Parkes Phoenix Editor

Maggi Barnard has been with the Forbes Phoenix since 2021 and loves writing about her community.

Snippets…

October 16, 2020 by Maggi Barnard

Lions Park RV dump point will be moved to Wheogo Park.

Lions Park RV Dump Point Relocation: With regional roads currently full of travellers, RV Dump Points are becoming the latest hot spots to locate. RV Dump Points are sites especially designed for Recreational Vehicles to dispose of their waste, including grey and black water, and sewage in the most environmentally friendly method of emptying waste from a caravan. Forbes has multiple sites available including Caravan Parks within the Shire, Forbes Showground and currently on the edge of Lions Park. The Lions Park dump point is going to be relocated to Wheogo Park in the coming weeks and Forbes Shire Council is advising the community that roadworks will be in place. Work on moving the site will commence Monday, 19 October 2020 and Junction Street will be closed for two days.

Central West Mayors Back Tresillian Residential Service: The Mayors of the Central NSW Joint Organisation are throwing their support behind the campaign lead by the Hon Steph Cooke, Member for Cootamundra for the Tresillian Residential Service at the Cowra Hospital, as part of the new upgrade to Cowra Hospital.

Tresillian is a long-standing organisation for young families and young children with expert parenting advice. They also have helped develop a Sleepwell Baby app for parent concerns such as baby sleep and settling, development, feeding and nutrition. Tresillian began with the Spanish Flu pandemic that reached Sydney early 1919. With 100 years of invaluable service for young families across New South Wales, Tresillian has played an important and unique role in the history of New South Wales. Hopefully, struggling parents and carers will soon have much easier access to this invaluable resource soon.

Pool Closures: This swim season, due to COVID-19 restrictions, new rules have been put into place to ensure all of the community has access to the Forbes Olympic Pool. So that the learn to swim program and squad training can go ahead, the pool will be closed to the public from 3.30pm-4.30pm on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday. While this may be frustrating from some members of the public, it is important to remember that these rules are in place for the health and safety of the entire community. As a community resource, it is critical that all have access to this wonderful facility.

The Forbes Olympic Pool will be inaccessible to the general public during squad training.

Mayoral Notes

October 16, 2020 by Maggi Barnard

October is Small Business Month, and you all know how much I champion the small businesses here in Forbes. I hope you all support the Forbes Business Chamber in the events they have lined up. The Business Visit was on Thursday and next week is the Tradies Night at the new Mitre 10. Then, last but not least, is our event with Kristy Withers from Incy Interiors.

Networking events like these are so important for our businesses and as you will all know 2020 has been like no other year, and we need to support each other where we can. Due to COVID places are limited and registration has to be lodged before attending.

Templar Street is coming along nicely with both sides now complete with new drainage. The new planter boxes will be planted in the coming weeks and these will act as barriers between the cars and pedestrians on the footpath when the road and footpath are at one level. The planter boxes can be relocated when events are taking place to open up the street and it’s going to look amazing!

Have you all had your say on the naming of Edward Street subdivision? We were out and about last week getting suggestions but if you missed the opportunity you can jump online to inform us of your suggestions at: www.yoursay.forbes.nsw.gov.au. Council is meeting this week and I will report back with the decisions next week.

Until then, God Bless.

Your Mayor,
Phyllis Miller

Farmers Urged To Vaccinate Against Q Fever

October 16, 2020 by Maggi Barnard

There have already been 51 confirmed cases of Q Fever in the Central West in 2020. Image Credit: Kateryna Kon/ Shutterstock

Western NSW Local Health District (WNSWLHD), Manager Communicable Diseases and Immunisation Susan Turcato, is strongly urging farmers and people who work with livestock to get vaccinated against Q Fever to guard against being unable to work due to prolonged illness.

Q Fever is a bacterial infection carried by livestock that can lead to chronic lethargy that may last for several months. Susan said a single dose vaccine is recommended for people who work in high-risk occupations, as well as for people aged 15 years and over who could be exposed to Q Fever.

There have been an alarming 51 confirmed cases of Q Fever reported in WNSWLHD so far this year, the symptoms of which, mainly chronic fatigue, can affect individuals and families, as well as impact their ability to work.

“With all the pressure on farmers and livestock handlers with the recent drought and the COVID-19 pandemic, the last thing we want is for them to be needlessly drained of energy for months on end after being struck down by Q Fever,” Susan said.

People become infected when they breathe in dust particles contaminated by infected animal secretions, which can lead to high fevers and chills, sweating, severe headaches, muscle and joint pains and extreme fatigue.

Susan is urging anyone who might be at risk to consult a GP who can screen for Q Fever and vaccinate them, if needed. “We want people to proactively talk to their doctor about Q Fever,” she said.

The NSW Government is investing around $1 million between 2018 and 2022 to help protect farmers and other people in rural areas who work with animals from Q Fever.

NSW Health is currently delivering an education campaign targeting people in occupations and locations at higher risk of Q Fever.

Future Of Forbes Tourism Is In Your Hands

October 16, 2020 by Maggi Barnard

Forbes residents can improve tourism in the Shire by completing the survey by 23 October 2020.

Forbes Shire Council’s Tourism Plan 2020-2030 is currently being developed and Council is calling on the community to provide input.

“We would love to hear from everybody. As members of the community, you are important stakeholders in the future success of tourism in Forbes and your suggestions and input are invaluable,” said Forbes Shire Council Mayor, Phyllis Miller OAM. “Tourism is so important to our local economy and we need to ensure tourists want to stop here. We need to have the services and attractions that they cannot resist and then tell all their friends about.”

Forbes residents are also invited to vote on their Top Five favourite things to do with visitors when they come to Forbes. This will help identify the attractions that are visited frequently and may need attention as well as themes Council can expand upon.

How can Forbes grow and what are the strengths and weaknesses of the area? These are some of the questions being posed to residents of Forbes. “This information is so important to establish our plan for the next 10 years in attracting people off the Newell Highway to stop and stay a while in our wonderful part of Australia. Tourism is important to the economic development of the region and will boost employment opportunities,” said Phyllis.

Complete the survey before 23 October and go in the draw to win a $100 Why Leave Town Card.

The survey can be found at www.yoursay.forbes.nsw.gov.au/forbes-tourism-plan.

Stronger And Smarter Business

October 16, 2020 by Maggi Barnard

Forbes Shire Council is partnering with the Forbes Business Chamber to promote and engage with the Forbes business community this October for NSW Small Business Month.

The festival will have several events during the month-long celebration and includes a breakfast with guest speaker, Kristy Withers, founder and owner of Incy Interiors on Thursday, 29 October.

Kristy is a remarkable business woman and has built a business of her own out of a need for something she couldn’t find in the market.

This year’s Tradie Networking Night will also launch the new Forbes Mitre 10 franchise on Thursday, 22 October. Previously Acheson’s Home Hardware, the business has moved to a new franchise model, Mitre 10. This year’s theme is Future Proof Your Business, and it will be held on site at 1 Oxford Street. Aaron and Jacinda Acheson will introduce the new platform Tradies Online. This platform will be launched in November and will enable tradesmen to have access to many different services, facilities, and information.

Join this event by booking at Mitre 10 on 6851 1111. The event will run from 4pm to 6pm and attendance is free. A maximum of 25 people can attend this event so bookings are essential.

Forbes Receives Further Infrastructure Funding

October 16, 2020 by Maggi Barnard

Member for Riverina and Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack

Regional Australia will have a vital role in building a road to our national economic recovery, Riverina MP and Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack says.

This message was reinforced with Michael announcing that Forbes Shire Council will receive an extra $1,075,441 under an extension of the well-received Local Roads and Community Infrastructure (LRCI) Program as part of the 2020 Budget, bringing the total funding to more than $2.29 million.

The Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development said the nation’s economic recovery would be led on a local level through procurement, jobs and supporting small businesses.

“The further investment into the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program, to the tune of an additional $1 billion nationwide, will stimulate local economies and create more local jobs,” Michael said.

The now $1.5 billion program will continue to support local jobs and businesses and will boost local economies struggling under the effects of COVID-19 and will enable councils to deliver priority projects with a focus on local road and community infrastructure upgrades and maintenance.

Michael explained that, “Local councils understand the immediate needs in their communities which is why this money is so important to support local jobs and local businesses in Forbes and the wider region. This is part of a $110 billion 10-year infrastructure investment which will drive our economic recovery for years to come.”

Supporting councils to improve local roads and community infrastructure will have lasting economic and social benefits for regional communities.

“Projects which could be undertaken under this program could include constructing or improvement of bridges, street lighting and heavy vehicle facilities,” Michael said.

Templar Street Makes Tracks Ahead

October 16, 2020 by Maggi Barnard

The revitalisation of Templar Street is on track for completion in December 2020.

The Templar Street revitalisation is well underway with new drainage installed on the southern side of the street and the northern side work nearing completion.

“The streetscape is really coming together and with teams working weekends to ensure the disturbance is lessened through the week, and everyone is very happy,” says Forbes Shire Council Mayor Phyllis Miller OAM. “The street is due to be completed by December and this gives businesses the security to know the Christmas shopping period will not be disrupted.”

Twenty-four parking spaces will remain, and the 24 new planter boxes have now been completed by Cowan’s Engineering. The boxes will be planted with short and tall seasonal plants and trees. By arranging the boxes alternatively, the sight lines into shops will not be interrupted.

“When the road resurfacing occurs, the entire street will be closed to traffic for two days,” Phyllis explained, “This will be carried out during a weekend to ensure traffic disturbance is less likely to cause too much disruption. The current pavers on the roadway will be crushed and re-used as road base for other projects, ensuring no waste will be incurred due to works in Templar Street.”

Weather permitting the Templar Street revitalisation will be completed by December 2020.

Local History; Charles West – Part One

October 16, 2020 by Maggi Barnard

Charles was born on 28 September 1818 at Somerset, England. He was baptised at Shepton Mallet, Somerset, on 31 October 1818. His father Charles was a Hawker and they lived at Rolver Street.

Charles Junior was tried at Easter Assizes in 1833 for Larceny but was acquitted. On 6 August 1836 at the age of 18, Charles West was tried at County Assizes in Somerset for the offence of Warehouse Breaking and was sentenced to 14 years.

Charles arrived in New South Wales on 12 February 1837 on the ship Norfolk, which sailed from Spithead on 30 October, 1836 and was said to have had an excellent run out of the channel with fine weather. Charles was single, could read and write and was a Protestant with no previous convictions. He was 5’6 tall and had a fair, ruddy complexion, light hair and grey eyes.

By Cheryl Barton
Forbes Family History Group