The official opening of the Robert Wilson Terminal and the completed upgrades to the Parkes Regional Airport took place on Thursday morning at 8.30am. More than 100 dignitaries and special guests were present on the day, including Federal Member for the Riverina Hon. Michael McCormack MP, Parkes Shire Councillors and Robert Wilson’s wife and family members.

The upgrade to the Terminal is part of the $3 million redevelopment of Parkes Regional Airport which is jointly being funded by Parkes Shire Council and the Australian Government, through their Community Development Grants Programme and the New South Wales Government Community Partnership Grant. The project included replacing the existing runway lighting, terminal refurbishment and expansion for security readiness, additional car parking infrastructure and technology improvements.

The Parkes Regional Airport is located five kilometres east of Parkes and is serviced by Regional Express (REX) which provides regular passenger services between Parkes and Sydney. REX transports around 35,000 passengers annually and is vital for connecting the Central West with larger cities.

A re-elected Coalition Government will invest $600,000 to replace nine existing netball courts and build three new courts in Forbes. Minister for Regional Development Fiona Nash made the announcement last Saturday while visiting Forbes with the Member for Riverina, Michael McCormack.

Minister Nash said the new netball courts were critical to keep netballers, young and old, involved in the sport across the region. “It was disappointing when the annual netball carnival was cancelled for the first time in 40 years because of the poor state of the courts. I am delighted we can help ensure the carnival will be back on next year.

“Sport, especially team sports, are a great way for people to keep fit and active, and I enjoyed many years playing in local netball teams myself,” Minister Nash said. Mr McCormack welcomed the announcement, saying that local sporting clubs like the Forbes Netball Association make a positive contribution to the community and are a critical part of the local social fabric.

“Sports clubs play a very important role in regional communities, they provide opportunities for people to catch up with one another and feel involved in local activities. “With more than 450 members aged from five to fifty plus years, and some people regularly travelling more than 100kms to attend matches, the netball centre has a footprint right across the region,” Mr McCormack said.

Robyn Kenny from the Forbes Netball Association said they were extremely excited to receive the funding. “We have been planning this project for a long time and the Government’s contribution puts us years ahead of what would be possible without this funding. It will immediately upgrade our netball complex to standards we could only have imagined,” said Ms Kenny.

Sunbeam car enthusiasts from across Australia and New Zealand will be in Forbes next weekend to attend the 40th National Sunbeam Car Rally. Highlights of the weekend include a Mayoral Welcome Reception on Friday, June 10 and a public Show and Shine in Harold Street on Saturday, June 11.

During the Show and Shine from 10am to 2pm, locals will have the opportunity to view the range of cars and ask the owners any questions they may have. Sunbeam is best known for its later history under the Rootes Group during the war era and well into the 1950s and 1960s when it produced stylish Sunbeam Talbots and sporty Sunbeam Alpine and Tiger convertibles.

For a small car company, the Sunbeam brand managed many achievements and also had motor sport successes. They had a revolutionary new design in 1959, which was a leap ahead of its British contemporaries with modern features like wind up windows, reclining seats, sporty engines and disc brakes as standard.

The Sunbeam Tiger was resurrected in 1964, which married a Sunbeam Alpine body with a powerful Ford V8 motor based on a prototype produced by American Racing icon, Carroll Shelby. The Tiger was made in limited numbers from 1964 to 1967 and is best known as the car of ‘Secret Agent 86’ in the 1960s television comedy Get Smart.

Mayor Phyllis Miller said Council was looking forward to hosting the 40th National Sunbeam Car Rally. “The Show and Shine on the Saturday will definitely be worth attending as you will be able to have a good look at the different types of Sunbeams on display, especially because they are quite rare in Australia,” Mayor Miller said.

Forbes Shire Council is pleased to announce the appointment of Danny Green as its new General Manager. After a comprehensive recruitment process, Council’s decision was unanimous and Danny will commence on Monday, July 4. Danny has been the General Manager of Gloucester Shire Council since 2012 and prior to that was the General Manger of Glamorgan Spring Bay Council in Tasmania.

His other previous roles include Director of Corporate Services with Wentworth Shire Council, Director of Corporate Services with the Australian Agricultural College Corporation and Regional Manager of Sun Water. Danny has a Bachelor of Commerce and a Master of Business Administration and is also a fellow of the Australian Society of Certified Practising Accountants.

Mayor Phyllis Miller OAM said Council was extremely excited about welcoming Danny to the Forbes Shire. “We are very lucky to have appointed someone as experienced and well qualified as Danny as our new General Manager,” Mayor Miller said. “He is very enthusiastic and is the kind of General Manager that really cares about the community he works in and the team that works for him.” In his new role as General Manager of Forbes Shire Council, Mr Green will be responsible for the overall management of the organisation, for the carrying out of Council’s policies and strategic objectives and for ensuring Council is provided with accurate information to promote effective decision-making. The role is also responsible for community consultation and engagement processes and to pursue beneficial relationships with regional neighbours and other levels of Government. He will also report and monitor strategic plans and long term and short-term financial budgets.

With a passion for communities, Danny is a strong believer in effective engagement that sets long-term planning linked to day-to-day delivery. Danny is married with four adult children and is looking forward to moving to Forbes and getting involved in the community.