Parkes Phoenix Editor

The electorate of Orange has secured $399,300 in funding for a total of seventeen projects through the NSW Government’s 2021 Community Building Partnership Program.

Member for Orange, Phil Donato MP said the State Government funds will deliver much-needed improvements to local facilities including an amenities block refurbishment at the Spring Hill Recreation Ground, an expansion of the school to work program in Trundle and the purchase of a driving simulator in Parkes for the delivery of road safety education.

“I congratulate all the organisations that were successful in their application and look forward to seeing how these projects make a real difference for community groups in our region,” Mr Donato said.

Forbes Polo Club Inc. was one of the successful applicants gaining funding for a vital equipment upgrade. The Community Building Partnership program has funded more than 16,000 community projects since it commenced in 2009.

In 2022, there is $400,000 to allocate in each electorate. Applications for the 2022 Program open in early 2022.

For more information about the NSW Government’s Community Building Partnership Program, visit www.nsw.gov.au/cbp

The team at Steele Technology have been busy constructing a new Wireless Internet service available throughout parts of Forbes and rural surrounding areas.

As the local IT shop and NBN reseller, they know firsthand what the services in our area can be like and how unreliable they can be. So they ventured on the path to build an alternative – A locally owned internet service provider, built from the ground up, focusing on friendly service, value and reliability.

After being able to secure a unique fiber service directly from Sydney to Forbes, Nathan and Mitch spent months building and testing before connecting the first customer. With more tower locations secured, they are looking forward to continuing to help our community with a better internet service.

Steele Technology have been able to provide a more reliable and faster option to over 200 businesses, families and rural properties alike – where previously some of these only had access to a satellite connection which was inadequate at the best of times, according to customers.

Their success has enabled them to employ a full time Installer John, and David a network engineer. Also having their current inhouse team of 11 staff to assist with all support and other enquiries.

For all of your IT solutions, call the friendly team at Steele Technology on 02 6852 3204, email them at sales@stech.com.au or call into the store at 126 Lachlan Forbes.

Woolworths Forbes is part of an ambitious donation target to raise the equivalent of seven million meals this Christmas to help support charity partner OzHarvest meet the demand for food relief statewide.

One in six Australian adults are now considered severely food insecure and more than half impacted by food insecurity go a day each week without eating.

To mark the seventh annual Christmas Appeal with OzHarvest, Woolworths NSW is aiming to join in achieving a record fundraising amount of $3.5million, in partnership with customers, to support Australian families in need; which is the equivalent of seven million meals.

Forbes Woolworths customers can now purchase a 50 cent token when they shop in-store or online which will help provide the equivalent of a meal to those in need of food relief across the country. Customers can also choose to round up their purchase to the nearest dollar, with proceeds going directly to the Christmas Appeal.

Additionally, another 50 cents will be donated from every limited edition, OzHarvest Santa Cookie sold in-store from 24 November, 2021. Woolworths has committed to a donation of $500,000 to kick off the appeal.

Since partnering with Woolworths, OzHarvest has collected more than 15 million kgs of food from stores, enabling the equivalent of 45 million meals to be delivered. Last year’s Woolworths Christmas Appeal raised the equivalent of six million meals that were donated to OzHarvest.
Please visit www.woolworths.com.au/shop/discover/community/ozharvest

Young people living in the Central West and Western NSW will be able to enjoy school holiday camps with their friend’s thanks to the NSW Government’s $200 million Regional Recovery Package.

Parliamentary Secretary to the Deputy Premier Sam Farraway said the $10 million to expand the popular Holiday Break program will give back the fun, care-free experiences our kids missed out on during the lockdowns.

“COVID-19 has been incredibly tough on everyone but particularly our young people, which is why the NSW Government is broadening this fantastic program,” Mr Farraway said.

“Through this initiative, we will provide free or subsidised activities over the school holidays including the very popular barbeque music nights and sports camps.”

Minister for Regional Youth Bronnie Taylor said the past two years have tested our young people and programs like the Holiday Break program give kids something to look forward to.

“Across rural and regional NSW, the Holiday Break program has been a roaring success and we look forward to seeing our young people make the most of their summer holidays,” Mrs Taylor said.

“This is a chance to get active, try new experiences and make lifelong friends”

For more information, please visit: www.nsw.gov.au/regional-nsw/holiday-fun-for-regional-youth

Looking to feel renewed? Looking to get out of the bustle for an idyllic escape to the country? The NSW Government last week unveiled the next phase of its ‘Feel New’ tourism marketing campaign to accelerate the recovery of the visitor economy.

It has been billed by the Perrottet-Toole state government as ‘Renew’, the new campaign has been timed to leverage the restart of intrastate travel and the progressive re-opening of state and territory borders.

Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney, and Minister for Industry and Trade Stuart Ayres said the ‘Renew’ campaign would tap into the sentiment of consumers seeking to visit somewhere new, experience something new, and renew themselves following months of restrictions and lockdown. Places like Forbes and others throughout the Central West.

“We’re inviting Australians to renew themselves by enjoying what NSW uniquely offers in terms of destinations, experiences and road trips, and help turbocharge the recovery of the hard-hit accommodation, cultural, entertainment, hospitality, tourism and events sectors,” Mr Ayres said.

“The ‘Renew’ campaign encapsulates the feeling we all have right now – to be re-energised after an incredibly challenging long haul – and, with NSW leading the country in opening up, now is time to hit the road and explore NSW and give our visitor economy the kickstart it needs and deserves,” he said.

“This new element of the ‘Feel New’ campaign, combined with the Government’s continuing injection of funds into visitor economy support programs, is exactly what’s needed to fast-track the state’s recovery.”

The ‘Renew’ campaign will run on radio, digital and social media, in key domestic markets until February 2022.

For more information on the ‘Feel New’ and ‘Renew’ tourism marketing campaigns visit www.destinationnsw.com.au/tourism/feel-new-visitor-brand and for travel inspiration go to www.visitnsw.com and www.sydney.com