Special Interests Archives - Page 61 of 121

Help Ease Local Food Insecurity This Festive Season

November 4, 2022 by Maggi Barnard

Woolworths customers are encouraged to make a dry food donation to its Local Community Food Drive campaign that will help out local families in need.

The Local Community Food Drive organised by Woolworths in Forbes and Parkes will help deliver food relief to those experiencing hardship in the lead-up to Christmas.

The initiative started on Wednesday, and Forbes and Parkes Shire customers are encouraged to donate non-perishable food items. A specially marked Local Community Food Drive trolley has been placed in each store, and donated items can include: breakfast cereals, pasta, rice and instant noodles, canned fish or meat, spreads (peanut butter, honey, jam); and baked beans and spaghetti.

Food insecurity is a harsh reality for many Australians with more than half a million households struggling to meet food needs, and more than two million households having gone hungry in the last 12 months, according to the 2022 FoodBank Hunger Report.

Within these households, the number of children affected has increased by 100,000, resulting in 1.3 million children grappling without having food on their plate.

Woolworths stores are working closely with local food charities to ensure Forbes and Parkes Shire residents in need will receive the donated items, along with fresh food to the value of $250 in time for the upcoming festive season.

The Food Drive is a frontline community effort to help provide a solution for hunger relief, which has been exacerbated by the rising cost of living and changes in household living arrangements.

“We’re asking Forbes and Parkes Shire customers who are in a position to do so, to join us in donating to the Woolworths Local Community Food Drive on their next grocery shop, by simply adding non-perishable items to our trolleys. By making a small donation, you will be helping the wellbeing of our local community, providing them with the essentials they need,” said the managers of the two stores.

Customers can donate in-store until 15th November.

Forbes Celebrates CWA Centenary In Style

November 4, 2022 by Maggi Barnard

The fashion show was a big hit and was organised by Barb Goodger, Robyn Miller and Gail McKay.

The crowd could not get enough of the historical fashion extravaganza in the Forbes Town Hall on Sunday for the celebration of the centenary of the CWA in NSW.

The Forbes Evening Branch pulled out all stops to make it a memorable event with an afternoon tea in true CWA style.

“It went beyond our expectations, the support was just phenomenal,” said president Robyn Miller.

The Forbes Evening Branch organised a fashion show with garments depicting all the decades from 1922 when the CWA was established. “We managed to get frocks and dresses from members and their contacts,” said Robyn.

They loaned two special gowns from the Forbes Historical Museum that were put on display and included a Melbourne Cup dress from the 1920s and a wedding dress from 1931, while the History Group put up a display of the CWA in Forbes.

The afternoon also included dance performances by four soloists of Kristen’s Dance Academy who ensured the show kept rolling while the models were changing their garments.

Ann Reade, the newest life member of the Oxley Group, had the honour of cutting the celebratory cake.

“I am so proud of our branch members who did so much work for this event,” said Robyn. “My phone rang hot on Monday from people saying how lovely and special the day was.

“The CWA is an extraordinary organisation to be part of, and we have so much fun working on projects in the community.”

Melbourne Cup Has A Local Connection This Year

October 28, 2022 by Maggi Barnard

The 1.65kg of gold for this year’s Melbourne Cup came from Evolution’s Cowal Mine 100km west of Forbes. The Melbourne Cup Tour included Forbes in September when residents could get a photo with the famous trophy.

The Melbourne Cup is Australia’s most famous thoroughbred horse race held over a distance of 3,200 metres at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne.

With a total prize money of almost $8 million, it is the richest “two-mile” handicap in the world and one of the richest turf races.

It is held on the first Tuesday of November each year, and known as the ‘race that stops a nation’.

This year the Melbourne Cup will be held on Tuesday, 1st November at 3pm.

The Melbourne Cup has a long tradition, with the first race held in 1861 when the winner received a gold watch. The first Melbourne Cup trophy was awarded in 1865 and was an elaborate silver bowl on a stand that had been manufactured in England. This is currently owned by Australian wine personality Wolf Blass and is on display at the Wolf Blass Gallery & Museum/Adelaide Hills Wine Bar in Hahndorf, South Australia.

In 1876 Edward Fischer, an immigrant from Austria produced the first Australian-made trophy. In the Second World War years (1942, 1943 and 1944) the winning owner received war bonds valued at 200 pounds.

A new trophy is struck each year and becomes the property of the winning owner. In the event of a dead heat, a second cup is on hand. The present trophy is hand spun from 1.65 kg of 18-carat gold, and the gold for this year’s trophy came from Evolution’s Cowal Mine west of Forbes.

That is why Forbes was included in the annual Melbourne Cup Tour this year. Many residents lined up last month to get a photo of them holding the 18-carat trophy.

Mix of Reactions To Federal Budget

October 28, 2022 by Maggi Barnard

NSW Farmers President Xavier Martin says while the first Labor budget contains promising announcements, rural communities will be “bitterly disappointed”.

“Critical drought-proofing efforts such as Dungowan and Wyangala dams have been ‘deferred’, and the likelihood of more water buybacks means there will be less water for agriculture once the rain stops.

“Rural communities are already looking at major economic losses as a result of this widespread flooding, the last thing they need is even less certainty into the future.”

Xavier said investments into research and development to help lower emissions from agriculture was a positive move, as were efforts to improve education and training amid a major worker shortage.

The state’s peak business organisation, Business NSW, acknowledged the government’s commitment to delivering on its commitments and putting fiscal repair at the heart of a budget which forecasts a challenging outlook for businesses already grappling with labour shortages, higher prices and global disruption.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers has announced a projected deficit of $36.9 billion for the 2022/23 financial year, an improvement of $41.1 billion.

“In a challenging economic environment, there is no doubt this budget makes the hard decisions to kick off the process of getting us back in the black,” said Business NSW, Regional Director – Western NSW, Vicki Seccombe.

“With energy prices forecast to skyrocket next year, we welcome a $62.6 million boost for an energy efficiency grants program and a commitment to establish a $20 billion fund for energy transmission.

Free Arts Funding Workshop In Parkes

October 28, 2022 by Maggi Barnard

Arts OutWest will run a free arts funding workshop in Parkes next Wednesday, 2nd November from 10:30am to 12.30pm at the Parkes Library.

The workshop will help people prepare applications for the annual Country Arts Support Program and brush up on their grant writing skills.

The Country Arts Support Program (CASP) is a small annual funding round supporting arts activities in the NSW Central West. Applications for the 2023 round are now open.

CASP funds the payment of artists and arts workers to undertake or manage arts activities that offer exciting creative outcomes. Grants of up to $3,000 are available.

“The free workshop will explain the CASP funding, help people plan an application, chat through their project ideas and take a look at the application process,” Arts OutWest executive director Kylie Shead said.

CASP applications for 2023 close at 5pm on Monday, 5th December.

Projects funded by CASP could include (but are not limited to) arts or heritage-based workshops, classes, performances, installations, exhibitions, tours, screen/film making, writing or composition, development of new work, tours or talks, artist-in-residence programs, recordings or podcasts, and new arts activities attached to festivals or events – as long as they have some element of public outcome.

The funding is open to individuals, groups, not-for-profit organisations, arts businesses and councils.

If you can’t make the Parkes workshop, there will be an online information session on Wednesday, 16th November.

Book for the Parkes workshop at either Parkes Library, Arts OutWest or find it on Eventbrite.

Read the full CASP criteria at www.artsoutwest.org.au/pf/casp/

A Fun Morning Of Science For Little Ones

October 28, 2022 by Maggi Barnard

The activities at the 2019 Forbes Science Discovery Day had everyone enthralled.

If you want your little ones to discover the magic of science, but don’t want a mess in your house, the Forbes Science Discovery Day on Friday 4th November is just the place for you!

It has been a while since the inaugural Forbes Science Discovery Day was held and the team is delighted to present a fun packed morning at the Forbes Youth and Community Centre from 10am to 1pm this year.

“We are super excited to introduce Wendy from the Children’s Discovery Museum to our community,” said Maree Yapp from Forbes North SaCC.

“Wendy brings with her a wealth of experience and will be reading her story ‘Goldilocks and the Three Scientists’ every hour”. The morning will bring favourite activities along with some new experiences for children up to school age.

Families with young children are invited to come along and try all

the activities around the hall and speak with the presenters at each station. There will be plenty to see and do for everyone.

Hayley’s ‘Having The Time Of Her Life’

October 28, 2022 by Maggi Barnard

DANCING QUEEN… Hayley Roach landed her dream job when she became Manager of the Trundle ABBA Festival.

As an events specialist she has worked on some of the biggest international events around the world including the Olympics and the Soccer World Cup, and then her dream job popped up.

Hayley Roach moved from England to Parkes in August this year to become Manager of the Trundle ABBA Festival one week after finishing a contract with the Birmingham Commonwealth Games.

“This job really is my dream. I genuinely love ABBA and I get to listen to their songs all day every day,” she said listing the four countries where she’s seen Björn Again for a total of 28 times already.

She first heard ABBA as a six-year-old. “My dad was in the Royal Air Force and we used to travel wherever he got posted. I remember just being in the backseat of our car driving to Germany, driving to Holland, driving wherever and we’d have cassettes. ABBA was one of those cassettes. I remember just loving it. I always asked for ABBA. You can say it was the soundtrack to my youth, probably the soundtrack to my life now.”

Hayley never got to see ABBA live, but in 1992 she discovered the tribute band Björn Again. “They came to my hometown in Sheffield. To me Björn Again were the next best thing and how I would have imagined the real ABBA to be.”

They put on a show every year and Hayley went for 15 years in a row. “I ran out of friends to take as it was exactly the same show every year, and I ended up just going by myself.”

When Hayley saw the job ad she had no idea where Trundle was, but the word ABBA was what drew her in. And when she discovered it was the only ABBA festival in the world, she definitely wanted the job title on her CV.

“Trundle is the smallest town I’ve ever been to in my life with the widest streets, but the people are so lovely.” Hayley very quickly realised how important the festival was for the town’s economy, and her main objective was to make it the best experience it could be.

“I am blessed to have a job that I’m so passionate about, and as a fan I wanted to make sure this festival celebrates their music and achievements, and as an events manager I wanted to ensure we deliver a successful event.”

Unfortunately, the weather gods decided otherwise, and while Hayley was hugely disappointed the festival had to be cancelled a week out from happening, she loved every minute of the Björn Again show in Parkes and how much everyone else enjoyed it.

And after all those years of following the world’s number one ABBA tribute band around the globe, she got a photo with Björn Again in Parkes.

Parkes Christian School Celebrates 40 Years

October 28, 2022 by Maggi Barnard

CLASS OF ’22… The Parkes Christian School is celebrating its 40th anniversary this weekend with a spring fair and celebration service. The 2022 Year 12 class graduates.

Parkes Christian School is celebrating 40 years of Christian education in the Central West with a spring fair and celebration service this weekend (29th and 30th October).

Past principals, staff, students and families that have been involved with the school over the past 40 years are all invited to attend.

The spring fair is also open to the general public, and will go from 9am to 2pm with market stalls run by students, vendors, lots of food options and coffee, Devonshire tea, an art exhibition, live entertainment and fun games and competitions.

The school procured a framed and signed Nathan Cleary jersey, and everyone who makes a small donation on the day stand a chance to win this piece of sporting memorabilia. There will also be a display of photos, uniforms and video footage of the school over the past 40 years to show just how far the school has progressed.

The fair is also a wonderful opportunity for prospective students and parents to come and have a look at what the school has to offer.

On Sunday, 30th October from 10am former staff, students and families of the school are invited to attend a celebration service in the school hall. Staff, students and members of the Parkes Community Church will perform worship songs, and reminisce about the beginning and development of the school.

Principal Glen Westcott is delighted to be hosting the 40-year celebrations. “Parkes Christian School was the first Christian school to be built in NSW west of the Blue Mountains.”

Glen said from humble beginnings, the school was now well and truly thriving. “With a growing population of 300 students from Kindergarten to Year 12 and more than 40 staff, the school has impressive facilities.”

For more information follow the school on Facebook, or contact the school office on 6862 4164.

Celebrating 40 Years of Parkes Christian School

2009 Parkes Christian School staff.

1993 Parkes Christian School staff.

1989 class photo of Year 7 & 8.

Parkes Christian School students in 1982.

Parkes Christian School as seen from above.

Kelvin Smith, Principal Judy Huda and Ameeka Hodges.

Students take part in the annual Anzac parade.

In 1986 the second school building was constructed. John Magill, founding member of the school and chairman of the board for many years, is in the trench.

Multifocal Contact Lenses – The Final Frontier!

October 21, 2022 by Maggi Barnard

Many people who wear multifocal glasses or only require glasses for reading, often don’t realise that they could be wearing contact lenses.

Just like multifocal glasses, multifocal contact lenses are designed to give you clear vision at all distances. If you find your multifocal glasses annoying or hard to adjust to, if you work in a job where you need to see clearly but your glasses get knocked around and scratched, or perhaps sometimes you would just like to take a little break from your multifocal or reading glasses while you socialise or play sport, then you may want to consider trying multifocal contact lenses.

There are various designs of multifocal contact lenses to suit your lifestyle and vision needs. While some emphasise near vision with a boost for distance, others emphasise distance vision with a boost for near. There is no distortion or motion sickness feeling that you might experience with multifocal glasses, particular early on.

In terms of getting used to multifocal contact lenses, your relationship with your contact lenses is a little like a burgeoning friendship. You might not initially love them, but with time as you adapt to them and understand how they work you will start to build trust with the multifocal contact lenses, enjoy their company with clear vision at most distances, and likely develop a good friendship over time. This can sometimes take several weeks so don’t give up and quit the game too early! Maybe you have been unsuccessful with contact lenses in the past because they were uncomfortable, however like most things, the technology of contact lenses is always improving, and today’s lenses are much more comfortable than in the past.

You are never too old to wear or try contact lenses. Patients have become happy multifocal contact lens wearers in their 70s. There is no cost involved in trialling contact lenses at Hansen Optometrists Parkes. If you would like to give it a try, book in today and become part of the growing number of happy multifocal contact lens wearers.

Local Legend Inspires Whole Country!

October 21, 2022 by Maggi Barnard

HISTORY MADE… Nedd Brockmann (23) from Forbes grabbed the headlines this week when he finished an incredible feat running 3,952km in 47 days to raise money for homelessness. Thousands welcomed him at Bondi Beach on Monday. (photo: Sky News Australia)

It is the story we were all longing to hear, and the fact that the hero is a sparkie from Forbes made it so much more inspirational.

Nedd Brockman took our spirit on his superhuman challenge and we soared above the daily grind of floods and rising costs to believe in kindness, generosity and perseverance again as he battled through almost 100km per day for 47 days.

He grabbed the attention of the whole country as he made his way from Cottesloe Beach in Perth to the finish at Bondi Beach in Sydney on Monday where thousands of supporters gave him a rapturous welcome breaking the tape after 3,952km and raising over $1.8 million for homelessness.

“I am absolutely blown away,” he said. “I don’t think I can explain the depths I’ve had to go to. To have all this support is absolutely mind-blowing. I am speechless,” he said before doing a celebratory shoey.

His incredible run has been named one of the greatest athletic feats in Australian history, and many call for Nedd to be named Australian of the Year.

In Forbes Nedd has gained a huge fan base with several fundraising efforts in the community to support him. His former primary school, Bedgerabong Public School, followed him every step of the way and raised $770. On Monday students at St Laurence’s Parish School held a Hats for Homelessness fundraiser and raised $522.20, while the Forbes Community Hub came together last Friday and sold egg and bacon rolls raising $2,620, to name but some of the local support.

The good news for local fans is that a welcome is being planned for the local hero with details to be announced soon.

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