Roxane Manley

Mayoral Notes

May 9, 2024 by Phyllis Miller, OAM

On Tuesday I addressed the Federal Flood Inquiry public hearings in Cabonne. Despite assurances from insurance companies, many have had insurance policies fall well short of what is needed to build back or repair damage, others have been denied future policies or face untenable increases in cost.

We need clarity over rain, storm or flood rulings and insurance needs to be available and accessible for people who want to live in our beautiful town.

Forbes was able to say ‘thank you’ to our most valued community members on Wednesday at the annual Volunteers Morning Tea. We thank you all for the long days and nights, the endless support and for always being there. Thank you one and all. Our volunteers are what makes our community great.

The General Manager and I attended the Local Government NSW Rural and Regional Summit to review a financial model for Local Government. We also reviewed case studies showcasing excellence and participated in a panel discussion and update from the NSW Reconstruction Authority and key NSW Government Ministers.

Country Mayors also met this week with Minister for Regional Transport and Roads, the Hon Jenny Aitchison and representatives from Regional Futures, Planning, Local Government and Digital Analytics and Insights.

Thank you all so much for all the lovely messages and best wishes for my birthday this week. It was an absolute delight to receive messages from all over Australia.

See you all on Sunday for the Molly walk to honour the life of Molly Ticehurst. It will be a difficult day for many but is a lovely to way to show, we as a community will not stand for violence against women and will continue the fight for Molly’s Law to change bail laws in NSW. The walk starts at 8.30am from Lions Park and will loop back around at 10am. Please join us.

Until next week, God bless
Phyllis Miller, OAM
Forbes Mayor

Kerin Health Opens New Clinical Facility

May 9, 2024 by Roxane Manley

For the past two years, the team at Kerin Health have been dreaming, planning and finally building a brand new state of the art clinical facility. It is the first of its kind in the whole of New South Wales and you are invited to help celebrate its grand opening on Friday 17th May from 5:00pm at 28 Armstrong Street, Parkes.

Rachel Kerin, Director and Physiotherapist said, “This facility increases our service capacity – meaning we can treat more clients, support more families, and bring more specialised clinicians to the local area.”

Head along, as Kerin Health showcase their wide range of services, and how they can support you and your family. It will be a night of celebration, including goodie bags, live music, nibbles, a raffle, and a whole lot of free resources.

MacGregor Cousins Set The Scoreboard Alight

May 9, 2024 by Roxane Manley

IMAGE LEFT: Elizabeth and Maely pictured at Spicer Oval in Parkes for training. IMAGE RIGHT: Elizabeth and Maely pictured together at last Saturday’s game against CSU.

Parkes cousins Elizabeth and Maely MacGregor are continuing to amaze the crowds whenever they strap on a pair of footy boots. Last weekend the Parkes Boars Women’s team took on CSU Bathurst, winning the game 50 – 0, and notwithstanding a great all round team effort, incredibly all 50 points on the board were scored by the two cousins.

Eighteen year old Maely only just played her first season of rugby union for the Parkes Boars in 2023, and has been very exciting to watch. Last Saturday Maely scored one try and kicked 5 from 8 conversions.

We asked Maely what teams she thought would be some of their biggest competition this year, she said: “Wellington has become strong and Mudgee is always really strong, so they will be two tough teams to beat.”

When asked what the girls were focusing on at training this week Maely said “I think just our structure is mostly what we are working on, and making sure that we can complete our plays and retain the ball to score tries.”

Seventeen year old Elizabeth played her first ever game of Rugby Union last Saturday in the hit out against CSU. Elizabeth is an established up and coming rugby league star and credits her extension into rugby union to her cousin, saying: “Maely tried to get me to play union last year and didn’t get me, but this year she convinced me”.

Before heading out on the field for her first match, Maely gave her younger cousin Elizabeth a solid piece of advice: “Just get the ball and run.”

“I didn’t know the rules, I kept running back to try and get on side, before realising I didn’t need to do that. I was nervous, and a bit confused at the start, but I got the hang of it a little bit more at the end”.

Heading into the away game this weekend against Wellington, Elizabeth will be focused on scoring more tries. “I am still very new, but I will try stay on the outside of Maely, she should set me up and put me in a couple of holes, and just run,” she said.

Marion Jones’ Mothers Day Flowers

May 9, 2024 by Roxane Manley

Marion Jones busily working in her garden.

Each year for the past 15 years, Parkes woman Marion Jones has been selling flowers from her garden in order to raise money for charity.

She previously donated the proceeds to the local Uniting Church to go towards their Monthly Monday Meal, but recently Marion has been raising funds to donate to a Ministry in Cambodia that is printing children’s books for local children to learn bible stories. This year Marion is being helped by the wonderful women from the Que Club.

Bunches of flowers will be available for sale at the front of the Uniting Church, this Saturday 11th May from 9am.

Snippets…

May 9, 2024 by Roxane Manley

The students practiced hard during Term 1 and should be immensely proud of their effort and performances.

Forbes High School Eisteddfod Performance: Congratulations to all the students who attended Cowra Eisteddfod last Thursday. The adjudicator and audience were certainly entertained by the FHS group and solo performances.

NSW Government: New laws on coercive control will come into effect in NSW from 1 July 2024. Coercive control is when someone repeatedly hurts, scares or isolates another person to control them. It’s domestic abuse and it causes serious harm. Learn the signs of coercive control at nsw.gov.au/go/CoerciveControl-FB If you or someone you know needs help, 24/7 support is available. Contact 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732

Parkes Shire Council: You’re invited to a Community Forum with the NSW Premier and Cabinet Ministers on Friday 17 May in Orange. Register now at nsw.gov.au/communitycabinet to attend and have a say about the priorities for your community. Registrations close Friday 10 May.

Forbes High School P&C Association: Meeting will be held Wednesday 29th May, 5pm, Club Forbes (Coffee Lounge). We welcome new faces who are keen to help form a fundraising team to share ideas and to contribute to the success of our school.

Lachlan NSW SES: Your community needs you. When disaster strikes, we step up to support those in need. You can too. At NSW SES, we believe that everyone has a role to play. Whether you’re a Storm & Flood Damage volunteer, a Road Crash Rescue Operator or an Admin & Logistics Officer, there’s a place for you in the Orange Army. Join us and help your community today! Visit to learn more about volunteering: https://tinyurl.com/VolunteerNSWSES

Visit Parkes Region: The Peak Hill’s 51st Annual Arts and Craft Exhibition will take place over the course of two days, 8-9 June 2024 between 9:30am-4pm. Come and witness a variety of artisan and modern contemporary style arts and crafts including paverpol, wool and yarn crafts, weaving, patchwork quilts, mosaics, pot plants and so much more! Admission is $2 pp. The Exhibition’s Official Opening is Friday June 7th at 6:00pm.

Get Out And About This Mother’s Day: Glencara is situated halfway between Grenfell and Young in the Hilltops region and the property will be open for Mothers day from 10am until 3pm. There is an entry fee but it may just be worth it to secure yourself a little ‘me’ time in that amazing maze!

Have a bit of fun with mum this Sunday.

Inland Rail Provides Real Opportunities For Regional Businesses

May 9, 2024 by Roxane Manley

The Inland Rail Skills Academy in partnership with Deborah Wilson Consulting Services have facilitated a five-part series over the past year. The program helps regional businesses understand how to engage with buyers, prepare compliant tender submissions, and manage contracts for work on major projects, such as Inland Rail.

Since July 2023, more than 95 businesses including fifteen First Nations business have participated in four rounds of workshops in Albury, Wagga Wagga, Parkes, and Forbes. Local businesses have benefitted from learning what major project buyers want from suppliers.

Workshops also included presentations from major buyers in the region, including Inland Rail Albury to Parkes prime contractor Martinus, local government, and project proponents within the mining, recycling, and energy industries.

The fifth and final session is a half day ‘Meet the Buyer’ workshop, providing a rare opportunity for suppliers to gain a better understanding of buyer expectations, identify potential opportunities and network directly with major project buyers in the region.

Local businesses interested are encouraged to register at: https://inlandrail.com.au/supplier-capability-development-program-registration-of-interest/.

John Abraham, Inland Rail Local Content Principal, said “Inland Rail projects spanning from Albury to Parkes present real opportunities for local and First Nations businesses to get involved.

“Local content is key to the program’s success. This is a social investment into these communities by Inland Rail. It doesn’t matter if businesses out here are small or large, they’ve all got an opportunity to participate in major supply chains.”

Molly Mattered

May 9, 2024 by Roxane Manley

The tight knit Forbes community, along with the rest of Australia are still mourning the loss of local woman Molly Ticehurst.

Molly, a 28 year old mother, lost her life so tragically it is hard to come to terms with. The Forbes community continues to remember Molly and speak out against domestic violence.

On May 1st, Forbes residents, and people across the nation were encouraged to leave their porch lights on for Molly, as a tribute. On May 3rd, a community gathering was held in Forbes where thousands came to farewell the local woman.

This Sunday, 12th May, Forbes Shire Council and Boys to the Bush invite the community to join in a walk around Lake Forbes to honour the life of Molly Ticehurst. Everyone is asked to come along to honour the life of Molly and to show a united stance that domestic violence is not tolerated, and that we as a community will fight for Molly’s Law, so we may see a change in bail laws in order to keep victims of domestic violence protected.

The walk will begin at 8.30am from Lions Park and will loop back around at 10am. The community is encouraged to wear something bright.

Do It For Dolly, And Help End Bullying

May 9, 2024 by Roxane Manley

Dolly Everett, who we remember each year on Do it for Dolly Day and her parents, Tick and Kate Everett who are determined no other family should suffer the loss they did.

Dolly Everett was only 14 years old when she tragically took her life in January 2018, following relentless and sustained bullying and cyberbullying. Sadly, six years later the problem is not going away.

A recent report from the eSafety Commissioner has shed light on a troubling trend: cyberbullying is on the rise. There has been a staggering 40% increase in cyberbullying reports. What is particularly worrying is that two-thirds (67%) of these reports were concerning children aged 12-15 years old – just like Dolly – highlighting the vulnerability of young people to online harassment and abuse.

Determined that no other family would suffer from the same devastation, Dolly’s parents Tick and Kate Everett established the anti-bullying organisation Dolly’s Dream. They have committed to changing the culture of bullying by addressing the impact of bullying, anxiety, depression, and youth suicide, through awareness, education and direct support to young people and families.

“We don’t want other families to ever have to go through the heartache we have experienced. We are proud that Beacon provides easily accessible support and information to families, especially in our rural, regional, and remote communities, that we wish we had,” Kate Everett.

Each year in May thousands of wonderful communities come together to remember Dolly by going blue, donating and participating in fundraising activities to help support the important anti-bullying work of Dolly’s Dream, sharing the message to be kind and speak even if your voice shakes.

To register, donate or to find out more visit www.doitfordollyday.org.au

Be Seen

May 9, 2024 by Roxane Manley

Parkes High School Year 10 boys are participating in a five week TAFE course introducing them to construction. The students will attend Parkes TAFE for four weeks then go on an industry tour visiting local builders. Thank you to Senior Project Officer and Regional Industry Education Partnerships co-ordinator, Mr Troy Kelly, to Mrs Morrissey, PHS Transition Adviser for helping to organise the course and Mr Carter who accompanies the students each week.

Domestic Violence Service Calls For Urgent Action

May 2, 2024 by Roxane Manley

Relationships Australia NSW (RANSW) has called for urgent intervention from the NSW Government to address men’s violence against women following the horrific murder of Forbes woman Molly Ticehurst.

RANSW CEO Elisabeth Shaw said it is critically important that domestic violence services are adequately and sustainably funded to address the growing rate of violence against women.

“My heart breaks to hear the news of yet another victim of alleged domestic violence,” Ms Shaw said.

“Our country is facing a systemic issue of men’s violence against women, and we need urgent intervention to address this issue at the core.

“We know that Men’s Behaviour Change Programs (MBCPs) can be an effective intervention to help men stop using violence in their relationships – but these programs are chronically underfunded.

“Our organisation currently has 235 men on a waitlist for our Men’s Behaviour Change Programs – these are men who want to stop using violence, but cannot access the help they need.

“We would not say that a behaviour change program would have saved Molly’s life. Some men would never put themselves forward to look at their own actions. However, for those that do, we have to seize that moment and move in fast.

“The NSW Labor Party committed to longer-term funding for the social services sector during the election, and has a strong commitment to addressing domestic violence – now is the time the Government makes good on its promise and delivers fulsome, generous funding for domestic violence services.

“We cannot keep lurching from one crisis to another. It’s time for action.”

To access more information on RANSW’s MBCPs you can visit www.relationshipsnsw.org.au

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