The 2025 CatholicCare Wilcannia-Forbes Aboriginal Art Competition is open for entries. Pictured are the winning artworks in 2023 with judges Bishop Columba Macbeth-Green of the Catholic Diocese of Wilcannia-Forbes (right), CatholicCare Wilcannia-Forbes CEO Anne-Marie Mioche (centre) and Red Bend Catholic College visual arts teacher Tracie Axton (left).

Aboriginal community members of western NSW are invited to put paint to canvas for the 2025 CatholicCare Wilcannia-Forbes Aboriginal Art Competition. A total prize pool of $4,000 is on offer for the best origi­nal works.

CatholicCare Wilcannia-Forbes has launched the competition to discover and recognise emerging Aboriginal artists in western NSW. Entries close on Monday March 31, 2025.

CatholicCare Wilcannia-Forbes provides a broad range of programs and services caring for the wellbeing of individuals, families and communities, especially the vulnerable and at risk, supporting our local community.

CatholicCare Wilcannia-Forbes Chief Executive Officer Anne-Marie Mioche said the organisation was pleased to hold the competition for the fourth time.

She is encouraging emerging Aboriginal artists living in the Diocese of WilcanniaForbes, or in communities where its ser­vices are available, to enter.

“Each time we’ve held this competition, we’ve received some truly awesome and inspiring entries,” Ms Mioche said.

“We started this competition in 2019 be­cause we knew there was unrecognised talent in our vast region, and we wanted to showcase these artists.

“In 2023 the competition attracted 14 en­tries from across our region, and two im­pressive artworks tied for first place.”

The competition offers the prize pool to encourage emerging Aboriginal artists to create and share meaningful artworks that show the rich Aboriginal culture and artistry in western NSW.

The winner of first prize will receive $2,000, while second prize is $1,500 and third prize is $500.

Previous winning artworks have sub­sequently featured in CatholicCare Wil­cannia-Forbes branding and publications.

Ms Mioche said the competition was warmly embraced by her team.

“I always feel excitement at the arrival of new entries, I know our team members do as well,” she said.

“We love viewing the artworks and learn­ing the story behind them.”

The full information pack is available here https://tinyurl.com/mrck53an

Our team enjoyed the Parkes Elvis Festival atmosphere and fully embraced it by dressing up, and stepping back in time to celebrate his iconic influence.

The Quorn Park Hybrid Farm, on Back Trundle Road, Parkes NSW, is progressing the construction phase of the project.

Initial construction activities started with material import for temporary tracks and working pads, soon to transition for perma­nent internal access roads. Vehicle move­ments towards the solar farm have remained monitored and under control, whilst the final road upgrade in Henry Parkes Way and McGrath Lane are completed. Once the up­grade is underway, additional construction activities will begin, including piling (support structures for the photovoltaic panels), pe­rimeter security fencing and foundations.

Light and heavy vehicles are transiting on Henry Parkes Way, Mc Grath Lane, Back Trundle Road as goods and personnel are transported to site, generally between 7.00am – 5.30pm Monday – Friday.

Quorn Park project team recently took part in the Parkes Elvis Festival in January 2025.

Potentia Energy had a stall at Cooke Park from 8-11 January 2025, where our team was able to share information about Quorn Park Hybrid and solar and renewable en­ergy more generally, answering questions about our project, who we are and what we do, while giving away resources on renew­able energy, and Potentia Energy branded merchandise.

Potentia Energy and Beon Energy Solu­tions (EPC contractor for the project) aim to maximise opportunities for local contractors and suppliers to participate in the project through the provision of goods and services to the project site and workforce.

Beon Energy Solutions will seek to em­ploy a local workforce to support the con­struction of the project. Opportunities will in­clude labourers, truck drivers, cleaners and plant operators. The specifics of these roles will be made publicly available in early 2025For further queries or feedback about Quorn Park Hybrid we encourage you to reach out via email quornparkhybrid@po­tentiaenergy.com.au

Michael with Gaylene Crabtree at the Olde School T-house in Bethungra.

Small businesses across the Central West, Riverina, Snowy Mountains, South West Slopes and Southern Tablelands are set to benefit from a new Coalition policy that will cut red tape.

A future Liberal-Nationals Government will introduce a capped tax deduction of $20,000 for business-related meal and en­tertainment expenses – excluding alcohol – for small businesses with a turnover of up to $10 million.

Federal Member for Riverina Michael McCormack said the policy would help boost small businesses and stimulate the hospitality industry. “As a former Minister for Small Business and as a former busi­ness owner, I can certainly attest to the tan­gible benefits cutting red tape can have on helping a business survive and thrive,” Mr McCormack said.

“This announcement will also give the hospitality industry a much-needed boost – with many cafés, pubs, restaurants, clubs and entertainment facilities themselves small or family-owned enterprises.”

The measure, which will run for an ini­tial two years, will be exempt from Fringe Benefits Tax. “This is about supporting small businesses that have felt the brunt of a cost-of-living crisis completely misman­aged by the Labor Government over the past three years,” Mr McCormack said.

“Small businesses are the engine room of the economy, particularly in regional and rural communities.

“The Liberals and Nationals understand this important symbiotic relationship be­tween small and family-owned businesses and the local communities they serve and live in, which is why a future Coalition Gov­ernment will always have their backs.”

Under this Labor Government, more than 26,000 small businesses have fallen into insolvency, with more than 4,000 of those in the hospitality sector.

This measure builds on the Coalition’s commitment to rebuild small business by making the Instant Asset Write-Off perma­nent.