The town will host a number of events between Saturday, May 27 and Saturday, June 3, to commemorate two significant anniversaries in Australia’s reconciliation journey.

It’s been 50 years since the 1967 referendum, and 25 years since the historic Mabo decision.

“The week celebrates and builds on the respectful relationships shared by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and other Australians in our community,” Parkes mayor Cr Ken Keith said.

“This year's theme ‘Let’s Take the Next Steps’, encourages residents to move forward together in reconciliation to create a nation strengthened by respectful relationships.”

Parkes Shire Council received a $5000 grant under the Indigenous Advancement Strategy Culture and Capability Programme to help communities hold events and activities that honour and respect the Referendum and Mabo decision anniversaries.

As part of the commemorations, Council are working on an Indigenous art project to go on display throughout the Parkes Shire.  

Neighbourhood Central and Parkes Shire Council in combination with the Peak Hill Aboriginal Community Groups, will host a community morning tea at the Neighbourhood Central Peak Hill Community Hub, 87 Caswell Street on Thursday, June 1.

The event will take place at 11am to celebrate educate and build on the respectful relationships shared between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and all other Australians.

It will feature some local cultural performances and community discussions.

On Saturday, May 27 from 10am, the Lachlan Reconciliation Group will create a "Sea of Hands" in the colours of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags on the foreground of the Parkes Visitor Information Centre.

Residents and visitors are encouraged to place their names on the back of each of the cut-out hands and write or draw what reconciliation means to them.

Throughout the week, Parkes Shire Library will be playing audio histories from our Aboriginal oral history collection about Parkes' Wiradjuri language group, as well as visual presentations in recognition of our local history.

This week's Storytime will also have a reconciliation theme.

On Saturday, June 3 at 11am, Parkes Library will launch an exhibition titled Erratic Symbiosis, Unearthing Past Voices - Sowing Future Visions.

Erratic Symbiosis explores the synchronicity, contradiction, intuition, rhythm, and textures in relationships, according to curator Sean James Cassidy.

The exhibit will include a video installation by Jake Atienza, the launch of a Wiradjuri song by the Parkes Wiradjuri Language Group, Sunfield Records and eL Garahe, soil paintings and works by local artists Scott Turnbull and Scott 'Sauce' Towney, and art groups Parkes Painters, Parkes Potters and Craft Corner.

Everyone is invited to come along to the launch, with the exhibition running until June 16.

For more details about the National Reconciliation Week events being held across the Parkes Shire, visit www.parkes.nsw.gov.au.