Parkes Phoenix Editor

‘Every Student, Every Voice’

Education Week is a state-wide, annual event, held during August to celebrate NSW public education. The theme for 2019 is ‘Every Student, Every Voice’ and encompasses a celebration of student empowerment and how the NSW public education system gives students the skills they need in order to have and express a voice during their educational journey and as engaged global citizens.

The innovative teaching and learning happening at Forbes High School will be on display at the Semester 1 Assembly as part of Education Week celebrations. “Forbes High School continues to strive towards excellence and our staff, students and parents have much to celebrate from our recent external validation, in which peer Principals acknowledged our school is excelling in educational leadership and wellbeing,” said Principal Ms Safija Bristina.

Forbes North Public School has a range of activities on offer this Education Week. The Scholastic Book Week will run all week in the library. There will also be open classrooms on Tuesday 6th August from 12noon to 1pm and the Education Week Showcase will take place on Thursday 8th August at 6pm at Forbes High School Hall, tickets are $5 per person.

Forbes Public School is a vibrant and innovative learning community. Dedicated and expert teaching staff, the school chaplain, and school learning support officers work collaboratively with a supportive parent body to set a positive school tone. This generates an open, safe and caring learning environment where students are supported to be future focused and reach their full potential. Spacious grassy play areas, play infrastructure and a committed P&C provide students a stimulating environment in which to learn, play and grow. The school strives to produce innovative learning opportunities and celebrates a proud tradition of excellence. Students are given the opportunity to improve, achieve and excel through strong academic, sporting, cultural and creative arts programs.

At West Wyalong High School, each and every student is valued and continually striving to give students the platform to use their voice. The students are presented with endless opportunities aimed at extending themselves socially, culturally and educationally. The school strongly encourages every student to be involved in the successful leadership programs, directed towards developing confidence, communication skills and relationships within the school and local community.

Grants Available For Central West Schools

Nationals’ MP and Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack is urging schools to apply for a share in up to $200,000 in funding this Education Week.

“All schools in the Central West will be eligible to apply for funding ranging from $1,000 to $20,000 as part of the Liberal and Nationals Government’s $30.2 million Local Schools Community Fund,” Mr Mc- Cormack said.

“I have written to the Principals of the 131 schools across the Riverina and Central West to encourage them to apply for funding for projects which will make such a tangible difference to students’ education.”

“We know that school leaders and their communities are best placed to know what their schools need and the Local Schools Community Fund ensures they can apply for funding for a project which will make the biggest difference to their students’ education needs,” continued Mr McCormack.

“This could be anything from a small-scale refurbishment or extension to a classroom, playground equipment and sports facilities to mental health and counselling services, new computer facilities and library resources.”

Schools should identify their projects in consultation with their local school community.

Before applying for funding, schools are required to notify their approved authority.

Applications are to be submitted through the Department of Education’s Schools HUB portal at www.schools.education.gov.au by 5pm on 30 September.

Projects must be completed by the end of 2020. A committee will be established by Mr McCormack to independently assess each application from schools. The Local Schools Community Fund is open to all schools but eligibility conditions will apply. Guidelines, frequently asked questions and other information about the LSCF are on the Department of Education’s website at www.education.gov.au/local-schoolscommunity- fund

Paul Menzies caught this whopper at Four Mile just outside of Forbes it was 90cm in length and 7.8kg in weight.

 

Meet Australian author Felicity McLean when she tours the Central West in August. Felicity will be at the Forbes Library on Tuesday 6th August at 2pm.

Her book The Van Apfel Girls Are Gone was chosen as the book for the One Library, One Book project where 200 copies were distributed to the community to involve everyone in a book club.

Felicity has become an international publishing sensation with rights to The Van Apfel Girls are Gone sold in the US, UK, Spain and France. She is currently launching her book in the USA.

Part mystery, part coming of age story The Van Apfel Girls are Gone is set in a distant suburb on the encroaching bushland, over the long hot summer of 1992. It’s the summer of the school’s Showstopper concert. The summer Tikka never forgot. The summer the Van Apfel sisters disappeared.

Felicity is a writer and a journalist. Her writing has appeared in The Good Weekend, the Daily Telegraph, the Herald Sun, the Big Issue and more. Her book Body Lengths was co-written with Olympian Leisel Jones. It won the 2016 Australian Book Industry Awards ‘Readers Choice’ for Small Publisher Adult Book of the Year.

As a ghost-writer Felicity has collaborated with celebrities, sports stars and business leaders.

Keen readers of the book will be able to directly ask her questions about her writing and the book The Van Apfel Girls are Gone: Bookings are now being taken online via Eventbrite.com or you can call 6852 1463 to book your spot.

Forbes Shire Council has received the coveted ALMA Animal Welfare Award last week at a presentation in Roma, Queensland.

This win is further proof that animal welfare is a critical priority for Forbes Shire Council and the Central West Livestock Exchange (CWLE).

The CWLE is a state-of-the-art facility for buying and selling premium quality cattle, sheep and pigs. With 105,000 Cattle and 1,466,900 Sheep throughput at the facility each year and a major driver for the Forbes economy.

“I’m very proud of our Council winning this award, but even prouder of the wonderful staff and facility we have at the Central West Livestock Exchange. The livestock exchange serves an important role for our farming community and we will continue to upgrade and maintain this amazing infrastructure,” says Forbes Shire Council Mayor, Phyllis Miller.

Further to external staff training Council has developed and implemented a CWLE induction for all users to the facility which aims to educate and promote responsibilities for all users of the facility.

General Manager, Steve Loane, passionately states; “The CWLE is one of the best facilities I have seen in Australia and to ensure we remain competitive we need to ensure those in charge and running the facility are trained accordingly. I am incredibly proud of the staff and their willingness to undertake the training proposed to ensure the CWLE runs like a well-oiled machine.”

Forbes Lion Peter Bright will take over as District Governor of District 201 N4 at the Annual Changeover event being held on Saturday 20 August, 2019, at the Forbes Services Memorial Club. Forbes Mayor Phyllis Miller will attend the event along with around 60 Lions members.

The appointment follows 15 months of intensive training, culminating in a week-long event in Milan, Italy from 5-9th July, where around 800 District Governors from around the world were officially sworn in.

Peter will take over the role from immediate Past District Governor Gavan Ellis, and aims to build on the Lions presence in the region to ensure they can continue supporting the community.

“I want to make sure we can continue to help our communities through tough times, and I’m keen to involve younger people in the idea of voluntary community service,” Peter said.

He already has a strong track record. Peter and his wife, Elaine, have been active Lions since joining in 2006, when the Forbes and District Club was established.

In 13 years, Peter has twice served as Club President, and has led many projects that have made a difference in the community.

Peter is committed to spreading the message that kindness matters, and working with and involving young people in community service. He has been involved in the annual Youth of the Year Quest, bringing the State Final to Forbes in 2017, and he formed the first Leos club in Forbes at the Forbes High School.

In 2017, Peter received the International Presidents Award for his work with the Forbes Flood Relief efforts, during which the club assisted local families with a variety of Australian Lions Foundation vouchers including food, fuel, stock feed and fencing.

He is quick to point out it was a team effort. “Of course, it was an honour to receive the award, but it reflected on the whole club, not just me,” said Peter.

When he takes over as District Governor, he will lead a membership of around 1,000 Lions in 48 clubs across Central, Northern, and Southern NSW. District activities include responding to community needs during disaster events, and regular activities such as the Youth of The Year Quest, Peace Poster Competition, and fundraising for the Lions Foundation to support Childhood
Cancer Research, the Save Sight Institute, and many other causes.

“I strongly encourage anyone who enjoys serving others and being part of a community to talk to us and find out what we’re about,” said Peter.

He describes being a Lions member as the most rewarding time of his life. “I’ll never forget a young mum stopping me in the street after the Forbes and District Lions Club had had Hearing Loops’ installed in the three primary schools in Forbes. She’d just come from the primary school and had seen her hearing-impaired son participate in the classroom for the first time. She
asked me if she could give me a hug, and after she explained why we were both in tears,” he said.

If you are thinking about joining the Lions Club, contact your local Lions Club, or go to the District Lions Website where you will find contact details and a membership application form.

Charles Sturt University are committed to supporting the development of the regions in NSW. This year, CSU have got $125,000 in grant funding available to help communities grow and flourish. Help the community today by applying for a 2019 Charles Sturt University Community University Partnerships (CUP) grant.

If you’re a community group, school, sporting club, Indigenous group or cultural organisation in Forbes, you can apply for a grant of up to $2,000 to help boost and support your project.

CUP grants are available in all Charles Sturt University campus cities and University regions including Forbes.

There are five categories to choose from:
• Art and culture
• Education
• Indigenous engagement
• Health and wellbeing
• Sport

Applications are now open for round two grants and close on 9th August 2019. For more information visit the community portal at about.csu.edu.au/community/grants or email community@csu.edu.au