Parkes Phoenix Editor

Anytime Fitness Forbes has been operating for just over four years. During this time they have managed to build a solid base of regular
members who are making great progress in their health and fitness journeys.

They have also been involved in many local charity events, helping raise funds for much needed causes and are always on the lookout
on how they can help within the community. The club is accessible to members 24 hours a day, making it a very convenient way to come in and do a workout session. Offering a secure environment and catering to all levels of fitness as well as age groups!

Located at Lachlan Valley Plaza, 131-135 Rankin Street. Visit the team to see what they can do for you. Don’t delay, pop into the office during the week or get in touch by calling 6851 5400. If you have an event coming up and feel that Anytime Fitness could help, please get in touch.

Making history come alive in Forbes is an exciting way of sharing and learning the rich heritage of our town. The people charged with
the responsibility of sharing this knowledge are often volunteers who started out from a personal interest or while researching family history.

“It is exactly those people, who know and celebrate our exciting past that Forbes Shire Council will be recognising and rewarding with the presentation of the Forbes Heritage Medal and Volunteer awards,” Mayor Graeme Miller said.

“We are looking for people who have made outstanding contributions as a volunteer to the heritage of Forbes and district. So many people are committed to celebrating our history, so it should be an exciting list of nominees,” he added.

Nominations are now open for two significant heritage awards:
• The Forbes Heritage Medal will be awarded to a person or organisation responsible for making an outstanding contribution to the shire’s environmental heritage or to the understanding of that heritage.
• The Forbes Heritage Volunteer Award recognises and rewards an individual in the Forbes Shire who has a consistent record of excellence and has made outstanding achievements as a volunteer in the heritage of Forbes and district.

Nomination forms and judging criteria are available at Forbes Shire Council’s Administration office or can be downloaded from Council’s website. Nominations will close at 5.00pm on Friday, 23rd March. The awards will be presented as part of the Heritage Week celebrations in May.

Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injuries in children and adolescents were previously thought to be uncommon but as imaging and clinical awareness has improved, the number of ACL injuries diagnosed in 5 to 14 year olds has also increased. Whilst improved methods of diagnosis may in part explain this increase, a recent Australian study published in The International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health indicates that the number of ACL injuries in the 5 to 14 year old population is also increasing.

This study looked at the number of paediatric (5-14 year olds) ACL injuries presenting to Victorian emergency departments between 2005 and 2015. They found a 147% increase in ACL injuries for this age group over the 10-year period with 96% of total ACL injuries occurring in 10-14 year olds.

The authors of the study suggest this worrying trend may be due to greater demands being placed on young athletes through increased training, younger sports specialisation and an emphasis on year-round competitive play. Whilst ACL injury causes significant initial discomfort and disability long-term, it can lead to decreased levels of activity and contribute to obesity and increased risk of osteoarthritis.

Injury prevention programmes such as FIFA 11+, AFL Footy First and Netball KNEE don’t eliminate ACL injury risk completely, however they can reduce the risk by at least 50% when performed regularly. Another advantage of these programmes is that they also improve speed agility and power. Fewer injuries and increased performance … maybe it’s time to get the kids onto these exercises too.

For the fitness of you,

Linda Reilly

Forbes will once again celebrate the achievements of local youth as part of the Youth Week activities to be held from Friday, 13th April to Sunday, 22nd April.

It is organised by young people, for young people and is an opportunity to share ideas and have their voices heard. Youth Week began in 1989 and has since become a national event to celebrate young people across Australia.

“Here in Forbes we are looking forward to recognising the contributions of Forbes’ with the annual Youth Week Awards, a highlight of our Youth Week celebrations,” Mayor Graeme Miller said.

“This year our awards ceremony will be on Saturday, 21st April which will be the final major event for the week long celebrations,” he added.

Nominations are now open and are being sought for the following awards for youth aged between 12 to 25 years:

Youth Citizenship Award: This award will be presented to a young person who has had an active and positive role in the community. Contributions can include ongoing volunteer work, taking a lead role in organising events including charity work, partaking in sporting and or cultural groups etc.

Sports Volunteer Award: This award is for any young person who volunteers or contributes to Forbes’ sport and recreation. The young person may assist with refereeing, coaching, setting and packing up, mentoring, canteen duties and any other way that provides assistance to the sport and/or club.

Brighter Future Award: This award is for apprentices, trainees or students. They may be participating in tertiary education or work placement. They must have demonstrated strong commitment, consistent effort, a high level of passion and determination for their chosen field/career path.

Nomination forms are available at Forbes Shire Council administration centre or can be downloaded from Council’s website.