Forbes Phoenix

Mayoral Notes

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Well we certainly got the frost part right for our sixth annual Frost and Fire on Satur­day. It was a very frosty morning on the day of our sixth annual amazing event of live music, good food, friends and fire buckets – Frost and Fire 2025.

Despite the cold, we all rugged up and huddled around more than 20 fire pits and the amazing effigy bonfires lit later in the night. It was great to see so many of you there and to support local and bigger musi­cal acts in a regional setting. Thanks to the more than 2600 people who bought tickets, many of whom travelled from out of town.

We had tickets sales and attendees from as far away as Melbourne and Tasmania.

A fire bucket, friends and live music – is there any better way to spend a frosty win­ter’s night? It has been an honour to attend the Na­tional General Assembly in Canberra this week and host the 2025 Regional Cooper­ation and Development Forum on Tuesday.

The forum addressed challenges and po­tential solutions for regional, rural and re­mote areas. We had the pleasure of guests such as demographers to discuss trends shaping regions, mental health and road safety.

The theme this year was National Pri­orities Need Local Solutions and we were able to spotlight the way Councils are leading the way, delivering unique and place-based solutions to address housing pressures, build safer roads, increase re­silience to natural disasters and build com­munity wellbeing.

It was hard not to notice the very visible presence of a lot of police in Forbes last week. There were several operations con­ducted, including one on the Newell High­way and several tobacco shop compliance checks. Police reported a range of search­es, drug tests, ADVO compliance checks and charges laid for possessing knife and housebreaking implements.

Thank you for the focus on the Forbes area and the greater region.

God Bless,
Phyllis Miller OAM

Snippets…

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Phil Donato MP pictured at one of the affected sites with Parkes Mayor Niel Westcott and Lachlan Shire Mayor John Medcalf.

Parkes Shire Council: While the full de­tails are still to come, we’re hopeful the NSW Budget announcement of $27 million for the repair and restoration of water and sewer infrastructure in the Central West damaged by the 2022 severe weather and flooding may deliver positive outcomes for Parkes Shire. Thank you to Philip Do­nato MP and everyone who has strongly advocated for flood-impacted communi­ties across our region. We look forward to learning more about what this means for Parkes.

Companions Thru Cancer: Companions Thru Cancer Inc held a soup luncheon on Wed 18th June in the Red Cross Rooms. A big ‘thank you’ to the hard working Com­mittee who catered for the event and the volunteers who helped out on the day. Also special thanks to the business houses, shops and the general community for sup­porting the luncheon. The raffle was drawn by Sister Kath and won by Wendy Van Der Wel.

Central West Local Land Services: Farmers across the Central West are invit­ed to join a powerful, 3-year journey toward greater profitability, resilience, and perfor­mance. Through the Farm Benchmarking Project, you’ll gain exclusive access to confidential, data-backed insights compar­ing your business performance with likeminded producers in the region. Whether you’re navigating a tough season or plan­ning ahead, this program brings clarity and confidence to the decisions that matter most. The deadline is June 30 on this sub­sidised opportunity https://bit.ly/4cWt8SX

Central West Police District: Have you heard about the NSW Police Next Of Kin (NOK) Program? The NOK program ena­bles vulnerable people or people living alone to record their emergency contact details with the NSW Police Force. Please consider if this program would benefit you or someone you know. Just complete the NOK Registration form which you can pick up from any police station or download from the NSW police website or via the link: https://www.police.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/572394/next-of-kin-program-application-form.pdf

Evolution Mining Northparkes Opera­tions: The Northparkes Community Invest­ment Program supported the Forbes Men’s Shed to concrete a wide access path for users. Have a project your organisation would like support for? Simply go to www.surveymonkey.com/r/DDR2TN2

The path extends through the storage shed to the main shed in order to drive a forklift to convey goods.

Be Seen @ Forbes High School Slumber Party

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As a highlight of Spirit Week, last Thursday night was the ‘Slumber Party’ school disco, dressed in their coziest and warmest pyjamas.

 


It was a fabulous evening filled with dancing that strengthened friendships and created lasting memories.

 


A heartfelt thank you goes out to our incredible staff who participated, ensuring that the students had an unforget­table experience.

Become A Foster Carer: Make A Lifelong Difference

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Children and young people across Aus­tralia who cannot live with their families ur­gently need foster carers. If you think you could give a child or young person a safe, nurturing place in your home, temporarily or permanently, read on.

What is foster care? Foster care provides a stable, caring environment for children and young people when they cannot live with their own families. This may be due to abuse or neglect, or a family crisis such as illness or homelessness.

Foster care is not necessarily permanent and long-term. We need a range of carers to provide interim or restoration care, emer­gency or short-term care and respite care.

Each child has a dedicated Case Man­ager and, often, a clinician. These people support the child’s placement and longterm goals, and support you regarding the child’s individual needs.

Make a lifelong difference in the life of a child or young person. Lifestyle Solutions urgently needs all types of foster carers across Australia.

If you think you could become a foster carer, please get in touch for a confiden­tial discussion and more information. Call on 1800 634 748 or visit www.lifestylesolu­tions.org.au

$20.2m In Nsw Budget For New Forbes Operating Suite

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Forbes Mayor Phyllis Miller OAM has sin­cerely thanked the Minns State Govern­ment, NSW Health Minister Ryan Park, Treasurer Daniel Mookhey and State Mem­ber Phil Donato MP for their ongoing sup­port to have the $20.2 million Forbes Hos­pital Operating Theatre Redevelopment included in the 2025/26 State Budget.

Mayor Miller has warmly welcomed the budget announcement, saying: “This is a significant investment in healthcare for our region and marks a significant milestone that will enhance the medical facilities and services available to residents of Forbes and the surrounding region.

“The new hospital theatre will be equipped with state-of-the-art technology and designed to meet the highest stand­ards of modern medical care. It will sig­nificantly expand the hospital’s capacity to perform a wide range of surgical proce­dures, reducing wait times and improving patient outcomes,” Mayor Miller added.

A new operating suite for Forbes District Hospital will mean we can continue to of­fer minor day surgeries, ENT, other speci­alities, as well as obstetrics as the primary birthing unit in the Lachlan Health District.

“A new operating suite will help reduce the demand in Orange, Dubbo, Bathurst and other hospitals in the region, as Forbes District Hospital often assists with overflow cases from the Base Hospitals,” Mayor Miller said.

Forbes Shire Council has a long history of supporting NSW Health to improve ac­cessibility to health services. The Council has developed several initiatives, including housing, to address barriers to long-term sustainable health services for our com­munity.

The Forbes District Hospital has always been dedicated to delivering comprehen­sive healthcare services to the Forbes community with a focus on patient-centred care. The hospital strives to meet the evolv­ing needs of its patients through continu­ous improvement and innovation. Demand for surgery at Forbes has grown from 621 cases in 2022/23 to 771 cases in 2023/24.

Winter Walk-in Soup Kitchen

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Pictured are some members of the Forbes CWA Evening Branch.

Members of the Forbes Community are invited and encouraged to drop into the Forbes Evening Branch of CWA’s ‘Winter Walk in Soup Kitchen’ on Wednesday 2 July. The soup kitchen will be held at the CWA Rooms, Lachlan Street, Forbes from 12:30pm.

Members of the Forbes Evening Branch are looking forward to serving members of our Community, especially our elderly and employees of business houses in the CBD of Forbes, as well as anyone wishing to en­joy a warm bowl of soup.

The cost will be $5 per bowl, and each serve will be accompanied by a bread roll and a hot beverage. This service offers an opportunity for elderly community mem­bers to sit, have a chat and enjoy the com­pany of others.

Funds raised from the soup kitchen will be utilised by the Forbes Evening Branch to support further causes in our community.

The Forbes Evening Branch operates un­der the Guidelines of the Country Women’s Association of NSW. The CWA was formed in 1922 when country women were fighting isolation and a lack of health facilities. The CWA is the largest women’s organisation in Australia and aims to improve conditions for country women and children.

Would you like to make new friends and make a difference in our community? Some of CWA values include supporting each other, advocating on community is­sues, sustainable development and the protection of the environment and social issues.

The Forbes CWA Evening Branch meets the second Thursday of each month at Club Forbes. Time is 6pm for dinner and the meeting begins at 7pm. All are wel­come. For further information please email forbeseveningbranchcwa@gmail.com

Forbes Soccer Club To Host Gala Day And Youth Soccer Gym

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Forbes District Soccer Club will host its An­nual Youth Gala Day on Sunday 29 June, welcoming 85 teams and more than 180 games across 11 fields, with matches kick­ing off from 7:30am.

A major highlight of the day will be the official opening of the new Youth Strength and Conditioning Gym at 12 midday. This state-of-the-art facility is the first of its kind at a community soccer club in Australia, de­signed specifically for junior athletes with a focus on lower body development, core strength, and explosive leg work.

The gym has been two years in the mak­ing and made possible through funding from the NSW Government’s Football Legacy Infrastructure Grant, Forbes Shire Council, and Forbes District Soccer Club. It is part of a broader upgrade that includes a new can­teen, female-compliant referee room, and refurbished office and storage areas.

The gym will be officially opened by NSW Government Local Member Phil Do­nato, Forbes Shire Council Mayor Phyllis Miller, Former Matildas and Football Aus­tralia Coach Tom Sermanni, alongside the Forbes U13 Girls Champions of Champions Squad.

The Gala Day will bring together players and families from across regional NSW, with teams travelling from Leeton, Grif­fith, Hanwood, Young, Orange, Bathurst, Dubbo, Wagga Wagga, Goulburn and more making this one of the largest junior soccer gatherings in the state, celebrating commu­nity sport, grassroots football, and regional investment in youth development.

Attending teams include: Leeton United, Griffith Academy, Hanwood FC, South West Slopes FA, Young Lions, Orange Dis­trict FA, Bathurst District FA, Dubbo District FA, Forbes District Soccer Club, Lachlan United, Western NSW FC Girls, Wagga City Wanderers, Wagga FA and Academy Southern Tablelands.

On the day there will be plenty of food outlets: Canteen, Barista Station, Larz Cof­fee, Dippin Dots, Dale Steak Van, Vietnam­ese Van, Gages mobile Ice Cream, Donuts, Potato Chips.

CatholicCare Wilcannia-Forbes To Hold Thank You Event For Forbes Community

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CatholicCare Wilcannia-Forbes (CCWF) is inviting all community members and ser­vice providers to their Thank You, Forbes Community Event on Wednesday, 2 July.

The occasion is a small gesture of ap­preciation for all those the organisation has worked alongside since the 2022 flooding in the town and its surrounds.

At its worst in November 2022, the La­chlan River peaked at 10.7 metres at Forbes, flooding more than 700 residential and commercial properties in the town.

CCWF, in particular its Financial Stability team, has provided practical support and stand with community members as they negotiate the long-term and wide-ranging consequences of flooding in the 2.5 years since.

CCWF Financial Stability portfolio man­ager, Louise Cormie said the organisation was holding the event to thank all the com­munity members who had placed their trust in her team, as well as the service provid­ers who had worked with them to provide the much needed support.

“We want to take a moment to say thank you, and celebrate the wonderful people in our community as they work towards re­covery,” Mrs Cormie said.

“We are grateful to be part of this com­munity, and want the community to know we are with them for the long journey of re­covery from natural disaster.

“Flood-affected residents can continue to contact our financial counsellors for sup­port, advocacy and referrals.”

The event, to be held in the Forbes Town Hall from 11am-2pm, will include a barbe­cue meal, fruit platters and soft drinks, and a gift for every attendee, as well as lucky door prizes. Forbes Shire Council’s GIVIT team and the Disaster Response Legal Service will also be attending and ready to support community members.

“We are looking forward to coming to­gether with the community for a relaxed and enjoyable event on July 2,” Mrs Corm­ie said.

Phoenix Office 7/113-127 Rankin Street, Forbes NSW 2871

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editor@forbesphoenix.com.au

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sales@forbesphoenix.com.au

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