Parkes Phoenix Editor

Woolworths Forbes is launching a Local Community Food Drive to help support Forbes charities deliver high priority food relief items to people in need in the lead up to Christmas. The week-long initiative started this week and Forbes customers are encouraged to donate non-perishable food items into the specially marked Local Community Food Drive trolley in-store.

Donated items will be distributed either directly to a store’s local community food relief charity partner, or via one of Woolworths’ major food relief partners, such as OzHarvest, FareShare and Foodbank, and their network of local charities they support, to ensure Forbes residents in need receive the donated essential food items.

Woolworths Forbes has also committed to donating a variety of fresh fruit and vegetables to the Local Community Food Drive and their local community’s food relief charity.

Woolworths Forbes Store Manager, Gail Legg said: “Food insecurity continues to be a real issue in communities across Australia and the past year has made it even more difficult for a growing number of families to access nutritious food and essentials. As Today’s Fresh Food People, we’re committed to supporting local communities and helping those less fortunate, particularly as we head into the festive season.

“I encourage Forbes customers to join us and make a donation to the Woolworths Local Community Food Drive when they shop with us. By simply adding a non-perishable product in the specially marked trolley, you will be helping someone in need in our local community.”

Forbes customers can donate in-store at Woolworths Forbes to the Woolworths Local Community Food Drive from 3 – 9 November.

Michael Hanley’s Funeral Home, a professional, family-owned business with over 46 years of experience, has been offering its services in Parkes, Forbes and surrounding districts since 1975.

“Of the many funerals our family-owned business does per year, a percentage of them are out of town,” says Tami Stewart.
Another service Michael Hanley’s Funeral Home offers is the option for clients to arrange their funeral and have it all ready for when anything happens.

Michael Hanley’s Funeral Home conduct funerals, graveside services and cremations. Cremation services can be held in our chapel in Forbes where the crematorium is located. Funeral prices start from $4,598. Give Michael Hanley’s Funeral Home a call on 6852 1961 or send us a message to hanleyfunerals.com.au

HIGH DOSE RATES: Approximately 78 percent of Aboriginal people aged 16 years and older had received a first dose of vaccine and 68 per cent had received two doses. These rates are well above the NSW figures for Aboriginal people, which were 68.4 per cent for first doses and 58.2 per cent for second doses. 2nd dose Pfizer clinics were also in Forbes last weekend. INSET: FSC staff have also been on hand with ADF throughout the rollout.

The communities of Western NSW Local Health District (WNSWLHD) are showing the rest of the state how it’s done, with some of the highest COVID-19 vaccination rates in NSW.

The latest data from the Australian Immunisation Register revealed that, to 24 October, WNSWLHD’s second-dose vaccination rate for those aged 12-15 was the highest in the state at 68.1 per cent – well above the statewide figure of 51.3 per cent. The second dose vaccination rate for those aged over 16 years in WNSWLHD was 87.2 per cent, among the highest of any Local Health District and also above the overall state figure of 84.1 per cent.

WNSWLHD Chief Executive Scott McLachlan said he is extremely proud of both the District’s vaccination team and communities for showing up in such high numbers to receive their COVID-19 vaccines.

“Our Local Health District has a strong history when it comes to vaccination, so I’m not overly surprised to see the communities stepping up again to protect themselves in this way, but to see it happen so quickly is still really pleasing,” Mr McLachlan said.

“In just the last few months our vaccination teams have visited more than 75 communities, across a geographical area approximately the size of the United Kingdom.”

Since the first dose of vaccine was administered on 21st March 2021, WNSWLHD have so far given more than 115,000 doses across the district. Vaccine delivery continues at permanent clinics in Bathurst, Dubbo and Orange, as well as via mobile clinics reaching out to other communities.

“While the figures so far are great, and definitely something to be proud of, I want to see our entire District well above 90 per cent fully vaccinated. So please, make the effort to get vaccinated through a WNSWLHD clinic, a GP, pharmacy, Aboriginal Medical Service or respiratory clinic.”

TOURISM AWARD NOMINATION: Forbes flagship event Frost and Fire has been nominated for a prestigious NSW Tourism Award in the very competitive Events and Festivals section. Pic of Yarangirri Holmes courtesy of FSC.

Forbes Shire Mayor, Phyllis Miller OAM is excited to announce Frost and Fire – the shires signature Tourism event, is a finalist in the 2021 NSW Tourism Awards.

“We are so pleased to announce Forbes Shire Council is in the running for the Events and Festivals gong at the Tourism Awards,” Mayor Miller said.

“Council started this event back in 2019 in the grips of drought, to give back to the community in the troubled times and build a sense of camaraderie. The event did this in spades with over 2500 people attending the first event. They came from all over the State and even internationally! We had to move online in 2020 due to Covid-19,” Miller said.

“But 2021 saw the event return with glowing success!”

Frost and Fire celebrates the winter solstice each year, and this year it fell on the 19th June. The large-scale event is held at the recently renovated Forbes Aquatic Centre, also known as the “Ski Dam”. Guests celebrate the true Aussie tradition of sitting around a bonfire with friends and family. Council combined this simple tradition with a mix of live entertainment from a wide variety of sources including music from local bands; Gracey Jones and The Fog Pilots and well-known Australian artist, Bob Evans. Along with musical entertainment, the crowds were entertained with theatrical performances such as Walter Whip and the Flames as well as a Wiradjuri cultural performance and the local dance troop.

“Frost and Fire fills a gap in the regional events calendar and is quintessentially Australian. It’s a favourite of locals and visitors alike and we are so proud to be a finalist in these prestigious awards.”

The winners of the NSW Tourism Awards will be announced at a Gala Event on Thursday 3rd February 2022 at Luna Park Sydney.

CELEBRATING DISABILITY: International Day of People With Disability will be celebrated at Forbes Olympic Pool on Friday December 3 with providers such as Aruma, Currajong and more in attendance.

There will be games, workshops and more! We would love you to be there!

Please note that the public health order states anyone over the age of 16 must be fully vaccinated to enter the premises, as of December 1st these rules may change.

“Each year this day keeps getting better and the last one was such an outstanding success,” said Sarah Williams of Forbes Shire Council.

The event will not just be a celebration of people with a disability but also a chance for other providers and organisations to connect and share experiences and ideas.

IDPwD is a United Nations sanctioned day that is celebrated internationally. It aims to increase public awareness, understanding and acceptance of people with disability and celebrate their achievements and contributions.

The Australian Government has been supporting IDPwD since 1996 and provides funds to promote and raise awareness of the day around Australia.

Local government elections are on as voters head to the polling booths on December 4 after two postponements due to COVID in 19 months. Candidate registrations closed this week with some fresh faces also putting their hand up to take Forbes Shire into the future.

Our current councillors have now served five-and-a-half years, and the next term will be a shortened one understandably. Seven of our eight current councillors have indicated they will put their name forward for another term. Gone are former Vandenberg Hotel owner Cr Grant Clifton, who will step back from local government while Cr Susan Chau resigned at the end of the original four-year term having relocated interstate with her young family.

Mayor Phyllis Miller as well as Deputy Chris Roylance along with Michele Herbert, Steve Karatiana, Graeme Miller, Jeff Nicholson and Jenny Webb have been sensational during a difficult term and rightly should all run again. The current council should be commended for leading Forbes through industrial, residential and commercial growth despite the generational challenges as Forbes continues to punch well above its weight in retail, entertainment, arts and employment opportunities. KHub, Goldridge Estate, KFC, VanFest, Bunnings, as well as numerous initiatives for local business and community groups have certainly made this council as productive and visionary as any in recent memory.

Of the other candidates seeking election Aidan Clarke is having another tilt and has some positive views on youth while Maria Wallis and Dianne Decker are also candidates along with Emma Henderson, who like Clarke, has clear ideas for Forbes families and our future.

With Forbes Shire’s full compliment of councillors sitting at nine, potentially only two places will be filled should the incumbents be returned.