And that’s a wrap on the 23-24 Touch Season!
Parkes Touch would like to honour and thank our committee members and our volunteers representative Coaches & Managers.
We recognise many individuals for the extensive contributions to Parkes Touch.
Thank you, we couldn’t do it without all of your support.
The Best for the Bush: Rural and Remote Health Baseline 2023 released by the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) today, shows the alarming health disparities between the 30 per cent of the Australian population living in rural, regional and remote areas and those living in cities, which aligns with the National Rural Health Alliance’s (the Alliance) call for geographic health equity.
“The Best for the Bush report demonstrates the massive health underspend in rural areas that contributes to a heavy burden of disease and shorter life expectancy. Most of these diseases are preventable with better access to primary health care,” said the Alliance Chief Executive Susi Tegen.
The report refers to the Alliance’s Evidence base for additional investment in rural health in Australia (Nous report) which shows that rural Australians are missing out on $6.55 billion ($850 per person) each year in health care.
“The government needs to step up its funding for rural health in a sustainable and flexible manner, without having ad hoc projects on the ground that only become band-aids.
“We stand with the RFDS in its recommendations for expanded health funding that would help remove barriers to healthcare access. The Alliance and others are working to develop minimum standards for healthcare access and we’re keen on taking this project forward with the government.
“We propose the Primary care Rural Integrated Multidisciplinary Health Services (PRIM-HS) model, which addresses the complexities in rural and remote community health service delivery, as each rural community has different health needs.
Our 10’s, 12’s and 11’s tag.
All are off to a great start.
Training down at Gaggin.
Tickets are available to purchase now via 123tix.
Amazing Forbes NSW
This iconic trio isn’t new to Frost and Fire, but they will bring an electrifying performance to our 2024 event! Let Cler, Jo & Em warm your soul on a magical winter night. Don’t miss this unforgettable local talent. Tickets are now on sale and are available exclusively via https://www.123tix.com.au/events/42630/frost-and-fire
PCYC Parkes
Introduction to Indigenous Cultural Art with Irene Ridgeway and assisted by Sean Cassidy 22nd & 23rd of April (2 day workshop) – 10 -12pm each day – $40 Irene is a local Wiradjuri Women with a wealth of knowledge. What makes this workshop even more significant for our club, all profits will go towards funding the Nations of Origin Indigenous sporting tournament. For the first time Parkes will be taking a whole bunch of children to this event in July. Come along to this workshop and enjoy learning and painting with Irene and Sean all whilst helping raise money pcycnsw.org/parkes
Open Day
Join us for the exciting PCYC Open Day on the 6th of April from 12pm to 2pm! It’s the perfect opportunity to: Explore our facilities: Check out our gymnastics facility, courts, and activity areas.
Meet the team: Chat with our friendly staff and learn about our programs.
Forbes High School P&C Association
Without a dedicated committee the significant support that Forbes High School receives from the P&C will unfortunately no longer occur, including the School canteen.
Join us at FHS on Wednesday 3rd April at 5pm for a special meeting to ensure the future of the P&C, and the contributions it provides for our amazing students.
Darcy is at home in a session with Speech Therapist Bligh, working on his C, G and F sounds using a Tractor puzzle.
Can you believe that it’s already Easter?
From everyone here at Forbes Shire Council, I’d like to wish you and your families a happy and safe Easter.
If you’re looking for any ideas of what to do this weekend, why not take advantage of the cooler weather and go camping or fishing along the Lachlan River. You could also drive along our amazing Sculptures Down the
Lachlan trail; pack a picnic lunch and make a day of it with your family or friends. It’s also a great time to take a break at one of our amazing cafes or walk the lake with that coffee in hand!
The long weekend is a busy time on our roads with so many people travelling for their Easter break so please travel safely and don’t forget it is double demerits from Thursday 28 March to Monday 1 April.
Please take care as you travel – we want you to arrive safely, and NSW Police will be out in force to make this a reality. They will be targeting speeding, wearing of motorcycle helmets, seatbelts and mobile phone
offences. I urge you to drive to the conditions especially as there are ongoing works on a number of our
roads as we continue repairing after the 2022 floods. Slow down. Take breaks. Limit distractions in the car.
Don’t mix alcohol or drugs with driving and above all please be patient.
I would also like to take this opportunity to remind everyone about the Central West Flood Recovery
Housing Program survey. This survey is very important for our community as it will provide critical information for this program.
I encourage everyone who was impacted by the floods, no matter how big or small the impact was, to complete this survey before the April 30. It is so important that our community receive much needed and appropriate assistance in flood recovery.
Until next week, God bless. May this Easter bring you lots of joy, happiness and blessings.
Phyllis Miller, OAM – Forbes Mayor
Letters of Support Needed.
A Town Like Trundle
The following is an important message from Parkes Shire Council Grants Officer Sally Chapman “Parkes Shire Council is working to prepare a large submission under some available flood recovery funding to try and mitigate the flooding of the road into Trundle. One part of the submission is social and another is economic.
If you would be able to call on your friends, family and colleagues to write letters about how being cut off from the flood affected them economically and socially. Photos and videos are also very welcome to build our case. Submissions are due in two weeks, so next week will be perfect if possible, please. Please send to my email sally.chapman@parkes.nsw.gov.au”
Parkes Musical & Dramatic Society
Unfortunatley there is no local outlet selling tickets to Annie.
If you have family or friends that don’t have access to the internet, they can contact the box office manager on 0429 623 829 to reserve tickets. Please note, the box office manager works another job during business hours – please call after 5.30pm or sent a text message. The theatre box office will be open every Sunday from 7th April at 11am – 1.00pm for ticket purchases.
Forbes Family History Group
Do you have any stories or information about the Pioneer Cemetery on Sandhills Road?If so, we’d love to hear from you as we inch towards this very exciting project.
Your private message, email or comment are most welcome.
Many thanks and gratitude to Forbes Shire Council and Forbes Advocate for helping us with this project.
Parkes Shire Council
EAST STREET BRIDGE REPLACEMENT – TRAFFIC UPDATE
Council wishes to advise the access to businesses on Southern East Street is now from the May Street end, this has been temporarily modified due to the ongoing construction of the East Street Bridge.
Council crews are currently working on the southern end of East Street at the intersection of Woodward Street, where it is now closed.
Please plan your routes accordingly and exercise caution at all times
To stay up to date with the project, visit http://bit.ly/49RlcQr
R U OK?Day
Rail R U OK?Day is 18 April 2024.
We all go through life’s ups and downs. Often, the best people to spot the signs someone might be struggling are the people closest to them.
That’s why the R U OK? message is so effective in the workplace. It’s the subtle changes in someone’s behaviour that can indicate they might be going through a difficult time and in need of some extra support.
You can learn more and access the FREE #RailRUOK resources at https://bit.ly/4391jSc
Forbes Shire Council
Did you know? In NSW, the average person wastes $965 of food a year. More than a third of the average rubbish in our bins is wasted food.
– Red: General Waste – Yellow: Recycling – Green: Food and Garden Organics
Love Food Hate Waste NSW’s tips https://www.lovefoodhatewaste.nsw.gov.au/at-home/reduce-your-food-waste
How can you improve food waste in your house hold?.
This week our Beauty students completed their first client day.
This week our Beauty students completed their first client day
This week our Beauty students completed their first client day.
Pictured L-R Forbes Mens Shed Treasurer Tony Thompson, Bernardis owner Tony Bernardi and Forbes Mens Shed President Jim Walklate.
Each year Tony Bernardi (of Bernardis Marketplace in Forbes) gives away $10,000 to local community groups. Customers are given tokens after they make a purchase and they can put their token into one of 3 plastic containers that each represent a different local group or organisation. This happens twice a year and the $10,000 is split amongst those depending upon how many tokens each receive. The winners from the last round of the promotion were the Forbes Mens Shed. Representatives from the Forbes Mens Shed wanted to thank the community for helping them win and also a massive thank you to Tony Bernardi for the donation of $2500.
Jim Walklate, who is the current President of the Forbes Mens Shed, said about Tony Bernardi “Tony is a very big supporter of our Mens Shed, he also comes down each Wednesday and plays cards, we get around 24-30 each Wednesday afternoon who come down for cards which is one of our social get togethers that we enjoy”.
Late last year the Forbes Mens Shed became a registered charity “This year we want to give some money away to help support the local community, this $2500 cheque will certainly help us do that”.
“We would love to have some younger members come along and join us at the Forbes Mens Shed, we have a very aged population now, virtually from the early 70’s to 90’s. Members of any age are welcome, if you have just retired come along have a chat and a cup of coffee. We are coming into firewood season, the boys go out mostly on a Saturday or Sunday, cut it, bring it in, we split it and sell it. We do repairs for people also, which is why we need more carpenters to come and join us” said Jim. So, if you’re in Forbes and looking for a supportive environment where you can tinker, create, and connect, consider paying a visit to the Forbes Community Men’s Shed. It’s more than just a shed—it’s a home away from home for many. Also check out our wide range of second hand tools & furniture at the Forbes Mens Shed.
Farmers have called for the Federal Government to take urgent action to ensure phone companies don’t leave thousands of farmers without mobile coverage as the 3G shutdown looms.
Large parts of NSW have limited or no mobile phone reception, and many regions rely on 3G networks to communicate, especially during emergency situations.
NSW Farmers Rural Affairs Committee Chair Deb Charlton said shutdown of Telstra’s 3G service on 30 June – as well as Optus’ 3G closure in September – would spell disaster for many farmers who often work alone and a long way from help.
“As providers push ahead with this 3G network shutdown, there’s no doubt there will be farmers who run into trouble or have an accident, and will be unable to call for help,” Mrs Charlton said.
“Even with the 3G network in place, there are hundreds of horror stories of accidents occurring on farms or on isolated country roads, where people have not had the mobile coverage they need to contact emergency services for lifesaving help.
“We have absolutely no confidence that 4G coverage will be available when the 3G network is switched off, and we will only see more of these tragic situations as a result.”
“The farmers who grow the nation’s food and fibre should not be forced into using expensive satellite phones or have to resort back to pre-war radio connections as their only link to the outside world.
“Connectivity is a critical tool, and in many cases, it’s been the difference between life and death when an accident has occurred in these rural communities.”