Forbes Shire Council and National Health Authority have joined forces to bring a three day a week testing clinic to Forbes for easy community access to a convenient drive through COVID-19 Testing Clinic service.

“This is a great partnership between Council and National Health Authority with a proactive approach to this crisis we are experiencing,” says Forbes Shire Council Mayor Phyllis Miller OAM. “The community will have access to testing more than ever before and it will be via a convenient drive through service in Hill Street on Monday, Wednesday and Friday between 8am and 1pm.

“The testing facility is available for patients referred by their doctors; they will not have to travel to other towns to avail themselves of COVID-19 testing. Laverty are a highly regarded organisation and deliver the highest quality professional service.”

“Previously the testing services have been sporadic, and this will provide an ongoing testing opportunity testing for the community and provide reassurance,” Phyllis said.

Patients can receive their negative test results via text message in as little as 24 hours and most tests usually take around 48 hours. It is important for Forbes Shire residents to maintain COVID safety practices and to get tested, even if symptoms are mild.

COVID-19 symptoms include a fever, a sore or scratchy throat, runny nose, shortness of breath and sometimes a cough. Currently the Western Area Health has one case and the person in Orange remains in isolation.

On Sunday, the new Camp Street Bridge was officially opened by Director West – Transport for NSW, Alistair Lunn and Minister for Regional Transport and Roads, Paul Toole.

The opening included a smoking ceremony on the bridge by Indigenous group River Spirit Dancers, led by Yarangirri Holmes, before officials cut the ribbon and walked across the bridge.

“This project started early in 2019 when Council staff prepared the site, relocating underground services, overhead power and closing walkways before Transport for NSW arrived to dismantle the old Camp Street Bridge,” said Forbes Shire Council Mayor, Phyllis Miller OAM. “Our work with Transport however started long before this stage with Council providing support and input into the design process.”

The $12.8 million bridge, which was completed a month ahead of schedule, was funded by the NSW Government to replace the old Camp Street Bridge, built in 1927.

The original bridge no longer met the current design standards and the new one is considerably wider to allow for wider transport vehicles, as well as ample space for both pedestrians and cyclists.

Forbes Shire Council contributed $250,000 to complete the approaches to the bridge and landscaping on either side.

Nationals Upper House MP Sam Farraway, who attended the opening ceremony, said elements of the old bridge had been incorporated into the design of the new bridge to complement the town’s heritage aesthetics.

“It’s the simple touches, like historic lamp posts on the bridge approaches that provide a reference to the past, with a modern twist. This bridge has a story to tell and a heritage area has been established so the community and visitors can learn about the history of Camp Street Bridge,” Sam said.

The Forbes Farmers’ Markets returned last Saturday, 27 June after several months of COVID-19 hiatus. Market goers and stall holders alike were in jovial spirits and it was certainly a sight for sore eyes to see the markets back in full swing.

The clear and sunny Saturday morning could not have been more inviting as Victoria Park was buzzing with both visitors and Forbes residents of all ages.

Pippa McConnell and Kerry Walker from the market committee were there to see, first-hand, the results of their hard work and dedication in organising the event and were thrilled with the turn-out.

There were 12 stall holders on Saturday which is a normal amount for the Forbes monthly event. “It was a pretty good mar- ket for us,” said Pippa. “The day was very well received by our stall holders, who did extremely well.”

The markets, which usually hosts between 12-15 market stalls, selling a range of goods, from sourdough breads, coffee, locally produced egg and bacon rolls, fresh fruit, vegetables, oil, honey, cakes and so much more, saw stall holders pleased with the crowd of eager markets goers, keen to show their support on the day.

“I think that more and more people are becoming aware of how important it is to make the effort to support our local growers and producers, especially since the COVID-19 restrictions were placed on businesses, which is really good to see,” Pippa said.

The markets are just one of many draw cards to bring visitors back into Forbes and the timely return of the monthly farmers markets came right on the back of the ‘We Want You Back’ Central West Tourism campaign.

The committee of four members who organise the markets exemplify the community spirit of the many volunteers in Forbes. The next markets are due to take place on 25 July.

For further information and updates, check out the Forbes Farmers’ Markets Facebook and Instagram pages.

In 2009 Moana Duggan, owner of Lakeside Takeaway, moved from Sydney to Forbes with her family. “We had been there for long enough, it was a 45 minute drive to school each day, out here it’s a slower lifestyle and it has been really good for the kids,” she said.

Moana’s sentiments are shared by tens of thousands of Australians who moved to regional towns from cities, in fact, 65,000 more people chose to move to regional Australia from capital cities than the other way around, according to a new Regional Australia Institute (RAI) report tracking population movements between 2011 and 2016.

While it wouldn’t be far-fetched to asume it is retirees making up for the bulk of those who have made the switch from city to country, Minister for Population Cities and Urban Infrastructure Alan Tudge said, “It’s also great to see the trend of millennials moving to regional areas, given so often they can spark life and vitality in these communities by becoming long-term community members.”

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack said The Big Movers: Understanding Population Mobility in Regional Australia report showed more and more Australians were attracted to the lifestyle benefits of regional towns.

“Regional Australia is a great place to live and work and the Liberal and Nationals Government will continue to invest in the success and liveability of our regions to ensure it stays that way,” Michael said.