Orange Picnic Races are holding their Annual Summer Race Meeting this Saturday January 16. This is a fantastic family day out at Towac Park with plenty of entertainment for everyone. From 12pm gates open and $7 from
each entry fee will be donated to Give me Five for Kids.

On course will be free kids rides and entertainment throughout the day. The day will feature a six race programme with full bar and betting facilities, with the first race getting underway at approximately 1pm. Fashions on the Field will also be a highlight of the day for the ladies and some gents with categories including best dressed lady, best millinery, best dressed gent and best dressed boy and girl with some fabulous prizes to win.

There will be fine local food stalls on course but if you are looking for a more private setting there are marquee options available on the website from packages through to hiring your own for the day.

Also available on the website are Family Hamper Packages which are made fresh and locally to order so check them out at www.racingorange.com.au.

Once again, Bunnings will be raising much needed funds for local volunteer fire brigades and emergency services through their annual Aussie Day Weekend Fundraiser BBQ, held at all stores on Saturday 23 January 2016.

Forbes residents are invited to celebrate Australia Day and support the Rural Fire Service (RFS) by heading down to Bunnings Forbes between 9am-4pm, to buy a snag or make a donation. Team members will be running sausage sizzles with support from fire brigade volunteers, with every cent raised going directly to support the RFS. NSW Rural Fire Service, Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons, said he is thrilled that Bunnings is continuing to support local volunteer fire brigades and emergency services through this great initiative.

“Every day our 74,000 members are working to help protect the community from bush fires, and this Australia Day will be no different. I’d like to thank Bunnings and their customers for supporting our volunteers in their important work. “As summer continues, I urge everyone to be prepared for fires. It is not only important for everyone who lives in a bush fire prone area to prepare their home, but also to have a discussion with their family about what they do if a bush fire took hold near you,” said Shane.

Bunnings Forbes Store Manager, John Ilchef, said the Aussie Day Weekend Fundraiser BBQ is a terrific way for team members and all Australians to show their appreciation for the wonderful work done by local volunteer fire brigades and emergency services. “The team is really excited to get behind the barbecue to help raise vital funds for our local RFS,” said John. Family activities, fun games and entertainment will also be held throughout the day.

Stork News: Congratulations to Melissa and Stephen West of Forbes on the birth of their daughter Madison West. Madison was born on 17 December 2015 weighing 3.67kg. Grandparents are Neil and Leanne Parslow, and Graham and Cynthia West of Forbes. Great Grandparents are Patricia Splite, June West and Olga Tilley of Forbes.

Forbes Shire Mayor Phyllis Miller is disgruntled at the recently released Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) rate peg limit for 2016/17 at 1.8%. “IPART is a joke,” Mayor Miller said. “The tribunal is as independent of the State Government as I am of Forbes Shire Council.”

“IPART has determined Council’s rate peg limit for 2016/17 at 1.8%. We have been a responsible Council and have not asked to go above the rate peg previously but maybe this is the straw that broke the camel’s back. “We have already commenced budgets for next year based on the 2015/16 rate peg of 2.4%.

“Local Government state-wide wage costs are 41.8% of the revenue. The award has been negotiated for three years at an increase of 2.4% per annum. “To put the icing on the cake, Rural Fire Service (RFS) contributions come out this
week and have increased by 3.28%. This alone puts us behind 2.2%. “IPART also needs to let Local Government get on with getting the job done for our communities,” she said.

“We are the level of government that has the biggest bang for our buck and it’s about time governments of all persuasions acknowledge it.”