The new school year is set to resume for thousands of local students next week and Forbes, Parkes and Lachlan Shire Councils are reminding local drivers and parents about children’s safety around schools.

The Councils’ Road Safety and Injury Prevention Officer, Melanie Suitor, said that road crashes account for over half of all accidental deaths among children aged 5 – 14 years old.

“Children are vulnerable road users because of their size and their inability to judge speed and distance,” said Ms Suitor.

“Drivers are reminded to slow down, pay extra attention and be patient when school resumes.”

There are 40km/h school speed zones around all schools in NSW. Most school zones are operational between 8am – 9.30am and 2.30pm – 4pm on school days, when the lights are flashing.

Police will be targeting school zones when school returns.

Parents and carers should:

• Always make sure your children wear a seatbelt or use a child restraint when travelling in a car. Child restraint laws require children up to seven years old to be restrained in an approved child restraint. For more information visit www. childcarseats.com.au

• Where possible, drop-off and pick-up your children on the school side of the road.

• Make sure children use the footpath-side door when getting in and out of a car -this is called the ‘safety door’.

• Use a pedestrian crossing where possible and avoid being distracted whilst walking.

• Children aged up to 10 years old should always be supervised when near traffic.

• Children aged up to eight years old should always hold an adult’s hand when crossing the road or walking near traffic.

• Make sure your children always wear a helmet when riding a bike.

• If your children catch a bus, always walk with them to the bus stop.

Forbes Toy Library, Forbes Netball Association and the Bedgerabong Pastoral Agricultural and Horticultural Association received a welcome boost before Christmas with Member for Riverina Michael McCormack announcing they will receive grants to support the vital work they do for the community.

“The support is being delivered through the Federal Government’s 2021 Volunteer Grants opportunity,” Mr McCormack said.

The funding program provides community organisations with grants of between $1,000 and $5,000, which can be used to buy small equipment for use by volunteers, reimburse volunteer fuel costs, meet training costs, transport volunteers with a disability or support promotional activities on volunteering activities.

Mr McCormack said 41 organisations in the Riverina and Central West would share in a total of $131,306.

“There are many thousands of volunteers in the Riverina and Central West who improve our community every day by turning up and helping out,” Mr McCormack said.

Forbes Toy Library will receive $1,000, Forbes Netball Association will receive $2,850 and the Bedgerabong Pastoral Agricultural and Horticultural Association will receive $4,200. Mr McCormack said NSW Small Winemakers Incorporated (Forbes) would also receive a $1,500 grant.

“I thank the grant recipients, indeed all volunteer groups, for the wonderful work they do for the community.”

There are more than 8.7 million volunteers around Australia and their economic contribution is estimated at $290 billion a year.

Mr McCormack said the 2021 Volunteer Grants program would deliver a total of $18 million to more than 5,000 organisations nationwide. The Riverina Electorate grants were nominated by Mr McCormack in consultation with a community consultative committee.

Riverina and Central West farmers and primary producers impacted by recent floods will have access to grants of up to $50,000.

Member for Riverina Michael McCormack joined both the Commonwealth and NSW Ministers responsible for emergency management, services and resilience, Senator Bridget McKenzie and Steph Cooke as well as recently appointed NSW Minister for Agriculture, Dugald Saunders, to announce the disaster recovery funding.

The announcement was made at “Traversdale”, the Bedgerabong property of Jackie and Scott Darcy at the end of last year, who hosted the Prime Minister Scott Morrison and the Premier Dominic Perrottet on their visit.

Member for Riverina Michael McCormack thanked the Darcy’s and other local Central West farmers for their input into the development of the assistance. Financial assistance is being provided through the jointly funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).

Mr McCormack said local farmers in the Riverina and Central West, especially Forbes and Weddin Shires, have been hit hard by the recent severe weather across regional NSW.

“Eligible farmers and primary producers, from six of the 12 Local Government Areas in the Riverina electorate, will now have access to grants of up to $50,000 to help them get back on their feet,” he said. “In our part of NSW we’ve seen farming communities dealt blow after blow from drought to the mouse plague and more recently, devastating floods.”

“After my most recent visit to Forbes, with the Prime Minister and the Premier, I raised the concerns of farmers about issues they were experiencing directly with the Co-ordinator General of the National Recovery and Resilience Agency, The Hon. Shane Stone AC QC. I am pleased, following those meetings that the Government has compiled this package,” Mr McCormack said.

For assistance, contact Service NSW on 13 77 88 or visit www.raa.nsw.gov.au/grants/disaster-recovery-grants

In more positive local news, the Forbes Business Chamber has donated a percentage of the proceeds from the Taste On Templar evening Forbes Can Assist and the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation, with both community groups receiving $9000 each.

Fiona Ferguson from the Forbes Business Chamber was delighted to be able to present on behalf of the Chamber and said the funds were vital as the groups have been “stretched to their maximum throughout the pandemic with many families struggling due to COVID and the restrictions required throughout this period.”

Forbes Can Assist’s John Schrader described the donation as “amazing,” after his group had been finding it “difficult like everyone else to raise funds during the pandemic.”

Funds for Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation will continue to work towards creating more education, awareness and protection for women from ovarian cancer where no woman will feel endangered by one of our biggest killers.

The funding donation will also allow researchers to continue to fight the scourge of ovarian cancer – a silent killer among our nation’s women.

“Thank you to all those who also volunteered their time and effort during Taste On Templar 2021 and over Christmas,” Fiona said.

The release of Stage Two, Goldridge Estate comes after the record sales of Stage One, selling in under 48 hours upon their release. Stage Two consists of 65 lots, ranging in size between 743 square metres up to 1333 square metres.

“Council has developed a carefully considered land release strategy. The Estate will be sold in phases as to not flood the market and impact property values,” said Forbes Shire Council General Manager, Steve Loane.

“The first phase will include thirteen lots with a mix of lot sizes and characteristics to appeal to different prospective buyers, from young couples, singles and families. The prices also vary depending on size and street appeal. They range from $160,000 to $179,000 and are based on Stage One price modelling, real estate valuations and current market conditions.”

Property will be sold on the open market and be facilitated by local real estate agents, including Century 21, Elders, Michael Robertson & Co and Ray White.

“Council will apply a first in, first served process to the sale of the lots,” said Mr Loane. “This is to ensure the fairest possible system for all.”

Council are targeting Easter 2022 for completion of Stage One civil works, with water and sewer construction well underway. Road and stormwater infrastructure will commence following the Christmas break.

Each lot has power, NBN connectivity and gas supplied to the lot, ready for connection. Land shortages in the Forbes township have been addressed by Forbes Shire Council in developing this estate.

More information on the Goldridge Estate can be found on Councils website: www.forbes.nsw.gov.au/residents/moving-here/goldridge-estate. For sales information or inspection contact your preferred real estate agent.