QUE members look forward to your company throughout the day at the Parkes Racecourse and in the 4 open gardens. The money raised stays in our local community especially supporting hearing, speech, and wellbeing. This year we have sponsored every eligible child to attend Life Education Van (Healthy Harold), as well as our usual donations to schools and pre-schools for hearing amplification systems; dignity and care packs for victims of domestic violence; books for newborn babies; Southern Cross art therapy program; trauma teddies for Ambulances; participation in Paint the Town REaD; school backpacks for children in need; and sponsoring the hearing and speech assessments for pre-school children who are ready to head off to ‘big school’. Donations are also given to Can Assist, Ronald McDonald House, Sprouts, Safe Haven and other charities from time to time to benefit our local communities.

Parkes Racecourse, Eugowra Road will be buzzing with activity from 9.30 am. This is where you will find so much to see and do. Mindful of the increased costs of living, we have kept our entry, lunch and morning tea prices to the same as ten years ago!

 Wristbands and directions to the gardens (cash/card) $15

 Morning tea $5, and lunch $15

 25+ market stalls and music from local artists

 Fashion Parade at 1 pm from Parkes News and Gifts

 Tickets in a fabulous raffle - 1st prize is a beautiful occasional table created and donated by local artist, Susan Maddison. 2nd prize is a garden trolley filled with goodies and 3rd prize is a $50 gift voucher to Dirty Gloves Nursery.

STALLS – 25+ at the racecourse:

The market stalls will give visitors a wide range of options including spectacular leadlight creations, amazing mosaic art, garden art, children’s clothing, perennials and succulents, candles and oil burners, olive oil products, jams, pickles, relishes, jewellery, bows and trinkets, metal rustic garden art, suncatchers, cards, toys, plants and books, crochet, yarn, pottery, beauty products, and much more.

Open Gardens – Four are open (Collect your wristband and directions from the Parkes Racecourse from 9.30 am on the day.)

Garden 1: Last year we featured a brand-new garden which had been transformed from a cow paddock. The garden had suffered flooding in the November 2022 local flooding, as well as harsh frosts. This winter the garden has once more endured harsh frosts. However, this year we have the opportunity to follow the development of this large garden to show people how quickly a garden can be established in our climate, and what plants will survive the “sometimes harsh” weather conditions. We wanted to open this garden again so that visitors could see and measure progress over the past 12 months. The owners have been busy adding some hardscaping, a fire pit, new dog accommodation and a private sitting area at the back of the house. Especially for those wanting to start a new garden, or even renovate an old and tired one, this garden gives inspiration and guidance as to what is successful, and the owners are experienced gardeners who are happy to advise and discuss options with visitors.

Garden 2: A 10-acre garden which is a vibrant haven for native birds and bees, brimming with life and colour. Over the past 6 years the owners have transformed a once empty block, graced only by a single peppercorn tree, into a riot of colour boasting an impressive collection of plants, including irises’ 160 hues, 65 varieties of chrysanthemums, and more than 200 roses, planted with gums, bottle brushes and natives.

Garden 3: A town garden which shows an intriguing use of tones of green and textures. The owner removed Buxus hedges and planted a variety of plants along her front boundary with contrasting heights, colours, habits and growth. A Japanese garden has been started along one side of her house (a work in progress) and her back garden requires little maintenance.

Garden 4: This garden was started 25 years ago from scratch with lots of cuttings from other gardeners and has seen many changes in layout to fit around a growing family. The backyard now has separate areas each centred with a different tree, be it a Japanese Maple, Manchurian Pear, or the owners’ favourite, an old Crabapple tree, with areas in each zone to sit and enjoy the different seasons.

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