Parkes Phoenix Editor

The ‘Abstract Distractions’ exhibition opened at the Platypus Gallery last Saturday, showcasing a collection of experimental works by eleven novice artists from the Forbes Shire.

Aptly named the “Puggles”, the group was formed earlier this year by Forbes Arts Society member, Coralie Crouch with the intention of encouraging younger members of the Forbes community to pursue creative endeavours.

Recently, the group has gathered on a casual basis to learn about different methods, techniques and mediums. For many of the participants, the ‘Abstract Distractions’ exhibition is their first opportunity displaying their work publicly.

“The brief was to create abstract work – totally devoid of any reference to reality,” Coralie said.
“The biggest achievement of the group was overcoming the fear that their work is not good enough to exhibit. They have produced art works which display experimental use of colour, new techniques for paint application, and above all, confidence.”

The ‘Abstract Distractions’ exhibition will run until 29 August 2021. All artworks will be available for purchase. For more information visit www.forbesartssociety.com

As winter continues to provide consistent rainfall, one of the flow-on effects of above-average July precipitation is the filling of dams.

Airspace in Wyangala Dam has now been created and if rain continues to fall, we may all have no choice but to isolate. While no one is calling floods yet in Forbes, Wyangala sits over 95% with two floodgates open.

Forbes recorded approximately 85mm – twice its average and June was more than twice its normal falls with 117mm. The rainfall has caused flash flooding at Cottons Weir, road closures and redirections not to mention the impact on our roadways.

According to BOM, Forbes has been wet more than half the month with dipping temperatures (-2 only a nine days ago on July 28). Only three days later we had our hottest day with a top of 21 degrees.

Yet most attention remains on Wyangala Dam given that more rainfall in August could mean a very damp Spring.

Wyangala Dam is situated on the junction of the Lachlan and Abercrombie rivers about 48 kilometres upstream from Cowra in Central West NSW. The dam is about 320 kilometres west of Sydney and its storage capacity of 1,217,000 megalitres is more than twice the volume of Sydney Harbour.

The dam is named after Wyangala Station, one of the properties on which it was built. By the early 1900s it was clear that further development of the Lachlan Valley required a dam to regulate variable river flows. Following completion of NSW’s first dam for irrigation – Burrinjuck on the Murrumbidgee River – work started in 1928 on the state’s second major irrigation dam, Wyangala on the Lachlan River and was completed in 1935.

Today the dam provides water for a far larger area following the dam’s enlargement in 1971 and fourfold increase in storage capacity.

Back in June, Woolworths and FareShare launched the 2021 Feed Appeal to help meet the 47% increase in demand for food relief in communities across Australia in the past 12 months.

One hundred percent of all funds raised in NSW are being distributed to local food relief charities either as grants, or the direct donation of ready-to-eat meals – including any from Forbes during June. Feed Appeal grants enable local charities to purchase equipment like fridges, freezers, ovens and vans, building their capacity to receive, prepare and distribute more food.

This year’s funds will also support many local charities with the direct donation of FareShare meals, freshly prepared in one of their two charity kitchens, the largest in Australia.

Last year’s Feed Appeal raised more than $1.5 million, enabling 52 cash grants of up to $50,000 to be provided to food relief charities across all States and Territories of Australia.

Woolworths now donates the equivalent of over 22 million meals in surplus fresh food per year to food relief, and supplies half of the fresh fruits, vegetables and meats donated to FareShare.

Woolworths Forbes Store Manager Kathryn Simpson said – “We thank those Forbes Shire customers who made a donation to the Feed Appeal – that 50c means a meal can be placed in the hands of an Aussie in need.”

Despite the limitations of COVID and the wet and gloomy conditions, Central West Lachlan Landcare, Forbes Shire Council and Planet Ark along with a strong number of Forbes Shire volunteers came together to plant trees for National Tree Day 2021.

This year’s Forbes National Tree Day event was held at Forbes Waste Depot, Daroobalgie Road, on Saturday, July 31.

“This is such an important initiative for our community and our environment,” said Forbes Shire Mayor Phyllis Miller OAM.

“It will be something we all look back on in the years to come with great pride,” Phyllis said.

National Tree Day, proudly sponsored by Toyota Australia, was co-founded in 1996 by Planet Ark and Olivia Newton-John. It has now grown into Australia’s largest community tree planting and nature protection event as we strive to see over one million new trees, shrubs and grasses planted each year.

National Tree Day is a call to action for all Australians to put their hands in the earth and give back to their community. Each year, about 300,000 people volunteer their time to engage in environmental activities that educate individuals about the world around them. It’s a day to venture outdoors and get to know your community, and most importantly, to have fun!

The last Friday in July is dedicated to schools celebrating Tree Day. Each year, more than 3000 students participate nationwide in environmental activities that educate individuals about the world around them.

For more information on National Tree Day please go to planetark.org

The technology upgrade for all regional schools in NSW is ahead of schedule, with stages two and three of the historic $365.8 million Rural Access Gap program under way. Following a successful pilot program in the Dubbo, Narrabri and the Northern Bor-der regions, 1000 rural and remote public schools are now receiving a top-to-bottom digital upgrade.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW John Barilaro said the program will ensure students living in the bush have the same access to technology as their city counterparts.

“The Rural Access Gap Program will pro-vide our rural and remote schools with superior connectivity, unparalleled in the country,” Mr Barilaro said.

“This means that teachers in our regions have the tools, training and support they need to deliver lessons in ways not possible before. This is about ensuring students have access to an education without boundaries.”

Minister for Education and Early Childhood Learning Sarah Mitchell said the Rural Ac-cess Gap program connects students and teachers to the best educational resources available through cutting edge learning and teaching technology.

“Our commitment to regional students is that they have equal access to educational resources and modern equipment, no matter where they live,” Ms Mitchell said.

“Technology allows us to do this. More than 30,000 devices, including laptops and video-conferencing facilities, will be added to the network with more to follow.”