At the Ordinary Council Meeting held on 18 March 2025, Council decided to provide up to $600 in financial support to the Parkes Rotary Club to support their Men's health initiative.
Council has received a letter from the Parkes Rotary Club who are hosting the Men's Health Education Rural Van ("MHERV") on Thursday 8 May to Sunday 11 May 2025. The van will be stationed at the M & D carpark and staffed by a registered nurse. In his letter to Council, Colin Offner stated that:
"The Men’s Health Education Rural Van is a regional project made possible by fundraising, generous sponsorship and time freely given by hundreds of Rotary volunteers. A custom-built caravan with a dedicated Registered Nurse travels the state of New South Wales offering free health screenings to regional and rural men, who are notorious for being completely in the dark about the state of their health. The van offers free men's health checks for the residents of Parkes Shire Council Area."
The club are requesting that Council support the initiative by sponsoring the accommodation costs of the registered nurse who will be staying in Parkes while running the health screenings.
Council can only approve financial assistance (cash or in-kind) in accordance with section 356 of the Local Government Act 1993 ("the Act"). Where the proposed financial assistance has not been included in Council's adopted Operational Plan for the year; the proposed financial assistance must be publicly exhibited prior to being provided. Council must consider any public submissions received, prior to providing the assistance requested.
Those wishing to make a public submission regarding this notice can do so either by:
Sending an Email to Council
or
Writing to the General Manager
Parkes Shire Council
PO Box 337
Parkes NSW 2870.