Forbes paid tribute recently to local mother Molly Ticehurst whose life was tragically taken due to domestic violence.

In the wake of the unfathomable spike in the deaths of Australian women this year at the hands of their intimate partners, community outrage around the issue is increasing.

The Country Women’s Association (CWA) of NSW will use its annual Aware­ness Week campaign to highlight the need for ongoing action around reducing rates of gender-based violence across NSW and the ACT.

CWA of NSW Awareness Week runs from September 1 to 7, this year highlighting the continuing crisis around gender-based vio­lence – including domestic and family vio­lence, and also including violence against women by men who are not their intimate partners.

It’s the second time in five years the asso­ciation has focused its attention for Aware­ness Week on violence against women, with domestic and family violence chosen as the theme for the 2020 campaign.

Robyn Miller, President of Forbes Even­ing Branch of the CWA of NSW, said it was clearly an enormous issue that was not go­ing away and needed to be brought to the forefront again during Awareness Week.

“This is an issue Forbes community has experienced firsthand with the death of Molly Ticehurst earlier this year”, Robyn commented. “We need to push for more support for women confronted by gender-based violence and make our communities safe for all”.

During this year’s Awareness Week, the CWA of NSW is calling for: Further changes to bail laws to better protect victims, particu­larly in rural and regional areas; Prioritisa­tion of sustainable funding models for front­line victim support services – and services that target perpetrator risk factors; The ex­pediting of the establishment of a real-time system to record, track, and share informa­tion on perpetrators across systems and jurisdictions; and additional resources for women facing violence in rural and regional communities where isolation and lack of services can make it even harder.

A magnificent Azalea at 4 Grenfell Street, Forbes.

On 23rd July our Forbes Garden Club held their social meeting at the Forbes Mens Shed with 34 in attendance. The Garden Club has been invited to a Friendship day by the Young Garden Club on 13th October and if you wish to go you should put your name down at the next meeting. Cost of lunch is $60 and it is being held at Clifton Gardens. The cost includes entry to the Gardens. An in­vitation has also been received from Hartley Garden Club who are showcasing an Open Garden and Plant Fair weekend on the 19th and 20th October.

Therese Davis was our guest speaker on the day and gave a very comprehensive report on her life growing up, becoming a teacher, rearing a family and living in circumstances which were a far cry from the standard of living today. Therese has a wide cir­cle of friends having lived in a number of places before retiring in Forbes. Therese is the daughter of a well known family in Forbes – the Cannon family.

The trading table proved popular with oranges, lemons, plants and books for sale. Flower of the month was well patronised, with first prize going to Joyce Morrison with an orchid, second rpize to Max Swift with a pink camellia and third prize to Marie Langfield with a rose. The raffle was won by Joyce Morrison, and second prize went to Margaret Dent.

Our next meeting will be at 22 Koala Place on Tuesday 27th Au­gust, 1.45pm arrival for a 2pm start. Bring a chair, hat and mug and also a flower to participate in Flower of the Month. In the event of inclement weather the venue will change to the Mens shed.

Our guest speaker for August will be Marian Murray, a new mem­ber, who has retired to Forbes from Coonamble.

By Elvy Quirk