Pictured back (left to right) Jeff McClurg (Central West Car Club), Craig Bland (Parkes Ministers Association), Paul Thomas (Parkes RSL Sub-Branch), and David Lewis (Tullamore Bowling & Citizens Club). Middle row: Kel Spedding, Trisha Trim, and Fiona Glasheen (Parkes Coradgery & Diggers Club – $8,500 in-kind support in previous round) and Alan Flaval (Tullamore Bowling & Citizens Club). In front are Parkes Shire Mayor, Neil Westcott with Kerrie Churchill and Susan Ball (Parkes Que Club – $8,500 in previous round).
Parkes Shire Council is excited to announce the recipients of Round 1 of the Events Financial Assistance Program (EFAP) for 2026. The round was popular with seven applicants requesting over $45,000 in support. Council has allocated $39,250 in funding to various community events throughout the shire.
The EFAP is designed to support both new and existing events that contribute positively to the Parkes community while striving for event sustainability. The funding, which includes cash and in-kind support such as facility use and equipment, will enhance various local and regional events.
Alan Flavel and David Lewis of the Tullamore Bowling & Citizens Club thanked Parkes Shire Council for the funding for their inaugural long lunch on the 10th of October. “It really means a lot to the club. We were really struggling for a couple of years, but a lot of volunteering and work has gone in to get the club back up to where it was.
We will host the inaugural long lunch with this grant and make it a yearly event and build and build until it becomes well known in the shire.”
The next round of the Events Financial Assistance Program will open for applications in October 2026 for events to be held in the first half of 2027. Details for the next round and application forms can be found on Parkes Shire Council’s website: https://www.parkes.nsw.gov.au/Community/Grants-and-funding/Councils-Grants-Programs