2026 Parkes 

Our Annual Trip Away had us staying in Parkes and exploring Parkes, Forbes and surrounding towns.  We visited an old Picture Theatre in Manildra, the ‘world famous’ Dish, the Henry Parkes ‘Australian Museum’ in Parkes, and the Dubbo Zoo.

We had lunch in an old ‘Cobb & Co’ Coach house in Molong, and visited the beautiful town of Forbes, with its wonderful old colonial buildings. In Forbes, we visited the ‘Australian Biscuit Factory’, a small concern where the workers all have a disability, and on that day, they were baking Jam Drops, and the aroma was wonderful.

We had three ‘Guest Travel Guides’ during the trip. Bill Johnson spoke about growing up in Canowindra. Norm Burke has a son and daughter living in the Eugowra district and spoke about the devastating floods of 2022.  Norm was there during the floods, and we also visited his daughter’s property to say hello.

John Croll gave us an insight into the Parkes Aviation Museum, before we visited it, as it has an association with our own HARS Aviation Museum at Albion Park Rail.

We all owe a great deal of thanks to Pam and Di, for their organisation of this trip, which I am sure was enjoyed by all of us aboard the bus, again driven by our favourite driver Peter (Albo).

Virginia Castray