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Forbes Phoenix

Australia’s 3G Networks Switch Off From 28th October

October 24, 2024 by Roxane Manley

Australia’s 3G networks will shut down from 28th October and the Australian Mobile Tel­ecommunications Association (AMTA) is urging all Australians to act now and “Check Your Tech” to ensure they will stay connect­ed once the networks are switched off.

Telstra and Optus will switch off their 3G networks from 28th October 2024. TPG Telecom-owned Vodafone has already closed its network in January 2024.

This means that devices that depend on the 3G network will no longer work. 3G de­vices will no longer be supported and will not be able to make calls, including emer­gency voice calls to Triple Zero on any Aus­tralian mobile network.

This closure will also affect some 4G de­vices that default emergency calls to 3G.

While these devices can make normal 4G voice calls, they push emergency calls to 3G and so won’t be able to make an emer­gency call after the closure.

In addition, devices that have been pur­chased overseas or from a retailer selling imported phones, might not be fully sup­ported once the 3G network shuts down Impacted devices may also include smartwatches, tablets, in-home personal emergency alarms, EFTPOS terminals and fire and security alarms.

New Generation Of Support Workers

October 24, 2024 by Roxane Manley

Forbes mature age student City Smith who is on a mis­sion to make a real difference in disability care, thanks to her training at TAFE NSW.

Forbes local and TAFE NSW student Cindy Smith, a proud Dharawal woman, is using her education as a powerful tool to empow­er people with disabilities to express their desires and gain independence.

Armed with her Certificate III in Individual Support, now pursuing Certificate IV in Dis­ability Support, she is on a mission to help her clients break free from rigid schedules that often limit their true needs.

This week, National Careers Week, is a timely reminder of the urgent demands for skilled disability support workers, projected to increase by 128,000 jobs by 2025.

Ms Smith credits her training at TAFE NSW for enabling her to go beyond basic care and provide referrals and support to her clients.

“My qualifications and skills drive my pas­sion to advocate for flexibility and ensure my clients can engage in experiences that reflect their interests and life preferences.

“I want to elevate the level of care and show that life is more than daily routines.

By thinking outside the box and seeking the right resources, they can pursue inter­ests and expand their activities,” Ms Smith said.

She has progressed her career at Curra­jong Disability Service in Parkes since her journey with TAFE NSW, caring for her cli­ents with respect and dignity, and ensuring they have a voice in their care.

Through her practical learnings at TAFE NSW, Ms Smith witnessed how the right referrals can significantly impact the lives of people with disabilities, enhancing their mental health, building social networks and even leading to successful careers or busi­nesses. Ms Smith aspires to further her studies in mental health and community support with TAFE NSW.

Mayoral Notes

October 24, 2024 by Roxane Manley

What are you doing on Saturday? Join us at beautiful Lions Park for a Community Fishing Day. The event has been organ­ised by our Community Recovery Officers in collaboration with the River Dreaming Aboriginal Corporation to celebrate 2024 Gone Fishing Day. It is a reminder for us all to relax and unwind and enjoy the great outdoors.

There are major prize packs to win – you will need to be registered on 123 tix to be eligible and be present when it’s drawn.

Every child attending will receive a special gift, there will be a community BBQ and fishing workshops. No fishing experience needed. Come along and enjoy a fun fam­ily day – throwing in a line or two.

Work continues this week on the Bogan Way constructing a three kilometre footpath to connect north Forbes to the CBD. Part of this project has been installing a footbridge on the Bogan Gate Road between York and Chruchill Streets. Accessible footpaths remain a priority to ensure access to the CBD and around town.

Have you registered your team yet for the National BBQ Championship on 9 and 10 November. There are two days of competi­tion for grilling and smoking this year. It will be an amazing couple of days with plenty of live music, a bar, food trucks, cooking demonstrations, BBQ stalls and celebrity chef at Blak.

I encourage all BBQ enthusiasts to regis­ter their teams and join in the competition.

For those who may not want to compete, we invite you to come out and support the teams – it is great entertainment.

We have joined up with the Australian Barbecue Alliance and will be inviting vol­unteer judges to participate on Sunday 10 November. Training will need to be com­pleted on Sunday morning at 8.30am be­fore the event.

Talking nominations, have you thought about who should be the Forbes Citizen of the Year, Young Citizen and Seniors win­ners. Nomination forms are now available – we can’t wait to celebrate another round of recipients in our amazing community in 2025. You can find details for these events and nomination forms on our website at forbes.nsw.gov.au

Until next week
Phyllis Miller, OAM
Forbes Mayor

Bushtracker Rally Donations Benefit Local Community

October 24, 2024 by Roxane Manley

Bushtrackers at the presentation of donations prior to morning tea.

Each year the Bushtracker Caravan Own­ers Association hold a rally in a town that has experienced recent hardship – and this year Forbes was their destination.

Members converged in Forbes from eve­ry state and territory across Australia. Their aim was to get to know the area, spend money in the district and support local charities during their ten-day stay.

Robyn Miller, President of Forbes Even­ing Branch CWA sourced ‘Welcome to Forbes’ packs which were distributed to rally members.

The Bushtrackers held a spit roast com­petition, using the coals to then hold a camp oven competition the next day. The CWA were invited to judge the Bushtrack­ers camp oven cooking competition. Three members, Anne Reade (Forbes CWA), Gail McKay (Bogan gate CWA) and Vicki Williams (Evening CWA) put their judging skills to use, examining the cooking with the usual CWA judging criteria.

The Forbes Evening Branch CWA was then invited to cater for their farewell morn­ing tea with over 120 rally members attend­ing. CWA members prepared a delicious mixed spread, receiving many compli­ments for their efforts. To support the local community further, the Bushtrackers paid for all the ingredients.

Rally organisers shopped in Forbes for prizes for their auction at their gala dinner, catered for by Eat Your Greens.

Robyn Miller said, “It has been estimated that the Bushtrackers spent in excess of $26,000 in our local community during their ten-day stay.”

Through the proceeds of the auction and other activities, the Bushtrackers organis­ing committee were able to make consider­able donations to local charities. Some of the beneficiaries were: Toy Library $1,500, Sunshine Club $1,500, Forbes History Mu­seum $1,000, Forbes Town Library $1,500, Forbes CWA $1,500 for air-conditioning in CWA Hall, Forbes Evening CWA Branch $1,500 for Youth Education.

Making It Easier For Patients In Regional NSW Needing To Travel For Healthcare

October 24, 2024 by Roxane Manley

Stephen Lawrence MLC has today an­nounced that the NSW Government is im­proving access to healthcare for people living in rural and regional communities, pro­viding financial assistance to over 81,000 patients from Local Health Districts cover­ing inland NSW in the past year through the Isolated Patients Travel and Accommoda­tion Assistance Scheme (IPTAAS).

IPTAAS provides financial assistance to patients who need to travel long distances for specialist healthcare that is not available locally. NSW patients have also received more money back in their pockets thanks to increased subsidies, with the average reim­bursement per patient to be $482.

The NSW Government is embracing a comprehensive range of measures to im­prove access to care in our regional, rural and remote communities, including: deliv­ering more health worker accommodation in the bush, doubling rural health worker incentives for the most critical and hard to fill positions to improve recruitment and re­tention, boosting doctors in our regional GP surgeries as well as hospitals through the single employer model, and deploying an extra 500 regional paramedics.

Be Seen @ 2024 Trundle Abba Festival

October 24, 2024 by Roxane Manley

Popular with the crowds at this years 2024 Trundle ABBA Festival was six piece Sydney band, Disco Revolution.


Trundle came alive with electric sounds and colours on Saturday 19th October for the Trundle ABBA Festival.


A massive thanks to the Parkes Shire Council Events Team and Parks and Garden Team for bringing together and supporting the Festival.

World Class Bush Art Trail Complete After 13 Years

October 24, 2024 by Roxane Manley

The recent unveiling of ‘Brumbies Run’ by Brett Mon Garling, the final sculpture completing the Sculpture Down the Lachlan trail after 13 years.

What’s 100km long, took 13 years, and fea­tures brumbies, goannas, birds and lovable dogs?After 13 years in the making, the worldclass public art trail ‘Sculpture Down the Lachlan’ is complete with the final work ‘Brumbies Run’ by Brett Garling installed.

Featuring 25 installations over 100 km from Forbes to Condobolin in Central NSW, the bush’s version of Bondi’s ‘Sculpture by the Sea’, attracts thousands of road-trippers who marvel at the quirky and unique largerthan-life artworks which follow the Lachlan River along the Lachlan Valley Way road.

‘Brumbies Run’ is a bronze sculpture lo­cated at Warroo Reserve off Lachlan Valley Way. It features wild horses running, kick­ing, flaring nostrils and leaping, and repre­sents the freedom, spirit and enthusiasm of so many Australians.

The trail launched in 2011 and aimed to celebrate the diversity of the rural commu­nity, its artistic edge, culture, people and stories. Over the years it has gained inter­national recognition with visitors enjoying the trail, nestled amongst golden grasses and majestic red river gums.

Other recent installations are ‘Waiting for the Rain’ by Jimmy Rix (April 2024) and ‘Be­tween the Silence’ by Clancy Warner (May 2023). Plus, don’t miss Stephen King’s the ‘Tower’, the original ‘amazing’ sign at Forbes, a 12-metre steel goanna ‘Varanus’ and the 6-metre ‘Heart of Country’.

The brainchild of Sculpture Down the Lachlan is local artist Rosie Johnston who was unrelenting in her passion to see art embedded in nature by some of Australia’s leading creatives.

At the end of the Sculpture Down the La­chlan trail, travellers will find themselves at Condobolin’s iconic ‘Utes in the Paddock’.

The unique collection of 20 Holden Utes is such a drawcard that Lachlan Shire Council constructed its new Visitor Information Cen­tre at the site.

For more information you can contact the friendly staff at Amazing Forbes NSW

Communities Urged To Take Extra Care As Risk Of Thunderstorm Asthma Increases

October 24, 2024 by Roxane Manley

People prone to respiratory conditions like asthma or hayfever are being urged to take extra care ahead of predicted thunderstorm activity across Western NSW Local Health District (WNSWLHD).

Each year from around mid-October to mid-November, asthma and hayfever suf­ferers may be at greater risk of severe symptoms due to high pollen counts, and weather conditions like those are predicted across the region in coming weeks.

Western NSW Local Health District Pub­lic Health Physician, Dr Victor Carey, is urging people with asthma or breathing problems, and those impacted by hayfever in spring, to take extra precautions when thunderstorms are expected.

“People should be alert, not alarmed. It is incredibly important for people to be aware they could be at risk. Airborne pollens are at their highest levels at this time of year,” Dr Carey said.

“Thunderstorms can cause pollen grains to explode and release fine particles which can be inhaled more deeply into the lungs.

Even people who don’t have asthma should take extra precautions during thunderstorm season.

“Anyone with diagnosed asthma should be proactively managing their symptoms.

Carry your asthma medication with you at all times during high-risk periods and make sure your family, school and workplace has a copy of your asthma management plan.

Breathing difficulties can be life threaten­ing. In the event of a breathing emergency dial Triple Zero (000) immediately.

More information can be found on the NSW Health website: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/environment/factsheets/Pages/thunderstorm-asthma.aspx

Meet The Makers Day – Forbes

October 24, 2024 by Roxane Manley

See you all at the next one and don’t forget to please keep supporting local.


Thanks to all of our fabulous Makers and everyone who came along – locals and visitors alike.


What a fabulous day we had at Meet the Makers at the Forbes Visitor Information Centre.

Strong Finishes In Championships

October 24, 2024 by By Short Putt

Head Pro Will Gunn and Mens Captain Steve Betland flank Peter Dawson, the Mens A-Grade Scratch and Vets Scratch Champion.

The 2024 Forbes Golf Club Individual Championships finished with worthy win­ners who completed the final day with strong performances. The weekend pro­vided near perfect weather with the course playing well despite some heavy rain in the lead up. While some pin placements were challenging the field managed to cope well.

The final winners in the Scratch event after the four day event were:

• A-Grade Scratch: P Dawson (293); Run­ner-up: S Betland (295)

• A-Reserve Scratch: P Duke (344)

• B-Grade Scratch: P (350); Runner-up: N Duncan

• C-Grade Scratch: N Morrison (381); Run­ner-up: N Roach (382)

• Vets Scratch: P Dawson (293)

• Junior Scratch: R Murray (307)

The Handicap trophies had close finishes with some good young talent featuring across the board. Congratulations to all win­ners, and to all participants.

Results in the daily competition that was played alongside the championship rounds on each day were:

• Day 3 Div 1: T West (69 nett), A Alley (71)

• Day 3 Div 2: N Morrison (69), B Thomas (69)

• NTP’s: 9th S Betland; 18th Alf Davies

• Super Pin (3rd ) J Hall (Trundle)

• Ball sweep to 75 nett on count back

• Day 4 Div 1: J Pendleton (69), on count back from P Dawson (69)

• Day 4 Div 2: A Quirk (62), N Morrison (70)

• NTP’s: 9th A Quirk; 18th S Grallelis

• Super pin (3rd ) B Thomas

• Ball sweep to 74 nett on count backPlayers are reminded of the change to the Golf Program for Saturday 26th October, which is now a 4BBB Stableford Aggregate Medley. A reminder to get your partner or­ganised for the Mixed Foursomes Champi­onships to be held on Sunday 27th October.

This is played over 27 holes. The timesheet for the Forbes Nissan Classic weekend is filling up so get your name in now.

By Short Putt

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