Parkes Phoenix Editor

Red Bend Catholic College fosters educational excellence within a Christian environment. Through our Marist charism, we engage minds, hearts and spirits, inspiring our students to live well-rounded, ethical lives of respect, service and compassion. The College community invigorates critical thinking and interdependent learning in our students.

Our students thrive in a safe environment which nurtures wellbeing and a sense of belonging. We promote Catholic values through our family atmosphere and community partnerships, where Jesus Christ is known and loved.

Principal’s Message
Red Bend Catholic College offers a Marist-inspired educational experience for boys and girls from Years 7 to 12. As a Marist school, it aims to develop young people of character, integrity and compassion in becoming Good Christians and Good Citizens.

The nurturing learning environment at the College focuses on well-being, resilience, and care, with a deep belief that every student is capable of successful learning. The dynamic Red Bend staff develop professional relationships based on trust and connection with the students, families and carers.

Each student is valued as an individual and we strive to provide them with the best educational opportunities.

A diverse range of co-curricular and sporting activities are offered to enhance the students’ learning experiences and to develop their strengths, talents and character. With extensive facilities, the College is able to offer a range of sporting activities and co-curricular programs that engage the students and extend their experiences.

Students integrate life, faith and learning experiences through outreach service programs such as Meals on Wheels, Gardening for Seniors in the local community and Immersion opportunities.

Red Bend encourages all students to be audacious, digitally informed learners grasping every opportunity that comes their way in the hope that they will be game-changers and make a difference in the world and to those around them.

Mr Stephen Dwyer, Principal

It was the first time in nearly two years there had been a formal occasion in most NSW towns to mark Remembrance Day, and this year was a fitting and intimate acknowledgement of those who have served for us and given the ultimate sacrifice.

Led by local Forbes RSL Sub-Branch members and other dignitaries including Mayor Phyllis Miller OAM, the event was held at the Forbes Cenotaph in front of around 80 people. Those who did assemble for the formalities ranged from our vets who had served in other wars to their next of kin who stood beside them, proud, and yet mindful of what the special occasion was all about – remembering them.

Aaron Parry played a stirring rendition of the Last Post after the moment’s silence and wreath layers included Forbes High School, the CWA, Forbes Public and more. Poppies, the only flower to grow after the end to the bloodshed had been called on the 11th hour of the 11 day of the 11th month, adorned the collars and lapels of all and sundry – as they should, on such a day, Remembrance Day, a day we remember to remember.

The NSW Government will provide Diploma of Event Management scholarships to 20 up-and-coming event managers across regional NSW through a partnership with peak events industry body Meetings & Events Australia (MEA).

Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney and Minister for Trade and Industry Stuart Ayres said the scholarships would play an important role in stimulating new business event activity in regional communities.

“The business events sector presents a major opportunity for the visitor economy, particularly for regional NSW,” Mr Ayres said.

“We know that the best way forward is to help to create more jobs and these scholarships will do exactly that – giving people the tools and extra support needed to kick-start their careers,” he said.

“I congratulate the 20 scholarship recipients who are already making valuable contributions to their local communities and wish them every success as they begin their diploma studies and continue their journeys in the events sector.”

The scholarships are an initiative of the NSW Government’s $6 million Regional Conferencing Strategy and Action Plan. The list of recipients for 2021 can be found here: www.meetinnsw.com.au/scholarships

We are only two weeks away from the 2021 Forbes Shire Council LGA Elections – some 12 months in the making and while this year has a diverse range of candidates, campaigning has been anything but easy with COVID and then floods to contend with.

The Meet The Candidates night planned for last night at Club Forbes was sadly postponed due to the floods after the 2020 elections were cancelled due to COVID. It has been about as smooth as a back road to Bourke. As a result, potential council hopefuls now only have limited opportunities to make their case for a position on Forbes Shire Council.

How To Vote During Floods
Postal-voting for flood-affected residents – Local Government Elections on December 4 may be the only option for some after November floods.

Residents who are concerned that lingering flood waters may hinder their ability to vote in the Local Government Election are urged to make an application for postal voting as soon as possible. Applications close at 5pm on Monday November 29th.

Apply online or download an application form at https://www.elections.nsw.gov.au/Voters/Other-voting-options/Postal-voting

Contact the NSW Electoral Commission on 1300 135 736 for further information.

Ballot Order: 1.Aidan Clarke, 2. Margaret Duggan, 3. Jeff Nichol-son, 4. Thomas Dwyer, 5. Chris Roylance, 6. Steve Karaitiana, 7. Phyllis Miller, 8. Brian Mattiske, 9. Graeme Miller, 10. Michele Herbert, 11. Maria Willis, 12. Emma Henderson, 13. Jenny Webb.

The first meeting of the new council will be on December 21 or 24 pending final election results being declared. Nevertheless, the new Council will meet before Christmas.

Any delay to raising the Wyangala Dam wall to enhance water security in the Lachlan River catchment is a delay to future prosperity for the region.

Raising the dam wall by 10 metres to increase the capacity of Wyangala Dam would increase water security for all those communities along the Lachlan River catchment, from Cowra, Forbes, Grenfell, Parkes, Temora, West Wyalong and Young in my electorate to communities further west, such as Condobolin, Lake Cargelligo, Hillston and Booligal.

The dam upgrade would increase its capacity to a further 650 gigalitres to ensure more water will be available when the next drought occurs.

The Federal Government has a vision for Agriculture to grow to a $100 billion industry by 2030 – for this seed to grow, we need to add water.

But this is not just about water supply for farmers and towns.

Traffic along the Newell Highway – a significant freight corridor of commerce between Melbourne and Brisbane – ground to a halt in for six weeks in 2016 due to the flooding of the Lachlan River, with reports a study finding the closure cost the national economy some $150 million – which has been described as a conservative estimate.

As the Minister responsible for water infrastructure, I established the National Water Grid in 2019 to build dams, to build our nation’s resilience to be better placed to counter the effects of droughts and flooding rains.

From an initial investment of $1.5 billion, a further $2 billion was announced in the 2020 Budget to make the National Water Grid a 10-year, $3.5 billion program – but the Federal Government has to rely on States and Territories to be willing partners to build dams.

I have spoken to the Minister for Water Melinda Pavey, the State Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke and Cowra Shire Mayor Bill West regarding this issue and will continue to work collaboratively with all levels of government to ensure the best outcomes for the communities which stand to benefit from this important water infrastructure project.

I note the scepticism of the chair of a recent New South Wales Parliamentary Inquiry into the viability of two projects the State and Federal Governments were working towards bringing to fruition.

It would be a travesty to start taking advice from the city-centric Greens on what regional infrastructure to build – they have no concept about the needs of regional Australia and they would be content to see our thriving rural communities turn to dust.

They want to tear down, not build up, and they do not understand the value of water projects when it comes to growing agriculture or preventing devastating flooding.

Thursday, November 18 at Club Forbes from 6pm will be a chance for the public to hear from potential council hopefuls before the December 4 elections.

In what shapes as one of the most fascinating and keenly contested elections in memory the final number of candidates is 13 and was confirmed last Thursday at the Parkes returning office after a ballot draw was conducted for the 13 Forbes Shire Council candidates in the upcoming local government elections.

They are (in ballot order):
1. Aidan Clarke
2. Margaret Duggan
3. Jeff Nicholson
4. Thomas Dwyer
5. Chris Roylance
6. Steve Karaitiana
7. Phyllis Miller
8. Brian Mattiske
9. Graeme Miller
10. Michele Herbert
11. Maria Willis
12. Emma Henderson
13. Jenny Webb

The first meeting of the new council will be on December 21 or 24, pending final election results being declared.

Whatever the case, we can only hope this council is as good as the last! Good luck to all candidates!