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THE POST, Thursday, January 16, 2025 - Page 1

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ESTABLISHED 1891 Thursday, January 16, 2025

clittle@midwestmedia.com.au

Elvis Festival coverage

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Outfit we haven’t seen before

Australia Day ambassador

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Pages 3, 5-6, 8-16, 20

2025 Miss Priscilla Gracey Denham-Jones was embraced by her dance students and rock ‘n’ rollers from Parkes Dance Co. the day after she won the Miss Priscilla competition at the Parkes Elvis Festival.

PHOTO: Nic Pic NSW

Our Gracey is Miss Priscilla

By CHRISTINE LITTLE SHE HAS the hair, she’s got the moves and she has the voice.

Gracey Denham-Jones isn’t impersonating Elvis Presley though, instead she is the Parkes Elvis Festival’s 2025 Miss Priscilla.

In front of a sold-out Miss Priscilla Dinner last Thursday night at the Parkes Services Club, the 22-yearold from Parkes was announced this year’s winner ahead of four others, much to her absolute surprise and delight.

All five Miss Priscilla entrants chose to wear Priscilla Presley’s iconic white shift dress, all but one with the black bow, her going away outfit after her wedding.

The remaining entrants were Vivian Tosetti also of Parkes, Jessica

Borg from Jervis Bay, Lulu Wagner of Sydney and Samantha Corrone from the Gold Coast.

“I’m so excited!” Gracey said.

“I have always wanted to enter Miss Priscilla since I was a little girl.

“I have the long, dark hair to do it.”

Entering this year’s competition was never really the plan for Gracey, who is usually tied up each year with dancing and duties with Parkes Dance Co at the festival, since she’s a dance teacher as well.

But this year she’s been able to step back and the Sunday prior she made the impulsive decision to enter the competition she’s always dreamed of.

“I’ve just always been a dance girl,” she added.

Gracey is a marketing specialist

2025 Miss Priscilla Gracey DenhamJones of Parkes with her stylist Nicole Rosser also of Parkes. with Ray White and a singer and musician herself too.

Parkes hairdresser Nicole Rosser styled her hair, while Kim Boardmann from Kindred Beauty Lounge did her makeup.

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And yep, all that hair of hers is real.

“It only took an hour to do my hair, which is pretty good compared to the other girls who I spoke to,” Gracey said.

“I have a lot of it, it holds well.”

Her dress was made by local seamstress from Sew and Go Jenny Kingham who impressively whipped up her outfit from scratch in four days.

“It’s a simple dress and I had the pattern already, it’s just what we do,” Jenny said.

“The hardest part was the bow because it’s quite unique and getting it right.

“I fitted her on Monday and handed her the dress on Thursday morning.”

“It’s so iconic,” Gracey said, de-

scribing the dress.

With some very big days ahead of her, Gracey was up early Friday morning for her first photo shoot out at the Dish and she appeared in the famous Parkes Elvis Festival Street Parade on Saturday morning.

She was excited for it all.

“I’m super stoked,” she said.

“It’s a great way to represent the community, it’s always good to have a local girl.

“I’m looking forward to making people happy and chatting with people,” she said ahead of the events.

As for her stamina to get her through the festival, she said “no problem”.

And her feet?

“I wear heels everyday to work,” she said.

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Tasman is shire’s 2025 Australia Day ambassador HEAD of Partnerships at the Black Dog Institute and founder of the Superhero Walk, Tasman Cassim (pictured) has been announced as the Parkes Shire’s Australia Day ambassador.

He’s among the 80 inspirational Australians who include innovators, educators, musicians, healthcare professionals, elite athletes and environmental advocates - who will take part in events across NSW as Australia Day ambassadors.

These outstanding citizens and local heroes are handpicked each year by the Australia Day Council of NSW for their exceptional contributions to the community to inspire national spirit.

Mr Cassim will join the Parkes community on January 26 for a day of meaningful celebrations, his tasks include helping to officiate ceremonies, present certificates at citizenship ceremonies, judge competitions such as the Golden Yabby Race at the Parkes Showground at the end of the day and visit the shire’s villages.

Mr Cassim’s achievements make him an inspiring choice to help Reflect, Respect and Celebrate what it means to be Australian.

He is passionate about creating positive change.

With 20 years in sales and marketing in the travel industry, he now focuses on uniting the For Purpose and For Profit sectors to address key social challenges.

Through his Superhero Walk, Mr Cassim has walked more than 1000km since 2015, raising more than $100,000 for Australians in need, embodying his commitment to community and resilience.

Now in its 34th year, the NSW Australia Day Ambassador Program is the largest in the country.

Parkes Rotarian Colin Offner presenting the first prize vouchers to Maree Hando.

PHOTO: Supplied

Four lucky winners in annual Rotary raffle PARKES Rotary Club conducted its annual Christmas raffle this year and the raffle was drawn on Thursday, December 19, 2024 at Parkes Services Club.

First prize was 10 $100 vouchers from Parkes Cunninghams IGA which was won by Maree Hando of Parkes.

Second prize was a $100 voucher from Parkes Cunninghams IGA which was won by Roxanne Manley of Parkes.

Third prize was a $100 voucher from Parkes Services Club which was won by Garry Crowley of Parkes.

Fourth prize was a $50 voucher from Parkes Coffee Pot which was won by Alan Curteis of Parkes.

Parkes Rotary Club would like to thank its sponsors, Parkes Cunningham IGA, Parkes Services Club and Parkes Coffee Pot. The club would like to thank all the community for supporting our raffle so Parkes Rotary can continue to use the funds raised to support our activities in the Parkes Shire.

WHAT’S ON in and around Parkes COLOUR RUN Monday, January 20 Get ready for an exciting day at Creative Community Concepts summer fun colour run. The event is set to be filled with fun activities, including laser tag, and a jumping castle to enjoy before the run.

The Rapid Relief Team will be on hand, providing refreshments for everyone. This is a free event at Northparkes Oval from 11am to 1pm for all ages and abilities.

Don’t miss out on the fun!

SULLIVANS AUSTRALIA DAY RACES Saturday, January 25 Sullivans Mining and Industrial will be presenting the Australia Day races with the Parkes Jockey Club. From 1pm the afternoon will feature a seven race TAB program.

General admission is $10 with kids under 16 free. There will be fun for the kids with COUNTRY SOUNDS an inflatable water slide, yabby races (TBC) Saturday, February 22 Country Sounds returns in February! Roband live music at the Parkes Race Course. bie Mortimer, Tyla Rodrigues, Baeden Faint and Gracey Jones will be rocking the Cooke AUSTRALIA DAY KITE FESTIVAL Park Stage. Make sure to mark your calenSunday, January 26 From 8am to 11am at Northparkes Oval dars and gather your friends for a night of amazing music and good vibes. Stay up to bring your own kite down for some fun.

This event is for everyone for all ages from date with Parkes Shire Council for more extoddlers to those a little bit older who want citing updates. to return to their childhood.

Decorate your kite with an Australian TRUNDLE BACK IN TIME theme. A range of kites will be available for March 15 and 16 This celebration of heritage returns with sale at Northparkes Oval on the day. the tractor pull, sheaf toss, swap meet,

market stalls and kids zone with live music too.

EUGOWRA BOOTS AND BOWTIES BALL Saturday, April 5 SAVE THE DATE: this is a fundraiser ball not to be missed presented by the Eugowra Public School P and C at the Eugowra Showground Pavilion.

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Published by Hartley Higgins for Mid West Media (ABN 77 666 469 834) 50B Kendal Street, Cowra NSW 2794. Responsibility for election comment is accepted by Renee Powell.

Copyright: All advertising and editorial content of this issue is copyright of Mid West Media and cannot be used without Mid West Media’s permission.

The Record is bound by the Standards of Practice of the Australian Press Council. If you believe the standards may have been breached, you may approach the newspaper itself or contact the council by email at info@presscouncil.org.au or by phone on (02) 95261 1930.

THE POST, Thursday, January 16, 2025 - Page 3

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Fans’ special connection to Parkes Elvis Festival

By CHRISTINE LITTLE

Cote Deonath, Emilio Santoro, Miss Priscilla Gracey Denham-Jones and Riley Jenkins at the new Gates of Graceland. PHOTO: Keith Turk

...there was a genuine feeling of camaraderie and admiration among them that really shone through during their performances on stage.

- PARKES SHIRE COUNCIL ARTIST LIAISON CHARLENE KADEN

competitions so there was a genuine feeling of camaraderie and admiration among them that really shone through during their performances on stage.

“They had each other’s backs at all times to the degree that watching them together made you feel like they were brothers.

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“When Riley was unable to perform his first night show, Cote and Emilio were able to cover his set, ensuring the show went on and their fans were not disappointed.”

Ms Kaden said all three artists were generous with their time, getting involved with locals and fans alike.

They were accommodating with media requests, and took the time to engage with local personalities on social media to further promote Parkes and the festival.

“After each performance all three artists made sure to spend time with their fans, chatting, taking photos, and signing autographs, ensuring energy levels remained high after the show so the party could continue into the night,” Ms Kaden said.

“Having such young artists headline the festival really injected a sense of energy into their performances, which appealed to a wide range of audience members across the festival.

“In addition to being talented

artists they were lovely human beings who appreciated everything that was done for them during the festival.

“We would love to have all three artists back for the 2026 festival, and from all conversations we’ve had with fans, they all feel the same way.”

Ms Kaden said the men all agreed the Parkes Elvis Festival is unlike any other festival.

Festival favourites such as the street parade, free Cooke Park entertainment, the arrival of the Elvis Express, Miss Priscilla Dinner, Gospel Service and Renewal of Vows are always big drawcards for fans too.

But the festival ended on a sombre note this year, paying tribute to one festival fan and local Elvis impersonator who was missing.

The late Bernie Peri who died last year was honoured during the busking finals on Sunday afternoon, a competition he regularly took part in.

The theme for the 2026 Parkes Elvis Festival is Love Me Tender.

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THE 32ND Parkes Elvis Festival was one filled with emotion - lots of love, laughter and some tears.

Looking back on the five days of the festival that ran from Wednesday to Sunday last week organisers said they’re absolutely thrilled with how the event ran and the feedback to match.

While the Easy Come Easy Go theme made it tricky for costume ideas - though there was much respect to those wearing wet suits and the like in 30-degree heat - thousands of fans continue to embrace the ‘dressing-up’ culture of the festival.

Parkes Shire Council is still yet to announce their estimated final numbers for this year’s festival.

The first event to kick-off this world class festival was the Wall of Fame and though it’s been around since 1995, not in the form that was presented this year.

And festival goers knew it.

For the first time in 30 years the ‘wall’ was moved to a new location at the Parkes Visitor Information Centre where an exciting new attraction now stands - lifesize replica Graceland Gates.

Wanting to witness the beginning of a new era in this unique event, organisers counted the biggest crowd they’ve ever seen at the wall.

It all incorporated inducting Australian singer and entertainer Frankie J Holden on the wall, cutting a ribbon to officially open the Gate, unveiling the Hollywoodstyle stars for past Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist winners and a 90th birthday cake.

Another major highlight and first for the festival was having three international headline acts - Cote Deonath, Emilio Santoro and Riley Jenkins - for the Feature Concert Series.

And there was just something special about this trio.

Fans and spectators could see it on stage and when they were out and about.

“After their stint at the Parkes Elvis Festival it is clear to see why we affectionately refer to them as the dynamic trio,” said Parkes Shire Council artist liaison Charlene Kaden.

“All three know each other from touring other world Elvis

Page 4 - THE POST, Thursday, January 16, 2025

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From Parkes to Paris Turf improvements are underway at the Parkes Lawn Cemetery.

PHOTO: Parkes Shire Council

In brief: Turf work in progress CEMETERY TURF WORK Parkes Shire Council staff are undertaking turf improvements at the Parkes Lawn Cemetery.

These works include levelling graves and top dressing turf.

Council would like to thank residents for their understanding as they carry out these improvements.

RAECHEL TO PERFORM AT GOLDEN GUITAR AWARDS Raechel Whitchurch is thrilled to be performing once again at the Tamworth Country Music Festival Golden Guitar Awards on January 25.

The girl from Parkes is also a dual nominee in the awards, securing a place in the Contemporary Country Album of the Year and Toyota Album of the Year categories following the release of her sophomore album ‘What a time to be alive’ in May 2024.

“The last time I performed at the awards was back when my debut album ‘Finally Clear’ was nominated (2021) and it feels so good to be doing it again,” Raechel said.

Raechel is also performing in a show with Australian singer, entertainer and multi-instrumentalist Colin Buchanan at the Country Music Festival on January 23 at the Capitol Theatre.

FREE WI-FI AT LAKE ENDEAVOUR Did you know it is now possible to make calls and send texts from Lake Endeavour?

‘No reception’ will be a thing of the past with Parkes Shire Council installing a free Wi-Fi network at the tourist water spot for residents and visitors.

All you need to do is switch on your phone’s Wi-Fi and connect to the “Lake Endeavour Free Wi-Fi” network.

It follows a significant transformation of the area to make it the Parkes Shire’s first developed natural water location for recreational use.

Lucy Noakes has always had a love for France and when she heard about the Rotary Youth Exchange program she saw it as the perfect opportunity to experience life in the country.

“I’ve always wanted to go to France, I’ve had an interest in the culture and I’m quite intrigued by their food and their way of life,” Lucy said.

The city of Arras, two hours away from Paris, will be Lucy’s home for a year while she lives abroad staying with a number of different French families.

Lucy will attend a school in the city completing year two at a high school, equivalent to our Year 11.

Lucy first heard about the Rotary Youth Exchange when her parents were discussing that the Parkes Rotary Club needed someone to go on an exchange.

“My sister and I both overheard their conversation and we both wanted to go but I wasn’t old enough at the time.”

Now Lucy is old enough and is sponsored by the Rotary E-Club of Brindabella.

During her year abroad, Lucy hopes to become more confident.

“I’d like to grow within myself and become more confident as I can be quite a quiet person, I don’t especially like talking infront of people so I hope to improve my public speaking and gain more confidence.”

Lucy said she is excited to try real French macaroons and is ex-

“She’s told me a little bit about France and it all sounds quite cool.”

Lucy has also been talking to an exchange student who is currently in France and she shared with Lucy that in every house there is a draw dedicated to cheese which has made Lucy even more excited for her once in a lifetime trip.

She has recognised that the language will be bit of a challenge while she is in France but took a French class in school last year with the hopes for applying for an exchange in France.

“My biggest culture shock to start with will be the fact that they drive on the opposite side of the road and it is currently snowing in Paris so as soon as I get there it will go from hot to cold.

“It’ll be a big shock, but a good shock because I won’t have to deal with the heat,” Lucy added.

Due to the expense of going on Lucy Noakes with Deputy Mayor Marg Applebee.

PHOTO: Supplied an exchange Lucy has been doing cited to see a squirrel but said es- Netherlands, Italy, Slovakia, Czech everything she can in the lead up cargot is not on the top of her list Republic and Germany over 15 to her taking off to France to raise as much money as possible. days. of things to try.

“I have been selling socks and “We also get to tour around “The school that I’m going to has a robotics club, I know noth- France for around ten days too. painting little Christmas trees ing about robotics but I just really The district that is hosting me, and nutcrackers because it can be want to try because Rotary says try they will also take us to Paris to see quite an expense to go,” she said.

Lucy can’t wait to meet new everything and if it’s not good, it’s the Eiffel Tower, Disneyland and not bad, it’s just different, so I want Mont-Saint-Michel which is an is- people and said she is very excited about the friendships she will land with a castle on it.” to try it.”

Lucy has had the chance to talk make along the way.

During her exchange Lucy gets “You get to experience a whole the chance to visit other countries to Manon who is from France and is currently taking part in an different culture, there’s another on a Euro Tour.

“We get to go to ten other coun- exchange in Australia, here in whole world out there and I’ve been here my whole life.” tries on the tour including the Parkes.

Every year crowds pack Cooke Park to enjoy all the entertainment on the main stage during the Parkes Elvis Festival.

Police praise behaviour of Festival patrons Though police are investigating two assaults that occurred during this year’s Parkes Elvis Festival, Officer in Charge at Parkes Police Chief Inspector Scott Rayner said the behaviour of festival goers has been good.

“The festival and behaviour of patrons was generally very good,” he said.

“Two assaults occurred within the festival footprint which remain under investigation and several people received Criminal Infringe-

ment Notices for possessing a knife and offensive conduct.”

Police are also investigating several stolen motor vehicles that occurred in Parkes, Forbes and Eugowra last week but Chief Inspector Rayner said these were not

linked to the festival.

“A couple of pursuits of the stolen vehicles occurred,” he said.

A scooter was also reported stolen from an unlocked vehicle in a supermarket carpark on the afternoon of January 6.

THE POST, Thursday, January 16, 2025 - Page 5

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The day Hilda met Elvis in her home in Germany

By CHRISTINE LITTLE EVERY Elvis fan at some point in their life has dreamed about what it would have been like meeting the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll and hosting him in their home.

Well for Hilda Brophy of Temora this really happened.

And it happened in the most unlikely and unexpected way.

It was 1958, she was 23, married with a three-year-old daughter named Sylvia and living in Germany.

At the same time Elvis Presley was serving in the United States Army, stationed in Friedberg, West Germany for 18 months as an armor intelligence specialist.

Germany was in the midst of the Berlin Crisis, a Cold War confrontation that involved the United States, Great Britain, France and the Soviet Union.

Elvis’ father and grandmother lived with him off-base in Bad Nauheim, which is where he met Priscilla Beaulieu, the stepdaughter of a US Air Force officer, who as we know became his future wife.

Hilda lived in nearby Butzbach, 13 kilometres away.

“My girlfriend asked me ‘do you mind if I bring a friend?’” Hilda said.

Hilda was hosting some guests in her home and in walked that friend, Elvis Presley.

“He brought all this food and he brought along his friends,” she fondly remembered.

“He was...” She paused.

“He was what we call here ‘the ants pants’!”

“He was very quietly spoken.

“And Sylvia sat on his shoulders!”

Hilda unfortunately didn’t get the opportunity to hear his golden voice but she had something much more special, a unique personal interaction.

But she didn’t know who he was at first and didn’t find out until two years later when she immigrated to Australia in 1960.

Hilda turns 90 in October - born the same year as Elvis who would

Parkes Mayor Neil Westcott and his uncle Mal Westcott made it possible for Hilda Brophy of Temora to attend her first Parkes Elvis Festival. Hilda has a unique story to share about Elvis.

PHOTO: Christine Little have been 90 on January 8 - and this year she hopped in her car and drove herself to Parkes to experience her very first Parkes Elvis Festival.

Her visit was made possible thanks to the friendship between the Mayor of Temora Rick Firman and the Parkes Shire Mayor Neil Westcott

who were trying to find her somewhere to stay.

Neil’s uncle and aunty Mal and Helen Westcott kindly opened their home at Southern Cross Village to Hilda so she could enjoy the festival for a couple of days. Hilda’s been living in Temora for 25 years.

‘Best five days of the year’ says long-time fan

By CHRISTINE LITTLE “THESE are the best five days of the year,” said Gail Goulding of Albion Park, as she waited in the marshalling area ready to take part in her 14th Parkes Elvis Festival Street Parade.

There are a handful of people like Gail, who year after year keep returning to the festival, not only to enjoy it but to get involved.

She’s been attending for 14 years, her friend Deborah Petreski has just enjoyed her sixth festival and parade.

The highlight for them this year is they won the Best Walking Entry in the parade, accompanied by two men dressed as scuba divers - in line with the theme of Easy Come Easy Go. The ladies said it’s the atmosphere and the same-minded people who help keep Elvis’ music and legacy alive that keeps bringing them back.

And every year they have different outfits, and a new outfit for everyday of the festival.

They aren’t alone - most who fully devote themselves

to costumes and the ‘dressing up’ culture of the Elvis Festival make that commitment long before they set foot in Parkes.

Because they need that time to prepare.

The women are already discussing their outfits for next year on the train home.

“When we get reception we Google,” Deborah laughed.

Gail has a wardrobe at home just for her Parkes outfits.

“I have many dresses and we revamp them,” she said.

The pair have watched the festival and parade grow over the years but Gail believes the theme dictates numbers from year to year.

Lida Hickey from Muswellbrook too has watched it evolve in her 11 years and says everything from the costumes and the people to the cars and events are “displayed better”.

“It’s getting bigger and more and more people are dressing up,” she said.

“There’s a lot more knowledge around the festival now and what it’s all about, the women usually dress up but now even the men are wearing matching shirts more and more.”

Lida and her husband Ian and their friends have been involved with the cars at the festival during this time and this year they had their 1950 Dodge on display and entered into their 11th parade.

Other cars Lida and Ian have shown at the festival in previous years are a 1935 Ford and a 1937 yellow pick-up.

Lida said her favourite part of being in the parade and involved in the festival is the locals.

“I love how they interact with us and with everyone else,” she said.

“And we love their appreciation of the cars,” friend Chris Corliss added.

For Alfred Vaz of Sydney, also known as ‘Bollywood Elvis’, the Elvis Festival has become a ritual over his 15 years.

So much so he was just in England visiting family and flew back to Australia for the festival, swapping an English winter for 30-plus degree temperatures of Parkes.

Every year he enters the parade and every year he rocks his Elvis jumpsuits, along with an impressive cape.

LEFT: Ian and Lida Hickey from Muswellbrook in their 11th parade, John Armstrong from Maitland and Chris and Andrew Corliss from Muswellbrook.

BELOW: Alfred Vaz of Sydney wasn’t about to miss his 15th Parkes Elvis Festival, even if he was in England.

Gail Goulding of Albion Park in her 14th parade and Deborah Petreski of Wollongong in her sixth.

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Page 6 - THE POST, Thursday, January 16, 2025

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Maltese ETA wins Ultimate Contest ELVIS Presley’s legacy transcends borders, and this year’s Parkes Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest proved it once again as Malta’s Josuel Grech was crowned the 2025 champion.

His electrifying performance at the Parkes Leagues Club in the heats and finals over Friday and Saturday captivated both the audience and judges, securing his place as the latest international winner of Australia’s premier Elvis tribute competition.

The contest featured 20 of the best Elvis tribute artists from Australia and the world, who were judged on their vocals, appearance, stage presence, and overall performance quality.

Judges say Josuel’s dynamic

and authentic tribute to the King stood out in a field of exceptional talent.

“The calibre of performances this year was extraordinary,” Parkes Elvis Festival producer Kassidy Martin said.

“Josuel’s ability to channel Elvis with such energy and authenticity was remarkable.

“His performance demonstrated a deep respect for Elvis’ legacy while adding his own unique flair.

“We’re thrilled to have him represent Parkes in Memphis later this year.”

Despite this being his first Parkes Elvis Festival, Josuel - known as ‘Josuel as Elvis’ has been a stand-out on the international Elvis tribute scene, earning recognition

for his powerful vocals and captivating stage presence.

His win is a testament to the global appeal of Elvis’ music and the continued dedication of tribute artists around the world.

Second place went to Brendon Chase from the Gold Coast, Queensland, while third place was awarded to South Australia’s Matt Birse from Brendon Chase from the Gold Coast was awarded second, winner Josuel Grech Munno Para. from Malta and third place was awarded to South Australia’s Matt Birse. PHOTOS: Steve Ostini

Tribute, new festival award made in Bernie’s honour

By MADELINE BLACKSTONE and CHRISTINE LITTLE THE late Bernie Peri was always seen on the street busking during the Parkes Elvis Festival.

This year a special tribute was made to the Elvis impersonator from Parkes during the finals of the McDonald’s Busking Competition on the Cooke Park Main Stage on Sunday, the last day of the festival.

Councillor and dedicated volunteer Kenny McGrath, who organises the competition every year and who was close friends with Bernie, made sure no one forgets that Bernie was a big supporter of the busking competition.

The 75-year-old, originally from New Zealand, was allegedly murdered in his home on November 9 last year.

“I met Bernie about 16 years ago and we got talking about Elvis, and I told him I’d been on the Elvis Festival committee since it started,” Cr McGrath said.

Bernie used to help out with seeking sponsorship for the festival’s busking competition before he began taking part himself, which he did for about eight years.

“He loved Elvis and he loved the Elvis Festival,” Cr McGrath said.

“He didn’t perform much, he just wanted to have a bit of fun.

“He was just someone who was very special.”

A video played on the screens of Cooke Park of Bernie singing in his home - one of many videos he posted to Facebook of him singing.

The crowed was wowed by the sound of Bernie’s voice and everyone sat in silence watching the talented singer.

A special award has also been added to the Parkes Elvis Festival busking competition in Bernie Peri’s honour.

The Bernie Peri encouragement award has been supported by Bernie’s family in New Zealand.

“We’ve created this award because Bernie was an encourager,” Cr McGrath said.

This year’s awardee was Elizabeth Toomey from Parkes who also placed second in the junior category of the busking competition.

Bernie Peri of Parkes, who died in his home in Parkes on November 9, was a big supporter of the Parkes Elvis Festival. A tribute was made to him during the finals of the Parkes Elvis Festival Busking Competition on Sunday.

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THE POST, Thursday, January 16, 2025 - Page 7

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RURAL

Best of ‘24: Landcare’s year in review

By MARG APPLEBEE, CENTRAL WEST LACHLAN LANDCARE 2024 was a massive year for Central West Lachlan Landcare over the Parkes and Forbes Shires.

Over the next couple of weeks, I look forward to sharing a bit of a re-cap of 2024, highlighting our events and undertakings that have been a highlight for us.

At the start of 2024 we were pleased to hand over a financial contribution to Bogan Gate Memorial Hall towards the purchase of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) with proceeds from our Landcare dinner held at Bogan Gate with Costa Georgiadis being contributed.

A big thanks to Costa for donating all proceeds from the sale of his books on the evening to the cause.

In February the Landcare Enabling Program (LEP) officially kicked off across NSW, with seven groups involved in our Central Marg Applebee with popular presenters at Homegrown Parkes in March, Phil West Region.

Central West Lachlan Landcare and Nadia Donato.

PHOTO: Supplied

It is surprising how many lovely samples we found on our walk in Forbes.

In June Stephanie Cameron was named as the recipient of the Gerald Carnie Award which is awarded to a person who has worked tirelessly for Landcare and keeping the Landcare dream alive.

We are always pleased to work with Forbes and Parkes Shire Council staff to deliver National Tree Day events which were held at the end of July with wonderful support from our communities.

It is fabulous to look back at our advanced National Tree Day sites.

Of course, we still have the Landcare Learning and Literacy kits available to schools throughout the year.

Follow the links on our website to find out more information on how these can be borrowed.

For further information on this article, please go to www.centralwestlachlanlandcare.org, twitter, facebook or Instagram @cwllandcare

are the reporting body for the Central West.

When it commenced, this funding engaged nine coordinators.

We also kicked off the delivery of four workshops under the People Led Prevention Project, empowering communities across regional NSW in developing disaster resilience and preparedness skills with presenters including celebrity gardener, Graham Ross, landscape designer, Sally Bourne and ecologist Alison Elvin and a special workshop with the Parkes SES and RFS. After the Central West Lachlan Landcare Committee committed to supporting the Homegrown Parkes event until June 2027 as a first step to support the event over a longer term, we kicked off our March Autumn Homegrown Parkes event.

In May we welcomed Mycologist Alison Pouliot to Forbes for an amazing workshops on…..mycology, investigating the amazing world of fungi!

Cattle prices lift with quality yarding of heifers at Forbes Market reports from Meat and Livestock Australia’s National Livestock Reporting Agency Cattle sale Monday, January 13 Numbers jumped at Monday’s cattle sale at Forbes’ Central West Livestock Exchange with agents yarding 1611 head.

Quality was fair with good numbers of well bred cattle available along with a larger percentage of heavier cattle penned.

The usual contingent of buyers were present and competing in a fairly steady market.

Yearling steers were 5 to 8c easier with those to feed selling from 350c to 408c/kg for middleweights.

Heavyweights ranged in price from 318c to 406c/kg.

The finished lines to processors

received from 355c to 382c/kg.

A quality offering of heifers saw prices lift 5 to 8c/kg. Processors paid from 310 to 380c while those to feed received from 320c to 368c/kg.

Heavy steers and bullocks lifted 8c selling from 300 to 370c/kg.

Grown heifers received from 295c to 335c/kg.

Cows held steady with prices ranging from 280 to 316c/kg.

The best heavy bull reached 308c/ kg.

Sheep sale Tuesday, January 14 Yarding 29,900 (down 7400 on last week) Numbers fell this sale with lambs showing the decrease.

There was 18400 lambs penned and quality was mixed with a good offering of trade and heavy lambs

available along with the secondary types.

The usual buyers were present and competing in a fairly steady market that fluctuated with quality.

Trade weight lambs 20-24kg sold from $164 to $213/head. Heavy lambs to 26kg received from $203 to $224 with extra heavies selling from $221 to $267/head.

Carcase prices averaged from 794 to 840c/kg. Heavy Merino hoggets reached $168/head.

Mutton numbers lifted and quality was very mixed.

Merinos made up the majority and prices slipped.

Merino ewes sold from $68 to $157/head. Crossbreds received from $74 to $145 with Dorper ewes reaching $147/head. Merino wethers ranged in price from $80 to $147/ head.

Forbes’ annual first cross ewe sale saw 16,000 yarded last Thursday, full report on that special event in The Farmer.

Livestock Carcoar CTLX Clearing Sales

Paddock Sales Fat & Store Sales AuctionsPlus

RM8446682

PROUDLY SERVICING CENTRAL & WESTERN NSW Forbes CWLE Auction Sales Direct to Abattoirs

Kevin Miller: 0427 236 777 • Luke Whitty: 0427 524 442 • Matt Lennon: 0427 516 100 www.kmiller.com.au • 106 Lachlan St., Forbes NSW 2871 • 02 6852 3355 CATTLE 19.8.24 Forbes Date 12.8.24 MARKET: MARKET: Date 13.8.24 CATTLE 20.1.25 MARKET: FORBESMARKET: CATTLE 13.1.25 FORBES Forbes SHEEP 14.1.25 1. AWN Langlands Hanlon 1.

Kevin Miller Whitty Lennon National Livestock Livestock Reporting National Livestock Reporting ServiceReporting Service NationalNational Livestock Reporting Service Service & Co 2. McCarron Cullinane Chudleigh Grade Low High Grade Low High 2. VC Reid Smith Class W/Range Trend Class W/Range Trend 3. Nutrien Ag Solutions Score Price Price Score Price Price Class W/Range Grade Low High Trend Class W/Range Grade Low High Trend 3. Nutrien Ag Solutions 4. Kevin Miller WhittyAgency Lennon & Co Yearling 4.

Forbes Livestock & Co Score 200-280 Price C2Price330.00 330.00 Score Price Price -20 Lamb 22.1-24 3 112.00 114.00 3 5.

McCarron Cullinane Chudleigh 5. Forbes Livestock Steer Yearling 200-280 C2 341.00 405.00 N/Q Lamb 22.1-24 3 184.00 204.00 28 6.

AWN Langlands Hanlon 6. Elders Steer 330-400 C2 280.00 408.00 4 7. Elders 7. VC Reid Smith

330-400

C2

SHEEP 21.1.25 SHEEP 20.8.24 8. Nutrien Ag Solutions 1. Elders 9. Elders 2. VC 10.

VCReid Reid Smith Smith 3.

McCarron Cullinane Chudleigh 11. Kevin Miller Whitty Lennon & Co Miller Whitty Lennon & Co 4. Kevin 12. Forbes Livestock Agency & Co 5. Forbes Livestock 13. McCarron Cullinane Chudleigh 6. Nutrien Ag Solutions 14.

AWN Langlands Hanlon

400+

C2

7. AWN Lanlands Hanlon

Yearling 200-280 Yearling C3 Heifer Heifer Cows

330-400 520+

C2 D3 Cows

350.00 408.00 -7 400+ C2 350.00-4416.00 318.00 406.00

300.00 307.00 N/Q 200-280 C3 230.00 310.00 325.00 C2365.00 330-400 270.00N/Q 321.00 280.00 305.00 5 520+ D3 250.00 320.00

-8 N/Q Ewe 1 8

24.1-26 24.1-26 4

4215.0093.00215.00 125.00 7

26.1-30 26.1-30 4

4222.0084.00228.00 84.00 N/Q-8

14.1-18

Ewe

18.1-24

2

14.1-18

3 18.1-24

-2

50.00

50.00 N/Q 38.00 58.000 2

47.00

73.00 7 73.00 94.00

2

3

24

From National Livestock Reporting Service Ph 1902 910 711 From National Livestock Reporting Service Ph 1902 910 711

Page 8 - THE POST, Thursday, January 16, 2025

parkeschampionpost.com.au

Easy COME Easy GO 8-12 JANUARY 2025

Jenny transforms scarf collection into outfit

By CHRISTINE LITTLE Jenny Dollin has a Parkes Elvis Festival outfit like no other.

It’s bright and colourful, and it’s personal.

The woman from the Blue Mountains, here for her eighth festival in 2025, had an Elvis scarf collection that was growing by the year.

Then she found an innovative solution.

“I thought ‘what am I going to do with them?’” Jenny said.

“They were just hanging on my light, they were becoming a fire hazard,” she laughed.

“I’ve collected them from all the shows I’ve attended from all over the festival.”

Elvis Presley’s practice of giving away scarves began in 1970 - a stage tradition that continued during all his tours in the seventies.

He would pull the scarf from around his neck and

throw it to a fan in the crowd.

Watching the King of Rock and Roll perform live was a moment fans would never forget but receiving a token from him was even more special.

For Jenny that’s what her scarves mean to her - though not gifted from the man himself and instead from some of the world’s best Elvis Tribute Artists, she didn’t want to throw them away.

So she made a skirt with them, a couple of years ago.

Her first scarf she received from the headline act Pete Storm in 2017.

When more began to build up, she wondered what to do with those.

“I made a cape for this year,” Jenny said.

“I like to wear a costume for the festival.

“I got two more on the train coming up,” she laughed.

Jenny’s new cape is complete with a black and white eagle in the centre.

Jenny Dollin from the Blue Mountains innovatively made her costume out of Elvis scarves she’s collected over eight years from the Parkes Elvis Festival.

PHOTOS: Christine Little

Family tradition shines bright at Elvis Festival

By MADELINE BLACKSTOCK

Wendy Holland from Bendigo, Anelia Andreeva (Adelaide), Steale Foumakis (Adelaide), Brad Hansen (Canberra), Leanne Hooper (Bendigo) and Lisa Franke (Bendigo).

Easy Come Easy Go troupe stands out

By CHRISTINE LITTLE WALKING through the crowds at the Parkes Elvis Festival, you couldn’t miss spotting this ‘Easy Come Easy Go’ troupe.

These Elvis fans have been attending the festival ranging from two to five years, and while they might be considered relatively newcomers in the eyes of the event’s veterans, this group has immediately jumped on board the costume train.

This year’s theme for the 32nd festival was Easy Come Easy Go. Like others who get involved in the dressing up culture of the festival, they had a new outfit planned for each of the five days.

Those who tuned-in to the morning breakfast shows on television on Thursday when the Elvis Express left Central Station in Sydney, knew who this group was prior to their arrival in Parkes that afternoon.

They come from Canberra, Bendigo and Adelaide.

“We spend a year planning the outfits,” said Wendy Holland from Bendigo.

“We like to keep with the theme.”

And indeed they did with their white dresses and shirts with blue lettering and blue wigs they were wearing when they stepped off the Elvis Express.

Wendy said these Easy Come Easy Go outfits, while appearing simple, took the longest to make because of the lettering.

Their outfits for the remaining days included sailors, two types of hippy costumes and a music outfit.

Wendy said the idea of attending the Parkes Elvis Festival sounded like fun and even in the short time they’ve been coming they’ve noticed it has “really grown” since their first year.

“It was myself, two dogs and a cat at the train station when we first came,” joked Brad Hansen of Canberra, describing the growth in numbers at the Parkes Train Station for the Elvis Express.

EVERY year at the Parkes Elvis Festival there is sure to be some eye-catching outfits around every corner.

And with every outfit there is a story to be told.

Karen and her four daughters have been coming to the Parkes Elvis Festival for 15 years and every year we wait in anticipation to see what dresses they are rocking.

The family is from Melbourne and every year Karen makes new matching dresses for her four daughters, Veronica, Diane, Janie and Kylie.

Last year you might have seen them around the festi-

val in their stunning avocado dresses but this year you will see them in beautiful daisy dresses and matching wigs.

Veronica said her mum made her and her sisters clothes growing up and she is still making clothes for the four sisters at 80 years of age.

As soon as the ladies leave the festival they are already brainstorming what their dresses will be for the next Elvis Festival.

The family love coming up to the Parkes Elvis Festival every year as they catch up with familiar faces and they love the happy atmosphere.

The ladies appreciate the

effort the small local community goes to every year to put on a fantastic festival as they grew up in a small town in Victoria.

We look forward to seeing what Karen creates for her and her daughters for next year’s festival!

-----

Don’t forget to head to the Parkes Champion Post website www.parkeschampionpost.com.au to check out our full coverage of the 2025 Parkes Elvis Festival.

There are many more photos we’ve taken across the five days that appear on our website.

Kylie, Janie, Karen, Diane and Veronica have been attending the Parkes Elvis Festival for 15 years in their wonderful matching dresses.

PHOTO: Madeline Blackstock

THE POST, Thursday, January 16, 2025 - Page 9

parkeschampionpost.com.au

Easy COME Easy GO 8-12 JANUARY 2025

All the fashions of the festival WHEN the Parkes Elvis Festival is not about Elvis, it’s about the fashion.

We come across the most striking and fun-loving outfits every year and the 32nd festival didn’t disappoint.

Here are just some of the fashion we spotted while out and about covering the event over the five days. There are more photos on our website.

RIGHT: How about those shirts!

In their farewell shirts, this group boarded the Elvis Express home on Monday morning.

PHOTO: Keith Turk LEFT: Doug Charles and Vivian Mizzi from the Sunshine Coast.

Doug entered his second Ultimate Elvis Contest this year.

These sisters Michelle Dudley from Brisbane and Cheryl Luvara from Bendigo have been attending the festival for seven and nine years respectively and wear a different dress every day of the festival.

This troupe who hail from ‘everywhere’ they said, stood out in the Saturday morning crowd.

PHOTO: Jenny Kingham

Kelly and Gloria Hendry looked fabulous in their matching dresses.

Pam and Steve Barratt from Mackay at their third festival, Larry and Esther Wilson also from Mackay at their second festival, and Sue and Greg McLeod from Proserpine at their first festival.

PHOTO: Christine Little

Rhonda celebrates her 80th by busking at festival RHONDA Brain OAM wanted to do ‘something crazy’ for her 80th birthday.

“Some people celebrate by jumping out of planes but I’ve always had a secret wish and now that I am old enough to not care what anyone thinks, I wanted to busk at the Elvis Festival,” she said.

The founder of Paint The Town REaD and former Parkes Public School principal turned 80 on January 11.

Much to her delight, three of her octogenarian friends from her teachers’ college days Jan Kay, Marg Price and Pat Deady all came to Parkes to celebrate with her.

With Rhonda being the ‘baby octo’ of the group, these three golden oldies asked her what ‘fun thing’ she wanted to do for her birthday.

“I read in the festival information that in the busking, any quirky thing goes and I thought that is crazy enough for me,” Rhonda said.

Before any of her friends could refuse, Rhonda registered for busking at the festival.

And before she knew it, she and her friends were standing in Chamberlain Square in front of the NAB on her birthday on Saturday at midday, setting up for a busking performance.

A small crowd gathered.

“I’m not sure how long we’ll sing for, I might only last 10 minutes,” Rhonda laughed prior to the busk.

Being concerned the voices of four ‘oldies’, as Rhonda described, wouldn’t hold out, Parkes virtuosos Sherree Rosser, Ros Bell, Barb Newton and the ukulele players, Coralie and Bob Gould and Kaitlyn Strudwick were the backing group.

And they all did well, receiving applause from those who stopped to watch.

Two Paint The Town REaD Sydney members, who were already coming to the festival to participate in the parade and gather ideas for a children’s book on The Reading Bug visits Parkes Elvis Festival, volunteered to join in.

“These two are as crazy as me,” Rhonda said. Money collected from their busking tips will go towards funding the book.

ABOVE: Rhonda Brain OAM (front right) gets her 80th birthday wish and busks with her friends at the Parkes Elvis Festival.

RIGHT: When introduced to the small crowd on Saturday, everyone sang Rhonda Brain happy birthday.

PHOTOS: Christine Little

Page 10 - THE POST, Thursday, January 16, 2025

ABC

SEVEN

NINE

parkeschampionpost.com.au

TEN

SBS

6.00 Morning Programs. 2.00 Cricket. The Women’s Ashes. One Day International.

Australia v England. Game 3. 4.00 Seven News At 4. 5.00 The Chase Australia.

6.00 7News Local. 6.30 7News @ 6:30.

7.00 Cricket. Big Bash League. Match 37. Sydney Sixers v Sydney Thunder.

10.30 Big Bash League Post-Game. 11.00 Better Homes And Gardens Summer.

12.30 Late Programs.

6.00 Today. 10.00 Australian Open Tennis Pre-Show. 11.00 Tennis. Australian Open. Day 6. 4.00 Tennis. Australian Open. Afternoon 6. 6.00 9News.

7.00 Tennis. Australian Open. Night 6.

11.00 Tennis. Australian Open. Late night 6. 12.00 New Amsterdam. 1.00 First On Scene. 1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping.

4.00 Skippy The Bush Kangaroo. 4.30 Global Shop. 5.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. 5.30 Drive TV.

6.00 Morning Programs. 10.30 Jamie’s Air-Fryer Meals. 11.30 Judge Judy. 12.00 Farm To Fork. 12.30 Family Feud. 1.00 10 News First: Lunchtime. 2.00 Wheel Of Fortune. 2.30 Lingo. 3.30 10 News First: Afternoon. 4.00 Family Feud. 4.30 The Bold And The Beautiful. 5.00 10 News First. 6.00 Deal Or No Deal. 6.30 The Project. 7.30 MOVIE: Cast Away. (2000) Tom Hanks. 10.20 10’s Late News. 10.45 The Project. 11.50 Late Programs.

6.00 Morning Programs. 2.00 Great Australian Railway Journeys. 3.05 Destination Flavour China. 3.35 The Cook Up With Adam Liaw. 4.05 Jeopardy! 4.30 Letters And Numbers.

5.00 Motor Racing. Dakar Rally. H’lights.

6.00 Mastermind Australia. 6.30 SBS World News. 7.30 MOVIE: The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button. (2008) 10.30 SBS World News Late. 11.00 De Gaulle.

12.00 Kin. 2.40 Late Programs.

6.00 Morning Programs. 9.00 Animal Rescue. 9.30 NBC Today.

12.00 Better Homes. 1.00 Escape To The Country. 2.00 The Great Australian Doorstep.

2.30 TBA. 3.00 DVine Living. 3.30 Harry’s Practice. 4.00 Better Homes. 5.00 Escape To The Country. 6.00 Bargain Hunt. 7.00 Better Homes And Gardens Summer. 8.30 Escape To The Country. 11.30 Late Programs.

6.00 Morning Programs. 3.00 Timbersports. 3.30 Storage Wars. 4.00 Cricket. The Women’s Ashes.

One Day International. Australia v England.

Game 3. 5.00 American Resto. 5.30 American Pickers. 6.30 Pawn Stars. 7.30 Surveillance Oz. 8.30 MOVIE: In The Line Of Fire. (1993) 11.10 MOVIE: The Empty Man. (2020) 2.00 Late Programs.

6.00 Flushed. 7.00 It’s Academic.

8.30 Get Arty. 9.00 Shopping.

10.30 House Rules: High Stakes. 12.00 Big Brother. 1.20 My Kitchen Rules. 3.10 Around The World With Manu. 4.05 A Moveable Feast.

4.35 Bondi Vet. 5.35 Britain’s Got Talent.

7.00 MOVIE: Dakota. (2022) 9.05 MOVIE: We Bought A Zoo. (2011) 11.45 Late Programs.

6.00 Shopping. 8.00 Everyday Gourmet. 8.30 Jake And The Fatman. 9.30 Diagnosis Murder.

11.30 JAG. 1.30 ST: Voyager. 2.30 Jake And The Fatman. 3.30 Diagnosis Murder. 5.30 All 4 Adventure. 6.30 JAG. 7.30 NCIS. 10.20 NCIS: Hawai’i. 11.15 Bull. 12.15 Shopping. 2.15 Diagnosis Murder. 5.00 JAG.

6.00 Morning Programs.

11.00 Deal Or No Deal: Celebrity Jackpot. 12.00 Big Bang. 1.30 King Of Queens. 2.00 Becker. 2.30 Frasier.

3.30 Rules Of Engagement. 4.00 Farm To Fork. 4.30 King Of Queens. 5.00 Becker.

5.30 Frasier. 6.30 Friends. 8.00 Big Bang.

10.30 Rules Of Engagement. 11.00 Impractical Jokers. 11.30 Late Programs.

6.00 Morning Programs. 2.05 ER. 2.50 Doctor Who. 3.55 Would I Lie To You? 4.25 MythBusters. 5.20 Amazing Spaces.

6.05 The Making Of David Attenborough’s Galapagos. 7.00 My Family. 7.30 QI. 8.00 Would I Lie To You? 8.30 MOVIE: Murder By Numbers. (2002) 10.30 ER. 11.15 Not Going Out. 11.45 Late Programs.

6.00 Kids’ Programs. 5.20 PJ Masks Power Heroes.

6.05 Kiya And The Kimoja Heroes. 6.45 Ben And Holly. 7.05 Gardening Australia Junior.

7.35 Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures.

8.00 Scooby-Doo And Guess Who? 8.25 Mythbusters “There’s Your Problem!”. 8.50 Robot Wars. 9.50 Doctor Who. 10.40 Late Programs.

6.00 Morning Programs. 1.00 ABC News Day. 3.00 News.

4.00 ABC News Summer. 6.00 ABC News Hour. 7.00 National News. 7.30 Evening News. 8.00 Planet America: Fireside Chat.

Return. 8.45 News Tonight. 9.00 The World.

9.30 Foreign Correspondent. 10.00 Nightly News. 10.30 Asia News Week. 11.00 News.

11.30 Late Programs.

6.00 Danger Man. 7.00 Creflo. 7.30 Skippy. 8.00 TV Shop. 10.00 Australian Open Tennis PreShow. 11.00 Tennis. Australian Open. Day 6.

6.00 Tennis. Australian Open. Night 6.

11.00 MOVIE: Misery. (1990) 1.10 Creflo. 1.40 MOVIE: Ransom. (1975) 3.30 Danger Man. 4.30 My Favorite Martian.

5.00 The Baron.

6.00 Morning Programs.

2.30 Scandinavian Star.

3.40 Uncovering Incels. 3.55 WorldWatch.

5.50 Alone. 7.05 Jeopardy! 7.35 8 Out Of 10 Cats. 8.30 Love And Sex In Scandinavia. 9.35 Secrets Of Penthouse.

10.30 Homeland. 1.30 Love And Sex In Israel. 2.30 NHK World English News. 5.00 Al Jazeera.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 17

6.00 Morning Programs. 12.00 News. 1.00 The Newsreader. 2.00 The Split: Barcelona.

Final. 3.00 Back Roads. 3.25 Grand Designs. 4.15 Long Lost Family. 5.00 A Bite To Eat With Alice. 5.30 Antiques Roadshow.

6.30 Hard Quiz. 7.00 ABC News. 7.30 Monty Don’s History Of The British Garden.

8.30 Murder In Provence. Final. 10.00 Joanna Lumley’s Great Cities Of The World.

Final. 10.50 ABC Late News. 11.05 Late Programs.

ABC

SEVEN

NINE

TEN

SBS

6.00 Morning Programs. 10.00 The Morning Show Summer Series. 12.00 Horse Racing. January Cup Day, VRC Summer Fun Race Day and Eagle Farm Raceday. 5.00 Seven News At 5. 5.30 Border Security: Australia’s Front Line.

6.00 Seven News. 7.00 Border Security: International. 7.30 MOVIE: Kindergarten Cop. (1990) Arnold Schwarzenegger.

9.50 MOVIE: True Lies. (1994) Arnold Schwarzenegger. 12.50 Late Programs.

6.00 The Garden Gurus. 6.30 Drive Safer.

7.00 Weekend Today. 10.00 Australian Open Tennis Pre-Show. 11.00 Tennis.

Australian Open. Day 7. 4.00 Tennis.

Australian Open. Afternoon 7. 6.00 9News Saturday. 7.00 Tennis. Australian Open.

Night 7. 11.00 Tennis. Australian Open.

Late night 7. 12.00 New Amsterdam. 1.00 Casualty 24/7. 2.00 The Incredible Journey Presents. 2.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping.

4.30 Global Shop. 5.00 Late Programs.

6.00 Morning Programs. 11.00 10 Minute Kitchen. 11.30 Silvia’s Italian Masterclass.

12.00 Australia By Design: Innovations.

12.30 Exploring Off The Grid. 1.30 The Yes Experiment. 2.00 Pat Callinan’s 4x4 Adventures. 3.00 Good Chef Bad Chef. 3.30 My Market Kitchen. 4.00 All 4 Adventure. Final. 5.00 10 News First. 6.30 The Dog House Australia. 8.30 The Dog House. 9.30 Ambulance Australia. 10.30 Ambulance UK. 11.45 Late Programs.

6.00 Morning Programs. 2.00 Women’s Weekly Football. 3.00 Aliquam Dive Stories II. 4.00 Forgotten Frontlines. 5.00 Motor Racing. Dakar Rally. H’lights. 6.00 Grand Tours Of Scotland’s Rivers. 6.30 SBS World News. 7.30 Magical Train Journeys In Switzerland. 8.30 Cotswolds And Beyond With Pam Ayres. 9.20 Great Australian Walks With Julia Zemiro. 10.15 Great Australian Railway Journeys. 11.25 Late Programs.

6.00 Morning Programs. 2.00 Better Homes And Gardens. 3.00 Escape To The Country. 5.00 Horse Racing.

January Cup Day, VRC Summer Fun 5.30 Surf Patrol. 6.00 Dog Patrol. 6.30 Bondi Vet. 7.30 The Yorkshire Vet. 8.30 Escape To The Country. 9.30 I Escaped To The Country.

10.30 Australia’s Amazing Homes. 11.30 Late Programs.

6.00 Morning Programs. 11.00 Blokesworld. 11.30 Cycling.

Santos Tour Down Under. Women’s. Stage 2. 4.00 Desert Collectors. 5.00 Counting Cars. 6.00 Pawn Stars. 7.00 Storage Wars.

7.30 Aussie Salvage Squad. 8.30 Heavy Tow Truckers Down Under. 9.30 Air Crash Inv: Accident Files. 10.30 Deep Water Salvage.

11.30 Late Programs.

6.00 Morning Programs. 8.30 Get Arty. 9.00 Get Clever. 10.00 Weekender. 10.30 Weekender. 11.00 Rebel Wilson’s Pooch Perfect. 12.10 Holey Moley Australia. 1.40 Blow Up. 3.20 A Moveable Feast. 3.50 Britain’s Got Talent. 5.15 MOVIE: A Dog’s Journey. (2019) 7.30 MOVIE: Ghostbusters: Afterlife. (2021) 10.00 MOVIE: Captain Phillips. (2013) 12.50 Late Programs.

6.00 Morning Programs.

10.00 I Fish. 10.30 ST: Voyager. 11.30 Diagnosis Murder. 1.30 JAG. 2.30 Diagnosis Murder. 3.30 JAG. 4.30 Soccer. A-League Men. Round 15. Sydney FC v Brisbane Roar. 7.00 Football Tonight.

7.25 Soccer. A-League Men. Round 15.

Adelaide United v Melbourne Victory. 10.00 NCIS. 11.50 Late Programs.

6.00 Becker. 6.30 Deal Or No Deal. 8.30 Becker. 9.00 Frasier. 10.00 Rules Of Engagement. 11.00 Farm To Fork. 11.30 How We Roll. 1.00 Ghosts. 2.00 King Of Queens. 2.30 Becker.

3.00 Frasier. 4.00 Friends. 7.00 The Big Bang Theory. 10.30 Two And A Half Men. 12.30 South Park. 1.00 Shopping. 1.30 South Park. 3.00 Shopping.

6.00 Morning Programs. 2.10 ER. 2.55 Penn & Teller: Fool Us. 3.35 Speechless.

4.00 A Bite To Eat. 4.30 MythBusters. 5.20 Amazing Spaces. 6.10 A Wild Year On Earth.

7.00 Spicks And Specks. 7.30 QI. 8.00 Would I Lie To You? 8.30 Melbourne Comedy Festival: Allstars Supershow. 10.35 Ab Fab. 11.35 Late Programs.

6.00 Kids’ Programs. 4.20 Odd Squad. 4.45 Gardening Australia Junior. 5.10 Stick Man. 6.05 Kiya And The Kimoja Heroes. 6.45 Ben And Holly. 7.05 Riley Rocket. 7.30 Good Game Spawn Point. 7.55 MOVIE: The Boy In The Dress. (2014) 8.55 Fresh Off The Boat. 9.40 Speechless. 10.00 Officially Amazing. 10.40 Late Programs.

6.00 Morning Programs. 2.00 The Cloud Under The Sea. 3.00 News. 3.30 That Pacific Sports Show.

4.00 News. 4.15 Planet America: Fireside Chat. 5.00 News. 5.30 Asia News Week. 6.00 Evening News. 6.30 Spies In The Outback.

7.00 National News. 7.30 Back Roads. 8.00 News Tonight. 8.30 Aust Story. 9.00 Nightly News. 9.30 Compass. 10.00 Late Programs.

6.00 Danger Man. 7.00 Leading The Way. 7.30 TV Shop. 8.00 Thunderbirds. 8.30 Tomorrow’s World. 9.00 Turning Point. 9.30 TV Shop.

10.00 Australian Open Tennis Pre-Show.

11.00 Tennis. Australian Open. Day 7. 6.00 Tennis. Australian Open. Night 7. 11.00 MOVIE: The Sting. (1973) 1.40 MOVIE: Silver Bears. (1978) 4.00 Late Programs.

6.00 Morning Programs.

2.05 Beyond Oak Island. 2.55 Celebrity Mastermind. 3.55 WorldWatch. 5.55 The Mega-Brands That Built The World. 7.35 Impossible Engineering. 8.30 Icons Unearthed: SpiderMan. New. 10.20 Hudson & Rex. Return.

12.00 The X-Files. 3.40 NHK World English News. 5.00 Al Jazeera.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 18

6.00 Morning Programs. 12.00 News. 12.25 Beyond Paradise. 1.25 Miriam Margolyes In New Zealand. 2.25 Extraordinary Escapes.

3.10 Lucy Worsley: Agatha Christie Mystery Queen. 4.10 Joanna Lumley’s Great Cities Of The World. 5.00 Eat The Invaders. 5.30 Dr Karl’s How Things Work. 6.00 Brian Cox: Life Of A Universe. Final. 6.30 Back Roads.

7.00 ABC News. 7.30 Beyond Paradise.

8.30 Vera. 10.05 Miniseries: Until I Kill You. 11.35 Late Programs.

ABC

SEVEN

NINE

TEN

SBS

6.00 NBC Today. 7.00 Weekend Sunrise.

10.00 The Morning Show Summer Series.

12.00 NFL. NFL Playoffs. Divisional Playoffs. 3.30 Jabba’s Movies. 4.00 Better Homes And Gardens Summer. 5.00 Seven News At 5. 5.30 Sydney Weekender.

6.00 Seven News. 7.00 Cricket. Big Bash League. Match 40. Melbourne Stars v Hobart Hurricanes. 10.30 Big Bash League Post-Game. 11.00 7NEWS Spotlight. 12.00 Late Programs.

6.00 Hello SA. 6.30 Explore TV: Trade Routes Of The Middle Ages. 7.00 Weekend Today. 10.00 Australian Open Tennis Pre-Show. 11.00 Tennis. Australian Open.

Day 8. 4.00 Tennis. Australian Open.

Afternoon 8. 6.00 9News Sunday. 7.00 Tennis. Australian Open. Night 8. 11.00 Tennis. Australian Open. Late night 8. 12.00 New Amsterdam. 1.00 First On Scene.

1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. 2.00 Late Programs.

6.00 Morning Programs. 12.00 Pooches At Play. 12.30 The Chef’s Garden. 1.00 Everyday Gourmet. 1.30 Cook With Luke.

2.00 Farm To Fork. 2.30 Basketball. NBL. Sydney Kings v Tasmania JackJumpers.

4.30 Good Chef Bad Chef. 5.00 10 News First. 6.00 The Sunday Project. 7.00 I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! Return.

9.00 The Graham Norton Show. 10.10 MOVIE: Mafia Mamma. (2023) 12.25 Late Programs.

6.00 Morning Programs. 1.00 Speedweek. 3.00 Grace Brown: Time For The Rest Of Life. 3.30 Cycling. National Road C’ships. Women’s. H’lights. 4.30 Cycling. National Road C’ships. Men’s.

H’lights. 5.30 Forgotten Frontlines. 6.30 SBS World News. 7.35 Fortress Britain With Alice Roberts. Final. 8.30 One Mind, One Heart. 10.05 Stopping The Steal.

11.45 The Choice 2024: Harris Vs Trump.

1.45 Late Programs.

6.00 Morning Programs. 10.30 DVine Living. 11.00 Animal Rescue.

11.30 Cycling. Santos Tour Down Under.

Women’s. Stage 3. 3.30 South Aussie With Cosi. 4.00 Harry’s Practice. 4.30 Australia’s Amazing Homes. 5.30 I Escaped To The Country. 6.30 Escape To The Country. 7.30 Rosemary & Thyme. 8.30 Vera. 10.30 The Yorkshire Vet. 11.30 Late Programs.

6.00 Morning Programs. 12.30 Al McGlashan’s Fish’n With Mates. 1.30 Fishy Business. 2.30 Step Outside. 3.00 Creek To Coast. 3.30 Portland Charter Boat Wars. 4.00 Building Giants.

5.00 Nature Gone Wild. 6.00 Border Security: Int. 7.00 Border Security. 8.30 MOVIE: 1917.

(2019) 10.45 MOVIE: The Game. (1997) 1.25 Late Programs.

6.00 Morning Programs. 10.00 Holey Moley Australia. 11.30 Blow Up. Final. 1.00 My France With Manu. 2.00 Zumbo’s Just Desserts. 3.10 The Voice. 5.00 Jabba’s Movies School Holiday Special. 5.30 Dr Harry’s Animal Encounters. 6.30 Puppy School. 7.30 Law & Order: Criminal Intent.

8.30 Law & Order: S.V.U. 9.30 Bones. 11.30 Late Programs.

6.00 Morning Programs.

10.00 4x4 Adventures. 11.00 Escape Fishing. 11.30 Cook With Luke.

12.00 Exploring Off The Grid. 1.00 The Dog Hospital With Graeme Hall. 2.00 Diagnosis Murder. 4.00 I Fish. 4.30 Basketball. NBL. Round 17. Cairns Taipans v Adelaide 36ers.

6.30 JAG. 7.30 NCIS. 10.15 Bull. 12.05 Late Programs.

6.00 Becker. 6.30 Frasier.

7.30 Neighbours. 9.30 Bold. 12.00 Family Feud. 1.00 Becker. 1.30 Frasier. 2.30 Becker. 3.00 Frasier. 4.00 Rules Of Engagement. 4.30 Friends.

7.00 The Big Bang Theory.

10.30 Two And A Half Men. 12.30 South Park. 1.00 Shopping. 1.30 South Park. 3.00 Shopping.

6.00 Morning Programs. 2.10 ER. 2.55 Penn & Teller. 3.35 Speechless. 4.00 Would I Lie To You? 4.30 MythBusters. 5.20 George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces. 6.10 A Wild Year On Earth. 7.00 Spicks And Specks. 7.30 QI. 8.00 Louis Theroux: Life On The Edge.

8.55 Planet America: Fireside Chat. 9.40 Love On The Spectrum. 10.40 Late Programs.

6.00 Kids’ Programs. 4.05 Grace’s Amazing Machines.

4.20 Odd Squad. 4.45 Gardening Australia Junior. 5.10 Kangaroo Beach. 6.05 Kiya And The Kimoja Heroes. 6.45 Ben And Holly. 7.05 Riley Rocket. 7.35 Moominvalley. 8.00 The Secret Life Of Our Pets. 8.50 Fresh Off The Boat. 9.35 Speechless. 9.55 Doctor Who. 11.05 Late Programs.

6.00 Morning Programs. 2.00 News. 2.30 Aust Story. 3.00 News. 3.30 Spies In The Outback. 4.00 News.

4.30 Landline. 5.00 News. 5.30 Regional Roundup. 6.00 Evening News. 6.30 Creative Types. Final. 7.00 National News. 7.30 Back Roads. 8.00 ABC News Tonight. 8.15 Aust Story. 9.00 Nightly News. 9.30 Foreign Correspondent. 10.00 Late Programs.

6.00 Morning Programs. 7.30 In Touch. 8.00 Beyond Today.

8.30 The Incredible Journey. 9.00 Turning Point. 9.30 TV Shop. 10.00 Australian Open Tennis Pre-Show. 11.00 Tennis. Australian Open. Day 8. 6.00 Tennis. Australian Open.

Night 8. 8.00 M*A*S*H. 8.30 MOVIE: Mr & Mrs Smith. (2005) 10.55 Chicago Med. 11.55 Late Programs.

6.00 Morning Programs.

2.35 PBS Washington Week With The Atlantic. 3.00 WorldWatch.

3.30 Queer Sports. 4.30 Cycling.

ProVelo Super League. 7.30 Abandoned Engineering. 9.20 MOVIE: Ascension.

(2021) 11.05 WWE Legends. 12.40 The X-Files. 3.25 NHK World English News. 5.00 Al Jazeera.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 19

6.00 Morning Programs. 12.00 ABC News At Noon. 12.25 Landline. 12.55 New Leash On Life. 1.25 Gardening Australia. 2.25 Monty Don’s History Of The British Garden.

3.25 Long Lost Family. 4.10 Extraordinary Escapes. 5.00 Magda’s Big National Health Check. 6.00 Antiques Roadshow. 7.00 ABC News. 7.30 Miriam Margolyes In New Zealand. Final. 8.30 Miniseries: Until I Kill You. 10.05 MOVIE: Mystery Road. (2013) 12.05 Late Programs.

Classifications: (P) Preschoolers (C) Children (G) General (PG) Parental Guidance (M) Mature Audiences (MA15+) Mature Audiences Only (AV15+) Extreme Adult Violence Consumer Advice: (a) Adult themes (d) Drug references (h) Horror (s) Sex references (l) Language (m) Medical procedures (n) Nudity (v) Violence. Please note: Listings are correct at the time of print and are subject to change by networks.

yourstars ARIES

LEO (July 23 to August 22) This is a good time to begin

TAURUS

VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) An unsettled situation at

(March 21 to April 19) It’s a good time to take a muchneeded break from your recent hectic schedule and spend some time in quieter surroundings. Important news could arrive early next week.

(April 20 to May 20) The Taurean traits of reliability and thoroughness could be well-tested when decision-makers consider your proposals and/or requests. Be prepared to answer some probing questions.

GEMINI

(May 21 to June 20) A sudden attack of boredom leaves you with some tasks undone. It’s OK to take a short respite, but get back to work by week’s end so that you have time for other projects.

CANCER

(June 21 to July 22) Avoid prejudging a situation just because it looks bad. Facts could emerge that can make your position uncomfortable, to say the least. Meanwhile, a relative has interesting news to share with you.

reassessing some of your recent decisions about your long-range goals to see if they still have merit. In addition, spend more time with loved ones this weekend. home or on the job early in the week could drain your energy levels, making it difficult to get your work done on schedule. But things improve by midweek.

LIBRA

SAGITTARIUS

(November 22 to December 21) A problem with workplace colleagues or family members seems to defy even your sage counsel. But be patient. Your words will eventually lead to a resolution.

CAPRICORN

(December 22 to January 19) Don’t just wait out an unexpected and unexplained delay in your career move. You could gain added respect if you ask why it happened and what you can do to move things along.

AQUARIUS

(September 23 to October 22) A temporary setback could give you time to go over your plans to find weaknesses that you might have overlooked before. Also, a romantic getaway with a special person is favored this weekend.

(January 20 to February 18) Although your workplace strategies are usually accepted, you could be challenged by someone who isn’t so favorably impressed. Be prepared to defend your positions.

SCORPIO

PISCES (February 19 to March 20) Your friendship circle

(October 23 to November 21) Professional and personal situations benefit you once you set a positive tone in getting things off to a good start. Honest dialogue smooths over any occasional display of balkiness.

BORN THIS WEEK: You love to search for knowledge and share it with others. You would make an especially fine teacher!

expands with new people coming into your life at this time. Welcome them warmly, but don’t neglect cherished longtime personal relationships.

(c) 2024 King Features Synd., Inc.

CENTRAL WEST AND HILLTOPS

Part of the Farmer Group of Rural Newspapers – Incorporating Your Farm JANUARY, 2025

Irrigators protest price proposal

www.farmernews.com.au

Workshops, season updates for landholders PAGE 2

Sale day in pictures PAGE 8

PAGE 6

Sale delivers quality Solid start to 2025 at first cross ewe sale

A Forbes farming partnership that spans three generations has won the Glamis Shield in a strong start to the year at the Central West Livestock Exchange.

The Morrison family was presented with the Forbes PA and H Association trophy for best-presented pen at the annual first cross ewe sale, which took place on Thursday January 9.

The annual event is known for its quality and the 2025 sale didn’t disappoint.

Chris Morrison, who is pictured at the presentation with dad Trevor and sons Braith, Hayden and Jarrad, said they brought 1710 ewe lambs to the Thursday sale and averaged $252 a head.

Agent Adam Chudleigh, MCC Chudleigh Dobell, paid credit to the vendors as he introduced the sale - the Morrison’s prize winning pen first up for bidders.

The quality on offer was once again unbelievable, Mr Chudleigh said.

The sale was within expectations, he added, the fat lamb market having opened the new year easier but buyers knowing the trip to Forbes is worth it.

Chris Morrison said his

Trevor Morrison, Murray Brown from Glamis Border Leicester Stud, Braith Morrison, Chris Morrison, competition judge Jamie Buerckner, Noah Brown from Glamis, Norm Haley from Forbes PA and H Association, Hayden Morrison and Jarrad Morrison at the presentation of the Glamis Shield. family has been preparing their first cross ewe lambs for this new year sale for 20 years now - and they were once again pleased with the results on Thursday.

“As you can see it’s a team effort with three generations: dad and myself and my boys,” he said after the sale.

Morrisons aim to produce long ewes with a big frame,

joining Glamis rams, from the Brown family’s Bedgerabong stud, with Pooginook Merino ewes.

Lambing in March, they shear in October, to prepare for this sale.

It’s been a good season for it on their property at Forbes which they also crop.

Chris extended the family’s thanks to lamb marker

Ben Bryan and shearers Greg Briggs Contracting, as well as the team at MCC Chudleigh Dobell.

The annual sale has again proven itself with vendors delivering quality and buyers drawn to it.

“We’re lucky to have it,” Chris said.

Jamie Buerckner, Bauer Border Leicesters, had the

unenviable task of judging the Glamis Shield from the yarding of 16,000.

“I’d like to congratulate all the vendors on a lovely line up of young ewes today,” Mr Buerckner said, before announcing Morrisons first pen the recipients of the trophy.

“They took my eye as soon as I walked in: the evenness, the size and structure.”

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Mr Chudleigh said sales of joinable ewes were strong.

A pen of scanned in lamb ewes from Gary and Narelle Sunderland at Fifield topped the sale fetching $355.

The top price ewe lambs were from Kevin and Jayne Norrie and fetched $318.

“Quality prevails and also weight prevailed today,” Mr Chudleigh said.

Page 2 - Central West and Hilltops Farmer, January, 2025

farmernews.com.au

Farmers in focus in food future report The National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) has welcomed a new report that places farmers at the centre of a re-invented food system.

The Australian Food and Agriculture Taskforce in December handed down a report that warns the nation’s food system is at a tipping point.

NFF Chief Executive Officer Tony Mahar, who participated in the Taskforce, reiterated the report’s findings that farmers must be supported in order to shore up Australia’s agricultural potential.

“This report shows Australian agriculture is at risk of losing its competitive edge unless a number of changes are made,” Mr Mahar said.

“Issues like increased frequency and severity of climate events, trade tensions, shifting geopolitical environments, and global markets evolving at different speeds, are all threatening Australia’s food system.

“The Taskforce has recommended a number of actions to grow agriculture’s potential, following the expert lead of Australia’s farmers.

“It’s great to see a well-researched report back-up what we already know about Australian ag: It has huge potential, and with the right support, can be a $100 billion industry by 2030.”

Taskforce Chair Mark van Dyck said 44 per cent of farmers believed Australia was losing its competitive edge on the global stage.

“When it comes to implementing climatesmart practices, our farmers are world leaders, but they need more support to go further and really bolster the climate resilience of their farms,” Mr van Dyck said.

The Land of plenty: Transforming Australia into a food superpower report listed three areas that are key to unlocking agriculture’s potential: • Climate-smart farming – transition financing, tax incentives, standardised measurement/reporting framework and central data exchange.

• Sovereign supply chains – national food system strategy, scaling manufacturing and regional precincts.

• Global markets and competitive positioning – diversifying exports into IP and agtech, communication tools to strengthen global positioning.

Mr Mahar said it was crucial that all entities along the food supply chain worked together to achieve these goals.

“Global markets are evolving at a rapid pace, and Australia needs to take action so we are not left behind,” Mr Mahar said.

“Our farmers are leading the charge, embracing climate-smart farming techniques and welcoming new practices to drive down emissions.

“This report shows if an extra 20 per cent of farmers adopt climate-smart practices, they will reap the reward with a 22 per cent increase in their bottom line and tap into new income streams from carbon markets.

“This is a win for farmers, the environment, the economy, and importantly, for future food security and affordability.”

Lachlan Valley Water chair Tom Green said the outlined price increase would be devastating for farmers in the region.

PHOTO: File

Price proposal would be devastating: irrigators

Rural water users in NSW could see their costs more than double over the next five years under pricing proposals currently before the Independent Pricing And Regulatory Tribunal (IPART).

General security licence holders in the Lachlan Valley would face 20 per cent a year increases and high security 30 per cent a year in an information paper currently on display.

IPART is reviewing the maximum charges that WaterNSW can charge to provide rural bulk water services - with the price to apply for five years from July 1, 2025.

For standard water use customers on regulated rivers in the Lachlan Valley, by 2030 bills would increase a cumulative 271 per cent for high security customers and 149 or 150 per cent for general security customers.

NSW Irrigators Council CEO Claire Miller said the organisation was alarmed by the proposal and urged stakeholders across inCENTRAL WEST AND HILLTOPS dustries to understanding the implications.

“WaterNSW’s revenue requirements are rising faster than businesses’ capacity to pay,” she said.

Part of the Farmer Group of Est. Rural Newspapers – Incorporating Your Farm 1984 “Rural water customers are already grappling with soaring input costs - interest rates, Taking a regional fuel, insurance, machinery, wages, and enlook at Farming in ergy.

NSW Central West and Hilltops regions “This is not just about farmers; everyone will feel the pinch from racing, to manufac50B Kendal Street, Cowra NSW, 2794 turing, mining, processing and competitive Website: farmernews.com.au sports like golf.”

Sales Courtney Gambrill Lachlan Valley Water Chair Tom Green Manager Mobile 0448 248 080 said the pricing would leave irrigators askcgambrill@midwestmedia.com.au ing, “how am I going to make money out of this?”

Editor: Renee Powell “I would say it would be devastating to the Mobile 0448 238 032 industry really,” he said. rpowell@midwestmedia.com.au “In terms of your general farmer ... your Published by Hartley Higgins for Mid West Media (ABN 77 666 small irrigator’s probably already under 469 834) 50B Kendal Street, Cowra NSW 2794. Responsibility for election comment is accepted by Renee Powell. pressure and going because of other reforms Copyright: All advertising and editorial content of this issue is and so forth, including pricing, metering copyright of Mid West Media and cannot be used without Mid etc.”

West Media’s permission.

But the proposal would equally affect medium and large irrigators, he added, consid-

Rural water customers are already grappling with soaring input costs - interest rates, fuel, insurance, machinery, wages, and energy.

- CLAIRE MILLER, NSW IRRIGATORS COUNCIL

Claire Miller, CEO NSW Irrigators Council.

PHOTO: Supplied ering the value per megalitre of water.

The proposal includes rises to cover costs for both Water NSW and the Water Administration Ministerial Corporation (WAMC).

The Corporation charges aim to recover water users’ share of the costs of water management charges such as regulation and licensing; management agencies like the Murray Darling Basin Association; and things like metering charges.

They propose bills increase between 2.5 per cent and 28 per cent, proposing the NSW Government pay a larger subsidy to avoid price shocks.

Mr Green said discussions about an impending increase in prices had been ongoing for some 18 months but now the numbers have come out in the information paper NSW Irrigators Council has responded.

In a global market, it could leave our irrigators uncompetitive, Mr Green warned.

“It’s too expensive - there’s no money in it - and the risk is too great, you’re spending a huge amount of money for little return,” he said.

He’s already made significant changes to the amount of irrigation on his Forbes property, when it comes to river water they’re

now more likely to use irrigation to improve winter crops than to invest in summer crops.

“Where we would normally have done a lot of hay, lucerne seed and so forth we’ve cut that down to where we more so water winter crop,” Mr Green said.

“We still do some, we’ve probably halved it in terms of what we’d do over summer.”

Just how widespread that shift is could be hard to see across the industry after the weather conditions of recent years, this Summer where there’s water available and more normal conditions could be more telling.

“It’ll be interesting with a normal summer what our water use is for the year because one of the issues is we’re not even using our limit that we’re allowed,” Mr Green said. “(Properties) may have infrastructure, they may be temporary selling their water or permanently selling it.”

Ms Miller said the water pricing model in NSW was “fundamentally broken”.

“Rural water customers should be charged only to the extent of what it costs to deliver water, and that all other costs associated with water management should be shared across the community via the public purse,” she said.

farmernews.com.au

G’day

As we step into 2025, the Central West is ready to embrace a year of progress, resilience, and innovation. The strong foundations laid in 2024 provide an opportunity to build on our successes, tackle challenges, and continue the determined, collaborative spirit that defines our region.

This year promises to be transformative for farming in our community. The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Amendment (Virtual Stock Fencing) Bill is poised for further progress, with the potential to revolutionise livestock management and reduce environmental impact. I am committed to ensuring this ground breaking technology becomes a reality, positioning our farmers as leaders in sustainable agriculture.

Advocacy for justice will also remain a priority, particularly in seeking an inquest into the tragic loss of 10-year-old Biddy Porter. Until her family receives the justice and answers they deserve, we will not rest. Our shared efforts are focused on fostering safer communities for everyone.

As the Central West continues its recovery from the 2022 floods, rebuilding stronger and more resilient infrastructure remains essential. We will push for further investments in water security, tourism, and community facilities to sustain growth, support families, and drive regional vitality.

Healthcare remains a cornerstone of our efforts.

In 2025, we will work to address workforce shortages, advocate for better nurse-to-patient ratios, and enhance access to healthcare services for regional communities. These efforts are critical to ensuring everyone in our region has the care they need.

Transport connectivity Is vital for unlocking economic opportunities, and improving passenger rail services will remain a key focus this year. Enhanced transport options will keep our communities connected and ensure the Central West remains competitive and accessible.

Finally, collaboration with government and community organisations will continue to address pressing housing shortages and tackle homelessness. By working together, we can ensure everyone in the Central West has access to safe and secure housing.

2025 is set to be a year of action and achievement. Together, we will build on the successes of the past and create a stronger, more resilient future for the Central West.

Phil Cheers,

Central West and Hilltops Farmer, January, 2025 - Page 3

GRANTS PROGRAM OPENING SOON GET READY!

EASY COME, EASY GO

The NSW Government’s 2025 Community Building Partnership Grants Program opens on January, 28 2025. Start getting prepared now, because the application window is only open until February, 21 2025.

This annual grants funding program is popular and highly sought after in the local community. The Community Building Partnership Program is offering funding to support projects that deliver positive outcomes for communities in NSW. If your organisation has a project that will strengthen our community, this is your chance to apply!

Applications close: 21 February 2025, 5:00 pm To view program guideline, go to nsw.gov.au and follow the grands and funding link.

Parkes hosted another amazing Elvis Festival, in fact the 32nd, this month and as usual, the township turned on a great event.

This year’s theme was ‘Easy Come, Easy Go’, a 1967 musical comedy featuring the King and visitors from all around Australia arrived onboard the Elvis Express last week.

I’m sure the festival founders Bob and Anne Steele would never have imagined this festival would grow into what it is today - it’s an amazing success story for Parkes and NSW. If you haven’t ever experienced the Elvis Festival, it’s a must-do.

COMFORT AT A DIFFICULT TIME Two brand new state of the art cuddle beds are a welcome addition to the Orange Health Service Palliative Care rooms.

I must commend Orange Push for Palliative Care, lead by Jenny Hazelton and Janice Harris, for their continued advocacy for improved palliative facilities at the Orange Health Service.

I was delighted Health Minister Ryan Park was able to provide funding for these two double-sized cuddle beds for patients and their families.

By providing the important opportunity to remain physically close during end-of-life care, these beds allow patients to maintain meaningful connection and help create a sense of comfort and peace during what can be an incredibly difficult time.

STAY SAFE ON THE WATER

School holidays are still in full swing, so please look out for one another when you’re enjoying our beautiful dams and rivers.

Wear life jackets on the water, know your limits and avoid taking risks. Enjoy the water but remember that alcohol is a contributing factor in 16% of drowning deaths, so please, if you’re celebrating by the water, save the drink until after the swim!

MENTAL WELLNESS DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON Do you struggle with the holiday season? If you find the holiday season challenging, you’re not alone.

The holidays are often depicted as a time of joy, celebration, and togetherness, but for many of us, it can bring up a range of difficult thoughts and feelings. It’s okay to feel lonely, angry, anxious, stressed, sad or something else entirely.

The most important thing is that you acknowledge your emotions and remember that your wellbeing matters.

LIFELINE has a mental wellness guide, with some helpful tips. Go to toolkit.lifeline.org.au, or you can call a trained Lifeline crisis supporter for confidential one-on-one support on 13 11 14 or, you can’t text lifeline on 0477 13 11 14 Rural Adversity mental Health Program can also offer support at https://www.ramhp.com.au

Page 4 - Central West and Hilltops Farmer, January, 2025



farmernews.com.au

Pest management training update Local Land Services has launched a new and improved training course for landholders using restricted pesticides to manage pest animals.

Available online and face-to-face, the free VPIT course takes landholders through the legal responsibilities, safety requirements and practical considerations for the safe and effective use of baits and pesticides to control pest animals.

All NSW landholders must hold an AQF3 Chemical Accreditation or VPIT certification to acquire and use pesticides and bait products for feral pigs, rabbits, wild dogs and foxes.

Local Land Services’ Principal Program Manager Biosecurity, Jake Tanner, said the upgraded VPIT course made it easier than ever for landholders to gain this certification.

“Education is a key part of Local Land Services’ role in supporting and providing best practice advice to farmers and landholders across NSW. “We’re encouraging landholders to attend one of our face-to-face training sessions or save time and complete the course online.”

The online course is a streamlined version of the face-to-face workshop and takes only a few hours to complete. Certification is valid for five years.

The course upgrades were funded by the 2023-24 Feral Pig Program.

Visit the Local Land Services website for more information or to register for Vertebrate Pesticide Induction Training.

Those interested in participating in coordinated pest control programs should contact their nearest Local Land Services office on 1300 795 299.

The World Meteorological Organisation says a La Nina could form, the Bureau of Meteorology is encouraging people to follow official forecasts.

Another La Nina could form, modelling shows Protect from bites in mosquito season

NSW Health is reminding people to take measures to protect themselves from mosquito bites this summer season.

NSW Health’s Executive Director of Health Protection Dr Jeremy McAnulty said mosquitoes thrive in warm conditions, increasing the risk of mosquito-borne illnesses such as Murray Valley encephalitis, Japanese encephalitis, Ross River and Barmah Forest viruses in parts of NSW. “Each year, NSW Health undertakes mosquito surveillance across NSW from November to April each year, which provides important information about when mosquito-borne disease risk is elevated,” Dr McAnulty said.

Japanese encephalitis (JE) virus has been recently detected in a mosquito sample in Lake Wyangan collected on December 3.

Mosquito-borne Murray Valley encephalitis has been detected in sentinel chickens at Cowra and Japanese encephalitis in feral pigs in the Narromine shire.

JE vaccine is available through GPs, Aboriginal health services and pharmacists.

It’s a timely reminder to take all measures to avoid mosquito bites: avoid going outside at peak times; apply repellants containing DEET, picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus; wear light loose-fitting long-sleeve shirts and long pants, socks and covered footwear.

By REBECCA HEWSON

For the fourth time in five years it is predicted that a La Nina event is forming, which could mean a lot of rain for the Central West and Hilltops regions, according to the World Meteorological Organisation.

La Nina weather events bring with them above average rainfall, and over the past decade, usually indicate potential flooding for areas such as Forbes, Cowra and Boorowa.

The Bureau of Meteorology dropped its individual drivers reporting in December 2024, retiring the El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) dial, meaning the Bureau no longer issues La Nina watches or alerts, instead encouraging the public and media to follow their official forecasts, rather than gauging information from the dial.

According to the World Meteorologial Organisation there is the potential for a La Nina event to form in the coming months, but it is expected to be a short and less intense event.

In December the World Meteorological Organisation said its long range forecasts indicated a 55 percent likelihood of a transition from the current neutral conditions to La Nina conditions between December 2024 and February 2025.

Over the past 12 months the local region has experienced minor La Nina, El Nino and neutral weather events, all of which have impacted season rainfall, temperature and weather patterns.

“The year 2024 started out with El Nino and is on track to be the hottest on record,” WMO Secretary General Celeste Saulo said.

“Even if a La Nina event does emerge, its short term cooling impact will be insufficient to counterbalance the warming effect of record heat-trapping greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

“Even in the absence of El Nino or La Nina conditions since May, we have witnessed an extraordinary series of extreme weather events, including record breaking rainfall

Emms Mooney has reach that delivers results.

and flooding which have unfortunately become the new norm in our changing climate.”

According to the Bureau of Meteorology Southern Hemisphere Monitoring from the end of December 2024, since November, atmospheric indicators such as the SOI and trade winds have strengthened towards La Nina with oceanic indicators responding ‘in recent weeks’.

“Some oceanic and atmospheric patterns in the Pacific have at times shown weak La Nina characteristics in 2024 but with little coupling,” a BoM spokesperson said.

“For an event to become established, both atmospheric and oceanic indices would need to be sustained at La Nina levels for at least three months.”

The Bureau believes that though there will be an incline into La Nina in January, the forecast is expected to remain neutral.

“The Bureau’s model forecasts that sea surface temperatures in the central tropical

Pacific will remain in the ENSO-neutral range throughout the forecast period to April 2015, despite briefly dipping below the La Nina threshold in January,” the BoM spokesperson said.

“This is consistent with four of the six other international climate models surveyed.”

The BoM said the Indian Ocean Dipole and Southern Annular Mode will remain neutral through to April 2025.

Over the coming three months between January and March the Bureau of Meteorology has predicted there is a 75 percent chance that the Central West and Hilltops will receive above average rainfall and is predicted to record up to 200mm.

They have also predicted there will be a 75 percent chance that maximum temperatures for the Central West and Hilltops will be above the average over the three months to March and minimum temperatures have a 90 percent chance of being warmer than normal.

Cowra 45 KENDAL STREET, COWRA NSW 2794 02 6342 3422

ELDERSEM.COM.AU

Central West and Hilltops Farmer, January, 2025 - Page 5

farmernews.com.au

Sheep market performers of ‘24 NSW DPIRD analysis shows rise in economic returns for 20 micron ewes, first cross ewes New gross margin calculations have shown that prime lamb production and replacement purchases emerged as the top-performing sheep enterprises of 2024, demonstrating resilience in a dynamic industry.

According to recent analysis from the NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (NSW DPIRD), economic returns for 20-micron ewe and first cross ewe enterprises - both joined with terminal rams - have increased by five percent from 2022.

Returns from the 20-micron ewe achieved a gross margin of $32.09 per Dry Sheep Equivalent (DSE), while the 1st Cross Ewe saw returns of $27.46 per DSE. NSW DPIRD Sheep Development Officer Geoff Cas-

burn said that stable slaughter lamb values and lower replacement ewe costs contributed to their gain, with 20-micron ewe enterprises claiming the top spot for 2024, thanks to the additional income generated from Merino wool.

“The second best result was self-replacing Dorper enterprises, which had a gross margin of $28.71 per DSE. “They also recorded the third-highest sheep sale income, alongside the lowest variable costs per DSE,” Mr Casburn said.

“This strong result is due to the absence of wool harvesting costs and low replacement expenses, enabling Dorper producers to avoid the volatility of wool prices and high labour

Looking ahead, producers should focus on enterprise flexibility and diversification in both meat and wool to maximise returns and protect themselves from falls in either market.

- GEOFF CASBURN, NSW DPIRD

costs.”

Sheep gross margin calculations covered three main cost categories: replacements, wool harvesting, and fodder.

Mr Casburn explained that these cost categories impact enterprises differently.

Wool-focused enterprises typically have larger harvesting costs, while meat-

focused enterprises incur higher replacement ewe and fodder costs.

“There is anecdotal evidence that a shortage of shearers and shed hands in 2024 has driven wool harvesting costs higher across many regions.

“While the gross margin analysis used award rates to calculate wool harvest-

ing costs, if these costs increased by 25 per cent, it would lead to a reduction in gross margins - from $26.08 down to $24.03 per DSE in the 18-micron ewe enterprise this year.

“Similarly, a 25 per cent increase in fodder costs would reduce returns from $27.39 to $25.16 per DSE for 1st Cross Ewes joined 100 percent to terminal rams,” Mr Casburn said.

“A combination of lower wool incomes, weaker mutton sale values, and an oversupply of ewe hoggets and wether weaners has put downward pressure on prices, resulting in reduced incomes for many sheep producers.”

“The self-replacing 18-micron wool-focused enterprise achieved $26.08

per DSE, which is below earnings for 2022, but still remains on par with meat-focused enterprises, demonstrating wool’s continued contribution to enterprise performance.”

Despite current market challenges, the outlook for sheep enterprises remains positive overall, with solid returns from prime lamb expected to continue.

This is likely to drive higher incomes within wool enterprises that are joining some or all of their flocks to terminal rams.

“Looking ahead, producers should focus on enterprise flexibility and diversification in both meat and wool to maximise returns and protect themselves from falls in either market,” Mr Casburn said.

Strong start to year’s sales at Cowra, Forbes

Jack Harper and Rory Brien from Allen Gray and Co at the Cowra Saleyards.

The first week of sales for 2025 has set the tone for livestock markets in Forbes and Cowra, with solid turnouts at both saleyards and mixed quality across offerings.

The Forbes Saleyard opened the year on January 7 with an impressive 37,300 head yarded, including 28,850 lambs.

Quality was fair but varied, with some excellent trade and heavyweight lines alongside plainer secondary types.

Trade weight lambs (20-24kg) sold between $148 and $212 per head.

Heavy lambs up to 26kg fetched $196 to $228, while extra heavy lambs ranged from $223 to $293 per head.

Carcase prices for the better lambs averaged 800c to 850c/kg, with secondary types trailing slightly lower.

Mutton numbers were dominated by Merinos, with mixed quality across the board.

Heavy sheep commanded 510c to 580c/kg cwt, while Merino ewes sold from $70 to $206 per head.

Crossbred ewes ranged from $55 to $170, and Dorper ewes reached up to $168 per head.

The Cowra Saleyard followed with its first sale of the year on January 8, offering 4,590 lambs.

Quality was notably good, with a yarding dominated by heavyweights, PHOTO: Dan Ryan along with a mix of trade and store lambs.

Craig Oliver, one half of the MCC Howard Oliver team, reflected on the market dynamics, “we would like the market to be dearer than what it is. Pre-Christmas, it was really silly dear—a lot of the processors fell short of lambs, and the market was off its head”.

Lightweight restocker lambs sold for $60 to $156 per head, while trade weights (20-24kg) fetched $170 to $218 per head, averaging 820c to 890c/kg cwt.

Heavyweight lambs over 24kg ranged from $215 to $266 per head, with averages between 850c and 890c/ kg cwt.

The sale also saw heavy hoggets reach $130 per head.

The mutton yarding at Cowra included 1,800 head of mixed quality.

Merino ewes sold between $55 and $128 per head, while crossbred ewes fetched $86 to $173. Most mutton traded at 420c to 470c/kg cwt.

Summing up the atmosphere, stock and station agents provided positive reflections.

Daniel Wright from Allen Gray and Co described it as “another day in paradise”.

The first week of sales for 2025 shows steady momentum in the livestock markets, with a mix of challenges and opportunities for buyers and sellers alike.

COWRA REGIONAL AL LIVESTOCK SELLING SELL CENTRE Prime lamb and Sheep Sale every Wednesday 11:30am.

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• Selling Agents • Allan Gray & Co • Normal C. Bellamy • JJ Dresser & Co • James P Keady • Elders – Cowra • Kevin Miller Whitty & Co • Landmark Cowra

Page 6 - Central West and Hilltops Farmer, January, 2025

farmernews.com.au

Adam Chudleigh and the team from MCC Chudleigh Dobell take bids for the first pen of Morrison lambs.

Sale-o at Forbes first cross ewe sale

Jayne Norrie from Cairn Hill Eugowra with Georgie, Zoe, Riley and Kate Harris.

Vendors, buyers and interested onlookers gathered at Forbes’ Central West Livestock Exchange on January 9 for the annual first cross ewe sale.

The yarding of 16,000 delivered the quality expected of

this sale and vendors from the regions gatehered on site or placed their bids through Auctions Plus.

Here are a few of the people we met out and about on the day.

John Agustin with young Leo.

Graeme Golden from Kegra Border Leicester Stud at Temora, Brian Frost and James Frost from Hillden Poll Dorsets at Bannister.

The crowd gathering for the opening cry of “sale-o” at the annual Forbes first cross ewe sale.

Jack Whitty with John and Sue Gibson, whose property lies between Grenfell and Young.

Garry Wallace (centre) has been enjoying a good season on his Condobolin property and was looking over the sale with Steve Grant and Bec Frew up from Victoria.

Emma, Ben and Peter Kearney from Cudal.

Rural land increases 5.4pc across region The value of rural land in the central west increased 5.4 per cent over the last financial year.

The NSW Valuer General has released land values for July 2024, revealing the total value of rural land in the central west region has had a moderate increase.

The region incorporates Coonamble, Dubbo Regional, Forbes, Gilgandra, Hilltops, Lachlan, Narromine, Parkes, Warren, Warrumbungle and Weddin local government areas.

The strongest growth in rural land values was in the Lachlan shire, where the total rural land value increased 19.1 per cent from a total

$2,892,716,340 to $3,445,020.

Warrumbungle shire saw 12.6 per cent growth from $2.433 billion to $2.738 billion.

Drivers of these markets are due to strong confidence in the rural sector, supported by demand from purchasers expanding their holdings for succession purposes or increasing their economies of scale, the Valuer General’s report states.

Closer to home Weddin 4.4 per cent growth in rural land value.

Forbes (total $2.158 billion), Parkes (total $1.680 billion) and Hilltops (total $7.315 billion) shires were all The Valuer General has released NSW property values for July 2024 and they reveal rural land in the central west had a 5.4 steady. per cent increase in value.

Central West and Hilltops Farmer, January, 2025 - Page 7

farmernews.com.au

Unlock your soil potential: test now

Grain Corp’s Parkes sub terminal received more than 260,000 tonnes of grain this harvest after (inset) the winter grain harvest got away to an early and good start before heavy rains in December.

PHOTO: Graincorp

Chickpeas on rise in 2024 cropping Harvest in at least some parts of our region exceeded expectations, with GrainCorp receiving more than 570,000 tonnes in the region.

Parkes sub terminal was the highest receival site in the southern part of NSW this harvest, with 260,000 tonnes received.

Graincorp regional operations manager for Southern NSW, Warwick Smith, said excellent quality wheat and barley made up the majority, with canola contributing about a fifth of the overall tonnes.

Other regions that exceeded receival expectations included Graincorp’s Temora and Wyalong areas.

“In the Temora region, our Quandialla site had its best ever season on record, taking in over 140,200 tonnes - with growers in the area saying they were pleased with the outcome of this harvest, with yields much better than expected after a drier spring and frost events occurring,” Mr Smith said.

“The team at Barellan were also very busy, with over 230,000 tonnes making its way through the gates and the site breaking its daily receival record.

“Our teams are now turning their focus to out loading the grain accumulated this harvest - a program of works that continues all year round to support both domestic and export markets.”

Harvest started early and well for the region, before heavy rains and storms in early December downgraded what did remain in the paddock - with greater impact further south.

On the back of early harvest results, the December crop report from the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences predicted national winter crop production to increase to 55.1 million tonnes in 2024–25, 17 per cent above the 10-year average.

CHICKPEA PRODUCTION UP ABARES had picked chickpeas as the big growth for the year, with production predicted to increase by 567 per cent to 1.1 million tonnes in 2024–25, a new record high.

The area planted to chickpeas had increased following the Indian government’s announcement of a tariff free period for Australian chickpea exports, which led to an increase in Australian chickpea export prices.

Overall, ABARES forecast winter crop production to increase to 19.1 million tonnes in 2024–25, increasing by 68 per cent to be the second highest production on record.

This was a 13 per cent upward revision from the September 2024 Australian Crop Report and is now 62 per cent above the 10-year average to 2023–24.

This improvement in production follows average to above average rainfall in northern New South Wales throughout spring and an upward revision to area planted to chickpeas.

Growing conditions for winter crops in 2024–25 have been mostly favourable within New South Wales. The central west and northern cropping re-

ARM ialists FARM cHINERY s

gions have benefitted from above average soil moisture levels and favourable rainfall throughout winter and spring.

Southern growing regions experienced a drier start to the season as well as minor impacts from frost events throughout September limiting yield potential.

However, timely rainfall throughout October and November have aided frost impacted crops in their recovery, arresting further yield declines and supporting grain fill.

The area planted to winter crops in New South Wales is estimated to have increased by 23 per cent to 6.8 million hectares in 2024–25, the second highest on record.

This is 24 per cent above the 10-year average to 2023–24 and represents a 6 per cent upward revision from the September 2024 Australian Crop Report.

Favourable seasonal conditions at the time of planting led to increases in area for winter crops, with many expanding into regions not normally sown to these crops, such as northwest New South Wales.

Overall, wheat production in New South Wales is expected to increase by 75 per cent in 2024–25, with the average state yield forecast to be 46 per cent above the 10-year average to 2023–24.

Similar production upsides are expected for barley and canola, with mostly favourable conditions pushing average state level yields 34 per cent and 20 per cent above the 10-year average respectively.

YLAD Living Soils uses a ground-breaking soil testing system, Soil Therapy, that can revolutionise your farming and identify the ‘weak’ link in your system.

Regularly taking soil tests can assist with informed decision making, implementing soil building practices such as applying Compost Mineral Blends, crop rotation, down the tube fertilisers, reduced tillage and cover cropping.

YLAD Living Soils soil testing system helps growers by enhancing their understanding of soil fertility and nutrition, unlocking the potential for increased yields, improved quality, and boosted profits.

With advanced testing techniques and comprehensive analysis, Soil Therapy provides accurate insights into soil composition and nutrient levels, enabling informed decision-making and optimised agricultural practices.

As well as the above, the Soil Therapy test includes analysis of the three pools of nutrients in your soils, Total, Exchangeable and Soluble.

This gives you the most comprehensive in-depth perspective as to what ‘locked up nutrients’ you have ‘in the bank’ and whether microbiology are cycling them to the soluble pool, where they can

be taken up by plant roots.

Results come back in an ‘easy to understand’ graphed up format with ‘ideal’ levels provided. Interpreting soil test results can be rather daunting and look just like a heap of numbers that are unrelated to the physical, chemical or biological aspects of the soil.

That is why Rhonda Daly, co-founder and owner of YLAD Living Soils has developed an in-depth understanding and format of how to interpret soil tests that ‘makes the page sing’ to the landowner.

Soil is generally the biggest asset of the farmer, it is paramount that there is an intimate knowledge of understanding how to link the physical, chemical and biological aspects to create a functioning profitable soil.

Rhonda Daly offers a FREE SERVICE to all farmers to guide them through their soil test results, deliver advice and create the most effective program to rejuvenate soils and plant health.

To secure a spot in 2025, either take a new soil test by clicking https://www.yladlivingsoils.com.au/soil-therapy or call the office to send you a soil test kit or send me your soil test results.

Soil Testing is the most cost effective tool to building a profitable, resilient soils.

PHOTO: YLAD

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Page 8 - Central West and Hilltops Farmer, January, 2025

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Workshops, season updates for the diary With the new year upon us, the Central West LLS will be hosting several events including: Salinity Technology and Management Workshop - Parkes February 11.

Are some areas of your pasture or crops not performing as expected?

Dryland salinity could be the culprit, particularly in the Central West region of NSW. Even without visible signs, hidden subsurface salinity may be impacting your yields.

Join the Central West LLS at a free workshop at Bushmans Motor Inn where Ned Skehan from Optisoil will demonstrate how technology can aid in early detection of salinity.

Andrew Wooldridge, a Salinity Technical Specialist, will lead a hands-on soil pit session focused on management strategies.

Topics include: - understanding the risks of salinity to your production - technology tools: electromagnetic mapping, gamma, yield mapping, NDVI, and imagery - practical strategies for managing and preventing salinity.

- Morning tea and lunch will be supplied. There will be a field trip to a local property afterwards.

Please bring a chair and water bottle. You will also need to wear boots and a hat. The event will take place from 8am to 3:30pm.

Register online at the Central West LLS website by Friday, February 7.

Natural Capital Accounting Eugowra Meeting Supply Chain Demands Discover how to work with nature to boost productivity. Learn about

nature accounting and Local Land Services natural capital support services.

The event will take place from 9:30 am - 1:30 pm on February 15 at the St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School hall.

Join the LLS to explore: natural capital, on-farm and offfarm benefits integrating natural capital in meeting supply chain needs environmental accounting - the process of designing, building, and certifying an Environmental Account valuing natural assets on farm.

There will be lots of time for questions and answers, so please bring your questions!

Morning tea and lunch will be provided.

Register online.

Soil Biology Workshop - Grenfell Join the Central West LLS for an engaging, hands-on workshop with Simon Mattsson from Soil Land Food!

The event will run from 8am to 2pm on February 26 at 20A Warraderry Street, Grenfell. Look for the LLS field day signs.

Simon, a mixed cropping farmer and soil biology expert, will lead this practical workshop designed to help you enhance your soil health.

Topics covered: - the importance of soil biology for your farm - understanding microbes and organisms in soil - identifying the biology in your soil - practical ways to improve soil biology, including biological products.

Workshop highlights: - field walk – observe and discuss soil health

DID YOU KNOW the Central West and Hilltops Farmer newspaper reaches over 20,000 READERS every month?

- soil pit exploration – gain handson experience with soil biology in action. Morning tea and lunch will be supplied.

Register online.

Efficient Farming Opportunities Workshop - Coonabarabran and Dubbo.

Join the LLS to explore what you can do now to become more efficient in your farming system, and hear from scientists, supply chain and sustainability experts, and AgTech specialists, on what to do now to farm efficiently and future-proof your farming business.

Topics that will be covered: Optimising soil’s water and nutrient use Techniques to leverage machine collected data for precision farming John Deeree|Hutcheon and Pearce Tools to accurately budget feed base and monitor land conditions Cibolab Tools and strategies to support low emission agriculture (Know your numbers) – On-Farm carbon advice – DPIRD Opportunities for biodiversity in farming systems –who buys them Nature Market and Offsets, DCCEEW Soil carbon farming opportunities and considerations; evidence-based science perspective – Select Carbon and LLS Integrating farm efficiency strategies in the supply chain – Rabo Bank There will be a panel discussion for questions and answers Morning tea and lunch will be provided. Register online.

The workshop will take place on March 11, from 9:30am to 3:30pm in Coonabarabran at RFS Castlereagh

Fire Control Centre, 111 Saleyards Road.

The workship will take place inn Dubbbo on March 12 from 9:30am to 3:30pm at the Savannah Function Centre, Taronga Western Plains Zoo. In the Central Tablelands region, events include: Blayney Pre Season Information and Lunch February 6, from 11am to 2pm at Blayney Shire Community Centre, Blayney.

Join the LLS for a free lunch and hear lots of information to help you plan for the season ahead: Monitoring soil moisture levels Using CliMate to check the past weather and how likely it will happen again Build a C3 feed wedge for Winter Hot tips for improving reproductive efficiency Preventing phalaris staggers To help them with catering, please register your attendance by clicking through to the registration form on the Local Land Services website.

Cumnock Pre Season Information and Lunch February 13, from 10:30am to 2pm at Cumnock Bowling Club.

Join the LLS for a free lunch and hear a great range of information to get you ready for the season ahead: - Monitoring soil moisture levels and using CliMate: Sarah Ireland - Canola establishment: NSW DPIRD Colin McMaster - Soil nitrogen strategies in cropping systems: Speaker TBC - Maximising livestock reproduction - more than just $/breeder: Richard Parkes

- Farm tech in confinement feeding areas: NSW DPIRD Hamish Dickson and/or Clare Bellfield - Preventing phalaris staggers: Local Land Services Vet To help with catering, please register your attendance via the Local Land Services website.

Greenethorpe Pre Season Cropping and Livestock Breakfast At February 20, from 7:30am to 11:30am at the Greenethorpe Soldiers Memorial Hall.

Join the LLS for a free breakfast and hear the latest information from a great range of speakers: - Cereal varieties: NSW DPIRD Peter Matthews - Canola establishment: NSW DPIRD - Colin McMaster - Iandra CSIRO Farming systems research update: CSIRO - Tony Swan - Future Herbicide Strategies:Speaker TBC (WeedSmart) - Farm Emissions Planning Groups: Local Land Services - Phil Cranney - Preventing Phalaris staggers: Local Land Services Vets Please register your attendance via the LLS website.

Pastures and Grazing NSW Autumn Pasture Update March 7 from 9:30am to 3pm at Cudal Bowling Club.

Learn about the latest research results from the NSW DPIRD Low Emissions Pastures and Acid Soil trials.

Hear the latest livestock research from experts.

Inspect the local Pasture Trial Network site after lunch.

Please register by clicking through to the registration form on the LLS website.

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ABC

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6.00 Morning Programs. 12.00 Seven Noon News. 1.00 MOVIE: Morning Show Mystery: Mortal Mishaps. (2018) 3.00 The Chase. 4.00 Seven News At 4. 5.00 The Chase Australia. 6.00 7News Local.

6.30 7News @ 6:30. 7.00 Home And Away. 7.30 Cricket. The Women’s Ashes.

Twenty20 International Series. Australia v England. Game 1. 10.30 Motorway Patrol. 11.00 Highway Cops. 11.30 Late Programs.

6.00 Today.

10.00 Australian Open Tennis Pre-Show.

11.00 Tennis. Australian Open. Day 9.

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11.00 Tennis. Australian Open.

Late night 9.

12.00 New Amsterdam. 1.00 Casualty 24/7. 2.00 Family Law. 3.00 US Presidential Inauguration. 5.00 Today.

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6.00 Morning Programs. 2.00 Great Australian Railway Journeys. 3.10 Destination Flavour China. 3.40 The Cook Up. 4.10 Britain By Beach. 5.05 Jeopardy! 5.30 Letters And Numbers.

6.00 Mastermind Australia. 6.30 SBS World News. 7.30 Hunt For Truth: Tasmanian Tiger. 8.30 Jimmy Carr’s I Literally Just Told You. 9.30 Inside Sydney Airport. 10.25 SBS World News Late. 10.55 Late Programs.

6.00 Morning Programs. 12.00 Better Homes. 1.00 DVine Living.

1.30 The Great Australian Doorstep. 2.00 Weekender. 2.30 The Yorkshire Vet. 3.30 Harry’s Practice. 4.00 Animal Rescue. 4.30 Better Homes. 5.30 Escape To The Country.

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6.00 Morning Programs. 2.00 Armchair Experts: NFL Edition.

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T20. Aust v England. 7.30 Outback Opal Hunters. 8.30 Adventure Gold Diggers. 9.30 Tougher In Alaska. 10.30 Late Programs.

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6.00 Morning Programs.

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11.00 Frasier. 11.30 Late Programs.

6.00 Morning Programs. 2.10 ER. 2.55 Doctor Who. 4.05 Speechless. 4.30 MythBusters. 5.20 Amazing Spaces. 6.10 A Wild Year On Earth. 7.00 My Family. 7.30 QI. 8.00 Would I Lie To You? 8.30 Penn & Teller: Fool Us. 9.15 Whose Line Is It Anyway? 9.35 MythBusters. 10.30 ER. 11.15 Not Going Out. 11.40 Late Programs.

6.00 Kids’ Programs. 4.25 Nella The Princess Knight.

5.20 Kangaroo Beach. 6.05 Kiya And The Kimoja Heroes. 6.45 Ben And Holly. 7.00 The Deep. 7.35 Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures. 7.50 The Inbestigators. 8.05 Dr Karl’s How Things Work. 8.35 Hard Quiz Kids. 9.05 The Wonderful World Of Puppies.

9.50 Doctor Who. 11.00 Late Programs.

6.00 News. 9.00 News. 12.00 News. 1.00 ABC News Day. 3.00 News. 4.00 ABC News Summer. 6.00 ABC News Hour. 7.00 National News. 7.30 7.30. 8.00 News Tonight. 8.30 Australian Story. 9.00 The World. 10.00 Nightly News.

10.30 7.30. 11.00 News. 11.30 The Art Of...

12.00 News. 12.30 Asia News Week. 1.00 News. 1.15 7.30. 1.45 Late Programs.

6.00 Danger Man. 7.00 Creflo. 7.30 Skippy. 8.00 TV Shop. 9.30 Newstyle Direct. 10.00 Australian Open Tennis Pre-Show. 11.00 Tennis. Australian Open. Day 9. 6.00 Tennis.

Australian Open. Night 9. 8.00 Death In Paradise. 9.10 Good Karma Hospital. 10.10 Agatha Raisin. 12.10 See No Evil. 1.05 Creflo. 1.35 Late Programs.

6.00 Morning Programs.

2.30 Transnational. 3.00 The Feed. 3.35 WorldWatch. 5.50 Alone.

7.05 Jeopardy! 7.35 8 Out Of 10 Cats. 8.30 Forged In Fire. 10.10 The Weekly Football Wrap. 10.40 Everyone Else Burns. 11.40 Am I Being Unreasonable? 12.50 Bad Education. 2.00 United Gangs Of America.

2.55 Late Programs.

MONDAY, JANUARY 20

6.00 Morning Programs. 12.00 News.

1.00 Australia’s Open. Final. 2.00 Fake Or Fortune? 3.00 Back Roads. 3.30 Grand Designs. 4.15 Long Lost Family. 5.00 A Bite To Eat With Alice. 5.30 Antiques Roadshow.

6.30 Hard Quiz. 7.00 ABC News. 7.30 7.30.

8.00 Escaping Utopia. 9.00 Hear Me Out, Australia Day. 9.35 Shakespeare: Rise Of A Genius. Final. 10.35 ABC Late News. 10.50 Lucy Worsley: Agatha Christie Mystery Queen. Final. 11.50 Late Programs.

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6.00 Sunrise. 9.00 The Morning Show.

12.00 Seven Noon News. 1.00 MOVIE: Morning Show Mysteries: Murder On The Menu. (2018) 3.00 The Chase. 4.00 Seven News At 4. 5.00 The Chase Australia. 6.00 7News Local. 6.30 7News @ 6:30. 7.00 Home And Away. 7.30 Cricket. Big Bash League. The Qualifier. 11.00 Big Bash League Post-Game. 11.30 Lockerbie.

Final. 12.35 Late Programs.

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Day 10. 4.00 Tennis. Australian Open.

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4.00 Believer’s Voice Of Victory. 4.30 GolfBarons. 5.00 Today Early News. 5.30 Today.

6.00 Morning Programs. 12.00 Farm To Fork. 12.30 Family Feud. 1.00 10 News First: Lunchtime. 2.00 Wheel Of Fortune.

2.30 Lingo. 3.30 10 News First: Afternoon.

4.00 Neighbours. 4.30 The Bold And The Beautiful. 5.00 10 News First. 6.00 Deal Or No Deal. 6.30 The Project. 7.30 I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! 9.00 The Ex-Wife. New. 10.00 10’s Late News.

10.25 The Project. 11.30 Late Programs.

6.00 Morning Programs. 2.00 Great Australian Railway Journeys. 3.00 The Weekly Football Wrap. 3.40 The Cook Up. 4.10 Britain By Beach. 5.05 Jeopardy! 5.30 Letters And Numbers.

6.00 Mastermind Australia. 6.30 SBS World News. 7.30 Who Do You Think You Are? 8.35 Stock Aitken Waterman: Legends Of Pop. 9.55 The Artist’s View.

10.25 SBS World News Late. 10.55 Beyond Signs. 11.55 Late Programs.

6.00 Morning Programs. 9.00 Animal Rescue. 9.30 NBC Today.

12.00 Better Homes. 1.00 Escape To The Country. 2.00 Creek To Coast. 2.30 My Greek Odyssey. 3.30 Harry’s Practice. 4.00 Animal Rescue. 4.30 Better Homes. 5.30 Escape To The Country. 6.30 Bargain Hunt. 7.30 Call The Midwife. 8.30 Inspector George Gently. 10.30 Air Crash Inv. 11.30 Late Programs.

6.00 Morning Programs.

9.00 America’s Game. 10.00 American Pickers. 11.00 Pawn Stars. 11.30 Cycling. Santos Tour Down Under. Men’s.

Stage 1. 4.30 Storage Wars. 5.00 American Resto. 5.30 American Pickers. 6.30 Pawn Stars. 7.00 Big Bash League Pre-Game. 7.30 Outback Truckers. 9.30 Kings Of Pain. 10.30 Ice Road Truckers. 11.30 Late Programs.

6.00 Flushed. 7.00 It’s Academic.

8.30 Get Arty. 9.00 Shopping.

10.00 TBA. 10.30 House Rules: High Stakes.

12.00 Big Brother. 1.35 My Kitchen Rules.

3.10 Around The World With Manu. 4.00 Glee.

5.00 Bondi Vet. 7.00 Judge Judy. 7.30 CSI. 8.30 CSI: Miami. 9.30 CSI: New York. 10.30 CSI: Cyber. 11.30 Bones. 1.30 Dollhouse. 2.30 The Resident.

6.00 Shopping. 8.00 Everyday Gourmet. 8.30 Jake And The Fatman. 9.30 Diagnosis Murder.

11.30 JAG. 1.30 ST: Voyager. 2.30 Jake And The Fatman. 3.30 Diagnosis Murder. 5.30 JAG. 7.30 NCIS. 9.25 NCIS: New Orleans.

11.15 Bull. 12.15 Shopping. 2.15 Diagnosis Murder. 4.05 JAG.

6.00 Morning Programs.

1.00 Rules Of Engagement.

1.30 King Of Queens. 2.00 TBA. 3.30 Rules Of Engagement. 4.00 Farm To Fork. 4.30 King Of Queens. 5.00 Becker. 5.30 Frasier.

6.30 Neighbours. 7.00 Friends. 8.00 Big Bang. 9.30 Two And A Half Men. 10.30 Rules Of Engagement. 11.00 Frasier. 11.30 Late Programs.

6.00 Morning Programs. 2.35 Ab Fab. 3.05 Doctor Who. 4.00 Would I Lie To You? 4.30 MythBusters. 5.20 George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces. 6.10 A Wild Year On Earth.

7.00 My Family. 7.30 QI. 8.00 Would I Lie To You? 8.30 Fisk. 9.30 Live At The Apollo. 10.15 ER. 11.00 Not Going Out. 11.30 Rage. 12.35 QI. 1.05 Speechless. 1.25 Late Programs.

6.00 Kids’ Programs. 3.50 Andy’s Safari Adventures.

4.25 Nella The Princess Knight. 5.20 Kangaroo Beach. 6.05 Kiya And The Kimoja Heroes. 6.45 Ben And Holly. 7.00 The Deep.

7.35 Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures. 7.50 The Inbestigators. 8.05 Operation Ouch! 8.35 Deadly Predators. 9.05 Secrets Of The Zoo. 9.50 Doctor Who. 10.40 Late Programs.

6.00 News. 9.00 News. 12.00 News. 1.00 ABC News Day. 3.00 News. 4.00 ABC News Summer. 6.00 ABC News Hour. 7.00 National News. 7.30 7.30. 8.00 News Tonight. 8.30 Australian Story. 9.00 The World. 10.00 Nightly News.

10.30 7.30. 11.00 News. 11.30 Hear Me Out, Australia Day. 12.00 News. 12.30 Running Dry. 1.00 News. 1.15 7.30. 1.45 Late Programs.

6.00 Morning Programs.

1.50 Antiques Roadshow.

2.20 MOVIE: Kind Hearts And Coronets.

(1949) 4.30 Escape To The Farm With Kate Humble. 5.30 Antiques Roadshow. 6.00 Tennis. Australian Open. Afternoon 10.

7.00 Antiques Roadshow. 7.30 TBA. 8.40 Shakespeare And Hathaway. 9.40 Agatha Christie’s Marple. 11.40 Late Programs.

6.00 Morning Programs.

2.50 Celebrity Mastermind.

3.55 BBC News At Ten. 4.25 ABC World News Tonight. 4.55 PBS News. 5.55 Alone.

7.05 Jeopardy! 7.35 8 Out Of 10 Cats. 8.30 The UnXplained Mysteries. 9.20 Leguizamo Does America. 11.10 Adam Looking For Eve. 1.00 Hamilton’s Pharmacopeia. 2.50 NHK World English News. 5.00 Al Jazeera.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 21

6.00 Morning Programs. 12.00 News. 1.00 Call The Midwife. 2.00 Fake Or Fortune?

3.00 Back Roads. 3.30 Grand Designs.

4.15 Long Lost Family. 5.00 A Bite To Eat With Alice. 5.30 Antiques Roadshow. 6.30 Hard Quiz. 7.00 ABC News. 7.30 7.30.

8.00 Dr Karl’s How Things Work. 8.30 Eat The Invaders. 9.05 Croc Watch With Steve Backshall. 9.50 Miriam Margolyes In New Zealand. Final. 10.50 ABC Late News.

11.10 Late Programs.

ABC

SEVEN

NINE

TEN

SBS

6.00 Sunrise. 9.00 The Morning Show.

12.00 Seven Noon News. 1.00 MOVIE: Morning Show Mysteries: A Murder In The Mind. (2019) 3.00 The Chase. 4.00 Seven News At 4. 5.00 The Chase Australia. 6.00 7News Local. 6.30 7News @ 6:30. 7.00 Home And Away. 7.30 Cricket. Big Bash League. The Knockout. 11.00 Big Bash League Post-Game. 11.30 Unbelievable Moments Caught On Camera. 12.30 Late Programs.

6.00 Today. 10.00 Australian Open Tennis Pre-Show. 11.00 Tennis. Australian Open.

Day 11. 4.00 Tennis. Australian Open.

Afternoon 11. 6.00 9News. 7.00 Tennis.

Australian Open. Night 11. 11.00 Tennis.

Australian Open. Late night 11. 12.00 New Amsterdam. 1.00 Hello SA. 1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. 2.30 Global Shop. 3.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. 4.00 Believer’s Voice Of Victory. 4.30 GolfBarons. 5.00 Today Early News. 5.30 Today.

6.00 Morning Programs. 12.00 Farm To Fork. 12.30 Family Feud. 1.00 10 News First: Lunchtime. 2.00 Wheel Of Fortune.

2.30 Lingo. 3.30 10 News First: Afternoon.

4.00 Neighbours. 4.30 The Bold And The Beautiful. 5.00 10 News First. 6.00 Deal Or No Deal. 6.30 The Project. 7.30 I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!

9.00 Elsbeth. New. 10.00 NCIS: Hawai’i.

Return. 10.55 10’s Late News. 11.20 The Project. 12.25 Late Programs.

6.00 Morning Programs. 2.00 Great Australian Railway Journeys. 3.10 Destination Flavour China. 3.40 The Cook Up. 4.10 Britain By Beach. 5.05 Jeopardy! 5.30 Letters And Numbers.

6.00 Mastermind Australia. 6.30 SBS World News. 7.35 The Real Crown: Inside The House Of Windsor. 8.30 Michael Palin: Into Iraq. 9.25 The Night Manager.

10.35 SBS World News Late. 11.05 Pagan Peak. 11.55 Late Programs.

6.00 Morning Programs. 9.00 Animal Rescue. 9.30 NBC Today.

12.00 Better Homes. 1.00 Escape To The Country. 2.00 TBA. 2.30 Air Crash Inv. 3.30 Harry’s Practice. 4.00 Animal Rescue. 4.30 Better Homes. 5.30 Escape To The Country.

6.30 Bargain Hunt. 7.30 Heartbeat. 8.45 The Inspector Lynley Mysteries. 10.45 Law & Order: UK. 11.45 Late Programs.

6.00 Morning Programs. 3.30 Full Custom Garage. 4.30 Storage Wars. 5.00 American Resto. 5.30 American Pickers. 6.30 Pawn Stars. 7.00 Big Bash League Pre-Game. 7.30 Highway Patrol. 8.30 The Force: BTL. 9.30 World’s Wildest Police Videos. 10.30 Surviving The Moment Of Impact. 11.30 Late Programs.

6.00 Flushed. 7.00 It’s Academic.

8.30 Get Arty. 9.00 Shopping.

10.00 TBA. 10.30 House Rules: High Stakes.

12.00 Big Brother. 1.30 My Kitchen Rules.

3.10 Around The World With Manu. 4.00 Glee.

5.00 Bondi Vet. 7.00 Judge Judy. 7.30 First Dates UK. 8.35 MOVIE: Passengers. (2016) 10.55 First Dates UK. 2.00 The Resident. 4.00 First Dates UK.

6.00 Shopping. 8.00 NBL Slam. 8.30 Jake And The Fatman. 9.30 Diagnosis Murder. 11.30 JAG. 1.30 ST: Voyager. 2.30 Jake And The Fatman. 3.30 Diagnosis Murder. 5.30 JAG. 7.30 NCIS. 9.25 NCIS: New Orleans.

11.15 Bull. 12.15 Shopping. 2.15 Diagnosis Murder. 4.05 JAG.

6.00 Morning Programs.

1.00 Rules Of Engagement.

1.30 King Of Queens. 2.00 TBA. 3.30 Rules Of Engagement. 4.00 Farm To Fork.

4.30 King Of Queens. 5.00 Becker. 5.30 Frasier. 6.30 Neighbours. 7.00 Friends.

8.00 Big Bang. 9.30 Frasier. 10.30 Rules Of Engagement. 11.00 Impractical Jokers.

11.30 Late Programs.

6.00 Morning Programs. 2.35 Doctor Who. 3.35 Speechless. 4.00 Would I Lie To You? 4.30 MythBusters. 5.20 Amazing Spaces. 6.10 A Wild Year On Earth. 7.00 My Family. 7.30 QI. 8.00 Would I Lie To You? 8.30 This Is Going To Hurt. 9.20 Aftertaste. 9.50 ER. 10.35 Not Going Out. 11.05 Rage. 12.05 Late Programs.

6.00 Kids’ Programs. 3.00 Play School: Let The Games Begin. 3.50 Andy’s Safari Adventures. 4.25 Nella The Princess Knight. 5.20 Kangaroo Beach. 6.05 Kiya And The Kimoja Heroes.

6.45 Ben And Holly. 7.00 The Deep. 7.35 Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures. 7.50 The Inbestigators. 8.05 Operation Ouch! 8.35 Doctor Who. 10.40 Late Programs.

6.00 News. 9.00 News. 12.00 News. 1.00 ABC News Day. 3.00 News. 4.00 ABC News Summer. 6.00 ABC News Hour. 7.00 National News. 7.30 7.30. 8.00 News Tonight. 8.30 Australian Story. 9.00 The World. 10.00 Nightly News.

10.30 Planet America. 11.00 News. 11.30 7.30. 12.00 News. 12.30 Sharks: Protecting A Predator. 1.00 News. 1.15 Late Programs.

6.00 Morning Programs. 2.00 Antiques Roadshow. 2.30 MOVIE: Seven Days To Noon. (1950) 4.30 Escape To The Farm With Kate Humble. 5.30 Antiques Roadshow. 6.00 Tennis. Australian Open. Afternoon 11. 7.00 Antiques Roadshow. 7.30 To The Manor Born. 8.40 Midsomer Murders. 10.40 Queens Of Mystery. 12.35 Late Programs.

6.00 Morning Programs.

2.20 Unknown Amazon.

3.20 The Weekly Football Wrap. 3.50 WorldWatch. 5.50 Alone. 7.05 Jeopardy!

7.35 8 Out Of 10 Cats. 8.30 1982: The Greatest Geek Year Ever. 9.15 MOVIE: Attack Force Z. (1981) 11.00 MOVIE: Son Of A Gun. (2014) 12.45 Letterkenny. 2.10 Late Programs.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 22

6.00 Morning Programs. 11.00 Antiques Roadshow. 12.00 ABC News At Noon. 1.00 Changing Ends. 2.00 Fake Or Fortune?

3.00 Back Roads. 3.30 Grand Designs.

4.15 Long Lost Family. 5.00 A Bite To Eat With Alice. 5.30 Antiques Roadshow. 6.30 Hard Quiz. 7.00 ABC News. 7.30 7.30.

8.00 Spicks And Specks. 8.30 Live At The Malthouse. 9.40 Planet America. Return.

10.10 Utopia. 11.05 ABC Late News. 11.20 Aftertaste. 11.50 Late Programs.

ABC

SEVEN

NINE

TEN

SBS

6.00 Morning Programs. 12.00 Seven Noon News. 1.00 MOVIE: Morning Show Mysteries: Countdown To Murder. (2019) 3.00 The Chase. 4.00 Seven News At 4.

5.00 The Chase Australia. 6.00 7News Local. 6.30 7News @ 6:30. 7.00 Home And Away. 7.30 Cricket. The Women’s Ashes. Twenty20 International Series.

Australia v England. Game 2. 10.30 Seven’s Cricket: The Spin. 11.15 Pam & Tommy. 12.15 Late Programs.

6.00 Today. 9.00 Today Extra. 10.30 Australian Open Tennis Pre-Show. 11.30 Tennis. Australian Open. Day 12. 3.30 Tennis. Australian Open. Afternoon 12. 4.30 Tipping Point. 5.00 Tipping Point Australia.

6.00 9News. 7.00 Tennis. Australian Open.

Night 12. 11.00 Tennis. Australian Open.

Late night 12. 12.00 New Amsterdam.

1.00 First On Scene. 1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. 2.30 Global Shop. 3.00 Late Programs.

6.00 Morning Programs. 12.00 Farm To Fork. 12.30 Family Feud. 1.00 10 News First: Lunchtime. 2.00 Wheel Of Fortune.

2.30 Lingo. 3.30 10 News First: Afternoon.

4.00 Neighbours. 4.30 The Bold And The Beautiful. 5.00 10 News First. 6.00 Deal Or No Deal. 6.30 The Project. 7.30 I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! 9.00 The Graham Norton Show. 10.10 10’s Late News. 10.35 The Project. 11.35 Late Programs.

6.00 Morning Programs. 2.00 Great Australian Railway Journeys. 3.10 Destination Flavour China. 3.40 The Cook Up. 4.10 Britain By Beach. Final. 5.05 Jeopardy! 5.30 Letters And Numbers.

6.00 Mastermind Australia. 6.30 SBS World News. 7.35 Outback Adventures In Western Australia. 8.30 Silk Road From Above. 9.30 The Darkness. 10.25 SBS World News Late. 10.55 Divided We Stand. New. 11.50 Late Programs.

6.00 Morning Programs. 9.00 Animal Rescue. 9.30 NBC Today.

12.00 Better Homes. 1.00 Escape To The Country. 2.00 South Aussie With Cosi. 2.30 Auction Squad. 3.30 Harry’s Practice. 4.00 Animal Rescue. 4.30 Better Homes. 5.30 Escape To The Country. 6.30 Bargain Hunt.

7.30 Father Brown. 8.30 Murdoch Mysteries.

11.30 Late Programs.

6.00 Morning Programs. 4.00 Billy The Exterminator. 4.30 Storage Wars. 5.00 American Resto. 5.30 American Pickers. 6.30 Pawn Stars. 7.00 Cricket. The Women’s Ashes. Twenty20 International Series. Australia v England.

Game 2. 7.30 Pawn Stars Do America. 8.30 MOVIE: Spider-Man: Homecoming. (2017) 11.15 Late Programs.

6.00 Flushed. 7.00 It’s Academic.

8.30 Get Arty. 9.00 Shopping.

10.00 TBA. 10.30 House Rules: High Stakes.

12.00 Big Brother. 1.30 My Kitchen Rules.

3.00 Around The World With Manu. 4.00 Glee.

5.00 Bondi Vet. 7.00 Judge Judy. 7.30 Kitchen Nightmares. 8.30 Kitchen Nightmares USA. 9.30 Ramsay’s 24 Hours To Hell And Back.

10.30 First Dates UK. 12.40 Late Programs.

6.00 Shopping. 8.00 Everyday Gourmet. 8.30 Jake And The Fatman. 9.30 Diagnosis Murder.

11.30 JAG. 1.30 ST: Voyager. 2.30 Jake And The Fatman. 3.30 Diagnosis Murder. 5.30 JAG. 7.30 NCIS. 9.25 NCIS: New Orleans.

11.15 Bull. 12.15 Shopping. 2.15 Diagnosis Murder. 4.05 JAG.

6.00 Morning Programs.

1.00 Rules Of Engagement.

1.30 King Of Queens. 2.00 TBA. 3.30 Rules Of Engagement. 4.00 Farm To Fork.

4.30 King Of Queens. 5.00 Becker. 5.30 Frasier. 6.30 Neighbours. 7.00 Friends.

8.00 Big Bang. 9.30 Frasier. 10.30 Rules Of Engagement. 11.00 Impractical Jokers.

11.30 Late Programs.

6.00 Morning Programs. 2.00 ER. 2.45 Doctor Who. 3.35 Speechless. 4.00 Would I Lie To You? 4.30 MythBusters. 5.20 Amazing Spaces. 6.10 A Wild Year On Earth.

Final. 7.00 My Family. 7.30 QI. 8.00 Would I Lie To You? 8.30 Melbourne Comedy Festival Allstars Supershow. 9.35 Gruen. 10.10 Late Programs.

6.00 Kids’ Programs. 3.50 Andy’s Safari Adventures.

4.25 Nella The Princess Knight. 5.20 Kangaroo Beach. 6.05 Kiya And The Kimoja Heroes. 6.45 Ben And Holly. 7.00 The Deep.

7.35 Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures. 7.50 The Inbestigators. 8.05 Operation Ouch! 8.35 Secrets Of The Zoo. 9.20 72 Cutest Animals.

9.45 Doctor Who. 10.45 Late Programs.

6.00 News. 9.00 News. 12.00 News. 1.00 ABC News Day. 3.00 News. 4.00 ABC News Summer. 6.00 ABC News Hour. 7.00 National News. 7.30 7.30. 8.00 News Tonight. 8.30 Australian Story. 9.00 The World. 10.00 Nightly News.

10.30 7.30. 11.00 News. 11.30 Compass.

12.00 News. 12.30 Kitchen Cabinet. 1.00 News. 1.15 7.30. 1.45 Late Programs.

6.00 Morning Programs.

12.55 The Young And The Restless. 1.50 To The Manor Born. 3.10 Antiques Roadshow. 3.40 MOVIE: The Loves Of Joanna Godden. (1947) 5.30 Escape To The Farm With Kate Humble. 6.30 Antiques Roadshow. 7.30 Keeping Up Appearances.

8.40 Poirot. 10.40 Dalgliesh. 11.40 Late Programs.

6.00 Morning Programs.

2.20 Overlooked. Final.

2.50 Insight. 3.50 BBC News At Ten. 4.20 ABC World News Tonight. 4.50 PBS News.

5.50 Alone. 7.05 Jeopardy! 7.35 8 Out Of 10 Cats. 8.30 The Curse Of Oak Island. 10.10 Homicide. 12.55 MOVIE: All The Beauty And The Bloodshed. (2022) 3.10 NHK World English News. 5.00 Al Jazeera.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 23

6.00 Morning Programs. 11.00 Antiques Roadshow. 12.00 ABC News At Noon. 1.00 Kumi’s Japan. 2.00 Fake Or Fortune? 3.00 Back Roads. 3.30 Grand Designs. 4.15 Long Lost Family. 5.00 A Bite To Eat With Alice. 5.30 Antiques Roadshow. 6.30 Hard Quiz. 7.00 ABC News. 7.30 7.30. 8.00 Back Roads. 8.30 Long Lost Family. 9.20 Grand Designs. 10.10 Dr Karl’s How Things Work.

10.40 ABC Late News. 11.00 Escaping Utopia. 12.00 Late Programs.

Page 12 - THE POST, Thursday, January 16, 2025

parkeschampionpost.com.au

Easy COME Easy GO 8-12 JANUARY 2025

Charlie Gaylard has us ‘all shook up’

By MADELINE BLACKSTONE IF you haven’t heard the name Charlie Gaylard, where have you been for the last 12 months?

This young and upcoming Elvis star has everyone ‘all shook up’ with hearts wrapped around his finger.

Charlie had his first taste of the Parkes Elvis Festival last year when the festival’s 2016 Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist invited him to join him on stage.

Jack Gatto found the young talent from Colac in Victoria online as Charlie started posting videos of himself singing.

“I started posting videos of myself in my shed with a little microphone and a karaoke speaker, and then it got the attention of Jack Gatto, who’s probably one of Australia’s best ETA’s, if not the best,” Charlie said.

Charlie remembers a lot of suspense leading up to that moment which changed his life.

“It felt like a million years before Saturday came around and I had to stay low, I couldn’t perform any-

where as I had to be kept a secret.”

When Charlie stepped onto the main stage that Saturday night he was expecting a couple of hundred of people, not seven and a half thousand.

Before this performance the talented performer had never sung on a big stage before and had only performed on a cruise.

“It still doesn’t feel real even when I think back to it now. It feels like this is my first time in Parkes and everything I did last year never happened.”

After his unforgettable performance in Cooke Park Charlie’s life has become “pretty hectic”.

His performance on the main stage had over 1.5 million views on Facebook, and after the Parkes Elvis Festival he didn’t do a single show for five months, but in that time he booked a cruise with people including Marcia Hines and Human Nature and was being booked with some of the world’s best Elvis Tribute Artists despite only doing two shows in his career.

“It was pretty surreal but the

people I have been able to meet in this time and the connections I’ve been able to make is not very common so it’s an honour.”

Charlie Gaylard didn’t expect his last 12 months to look like they have saying it has been a big juggle.

“I was in Year 10 last year and I wasn’t expecting to blow up so imagine what the school thought.

They have been really good, they offered me catch-up lessons and they became very flexible so that was great of them.

“The last 12 months have just been nonstop and I haven’t really had a chance to just chill out and reflect, it keeps going so it’s been a pretty crazy ride so far.”

Like everyone who attends the Elvis Festival, Charlie watched the Baz Lurman film Elvis starring Austin Butler which sparked his interest in Elvis Presley.

“I slowly started learning some of his songs and tried a dance move or two and started posting videos of myself singing in my shed.”

At this year’s festival Charlie performed a solo show on the Memphis Satellite Stage on Friday, January 10 which was also his 16th birthday and was treated to a ‘happy birthday’ sung by the crowd.

As Charlie looks to his bright future, his one goal is to eventually go to America.

“To be known in the US and even the UK, that’s a big thing I want to accomplish because Elvis is a lot bigger over there, they’re Elvis mad.

“When I turn 18 I’d like to do the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Competition and then go over to Memphis and compete over there,” Charlie added.

At the moment Charlie has his focus on building his connections and getting to know everyone in the industry, and has his sights set on coming back to the Parkes Elvis Festival in 2026.

Reflecting on this year’s festival Charlie said “it’s been pretty crazy to be back and to see all of these people again but it’s really cool and it’s such an honour.”

Charlie Gaylard performed on the Memphis Satellite Stage on his 16th birthday at this year’s Parkes Elvis Festival.

From Parkes to Memphis

By MADELINE BLACKSTONE

Parkes women Michelle Roberts (left) and hostess Mavis Moon (right) welcomed their guests Maddy Oostergo and her mum Alice from Cairns to this year’s Elvis Festival.

Donning those dancing shoes for festival fun THE first time Maddy Oostergo from Cairns attended the Parkes Elvis Festival she was part of a group of 10-15 young people who helped establish the rock ‘n’ roll dance competitions as a permanent fixture in the festival program. That was 15 years ago.

Like most, the now 29-yearold caught the festival fever and she’s been coming back almost every year since with mum Alice.

The pair has only missed two festivals since 2010.

Having been rock ‘n’ rolling since she was eight years old, Maddy obviously comes for the dancing.

But she and mum - who’s a big Elvis fan - love seeing the feature artists and the street parade, and catching up with friends they’ve made over the years at the festival.

Maddy would love to see the rock ‘n’ roll dancing at the festival reinvigorated and rise to a new level.

“I dance where I can now, I’m not as involved as I used to be,” Maddy said.

“But in general I would love to see more adults and kids competing, it would be nice to see more competition where they showcase their skills and raise the bar.

“They’re capable of it. Elvis is rock ‘n’ roll.”

Alice said when Maddy travelled down in their early years of the festival to compete, they were working.

“They had 12 performances over the five days that involved showcases, workshops and busking,” she said.

Thanks to Parkes woman Michelle Roberts, who’s been their connection when they

came to dance, they’ve been able to stay in town during the festival with hostess Mavis Moon for the last three years.

Almost at the sweet age of 92 Mavis attends the festival every year.

“I love the Gospel Service,” she said.

“I’m an Elvis fan, I love Elvis. I’ve seen all his movies.”

When she was in the audience at one of the Feature Concert shows in 2023, just weeks out from her 90th birthday on January 28, headline acts Victor Trevino Jr and Dean Z sang her happy birthday.

She even posed for a photo with them at the end of the show.

“It really was the highlight,” Mavis said.

BEFORE the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Competition was officially endorsed by the estate of Elvis Presley, Elvis Presley Enterprises, the Parkes Elvis Festival Tribute Artist Competition was held on the stage in Cooke Park.

If you were out and about during the Festival, you could catch some Parkes Elvis Festival Elvis Tribute Artist winners busking in front of Sew and Go. Royden Donohue from Nyngan has loved Elvis his whole life and was the Parkes Elvis Tribute Artist winner for 2009.

“Mum and dad always played Elvis at home so I grew up with him and now my kids have to put up listening to Elvis,” Royden said.

Royden has been singing since he was 14 years old and when he’s not performing Elvis’ greatest hits you can catch him performing and writing his own music.

Royden Donohue was busking at this year’s Parkes Elvis Festival in front of Sew and Go. In 2009 Royden entered the Parkes Elvis Festival Tribute Artist Contest and won which began his journey to Memphis.

After his success in Parkes he won the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist contest at the Gold Coast and earnt himself a spot in the World Elvis Competition in Memphis, America.

“That was a pretty awe-

ABOVE AND RIGHT: Some amazing singers competed in this year’s McDonalds Busking Competition.

some experience,” Royden recalled when talking to The Champion Post.

“There were 33 other Elvis Tribute Artists from around the world and despite not making the finals, I went really well.”

Royden has been coming to the Parkes Elvis Festival for years now and won the busking competition seven years ago.

THE POST, Thursday, January 16, 2025 - Page 13

parkeschampionpost.com.au

Easy COME Easy GO 8-12 JANUARY 2025

All shook up on the Elvis Express They shake, rattle and roll all the way from Sydney’s Central Station each year, and the arrival of the Elvis Express is much anticipated.

Visitors from as far as South Australia, Queensland and Victoria boarded the Elvis Express on Thursday morning and arrived at the Parkes Station at 3pm Thursday afternoon.

Hundreds of festival goers who were already at the Parkes Elvis Festival were seen heading down to the Parkes Station to welcome those aboard the Elvis Express.

Scuba gear, sailors outfits and of course jumpsuits were a common theme at this year’s Elvis Express.

Parkes Dance Co dancers had the energy high performing their rock an roll dances April Weeks and Emily Briggs from Canberra arrived getting fans all ready to party Diana, Jenny, Judy, Di, Jane, Lyn and Suzan were some of the many Parkes Elvis Festival fans who on the Elvis Express to experience their first Parkes through the festival. arrived in the Elvis Express.

PHOTOS: Madeline Blackstock Elvis Festival.

Janet, James, Isla, Riley, Lewis, Jordan and Ivey welcomed visitors off the Elvis Express.

Pina Fallone, Joy Clarke and Alex Borg. Pina and Alex are from Melbourne and Pina has been attending the festival for 12 years.

Leanne Graham from Melbourne, Gail Goulding from Albion Park, Jennifer Smith from Melbourne and Deborah Petreski from Wollongong are long-time Festival fans.

Greg Williamson from Tenterfield and Anthony Hassett from Sydney have been coming to Parkes for 13 years.

Jenny Dollin, Leigh Reeves and Di Prestwidge. Leigh shares the same birthday as Elvis so Di and herself decided to make the trip to Parkes for their first Parkes Elvis Festival to mark the occasion.

Christine Thomas from Albion Officer Steve Interlandi from Park and Sue Dekker from Figtree. Melbourne.

Tracey Jones from Alexandra Headland in Queensland, and all of Wollongong Lisa Jones, Angela Hawker, Allira Hawker, Joanne King and Michelle Jones, and all here for their first festival.

From Adelaide, Shirley Farley, David and Zonda Weckert, Colleen Delaney, Ellen McCollell and Barry Weckert. All together the group has been coming to the Parkes Elvis Festival for many years.

These Sydney siders here for their first festival were spotted hopping off the Elvis Express - Victoria Cranch, Paula Arnold, Florence Derrien, Craig Dent, David Arnold and Phil Cranch.

PHOTOS: Christine Little

Deanna Stern and Suzy Gellert were excited for their first Elvis Festival.

Ready for duty at their third Parkes Elvis Festival were Anna Solin and Fernando Interlandi.

Page 14 - THE POST, Thursday, January 16, 2025

parkeschampionpost.com.au

Easy COME Easy GO 8-12 JANUARY 2025

Rocking and strolling in the street parade The Parkes Elvis Festival Street Parade is always a stunner and 2025 delivered, Saturday morning featuring a range of floats, cars and characters colourful and quirky.

While the Easy Come Easy Go theme was a tricky one for the 32nd festival, we were thrilled to see some seathemed floats and walkers in the form of sailors, divers, boats and even a clown fish from the reef.

Of course, many Elvii, Priscillas, rock ‘n roll dancers and more always make an appearance, and it wouldn’t be the iconic parade it is without all their incredible efforts.

THE POST, Thursday, January 16, 2025 - Page 15

parkeschampionpost.com.au

Easy COME Easy GO 8-12 JANUARY 2025

Page 16 - THE POST, Thursday, January 16, 2025

parkeschampionpost.com.au

Easy COME Easy GO 8-12 JANUARY 2025

A groovin’ week celebrating Elvis THE annual Elvis rugby match was held on the Friday during the Parkes Elvis Festival at Pioneer Oval.

As an unofficial event, it’s not part of the program but it continues to draw-in the crowds of locals and festival goers just wanting to witness, perhaps something they’ve never seen before.

We have also captured some amazing photos from around the racetrack at the Elvis Trots.

All the action from the 2025 Elvis rugby match on January 10 at Pioneer Oval.

Jason Lowe looking stylish as always at the Elvis rugby match. PHOTOS: Jenny Kingham

Steve, Liz and Chris Behrendorff from Warragul in Victoria were spotted at Elvis Trots last Wednesday.

ETA Damien Mullin with Mayada Barake before taking the stage at the Elvis Trots.

PHOTO: Jenny Kingham

All the action from the 2025 Elvis rugby match on January 10 at Pioneer Oval.

Parkes Elvii Raiden Choyce, Tory Moon and Toby Tanks at Elvis at the Trots at the Parkes Showground.

PHOTOS: Jenny Kingham

Evaleigh, Aubrie and Spencer Bateson with Daisy, Marley and Ruben Taylor.

All the action from the 2025 Elvis rugby match on January 10 at Pioneer Oval.

THE POST, Thursday, January 16, 2025 - Page 17

parkeschampionpost.com.au

GENERAL KNOWLEDGE CROSSWORD 2

3

4

5

E T E N T H F T N I H O L N D C G B I O A E I O P F A M E O E R O D E N

6

7 8 9 10 11

16

17

19

18

Find the following words in the grid. They may be read in any direction, even diagonally.

Some letters are used more than once.

21

Boon Cafe Eight End Fame

20

22 23

6 To have become limp

and drooping, is to have done what (6) is to have done what (8) 12 What are areas of land on 2 Which Tuesday is which cattle are hand-fed (8) Pancake Day (6) 13 Name a cake topping of 3 When one goes to bed, nuts, sugar, spices etc (8) one is doing what (8) 15 Who used wings made of 4 Which prefix means “against” wax and feathers, and flew or “opposed to” (4) too close to the sun which 5 What is Australian English, melted his wings and he humorously regarded (coll) (6) drowned in the Aegean (6) Letters have a number value

space, time money, etc (6) bearer known as (6)

1 KERF (a) A fair in the Low Countries (b) A silk cloth made in Ghana (c) The groove made by a saw 2 PHENOLOGY (a) The study of organisms as affected by climate (b) The practice of assessing a person’s character by the shape of the skull (c) The science of language

20 What is a call used in hailing,

especially on ships (4)

BIYWORD

278

SOLUTIONS

268

Solve the crossword.

Each answer has four letters.

D

W A G O N

GS

S

E

L

E

S

P

L

BIYWORD

WHICH WORDS: 1 (c) The groove made by a saw, 2 (a) The study of organisms as affected by climate

all used in hailing, especially on

3 7 2 4 5 8 6 1 9

SUDOKU

4 5 9 7 6 1 8 2 3

8 9 3 6 2 5 7 4 1

6 2 7 1 8 4 9 3 5

5 4 1 3 9 7 2 8 6

2 3 8 9 1 6 5 7 4

9 1 4 5 7 2 3 6 8

7 6 5 8 4 3 1 9 2

© Puzzles supplied by AUSPAC MEDIA

A

7

4

B

6

3

B

5

2

A

1

DOWN 1 Shade of blue 2 Roll up 3 Fair attraction 4 Musical composition

B

ACROSS 1 Retro hairdo 5 Wisecrack 6 Language of Pakistan 7 Pub pints

092o008

8 7 5 9 6 9 3 1 2 7 5 A:20, F:24, H:12, K:3, L:16, O:4, W:8 3 5 8 4 6 3 A F H K L O W 2 3 1 20 24 12 3 16 4 8 5 3 6 4

QUICK THINK

R

1

268

1 8 6 2 3 9 4 5 7

4

A D G R A D L S A E L S B E N S B E P W B E R Y

Q U A S A R A S W U H E I N S T E I N E S P R I T T R L N O I N I T I A T E C L O V E R N E H E I N F I E L D S E N E T D I A L O G U E E R C E D E N G U E B A S E B A L L S U R W H O L I V E S R U N A B O U T G E S Y Y S A N D A L

12

© Auspac Media - meq0278

SUDOKU

CLUES: Animal: ... Bear (5) Cart (5) Cavalry sword (5) Cheap wine: red ... (Coll.) (3) Energy Efficiency Ratio (3) September (abb) (3) Sundries (7) Talks incoherently (7) Wet paper pellet (3) Wood nymph (5)

Solution No. 968 CROSSWORD

O

Y

F-O W×K F-H H÷O F-W A-L O+O

Build it yourself using the clues and each of the twenty-four letters once only to form ten words: five across and five down. A key word (bold clue) builds on the letter set in the grid.

S

A F H K L O W

008

MINI WORD FIND

Letters A to Z have a number value. Some are shown in the right-hand cells. Create remaining values using clues in centre cells.

D R

E-QUATIONS

Rode Tenth

WHICH WORDS

17 What is a standard-

E-QUATIONS 7 Some values are in the right hand cells.

Create remaining values using clues in centre cells.

Load Name Need Nice Pod

16 Which term describes extra

E

DOWN 1 To have allayed or satisfied,

Flip Font Gear Hint Hobo

QUICK THINK ACROSS: 1 Afro, 5 Quip, 6 Urdu, 7 Ales.

DOWN: 1 Aqua, 2 Furl, © 3 Ride, 4 Opus.

15

13

E

14

12

E-QUATIONS A:20, F:24, H:12, K:3, L:16, O:4, W:8

electromagnetic radiation (6) 7 Who formulated the theory of relativity, Albert ... (8) 8 Which term describes lively intelligence (6) 9 To begin, is to do what (8) 10 Name a herb of the trifolium genus (6) 11 Which parts of the cricket ground are nearest the wickets (8) 14 What is a discussion between two or more persons (8) 18 Name an infectious, eruptive fever of warm climates (6) 19 Name a popular game played in the USA (8) 21 What are oval drupes more commonly known as (6) 22 Which small car is used to make short trips (8) 23 Name an open item of footwear (6)

1

E T E N T H F T N I H O L N D C G B I O A E I O P F A M E O E R O D E N

ACROSS 1 Name a source of

MINI WORD FIND 268

968

Page 18 - THE POST, Thursday, January 16, 2025

parkeschampionpost.com.au

Ladies slip on blue bowls shoes PARKES WOMEN’S BOWLING CLUB

By LEA ORR

GIRLS! Girls! Girls! Bowls resumed this week, and only 11 shook-off the Elvis blues to get back among the hard-headed women on the green!

Mark was our Ground Control rep, in a world of his own, mowing and rolling the top green.

We’re stuck on you and your co-

workers!

The renovated main green is looking tops!

10 o’clock tolled – it was now or never!

On Rink 9, there was a little less conversation as the score between Carol/Marja versus Rhona/Merilyn/ Sue W remained close.

On the 14th end, Team Marja got lucky with a 6, but as they say, easy come, easy go, and those devils in disguise, Team Sue, finished

with fever in their game to take the treasure, 21–19.

On Rink 11, Lorraine/Janice/ Maureen rocked out in their blue bowls shoes to take on Ann/Elaine/ Lea in a triples game.

Team Maureen spelt trouble from the start.

Team Lea feeling like they were in the ghetto as the score climbed to 16–1 down at the halfway point.

With amazing grace, they scored on the following ends, 19–9 seemed

like a happy ending!

Merilyn tried to win the jackpot treasure for her team, but returned to her little sisters empty handed.

Jackpot rose to $60!

Our sincere condolences to Kay Craft on the loss of her husband, Mick. Our thoughts go to all the family.

And as the trips and falls continue, healing wishes to some of our girls!

During the next couple of weeks,

get yourself a partner ready to put in your nomination for the Club Major Pairs, opening on January 28.

So if you’re lonesome tonight, leave that hound dog at home and come and join us for a game of bowls at the best club in town! Visitors and newcomers always welcome.

To play next Tuesday, January 21, call the club 6862 1446, between 9–9.30am, with play at 10am.

All the action at the 2025 Parkes Elvis Festival OUR photographers were quite busy at the 2025 Parkes Elvis Festival and get some great photos at the Parkes Elvis Trots.

More photos can be found can be found on page 16.

The crowd loved Damien Mullin.

PHOTOS: Jenny Kingham

Isabella Hughes enjoyed the Elvis Trots last Wednesday.

RIGHT:Les Peters (Parkes Harness Racing Club treasurer), Damien Mullen and visitor to Parkes and winning ticket holder for $1000 voucher Jan Anderson.

BY PHONE

BY EMAIL

02 6342 1044

classifieds@ parkeschampionpost.com.au

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FUNERAL NOTICES

CRAFT, Michael Shannon Late of Danilenko Street, Parkes who passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family on Thursday January 9, 2025 at the age of 77 years.

Dearly loved husband of Kay. Much loved father & father-in-law of Catherine & Christopher and Paul & Vanessa.

Cherished Granddad to Emily, Sophie, Ashton, Harvey, Hamish and Louis.

‘Resting Peacefully’ The cortege is appointed to leave the Holy Family Catholic Church, Parkes after a Requiem Mass commencing at 10am, on Monday, January 20, 2025 for interment in the lawn portion of the Parkes Cemetery.

Central West

FUNERALS Parkes

(02) 6862 2233

Forbes

(02) 6852 2154

FUNERAL NOTICES

LOGAN, Kerry Margaret

‘Fondly known as Meg’ Late of Downes Crescent, Parkes, who passed away peacefully on Friday January 3, 2025, at the age of 67 years.

Dearly loved mother of Scott and Ben. Cherished nan of Trae, Brendan, Baillie and Jordyn.

Cherished nan nan of Brady and Kai. Loving sister, aunt and friend too many.

‘Resting Peacefully’ A service to celebrate Kerry’s life, will be held at The Chapel of Central West Funerals, Parkes, commencing at 10.00am on Saturday 18th January, 2025 followed by a private cremation at the Central West Crematorium.

Central West

FUNERALS Parkes

Forbes

SELLING A CAR

THE POST, Thursday, January 16, 2025 - Page 19

parkeschampionpost.com.au

Mark shows he’s all class in titles PARKES BOWLING AND SPORTS CLUB

By MARTY TIGHE Championship matches The new year ushered in the first of the few remaining Major Singles matches when Dave Reilly put his best bowls forward against the formidable Mark Fitzalan.

Mark showed his intentions early in the match when he led by 6 shots to zip after 5 ends.

Dave found his range to win the next 3 ends to tie the scores at 6 shots each after 8 ends.

Mark then won the next 3 ends, followed by Dave winning the following 3 ends, to lead Mark by 11 shots to 10.

Dave also led by 13 shots to 12 after 16 ends.

In a tense high quality match, Mark showed his class, consistently drawing his shot bowls when they mattered, to reach the winning score of 25 shots, ahead of a very gallant Dave Reilly, who was eventually outbowled on the day.

Mark advanced to the next round after a hard-fought victory by 25 shots to 17.

Well played both bowlers!

Thursday social bowls A good turnout of 26 bowlers embraced the easy come, easy go theme of the Elvis week to play one game of triples and five games of Pairs on Thursday.

Bruce Orr, Bob Freeman and Steve Ryan enjoyed a tight 1 shot win over Ron Hornery, Paul Fenech and Warren Bevan, winning by 20 shots to 19.

Team Ryan were looking

forlorn and gone when they were behind by 2 shots after the 14th end.

They rallied on the next end to pick up 5 shots, to lead by 3 shots.

Leading by that margin with the end in sight, Steve and his lads were good enough to withstand the late flurry of good bowls from Team Bevan, to emerge victors by just 1 shot. Team Ryan won 20 shots to 19 over team Bevan.

Graham ‘Popeye’ Davis and that remarkable man Colin Mudie were good enough to withstand the challenge from Joanne Simpson and John Corcoran to win their pairs game by 22 shots to 18.

Popeye and Colin were behind by 6 shots after the 7th end and were struggling against one of the best lead bowlers in the club and the white Marlin man with the green bowls.

However, Colin and Graham got their act together after the 7th end, winning the next 5 consecutive ends to lead by 6 shots after 13 ends, and then bowled well enough to hold off their fast-finishing opponents, winning by 4 shots over Joanne and John.

The meat-tray raffle burglar Col Woods and Greg Townsend won a close game against Bernie Mitchell and Mick Simpson by 19 shots to 17 in a very entertaining game played in good spirit.

Greg made a successful return to the green, as he and Col led from the first end to the last, winning by 2 shots over Bernie and Mick.

Phil ‘mad-mile man now with a barbecue’ Moran and

Steve Turner of Parkes competing in a local carnival at the end of last year.

Brian Townsend were too consistent from the first end to the last end, defeating John Carr and Colin Hayward. Phil and Brian won by 25 shots to 14.

Mal Porter re-emerged from under the air-conditioner to lead for his partner and Skip, big John Wright, in their pairs game against Graham Dixon and Gary ‘GOAT’ McPhee.

The GOAT and Dicko led by 11 shots after the 11th end, and were heard subtly, yet gleefully sledging mighty Mal and John as they confidently thought about the size of the final margin.

The score-line didn’t faze big John and Mal however, particularly after they scored 5 shots on the next end, followed by scoring 4 shots on the 17th end, and then winning 2 of the 3 re-

maining ends to level the scores at 18 shots end.

Mal and Gary agreed to finish the game on the 20th end, gratefully packing away their bowls, with the game drawn at 18 shots each.

Noel Johnstone and John Ward had a good solid win over George Bradley and Ian Simpson.

The youngest Man on the rink, Simmo had a good skips game, as he and George led by comfortable margin of 5 shots after the 9th end.

Noel and John ‘look at my new old hat’ Ward then took command of the game from the 10th end onwards, bowling the better bowls over the 2nd half of the game.

Noel and John won the game by 24 shots to 17, defeating a bewildered George and Simmo.

PHOTO: Jenny Kingham

Saturday social bowls Twenty-six bowlers rolled up on Saturday, enjoying for 3 games of triples and 2 games of pairs.

The bowls were however bought to early end by the thunder and lightning storm, followed by good rain, after most games had played 15 ends.

A notable result was the lowest score recorded in recent memory of just 4 shots after 16 ends by the Steve Turner led team of Scott Allen and Rob Lacey, in their game against Joanne Simpson, Tony Riordan and Brian Townsend.

The big Kenworth man, seemingly bogged in neutral gear, tried his best as skip to drive Scott and Rob against their formidable opponents, but were only able to win 2 of the 16 ends bowled.

Their rain dances were rewarded by an early cessation of play.

Thankfully, they scored 4 shots as a wet nudie run would have sent the club, packed with Elvis fans, running for their caravans.

Thank you to all the bowlers who assisted with spreading the sand on the TV green over Christmas.

The green is now green, and is looking good for another year of good bowls on the best green in the zone.

A big thank you to all club volunteers.

Social bowls are played each Thursday and Saturday, commencing at 1pm, names in by 12.30pm.

As always, the ‘Friendly Club’ welcomes all visitors to play social bowls.

Ladies bowls are played on Tuesday.

Futsal competition is just Holiday break doesn’t slow Elliott Autumn around the corner: sign up now RAILWAY BOWLS

By PETER BRISTOL January 8 report January Monthly Medal The January Telescope Tyres / Hankook Masters Monthly Medal was played on Saturday to kick-off what the club hopes to be a standout year for our golfers.

The day sponsor was the Parkes Services Club and again they were proud to sponsor their annual event to showcase the 83 players vying for the great prizes.

The morning golfers were met with a solid wind with strong gusts which meant the trip southward was okay but coming back toward the clubhouse was a difficult feat.

The afternoon golfers got a calmer shot at it but had some heat to contend with.

In A grade Jack Elliott went back to back after winning the last event in ’24.

He quickly settled into his rhythm to record a 73 off the stick, with consecutive birdies on holes 6-8 and another on 13 to shoot a 37/36 split.

With pennants season just around the corner the selectors are looking for the best players to be in their best form and Jack showed that in spades.

The runner-up was a new member Anthony Rath, who is from the Goulburn area.

Still getting used to the course Anthony still managed to shoot a

43/34 split, with a birdie and a double on the front and a 5 birdie blitz on the back.

Jack Matthews shot a very credible 78 on the day as well.

In the net event Matt Clarke with a 5 under 67 was the winner with only a stroke to spare from Phil Bishop.

Matt had a 40/40 split but his 13 handicap on the day helped get him over the line.

He has been working hard to get himself into A grade and looked comfortable there.

Phil has been looking for some good form and his 39/41 in trying conditions proved he is back to where normally resides.

In B grade Richard Hutchinson stepped up to claim the scratch prize.

Hutcho always wins a round or two of the medals.

A solid, though adventurous round, saw that happen in game one.

He had a 46 front nine and wouldn’t have been too happy with that but a bit of self analysis at halfway got Hutchinson into rhythm and a 40 finish saw him end up one in front of Rob Lea who was a bit more consistent with a 44/43.

In the net event Rob Lea won on a countback from Rob Staples as they both recorded a credible 70.

With Rob L’s short game to the fore and Rob S’s determined to get some glassware in 2025 this was a great tussle.

Another old warhorse in Peter Boschman came in a stroke further back.

In C grade Craig Dunn was another to go back to back with his 94 the best C grade scratch score but it was equalled by cagey Kiwi in John Fowler.

Craig knows he has to play well each week to get the better of the playing group he’s in and John Fowler was playing with Rob Lea so no doubt rose to the equation as well.

Craig was happy to scrape through with the countback win.

John was able to reverse the tide in the net with a very good 3 stroke win over Craig’s 72.

The Griffins Leading Edge putting competition was won by Phil Bishop with 26 putts on a countback.

The Norman family sponsored Wally Norman Vets Medal was won also by Phil Bishop on 68 net.

The Nearest The Pins on Saturday were: The Idlerite 1st was Idlerite Tyrepower by John Green at 699cm, the Griffins Leading Edge was Torin Hando at 230cm; The Parkes Ready Mixed Concrete 9th by Rob Rae at 41cm; The Harvey Norman 11th by Brad Conn at 1.56mcm and the 17th by Nick Kelly at 106cm.

Ball winners were Phil Bishop, Ray White, David Stevenson, Jack Matthews, Andrew Bourke and Mick Smith.

The Parkes Bowling and Sports Club’s 2025 Autumn Futsal competition is just around the corner and they’re calling for registrations.

Grab a group of friends, colleagues or family members and enjoy the social side of soccer at the club.

Registration closes on February 4.

Call in to the club in Cecile Street to collect your team and player registration forms.

Competition will begin on Tuesday, February 18 and end May 27.

It’s $65 for senior players 18 yearsplus and $55 for juniors 14-17 years, with 12 players per team.

Each team is to wear the same coloured shirt.

All senior players will need to be a member of the Parkes Bowling and Sports Club.

Shifting winds create challenging conditions for SSAA competitors SPORTING CLAYS At last month’s shoot 8 shooters attended the Parkes Gun Club grounds SMALLBORE and shot in a 75 target day with a Last Sunday saw six shooters attend the Deep Lead Shooting Com- number of events using 6 auto clay throwers set at various angles, height plex in the Back Trundle Road and and speeds. shoot at standard round targets at Dave Tanks 66, Clinton Duffy 63, both 25 and 50 metres for a collective Mitch McGirr 62, Brian Drabsch 56, score on 500 points.

Matt Duffy 54, Jeff Charlton 53, Brett A nasty south westerly wind caught out everyone at 50 metres as Dean and Brian Rickaby 52 each.

Our next shoot is at 10am Saturit changed direction without warnday, January 17. ing.

Results - 25m, 50M, TOTAL: SHARE YOUR NEWS John Davis 250, 244, 494.

Brian Drabsch 250, 241, 491.

Want to share sports, news or Lachlan MacDonald 250, 241, 491. achievements with the Parkes comSteve Mitchell 247, 242, 489. munity?

John Maddison 247, 235, 482.

Get in touch with the Parkes Jarod Jones 243, 211, 454.

Champion Post editorial team.

Our next shoot is at 10am on Editor Christine Little can be conSunday, January 18where it will be a tacted by emailing clittle@midwestferal animal target at both ranges. media.com.au

By BRIAN DRABSCH

Page 20 - THE POST, Thursday, January 16, 2025

parkeschampionpost.com.au

Phil Cole from the Parkes Harness Racing Club, winner of the Elvis Championship Erika Dwyer and Carbaganoosh, Scott McAleer, Gabby Leslie, Jessica Borg and Sahra McAleer.

Drivers thrilled with wins in front of big Elvis crowd

By CRAIG DUMESNY PARKES Harness Racing Club officials were thrilled with the big crowds that attended the club’s two feature meetings over the holiday season.

The first was on new year’s eve when a carnival atmosphere saw families enjoy a great night out which ended with an impressive firework display.

The feature race, the Langlands Hanlon Cup was taken out by the Steve Turnbull trained Allstarzzz Frankie which was driven by his niece Oliva Frisby.

It was an “all Turnbull” finish with Steve’s sons Nathan (Camanchi Warrior) and Mitch (Tamanisha Terror) filling the placings.

Olivia Frisby then returned to Parkes last Wednesday night where she landed a winning double, her first victory coming up in the opening race when she combined with the Brett Davis trained Vamos to score.

The talented young driver then came out in race six and was successful aboard the Mark Hewitt trained Sporty Mickilla.

Frisby said after her double that it was a thrill to win in front of such a great crowd.

Of course, it was the Parkes club’s “Elvis At The Trots” night and those who attended enjoyed being entertained by Damien Mullen who whipped the crowd up into a frenzy.

But the night belonged to Bathurst lass Erika Dwyer who took out the TAB Elvis Championship aboard Carbaganoosh.

It was Erika’s seventh win in a limited career, and she was all smiles after the race.

Carbanganoosh is trained and part-owned by her father Darrell Dwyer, the gelding having won seventeen races from 113 race starts.

A Dusty Dance provided a winning double for Grenfell trainer Mark Hewitt, the mare posting a fast 1.56.4 mile rating.

Choc A Block was a smart winner at both Parkes meetings for Phoebe Betts while the other winners on Elvis night included Drive To The Beach for Travis Bullock, Nevertoolate for Parkes reinsman Blake Medlyn and Jacks Gamble which was driven by promising seventeen-year-old Jye Coney who hails from Tamworth.

Parkes Harness Racing Club will now look forward to its traditional Australia Day night meeting, the feature being the Keith Ritchie The night belonged to Bathurst lass Erika Dwyer who took out the TAB Elvis Memorial.

Championship aboard Carbaganoosh.

PHOTOS: Jenny Kingham

A Little Less Conversation and a lot more Elvis rugby SOMETIMES it’s hard to get these pictures out of your head but we know one thing is for sure.

The annual Elvis rugby match held on the Friday during the Parkes Elvis Festival, while an unofficial event, is a lot of fun to watch.

And the players seem to enjoy taking out one another too.

As previous captains have said “it’s just a bunch of mates getting together for a game of footy down at the park” and in Elvis jumpsuits and wigs.

There’s never a winner and never a loser, always a draw.

Photos appear on page 16.