Bee Moxey: Best&Less, it caters for all sizes for men, women, children, and babies. It’s something Parkes doesn’t have and will bring visitors and money into our community.
Peter Bright: This may sound a bit 19th century, but how about The Forbes Co-operative store?
Anna Stiles-Berry: Target, Kmart, Best&Less, Cotton On, Harris Scarfe but preferably something to cater for everyone. Some smaller vacant stores could have flip out, roller arcade, laser tag etc.
Forbes Shire Council’s annual Community Funding Program is now open for applications from community organisations, sporting groups and not-for-profit organisations within the Shire. Applications in Round 1 will be accepted until Monday, 31 August.
The program, which is only accepting online applications through the new Forbes Shire Council SmartyGrants portal, offers an opportunity for groups to access funding to support events, activities and infrastructure. Up to $5,000 is available per applicant with a total of $100,000 available in two rounds across the financial year.
“We are offering two rounds of Community Funding to give groups in the Shire more opportunity to plan for their activities,” said Mayor Phyllis Miller. “The first round has just opened and funding for successful projects will be available from October 2020. The next round will be assessed in March 2021 with funding available in April.”
“As always, our amazing Grants Officers will be available to assist groups with completing and submitting applications to ensure applicants have the best chance of success,” Phyllis said.
Funding Guidelines are available on Council’s website or can be downloaded from the SmartyGrants portal at http://forbesshire.smartygrants.com.au. Call 02 6850 2300 for more information.
Pump up your netballs and get ready to play. Plans are currently underway for Netball to return soon when the NSW Government lifts community sporting restrictions.
The Forbes Netball Association Committee has planned for the return to competition in Forbes as soon as the Government gives the go-ahead.
The Autumn Night competitions that had begun before the COVID-19 lockdown have now been cancelled and registrations to NNSW will be carried over to the next competition. This is due to registrations not being refunded by the state body.
Plans are underway for the new Spring night competition for both mixed and ladies’ teams.
Awaiting Government approval, the Forbes Netball committee is planning for the Spring Night Competitions to start on 26 August with the first grading games.
The second grading games will be played on 2 September, with the first competition games to be played on 9 September, depending on approval from the NSW Government.
The team nominations will close on 19 August and the competitions will run until the Finals on 2 December.
The Saturday Junior Mixed Competition, including NetSetGo, will open on 18 July with a Welcome back to Forbes Netball day, pending Government approval. The day will be celebrated with a sausage sizzle and registrations.
NetSetGo will be played from 10am-11am, and the competition will be played from 11.15am- 12.15pm. The Saturday Junior Mixed competition will take on a more social competition, for players under 15 and will finish on 26 September.
The Forbes carnival set down for May had to be cancelled, and NNSW is now organising dates for the return to carnivals, pending Government approval. The Forbes Committee has requested a carnival for Sunday, 20 September.
The carnival will be a Junior day for all players NetSetGo to 15 years, for both club and representative teams.
Bruce Adams, Peter Apps, Rex Barton, and Mark Lyell have been hard at work preparing exhibition space at the Museum.
It has been a labour of love for the small group of volunteers working hard to prepare four new exhibition spaces at the Forbes and District Historical Museum. The upstairs space was originally hotel accommodation for the hotel which stood next door. With its beautiful timber ceilings and indoor toilet facilities, it really was a modern and luxurious space for guests in the early 1900s. For visitors in 2020, it is a building that one can feel fully immersed in the history of.
President of the Forbes and District Historical Society for three years, and member for eight, Bruce Adams, hopes to have the space ready in the next three weeks or so. With a small group of five hard working and passionate volunteers, Bruce has been seeing to the renovations of the enormous space. The upstairs exhibition rooms will be accessible via elevator and looks to make the Museum bigger and better than ever. Bruce and the team of volunteers are encouraging high school students to get involved, a plan that has seen some interruptions due to COVID-19.
The men working upstairs have really had their work cut out for them in transforming what was a flat into a clean and elegant space, worthy of exhibiting the incredible collection that is guaranteed to whisk visitors back in time, to the Forbes of the Gold Rush era and beyond.
The former Osborn Hall, built in 1878 was the main hall and place of entertainment for 12 years, before the Forbes Town Hall was erected in 1890. Throughout its existence the building has been utilised for a range of activities and purposes from dancing, to shooting, to a motor garage, and in 1970 it was opened as a Museum by the Forbes and District Historical Society and remains so to this day.
How long have you lived in or around Forbes and what do you like about living here? I have lived in Forbes since I was two years old. I’ve enjoyed growing up here and the childhood I was able to have. I love the community and how everyone knows each other and in tough times everyone comes together.
What was your first job? My first job was at Bernardi’s Marketplace where I am still employed, going on five years now. I am grateful to work for such an amazing family run company.
What makes you laugh the most? My friends, family, and animals.
If money were no object, what would you do with your time? I would travel everywhere!
Describe your dream holiday? Going to the beach or a warmer, sunnier place.
What is a favourite childhood memory of yours? Summertime with my friends, riding our scooters to the pool or river.
If you could live in any time or place, where and when would that be? In the 1960s when my Pop, Ian Walsh played football.
If you could share a meal with any three people, past or present, who would they be? Kylie Jenner.
If you could have a superpower, what would it be? To be able to read people’s minds.
What is your pet hate? People who snore.
Sergeant Martin Ling from the Parkes Highway Patrol.
Forbes residents and holidaymakers planning a long weekend getaway are being reminded that double demerit points will be enforced.
Forbes, Parkes and Lachlan Shire Councils’ Road Safety and Injury Prevention Officer, Melanie Suitor, said: “For many, this long weekend will be the first opportunity to travel further afield since the COVID-19 travel restrictions were eased. I want to remind all drivers, that the road safety risks are still the same.”
“The double demerit point period will be in place for four days, commencing on Friday, 5 June and ending on Monday, 8 June,” Melanie said.
Parkes Highway Patrol Sergeant Martin Ling says Operation Stay Alert will run over the June long weekend.
“Highway Patrol will have a strong presence across the Parkes, Forbes and Lachlan Shire Council areas this long weekend. We will be paying more attention to drink drivers and ask those intending to consume alcohol to take advantage of the local taxi service or use a designated driver,” Martin said.
With the cold weather predicted over the long weekend, driving conditions have changed with wet, slippery roads and increased traffic expected. Police are urging drivers to exercise extra caution.
Candice Iyer: It will be nice when story time starts back up at the library and I can see the kids again.
Jillian Bray: Going out and mingling with my friends again.
Flannery’s Pharmacy offers support and information through pregnancy, labour, birth preparation and more.
Flannery’s Pharmacy is excited to be able to provide a new online program for parents of children aged 0-3 years. “Nourish Baby offers a fully customised program designed to complement existing parenting services and programs,” said Debbie Prior, Business Manager at Flannery’s Pharmacy.
“The Nourish Baby online courses cover the full journey through pregnancy, labour, birth preparation and early parenting, including breastfeeding, sleep and settling your little one,” said Debbie. “Parents can join the online course at any stage, however, the earlier they start the greater the benefit and value of the Nourish Baby Course.”
“COVID-19 has been a difficult time, leaving many of our expectant and new parents no doubt feeling anxious and overwhelmed. With hospital antenatal classes no longer running due to social distancing and with parents of young children finding themselves much more isolated than normal, we thought this would be an ideal time to offer young parents the Nourish Baby modules free of charge.” The Nourish Baby program would normally cost the participant $195 but is currently free if you join up at Flannery’s Pharmacy.
To sign up, parents need to call the pharmacy on 6852 1111 for more information.
Forbes students Jamal and Zara Alghamdi were overjoyed to see their friends at school again.
It was a sight for sore eyes for parents to wave their children off on Monday morning as Forbes students joined thousands across NSW in returning to school full time for face-to-face learning.
In a move towards easing restrictions and slowly returning to life as we knew it, school students will not need to follow the strict distancing guidelines however, good hygiene practices such as regularly washing hands, not sharing food and drinks, and sneezing into a tissue have been implemented.
Teachers were relieved to have their students back and spent the week easing their students back into a regular routine, with the exception of some activities like drinking from the bubbler and attending assemblies and excursions. School libraries and non-contact sport, however, has been enthusiastically resumed with many students ecstatic to catch up with and to play with their friends after nearly two months spent learning from home.
Schools across the Forbes Shire are set to receive additional cleaning supplies to meet with the guidelines and advice from NSW Health. Door handles, handrails, hard surfaces, light switches, and other frequently handled areas will be targeted for regular cleaning.
Forbes Target is set to close by mid-2021.
The recent announcement by Westfarmers that Forbes Target, alongside 159 other mostly regional stores, is to be closed or converted into Kmart has been met with unanimous expressions of disappointment throughout the Forbes Shire.
While Target has said they would focus on increasing awareness of their online business for regional communities, as well as broaden their online capabilities, Forbes Business Chamber’s Marg Duggan has warned that this would only further damage the local economy. “It’s really disappointing, closures by corporate business have a bigger impact here than in cities,” said Marg.
Both the Forbes Shire Council and the Forbes Business Chamber are going to approach Westfarmers to urge them to reconsider the closure of Forbes Target, which currently services over 65,000 people in the Forbes Shire and surrounds.
“The size of the store, should it remain empty, will have a tremendous impact on our beautiful CBD and the reduction in traffic will have devastating consequences for smaller businesses in town.” Marg went on to say that the closure is “a tough reminder of the consequences of online shopping and the changing global economy,” urging consumers to “reconsider their shopping habits and shop locally before going out of town.”
While many Forbes small businesses have an online presence, the sustainability of the CBD relies on foot traffic coming into the bricks and mortar stores, with the Forbes Business Chamber reminding shop owners that they have the responsibility to provide a good shopping experience for their customers.
A Forbes retail veteran and store owner, Stewart Robb said: “We think it’s terrible. We have been here for 40 years, before there was a department store there and it was pretty dire then. This closure will drive locals out of town for basics,” adding, “Grenfell and Condobolin and all the other towns in between will be going to Parkes,” a move that will have a devastating impact on the local economy.
One Forbes saleswoman believes that the Business Chamber and Forbes Shire Council’s energy is better spent in finding a replacement, such as Best&Less, to occupy the space. “Everyone else will be chasing up Target,” a company many retailers expressed have “made their decision based on numbers, so there is no way to change their mind.” Forbes Target is set to close mid-next year, and while the predicted impact of the closure is daunting, the ingenuity and resilience of the Forbes community is sure to find a solution.