General Interest Archives - Page 104 of 317

Patients Give Very High Rating For Hospital Care

November 11, 2022 by Maggi Barnard

Up to 93% of patients treated in the Western Region gave very high ratings of their experience of care.

According to the Bureau of Health Information’s 2021 Adult Admitted Patient Survey almost all patients treated at Western New South Wales Local Health District (WNSWLHD) hospitals rated the overall care they received as ‘very good’ or ‘good’.

More than 1,300 respondents from across the district provided positive feedback on the safe, high-quality care they received.

The dedicated health professionals in the district received very high ratings from their patients. Nearly all surveyed patients (95%) rated the doctors who treated them as ‘very good’ or ‘good’. A similar proportion of patients (96%) rated the nurses who treated them as ‘very good’ or ‘good’.

Mark Spittal, WNSWLHD Chief Executive welcomed the findings and thanked patients for their feedback.

“My gratitude to our staff who adapted to the challenges the pandemic presented – as well as their continued dedication to delivering patient-first care- cannot be understated.”

Forbes Health Service performed very strongly where nine in 10 patients (92%) rated their treating doctors as ‘very good’ or ‘good’. Almost all patients (99%) rated their treating nurses as ‘very good’ or ‘good’.

Between mid-2012 and mid-2022 the Western New South Wales Local Health District increased its workforce by an additional 701 full time equivalent staff – an increase of 14.6% including 136 more doctors, 216 more nurses and midwives, and 143 more allied health staff.

What’s On @ the Parkes Shire Library & Cultural Centre

November 4, 2022 by Maggi Barnard

LIBRARY LOCK-IN

Youth aged 12-18 are invited to attend our next Youth Lock-In Games and Pizza Night on Wednesday, 23rd November from 5:30pm-8pm. Four-player games on the Nintendo Switch, or BYO a 4G-enabled device to join the fun of our Jackbox party games, plus outdoor games and free pizza, thanks to Domino’s Parkes. Places are strictly limited, book via humanitix.com.au.

YOUTH VOICES

Parkes Shire Youth Voices is in recess for Term 4. In the meantime, Parkes Shire Libraries are asking the youth to share their thoughts, ideas and feedback on youth programs and events at https://forms.office.com/r/ciK8MkTaCB

FRIDAY FLICKS

Friday, 25th November at 6pm we are screening a legendary Australian story which has been adapted to film. This award-winning film is set in the Snowy Mountains in the late 1800s tackling issues of feminism and anti-racism. Bookings are essential, contact Parkes Library on 6861 2309.

UPCOMING WORKSHOPS IN MARRAMARRA MAKERSPACE

Composting & Worm Farming (FREE): Tuesday, 8th Nov from 5:30 – 7pm. Book via Eventbrite https://bit.ly/3NkLbVX

Weaving with Ronda Sharpe ($25 per workshop): Monday 14th, 21st & 28th Nov

from 6-8pm. Book via Humanitix https://bit.ly/3FAKYwh

Multicultural Art Group (FREE): Tuesday, 15th Nov from 5:30 – 7pm. Contact Soniatilley@outlook.com.au

Social AUSLAN (FREE): Sat 5th & 19th Nov and Sat 3rd & 17th Dec from 10am. Register your interest with Roxanne Gallacher on 6862 9101

Cricut Beginner Workshops ($80): Saturday, 26th Nov from 9am or 1pm. Book through the Orange Cricut Group Facebook Page.

Succulent Workshops ($150 per workshop): Friday, 2nd Dec from 6:30pm and Saturday, 3rd Dec from 10am. Bookings via email popupsucculentshop@outlook.com

Garden Club Notes

November 4, 2022 by Maggi Barnard

Our last meeting for the year was held at Northside Chapel with Denis Irvine as our guest speaker.

Denis held the audience captive for as long as he wished to speak. He talked about his method of growing plants from cuttings. He skilfully demonstrated how to take cuttings and brought a variety of cuttings with him. He focused on Azaleas, Camellias, tomatoes, Chrysanthemums, Dahlias and more. He mentioned not to cut cuttings on an angle, but to cut straight across.

Denis invited Garden Club members to bring cuttings to the community garden on Wednesday and Saturday mornings where he will help cut them correctly and plant them. His motto is: “grow your own and save”.

Flower of the month was won by Meg Scholefield with a Peace Rose, second was Elvy Quirk with an Aqualina Peace Rose and third Pam Bass also with a Peace Rose. The raffle was won by Joyce Morrison.

Dates for your calendar:
• 6th November 2LVR radio Open Day and sausage sizzle, RSVP by 2nd November;
• 22nd November Christmas luncheon at Vandenberg Hotel $45 to Elvy or Meg by 10th November;
• 28th February 2023 AGM at 1:30 pm at Northside Chapel.

By Sweet Pea

Impressive Results For Local Physie Girls At Zone Championships

November 4, 2022 by Maggi Barnard

The Lachlan Valley United team are (L-R) Rachel Bilsoborough, Ana Phillips, Eleanor Osborne, Deniesse Donaire, Sarah Hayward, Emily Riches, Danielle Hornery, Willow Frost and Louise Donnelly.

More than 60 members of Lachlan Valley United (LVU) took part in the annual Physical Culture Zone Championships held in Parkes last month with great results.

The dedication and hard work from our committed teaching team and members saw our little country club come away with some very impressive results, including six zone champions, 21 places, 17 finalists and two teams placed first.

They competed with clubs from Wagga- Wagga, Orange, Pinnacle, Bathurst, Dubbo, Orana, Mudgee and Parkes.

Our members should be extremely proud of their amazing club spirt and sportsmanship displayed over the two days. Our club received so many compliments on all levels from other teachers, sectors and competitors. Proud just doesn’t seem to express how impressed we are with everyone involved.

Physie has been in Condo for over 40 years, yet it is still relatively new and misunderstood by so many. It’s an extremely technical dance sport including Jazz, Ballet, Pilates and contemporary dance. Competitors need flexibility, control, memory and stamina to be able to compete successfully.

The LVU team was awarded first place in the 5-6 and 9-10 age division. In the individual champion girl age sections results were as follows:

• 5 Years 1st Zone Champion Adella Sloane, 2nd Stephanie Hornery

• 6 Years 1st Zone Champion Harper Taylor, 2nd Ava Charters, 3rd Annabelle Barras, 4th London Sloane, top 12 finalist Mahalia Larry

• 7 Years 2nd Aleigha Hornery, 4th Molly Betland, Top 12 finalist Sienna Small

• 8 Years top 12 finalist Anabel Allen, Lucy Miles

• 9 Years 1st Zone Champion Georgie Stewart, 2nd Willow Frost, 4th Danielle Hornery, top 12 finalists, Eleanor Osborne, Stella Jarick, Harlow Smith

• 10 Years 1st Zone Champion Emily Riches, 2nd Ana Phillips, 3rd Deniesse Donaire, top 12 finalists Ruby Howarth, Elise Milne, Rachel Bilsoborough,

• 11 Years 1st Place Zone Champion Maddi Hornery, 2nd Grace McDonald

• 12 Years 1st Place Former LVU Student Maya Doyle, 3rd Zoe Fraser

• 13 Years 2nd Place Karla Osborne, 4th Lacey Osborne,

• 14 Years 1st Zone Champion Caitlyn Milne, finalists top 12 Zoe Bilsoborough, Emily Miles, Tayla Venables,

• Beginner Novice ladies: 5th Emma Buckland, Top 12 finalists Bri Reardon, Amy Milne, Kaycee Walsh, Lauren Fraser,

• Intermediate Ladies: 3rd place Emma McGee, 5th Beth Betland, finalist top 12 Beth Osborne

• Open Ladies finalist top 12 Nakeria Clark

All our place winners will now progress to represent LVU and our Central west Zone at the Physie National Championships to be held at Olympic Park Sydney at the end of November.

We wish our seniors and quaffing ladies the best as they travel to Homebush this weekend to compete in their individual age divisions. Our senior and ladies teams compete the following weekend at Olympic Park. This will be the first time LVU has presented ladies teams. We can’t wait to share their progress.

By Louise Donnelly

At the back (L-R) are Lily Waller, Sarah Hayward, GraceAllen, Rubie Howarth, Elise Milne, Louise Donnelly and Hollie Miles. In front are Emily Riches, Ana Phillips, Deniesse Donaire and Rachel Bilsoborough.

A Major Feat For Forbes Band

November 4, 2022 by Maggi Barnard

A Major Concert presented by the Forbes Town and District Band on Sunday saw an appreciative crowd of 120 people attending despite the challenges of floods and road closures. It was a great day featuring bands from across the district.

Help Ease Local Food Insecurity This Festive Season

November 4, 2022 by Maggi Barnard

Woolworths customers are encouraged to make a dry food donation to its Local Community Food Drive campaign that will help out local families in need.

The Local Community Food Drive organised by Woolworths in Forbes and Parkes will help deliver food relief to those experiencing hardship in the lead-up to Christmas.

The initiative started on Wednesday, and Forbes and Parkes Shire customers are encouraged to donate non-perishable food items. A specially marked Local Community Food Drive trolley has been placed in each store, and donated items can include: breakfast cereals, pasta, rice and instant noodles, canned fish or meat, spreads (peanut butter, honey, jam); and baked beans and spaghetti.

Food insecurity is a harsh reality for many Australians with more than half a million households struggling to meet food needs, and more than two million households having gone hungry in the last 12 months, according to the 2022 FoodBank Hunger Report.

Within these households, the number of children affected has increased by 100,000, resulting in 1.3 million children grappling without having food on their plate.

Woolworths stores are working closely with local food charities to ensure Forbes and Parkes Shire residents in need will receive the donated items, along with fresh food to the value of $250 in time for the upcoming festive season.

The Food Drive is a frontline community effort to help provide a solution for hunger relief, which has been exacerbated by the rising cost of living and changes in household living arrangements.

“We’re asking Forbes and Parkes Shire customers who are in a position to do so, to join us in donating to the Woolworths Local Community Food Drive on their next grocery shop, by simply adding non-perishable items to our trolleys. By making a small donation, you will be helping the wellbeing of our local community, providing them with the essentials they need,” said the managers of the two stores.

Customers can donate in-store until 15th November.

Forbes Celebrates CWA Centenary In Style

November 4, 2022 by Maggi Barnard

The fashion show was a big hit and was organised by Barb Goodger, Robyn Miller and Gail McKay.

The crowd could not get enough of the historical fashion extravaganza in the Forbes Town Hall on Sunday for the celebration of the centenary of the CWA in NSW.

The Forbes Evening Branch pulled out all stops to make it a memorable event with an afternoon tea in true CWA style.

“It went beyond our expectations, the support was just phenomenal,” said president Robyn Miller.

The Forbes Evening Branch organised a fashion show with garments depicting all the decades from 1922 when the CWA was established. “We managed to get frocks and dresses from members and their contacts,” said Robyn.

They loaned two special gowns from the Forbes Historical Museum that were put on display and included a Melbourne Cup dress from the 1920s and a wedding dress from 1931, while the History Group put up a display of the CWA in Forbes.

The afternoon also included dance performances by four soloists of Kristen’s Dance Academy who ensured the show kept rolling while the models were changing their garments.

Ann Reade, the newest life member of the Oxley Group, had the honour of cutting the celebratory cake.

“I am so proud of our branch members who did so much work for this event,” said Robyn. “My phone rang hot on Monday from people saying how lovely and special the day was.

“The CWA is an extraordinary organisation to be part of, and we have so much fun working on projects in the community.”

Spring Photo Competition Winners

November 4, 2022 by Maggi Barnard

The Spring Photo Competition Winners are: (clockwise from top left) Winner Parkes – Elizabeth Drady, winner Forbes – Peta Allen, second Parkes – Wendy Baigent, second Forbes – Katie Drady, third Forbes – Anne McLennan and third Parkes – Casper Jones.

We received plenty of beautiful images of birds, flowers, landscapes, pets and more from our readers for the Spring Photo Competition. The judges had a tough task picking the winners. Bec Bennet from Hold Photography picked 15-year-old Peta Allen as the Forbes winner, while Marc Payne from March Payne Photography named Elizabeth Drady as the Parkes winner.

Bec’s comments on Peta’s winning entry was: “Lovely composition, perfect mirroring of the silo in the water, nice warm colours, soft afternoon sky. Depicts a lovely country scene.” Marc said of Elizabeth’s winning shot: “It has impact, it fills the frame and is nicely exposed.”

The judges also wanted to give a special mention to the second and third place winners.

• Forbes 2nd: Katie Drady: “Skiing in theflood waters. Great concept, great current scene for our region.”

• Forbes 3rd Anne McLennan: “Great composition, beautiful bright colours, goodfocus.”

• Parkes 2nd: Wendy Baigent “Image fillsthe frame and has nice colour, gives impact.”

• Parkes 3rd: Casper Jones “The use oflight is gorgeous in this image and thelight in the cat’s eyes draws you in.”

Peta and Elizabeth have each won a family photo session with Bec and Marc respectively.

Melbourne Cup Has A Local Connection This Year

October 28, 2022 by Maggi Barnard

The 1.65kg of gold for this year’s Melbourne Cup came from Evolution’s Cowal Mine 100km west of Forbes. The Melbourne Cup Tour included Forbes in September when residents could get a photo with the famous trophy.

The Melbourne Cup is Australia’s most famous thoroughbred horse race held over a distance of 3,200 metres at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne.

With a total prize money of almost $8 million, it is the richest “two-mile” handicap in the world and one of the richest turf races.

It is held on the first Tuesday of November each year, and known as the ‘race that stops a nation’.

This year the Melbourne Cup will be held on Tuesday, 1st November at 3pm.

The Melbourne Cup has a long tradition, with the first race held in 1861 when the winner received a gold watch. The first Melbourne Cup trophy was awarded in 1865 and was an elaborate silver bowl on a stand that had been manufactured in England. This is currently owned by Australian wine personality Wolf Blass and is on display at the Wolf Blass Gallery & Museum/Adelaide Hills Wine Bar in Hahndorf, South Australia.

In 1876 Edward Fischer, an immigrant from Austria produced the first Australian-made trophy. In the Second World War years (1942, 1943 and 1944) the winning owner received war bonds valued at 200 pounds.

A new trophy is struck each year and becomes the property of the winning owner. In the event of a dead heat, a second cup is on hand. The present trophy is hand spun from 1.65 kg of 18-carat gold, and the gold for this year’s trophy came from Evolution’s Cowal Mine west of Forbes.

That is why Forbes was included in the annual Melbourne Cup Tour this year. Many residents lined up last month to get a photo of them holding the 18-carat trophy.

Phil Runs Again

October 28, 2022 by Maggi Barnard

Member for Orange Philip Donato MP

Member for Orange Philip Donato MP officially announced his intent to contest the NSW State election for the seat of Orange on 25th March next year.

“I continue to be 100% committed to serving the people of our communities here in the Orange electorate, and greater regional NSW,” he said.

Phil was first elected in the 2016 by-election, triggered by the resignation of former sitting member Andrew Gee, when he was voted in by a margin of just 55 votes taking the seat from the National Party after 69 years.

“Since I’ve been elected, the Orange electorate has seen record funding and investment from the NSW Government for services and infrastructure, proving that a non-government representative has helped our community get the attention it deserves.

“Not having to toe a government or big party line, I’ve been able to strenuously advocate for the community, without fear or favour – which can only be achieved by not being a member of the government,” Phil said.

LIBRARY LOCK-IN

YOUTH VOICES

FRIDAY FLICKS

UPCOMING WORKSHOPS IN MARRAMARRA MAKERSPACE

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