Agricultural and royal shows have received a much-needed funding lifeline with Minister for Agriculture David Littleproud MP recently announcing $25 million to agricultural show societies as they recover from the cost of COVID-19, ensuring they can continue in 2022 and beyond.

Colloquially known as ‘ag shows’, these long-running events in country towns and cities across Australia are staples in the annual community calendar.

There are 580 ag shows held in Australia each year providing a significant contribution of over $1 billion to the Australian economy. Around 6 million people attend an ag show each year.

“The financial support announced by the Australian Government last week will enable ag shows to plan and implement shows in 2022 and the confidence to proceed with their shows for next year,” Agricultural Shows Australia Chair Dr Rob Wilson said.

“This announcement recognises the im-portant role of agricultural shows and the financial impact COVID,” he said.

“We have seen hundreds upon hundreds of shows cancelled in 2020 and 2021 at great cost to communities, agricultural exhibitors and the 50,000 volunteers who underpin show societies.”

Agricultural Shows Australia encourages local shows, their committees and showmen and women to prioritise their grant applications before the deadline.

Forbes Arts Society are seeking an operator for their new gallery café – a contemporary food and beverage enterprise with flair, creativity and imagination that meets the demand for quality regional cuisine in the Forbes Shire area. That’s the Forbes Arts Society’s vision for the café to be located within the new Forbes Cultural and Arts Centre at 110 Lachlan Street, Forbes.

FAS are currently seeking expressions of interest from individuals or businesses looking for a unique opportunity to develop their operations in the hospitality industry by running the Centre’s café. With construction set to commence in the coming months, the former Forbes Ambulance Station will soon be transformed into a vibrant, civic hub. The Centre is scheduled for completion in late 2022.

Forbes Arts Society Chairperson, Dr Karen Ritchie said, “we are really excited about the prospect of working closely with the preferred café operator over the next 12 months to create a contemporary eatery that’s welcoming, accessible and complements the Centre’s other creative and collaborative spaces.”

In its current design, the café accommodates seating for 25 people inside, and has an expansive outdoor courtyard with seating for upward of 50 people.

To obtain an Expression of Interest package or to find out more, contact forbesartss@gmail.com. Submissions close 5pm, Friday 29 October 2021.

The Forbes Cultural and Arts Centre development is part of the $7.2 million ‘Boosting the Lachlan Valley Economy Art Project’ which is proudly funded by the NSW Government’s Regional Growth – Environment and Tourism Fund, the Forbes Arts Society, Forbes Shire Council, Lachlan Shire Council and Evolution Mining.

It’s National Bird Week and Gum Swamp hosts 161 variations of birds and is a haven not just for twitchers but anyone who loves nature and wants to experience these species living on and around the swamp that’s totally dedicated to them and where they can live in a natural environment.

Recently the Gum Swamp hides have had a great transformation and now incorporates three two-storey new hides. The existing hide was recently refurbished as part of the Gum Swamp redevelopment project. Built in 1992 with support from Dick Smith & Australian Geographic and local community groups, the ‘bunker’ needed a makeover.

Forbes Arts Society’s Chairperson, Dr Karen Ritchie said, “the existing bird hide has been a tremendous community and tourism asset for close to 30 years, so we are delighted to see it refurbished to be utilised for decades to come.”

Located just four kilometres from the Forbes CBD along the Newell Highway, Gum Swamp is a nationally significant site for ornithology (study of birds) and amateur twitchers will have four, unobtrusive vantage points from which to observe over 160 bird species.

“The landscape lends itself to a diverse range of opportunities. We hope that this redevelopment will attract new user groups, including photographers, artists, health and wellness enthusiasts, and those wishing to just immerse themselves in nature,” Karen said.

The Gum Swamp redevelopment is part of the $7 million ‘Boosting the Lachlan Valley Economy Art Project’, proudly funded by the NSW Government’s Restart NSW program through the Regional Lachlan Valley region as a premier tourism destination.

Safer journeys are on the way across Forbes Shire, with road projects rolling out under the latest round of the Fixing Local Roads Program to improve journeys for regional communities, 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 really matter to their communities, delivering safer trips to school or to the shops, as well as more efficient journeys for freight operators and primary producers,” Mr Farraway said.

“The Forbes community is already reaping the benefits of this program with $644,375 invested into Bedgerabong Road for major repatching of the surface,” 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 from Armidale to Albury in the first two rounds.

“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,” he said.

“These projects won’t just ensure that locals see the benefits of this investment every time they get behind the wheel, they’re also supporting an additional 1,374 jobs throughout construction. Small projects like these not only make a big difference to the roads locals use every day, but they’ll also support the domestic tourist market when our regions open up again.”

Fixing Local Roads is a $500 million NSW Government program, boosted by the Australian Government with an additional $191 million.

While some media outlets are downsizing, the Phoenix Group of Newspapers owner Joshua Matic, is looking to expand his multi-media empire with more investment into staff, resources, skills and local communities.

“The Forbes and Parkes Phoenix Newspapers have shown the respective communities we are here for the long haul, are affordable and willing to partner with the business community,” Josh said.

“We are investigating opportunities to support or sponsor local activities or events and look forward to getting more involved in our communities and encourage local businesses to look to us for help in promoting or advertising their products and services”

The Phoenix Newspaper Group has grown in the last year with three new publications (Cowra, Mudgee and Blue Mountains) plus the existing three Josh already owned – Forbes, Parkes and Canowindra.

“Between the six papers I own and about the same my business partner owns (Hilltops, Hawkesbury, Yass, Griffith and Goulburn) we can cover the southern part of NSW and ensure maximum exposure via our newspaper distribution channels, online, social media and now video,” he said.

“Community papers are as good as the communities who contribute to them. We want to hear your stories!.”

Editorial enquiries – editor@forbesphoenix.com.au
Advertising – sales@forbesphoenix.com.au

Agricultural machinery owners and operators are invited to get ‘road ready’ ahead of the 2021 harvest season, by picking up a free ‘Moving Harvest Machinery’ USB from all agricultural machinery retailers and rural supply stores in the Parkes, Forbes and Lachlan Shires areas in the coming week. The USBs will also be available at the Councils’ Administration Offices.

The ‘Moving Harvest Machinery’ USBs contain all of the relevant notices for safely and legally moving agricultural machinery, combinations and trucks on the road along with other useful harvest safety information.

Parkes, Forbes and Lachlan Shire Councils’ Road Safety and Injury Prevention Officer, Melanie Suitor, says it is imperative that all operators be aware of their responsibilities whilst operating over-dimensional vehicles this harvest.

“It’s looking like it’s going to be another great harvest across the region this year, which means lots of extra truck movements and agricultural machinery will be using local roads.

“Safety and compliance during harvest is very important. Operators need to be aware of their responsibilities and ensure that all warning devices and travel requirements are adhered to. Regulations do change and this USB will help to ensure that people have up to date information.

“There is also a live ‘link’s’ document, which provides the web address for the attachments on the USB. It is advisable to regularly check the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator’s website (www.nhvr.gov.au) for updated notices and/or changes to operating conditions.

“The USBs are always very popular. This year there are 1,000 available. Let’s work together to have a safe harvest,” Ms Suitor said.

Regional Development Australia Central West (RDA Central West) received close to 400 entries in this year’s Central West is Best Photography Competition. ‘There’s no place like home’ was the theme for 2021, with applicants encouraged to capture the essence of their hometown.

Entries came from across the region with Forbes figuring prominently with both Emilie Rogers (Open winner) and Peta Allen (Junior runner-up) performing admirably against some tough competition.

RDA Central West Chair, Ruth Fagan, said the competition, now in its third year, continues to grow and celebrate the region.

“We had an overwhelming response to the competition this year, receiving a total of 392 entries across the Junior and Open categories,” said Mrs. Fagan.

“This year we wanted to focus on why the Central West is a great place to live – after all, it’s home to 180,000 people and is made up of some terrific towns and villages and beautiful landscapes. We would like to extend our thanks to everyone who entered the competition – the judges certainly had a tough decision but we are thrilled to announce this year’s prize winners.”

The 2021 Central West is Best Photography Competition winners are:
• Junior (Under 18 years) Winner: ‘Rory in the hay’ taken by Amelia O’Reilly at Tullibigeal;
• Runner-up: ‘Endless fence’ by Peta Allen at Forbes;
• Special mention: ‘Sisters are the best’ taken by Ella Gibson at Baldry.
• Open (18 years and over) Winner: ‘Ancestors watching’ taken by Emilie Rogers at Forbes;
• Runner-up: ‘Shining crown’ taken by Samantha Ellis at Capertee Valley;
• Special mention: ‘Belubula River rapids’ taken by Warren Lloyd at Junction Reefs.

A gallery featuring all of the entries from the 2021 competition can be viewed on the RDA Central West website at www.rdacentralwest.org.au/projects/central-west-is-best-gallery/