There were 31 players for Aussie Croquet last Saturday before the bad weather hit with John Browne enjoying a massive 14-8 and 14-9 winning margin in two of his matches while Ray Burridge, Joan Littlejohn and Kevin and Jill Rubie each winning 3 games.
By Pegging Out
GREAT EFFORT: Despite not having a coach or training like the other competitors, Brock Maynard finished 9th in the state at the NSWLAC in Sydney last weekend.
Some people are blessed with one skill if they’re lucky then there are those like Forbes Public School youngster Brock Maynard, who after finishing 9th in the NSW Little Athletics Track and Field Javelin competition on the weekend, is now gearing up for a run in the Western Region AFL side to travel to Byron Bay in May.
Along with Maddox Bruem, the pair have been picked to headline a U12s side that some say are an outside chance for the title. Toby Smart is the shadow reserve.
Yet for the affable 11 year old, it all comes naturally and he takes each selection and award with the same no nonsense and grace as he does everything.
“I like playing sports as it’s fun and a great way to meet people and make friends,” said Brock.
“AFL is a little new to me as I know and prefer rugby league but it’s fun,” he said. “Both are very different to javelin!”
Maynard threw 24.3m, only 64cms short of 8th which would’ve seen him take a place in the money round top 8 shoot-out but poor weather and the fact he is still learning about the sport and gaining big match experience counted against him at the last moment.
“It was a great experience and I hope I can go back again,” he said. “I do enjoy javelin though if I had to pick I would say I love rugby league the most,” Brock said.
And who’s his tip for the NRL title in 2021? “Penrith Panthers of course!” Of course.
The Western NSW Primary Health Network (WNSW PHN) is advising the public that Phase 1b of the Commonwealth Government’s COVID-19 Vaccination Rollout has commenced in the region from Monday, March 22, 2021.
Selected clinics across the local region will be involved in the rollout of Phase 1b of the COVID-19 Vaccinations from March 22nd. Up to 13 practices including Forbes Medical Centre and Forbes Medicine and Mind will be involved during the first week of Phase 1b.
WNSW PHN Acting CEO, Robert Strick-land, has praised the clinics that will be involved during Phase 1b of Vaccinations. “We’re extremely grateful that so many of the region’s General Practices have chosen to be part of this absolutely vital stage in our region’s response to COVID-19.”
Residents of the region can rest assured that as more practices become involved during the first 4 weeks of Phase 1b, that there will be ample opportunity for everyone eligible in the Phase to be vaccinated in a timely manner.
Residents eligible for vaccination during Phase 1b are encouraged to talk to their usual General Practice to enquire as to that practice’s inclusion in the rollout of COVID-19 vaccinations.
The following groups of people are eligible to receive their COVID-19 vaccinations as part of the Phase 1b Vaccination Rollout:
• People aged 70 years and over.
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 55 years and over.
• Health Care Workers not vaccinated during Phase 1a.
• People aged 18 years and over with specified underlying medical conditions.
• Critical and high-risk workers.
Forbes (March 22, 2021)
• Forbes Medical Centre
• Forbes Medicine and Mind
Saturday Junior Mixed Netball
The Forbes Netball Committee is calling all boys and girls to come and play netball Saturday mornings, in two programs. NetSet-Go will be offered each Saturday for players aged 5 years to 10 years, and the Tri Towns Tournament will be played for ages 17 years and under. Players turning 9 and 10 this year can choose to play in the NSG program, and, or in the Tri Towns Tournament.
A Come and Try day will be held on Satur-day, from 10 am till 12 noon, where players both new and returning, can come and have fun playing netball. Help with the online registration process will be given on Saturday. A BBQ will be running after the games on Saturday.
The competition, called the Tri Towns Tournament, for all junior boys and girls kicks off on May 1. A training morning for all teams will be held on April 24, and the team uniforms will be given out. Registration is just $100 per player and parents can use their Active Kids Voucher to register.
If it is raining and too wet for the Come and Try Day on Saturday, families are asked to come and register from 10 am till 12 noon. Parents help will be needed for all the teams, as coaches, managers and umpires. Anyone who would like to volunteer for any jobs, should also put their name down on Saturday. Help will be given to learning umpires, and short coaching sessions will be offered to everyone who is interested.
Friday Netball will return each Friday after-noon starting in school term 2.
Draw for Wednesday, 24 March: Round
1 LADIES COMPETITION: DIVISION 1
• 7pm crt 9 Gundamain v Schofields (Jack Piercy/Lethal Weapon-1)
• 7pm crt 10 Chunky Pies v Take Your Time (Robyn Kenny/Marsbars-1)
LADIES COMPETITION: DIVISION 2/17U
• 6pm crt 10 Minties v Lethal Weapon (Carolyn Duncan/Gundamain Ladies-1)
• 7pm crt 11 Commercial Hecklers v D & A Detailing (Carolyn Duncan/Minties-1)
• Bye Pink Ladies
MIXED COMPETITION
• 6pm crt 9 Red Hot Chili Netters v FPS (Robyn Kenny/D & A Detailing-1)
• 7pm crt 4 Mix & Match v Skadoosh (FPS-1/Late Or Never-1)
• 8pm crt 9 Rickabys Concreting v Bin Chickens (Chunky Pies-1/Take Your Time-1)
• 8pm crt 10 Late Or Never v Ball Busters (Lyn Ford/Skadoosh-1)
• 8pm crt 11 Gundamain v Marsbars (Ro-byn Kenny/Commercial Hecklers-1)
The Forbes Shire Council fundraiser for Ronald McDonald House Charities Orange held last night was an outstanding success with a strong turn-out by locals.
“All funds raised on the evening will remain in Orange to directly support families from Forbes and other areas of the central and far west who come to stay at the house in Orange while seeking specialist and life-saving treatment for their baby, child or adolescent,” said Ronald McDonald House Media Representative Janice Harris.
“Since the house in Orange opened, 77 families from Forbes have stayed at no cost for a total of 301 nights,” Janice said.
“They have been supported with a range of services including emergency meals, toiletries, and new toys, activities and books for the child in hospital.”
In total, 838 families from the central and far west have stayed at the house in Orange for a total of 6,795 nights free of charge.
Wear Red Day began four years ago as an initiative of the Principal of Denison College in Bathurst, Ken Barwick.
“Can’t wait for 2022!”
Penrith Panthers have won their second straight game with an impressive 28-0 win over the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs keeping their opponents scoreless for the second week in a row and matching a 102 year old record in the process. In soggy conditions at Bankwest Stadium, the Panthers were never headed with Forbes junior Charlie Staines having a mixed game with some handling errors in the wet conditions tempered by outstanding defence. On Thursday Staines and the young Panthers play defending premiers Melbourne Storm at home in the grand final rematch.
HEALTHY START: At the launch of the new collaborative care model for five regions in Parkes on Tuesday were (L-R) Dr Shannon Noll (Rural Director for Medical Services NSW), Jenny Webb (Deputy Mayor Forbes Shire), Scott McLachlan (Chief Executive of Western NSW Local Health District), Ruth Stewart (National Rural Health Commissioner), Mark Coulton (Federal Regional Health Minister), Michael McCormack (Deputy Prime Minister), Barbara Newton (Deputy Mayor Parkes Shire), John Kramer (Chair of Rural Doctors Network) and Richard Colbran (CEO of Rural Doctors Network).
Last week a new collaborative health care model built on a community-based response was launched for Forbes and other centres throughout the Central West.
Forbes will join other regions in the trial to find innovative solutions to local healthcare problems with an investment of $5 million from the Australian Government to support what the communities come up with. The other regions are Parkes, Tullamore, Trangie, Tottenham, Trundle, Canowindra, Snowy Valley and Wentworth.
Regional experts, including the NSW Rural Doctors Network, the Western NSW Local Health District and the Western NSW Primary Health Network are working closely with local councils, community and health professionals to design an innovative solution.
The difference with this approach to traditional health workforce solutions that focus on individual towns, is the focus will be on sub-regions to address healthcare access issues.
“By servicing multiple towns, there is an opportunity to achieve economies of scale, create sustainable practices and provide better access to primary health services for rural and remote Australians,” said Deputy Prime Minister and member for Riverina Michael McCormack at the launch.
“The aim is to demonstrate how new and flexible approaches can address workforce shortages in the bush and find sustainable ways of delivering services across a number of smaller, connected rural communities,” said Federal Regional Health Minister, Mark Coulton.
“The challenge of delivering health services in small communities is well known, and it is clear the existing one-size-fits-all approach isn’t working for everyone.” The CEO of the Rural Doctors Network, Richard Colbran agreed, and believes the days of a doctor settling into a town for 40 years were gone.
“The aim with the new model would be to get doctors to stay for at least five years,” said Richard.
“That would allow patients to build a relationship with their GP.”
In more positive news for the Forbes Shire and Central West region, the state’s peak business organisation, Business NSW, says the extension of the Commonwealth Government’s apprentice subsidy is great news for Western NSW’s skilled workforce. The extension is especially important given the effects of COVID-19 over the past year on industry especially regional Australia.
“The Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements policy has certainly lived up to its name,” said Business NSW Regional Manager Western NSW, Vicki Seccombe.
“The Commonwealth Government hit the right note with this initiative, with reports from right across Western NSW of unprecedented demand for new apprentices and trainees,” Ms Seccombe said.
“Last October, our report Skilling Australia for a better future: Sup-porting apprenticeships through COVID-19 forecast a reduction of 54,000 new apprentices and trainees from 2019 to 2020.”
“Since that time, there is the very real prospect that commencements in 2020 will outstrip 2019. This is a great result and testament to the Commonwealth Government’s commitment to supporting businesses and young people through this very challenging period.
When the subsidy was announced, no one could have envisaged it having such a huge impact. In fact, it became a victim of its own success, with the 100,000 places exhausted well before the anticipated ending in September.
“This is why we called for an extension of the subsidy in our 2021 Commonwealth Pre-Budget Submission. This initiative helps gives businesses the confidence to invest in training someone for four years and helps create jobs for our young people so they are able to stay and work locally.” Ms Seccombe said.
FUNDING BOOST: NSW Nationals Upper House MP, Sam Farraway at Forbes Golf Club last week for the announcement that $30,000 would be donated for a new chemical shed and work room.
In a real boost for the Forbes community and golf enthusiasts throughout the shire, NSW Nationals Upper House MP, Sam Farraway today announced $30,000 in funding for a new chemical shed and work room provided by the NSW Government under its Crown Reserves Improvement Fund.
“It’s fantastic to report $1,466,823 has been secured for projects across the Orange electorate this year under the Crown Reserves Improvement Fund with $30,000 going to Forbes Golf Club,” Mr Farraway said.
“This funding will see infrastructure upgrades to reserves, sportsgrounds, showgrounds and the racecourse, as well as the maintenance of reserves through noxious weed control.”
Minister for Water, Property and Housing Melinda Pavey said the NSW Government is providing $51.7 million from the Crown Reserves Improvement Fund this year to support 705 maintenance and upgrade projects on Crown reserves across the State.
“This year’s fund has received a $40 million boost to support communities that have been impacted by bushfires and COVID-19, to fund infrastructure improvements and support jobs for local trades and materials suppliers,” Mrs Pavey said.
“Protecting and enhancing Crown land reserves is essential for the well-being of communities and our environment, and to support recreation, tourism, business, and local economies.”
With this latest development, recent rains and new owners over the club’s recent history, it is a real win for members and staff who work tirelessly to keep the venue operational.
The Western NSW Local Health District will start providing COVID-19 vaccinations to its staff from Monday, 22 March rolling out across the region.
“The Australian Government has developed a schedule that will see the most at-risk groups receive the COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible,” said Western NSW Local Health District Chief Executive Scott McLachlan.
“Phase 1a includes healthcare workers who work in areas such as emergency departments and intensive care units. It also includes aged care residents, including those living in our Multipurpose Service (MPS) facilities. Phase 1b includes all other healthcare workers.
“For our healthcare workers, we will have fixed clinics in Orange and Dubbo taking bookings from 22 March, with the Bathurst clinic opening the following day.”
Additionally, there will also be two mobile clinics in operation from 22 March that will visit all the smaller health facilities over the coming weeks.
The vaccination requires two injections at least twelve weeks apart, so those clinics will be booking staff in for both their appointments.
“Our clinics will be providing the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine. Both the current vaccines are very effective, and Oxford/AstraZeneca offers advantages for our District given the challenges of distance,” said Mr. MacLachlan.
“I would encourage people to use the Australian Government’s online eligibility checker to see when and how they can access vaccination.
“This is a really exciting development. Our staff, and our communities have, had been incredible in taking action to minimise the spread of COVID-19, and we all want the vaccination program to be a success,” he said.
“We’re fortunate to have the vaccine available and it will be a relief for our healthcare workers to have this extra layer of protection.”