This year’s Australia Day Award nominees have now been announced, and their sto­ries are a reminder of just how much kind­ness, effort and passion exist in our own backyard.

Each of the 2026 nominees reflects the spirit that holds our community together.

I look forward to celebrating these amaz­ing humans at the Citizen of the Year Gala Night this Sunday at Town Hall.

I wish to invite everyone to come togeth­er next Monday to reflect on our shared history, connect with community, and cel­ebrate the spirit of mateship as part of the 2026 Australia Day celebrations.

Start the day with a community breakfast at the picturesque Lake Forbes. Enjoy a re­laxed morning by the lake with family and friendsFinish the day at Party in the Park in Li­ons Park, culminating in the spectacular Battyes Bridge fireworks display at 9pm.

All the event details can be found on Council’s website. I look forward to seeing you all there.

Apex Park is about to enter a new and exciting chapter, with transformation works l

scheduled to commence next week. The major upgrade of the “Aeroplane Park” will include new play equipment featuring an impressive 8.7-metre tower with three slides, rubber soft fall, new pathways, seating and landscaping, a new amenities block and improved drainage and car park facilities.

This upgrade aims to enhance acces­sibility, improve amenities and ensure the playground is designed to withstand major flood events.

The work is expected to take approxi­mately six months, ready in time for spring.

With more people enjoying the pathways and open spaces around our beautiful Lake Forbes, a new 30km/hour speed zone has been introduced along Gordon Duff Drive.

Additionally, three rubber speed cushions and new signage have also been added.

These traffic calming measures create a safer environment for everyone – especially children, lake walkers and users of South Circle Oval.

God Bless
Mayor Phyllis Miller OAM

It’s that exciting time of year again when our region comes alive with the unmistak­able sound of Elvis! On behalf of our com­munity, I extend a heartfelt welcome to everyone staying in Forbes for the Parkes Elvis Festival.

This iconic event draws thousands of vis­itors to our town each year, creating a fan­tastic atmosphere filled with music, fun and celebration. Beyond the entertainment, the festival provides a huge economic boost to our region, activating local businesses and showcasing the very best of what our region has to offer. From cafes and restau­rants to accommodation providers and re­tail shops, our local businesses truly come alive during this special weekend.

Pull on your Blue Suede Shoes and show some Burning Love for the King of Rock n Roll at our Amazing Forbes Street Break­fast in Templar Street on Friday 9 January from 7am until 11am. This year’s breakfast features three renowned Elvis tribute acts – Sean Luke Spiteri, Gavin Chantelier and Paul Fenech – alongside incredible perfor­mances from the Blues Brothers, Sydney Swing Katz, and local trio Amitie. With free entry, it promises to be a morning full of music, dancing, food, and entertainment for all ages.

The festival offers a wonderful platform for local performers, giving them the oppor­tunity to shine and share their talents. It’s inspiring to see our community’s passion and talent celebrated on such a big stage.

Events like this also strengthen the con­nections between our communities, high­lighting the vibrant creativity and energy of our region.

While you’re in town, be sure to visit the Forbes Visitor Information Centre. Stocked with local produce, art, souvenirs, and festi­

val information. The friendly team are ready to help make your experience in Forbes ex­ceptional, whether you’re looking for insider tips, directions, or a keepsake to remember your visit.

Thank you, Thank you Very Much to eve­ryone who chose to stay in Forbes during the festival. So come on, let’s Rock Around the Clock and make this festival weekend one to remember!

Mayor Phyllis Miller OAM

Welcome to the 2026 Parkes Elvis Festival! It is a great pleasure to welcome Elvis fans from across Australia and around the world to our vibrant community. Now in its 33rd year, the Festival continues to shine as a premier event on the Australian calendar and is proudly recognised as a NSW Government Foundation Event. Each year, thousands gather in Parkes to celebrate the enduring legacy of Elvis Presley.

This year is especially meaningful as we commemorate what would have been Elvis’ 91st birthday. Our 2026 theme, Love Me Tender, inspired by his 1956 film debut and iconic song, sets the tone for a heartfelt celebration of devotion, joy and timeless charm. From western flair and familyfriendly activities to dancing competitions and live entertainment, there is truly something for everyone.

We are delighted to welcome back popular festival favourites, including the Miss Priscilla Dinner, the Evolution Mining Northparkes Operations Street Parade, and the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest, with the winner earning the chance to compete in Memphis. The Elvis Wall of Fame induction at the Gates of Gracelands will honour Marcia Hines, followed by her spectacular Disco Inferno show.

On behalf of Parkes Shire Council, I sincerely thank our volunteers, sponsors, local businesses, staff and community for their passion and support. To our visitors, enjoy the Festival and explore all that the Parkes Shire has to offer.

Enjoy the 2026 Parkes Elvis Festival!
Mayor Neil Westcott

The final touches are nearing completion on Johnny Woods Crossing. The extension of the footpath, connecting the new section with the existing pathway, creates a seam­less link for walkers, runners and cyclists to enjoy.

Funded through the NSW Public Spaces Legacy Fund, the redevelopment has en­hanced pedestrian access and safety, as well as improved flood resilience.

I’m excited to share that the Lions Park playground reopened on Saturday, just in time for the school holidays. A huge thank you to our Projects Team for planning, de­livering, and testing the new equipment to ensure everything was ready for families to enjoy.

This upgrade was part of the Forbes Lake Activation Parks and Amenities Resil­ience & Betterment Project, jointly funded by the Australian and NSW Governments under the Community Assets Program.

Council has recently seen a rise in nonflushable items entering the sewer net­work. Items like baby wipes and “flushable” wipes, sanitary products, nappies, cotton buds, and even cutlery and sprinkler heads have been causing serious blockages.

These items lead to costly repairs and increased staff exposure to raw sewage when manually clearing the blockages.

Please help us keep the sewer network running smoothly by only flushing the three P’s – pee, poo, and toilet paper. Everything else belongs in the bin.

There will be a number of changes to Council’s operations heading into the fes­tive season.

Forbes Waste Facility will be closed on Christmas Day. If your usual roadside bin collection day is Thursday, please place your bins out on Christmas Eve. The driv­ers will start extra early on Christmas morning to complete their rounds so that they can spend the remainder of the day with their families.

Forbes Visitor Information Centre will close on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

Council’s Administration Office will close from midday on Christmas Eve and reo­pen at 8:30am, Monday 5 January 2026.

Essential services will continue to oper­ate during this period. We wish everyone a safe, happy, and relaxing festive season!

God Bless
Mayor Phyllis Miller OAM

Keeping our roads safe, smooth and wellmaintained is one of Council’s core respon­sibilities, and over the past few weeks our teams have been hard at work preparing for the upcoming Urban Reseal Program.

You may have noticed crews undertaking heavy patching throughout town. This es­sential step ensures that we can deliver high-quality, long-lasting road surfaces in the months ahead.

Sections of key state-managed routes are scheduled for resealing in February 2026, including Newell Highway, Escort Way, La­chlan Valley Way and Henry Parkes Way.

This will significantly improve driving condi­tions on these major travel corridors.

I want to thank our community for your patience while these works take place.

These upgrades ensure our road network remains safe and can support the contin­ued growth of our Shire.

I’m delighted to share that the magical Christmas projection on Forbes Town Hall went live this week, bringing festive cheer to the heart of our community.

This year’s projection tells the charming

tale of “Nedd and the Late Santa Letter” and features a very special guest.

To experience the full magic, simply tune your radio to 88.7FM between 8.30pm and 11.30pm each night while you watch the projection come to life on the Town Hall façade. The show will run nightly until 27 December. I encourage everyone to take a moment this festive season to enjoy this unique local tradition.

This Friday, our Forbes Youth Action Team (FYAT) will be out in full force at the Forbes Business Chamber Christmas Festival, hosting their very own Fun Zone featuring fairy floss and snow cones, giant games, and Christmas craft.

I’m proud of these young leaders and their commitment to our community. Events like the Christmas Festival show why Forbes is such a great place to live.

I encourage everyone to head down on Friday evening from 5pm until 9pm, sup­port local businesses and stop by the Fun Zone to say hello to the FYAT Team.

God Bless
Mayor Phyllis Miller OAM

I’m pleased to let our community know that work is well underway to replace the foot­path along Grenfell Street, between Ren­free Street and Lawler Street. This stretch is an important pedestrian corridor and a key route into our CBD, and it’s fantastic to see it getting the upgrade it deserves.

The old, narrow 1.2-metre path is being transformed into a new, safer, and more accessible 2.5-metre-wide footpath. Once complete, it will make getting around on foot easier and more comfortable for eve­ryone, while improving connectivity across the area.

I’m proud that Council can deliver this project through our annual footpath main­tenance and renewal program. It’s all part of our ongoing commitment to keeping Forbes’ streets safe, accessible, and wel­coming for our community.

Council has installed four new CCTV cameras at the Forbes Indoor Pool. This decision comes in response to several recent incidents of vandalism, something I know has been deeply disappointing for both staff and pool users.

These cameras will help us better protect this much-loved facility, deter further dam­age, and ensure the pool remains a safe, clean and enjoyable space for everyone.

I’d like to thank our community for continu­ing to respect and care for our shared plac­es. When we look after them together, they remain great assets for all of us.

As we near the end of the year, it’s a great time to start thinking about your next career step.

Council is excited to open applications for our 2026 Trainee Program. This pro­gram is a change to earn while you learn, gain hands-on experience, and receive na­tionally recognised training with a support­ive team behind you. Council is offering six amazing traineeship opportunities in Civil Construction, IT, Sewer, Water, Storeper­son, and a Cadet / Graduate Building Sur­veyor role. If you’re ready to learn, grow, and make a real impact in your community, this is your moment! Applications close 16 January 2026.

God Bless
Mayor Phyllis Miller OAM

I’m pleased to share that important safety upgrades along Lachlan Valley Way (South Condobolin Road) are now nearing com­pletion, with the final seal scheduled for this week. This project has delivered 3.3 kilo­metres of widening, providing an 8.5-metre seal width and a one-metre sealed shoul­der on both side.

As part of the works, a narrow culvert has also been widened by 4.8 metres, remov­ing a known pinch point. These upgrades have been funded through the NSW Re­gional Roads Block Grant, which provides Councils with annual support to maintain vital regional road networks. I’m proud to see these improvements helping keep our road network safe for all users, particularly during this busy harvest period.

We are fast approaching the festive sea­son, and we’ve plenty of exciting things planned to celebrate.

Santa’s North Pole Mail Express has ar­rived at Council’s Administration Office! Post your letter in the special red mailbox by Wednesday 10 December 2025 to re­ceive a personalised reply. Letter templates and envelopes are available from Council or can be downloaded from the website.il

The CBD Christmas lights will be switched on from Sunday 1 December. Don’t miss the magical Christmas projection at Forbes Town Hall, launching Monday 8 December with a very special guest narrator.

Finally, the annual Forbes Carols by Candlelight is on Saturday 13 December 2025 at Victoria Park – a magical evening filled with music and festive cheer.

As we head into the busiest shopping weeks of the year, it’s a good time to re­member the two-hour timed parking zones throughout Forbes CBD. To keep things moving smoothly, Council’s Parking Rang­ers will increase patrols – not to catch peo­ple out, but to ensure everyone has fair ac­cess to parking.

Many streets have a two-hour limit, so please take a moment to check the sig­nage. If you need longer-term parking, the Lawler Street carpark offers all-day options just a short walk away. Infringements will be issued for vehicles overstaying restric­tions. Thank you for helping keep our CBD flowing as we enjoy a wonderful festive season in Forbes.

God Bess
Mayor Phyllis Miller OAM

November signals the beginning of a busy events season in Forbes. Pop these dates into your calendar.

Next Monday 24 November at 11.15am, bring the family to Town Hall for Reading Downtown Day and enjoy a free live perfor­mance of Mr Huff.

On Tuesday 25 November, we’ll come together for White Ribbon Day. Assemble at 9.30am in Spring Street for a march through the CBD, followed by a ceremo­ny in Victoria Park. Let’s stand together to support the movement to end violence against women.

We then head into the festive season, with plenty of exciting things planned to celebrate.

Santa’s North Pole Mail Express has ar­rived at Council’s Administration Office! Post your letter in the special red mailbox by Wednesday 10 December 2025 to re­ceive a personalised reply. Letter templates and envelopes are available from Council or can be downloaded from the website.

The CBD Christmas lights will be switched on from Sunday 1 December. Don’t miss i

the magical Christmas projection at Forbes Town Hall, launching Monday 8 December with a very special guest narrator.

Finally, the annual Forbes Carols by Candlelight is on Saturday 13 December 2025 at Victoria Park – a magical evening filled with music and festive cheer.

With harvest now well underway across our region, I’d like to remind all motorists to take extra care on our roads. Harvest brings a significant increase in heavy ve­hicle movements, with trucks and farm ma­chinery travelling between properties and grain receival sites. These vehicles are of­ten large, slow-moving, and require more space to safely manoeuvre.

Trucks have much larger blind spots than the average car, which means the driver may not always be able to see you.

By staying aware, being patient and giv­ing heavy vehicles the room they need, we can help ensure a safe harvest season for everyone on our roads.

God Bless
Mayor Phyllis Miller OAM

It is with immense pride that I extend my heartfelt congratulations to Nedd Brock­mann on being named the 2026 Young Australian of the Year for NSW.

It’s not every day that someone from our own community captures the attention of the entire nation, but Forbes’ very own Nedd has done just that. Nedd, and the community he has inspired, have raised nearly $10 million to support people ex­periencing homelessness through Nedd’s Uncomfortable Challenge and his charity partner, Mobilise.

Nedd’s compassion, courage and drive embody the very best of Forbes. As he now goes on to represent NSW at the National Young Australian of the Year 2026 ceremo­ny in Canberra on Sunday 25 January, we wish him every success.

November marks the start of a busy and exciting event season in Forbes. So, be sure to mark these dates in your calendar.

On Wednesday 19 November, we’ll cel­ebrate International Men’s Day in Victoria Park from 7.30am. This free community event is all about supporting men and boys, with guest speakers, wellness activi­

ties, ice baths and breakfast.

On Monday 24 November at 11.15am, bring the family to Town Hall for Reading Downtown Day and enjoy a free live perfor­mance of Mr Huff.

Then, on Tuesday 25 November, we’ll come together for White Ribbon Day. As­semble at 9.30am in Spring Street for a march through the CBD, followed by a ceremony in Victoria Park. Let’s stand to­gether to raise awareness and support the movement to end violence against women.

Harvest season is here, and agricul­tural machinery owners and operators are encouraged to get road ready. Council is providing free ‘Moving Harvest Machinery’ USBs, packed with all the notices, guides and links needed for safely and legally moving machinery on our roads.

You can pick up a USB from agricultural machinery retailers, rural supply stores, and Council’s Administration Office. A limit­ed number of windscreen stickers are also available as a handy travel reference.

Stay safe and compliant this harvest.

God Bess
Mayor Phyllis Miller OAM

Last Friday, we gathered at the Central West Livestock Exchange to celebrate the life of former Forbes Shire Council Gen­eral Manager, Steve Loane OAM. It was the perfect setting for a man who loved our saleyards, cared so deeply for our commu­nity, our people and our region’s future.

Around 200 attended in person and on­line to pay their respects for a man who was very well known around rural and re­gional Australia. Speakers told beautiful stories about Steve’s leadership, his dedi­cation to communities he worked in and the genuine kindness and respect he showed to everyone he met. On behalf of Council and the Forbes community, I want to ex­tend heartfelt thanks to everyone who con­tributed to the memorial and to those who came to celebrate Steve’s life.

The community is invited to join us this Friday at 12 midday for the official opening of the Forbes Ski Dam Nature Playground Expansion Project. This important upgrade has revitalised one of Forbes’ favourite rec­reation areas. The project includes drain­age improvements, installation of new play equipment and softfall, new seating and landscaping.

A big thank you to the NSW Government for supporting this project, with funding pro­vided under the Local Small Commitments Allocation Program.

November is a time for connection in Forbes, with three important community events coming up. On Wednesday 19 No­vember, we’ll celebrate International Men’s Day at Victoria Park from 7.30am. A free community event dedicated to supporting men and boys. Enjoy guest speakers, well­ness activities, ice baths, a hearty break­fast and coffee.

On Monday 24 November at 11.15am, join us at Town Hall for Reading Downtown Day. Families will love Mr Huff, a free live performance helping children learn positive coping and wellbeing skills through story­telling and fun.

Finally, on Tuesday 25 November, we’ll unite for White Ribbon Day. Assemble at 9:30am in Spring Street for a march through the CBD, followed by a ceremony in Victoria Park. Let’s stand together to raise awareness and show support for end­ing violence against women.

God Bless
Mayor Phyllis Miller OAM