Music for everyone: The Lachlan Community Orchestra (LCO) played in the Parkes Shire Concert Band’s annual concert for the community on Sunday. It was the second year LCO took part in the concert. The concert ended with the LCO and the Parkes Shire Concert Band playing Amazing Grace together with Duncan, the Shire Band leader on the bagpipes. The LCO is a friendly group of about 30 players from around the Parkes area. Some members drive from Orange, Condobolin, Peak Hill and Trundle to be at the weekly rehearsal on a Tuesday afternoon at the AOG Church Hall in Parkes. Ben Macpherson from Orange is the conductor. The majority of players are under 20, and the remaining few over 50! Any new players are welcome. Please contact the Mitchell Conservatorium, Lachlan Campus on 6857 3266 if you are interested.
The LCO has two more concerts this month: The Mitchell Conservatorium Annual Scholarship concert on Friday, 16th September at 6:30pm at the Parkes Christian School Hall; the LCO concert on Sunday, 18th September at 3pm in the Forbes Town Hall.
Tax help in NSW: Tax Time 2016 is well underway and the Australian Tax Office has opened up its Tax Help centres in community centres across NSW. Assistant Commissioner Graham Whyte said that about 300 volunteers from 240 community centres across NSW would be supporting people who needed assistance completing their tax returns this year. “Tax Help is a free and confidential service provided by ATO-trained and accredited local volunteers.” “Tax Help volunteers can help you complete a simple tax return online with myTax, claim a refund of franking credits, or notify the ATO if you don’t need to lodge a tax return at all,” said Graham. The Tax Help service is for people earning around $50,000 or less each year with straightforward tax affairs. People who are interested in preparing their own tax return can also try out myTax before heading to a Tax Help centre. Tax Help is available until 31 October in all capital cities and many regional areas across Australia. To find out if you are eligible, go to www.ato.gov.au/taxhelp. To get the details of your nearest Tax Help centre, phone 13 28 61. To create a myGov account before visiting a Tax Help centre, go to www.my.gov.au