For some, the state-wide seven-day lock-down comes “too little, too late,” as numbers from the Delta variant of COVID-19 continue to spread across NSW to well over 400 each day with numbers now above 100 cases in the Western NSW Health District including Mudgee.

With only 20% of the country fully vaccinated (5.25 million) and just 15 million doses administered at the time of publication, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian called a snap lockdown for regional NSW last Saturday August 14 at 5pm for a week in line with other LGA’s in NSW. By that time, Dubbo and Walgett had known cases and other centres such as Parkes and Bourke recorded sewerage fragments.

“To protect the people of NSW from the evolving COVID-19 outbreak, new restrictions have been introduced for all of Regional NSW, this means the whole of NSW is now under stay-at-home restrictions,” Berejiklian said last weekend.

Restrictions that may extend beyond a week with contract tracers scrambling to catch up.

“You must stay at home unless you have a reasonable excuse to leave. You cannot have visitors to your home from outside your household, including family and friends,” the NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said.

Sentiments echoed by Dr. Kerry Chant and Forbes Mayor Phyllis Miller OAM in an online Forbes Shire Council video.

People can have one visitor at one time to fulfill carers’ responsibilities or provide care or assistance, or for compassionate reasons, including where two people are in a relationship but reside separately.

There are a number of new restrictions in place the public should familiarise themselves with as infringements and fines also peaked at 529 (on the first night of lock-down) on August 14.

Please visit nsw.gov.au/covid-19/rules for more information and regular updates.

This week’s issue of the Forbes Phoenix commemorates the 300th issue of the boutique newspaper. Launched in July, 2015 by Cheryl Newsom then on-sold to her daughter Sarah Maynard in March 2017, the Forbes Phoenix is now on its third owner with Cowra based Joshua Matic.

In the six years since the paper began servicing the Forbes community as a viable weekly alternative to other forms of press, the town has rallied behind everyone’s favourite free newspaper and completely supported the “Live Local, Love Local and Support Local” mantra.

For Mr Matic, who also owns the Parkes, Cowra, Canowindra, Mudgee and Blue Mountains Phoenix newspapers as well as Yellow House Printing in Cowra, the local, positive angle to everything the organisation does is what sets it apart and is seeing it grow.

“We really are all about our communities and shining a light on everything local from services and business through to events and resources,” Josh said.

“We really try to showcase the towns we serve,” he said.

“Now we have an office in Forbes in the arcade near Flannery’s Pharmacy and are offering multi-media solutions such as video and online advertising making us one of the only organisations in the region that offers everything”.

With news more important than ever and local constraints placed upon most of the country, it has never been a better time to support local.

Here’s to the next 300!

It may not have been Education Week as we know it, but the 2021 edition still had plenty to get excited about. Forbes, like other schools across the region, celebrated the week in a number of ways as children and staff enjoyed the special occasion.

Forbes Public School commemorated the importance of learning and education via a COVID safe range of activities including the popular book fair and the dress up parade for Book Week. From all reports the costumes were fantastic and inventive from Crayons to the Queen of Hearts, Batman, Luigi, Harley Quinn and more.

At Forbes North, students also focused on fun learning activities from creating joint presentations on Quokkas to problem solving and mathematics games.

Education Week is an annual celebration of NSW public education and the achievements of our schools, students and education system.

This year Education Week was held from Monday 26th to Fri-day 30th July, 2021 celebrating the theme ‘Lifelong Learners’. This year’s theme celebrates education as a lifelong journey from before a child enters an early childhood setting, progressing to primary and secondary school, and continuing their learning journey into adulthood; learning a trade, entering tertiary education, or the workforce.

Education Week is one of the many ways the NSW Dept. of Education support and assist from the very first days in childcare and bridging courses to post-school pathways. The education system is preparing young people to be agile thinkers and lifelong learners. “Learning can look different for individual students and our system is equipped to provide learning support for all of our students”, the NSW Dept. of Education website says.

“Learning often takes place beyond the classroom and we should celebrate all types of learning that occurs at all levels across our education system”. For more on Education Week 2021 go to – www.education.nsw.gov.au/public-schools/education-week

National’s MP and Member for Riverina Michael McCormack was in Forbes last week to get an update on a plethora of projects being undertaken in the shire.

It was McCormack’s first visit to Forbes since being unseated as National’s Leader by Barnaby Joyce and he took time to meet a number of community stakeholders.

Mr McCormack spoke at length about the Federal Government’s Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program (LRICP) and how the program has provided a big boost to community infrastructure. He then completed a tour of town with Mayor Phyllis Miller to inspect the latest round of works. They included:

• Additional widening of road on Yarrabandi Road;

• The repair and restoration of the Lions Park picnic shelter and the installation of a rotunda, irrigation upgrade and subsequent electricity supply at Lions Park;

• Necessary upgrades to a problematic intersection on the Newell Highway on the Southern side entrance to Forbes, creation of a new access road and additional parking constructed to support the development of a new Visitors In-formation Centre at the former Lachlan Vintage Village;

• Refurbishment and repair of Forbes Heated Pool facility including improving accessibility for community;

• Installation of Closed Circuit TV system throughout the Forbes CBD.

“Forbes Council knows where this money is best spent in the Forbes community,” Mr McCormack said.

“Every single job we support makes a huge difference in our regions, now and as we build our way out of the pandemic,” Mr McCormack said.

Forbes Country Women’s Association Evening Branch has jumped on board with Wilcannia-Forbes Catholic Care by donating comfort capes to kids.

Forbes CWA Evening Branch President, Robyn Miller said “those who work with families and children supporting them in times of need, require all the assistance they can get, particularly in these uncertain and often anxious times”.

“Forbes CWA Evening Branch are proud to assist Wilcannia Forbes Catholic Care in doing this by donating a dozen security comfort capes for them to use with children whose world is changing rapidly due to family issues,” Robyn said.

“COVID-19 had played a role in delaying the donation but now, more than ever, it is important that children have a sense of security and a bit of normalcy. We hope these capes can bring a little of security and fun to them”.

The capes were made by a CWA Evening Branch member using Toy Story images as the theme for the capes.

Christine L’Estange, representing Catholic Care said, “the capes will be used for children at the playgroups held at the Women’s Refuge and that they would be much appreciated by both children and staff”.

“I’m sure the children will find some fun in playing with their super security capes and that they (the capes) bring comfort and a sense of security wearing them”.

Ms L’Estrange also thanked Forbes CWA Evening Branch for their ongoing support of the Women’s Refuge.

Top early childhood educators and services have been recognised at the national HESTA awards including our own Forbes Pre-School.

Ten extraordinary early childhood educators and services were today announced as finalists in the 2021 HESTA Early Childhood Education & Care Awards.

Nominees from New South Wales dominated across all categories, with finalist achievements including an innovative sustainability education program, outstanding learning support for children in a rural community with disabilities and the creation of a culturally safe learning space for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families.

“To say we are proud to be finalists with such amazing Early Educators in this category is an understatement,” Forbes Pre-School’s director Amy Shine said.

“Thanks to the Forbes Community for their continued support. Our community is fortunate to work together supporting best outcomes for children and families and grow our programs,” Shine said.

HESTA CEO Debby Blakey paid tribute to all finalists.

“Congratulations to all nominees and HESTA is privileged to help share their sto-ries and recognise their important work.”

The awards acknowledge the tremendous work of individuals and organisations who demonstrate a deep commitment to improving learning outcomes for children.

Winners will be revealed on 7 September 2021 in Brisbane as part of the Early Childhood Australia National Conference.

Forbes Pre-School has been nominated in the Outstanding Organisation category against Jumbunna Community Preschool and Early Intervention Centre, Casino and Winanga-Li Aboriginal Child and Family Centre, Gunnedah.