Member for Orange Phil Donato MP responded to the NSW Government’s 2020-21 budget last week released in New South Wales Parliament by Treasurer, The Hon. Dominic Perrottet MP.

The budget, which many consider positive, had several announcements for the Orange Electorate, including:
• $1.25m to complete upgrades to Bletchington Public School
• $28m for Parkes Special Activation Precinct
• $60m to commence construction of Parkes By Pass
• $4.3m for fast rail planning for western NSW
• $215,000 for construction of shared 575m pathway Eugowra
• $85,000 for construction of shared pathway Forbes
• $500,000 for Canowindra Health One Facility ($6m total commitment)

Other state wide announcements relevant to the Orange Electorate include:
• Free preschool 2 days p/w
• Public sector 2.5% pay rise for public sector workers
• Learn to swim $100 vouchers for children
• $150m to combat mouse plague

Overall Mr Donato commented that the budget was positive, however he was disappointed that “more funding wasn’t provided for social and affordable housing.”

“I am pleased with many of the budget initiatives, the Orange Electorate will benefit greatly overall. However, when it comes to social and affordable housing, the government really must address this urgent need,” Mr Donato said.

“I’m hearing from many members of our community who are really feeling the effects of the housing crisis. Everyone deserves a safe place to live, and this issue won’t go away on its own.”

Locally, Forbes Shire Council is taking the lead with social housing with developments for a new estate well underway with announcements imminent.

The community of Forbes will share in a total of up to $250 million in NSW Government funding to create a legacy of quality, green and accessible public space to be treasured for generations to come.

NSW Nationals Upper House MP, Sam Farraway today announced $2 million dol-lars for Lake Forbes has been allocated to Forbes Shire Council, as part of the NSW Public Spaces Legacy Program.

“This is a great result for the local community,” Mr Farraway said.

The Lake Forbes Activation Program includes the new and upgraded amenities including an outdoor gym area, beaches for launching watercraft, BMX track and a swimming platform.

“To secure full funding for the project, council needs to continue accelerating assessment and determination of local DAs, which will have the additional benefit of bolstering the local construction pipeline through to 2023,” Mr Farraway said.

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Rob Stokes said the funding being delivered to councils was reliant on them meeting agreed targets to speed up local development applications.

“This program is the first of its kind in NSW,” Mr Stokes said.

Forbes Shire Council will be provided with funding for project planning and design and will have until 30 June 2021 to demonstrate they have met DA assessment performance improvements to lock in their full allocation of funding, ahead of construction starting on projects from August this year. For more information, visit: www.planning.nsw.gov.au

Late last week a COVID scare swept through Forbes and other centres along the Newell Highway and into Queensland following the news on Wednesday afternoon June 9, that two people potentially infected with COVID-19 had stopped in the town on June 1 and 2.

Other towns along the highway were also added to the list as it became apparent the Victorian couple who had travelled up to the Sunshine Coast, had stopped in more locations than had been previously believed.

Western NSW Local Health District soon had testing spots set up for people to be swabbed. Since this time last week, there have been no new locally-acquired cases of COVID-19 recorded in NSW since Forbes and other Newell Highway communities were put on alert over a week ago.

Well over 600 people have been tested for COVID-19 in Forbes with more than 3,000 people fronting for testing on Thursday across regional centres after the news had broken.

In other developments:
• NSW Health update released at 11am Monday, they announced they had recorded no new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 to 8pm Sunday June 13.
• On Saturday, samples taken from the sewerage system in Forbes at that time had not detected fragments of the virus that causes COVID-19.
• A pop-up testing centre opened on Thursday morning, and remains open at Forbes Showground at time of publication.
• A COVID-19 vaccination clinic was in town on Friday, and 230 people had their first vaccination dose.

Anyone who resides in or has visited Forbes, Coonabarabran, Dubbo or the other areas visited should monitor for the onset of even the mildest of cold-like symptoms. If symptoms appear, please seek COVID testing, and isolate until you receive a negative result.

Locals could be excused for wondering what the hive of activity was in the arcade in Forbes this week as the Forbes and Parkes Phoenix office was unofficially opened where 2PK/ ROK FM used to be based.

Phoenix Newspaper Group owner Josh Matic, who succeeded as owner from Sarah Maynard two years ago, said the latest investment in space, skills and packages puts the Phoenix in a league of its own and forms a new culture in the organisation. He is hopeful everyone in the business communities of Parkes and Forbes will continue to support the brands.

“We offer complete multi-media solutions and video has proven extremely popular for those who commit to longer term campaigns with us,” he said.

For Parkes-Forbes Manager and Forbes Editor Dane Millerd, the importance of an office space, a free weekly community newspaper and for business and community contributions is vital.

“The Phoenix is unlike any other publication in that it has a dual purpose of providing a platform for public interest journalism as well as to promote each respective town it represents like tourism and council organisations do,” he said.

“Our mailbox drops and distribution points are all reflective of the demand for the paper and we will only continue to grow as our owner is invested in our region.”

So, shoot a message to Jordana or Emma today at – sales@forbesphoenix.com.au or sales@parkesphoenix.com.au and book your campaign.

Wiradjuri elder Aunt Aileen Allen has lived a full life and she has seen some remarkable things. She can still see them, they are all around her and a part of her all at the same time.

She has seen the struggles of her people and she knows that it is a never-ending challenge closing the gap. Closing the gap with others and closing the gap amongst themselves. “I keep thinking – how can we close the gap, what else can we be doing?” Aunt Aileen said.

“How do we make people understand it’s about doing right not being right,” she said.

Aunt Aileen believes closing the gap is about helping and educating people about all of our history and culture and removing politics.

“We all know the importance of understanding who we all are and where we’ve all been in regard to moving forward together with respect, knowledge and awareness – and that’s the only way to close the gap.”

National Reconciliation Week (NRW) started as the Week of Prayer for Reconciliation in 1993 – the International Year of the World’s Indigenous Peoples). By 1996, the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation launched Australia’s first National Reconciliation Week. Today, 25 years later NRW is celebrated (May 27-June 3) and acknowledged in workplaces, schools and other organisations Australia-wide with hundreds of events being held each year.

We may not have closed the gap and there is still plenty to do but it is closing.

In her first solo exhibition since moving to the region last year, artist Samantha Coronel has drawn inspiration from what posture can reveal about a person.

“The pose in front of the camera is taken as one’s attitude towards life. The construction of the posture reveals rigidity, fluidity, distraction, sensuality, coldness, daring, in-difference, sensitivity and even absence,” Samantha said.

“Sometimes I omit details to focus on the attitude and the emotion transmitted by colour. The attitude that represents us in every moment of life.”

The ‘Interpretation of Attitude’ exhibition opening will be held at the Platypus Gallery in Forbes on Friday 11 June 2021, at 6.30pm. Tickets are $15 per person, including drinks and nibbles, and can be pre-purchased through the Eventbrite website.

Forbes Arts Society Chair, Dr Karen Ritchie said, “we are always excited to feature new creatives to our region, as well as different artforms.”

“Samantha’s contemporary form of disrupted realism is something we haven’t seen exhibited at the gallery previously – through colour and technique, Samantha challenges and reshapes the conventional approach to portrait painting.”

The ‘Interpretation of Attitude’ exhibition runs until Saturday 26 June 2021. The Platypus Gallery opening hours are Tuesday to Friday, 10am until 2pm and Saturdays, 9am until 1pm. All artworks will be available for purchase.

For more information about the exhibition, visit www.forbesartssociety.com or follow the Platypus Gallery on Facebook and Instagram. The Platypus Gallery is run by ArtsWeb volunteers, a committee of the Forbes Arts Society.

Forbes officially has a KHub after the retail giant Kmart opened earlier this month in the old Target Country store in Rankin Street.

Retail Director Kmart Australia & New Zealand, John Gualtieri was excited about the new opening in Forbes.

“At Kmart, we’re on a mission to make everyday living brighter for Australian families. Giving them easy access to the everyday items they need, at the lowest possible price,” he said.

“It’s how we make shopping more accessible for more people and that’s at the heart of everything we do,” Mr Gualtieri said.

“As a business, we’re committed to opening stores in new communities, and we are thrilled to officially welcome Forbes into the family.”

With 12 existing Target team members and 20 brand new recruits, the whole team have been working tirelessly to bring this colourful new store to life for the local community.

KHub is stocked full of great value, on-trend products that customers are going to absolutely love. The store will have the 200 most popular Kmart products across kids, home and clothing.

“KHub customers will be able to pop in and visit the team instore, or shop Kmart’s entire product range online using home delivery services,” said Mr Gualtieri.

“We’ll be using the store as a collection point for online Target and Catch orders too, giving customers easy access to all three of our Kmart Group brands.”

Forbes last week celebrated over 150 years of rich history with the staging of the Forbes Heritage Week culminating in a five-star gala evening for current and former staff, councillors, business identities and government officials last Saturday night.

The week began with festivities in Victo-ria Park showcasing roving entertainment group, Convict Footprints. For those present, it felt as if it really was Forbes in 1870. There was a variety of exhibitors including our local museum as well as a Blacksmith and a Cheese Maker showing the old techniques to the public.

The CWA and Lions Club Damper competition was also on again as these two rivals battled it out to see who could make the best damper. There were also vintage cars and machinery lining Harold Street, the Swamp Dawkins Bush Band, family history, and a variety of stalls all promoting Forbes’ magnificent history.

There was also plenty for sports lovers too and big crowds at Lion’s Park and numerous other locales across town. For many, it was a tremendous week and exactly what was needed after a disruptive 2020.

Saturday evening saw a who’s who of our region with Nationals Upper House MP Sam Faraway, Nationals Leader and Deputy PM Michael McCormack, Parkes Mayor Ken Keith and Forbes Mayor Phyllis Miller OAM all in attendance to mark the milestone.

All in all it has been an incredible week celebrating the birthday of our town – #amazingforbes.

By Dane Millerd