions of signs and traffic control. Transport for NSW thanks road users for their patience. For the latest traffic updates download the Live Traffic NSW app, visit livetraffic.com or call 132 701.

Thousands Of Pre-loved Items Saved From Landfill

May 8, 2025 by Roxane Manley

Buying and selling second hand items is a great way to generate some extra cash or save money on everyday items.

Parkes Shire residents turned their unwanted items into cash on the annual Garage Sale Trail last November, extending the life of over 8,478 pre-loved items, 42% of which would otherwise have gone to landfill.

Results of a recently released report by Garage Sale Trail and Taverner Research Group highlighted the outcomes of the waste reduction initiative made possible by Parkes Shire Council and the NSW Environment Protection Authority (NSW EPA). It showed a win-win for locals, with the average garage sale organiser taking home $499 and shoppers saving money too with access to cheaper, second-hand products.

Parkes Shire Council’s Acting Director Infrastructure & Sustainability, Mr Graeme Bayliss, said the research highlighted the local community’s commitment to reduce waste.

“Programs like Garage Sale Trail are important in shifting perceptions of secondhand and getting more people reusing items rather than sending them to landfill,” Mr Bayliss said.

Across Parkes Shire over 2,700 people participated in the two big weekends of garage sales which aim to provide a fun way for residents to reduce waste, make some money and get to know their neighbours.

Looking across the state, 132,691 people participated in the council-powered circular economy event in NSW, with over 320,000 pre-loved items sold and $1.6 million generated for the local economy.

“More and more people are looking for ways to generate some extra cash or save money on everyday items. Buying and selling second-hand is one easy way we can all do this, whether it’s hosting a garage sale or selling items online”, said Barbara Gill, General Manager of Garage Sale Trail.

Locals who are keen to clear out and cash in can now register their interest in the 2025 event, which will take place on the 8 – 9 and 15 – 16 November, 2025 at www.garagesaletrail.com.au

Upgraded Forbes Public School Returned To Community

May 1, 2025 by Roxane Manley

Images of some of the flood rebuild indoor and outdoor spaces at Forbes Public School.

Students and staff at Forbes Public School are celebrating as they return to their upgraded school two and a half years on from the destructive 2022 Central West floods, with school improvements making way for the return of play space and the removal of demountables.

Forbes Public School’s flood rebuild project, delivered by the Minns Labor Government, features 14 refurbished classrooms, library upgrades, an upgraded school canteen, 12 new air conditioning units and two new bubbler stations.

The school’s toilet facilities have also been upgraded with new water-saving toilets and taps, handbasins, and partitions.

The project also included updating of 11 school buildings with new doors, fresh paint, new carpet and laminate flooring, and essential electrical infrastructure upgrades. These improvements involved repainting and refurbishment of the shade structure, resurfacing the main sports court, landscaping of outdoor play areas, and the installation of new seating.

Overall, 1,050 litres of fresh paint was applied across interior and exterior walls and surfaces, and 1,080 square metres of new flooring was installed.

The 25 demountable classrooms used to support the school during the works will begin to be removed next month, including those on the school oval, with works on track for completion by Term 3.

Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car said “After the devastation of the 2022 floods, it is fantastic that we are now welcoming students and teachers back to permanent, upgraded facilities at Forbes Public School.

Snippets…

May 1, 2025 by Roxane Manley

A showcase of creativity, passion, and imagination.

Forbes Youth Action Team: Celebrating the incredible talent from the FYAT art competition. A big thank you to Kim Featherson and Katie Ragg, the ladies from the Forbes Art Society joined as judges. Kim and Katie shared that they were blown away by the quality of entries across all categories! Winners: 5–10 years winner Willa Thornton, 11–17 years winner Imogen Collits. Highly Commended Awards: 5-10 years Darby Edgerton, 11-17 years Saranchuluu Zorig.

Rural Women’s Network: The RWN is running a survey of people across rural NSW to answer these questions and more. Have your say at bit.ly/RWNSurvey2025 before the end of May 2025.

Parkes Shire Libraries: Storytime and Rhyme Time return for Term 2 next week at Parkes Library! Storytime is for pre-school children aged 3-5 and Rhyme Time is for babies ages 0-3. For bookings, please ring the Library on 6861 2309.

R U OK? As humans, we crave connection. That’s why life’s ups and downs are better shared. Create space for your people to share the good and bad times. Follow our four steps: www.ruok.org.au/howto-ask

Dolly’s Dream: Bullying shatters lives, but together, we can create a kinder, safer world for everyone. This Do It For Dolly Day, let’s go blue and take action: Wear it, wave it, or bake it. Host a blue event. Fundraise to support Dolly’s Dream. Every donation directly supports programs that protect children and strengthen communities across Australia. Go blue on 9 May and make an impact.

PCYC Parkes: Healthy Harold’s Colour Run is returning to Parkes. Come and join the fun. Wednesday 7 May, 3.30pm – 5.30pm, Keast Park, Parkes NSW. This free event is a great way for families to enjoy time together while learning about health, safety and wellbeing: Run, walk or skip your way through a colourful chalk course. Enjoy a free BBQ and fun giveaways throughout the afternoon.

Forbes Evening Branch CWA: On 29 April Forbes CWA and Forbes CWA Evening Branch participated in the ACWW Walk the World Day with friendship, to raise awareness of their work and to support their charity. Some of CWA values include supporting each other, advocating on community issues, sustainable development and the protection of the environment and social Issues. CWA gives women a voice to help make change.

Some of the work CWA does in our community can be viewed on the Facebook page: Forbes CWA Evening Branch.

Don’t Forget To Vote On Saturday 3 May

May 1, 2025 by Roxane Manley

Election day is Saturday, 3 May. You can vote at any polling place on polling day, just don’t forget to vote. Polling places are usually located at local schools, churches and community halls, or public buildings. Voting locations can be found at aec.gov.au On election day you’ll receive two ballot papers: a green one for the House of Representatives and a white one for the Senate.

On the white ballot paper you can choose to vote either above or below the line. On the green ballot paper, you need to number every box for your vote to count.

Major centres in the Parkes Electorate include Moree, Walgett, Narrabri, Coonabarabran, Coonamble, Gilgandra, Dubbo, Forbes, Parkes, Condobolin, Cobar, Broken Hill, Bourke and Brewarrina.

Candidates for the Parkes electorate will appear on the ballot paper in the following order:

Mark Carter (Pauline Hanson’s One Nation)Stephen Pope (Shooters Fishers and Farmers Party)Trish Frail (The Australian Greens Party)Petrus Van Der Steen (Trumpet of Patriots)Bob Wilson (Independent)Nathan Fell (Australian Labor Party)Jamie Chaffey (National Party of Australia)Maurice Davey (Family First Party)Stuart Howe (Independent)Sally Edwards (Libertarian Party)

Driving With Purpose For Beyond Blue

May 1, 2025 by Roxane Manley

Life Pharmacy Group CEO Warwick Marx and Chief Operating Officer Michael Flannery.

Heavy rain and challenging conditions didn’t deter the Life Pharmacy Group (LPG) team from hitting the road for the 10th annual Beyond Bitumen Rally, raising funds and awareness for Beyond Blue.

The Beyond Bitumen Rally entourage of 72 vehicles travelled almost 2000 kilometres from Taree to Port Stephens via Grafton and Armidale (March 27 to 31).The Cavaliers, which includes LPG CEO Michael Flannery (Originally from Forbes) and Chief Operating Officer Warwick Marx (From Dubbo), raised more than $34,000 for the charity this year, taking out the highest fundraising honours for an individual participating car. “We’ve been taking part in the Beyond Bitumen Rally for seven years now,” Life Pharmacy Group CEO, Michael Flannery, said.

“It all started after a mate of mine shared his mental health battles and the role Beyond Blue played in supporting him during his darkest times. It didn’t take us long to find ourselves a car and The Cavaliers were formed.”

Did you know men are three times more likely to take their lives in Australia? and remoteness is a major contributing factor.

Growing up in regional Australia, The Cavaliers understand the importance of checking in on friends and seeking the appropriate support. “Most of us grew up in the bush and this rally is a great opportunity to hit the road with our mates, see parts of the country we may not have experienced previously, support communities along the way, and raise money for Beyond Blue,” Michael said.

“As a team we’re very proud to have raised more than $200,000 for the rally over the past seven years, and we’re thankful for the support we’ve received from our colleagues, friends, and families along the way.”

Since its inception, the Beyond Bitumen Rally has raised more than 3.5 million dollars for charity.

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