Parkes Phoenix Editor

Maggi Barnard has been with the Forbes Phoenix since 2021 and loves writing about her community.

Businesses Show They Can Assist

June 15, 2017 by Maggi Barnard

CanAssist members Maree Schrader, Murray Field, Maureen Field and Peter Corliss.

Forbes CanAssist has a new ticket booth. The booth will be used at the many functions the organisation cater for and work at, in particular manning the gate at the camel races, Forbes Jockey Club race meetings and the Forbes Rodeo.

The booth was donated by the Forbes Rugby League Club and several businesses donated time and materials to modify it to suit CanAssist’s needs. They are Knights Steel Fabricators, Sinclair Signs, Haleys Power Tools Plus and Squires Signs. Forbes CanAssist would like to thank everyone for their generosity.

CanAssist member Peter Corliss was the instigator and organiser of getting the booth and its modifications.

Major Funding Boost For Grazing Down The Lachlan

June 15, 2017 by Maggi Barnard

The Minister for Tourism and Major Events was in Forbes last Friday with good news for the inaugural Grazing Down the Lachlan (GDTL) event.

Adam Marshall announced the NSW Government’s 2017 Incubator Event Fund has awarded $20,000 to the food event that will showcase locally farmed and foraged native foods and indigenous culture in a pic- turesque location. GDTL has been established to support the Somewhere Down the Lachlan sculpture trail.

Chair of the event Wendy Muffet was delighted with the news. “GDTL aims to excite and inspire from the moment our guests step onto the event bus, celebrating a fusion of the Wiradjuri and white settler cultures embedded in our glorious western landscape,” she said.

“This grant enables us to truly elevate the guest experience, to add the sparkle in a sustainable way with all funds raised directed into a permanent sculpture trail strategically designed to increase the visitor economy in Forbes.”

The Minister said attracting visitors to rural and regional NSW is a top priority for the NSW Government. “This fund will have a positive impact on local hotels, restaurants, shops and attractions, stimulating tourism across regional and rural NSW and creating more jobs. I congratulate the event organisers on their successful application, which will boost the regional NSW visitor economy,” he said.

The 2017 Incubator Event Fund offers one-off annual grants of up to $20,000 to those staging an event for the first or second time to fund elements such as staging, venue hire, research, marketing and publicity activities.

Grazing Down the Lachlan will be held in Forbes on 23rd September. More information is available on the Facebook page, or at www.grazingdownthelachlan.com

By Rochelle Bright

Good Support For CanAssist

June 15, 2017 by Maggi Barnard

Two Forbes golfers Graham Newport and Steve Grallelis.

The annual CanAssist 4-Person Ambrose golf event last Saturday saw 106 players enjoying the sunshine and good laughs, and raising nearly $2,000.

The Scratch winners were: Andrew Dukes, Mike Spice, Michael Browne and Marty Cahill won on count back with a score of 68. The Handicap winners were Mitch Roylance, Jono Roylance, Michael Little and Andrew Quirk with a Nett 571⁄2.

Handicap runner-up: Serey Griffiths, Ve- ronica Rebellato, Jenny Fletcher, Jimmy Carpenter on countback with 55 1⁄4.

3rd place: Tim West, Luke Hurford, Craig Anderson, Ash Hogan on 551⁄4.

4th place: Phil Nicholson, Jarrod Nicholson, B Travers, Melissa Nicholson on 57 3/8.

5th place: Mark Watts, Jenny Watts, Doug Churchill, Debbie Churchill on 57 3/8.

6th place: B Dawson, P O’Connor, E Burke, G Hooper on 571⁄2.

7th place: Fleur Wells, Phil Wells, S French, T Morgan on 57 5/8.

Other prizes went to: 2nd shot men 12th hole: Jono Roylance; 2nd shot ladies 12th hole: Kayla Smith; NTP 1st ladies: nil; 1st men: Nick Ryan; 3rd ladies: nil; 3rd men: N McMillan; 9th ladies: Cindy Nellier; 9th men: Dave Cutler; 18th ladies: Veronica Rebel- lato; 18th men: Barry Parker.

By Short Putt

NSW Health is encouraging people to have their HIV status checked with testing now easier and faster than ever before.

Manager of HIV and Related Programs (HARP), Ann Ryan said around 10% of people with HIV in NSW may be unaware they have the virus, a statistic NSW Health hopes to change.

“As well as risking their own health, people with undiagnosed HIV infection are at risk of passing the virus on to others without know- ing,” Ann said.

However, the statistics are improving. The number of HIV tests done in NSW continues to increase with over 500,000 tests conduct- ed last year, a 7% increase on the number of tests in 2015.

Nursing Unit Manager Dubbo Sexual Health, Margie Crowley said HIV testing was easier and faster than ever with a high quality, safe and innovative HIV testing ser- vice. To make testing for HIV easier, the NSW Government has launched the Dried Blood Spot HIV test – a free, easy, private and accurate way to test for HIV at home.

“We need people in groups at risk of HIV to test regularly so they can receive early treatment and prevent transmission of HIV to others.”

Most (82%) new HIV infections reported last year were in gay and homosexually- active men, with heterosexual people ac- counting for 15%. One third of people newly diagnosed with HIV were diagnosed with signs of late infection, which could have been avoided with earlier testing.

Margie said heterosexual people who may be in an at risk group should also be tested. “This includes people from African and Asian countries, and/or those who have had previous sexual partners from one of these countries. Anyone who has had unprotected sex should also be tested.”
“All pregnant women should be tested irrespective of risk, as treatment during pregnancy is very effective in preventing infection from mother to child.”

People can request HIV testing at their GP or at their local sexual health service: Dubbo Sexual Health at 203 Brisbane Street, contact number 6841 2489 or Orange Sexual Health at 96 Kite Street on 6392 8600.

Information on Dry Blood Spot self-sampling test at https://www.hivtest.health.nsw. gov.au/. To find out where to get tested go to: www.health.nsw.gov.au/sexualhealth/ pages/sexual-health-clinics.aspx.

Parkes Phoenix Editor

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