Harvest is well and truly underway across the region, with a record number of trucks transporting grain to local silos.

Drivers are being reminded about the extra truck movements with 20 new signs installed on roads throughout the Forbes, Parkes and Lachlan Shire Council areas.

The Councils’ Road Safety and Injury Prevention Officer, Melanie Suitor, said that the signs were the first of their kind in NSW.

“The fold-down harvest truck warning signs were designed and approved by Transport for NSW.”

“They are a pilot and based on the feedback we receive, may be rolled out in other locations on the regional road network next harvest,” Melanie said.

The Caution Grain Trucks signs have been installed on roads where grain trucks travel, and near silos in Parkes, Forbes, Trundle, Condobolin, Lake Cargelligo and Tottenham.

“The safety of all road users during harvest is very important, especially this year as we see record numbers of truck movements following many years of drought.”

“The signs are currently opened and will be closed at the end of harvest.”

“By displaying the sign only at times when trucks are likely to be present, the credibility and hence the effectiveness of the sign is maintained,” Melanie said.

There is double the excitement for the latest additions to the Sculpture Down the Lachlan (SDL) public art trail.

Forbes Arts Society Chair, Dr Karen Ritchie said: “Everyone has been eagerly awaiting the next instalment since the unveiling of Varanus in July, which has already clocked up over 15,000 visitors. So, we are delighted to continue the roll out of the Sculpture Down the Lachlan expansion with not one, but two new installations.”

Tower, by Walcha-based sculptor Stephen King was officially unveiled last week along Wilbertroy Lane, 33 kilometres from Forbes on the Lachlan Valley Way towards Condobolin. King is renowned for his distinctive timber structures and carvings and was recently awarded the Helen Lempriere Scholarship at the 2020 Sculpture by the Sea and first prize at the 2020 Wollombi Valley Sculpture Festival.

“The tower represents our need to control our resources. The water tower has almost been made redundant,” Stephen said.

“Advances in technology continue to change the way we store and use water. The old water towers stand as sculptural relic and reminders of what we leave behind in our attempts to meet the challenges of life on earth.”

Arhab Bik Bialhabi, I Welcome You with Love, by Western Australian-Iraqi sculptor, Ayad Alqaragholli arrived in Forbes last month, finding its permanent home in Albion Park. The bronze couple symbolises loyalty, love, and a sense of belonging.

To appropriately accommodate the new addition, Forbes Arts Society have teamed up with Forbes Shire Council to give Albion Park a makeover, which includes an underground irrigation system, new bench seating and pathways, as well as upgrades to the toilet block and signage.

Albion Park will be home to three sculptures in total. Anta Omri has taken the place of The Hunter which will be relocated to Gum Swamp.

The SDL extension is part of the $7 million Boosting the Lachlan Valley Economy Art Project, it includes the construction of a new cultural and arts centre on the corner of Lachlan and Church Street and the Gum Swamp redevelopment.

The ‘Boosting the Lachlan Valley Economy Art Project’ is proudly funded by the NSW Government’s Restart NSW program through the Regional Growth, Environment and Tourism Development Fund, the Forbes Arts Society, Forbes Shire Council, Lachlan Shire Council and Evolution Mining. The project aims to promote the Lachlan Valley region as a premier tourism destination.

Popular lifestyle program Better Homes and Gardens will showcase some of NSW’s spectacular towns and tourism businesses with the entire 90-minute program filmed on location around the state.

The Channel 7 program filmed the Epic Adventure across NSW earlier this year, with each presenter exploring a different area of the state including the Forbes and Parkes region.

The exclusive NSW episode was secured by the NSW Government through tourism and major events agency Destination NSW to support the recovery of the state’s visitor economy.

NSW Nationals Upper House MP, Sam Farraway, said both Parkes and Forbes had many unique experiences on offer to visitors. “It’s really exciting for regional communities to be featured on Better Homes and

Find it in Forbes this Gardens, beaming into living rooms around the country where holidaymakers may be planning their next NSW escape.”

Better Homes and Gardens Ed Halmagyi went fishing with Brayden Stephens from Loomzy’s Fish N Fix before cooking up a Golden Perch that Brayden caught. Brayden said: “It was really good, we just went down to Cottons Weir, they wanted to go somewhere close. We caught a Cod but were after a Yellow Belly, luckily I caught one the day before that was used in the show.”

Better Homes and Gardens Executive Producer Russell Palmer said: “The NSW Road Trip episode expands that focus to show the heart and soul of New South Wales, why so many Aussies love hitting the road, and the people and places they encounter along the way.”

It is that time of year again, the Forbes Business Chamber and Forbes Shire Council’s Find It In AMAZING Forbes Christmas Promotion is on again, bigger and better than ever.

Evolution Mining have stepped in as this year’s gold sponsor as part of their COVID recovery assistance program.

Steph Wills from Evolution Mining said, “It has been a disappointing time for small business so being able to help where we can, it is beneficial to support this Forbes Business Chamber’s initiative.”

The Business Chamber will be drawing $20,000 in Why Leave Town cards between Monday, 9 November until Christmas Eve.

“The cards have a special brand and are only redeemable at the participating stores until 30 June 2021. Winners need to collect their prize at the time of the draw,” said Marg Duggan, President of the Forbes Business Chamber.

• Silver Sponsors: Bernardi’s and Terry Bros Carpet Court.

• Bronze Sponsors: Undercover Sleepwear, Acheson’s Mitre 10, Central West Diesel, Steele Technology, Michael Robinson & Co, Superbee Honey, C & D Floorcoverings, Flannery’s Pharmacy, Loomsey’s Fish and Fix, Kevin Miller, Whitty, Lennon and Co, Forbes Betta Home Living, Walkers Ag N Vet, Baker Ag Advantage, Central West Diesel and MD Steel.

• Participants: Forbes Shire Council, Bernardis, Terry Bros Carpet Court, Blush Organic Beauty, Forbes Small Engines, Gunn’s Mensland, SportsPower Forbes, Phillip Wells Optometrist, Turners Furniture One, Life Pharmacy, Chapter Two, Jessica’s Essential Beauty, Euphoria Road, Robbs Jewellers, Little Extras, Painted Daisies Gift Shoppe, Allure On Main, Vandenberg Hotel, News On Rankin, Cahills Shoes, Made Of Fridays, The Bakehouse, Agri-West, Forbes Automotive Services, Jelbart Dawson & Co, Hozpots Garden Centre, Walkers Ag N Vet, Superbee Honey, C & D Floorcoverings, Flannery’s Pharmacy, Loomsey’s Fish and Fix, Forbes Betta Home Living, Undercover Sleepwear, Acheson’s Mitre 10, and Steele Technology.

• Supporters: BWL Accountants, Forbes Livestock, Matthew Williams Solicitors, Court Press and McCarron Cullinane and Chudleigh.

 

Each year the United Services Union seeks nominations for the prestigious award of Trainee of the Year. This year Council union members of Forbes Shire Council nominated Samantha Street, their Biosecurity Trainee, to recognise her enthusiasm and commitment to her Council sponsored traineeship.

Samantha Street joined Council in May 2019 and has embraced her role as Trainee Biosecurity Officer, studying Certificate III in Conservation and Management.

“It was a huge move for Sam to relocate from her home city of Newcastle to join our Council,” says Forbes Shire Council Mayor, Phyllis Miller, “but straight away she made herself known and began assisting community groups and volunteering her services. Sam’s sunny personality also makes her a popular work colleague and she puts 100% in all that she does.”

After finishing high school Sam worked in the retail sector while looking for a career to move into, then the opportunity arose at Forbes Shire Council for a Trainee Biosecurity Officer.

“It was such an exciting move for me,” said Samantha. “I wasn’t worried about leaving Newcastle and couldn’t wait for the chance to get my hands dirty!”

“I have been so fortunate to get loads of training whilst I have been here at Forbes Shire Council. I am completing a Certificate III in Conservation and Land Management.”

Sam regularly visits family back in Newcastle, and loves the simple pleasures of going camping with friends and playing local sport on the weekends.

The NSW Saving our Species program is calling for community volunteers to become “cockatoo counters” and help be part of the Great Inland Glossy Count this November.

National Parks and Wildlife Service Senior Project Officer Adam Fawcett said anyone can be a part of it.

“Bird lovers, citizen scientists or anyone with an interest in this beautiful threatened species, are needed to survey Glossy Black Cockatoo populations at three key sites around inland NSW.

“Glossies are easily spotted with their distinctive red markings and this cockatoo count will help our scientists understand more about this threatened bird,” he said.

This is the second year the Great Inland Glossy Count has occurred. In 2019 seventy volunteers participated and counted over 700 Glossy Black Cockatoos across inland NSW.

On Saturday, 21 November, Goobang National Park, some 100km from Forbes, will be surveyed.

“What a great opportunity to get out to some of our amazing national parks and state forests, sit back and watch a threatened species in its natural habitat,” Adam said.

Volunteers will need to pre-register using the Department of Planning Industry and Environment’s website www.app.betterimpact.com/PublicEnterprise. COVID guidelines will be followed.

The project is funded by the NSW Government’s Saving our Species program and the NSW Environmental Trust, and is led by Central West Local Land Services in partnership with NPWS, NSW Forest Corp, Dubbo Field Naturalists, Australian Wildlife Conservancy and the land owners and managers within these areas.

Forbes Shire Council’s Tourism Plan 2020-2030 is currently being developed and Council is calling on the community to provide input.

“We would love to hear from everybody. As members of the community, you are important stakeholders in the future success of tourism in Forbes and your suggestions and input are invaluable,” said Forbes Shire Council Mayor, Phyllis Miller OAM. “Tourism is so important to our local economy and we need to ensure tourists want to stop here. We need to have the services and attractions that they cannot resist and then tell all their friends about.”

Forbes residents are also invited to vote on their Top Five favourite things to do with visitors when they come to Forbes. This will help identify the attractions that are visited frequently and may need attention as well as themes Council can expand upon.

How can Forbes grow and what are the strengths and weaknesses of the area? These are some of the questions being posed to residents of Forbes. “This information is so important to establish our plan for the next 10 years in attracting people off the Newell Highway to stop and stay a while in our wonderful part of Australia. Tourism is important to the economic development of the region and will boost employment opportunities,” said Phyllis.

Complete the survey before 23 October and go in the draw to win a $100 Why Leave Town Card.

The survey can be found at www.yoursay.forbes.nsw.gov.au/forbes-tourism-plan.

Forbes and Parkes CanAssist groups received generous donations from Forbes CWA Evening Branch last week to help them deliver the valuable financial support to locals who are battling cancer.

COVID-19 has prevented CanAssist groups from raising funds this year, so any donations have been welcomed with immense gratitude. Due to restrictions, the CanAssist groups in Parkes and Forbes were unable to run their normal fundraising  events.

Forbes CWA Evening Branch President, Karen Wright who works with cancer patients in both Forbes and Parkes, saw the benefit of her patients wearing masks and so began making some to distribute to them.

“Initially, the idea was to give patients masks, but then staff at Parkes and Forbes Hospitals asked if they could purchase them and it snowballed from there,” explained Karen. Forbes CWA Evening Branch members and other volunteers got together and formed a working bee over a weekend to meet the demand.

Karen said, “It was a community effort as some ladies donated material, while others cut out the patterns, and those with sewing skills spent a few days sewing to make the masks.”

The number of masks made is not known as many were given away before people asked to purchase them.

When it came time for the money raised from the sale of the masks to be distributed Forbes CWA Evening Branch decided that it was fitting that the proceeds be divided equally between both Parkes and Forbes CanAssist groups.

Mr John Schrader, President of the Forbes CanAssist said they were very appreciative of the $650 donation as did the representative of the Parkes group. “Funds that CanAssist raise is all used to support locals in their cancer battles,” he said. “None of it goes to pay for administration or head office or anywhere else. It all stays in the local community to support locals.”

All CanAssist money allows these dedicated workers to contribute towards trans- porting patients to appointments, their medications and chemist bills. Sometimes they assist clients with vehicle registrations, mechanical repairs, or even new tyres so people can travel to out of town appointments safely and on occasions contribute to some accommodation and other practical things.

With so many changes this year, it is inspiring to see how community groups and organisations in Forbes have adapted, particularly the Forbes CWA, with their ongoing efforts to better support so many in the Forbes community.

Avid and amateur twitchers will soon have four, unobtrusive vantage points from which to observe over 150 bird species, with the construction of new bird hides underway for Gum Swamp reserve.

Local contractors, Midpro Engineering and Irrigation commenced work earlier this month to construct three new two-storey steel and timber structures on the water’s edge. The existing bird hide at Gum Swamp will also receive a makeover as part of the redevelopment.

Forbes Arts Society’s Keith Mullette said, “While Gum Swamp is already a popular destination for bird watchers, this project will encourage residents and visitors to utilise the wetland sanctuary for other passive recreational activities such as walking, photography and yoga, or to simply immerse themselves in nature.” Work on the new bird hides is anticipated to be complete by the end of 2020, weather permitting.

Gum Swamp is one of the stops on the Sculpture Down the Lachlan trail following the installation of the impressive ‘Varanus’ sculpture in July which has clocked up 8,500 visitors in ten weeks.

The ‘Boosting the Lachlan Valley Economy Art Project’ is proudly funded by the NSW Government’s Restart NSW program through the Regional Growth, Environment and Tourism Development Fund, the Forbes Arts Society, Forbes Shire Council, Lachlan Shire Councils and Evolution Mining, and aims to foster visual arts throughout the Forbes Shire to grow the visitor economy and promote the Lachlan Valley region as a premier tourism destination.

Kate Kelly, the chamber opera co-created by composer Ross James Carey and writer Merrill Findlay in Forbes ten years ago, is to be performed online for a major national opera festival.

The Gertrude Opera Company in Melbourne will perform Kate Kelly for the 2020 Yarra Valley Opera Festival in October.

The Kate Kelly Song Cycle, as the chamber opera was initially called, re-interprets the life of one of Australia’s most iconic women, the youngest sister of bushranger Ned Kelly. It emerged from Merrill’s Kate Kelly Project and was first performed in Forbes in September 2011, as the headline act for the inaugural Kalari-Lachlan River Arts Festival, beside the lagoon in which Kate Kelly’s body was found in 1898.

Gertrude Opera’s artistic director, Linda Thompson says she is excited about her company presenting Kate Kelly. “I looked for a piece that was an Australian woman’s story and this is a little nugget,” she told The Age newspaper. “The music is really exciting.”

The Yarra Valley Opera Festival performance of Kate Kelly will feature Emily Burke as Kate, Andrew Moran as Kate’s husband Bricky Foster, and Michael Lapiña as the grocer Quong Lee, whose aria describes Kate’s life and death in Forbes.

Yarra Valley Opera Festival runs 16-25 October. Kate Kelly will be streamed live from 7pm, Saturday, 24 October. For more information and tickets visit www.gertrudeopera.com.au/kate-kelly-sister-of-ned.

The original Kate Kelly Project was supported, in Forbes, by the Australian Government’s Regional Arts Fund.