Roxane Manley

Keep The Sheep Celebrates Historic Day

September 12, 2024 by Roxane Manley

Keep the Sheep campaigners and supporters have sent a strong message to the Albanese Government, amassing thousands of supporters to the lawn at Parliament House in Canberra to protest the government’s ban on live sheep exports.

The campaign celebrated people joining the rally from across Australia, coming from as far afield as Darwin, Broome, North Queensland and Adelaide to show their frustration.

Armed with a 50 strong convoy of trucks and vehicles that converged from Yass and Goulburn, Keep the Sheep spokesman Ben Sutherland celebrated the excellent turn out. “People feel so strongly about the government ruining our livelihoods, they came out in force today.”

Mr Sutherland said that neither the Prime Minister nor the Agriculture Minister, Julie Collins came out to address the crowd.

“People are hurting already as a result of this policy and no Government representatives turned up to listen to their concerns” he said.

With approximately 2,000 people in attendance, the rally demonstrated the frustration that farmers have felt about the government’s anti-farming policies and added to the nearly 100,000 signature petition.

We Will Remember Them, We Will Honour Them, We Will Fight For Them

September 5, 2024 by Roxane Manley

Mandy kicked off her Remember September PanKind Walk in Mudgee on Sunday and walked 6kms

This September, local Parkes woman Mandy Tulloch is walking 100km for the 71 Australians who die from pancreatic cancer each week and in memory of her brother Michael (Dick) who lost his short battle with this hideous illness earlier this year.

Mandy will be joined by her husband Simon , her sister Maree , and her late brothers children Hayden and Deanna (who reside in Sydney) to walk together when they can and also virtually as a team. The team name being, Rider in the Dust from Fernhill.

As a family, Mandy explained “We have personally been touched, with three generations being affected by this disease.

Mandy’s grandfather Edward Welsh who died in 1978, her late brother Michael, and her father, Graham Welsh, who has recently been diagnosed.

Pancreatic cancer is now the fourth biggest cancer killer in Australia, and because early-stage pancreatic cancer rarely causes symptoms, the survival rates are devastating.

If you are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer tomorrow, there is only a 12.5% chance you’ll be alive in 5 years. But research can change this. Your support will fund lifesaving pancreatic cancer research and improve survival rates.

Mandy has challenged herself with a personal goal to get up, get moving and walk 100km to fight this terrible disease. You can follow the link for more information about Remember September or to make a donation in support of Mandy https://www.rememberseptember.org.au/s/13197/15107

Mayoral Notes

September 5, 2024 by Roxane Manley

I was honoured to meet with Member for Orange, Phil Donato, yesterday when he announced that Forbes Shire Council was successful in the 2023 Community Building Partnership grant. The $37,692 grant is for the installation of the shade sails over play equipment at the popular community space along the banks of the lake. Another addition to our beautiful lake precinct.

Great to see the sun will be shining for the annual Forbes Show on Saturday. As always there will be plenty to see and do.

The gates open at 8am and the Grand Parade will be at 2pm – you can fill your day with the many exhibitions, pavilion entries and displays that make a country show great.

Do you know of someone looking to start a new career? Council has launched its 2025 Traineeship campaign to recruit for 15 positions working and training in civil construction, irrigation, horticulture, agriculture, business, community projects, surveying and drone operations, sewer plant operations, as well as university level positions for a town planner and building surveyor.

Traineeships are an opportunity for people, of any age, to begin a new career and earn industry recognised qualifications while on the job. You can find out more details on the Forbes Shire Council website, download the position descriptions and apply. We have had great success with our trainees becoming integral and important members of our Council team.

There are plenty of outstanding women in our community and the NSW Government is seeking nominations for inspiring and aspirational women and girls in NSW for the 2025 NSW Women of the Year awards. These awards aim to recognise ground-breaking thinkers, everyday heroes and social reformers. There are many outstanding women working in the local government sector and this is a great opportunity to recognise their work. The recipients of the awards will be announced at the NSW Women of the Year Awards ceremony on Thursday 6 March 2025 as part of NSW Women’s Week, which will run from Sunday 2 March to Saturday 8 March.

Nominations close at 11.59pm on 15 September 2024.

Until next week
Phyllis Miller, OAM – Forbes Mayor

Snippets…

September 5, 2024 by Roxane Manley

Trundle Bush Tucker Day is a family friendly festival. There is something for everyone! Come along on Saturday the 7th September

Trundle Bush Tucker Day: Trundle Rural Fire Brigade volunteers will have a BBQ Breakfast the morning after Bush Tucker Day on Sunday 8th September at the Trundle Showground. Bacon and eggs rolls, big breakfast and BBQ. They will have Eftpos available too. Come along and help us say a big thank you Trundle Rural Fire Brigade.

Forbes Town & District Tennis Club: On Sunday 22nd September bring the family along for a fun day, win some prizes, spread awareness for Leo Doyle and help raise some funds. To nominate for the pair’s competition or for further information about the day please contact Peter Clifton on 0403 335 205. If you would like to know a little bit more about Leo’s journey so far, visit https://rarevoices.org.au/personal-story/leos-story/ For more information on the the support Little Wings provide our community go to https://www.littlewings.org.au/

Lifeline: If you have ever experienced thoughts of suicide, you are not alone. In fact, 1 in every 6 Australians has thought seriously about taking their own life on at least one occasion. No matter how hopeless you might feel, help is available. You

can learn about suicide and where to find support for you and the people you care about in our Support Toolkit: ll.org.au/suicide. If you are in crisis and want to speak with a Crisis Supporter, you can call 13 11 14, text 0477 131 114 or chat to Lifeline online at www.lifeline.org.au 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Exciting News Elvis Fans! We have listened to your feedback, and we’re shaking things up. Tickets for the 2025 Parkes Elvis Festival will now go on sale:

• Monday, 23 September 2024, 10am: Parkes Leagues Club shows

• Tuesday, 24 September 2024, 10am: Parkes Services Club shows

• Tuesday, 24 September 2024, 2pm: External festival event tickets

Women’s Health Week: This week is Women’s Health Week, and it is more important than ever to shine a light on the vital importance of prioritising women’s health and wellbeing. Did you know that cervical cancer is one of the most preventable cancers and having a Cervical Screening Test every five years is the best way to prevent it? Find the one that is right for you: https://bit.ly/4dV7gXk

The Cervical Screening Test is available through your regular doctor or nurse, but it can also be done at many other locations across NSW.

See Ewe Next Tuesday, Albo

September 5, 2024 by Roxane Manley

With momentum growing for the national agriculture rally to be held in Canberra next Tuesday 10th of Sept, co-organisers, Keep the Sheep, are encouraging as many people as possible to attend to give the Government a clear message: support agriculture or face the ramifications at the ballot box.

Coinciding with news that the new Agriculture Minister’s Department advised her that, “the policy is now settled and will not be revisited”, spokesperson Ben Sutherland said that the choice was now clear, and that farmers, agricultural workers, truckies and regional people were now only left with a single choice, to campaign against bad policy at election time.

“This policy is far from settled. If the Government thinks it can dispose of our livelihoods and then declare it all done and dusted, they are very wrong,”“If the Government prefers to listen to activists or bureaucrats instead of the real people that their policy will hurt, then they will see us and hear us next week,” he said.

The national agriculture rally will be held on the lawns at Parliament House on Tuesday 10 September from 11:00 and participants can register online.

Catholiccare Wilcannia-forbes To Host Free Movie Nights For Families

September 5, 2024 by Roxane Manley

CatholicCare Wilcannia-Forbes team member Dylan Biles is encouraging families to come along to the organisation’s free Forbes Community Movie Night on Friday.

Families at Forbes and Trundle can enjoy a film event for free this month, thanks to CatholicCare Wilcannia-Forbes.

The organisation’s Family and Relationship Services team is hosting a movie night at Forbes on Friday 6th September, and at Trundle on Friday 20th September.

The events will feature a screening of the film, The Wolf and the Lion, as well as a free barbecue sausage sizzle and other activities for children, all at no charge to attendees.

CatholicCare Wilcannia-Forbes’s Family and Relationship Services team organised these events to bring families together and add to the social experience for community members in these towns.

Forbes Community Movie Night, Friday 6th September, 5pm-9pm, to be held at Forbes Public School. Bring chairs and rugs and dress warmly. Children are to be supervised by parents. No staff supervision available for children. This is a drug-free and alcohol-free event.

Trundle Community Movie Night, Friday 20th September, 5pm-9pm, to be held at St Patrick’s Catholic School. Bring chairs and rugs and dress warmly. Children are to be supervised by parents. No staff supervision available for children. This is a drug-free and alcohol-free event.

“Our community movie nights are an enjoyable night of entertainment for families that don’t break budgets,” Family and Relationship Services delivery leader Rebecca Lee said.

“They are a chance for children to make memories and they encourage strong positive bonds between family members, and between families in the community.”

Serving western NSW, CatholicCare Wilcannia-Forbes understands the needs of smaller rural communities.

“With time pressures, many families can’t take a day to travel to a bigger city for entertainment,” Ms Lee said.

“Furthermore, owing to inflation, many families may not be able to afford the fuel to travel away.”

All are welcome to attend.

Northparkes Mines 30 Year Celebrations

September 5, 2024 by Roxane Manley

Cake cutting (L to R): Tony Melhuish, Brad Mill, Ian Cowle, Hon. Courtney Houssos, Rob Cunningham, Ian Rowe.

This year Northparkes celebrates 30 years of operations. To mark the special occasion an official ceremony was held onsite on 21st August, gathering special guests and employees together.

NSW Minister for Natural Resources, Hon. Courtney Houssos MLC, Member for Orange Phil Donato and Parkes Shire Council Mayor joined representatives from Evolution Mining and Sumitomo to help employees celebrate. Two of Northparkes’ employees who will also 30 years of service Tony Melhuish and Ian Rowe also shared memories of their time onsite over the years. To finish the event there was a cake cutting and a plaque was unveiled.

But the celebrations aren’t over yet! Be sure to come along to Northparkes’ free community event, Cheers to 30 Years Festival, headlined by Daryl Braithwaite. This event is to thank everyone in the community for your support over the years. Scan the QR code on page 8 to secure your ticket, bring your picnic rug, esky, and enjoy a funfilled evening with family and friends.

Get ready to enjoy the sweet sounds of Isaac Compton, get up and dance with Foxy Cleopatra, and laugh out loud with MC Tristian MacManus. The event is BYO and there will be plenty of food and activities for the whole family to enjoy including an inflatable obstacle course, jumping castles and a special visit from everyone’s favourite blue cartoon dog…

Northparkes can not wait to celebrate with you all.

Rob Cunningham and Bogan Bila Cultural Dance Group.

‘Use It Or Lose It’

September 5, 2024 by Roxane Manley

My grandfather was the founder of a poultry farm. He loved chickens, the way they moved around, walking with a swagger, their jerky, almost nervous movements. I remember collecting the eggs with him as a child, watching his hands move quickly, with almost a flare of artistry, placing eggs gently but firmly into cartons as he pushed the trolley along through the sea of chickens.

In the last 10 years of his life, he battled Parkinson’s Disease. I once helped him from his car to the egg packing shed, a painstakingly slow process, every movement a neurological battle for his brain to connect with his muscles. His feet barely cleared the ground with short, shuffling motions, his hands shaking and his voice a whisper.

Twenty minutes into the 15 metre journey from car to shed door, I offered to get the wheelchair. He looked at me, smiled and said “My girl. If I don’t use it. I… lose .. it.” He was, of course, right.

A study about patients who are critically ill and find themselves in an ICU bed found that they lose nearly 2% of skeletal muscle per day during the first week of admission. A week in bed, motionless, well that’s almost 14% of your muscle lost. Yet we know on the flip side, it can take 6-8 weeks to build muscle up and build strength. Hardly seems fair does it?!

There are so many benefits to keeping active, across all stages of the life span, but especially as we age.

Interested in keeping strong & active? We have a new seniors exercise class at Kerin Health, run by our Physiotherapists. Find out more or secure your place in this program (places are limited) by calling us on 0437 749 746

Be Seen

September 5, 2024 by Roxane Manley

Forbes Foxes were on fire and have won a spot in the 2024 Grand Final.

Get pumped up and save the date. Sunday 15th September, time TBA.

Shout out to the community who came out in support. A home grand final – bring it on!

Free Online Child Car Seat Safety Workshops

September 5, 2024 by Roxane Manley

Parents, carers and grandparents of young children are invited to attend one of two free online workshops being held to provide important safety information about child car seats.

The workshops are being conducted by Parkes, Forbes and Lachlan Shire Councils in partnership with Transport for NSW West Region. The workshops will be held via MS Teams, on Tuesday 10th September at 10am and again at 7pm, and will run for about an hour.

The Councils’ Road Safety and Injury Prevention Officer, Melanie Suitor, said the correct selection, installation and adjustment of child car seats is vital in ensuring children’s safety when travelling in vehicles.

“The workshop will cover the National Child Restraint Laws, types of child car seats available, correct installation and adjustment, when to move to the next car seat, accessories, tips for second-hand car seats and much more. It is so important to ensure your precious cargo is safe,” Ms Suitor said.

The online workshops were the first of their kind in NSW when they were trialed in May 2023.

“Over 30 local families have attended the online workshops since their inception. Participants rated the workshop 4.8 out of 5, said they would be very likely to recommend it to a friend or family member and were glad they had attended,” Ms Suitor said.

To book your place, visit the Councils’ Facebook pages, use this link: bit.ly/WorkshopRegoSept24 or call Ms Suitor on 6861 2364.

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