The electorate of Orange has secured $399,300 in funding for a total of seventeen projects through the NSW Government’s 2021 Community Building Partnership Program.

Member for Orange, Phil Donato MP said the State Government funds will deliver much-needed improvements to local facilities including an amenities block refurbishment at the Spring Hill Recreation Ground, an expansion of the school to work program in Trundle and the purchase of a driving simulator in Parkes for the delivery of road safety education.

“I congratulate all the organisations that were successful in their application and look forward to seeing how these projects make a real difference for community groups in our region,” Mr Donato said.

Forbes Polo Club Inc. was one of the successful applicants gaining funding for a vital equipment upgrade. The Community Building Partnership program has funded more than 16,000 community projects since it commenced in 2009.

In 2022, there is $400,000 to allocate in each electorate. Applications for the 2022 Program open in early 2022.

For more information about the NSW Government’s Community Building Partnership Program, visit www.nsw.gov.au/cbp

The team at Steele Technology have been busy constructing a new Wireless Internet service available throughout parts of Forbes and rural surrounding areas.

As the local IT shop and NBN reseller, they know firsthand what the services in our area can be like and how unreliable they can be. So they ventured on the path to build an alternative – A locally owned internet service provider, built from the ground up, focusing on friendly service, value and reliability.

After being able to secure a unique fiber service directly from Sydney to Forbes, Nathan and Mitch spent months building and testing before connecting the first customer. With more tower locations secured, they are looking forward to continuing to help our community with a better internet service.

Steele Technology have been able to provide a more reliable and faster option to over 200 businesses, families and rural properties alike – where previously some of these only had access to a satellite connection which was inadequate at the best of times, according to customers.

Their success has enabled them to employ a full time Installer John, and David a network engineer. Also having their current inhouse team of 11 staff to assist with all support and other enquiries.

For all of your IT solutions, call the friendly team at Steele Technology on 02 6852 3204, email them at sales@stech.com.au or call into the store at 126 Lachlan Forbes.

Woolworths Forbes is part of an ambitious donation target to raise the equivalent of seven million meals this Christmas to help support charity partner OzHarvest meet the demand for food relief statewide.

One in six Australian adults are now considered severely food insecure and more than half impacted by food insecurity go a day each week without eating.

To mark the seventh annual Christmas Appeal with OzHarvest, Woolworths NSW is aiming to join in achieving a record fundraising amount of $3.5million, in partnership with customers, to support Australian families in need; which is the equivalent of seven million meals.

Forbes Woolworths customers can now purchase a 50 cent token when they shop in-store or online which will help provide the equivalent of a meal to those in need of food relief across the country. Customers can also choose to round up their purchase to the nearest dollar, with proceeds going directly to the Christmas Appeal.

Additionally, another 50 cents will be donated from every limited edition, OzHarvest Santa Cookie sold in-store from 24 November, 2021. Woolworths has committed to a donation of $500,000 to kick off the appeal.

Since partnering with Woolworths, OzHarvest has collected more than 15 million kgs of food from stores, enabling the equivalent of 45 million meals to be delivered. Last year’s Woolworths Christmas Appeal raised the equivalent of six million meals that were donated to OzHarvest.
Please visit www.woolworths.com.au/shop/discover/community/ozharvest

Young people living in the Central West and Western NSW will be able to enjoy school holiday camps with their friend’s thanks to the NSW Government’s $200 million Regional Recovery Package.

Parliamentary Secretary to the Deputy Premier Sam Farraway said the $10 million to expand the popular Holiday Break program will give back the fun, care-free experiences our kids missed out on during the lockdowns.

“COVID-19 has been incredibly tough on everyone but particularly our young people, which is why the NSW Government is broadening this fantastic program,” Mr Farraway said.

“Through this initiative, we will provide free or subsidised activities over the school holidays including the very popular barbeque music nights and sports camps.”

Minister for Regional Youth Bronnie Taylor said the past two years have tested our young people and programs like the Holiday Break program give kids something to look forward to.

“Across rural and regional NSW, the Holiday Break program has been a roaring success and we look forward to seeing our young people make the most of their summer holidays,” Mrs Taylor said.

“This is a chance to get active, try new experiences and make lifelong friends”

For more information, please visit: www.nsw.gov.au/regional-nsw/holiday-fun-for-regional-youth

Looking to feel renewed? Looking to get out of the bustle for an idyllic escape to the country? The NSW Government last week unveiled the next phase of its ‘Feel New’ tourism marketing campaign to accelerate the recovery of the visitor economy.

It has been billed by the Perrottet-Toole state government as ‘Renew’, the new campaign has been timed to leverage the restart of intrastate travel and the progressive re-opening of state and territory borders.

Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney, and Minister for Industry and Trade Stuart Ayres said the ‘Renew’ campaign would tap into the sentiment of consumers seeking to visit somewhere new, experience something new, and renew themselves following months of restrictions and lockdown. Places like Forbes and others throughout the Central West.

“We’re inviting Australians to renew themselves by enjoying what NSW uniquely offers in terms of destinations, experiences and road trips, and help turbocharge the recovery of the hard-hit accommodation, cultural, entertainment, hospitality, tourism and events sectors,” Mr Ayres said.

“The ‘Renew’ campaign encapsulates the feeling we all have right now – to be re-energised after an incredibly challenging long haul – and, with NSW leading the country in opening up, now is time to hit the road and explore NSW and give our visitor economy the kickstart it needs and deserves,” he said.

“This new element of the ‘Feel New’ campaign, combined with the Government’s continuing injection of funds into visitor economy support programs, is exactly what’s needed to fast-track the state’s recovery.”

The ‘Renew’ campaign will run on radio, digital and social media, in key domestic markets until February 2022.

For more information on the ‘Feel New’ and ‘Renew’ tourism marketing campaigns visit www.destinationnsw.com.au/tourism/feel-new-visitor-brand and for travel inspiration go to www.visitnsw.com and www.sydney.com

When Mark and Debra Wright bought the Pitt Stop Café on March 20, 2000 little did they realise it would become an institution and icon of Forbes. Now, nearly 22 years later, the popular couple are putting the thongs in the rack for the final time.

“We love the job, the town and the people,” said Mark, “but now is the right time to retire.”

Initially Mark and Deb met in 1983 in Queensland for work before settling in Forbes thereafter. The Wright’s plan to move back to Queensland after travelling to Tassie then around Australia when they can such is their love for the place.

After purchasing the business off Bob and Nola Vandameer, the Wright’s, along with children Johnny (32), Lachy (30) and Grace (28), are finishing up with the land about to be purchased for community development.

The new space will be developed by Forbes Shire Council with an emphasis on safety for pedestrians and families.

For the Wright’s however, it is now all about the future and remembering all the customers who drove into Forbes favourite café.

“It was always a lifelong goal of ours to run a successful small business and make so many people happy. It is a lot of hours but the rewards are priceless!”

The ultimate sacri-fries! Congrats to the Wright family and all the best!

Hangover food will never be the same!

Sincerely, Forbes

For some, starting school or a new school can be a daunting affair. From Kindergarten to Year 7, there can be a degree of trepidation and fear for not just students but parents too.

After the disruptions of the past two years, many educational institutions and centres have invested heavily in not just safer environments for students to learn but also numerous programs to assist those in need, especially enrollments.

Every child is entitled to be enrolled at the government school that is designated for the intake area within which the child’s home is situated and that the child is eligible to attend. Schools can assist with enrolment inquiries throughout the year.

New enrolments will be asked to attend an interview with the principal. This is a good time to tell the principal of any special circumstances, allergies, health issues or medical conditions before your child starts school. The school may complete a risk assessment and will ask you to bring documentation with you such as previous school and medical records if applicable.

The department also provides a range of enrolment and support options for children with disability or special learning needs. This includes additional support for children in their local school as well as special-ist support classes located in some regular schools and in schools for specific purposes (SSPs or special schools).

Discuss additional support in your child’s local school as well as support class and SSP placement with the principal of your local school to find the best solution for your child’s needs.

With Kindergarten students all children must be in compulsory schooling by their 6th birthday. Children can start kindergarten at the beginning of the school year if they turn 5 on or before 31 July that year. Ideally, students should start school at the beginning of the school year and should you have any queries contact your local school to discuss enrolment procedures.

Safer journeys are on the way across the Parkes Shire, with road projects rolling out under the latest round of the Fixing Local Roads Program to improve journeys for regional communities including Forbes com-muters, farmers and freight.

Parliamentary Secretary to the Deputy Premier, Sam Farraway said the local project is among 138 to rollout under the $153 million third round of the Program, which facilitates shovel-ready projects to repair, maintain and seal priority roads in their community.

“These projects will give councils a helping hand to address their maintenance backlog and to maintain roads that matter to their communities, delivering safer trips to school or the shops, as well as more efficient journeys for freight operators and primary producers,” Mr Farraway said. “The Parkes Shire will be reaping the benefits of this program with $2,355,000 invested in Peak Hill-Baldry Road and Trewilga Road to be sealed”

Deputy Premier of NSW and Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Paul Toole said Fixing Local Roads had already delivered more than $394 million for 361 projects across 91 regional Local Government Areas. “We know that sometimes it’s small projects that can drive big benefits in the bush. This program is helping to deliver better journeys on the roads families use every day,” Mr Toole said.

“Communities across the state are already reaping the benefits of this program with 97 projects now open to traffic – and today’s announcement will see councils deliver a further 138 projects over the next two years. These projects are also supporting an additional 1,374 jobs throughout construction.”

Further information about the Fixing Local Roads Program go to: nswroads.work/fixinglocalroads.

Aboriginal children and families will have additional support to participate in 600 hours of quality early childhood education in the two years prior to school.

Minister for Education and Early Childhood Learning Sarah Mitchell said that over 50 eligible early childhood education services will receive grants that will allow preschool students to engage and learn in their earliest years.

“Participation in early childhood education is fundamental to ensure children have the best possible start to their educational journeys. This is about making sure that Aboriginal children and their families are supported and have easy access to quality early learning,” Ms Mitchell said.

“These grants will enable services to provide educational activities that will strengthen the foundations of children’s learning in those crucial years before school.”

Grants of up to $10,000 are available for a range of initiatives to support access to quality preschool education for Aboriginal children that will benefit and enrich the development of culture in the community.

“The funding can be used for initiatives such as transport services to help families access the preschools, development opportunities for staff to learn how to further support Aboriginal children and engagement with Aboriginal community members,” Ms Mitchell said.

“Services will have the opportunity, for example, to engage with local Aboriginal community members to conduct dreamtime story-telling sessions or explore Aboriginal art. They’ll also be able to provide access to specialised staff to deliver targeted support to Aboriginal children and their families.”

For more information, visit the Department of Education website.