Forbes campus held a very successful morning tea to promote creating a supportive community for mental health and wellbeing.
Ask R U OK? any day. A conversation could change a life.
R U having suicidal thoughts, please seek assistance by contacting your trusted healthcare professional or calling Lifeline on 13 11 14. R U concerned for your safety or the safety of others, seek immediate assistance by calling Triple Zero (000)
If you are one of the estimated 20% of Australians that suffer from hayfever, Spring is not a time for celebration but rather a time of sneezing, mucous and the dreaded itchy eyes! Allergic conjunctivitis is the bane of many a hay fever sufferer, so what is the best way for you to manage your itchy eyes?
1. Avoid your allergy triggers. Plants, grasses or pollens that trigger your allergy symptoms should be avoided. Try saving outdoor activities to the evening or just before dawn when the pollen count is lower.
2. Keep allergens away. Regularly washing your face, hair and around your eyes, frequently changing your clothing and linen can help to remove the little allergen particles that accumulate.
3. Treat your itchy eyes with medication. Over the counter antihistamine eye drops can provide relief for the symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis. Avoid using the “red eye” drops. These will only temporarily hide the redness without actually addressing the cause of your red, itchy eyes. For persistent allergy, use a mast cell stabiliser eyedrop leading up to and during spring to act as a preventative. These are available as a combination drop alongside an antihistamine.
4. Treat any concurrent dry eye disease. Having dry eyes will exacerbate your allergic conjunctivitis symptoms and our tears act as a natural means of flushing allergens out of our eyes. Watch out with taking oral antihistamines as these can cause dry eyes.
Book an appointment at Hansens Optometrists where we can formulate a personalised plan. We can prescribe more effective eye drops and treat other eye problems that might be masquerading as allergy symptoms.
Eye Health Brought to you by Hansen’s Eyecare Plus
Have you had your child restraints checked to see if they are fitted correctly?
Parkes and Forbes Shire Councils are ensuring that children are safe and secure when travelling in vehicles, by offering free child restraint checks by Authorised Child Restraint Fitters in Forbes on Wednesday 18 September and in Parkes on Friday 20 September 2024.
The Council’s Road Safety and Injury Prevention Officer, Melanie Suitor, says that these free child restraint checking days are held bi-annually, are well patronised and are important in ensuring the safe travel of young children.
“The correct fitting and adjustment of child restraints is vital. Research shows that two out of three child restraints are not being used properly and this puts children at risk of injury in the event of a crash.
“Most of the restraints we have checked at previous events have had minor problems that needed fixing to ensure the safety of the child – such as tightening and untwisting straps, fitting gated buckles and correcting the seatbelt’s path through the restraint.
“It is important to have your child restraint checked regularly after prolonged use and installed correctly before use to ensure that your precious cargo is safe” Ms Suitor said.
The upcoming child restraint checking days will be held in Forbes on Wednesday 18th September from 11am – 3pm and in the carpark at Lions Park, and in Parkes on Friday 20th September from 11am – 3pm in the carpark at Kelly Reserve. Bookings are essential, simply phone 6861 2364 to secure your place.
Information about the child restraint laws, the types of restraints and advice on moving children from one restraint type to the next will also be available.
For further information about the free child restraint checking days or to book in, please contact Parkes, Forbes and Lachlan Shire Councils, Road Safety and Injury Prevention Officer, Melanie Suitor on (02) 6861 2364.
Students in years 9 to 12 from Peak Hill Central School, Yeoval Central School, Tottenham Central School, Tullamore Central School, Trundle Central School are set to benefit from the Western Access Program’s (WAP) Primary Industries (Training) Trailer launched in Peak Hill on Tuesday, 10th September.
The launch marks a significant milestone, providing a new opportunity for students to engage in agriculture as a subject and to explore career pathways in the sector.
It’s a versatile trailer that gives teachers and students the support they need to excel in teaching, learning, and practical assessment activities related to livestock, wool harvesting, fencing, and chemical and agriculture generalist units.
The trailer will also enable the delivery of Australian Wool Innovation courses and facilitate industry and career immersion activities and practical sessions on farms and other enterprises, creating stronger connections with the industry and potential career pathways for students.
Funded by Regional Industry Education Partnerships (RIEP) and constructed by a local engineer and former WAP student from Dunn’s Welding and Fabrication Peak Hill, the launch of this trailer means less of a need for students to travel to get the agricultural skills and experience they need.
Grab your mates and fire up for an unforgettable night of tasty food, ice cold beverages, live music and plenty of dancing – all in the name of charity.
The Nedd Brockmann Gala Ball, which is being held at the historic Forbes Town Hall on Friday 4th October, is set to be an event not to be missed.
The aim of the black-tie charity ball is to support Bedgerabong born and bred Nedd Brockmann’s past achievements whilst also getting right behind him and his next big challenge: which is to run 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometres) in 10 days!All proceeds from the ticket and bar sales plus the fundraiser auction will be donated to the charity: “We Are Mobilise” which aims at combating homelessness within Australia.
Sam Mackay, who is one of several young locals organising the event, said “We hope everyone gets around this event and supports the Brockmann Gala Ball.
There has been a lot of work behind the scenes to make it a really special evening”.
Head to the Forbes Gala Ball pages on either Facebook or Instagram or to 123tix.com.au get your ticket.
Voters acoss the state will head to the polls this weekend for the 2024 NSW Local Government Elections.
The NSW Electoral Commission will be conducting local council elections on Saturday, 14th of September 2024, for the election of Councillors. If you are an Australian citizen aged 18 years or more, you are required to enrol and vote. If you do not vote, you may receive a penalty notice.
The NSW Local Government Elections are held every four years. Voting in this election is an opportunity to determine nine representatives who form the elected body In this election there are 10 individual candiates running for the nine available positions on Forbes Shire Council. The election in Parkes will be hotly contested with a massive line up of two groups and 18 individual candidates running for election.
If you can’t make it to a polling place on Election Day due to other commitments, pre-polling is open until 6pm Friday, 13th September at Forbes Town Hall, Harold Street, Forbes or The Coventry Room, Parkes Shire Library & Cultural Centre, 25 Bogan Street, Parkes. .
Whether you’re a returning voter or its your first time, head over to the NSW Electoral Commission website to find out more information: https://elections.nsw.gov.au
We had 26 players come along and enjoy Aussie Croquet on a very nice sunny morning on Saturday 7th September. There were only two players who managed to win three games: Allan Jones and John Allegri. The big winners on the day were 14-9 John Allegri and Allan Jones.
The mid winners on the day were:
• 14-10 Kevin Rubie and Joan Littlejohn, Neville Spry and John Farah, Vince Roberts and John Job.
• 14-11 Colleen Liebich and John Farah, Enid Baker and Allan Jones, Colleen Liebich an Allan Jones.
A very sunny warm morning on Tuesday 10th September, saw 42 players ready to get started. There were five players who managed to win three games: John Allegri, Phillip Moran, Vince Roberts, Male Smith and Robin Pols.
The big winners on the day were: 11-2 Rex Toole and Noel Jolliffe, 10-3 John Farah and Enid Baker.
The mid winners on the day were: 9-4 Bruce Field and Peter West, Merv Langfield and Mal Smith, John Allegri, Frank Donohoe and Pam Thomson, Kevin Rubie and Wayne Wright, John Job and Mal Smith, Russell Anderson and Noel Jolliffe, Frank Donohoe and Sue Wade.
Croquet is a sport for young and old and should you be interested in trying a game, come down to Halpins flat on a Tuesday morning by 9.15am to get your name into the draw for a 9.30am start. Only $5 to play which includes morning cuppa and $20 to join the club. Croquet was first played in England in the early 1900 and is a game of skill, great for hand and eye co-ordination and that gentle exercise regime. The social atmosphere is amazing. Enquiries can be made by calling 0428 540 272
By Pegging Out
Old classmates enjoyed reconnecting over the weekend of 6, 7 and 8 September, some not having seen each other since school days, while others had attended past class reunions.
There was a meet and greet at Cambridge on Friday night, lunch at the Coachman on Saturday and dinner at the Hong Loch on Saturday night. We laughed as we shared old school memories, and listened with interest to each other’s stories of where their life had led them.
Some of us had been at school together from Kindergarten onwards. But no matter how long our years together were, there was a sense of gratitude for those years spent together as we were growing up and that had played a part in our formation as adults.
The event ended with coffee in Cooke Park on Sunday morning for those who were still in town. Others, had made an early start to return home; home being as far away as Queensland, Broken Hill, different parts of Sydney, up Newcastle way, and down Wollongong way, Canberra and Orange, and anywhere in between.
A 100-hour work blitz starting on Friday 13 September will see huge progress being made on the Stockinbingal to Parkes section of the Inland Rail project.
A major construction blitz starting today (13th September) will see the Inland Rail project push forward with day-and-night works on the section between Stockinbingal and Parkes.
The 100-hour track possession will close the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) line from Forbes to Goobang Junction from 6am on Saturday 14 September to 10am Wednesday 18 September.
The track closure opportunity will permit rail infrastructure contractor Martinus Rail to carry out works on several sites across the Stockinbingal to Parkes section to prepare the line for future double-stacked freight trains.
Some out-of-hours works related to the track possession will start earlier, at 6pm on Friday 13 September, finishing at 7am on Thursday 19 September.
At Daroobalgie, north of Forbes, new turnouts will be installed at the new crossing loop, preparations for which include earthworks, drainage and ballast installation.
At Wyndham Avenue, Forbes the existing track under the road bridge will be lowered by 1.5 metres and new stormwater drainage installed.
At Forbes Station the track will be slewed laterally half a metre and the station awning trimmed back 300mm, while scaffolding will be installed on the Lachlan River Bridge ahead of bridge modifications that will take place after the possession.
Due to the nature of the work at the Lachlan River Bridge, a 30-metre exclusion zone will be enforced, and environmental controls installed to protect the waterway and riverbanks.
Since July last year:
• Inland Rail has spent more than $6.5 million with 85 local businesses on the project between Albury and Parkes.
• On the same section, Inland Rail has employed a total of 404 people.
• 127 of the total are local residents, and 36 of the total are women.
• 39 of the total are First Nations people.
• Of the 127 local residents, 24 are First Nations people.
James Kennedy, Delivery Director, Albury to Parkes (A2P), Inland Rail, said “The September 100-hour possession gives us an opportunity to make great strides forward on the Stockinbingal to Parkes section of Inland Rail.
“We are committed to delivering Inland Rail South of Parkes by 2027 and this possession gives us the opportunity to safely complete a significant amount of scope as we work towards this goal.
“We are thankful for the cooperation and understanding of the communities in which we are working, and we would like to acknowledge the residents, business owners and road users for their patience during this period.”
Treaven Martinus, Martinus Rail CEO and founder, said “We are honoured to play such a pivotal role in the Inland Rail project, a cornerstone of Australia’s future regional infrastructure.
“This super possession represents a key opportunity for us to apply our expertise in complex brownfield railway works. Across multiple locations, our plant and equipment will be hard at work, excavating for track lowering, installing drainage lines and reconstructing track formations.
“We’re committed to driving progress efficiently and safely as we work to deliver this transformative rail link.”
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.