How’s Your Oral Health Tracking?
This week is Dental Health Week, the Australian Dental Association’s major annual oral health promotion event. Its aim is to educate Australians about the importance of maintaining good oral health by promoting these key messages:
• Brush twice a day with a toothpaste that contains fluoride.
• Clean in between teeth at least once a day with floss or an interdental brush.
• Eat a healthy, balanced diet and limit sugar intake.
• Regularly visit the dentist for check-ups and preventive treatment.
This year, these important messages will be reinforced via the tagline ‘How’s Your Oral Health Tracking?’, which draws off the Australian Dental Association’s Oral Health Tracker report cards, a world-first initiative that documents and tracks Australia’s oral health status.
Tempting though it is to think everyone is practicing good oral health, the reality is that the oral health of many Australians is not where it should be.
• 65% of Australians haven’t seen a dentist in the last two years.
• 50% of Australians brush their teeth only once-a-day.
• Nearly 40% never floss or clean between their teeth.
• 73% of young people (14-18 years) are consuming too much sugar.
All of which means that getting the message out there about good oral health is more important than ever. Since the best oral care education occurs face to face, from dental professional to patient, the ADA encourages you to use the Dental Health Week website, the associated resources, and even the ADA’s Oral Health Tracker to help start conversations about keeping track of mouth health and making oral health a high priority.
(Source: www.ada.org.au)
MAYORAL NOTES
Wow, what an amazing week it has been!
It was wonderful to receive the Best Local Youth Week Award at the Local Government Awards in Sydney. Sarah Williams and the Community and Tourism team do a great job engaging our youth in the Forbes Shire and putting on events like Youth Week. Congratulations to you all! The team are recruiting for the Forbes Youth Action Team, check our website or call Sarah.
Another great youth program is the Boys to the Bush program. We should all get behind this. These camps give young boys the opportunity to be surrounded by positive influences while learning good values and skills. I can’t rave about this enough.
Having known Adam Demamiel for many years, I know this will continue to great things.
We have our Council Meeting next Thursday, 15th August. Don’t forget to tune in to Facebook Live to watch. It has been committee meeting week this week and boy it’s been busy! Economic Development, Council Briefing Session, Australia Day plans and Governance.
On behalf of you the community I want to thank the Councillors for their dedication and commitment. There is a lot to get through in these meetings and they are so important ensuring we make the right decisions for our community.
I would like to congratulate Northparkes Mines celebrating 25 years this week. They have been a fantastic corporate citizen to Forbes. We are excited about the next 25 years.
Until next week, God Bless.
Your Mayor, Phyllis Miller
Student Council Ambassadors Needed
In celebration of NSW Local Government Week, Council is seeking two Year 5 students from each school within the Shire to be Council Ambassadors. Council Ambassadors will present and promote Council information at school assemblies, including but not limited to; school holiday activities, upcoming events and how to have their say on Council decisions.
“We are thrilled to celebrate NSW Government Week with the roll out of this exciting new program,” said Mayor Miller. “One of the things our Council is passionate about is engaging with young people, and getting them involved and interested in local government. This program is the perfect way to do that. We hope to inspire a whole new generation of leaders who will go on to join the Forbes Youth Action Team when they are old enough and then one day maybe even run for Council,” continued Phyllis.
The aim of the Council Ambassador program is to engage with young people in Forbes who are not quite old enough to participate in the Forbes Youth Action Team but who would like to demonstrate and develop their leadership and communication skills.
For Council, this will not only improve their connection with the community but also give our future leaders the chance to develop vital skills and have a chance to be heard. All applicants will be invited to participate in three two-hour after school sessions focusing on leadership and communication skills. Ambassadors will be announced in early September.
To apply to be a Council Ambassador, current Year 5 students should finish the following statement: I would make an excellent ambassador for Forbes Shire Council to my school community because… Student Name, contact details and school are to be listed at the end of the paragraph.
Applications close today Friday 9th August and should be emailed to community@forbes.nsw.gov.au. For more information contact the Council Community Relations Officer on 6850 2300.
Croquet Results
Twenty-eight players braved the wintry weather for our three games of golf croquet.
The winners of the three games were Kevin Rubie and Bill Scott, while the two games were won by J Job, J Liebich, A Todd, E Mahlo, H Stewart, J Allegri, J Cole, M Langfield and J Littlejohn.
We needed our lights on as a thick fog lasted most of the time for last Saturday’s Aussie croquet.
Winners of the three games were Barry White, Kevin Rubie and John Allegri. The closest games were played by J MacCullagh and J Allegri 14 def D Scott and J Liebich 12; B Field and E McLean 14 def G Coles and N Spry 12; C Liebich and B White 14 def L Todd and J Cole 12.
By Colleen Liebich
Monthly Medal Winners
The Individual Monthly Medal Stroke event was contested by 46 players.
A-Grade winner: Andrew Dukes -nett 72; Shane Sallaway (72) on count back. Best score: B-Grade with Bruce Carpenter (68 nett). Runner-up: Laurie O’Connor – 70 nett. The C-Grade: Ralph Baker (nett 69), Steve Grallelis (nett 71).
Ball sweep: 68 – B Carpenter; 69 – R Baker; 70 – L O’Connor; 71 – T Griffiths, S Grallelis, D Earl, M Spice, B Parker; 72 – A Dukes, S Sallaway; 73 – A Rees, S Kirkman.
The NTP’s went to: 9th – B Parker; 18th – I Bown.
The Sunday Stableford Medley field was won by Ethel Coombs (34 points), who also picked up both NTP’s. There was no runnerup or ball sweep.
The last week of the Winter 3’s competition was a real nail-biter. Taylor/Tucker/J Haley led for most of the comp, but bad scores in week 10 and 11 enabled Besgrove/Rousell/ Girot to nip into the lead by two points. They held on to the end.
Results for the last week of the Winter 3’s: voucher to – N Girot (nett 29); ball winners: 29 – N Girot; 30 – A Watts, R Taylor; 31.5 – A Baker; 32.5 – A Tucker; 33 – G Besgrove.
Youth Program A Winner!
An innovative program of Forbes Shire Council was a winner at the Local Government NSW Awards last week.
Forbes was announced joint winner for the Best Local Youth Week Program with Brewarrina Shire Council.
“Our youth are such an important part of the future of this community and therefore we must celebrate them,” said Forbes Shire Mayor, Phyllis Miller OAM.
“Forbes Shire leads the way, in its commitment to provide a range of activities and opportunities for local young people, both during Youth Week and throughout the year.”
Forbes Shire Council Youth Officer Sarah Williams was very excited and said: “Working with the youth of Forbes has been a great experience for me and it is truly an honour for us to receive an award. We have an amazing program of events lined up for the year and I really look forward to working with the Forbes Youth Action Team (FYAT) to deliver these to the community.”
Youth Week is an opportunity for young people to share ideas, attend live events and to have their voices heard on issues of concern to them. Sarah also coordinates a program of events throughout the year. These include the Burrendong Year 5 Camp for children, movie screenings and a wide variety of activities during school holidays.
The FYAT, established to give young people a voice, welcome new members aged between 13 and 25 years. Contact Sarah on 6850 2300 for more information.
SNIPPETS…
Congratulations to the winner of Flannery’s Pharmacy MOR basket, Chrissie Lowe (left)! She received her prize from Debbie Prior.
Flu Still Prevalent: Western NSW Local Health District (WNSWLHD) is urging people to remember simple hygiene precautions to avoid spreading the flu, as the area continues to see high rates of infection. WNSWLHD Public Health Manager, Priscilla Stanley said there had been 1,521 cases of influenza in the district so far this year, compared with 85 last year. “We are encouraging people to cover their coughs and sneezes, wash their hands thoroughly and stay home if they are unwell. Vaccination is still your best protection and it is not too late to have a flu shot.” Flu shots are
free for pregnant women, people over 65 years, Aboriginal people and those with medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes and heart problems.
Helping Women In Need: The August Dignity Drive of Share the Dignity has begun and for the first time Woolworths Supermarkets across the country will be collection points for all sanitary product donations. Over three million Australians are currently living under the poverty line, more than half are women and young girls who are unable to afford sanitary products. Share the Dignity is asking Australians for every sanitary product consumers buy, they also buy one for a woman or girl in need. Donations can be dropped off at a Woolworths supermarket.
$100 Kids Vouchers: Arts OutWest is encouraging parents of school aged kids to make use of their Creative Kids vouchers. The program provides $100 for each school-aged child in NSW to get involved in creative and cultural activities. Vouchers can be used for registration, participation and tuition costs for performing arts, visual arts, coding, languages, literature, music and other creative and cultural activities. Across the Central West 70 providers have registered to accept the vouchers. Parents apply for the vouchers using their MyServiceNSW account and need to provide their child’s Medicare card details. The vouchers can be used any time during the calendar year.
Daffodil Day Appeal: Cancer Council NSW is urging Forbes residents to support the Daffodil Day Appeal this month by donating to life-saving research to give more than hope to those affected by cancer. Daffodil Day is on 23rd August, and for the first time ever, EFTPOS devices will be available at every site to make it easier for people to donate if they don’t have cash. Visit www.daffodilday.com.au or call 1300 65 65 85 for more information.
The Australian Red Cross Blood Service van was in Forbes on Wednesday. If you would like to donate blood diarise 4 – 6th November when it will be back at Victoria Park.
Our Gal -Matilda Den
How long have you lived in or around Forbes and what is the best thing about living here? I have lived in Eugowra for the past 11 years and recently moved to Forbes nine months ago. Living in Eugowra there was such a sense of community and family that was extremely comforting.
Where do you work or what do you do currently and what do you enjoy about it? I currently work at the Central Hotel Eugowra helping my family manage and run the pub. This has been a recent adventure for us something that has been extremely enjoyable and rewarding. I am also studying through Charles Sturt University to be a Technology and Applied Studies Teacher.
What is your favourite thing to do when you have free time? I love walking around the beautiful town of Forbes with my dog. We take full advantage of the beautiful lake on sunny days.
What makes you proud? My family. This adventure of us taking over the pub in Eugowra recently has been a major project for us all and I couldn’t be prouder of what we have achieved.
If you could be an animal which one would you choose and why? A whale, I wish I could travel and see as much as they do.
What is your all-time favourite movie, song and/or book, and why? Movie would have to be Tomorrow When The War Began. Book, anything by John Green and music, I love all of Ed Sheeran’s music.
What are you really good at? I’d like to say photography and cooking, they are major passions of mine.
Women In Central West Unaware Of Breast Cancer Risk
This year more than 245 women in the Western and Far Western Local Health Districts will be diagnosed with breast cancer,
while about 42 women will die from breast cancer.
WNSWLHD Breastscreen Manager, Meg O’Brien, said far too many women might be unaware of their risk of breast cancer, despite the fact that 9 in 10 women diagnosed don’t have a family history.
“The risk is real for every woman aged 50 to 74. One in eight women in NSW will develop breast cancer in their lifetime and less than 10 per cent of them will have a family history,” Meg said.
“That’s why all women in this age group should screen for breast cancer, regardless of whether they have a family history.”
“By detecting breast cancer early, breast screening not only saves lives but also reduces the likelihood of a woman needing invasive treatment, such as a mastectomy or chemotherapy.”
According to Meg more than 16,000 women in the Western and Far Western Local Health Districts get a free, state-of-the-art mammogram through BreastScreen NSW each year.
“The more having a mammogram with BreastScreen NSW becomes part of your normal two-yearly health routine, the easier it is to keep going. The key is to get the momentum started,” Meg said.
“When it comes to reducing breast cancer risk, it is also vital to focus on lifestyle factors within a woman’s control.”
“While a family history can’t be changed, maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly, reducing alcohol intake and quitting smoking are all things that can significantly reduce a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer,” she said.
In addition to 46 BreastScreen sites, BreastScreen NSW has 16 mobile vans that provide services to about 180 locations across NSW, including in rural and remote areas.
The mobile BreastScreen van is currently in Forbes until 21st August. Make use of this free services and make an appointment today.
To book a mammogram with BreastScreen NSW, phone 13 20 50, or book online by visiting breastscreen.nsw.gov.au.
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