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

Forbes will celebrate over 150 years of rich history during the Forbes Heritage Week Festival starting on the 1st May 2021.

The week begins with a Festival in Victoria Park and Harold Street and Mayor of Forbes, Phyllis Miller said this year is even more special than ever, with Council celebrating 150 years, plus 1, this year.

“Forbes will step back in time this coming week to celebrate and pay homage to the traditions that have shaped our amazing town,” said Forbes Shire Council Mayor Phyllis Miller OAM. “The Festival week begins this Saturday, 1 May, with a festival day in Victoria Park showcasing roving entertainment group, Convict Footprints. This group is so incredible and their shows make history fun to watch, it’s not boring at all. If the kids like Horrible Histories they will love this!

“The Festival will also showcase a variety of stalls including our local Museum and there will be a Blacksmith and a Cheese Maker showing the old techniques to the public. The CWA and Lions Club Damper competition will be on again as these two rivals battle it out each year to see who can make the best damper. Watch them cook over an open fire pit where everyone will get the opportunity to try their cooked delights.

“There will also be vintage cars and machinery lining Harold Street,” continued Mayor Miller. “Swamp Dawkins Bush Band, family history, and a variety of stalls throughout beautiful Victoria Park showcasing our magnificent history. Bring the kids down to see how life was in times gone by.”

“Our week concludes with the celebration of 150 years of Forbes Shire Council. This is a truly a momentous occasion and we are so proud of the achievements we have accomplished over this time. We really want Heritage Week to be a celebration of our town’s heritage and history and it will be far from ordinary that’s for sure,” said Mayor Miller.

ANZAC Day celebrations across Australia will be more subdued this year as many ease their way back into the new normal post COVID. While many will stay at home – a drop of approximately 14% from 2019 according to a recent online survey of 1000 over 18s, around seven in every ten in regional Australia will attend.

With ANZAC Day still holding special significance in rural areas, Forbes is expected to acknowledge the day with special events throughout the day.

The Forbes dawn service will begin at 5:30am at the Cenotaph, Victoria Park, Harold Street Forbes. Marchers will form up at 5:15am in front of Club Forbes (Forbes Services Memorial Club) 41-43 Templar Street, Forbes and at 5:20am proceed up to the Cenotaph, Harold Street.

At 10:30am, the march will begin at west end Cross St., then south along Lachlan St., east into Court St. and right (south) into Harold St. stopping at Victoria Park and Cenotaph. The service goes for approximately 35 minutes and includes but is not restricted to the following: Prologue, Hymns, Prayers, Commemoration Address, Commemoration for the Fallen, Wreath laying, Last Post, Ode, Reveille and ‘Advance Australia Fair’.

‘ANZAC’ stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. On the 25th of April 1915, Australian and New Zealand soldiers formed part of the allied expedition that set out to capture the Gallipoli peninsula. These became known as Anzacs and the pride they took in that name continues to this day.