Coaching positions for 2025 are open and ready for you. There is loads of support available from the committee, club and an online program to help set up your sessions and teach the players the skills of the game. If you have any questions or wish to apply, please contact our Club President, Jason O’Bryan on parkesmaristjrlfc@hotmail.com
Ben Lovett: Red And Green Ball Award Winner
Ben Lovett is pictured front and centre at the Junior Spacemen presentation night with the Parkes Marist Under 16s Grand Final winning team.
Ben Lovett, who was once a local Parkes Junior, and now plays at the top level in the NRL for the Sydney Rabbitohs, received two prestigious awards at the annual Rabbitohs Red and Green Ball last Friday night. He then flew back to Parkes the following day to support the Junior Spacemen at their end of season presentation night.
Rabbitohs forward Ben Lovett has earned the Souths Cares Award for Most Outstanding Contributions to the Community for 2024. Ben stood out this year for his unwavering commitment to, and sheer volume of, community activities he supported.
Ben has also won the Bob McCarthy Club person of the Year award for season 2024, being recognised for his contributions to the team and the Club, both on and off the field.
Ben was also the Rabbitohs nominee for the NRL Ken Stephen Medal, nominated for going above and beyond in his involvement in charity work, youth development and community support.
Faced with a career-threatening injury, Ben’s response to adversity has been beyond impressive. Whilst undergoing a difficult rehabilitation process, Ben has never lost sight of his role within the team and has remained an exceptional teammate, providing support and encouragement, even when he couldn’t contribute on the field. His perseverance, positive attitude, and selfless dedication to others have truly set him apart.
In addition to his club commitments, Ben actively supports a wide range of community and educational initiatives. He serves as an Ambassador and Mentor for Goal College, participated in a regional trip to Brewarrina to support marginalised youth, and runs his own football clinics while promoting Junior League participation across regional NSW.
Congratulations to Ben Lovett on receiving these two outstanding awards.
Grand Final Showdown For Spacies
Get a car load and get to Mudgee this Sunday 8th September to cheer on the Spacies in the 2024 Peter McDonald Premiership.
Parkes Spacemen will play Mudgee Dragons this weekend in a grand final showdown.
Parkes Spacemen Club President Tony Dwyer said “The boys are pumped for the grand final. The last grand final we won was 2013 and there are 5 boys from that side in the squad this year, Chad Porter, Brandon Paige, Jordon Pope, Jake Dooley and Sam Dwyer. It’s been a great effort from all the team to get us to Sunday and hopefully we get the job done. Mudgee has been the favourites for the title all year, but we’re fit and healthy so we’ll see what happens.”
Head to Glen Willow Stadium in Mudgee this Sunday, 3pm to support the Spacemen.
Unprecedented Opportunity For Parkes And Our Indigenous Community
The Parkes PCYC delegation beforeboarding the bus to head to Sydney for the Nations of Origin Tournament.
In an unprecedented opportunity, Parkes PCYC have sent a delegation to participate in the Nations of Origin Tournament, which is held around NAIDOC week each year.
Parkes PCYC have sent two rugby league teams and a gymnastics team to Sydney to represent their nations and Parkes PCYC.
This prestigious event brings together approximately 1,500 indigenous and non-indigenous students to compete in a variety of sports.
Parkes PCYC Club Manager Kimberley Sherrett said, “This is an experience most children will likely not experience again, and for that we are thrilled to be a part of it.
“We have aimed to raise all funds needed to offset the costs associated with this event. Between donations, fundraising and sponsorship we raised a huge $20,000. We even secured funding to take the kids aqua golfing, which they are so excited for.”
In the lead up to the event, last Saturday 13th July, the two under 16 rugby league teams headed to Peak Hill for the indigenous round of the men’s and league tag teams. The PCYC teams played a trial game against each other and were presented with their new uniforms, that had been organised specifically for the Nations of Origin Tournament.
“We have had a helping hand from volunteer coaches, who have come on board to prepare these teams. Ollie, Kate and Andy Thomas have prepared one football team, Torin Hando and Jordan McDougall have prepared the other football team and Sam Clark has prepared our gym girls,” said Kimberley.
Parkes Sports Wrap Up
Parkes Panthers gathered in a team huddle.
Parkes Panthers Central West AFL
Round 9 saw a 3rd vs 4th thriller at Bathurst Bushrangers AFL Club home turf. Last time they played we saw a 1 point victory to Parkes Panthers. This time around another tight game between Bathurst Bushrangers AFL Club. Panthers were too good and snuck home once again.
Parkes Tennis
Want to be a ballkid at Sydney’s summer of tennis? Now’s your chance. Ballkid registrations are open. You must be aged between 12 and 16.
Regional ball kid trials will be held at:
Where: Parkes Tennis Club
When: 20th July
Time: 9am to 11am
Register via this link https://ballkids.tennis.com.au/register.aspx For any questions/enquires contact Abbey Kennedy on 0407 996 600.
Parkes and District Netball Association
PDNA are seeking nominations for the 2024 Kelly Swetland Memorial Award. This award is for a junior player who has made a significant contribution to Parkes netball. Please request and complete the nomination form by 16th July and email through to correspondence.parkesnetball@gmail.com or via messenger.
Parkes Railway Bowling Club
24 rollers turned up for Social Bowls on Wednesday 26th June. Winners were Warren Watson, George Greenhalgh and Paul Lewin winning 13+5. Runners up were Alan Affleck, Danielle Thompson and Paul Townsend winning 12+5. Marble 13 came out and the margins were 1, 4 and 5. The Jackpot this week is $126.00. Saturday 29th June saw 22 keen bowlers for Social Bowls. Winners were Alan Affleck, Lea Tanks and John Chew winning 15+17. Runners up were Graham Thomson, Ray Griffith and Jan Griffith winning 13+1.
Memberships are now due and payable over the bar. Please have your memberships paid up before the end of July.
Congratulations Ben Lovett
Ben participates in Ambassador work through GOAL College working with year 11 and 12 students.
Ben was part of the NRL Roads to Regions tour visiting schools in Port Macquarie and Forster.
Forbes Magpies Rugby League
The Magpies take on Orange Hawks in Round 8 at home this weekend. League tag will be at 10.30am, Under 18s 11.30am, Reserve Grade 12.40pm and First Grade 2pm.
If you’re not doing anything Sunday head on over to Spooners Oval for a great day out.
NRL Player Ben Lovett Returns To His Old Stomping Ground To Run Junior Clinic
Parkes Marist 10s, 8s and 7s pictured with Ben Lovette (South Sydney), Haizyn Mellars (South Sydney) and Harrison Leadbetter.
On the June long-weekend, a lucky group of Parkes Marist Juniors were thrilled to be invited to a Coaching Clinic with former Parkes local, and current South Sydney Rabbitohs player Ben Lovett.
The Coaching Clinic was run for the PMJRL U10, U8 and U7 players. PMJRL U10s Coach Jason O’Bryan said: “The kids were pumped when they were offered the opportunity, it’s been a really great experience. To see a local guy who has made it in the NRL come back and offer his time is a credit to Ben and to Souths for wanting to do it.”
There was definitely a buzz around town once the kids found out Ben would be in Parkes to run a clinic. “My dad owns Sportspower in town, and he said kids were coming in saying ‘Ben’s coming Monday to do a training clinic’. It was so great to hear that, and it just made me even more excited to come back,” said Ben.
Ben has been very busy of late, recently returning from Papua New Guinea. Knowing he would be heading home to Parkes on the long-weekend, Ben approached the Parkes Senior League Club who put him in contact with the PMJRL to help facilitate the Clinic.
Ben said, “I wanted to do something for the local community, and get out here with the kids back where it all started for me. I was here in Parkes 10 years ago, running around the same as these kids here.”
“I still feel like I have a long way to go with my footy career, so for these kids to look up to me is massive. To be able to give back to them and hopefully inspire their dreams, to think that they can do what I have done, and hopefully they can have goals and aspirations to do the same thing.”
Ben was joined by fellow NRL player Haizyn Mellars and Harrison Leadbetter. Haizyn is a South Sydney Rabbitohs team mate of Ben’s, who plays winger/centre, and Harrrison is currently playing for the Belconnen Sharks in the Canberra region rugby league competition.
When Ben asked Haizyn if he would like to head back to Parkes with him and see his home town, he was more than happy to tag along, saying, “It’s great to come hang with the kids and play a little footy.”
At the end of the clinic, the NRL players handed out Rabbitoh’s merchanise and were very obliging, signing the kids headgear, boots and shirts, and taking photos with anyone who asked.
Forbes Magpies Take The Main Game On Derby Day
Forbes Magpies took the two points on Derby Day with a 22-18 win over Parkes Spacemen. Image credit: Parkes Spacemen Facebook page.
The biggest day on our local rugby league calendar is the June long weekend Parkes versus Forbes Derby Day, which has become a long standing tradition between the twin towns.
A massive crowd flocked to Pioneer Oval in Parkes on Sunday 7th June, to witness the clash between Parkes Spacemen and Forbes Magpies.
Parkes started the day strong, and were off to a thrilling start, taking out the League Tag 10-4, 18s 20-18 and Reserves 20-16, but it was Forbes who were victorious in the first grade battle, winning 22-18.
Forbes Magpies Coach Cameron Greenhalgh said, “We haven’t beaten Parkes on Derby Day since 2018, it was good to get the win over there. We let a substantial first half lead slip away, it was 22-4 at half time and they came back to 22-18, but we hung on and got the two points.”
Each year, a massive Forbes crowd travels across to Parkes to support the team, and always get the players pumped up.
Parkes Spacemen President Tony Dwyer said, “This particular round between Parkes and Forbes is known as one of the best local derbies in country rugby league.
It’s great to see Forbes enjoy it as much as us, you see how many people it brings over and how pumped up they get for it, they just love beating us over here.”
Parkes Spacemen Rugby League
Congratulations to our latest debutant Jack Milne who made his first grade debut last weekend at just 17 years.
Last Sunday saw the Spacies take on top of the table Cyms at home. First Grade got the big win against Orange Cyms 36-20, Ryan Goodsell with the hat trick and setting up an other. Reserve Grade got the win 26-18. The Under 18’s drew 22-22. While unfortunately the Girls League Tag went down to Orange Cyms 40-6. Get over early to Pioneer Oval in Parkes this Sunday for the much awaited grudge match against Forbes Magpies.
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