The spirit of Parkes shone brightly and proudly on Sunday, Australia Day.
After what the Parkes Shire Mayor Neil Westcott described as a fantastic morning at Trundle, for its official opening of the beautification works of the main street and a tour of the new community gym, there was still so much more to celebrate and recognise at the official ceremony in Cooke Park.
Kim Robinson was MC, Aimee Ross sang the national anthem and Charlie Oraha gave the Welcome to Country.
Our Australia Day ambassador Tasman Cassim, who's from a farming family originally in Woodstock near Cowra, had the opportunity to hear and meet some of our town's greatest citizens.
"Parkes Shire punches above our weight when it comes to supporting one another," Cr Westcott said in his speech at the ceremony.
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"There is so much to be thankful for."
Cr Westcott said he wanted to keep building a future that is welcoming and inclusive, and one that also celebrated the country's similarities and differences.
"We must not forget those before us that have shaped this land for thousands of years," he said.
"Let's celebrate the nation we are and the nation we strive to be."
Tasman said he was very humble and grateful to be in Parkes and acknowledged the day brought many complexities for First Nations people.
He spoke about his time working with people across the country, adding many came from the Central West and regional areas, experiencing homelessness through Wayside Chapel.
Wayside Chapel provides care, support and essential services for people experiencing homelessness and social isolation in Sydney.
As their head of fundraising, Tasman has also established and worked in fundraising programs at the Heart Foundation, Good360 and more recently the Black Dog Institute.
And through his Superhero Walk, he's walked more than 1000km since 2015 and raised more than $100,000 for Australians in need.
"I'm just a bloke trying to do good so I never expected to be up here today," he said.
The Parkes Shire Sport Awards (appear in a separate story) and Australia Day community and cultural awards were presented following the speeches.
Below is the list of this year's community and cultural award recipients in Parkes.
Click here for the stories behind the winners: Community and cultural.
- 2025 Parkes Citizen of the Year: Fiona Quinney.
- 2025 Parkes Young Citizen of the Year: Isabella Hughes.
- 2025 Parkes Shire Lifetime Achievement Award: Liesel Walters.
- Community Event of the Year: Northparkes Cheers to 30 Years.
- Visual Arts Awards: Parkes Community Arts – Who is Parkes? and Sean James Cassidy.
- Performance Award: Irene Ridgeway – Her name is Nanny Nellie.
* The Trundle Australia Day Awards appear here.
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