Forbes students were welcomed back into classrooms with vaccinations, rapid antigen testing and mask wearing to play a key role in limiting the spread of the virus and keeping school communities safe. Some Forbes Public, North and Forbes High School students all started on Tuesday. Kindergarten starts next Monday February 7.

Premier Dominic Perottet said everyone has worked hard to ensure that every school is a safe environment for students, teachers and school staff.

“We have distributed 8.6 million rapid antigen test (RAT) kits to all schools and early childhood education centres so that educators are able to undertake surveillance testing for COVID-19 twice a week.”

Minister for Education and Early Learning Sarah Mitchell said she was thrilled to see students walk through school gates.

“The Department of Education has worked closely with NSW Health to make schools as safe as possible. It’s also encouraging to see that our students are increasingly getting vaccinated.”

In NSW, more than 78 per cent of children in the 12 to 15-year-old age group have been double-dosed while in the 5 to 11-year-old age group, more than 39 per cent of children have had their first dose.

Other COVID-safe measures include physical distancing, ventilation and mask wearing.

“With all these measures in place, we’re confident that students will be able to return to the activities they love while staying COVID-safe,” Ms Mitchell said.

More information on COVID-safe measures in schools is available at https://education.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/advice-for-families.

Last Tuesday evening, the Citizen of the Year gala dinner was held at Forbes Town Hall to recognise those who have contributed to the community. With this year’s ambassador, inspirational Paralympic gold medallist Lindy Hou also in attendance, tireless community worker and RDA mentor Laurie Norris took out Forbes Citizen of the Year presented by Mayor Phyllis Miller OAM.

New councillor Brian Mattiske awarded John and Christine Gorton Senior Citizen of the Year while Forbes High School Captain for 2022, Benjamin Barnard, picked up the Junior Citizen award and was congratulated by another new councillor, Aidan Clarke.

MC and Deputy Mayor Chris Roylance also paid special tribute to all nominees.

“We can’t thank everyone enough for their efforts,” said Mr Roylance.

“It is visible through the high quality of nominations we had this year,” he said.

On Wednesday morning, Rotary hosted the customary Australia Day breakfast at Lion’s Park at 7am. Later, most made their way back for more fun in the sun before settling in for the evening’s entertainment which culminated in fireworks.

Mayor Phyllis Miller was very pleased with the turn out after the last few events had been watered down due to COVID.

“It is amazing to see so many people come out and responsibly enjoy themselves on Australia Day,” she said.

“Thank you to everyone and a big congratulations to all our Australia Day award winners!”

More photos on the Forbes Phoenix Facebook page.

 

It may have taken five years and then some, but Forbes Shire Council along with most other NSW LGA’s, finally held local government elections and have since sworn in the new council.

Led by Mayor Phyllis Miller, the new look council sees four new representatives – some of which have been elected before and others, for the first time.

A pandemic and subsequent COVID restrictions meant the initial vote couldn’t be conducted in September 2020 or again in September 2021 with a revised COVID-friendly ballot not held until December 4 last year. The disruption meant campaigning for many was difficult as many public engagements were either postponed or cancelled.

With Grant Clifton and Susan Chau not standing, there was always going to be new representatives championing the community for the next three-and-a-half years. Of the remaining seven from the last council, five have been re-elected with only Graeme Miller and Jeff Nicholson missing out along with local businessman Thomas Dwyer and debutant Emma Henderson. Clifton, Chau, Miller and Nicholson have been replaced by Marg Duggan, Aidan Clarke, Brian Mattiske and Maria Willis.

Mayor Phyllis Miller, Deputy Mayor Chris Roylance, Jenny Webb, Michele Herbert and Steve Karaitiana all return for another term with Miller enjoying over a third of the popular vote. The new council is a nod to the future but also recognition of the outstanding efforts of previous councils and councillors.

As a result of the pandemic and delays with elections, the new term will be a shortened one for this Forbes Shire Council as well as most other NSW LGAs.

Congratulations to our new councillors!

 

The festive season is well and truly upon us as Forbes businesses prepare for a huge Christmas trade after nearly two years of restrictions.

“We are heading into our final days of the Find It In AMAZING Forbes Christmas Promotion with every business doing their best and working their hardest to ensure that Forbes is an attractive place to shop locally,” said Marg Duggan, President of the Forbes Business Chamber.

“There are still plenty of activities to do. Elf in the Shop is running until December 21st. Grab your entry from out of the Phoenix Newspaper or collect one from Terry Bros Carpet Court, Acheson’s Mitre 10, Blue Sky Outdoors, Gunn’s Menswear and Embroidery, Little Extras Lifestyle, Loomzy’s FishNFix, Allure On Main, Bron’s Hair, The Book Dispensary, Cahills Footwear, Forbes Central Butchery, C&D Floor Coverings, Chapter Two, Euphoria Road, Forbes Automotive Services and ARB, Forbes Betta Homes, Forbes Small Engines, Bown’s Sportswear, Made of Fridays, Painted Daisies Gift Shoppe, Turners Furniture One and Undercover Sleepwear and Lingerie,” Marg said.

There are also 6 x $50 Why Leave Town Cards to win so drop your entries into Undercover Sleepwear or Made Of Fridays.

“I would like to thank the Phoenix for their kind and generous sponsorship of the activity,” said Marg Duggan. “I would also like to thank Evolution Mining and Forbes Shire Council as well as sponsors and participants for making this activity possible and supporting the Forbes community.”

“Don’t forget to get your tickets in the Find It In AMAZING Forbes with Thursday draws being held until Christmas” said Marg.

The main draw begins on Christmas Eve at 11.30am in the CBD beginning with 11 x $500, 1 x $1,500, 2 x $2,500 and 1 x $5,000.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prime Minister Scott Morrison, NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet and Federal Member for Riverina Michael McCormack, surreptitiously dropped into Forbes last Sunday afternoon for a barbecue lunch and to thank NSW and Lachlan SES, RFS and other volunteers for their recent efforts during the floods.

The trio then took flight and visited Bedgerabong farmer Scott Darcy, before jettisoning back to the Forbes SES headquarters to formally thank everyone. Led by the Prime Minister, all three served food to the swell of volunteers, wishing each the best for the festive season and new year.

With media in tow, the group posed for photos with volunteers before also getting a run down by Forbes SES Commander Roc Walshaw. The Forbes LGA has so far

involved 50,000 sandbags, 751 jobs, 25 houses impacted to various degrees and 11 flood rescues.

While no announcements were made about flood mitigation, water use and the raising of the Wyangala Dam wall, the Prime Minister did take the opportunity to promote the Therapeutic Drugs Administrations (TPA) approval of Pfizer vaccinations for children between the ages of five and eleven being rolled out in 2022.

Having also stopped in at the Bathurst 1000, Mr Morrison was also asked whether he was already in election mode as he tries to climb back in the polls.

“I’m focused solely on the job at hand,” Mr Morrison said.

The next election must be held within 6 months before May 21, 2022.

 

“There are lots of activities for everyone this Christmas – maybe no whizzing rides, giant games, markets or eating in street – but fun all the same” said Marg Duggan, President of the Business Chamber. With the cancellation of the Christmas Carnival there has been an enormous effort put into developing other ideas to ensure that the people of Forbes enjoy their Christmas and are encouraged to support local businesses by shopping in town” said Marg Duggan

On December 5th the projection onto the Town Hall , Ginger Bread Greets begins. This fun and exciting projection will enthral children and adults alike. Call around after dark to experience this little touch of magic. Everyone will be delighted to watch the lights create the magic on the old building.

Late night shopping is going to be held on the 9th and 16th December. “The shops will be open until 8pm and the odd interesting table will be placed around the CBD. The Chamber has invited businesses from out of the CBD to have a table stand on these evenings to enable people to discover what is new and in stock and to purchase. We are hoping to encourage busking to add a bit more atmosphere to the shopping nights” said Marg Duggan for further details please contact the Chamber at forbes.businesschambernsw@gmail.com

We are now up to draw four of the Find It In AMAZING Forbes Christmas draws. Each week $500 comes out of the barrel. All you need to do it fill out the tickets when you purchase from any participating business to be in the draws. In total there is $20,000 that will go to lucky winners.

“Elf in the Shop will liven up windows from December 11th. In some shops an Elf has caused some mischief! You simply collect your form, use the hints and go and discover where the elf is hiding! Made Of Fridays and Undercover Sleepwear have collection boxes in store so please drop your finished form in. We have 6 x $50 WLT gift cards for some lucky winners. Winners will be announced on December 21st,” said Marg Duggan

Carols by Candlelight will be held in Victoria Park on December 11th. A wonderful night for all to attend. Bring a chair or blanket along and enjoy the music and the spirit of Christmas in this beautiful park setting. Havannah House is again hosting Christmas Lunch on December 25th 2021. RSVP are essential and options collection are available. Please book before December 17th to ensure you have a place.

 

It may not have been Forbes biggest flood, or even a podium finisher, but the Forbes floods of 2021 will go down as one of the most damaging with financial and social implications to be felt for quite some time.

The timing of the floods in the Lachlan Valley when a bumper winter harvest was expected, and summer crops were already in, couldn’t be worse. With optimism high and NSW emerging from 18 months of lockdowns, now this.

If life were fair, Elvis would still be alive. Some people get all the luck while others couldn’t win a one-man chook raffle.

Country folk seldom complain about fairness despite the third flood this decade, yet calls to extend the Wyangala Dam Wall by 10 metres have grown louder led by Federal Member for Riverina Michael McCormack.

A champion of the bush, McCormack has reminded his state colleagues, Premier Dominic Perrottet and Deputy Premier Paul Toole, about the urgency of the project. Both men visited Forbes recently touring farms and dropped into Forbes SES HQ for an update, before a barbecue for volunteers.

Yet despite all the conversations, the reality for those along the Lachlan is they are still no closer to having an answer on the wall extension. After the multiple hits we’ve had over the last 2 years we deserve a bit of a break – lets hope that the recent visit has got the decision makers seeing things from our perspective.

When locals talk about disasters many run through a list as long as an Aldi shopper docket of famous floods. There’s the flood of ’52, (INSET) one of a few big ones that decade for those old enough to remember. Then there’s the flood of 1990 and of course, 2016 the last, and one of the worst.

Since 1887 Forbes has experienced a major flood event, with peaks over 10 me-tres, on average every seven years. Major flooding occurring in June 1952 (10.8 metres); September 2016 (10.67 metres); August 1990 (10.65 metres); October 1955 (10.62 metres); March 2013 (10.55 metres); and in August 1998 (10.35 metres).

Forbes’ most recent major flood event was in late September 2016 after heavy rain fell on much of inland NSW; as the Bureau of Meteorology declared 2016 as the third-wettest winter on record.

The 2021 floods have hit just as farmers harvest winter crops and plant summer ones. It will mean sadly, that some may suffer a double blow. It never flooded in November, until now.

The NSW Bureau of Meteorology issued a flood warning for towns all along the Lachlan River this week and has been updating the community regularly while the NSW SES Local Forbes Unit has also been hard at it for over a month sand-bagging the town as rain continues to fill Wyangala and get released just as quick. Forbes Shire Mayor Phyllis Miller said the town was well-prepared but urged residents to exercise caution, be safe and if need be, evacuate!

When local legend Tim Acheson began painting his extraordinary indigenous artworks he saw it more as a way to under-stand where he was from and a form of cultural expression.

“It was also a creative outlet in my spare time more than anything else,” said Tim.

Fast forward from those early times to the halcyon days of today and now Tim’s artwork can be seen not just adorning the walls of Binaal Billa in Spring Street, Forbes but also on all their stationery.

“I wanted to paint as I enjoy it and also at the same time do something positive for the local Aboriginal legal service Binaal Billa,” said Tim.

“It’s a surprise that all this has happened and I am just happy I am able to contribute and play a small part,” he said.

Acheson is well known west of the great divide for his intricately detailed and culturally sensitive art and is often asked why he doesn’t donate more time to it.

“I love it but I have many loves and it is just a relaxing hobby for me. I have some fun with it but at the same time it is also a good way to tell the stories of my people and find out more about who I am and where I am from.”

Tim’s impressive art can be seen at Binaal Billa and all their corporate paraphernalia.

Got a story? Let us know – editor@forbesphoenix.com.au

National Recycling Week (8th-14th November) is an annual event that encourages Australian Councils, workplaces, schools and individuals to consider what materials we place in our yellow lid recycling bins and how we can improve our recycling knowledge and build better recycling habits.

This year’s theme is ‘Celebrate National Recycling Week YOUR way!’ and Forbes Shire Council along with many others, is taking the opportunity to help improve the community’s recycling knowledge by lifting the lid on the issue of contamination.

Forbes Shire Council General Manager, Steve Loane said that while it is great to see the majority of our community regularly uses their recycling bin, and in doing so, reduces the amount of waste sent to land-fill each year, the level of contamination is rising.

“Recycling contamination is when the wrong thing is placed in the yellow lid bin and it’s a widespread issue. It can result in machinery blockages at the Materials Recovery Facility (MRF), which is where our recyclables are sorted,” said Mr Loane.

“This creates hazards to the workers that help sort our recyclables, increase the amount of waste sent to landfill, lower the value of recycled items and increase the overall cost of recycling,” he said.

“Soft plastics such as plastic bags, food wrappers and packets, cannot be recycled through the yellow lid recycling bin and are the number one form of contamination. On average, 31% of all recycling bins inspected in the Central West contained soft plastics.”

Council encourages residents to look for the Australasian Recycling Label (ARL) for guidance on what can be recycled as the label tells you how to dispose of each part of a product’s packaging.

For more information on the Australasian Recycling Label and National Recycling Week visit Planet Ark’s website: https://planetark.org/programs

For more information on your waste and recycling services, visit Council’s website: www.forbes.nsw.gov.au/residents/waste-and-recycling/recycling.