Parkes RSL Sub Branch, at its July meeting decided it would honour the Korean Veterans in our community. The hardship of overseas service extends to the family and friends, our servicemen and women leave behind and we should commemorate their service and sacrifice.

Two dates have been set aside for the 50th Anniversary of the end of Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam War.

On Thursday, 3rd August members of the Parkes RSL Sub Branch will conduct a Remembrance Service honouring the servicemen who lost their lives during the 10-year war. 536 servicemen will be remembered across Australia at services at all Australian towns and cities at graves or places of Remembrance.

The Parkes RSL Sub Branch will be honouring three former residents; Anatoly Danilenko who was killed on 25th April, 1968, Douglas Roy Powter, who died on 7th February, 1967 and Denis John Donnelly who died on the 9th August, 1967. Both Danilenko and Powter are buried at the Parkes Cemetery whilst Donnelly is buried at Mudgee.

The service will be held at the Cenotaph in Cooke Park commencing at 11am and it is hoped that as many Parkes and district ex-service personnel can attend as possible, especially those who served in Vietnam.

The fiannual Vietnam Veterans Day service will be held on Friday 18th August at the Vietnam Memorial on Memorial Hill commencing at 11am.

Following the Memorial Service, the Parkes RSL Sub Branch will be conducting a Commemorative Luncheon at the Parkes Services & Citizens Club commencing at 12 noon and tickets can be obtained from the Secretary, Mr Paul Thomas on 0427 624 683 for the cost of $40, which covers the Luncheon and drinks which are limited to beer, wine or soft drinks. 

The Department of Planning and Environment (DPE) has extended a statewide expression of interest to identify local Aboriginal service providers that can offer place based cultural immersion training for employees as part of the department’s Aboriginal Cultural Capability Framework. 

Expressions of interest will run until 7th August to identify potential Aboriginal service providers who will be shortlisted and invited to tender for the delivery of services based on their local cultural knowledge.

DPE Director of Aboriginal People and Cultural Affairs, Amanda McCarthy, said the framework will provide employees with comprehensive learning to improve Aboriginal cultural awareness and capabilities, enabling them to deliver the very best services in partnership with Aboriginal communities.

“Aboriginal people and cultures are so diverse that a ‘one size fits all’ approach to cultural learning won’t work,” Ms McCarthy said.

“Employees need to immerse themselves in their local communities or on Country with Traditional Custodians, knowledge holders and language speakers and understand their intrinsic connections with Country and the broader community.”

Through the expression of interest process, DPE aims to establish a panel of preferred Aboriginal suppliers across NSW who can provide cultural immersion experiences and share the richness and diversity of Aboriginal culture and history on Country.

With about 10,000 employees in the Department of Planning and Environment around NSW, the establishment of the panel represents real and tangible economic development opportunities for Aboriginal people, communities, and business.

Further information on the expression of interest can be found here https://www.tenders.nsw.gov.au/

Back in February, Orange Ex Services Club hosted a wonderful industry luncheon that brought registered Clubs and industry suppliers together to raise much needed funds for flood affected areas and their community Clubs from across our local area.

This event saw a number of large donations and contributions made. Thanks to the incredible event organisers at Smart Exposure and all of the wonderful sponsors and volunteers, the event proudly raised over $200,000, and these funds have now made their way to the flood-affected communities via their community Clubs.

Last Thursday 20th July, the Orange Ex-Services’ Club and Smart Exposure brought some of the major donators including Mounties Group, Ryde-Eastwood Leagues, Campbelltown Catholic Club and Manly Leagues to the Central West on a day trip to Molong, Cudal and Eugowra. At the cheque presentations, they spoke to the Clubs’ mangement and met some local Club members and the community, to hear first hand the impact and devastation these floods have had and were able to brainstorm a number of initiatives that the funds raised can go towards.

It is critical that these small, flood affected communities continue to get support and funding to rebuild, and sharing this heartwarming news story is a part of ensuring they are not left behind to rebuild on their own. 

Sonya Robertson has recently relocated her established carpet cleaning business from Newcastle to Fobes to be closer to family. 

“I know Parkes and Forbes, I lived in Parkes from the age of nine, and the community is so supportive and lovely,” said Sonya.

Advanced Carpet Care Forbes, Parkes and Surroundings offers the following services:

• Residential and commercial carpet steamcleaning
• Upholstery and mattresses
• Tile and grout cleaning
• Outdoor hard surface pressure cleaning
• Flood water extraction
• Deodorising and pet stain treatment
• End of lease flea and tick spraying

Find Advanced Carpet Care’s contact details in our fortnightly Trades and Services Guide, on page 11 of this paper.