Parkes Shire Council is pleased to an­nounce that applications are now open for the 2025 Jack Scoble Scholarships. The Jack Scoble Scholarship Fund is an annual initiative designed to support local students pursuing further education and training.

Named in honour of long-serving Council­lor and community advocate Jack Scoble, the scholarships are a tribute to his legacy of fostering opportunities for young people across Parkes Shire.

The Jack Scoble Scholarships are open to students residing in the Parkes Shire who demonstrate a commitment to their studies and a passion for contributing to their com­munity. The scholarships provide financial assistance to help with the expenses of higher education or vocational training, em­powering local youth to achieve their educa­tional goals.

Reflecting on her experience as a 2024 recipient, Hannah Dunn provides insight into how the scholarship helped her.

“The Jack Scoble Scholarship alleviated some financial stress associated with mov­ing to a new city, enabling me to excel aca­demically during my first year of university.

With fewer concerns about funding univer­sity equipment, it also allowed me to invest my personal income in my hobbies and pas­sions. I am extremely grateful for this schol­arship and highly recommend applying for it,” Hannah said.

Mayor of Parkes Shire, Cr Neil Westcott, expressed his enthusiasm for the scholar­ships and encouraged eligible students to apply.

“The Jack Scoble Scholarships are a tes­tament to the values of community spirit and education that Jack held dear. Through these scholarships, we aim to help our local young people achieve their ambitions and make meaningful contributions to our com­munity,” he said.

Eligible applicants can find more informa­tion and application details on the Parkes Shire Council Website https://www.parkes.nsw.gov.au/Community/Awards-honours-and-scholarships/Jack-Scoble-Scholarship-Fund or contact Parkes Shire Council at 6861 2333. Applications close on Friday 17th January 2025 at 10am.

Grain handlers working at grain receival sites across NSW will vote on whether to accept a proposed pay deal with their employer GrainCorp, said the Australian Workers’ Union which represents the workers.

The deal comes after grain handlers rolled out protected indus­trial action authorised by the Fair Work Commission after nego­tiations broke down with GrainCorp last month. Industrial action occurred at Boggabri, Narrabri, Moree, Parkes, Caragabal, and at many other sites.

The workers have seen their pay go backwards in real terms over the last three years. In 2021, 2022 and 2023 grain handlers received an annual increase of only 2% a year, despite inflation rising at a rate of 2.86%, 6.59% and 4.10% respectively, meaning real wages have declined by 7.5%.

The three year deal on the table offers annual increases of 6%, 6% and 2% plus a $1250 sign on bonus and back pay.

Members are currently reading the proposed agreement and will begin voting on the 18th at 6am with voting concluding on the 19th at 6am.

“Last Friday I met with AWU delegates and they endorsed a new agreement to go to a vote, now it’s up to members to vote it up or reject it,” said Australian Workers’ Union NSW Secretary Tony Callinan.

“This is a huge win for our members at GrainCorp considering the low wage increases they’ve suffered through. It’s a pity our members had to resort to industrial action as it caused anxiety for farmers during the busy winter harvest season. We’re happy they came back to the table and we have a deal everyone can live with.”

Get ready for a fun night out in Canowin­dra. On Friday, 29th November, the town will come alive with the Christmas Night Market, offering something for everyone in the heart of the community.

Local businesses will also be open, with special Christmas deals and discounts to make your Christmas season even brighter, while over 40 stalls will line Gaskill Street, offering a variety of unique goods perfect for Christmas shopping. Whether you’re hunting for the perfect gift or indulging in a little treat, there’s something for everyone.

Families will be entertained with plenty of fun activities for the kids, including face painting, a jumping castle, and more. The CWA will be on hand selling delicious Christmas cakes and other homemade goodies, while food trucks and stalls will serve up a variety of tasty eats to keep everyone fueled for the fun. To keep eve­ryone entertained, there will be live music performed by Nerida Cuddy, Sik As and more.

The Lions Club will have their popular BBQ sizzling and will also run a Choco­late Wheel, along with raffles offering the chance to win hams and meat trays—per­fect for your Christmas celebrations.

It’s not too late to book a stall, if you would like to be involved in the Canowindra Christmas Night Market you can register online at www.123tix.com.au. For further information please email canowindrapro­gress@gmail.com.

Gaskill Street will close at 3pm for setup, with festivities kicking off at 5pm and continuing into the evening. It promises to be a wonderful night filled with Christmas cheer, great food, and family fun.

Mark your calendars and come along to kick off the party season in style!

The draft Lachlan Unregulated River water sharing plan is now on public display, and the NSW Government is inviting the com­munity to have its say.

The draft plan sets out clear rules for fair and sustainable water sharing among water users and the environment across the re­gion for the next decade.

It includes setting limits on how much wa­ter can be taken, protecting resources for the environment, basic landholder rights and cultural needs along with providing secure, legal and tradeable water access rights. It also sets out how much, where and when water can be taken by licence holders.

NSW DCCEEW Executive Director of Water Planning Giselle Howard said: “Wa­ter sharing plans are vital tools for manag­ing our state’s water resources, and the La­chlan Unregulated River water sharing plan is no exception.

“We want to hear your feedback on the draft plan now so we can continue to man­age the region’s water fairly and sustainably over the next 10 years.”

We’re inviting the Lachlan community to read the draft plan and make a submission before the public exhibition period ends on 20th December. We’ll be holding a webinar on 28th November from 2pm to 3pm, where the community can learn more, ask ques­tions and provide feedback.

Face-to-face drop-in sessions will be held in Crookwell on 3rd December between 10am and 12pm and in Cowra on 4th De­cember between 10am and 12pm.

Online one-on-one sessions with a water planner are also available in the week com­mencing 18th November.

The draft includes proposed changes to simplify the plan, make it clearer and easier for water users to understand and comply with the requirements.

In some areas, we have proposed chang­es to water access and trading rules. Other changes include additional protections for specific wetlands in the region.

We want to hear the community’s views on these changes and will carefully consider all feedback before finalising the draft plan ahead of it going into effect on 1 July 2025.

To register for a session and to make a submission, visit: https://water.nsw.gov.au/lachlan-water-sharing-plan