Parkes Phoenix Editor

Eight out of ten Australians don’t know what interest rate they pay on their mortgage, so if you’re one of them it’s time to start pay- ing attention. Until recently you should have had a mortgage interest rate starting with a ‘3’. However, in recent weeks lenders have started to increase rates a little so finding a rate starting with a ‘3’ is getting a little harder. The key point is to make sure your ‘friendly’ lending institution isn’t taking you for a ride.

Interest rates have been at record lows and you need to be making sure the savings are being passed on to you. When it comes to your mortgage, you need to be proactive. I’ve never heard anyone say their lender rang them up to offer a better deal. The simple reality is that if you don’t ask, you don’t get. If you’re happy to continue paying whatever you’re paying then your lender will happily keep taking your money.

What does a little extra interest matter I hear you say? IT MATTERS A LOT!

On a 30-year mortgage of $350,000, the difference in repayments between paying 4.5% per annum in interest versus 3.9% per annum is only around $80 a month or $20 a week. However, over the life of the loan, that equates to around $36,000! That’s not pocket change.

So use your voice – demand a better deal. And if that doesn’t work, use your feet and take your business elsewhere.

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Cheers, Danie

Olya Willis answered The Forbes Phoenix knock at the front door. What a treat it was to be welcomed into their historic family home!

“Receiving the Order of Australia was a great honour, but receiving the Forbes Citizen of the Year Award means even more to me,” said Rob Willis of the new title he was bestowed with at the Australia Day ceremo- ny last Thursday.

“I have lived my whole life in Forbes and love the place and the people… it is my hometown.”

Rob said many people did not really know what he did for a living. It is an interesting and very unique occupation as Rob works

Citizen of the Year, Rob Willis with his wife Olya. “I want everyone to know that Olya is the backbone of my work.”

with the National Library of Australia to record stories. He and Olya have recorded more than 1,500 peoples’ stories.

“It astounds me how many people would ask why I was interested in their story before we start recording,” said Rob. Olya, who is responsible for recording the stories, adds that “Rob has the ability to get people to open up and tell their stories”.

Included in Rob’s collection are more than 100 stories of Forbes residents. These are all preserved at the National Library.

“Forbes allowed me to commence my journey to record Australian social history,” said Rob. “Do you know how prior to the thermometer the temperature of the iron or oven was deemed to be ok? Well it was by spitting on the iron or putting your hand in the oven… History will never repeat itself, so it is important to preserve it.”

True to his word Rob will soon be heading to the Forbes and District Historical Museum to record both the sound and workings of the historic Ivel tractor. (See story on page 7.)

If you are curious about history, make sure to visit the Museum at 11 Cross Street after 2pm each day where you can be tak- en back in time by hearing school bells ring and the clickity clack of a type writer.

By Dianne Collie

The Forbes Phoenix found the Young Citizen of the Year, Aidan Clarke, at the Forbes Learning Ladder where he gently and expertly helped put on a little girl’s shoes, wiped a runny nose, and ensured all children had a helmet on when bike riding, in between answering questions.

Manager, Raewyn Molloy said: “Aidan’s Young Citizen of the Year award is so well deserved. We all feel very lucky to have Aidan here at the Forbes Learning Ladder.”

At school Aidan was captain of Forbes North Public School, a member of the Forbes High School SRC for five years and captain of Forbes High School in 2013.

Aidan said he was so happy and grateful to have the opportunity to grow in the career of his choice, study with TAFE and attain his goal of attending university without having to leave Forbes.

“I was successful in gaining a traineeship here in 2014. Then during 2015 and 2016, I completed a Diploma of Childcare.” This year Aidan will commence a Bachelor of Early Childhood Education externally with Charles Sturt University.

Applications are open for the 2017 National Indigenous Youth Parliament (NIYP). The NIYP is a week-long leadership program for Indigenous Australians aged 16 to 25, to be held in Canberra from 23rd to 29th May.

Electoral Commissioner, Tom Rogers, said this was a golden opportunity to learn about government and leadership directly from the people making decisions that af- fect Indigenous communities.

The Australian Electoral Commission will bring 50 young Indigenous Australians to Canberra – six from each state and territory and two from the Torres Strait Islands.

“Participants will receive training in public speaking and in dealing with the media,” said Tom.

The centrepiece of the NIYP is a two-day simulated parliament in the House of Representatives chamber at Old Parliament House. Participants will debate bills and issues important to themselves and their communities. No specific skills or experience are required to participate in the NIYP, apart from a desire to have a say in what’s going on in your community.

“I urge young Indigenous Australians to grab this opportunity and apply today.”

Applications are open until Friday, 3rd March. Participants will be chosen based on their ideas, community activity and leadership potential. To apply visit www. aec.gov.au/indigenous.