The Parkes Musical & Dramatic Society Inc performers will benefit from the upgraded microphone system.

Parkes Musical & Dramatic Society Inc has won $70,000 to critically upgrade their mi­crophone system under the NSW Govern­ment’s Infrastructure Grants program, Mr Stephen Lawrence, MLC has announced.

Mr Lawrence said the funding would help this valued organisation continue their great work in the community and praised them for their on-going efforts.

These projects are part of 46 projects across NSW that are sharing in $6.4 mil­lion under the latest round of funding in the NSW Government’s Infrastructure Grants program and include projects in the areas of sport and recreation, the arts and cul­ture, disaster readiness and community infrastructure.

Minister for Gaming and Racing Da­vid Harris said he was pleased to see this round of Infrastructure Grants go to many worthy groups who worked hard for their communities across the state: “I am impressed by the many and varied ways organisations are working to benefit their communities.

“Infrastructure Grants improve local facil­ities that bring people together, help them prepare for and recover from disasters, and promote participation in sport, recrea­tion and the arts.”

Since 2013, more than 840 community projects have been awarded $145 million under the funding program. The NSW Gov­ernment’s Infrastructure Grants program is made possible by ClubGRANTS Category 3, which directs profits from registered clubs’ gaming machines into community projects, while clubs receive a tax conces­sion in return.

Applications for the next round of Infra­structure Grants are open until Monday 25 November. For more information on how to apply and for the complete list of Infrastruc­ture Grants Program recipients visit https://www.nsw.gov.au/grants-and-funding/clubgrants-category-3-fund

Elisa Emassari performing at EJ’s last event.

EJ’s is a community based music club lo­cated in Parkes NSW with an aim to pro­mote local musicians in the region and mentor younger musicians in performing on stage whilst on their musical journey, al­lowing the younger generation to gain ex­perience through live audience attendance which will hopefully inspire them further.

We welcome all musical talent, comedy and poetry participation as well, as all three of these things can contribute to songwrit­ing. EJ’s is held on the last Sunday of the month, the next event will be on the 24th, watch the EJ’s facebook page for any up­dates or changes.

Federal Member for Riverina Michael Mc­Cormack is reminding schools and stu­dents across the Riverina and Central West his 2024 Christmas card design com­petition is closing soon.

“This year’s Christmas card design com­petition theme is “We Wish You a Riverina Christmas,” Mr McCormack said.

“The top three designs will be featured on my personal Christmas card, which will be sent to key stakeholders and parliamen­tary colleagues.

“Schools have until Friday 8th November 2024 to submit their entries to my Wagga Wagga office.

“Last year more than 1,700 entries were sent in from eligible students in Kindergar­ten, Year 1 and Year 2.

“Unfortunately, this year will be the last opportunity for some schools to enter the competition, as schools in Bland, Forbes and Parkes Shires will no longer be in the Riverina electorate after the next election.

“I urge schools and students in these shires to make the fullest of this opportu­nity.

Submissions from schools are requested to be enclosed and posted in a single pack­age to Suite 2/11-15 Fitzmaurice Street, Wagga Wagga NSW 2650, or alternatively, submissions can be scanned and emailed to michael.mccormack.mp@aph.gov.au

2023 National BBQ Championships Overall Winners, the Forbes Fire Brigade team.

Over 20 teams will line up over two actionpacked days to cook for the championship and over $20,000 in prize money, with the Grilling competition on Saturday and, for the first time, the Smoking competition on Sunday.

There will be plenty of entertainment for the whole family, with live music, food stalls, a bar, a jumping castle for the kids and the Forbes Ipomoea Rotary Club markets on both days.

Not to be missed will be special guest chef Matt Burgess, popularly known as Mat Blak, who has worked for celebrity chefs Gordon Ramsay and Jamie Oliver. He will be show­casing his amazing flavours with cooking demonstrations Saturday and Sunday.

There will be a giveaway on each day, with two Weber “BabyQ” Barbeques up for grabs. To enter the draw head to the Forbes Shire Council tent at the event to receive a free raffle ticket. Forbes Shire Council May­or, Phyllis Miller, encourages everyone to get down to Grinsted Oval.

Saturday 9 November:
Grilling Competition
12pm – Cameron Sharpe playing throughout the day
12:30pm – Official opening
12:45pm – Cooking demonstration, Mat Blak
1:45pm – ABA Overview
2:15pm – Cooking demonstration, Mat Blak
3:45pm – Cooking demonstration, Mat Blak
5:30pm – Grilling prizewinner presentations
6:00pm – Josie Laver performs
6:45pm – Katie Jayne performs

Sunday 10 November:
Smoking Competition
10am – Event opens
10am – Cameron Sharpe playing throughout the day
10:30am – Official opening
11:00am – Cooking demonstration, Mat Blak
12:45pm – Cooking demonstration, Mat Blak
2:00pm – Cooking demonstration, Mat Blak
3:30pm – Smoking competition prizewinners presentations

The Illabo to Stockinbingal section of Inland Rail has received Federal Government approval, green-lighting the project to move into the construction phase in 2025.

The Illabo to Stockinbingal (I2S) section of Inland Rail has received Australian Govern­ment approval, green-lighting the project to move into the construction phase in 2025.

The project was assessed under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, which focuses on the avoidance, minimisa­tion and management of impacts on biodi­versity matters of national significance.

The Commonwealth’s conditions of ap­proval supplement the NSW approval to protect threatened species and habitats in the project area. The approval is available online in the EPBC public portal.

The 39-kilometre Illabo to Stockinbingal section of Inland Rail will create a new di­rect route from east of Illabo tracking north to Stockinbingal in New South Wales and is the only new section of track from Bev­eridge to Parkes.

The route will bypass the townships of Cootamundra and Bethungra and the wind­ing, steep section of track known as the Bet­hungra Spiral on the Main South line, open­ing a more efficient way to transport freight.

Works on the Illabo to Stockinbingal sec­tion will be carried out by construction part­ner John Holland, which has been awarded the Design and Construct (D&C) contract.

The work will include the construction of several bridges and level crossings, nu­merous culverts, as well as a new crossing loop.

I2S forms part of the Inland Rail section in NSW from Albury to Parkes which has provided considerable employment and business opportunities. Since July 2023 Inland Rail has spent $7.4 million with 86 local businesses on the project between Albury and Parkes. On the same section, Inland Rail has employed a total of 434 people. 135 of the total are local residents, and 40 of the total are women. 40 of the to­tal are First Nations people. Of the 135 lo­cal residents, 24 are First Nations people.

For information please visit https://inlandrail.com.au/where-we-go/projects/illabo-to-stockinbingal/