Forbes, Parkes and Lachlan Shire Councils will be getting behind National Road Safety Week 2020 with a range of activities.

The Week runs from 15 to 22 November, and honours the memory of the 1,200 lives lost, and more than 44,000 seriously injured on Australia’s roads each year.

During the week, road users are being asked to think about how they can actively protect all those who are vulnerable on the road ahead and to sign an online pledge to not drive distracted, to not speed and to never drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Parkes, Forbes and Lachlan Shire Councils’ Road Safety and Injury Prevention Officer, Melanie Suitor, says the Councils’ have been supporting the initiative since 2017.

“During National Road Safety Week, yellow ribbons will be displayed across the country to remember those we have lost on the roads and to remind us to drive safely.”

“The trauma caused by road crashes echoes through our community and is felt by so many others, family and friends, work colleagues, community groups, emergency service workers and local communities.”

The Forbes Town Hall will be lit yellow for the week and Forbes residents are being encouraged to sign the online pledge online at www.roadsafetyweek.com.au.

November has seen the Find It In AMAZING Forbes promotion begin, with lucky winners receiving $500 to put towards their Christmas shopping. The ticket for the draw on 5 November came from a purchase at News On Rankin, and the 12 November winner came from Undercover Sleepwear. Further $500 draws will be held on 26 November, and 3, 10 and 17 December. All winners will be notified by telephone and/or mail.

“We hope that you are discovering the wonderful Christmas Trees that are displayed outside shops that are participating in the promotion. Please remember to collect your tickets and fill them out so they can be included in the Thursday draws being held until Christmas,” said Forbes Business Chamber President, Marg Duggan.

The Forbes Business Chamber thanks their Major sponsor, Forbes Shire Council, Gold sponsor, Evolution Mining, and Silver sponsors Bernardi’s and Terry Bros Carpet Court. The Bronze sponsor list includes Undercover Sleepwear, Acheson’s Mitre 10, Central West Diesel, Steele Technology, Michael Robinson & Co., Superbee Honey Factory, C & D Floorcoverings, Flannery’s Pharmacy, Loomzy’s Fish ‘N’ Fix, Kevin Miller, Whitty, Lennon and Co, Forbes Betta Home Living, Walkers Ag N Vet and MD Steel.

“I am encouraging each and every member of the public to visit all businesses including those outside of the CBD. These businesses are Forbes Small Engine Specialists, Loomzy’s Fish ‘N’ Fix, Hozpots, Superbee Honey Factory, Acheson’s Mitre 10, Terry Bros Carpet Court, Vandenberg Hotel, C & D Floorcoverings, AgriWest, Jelbart & Dawson, and Walkers Ag N Vet. You will be amazed what you will find in these stores and they all have trees and tickets,” said Marg.

Superbee Honey Factory has a wonderful gift and product store located on their factory premises in Landrace Street. Call into the shop or for further details contact Sandra Hessel on 6851 1155.

While community groups and organisations, schools, and preschools have had to be creative and flexible in running their NAIDOC Week celebrations this week, a funding grant of $5,000 to Forbes has contributed to plans to make the Wiradjuri celebrations in Forbes just as special as previous years.

The grants for the Riverina electorate are part of the Federal Government’s $1.4 million program to support local organisations to celebrate the week.

Riverina MP and Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack is encouraging the whole community to get involved in community events to learn more about the local Indigenous culture and share in the traditions which make Australia unique.

“The Wiradjuri people are a proud people with a proud history,” Michael said.

The Forbes Aboriginal community has come together to plan a spectacular day, with committee members from Yoorana Gunya, Binaal Billa, Forbes Wiradjuri Rangers, Amaroo, CatholicCare and Council, alongside local school representatives. Official community celebrations will be held today Friday, 13 November, from 4.30pm – 8pm and all are welcome to come and celebrate the ancient culture, language and customs of the Wiradjuri people, whose land we call home.

The event will feature a range of free activities including traditional art, dancing, storytelling, and language as well as art and craft activities, jumping castles and bungee trampolines plus the chance to win some amazing prizes and eat some delicious food on the day.

Residents of Forbes may have noticed a more festive look taking over the CBD with businesses putting their trees out. The wonderful timber Christmas trees are being displayed out the front or close to the front door of participating businesses for the Find It In AMAZING Forbes Christmas giveaway.

“We are so pleased to be able to offer $20,000 in prizes this year. It has been a tough year, and as there is no Christmas Carnival, the Chamber is delighted to have kept the draws to encourage local shop- ping,” said Marg Duggan, President Forbes Business Chamber

“The draws are going to begin on Thursday, 12 November, with the first $500 coming out of the barrel. Please make sure that tickets are filled in correctly with your full name, not initials, on the tickets. Tickets need to be placed into the container provided by each store. There are seven $500 cards up until Christmas Eve and then 10 $500 cards, one $1,500 card, two $2,500 cards and one $5,000 card to be won, which will be drawn out of the truck on 24 December.”

Participating businesses are: Bernardi’s, Terry Bros Carpet Court, Blush Organic Beauty, Forbes Small Engines, Gunn’s Mensland, SportsPower Forbes, Phillip Wells Optometrist, Bron’s Hair Design, Turners Furniture One, Life Pharmacy, Chapter Two, Jessica’s Essential Beauty, Euphoria Road, Robbs Jewellers, Little Extras, Painted Daisies Gift Shoppe, Allure On Main, Vandenberg Hotel, News On Rankin, Cahills Shoes, Made Of Fridays, The Bakehouse, Agri-West, Forbes Automotive Services, Jelbart Dawson & Co, Hozpots Garden Centre, Walkers Ag N Vet, Superbee Honey, C & D Floorcoverings, Flannery’s Pharmacy, Loomzys Fish N Fix, Forbes Betta Home Living, Undercover Sleepwear, Acheson’s Mitre 10 and Steele Technology.

“The Forbes Business Chamber would like to thank Evolution Mining and Forbes Shire Council for their generous support,” said Marg.

It is Perinatal Mental Health Week and expectant and new parents who are feeling more anxious or down than usual are being encouraged to ask for support.

Western NSW Local Health District’s (WNSWLHD) Coordinator Perinatal and Infant Mental Health SAFE START, Christina Hunt said one in five new mums and one in ten new dads experience perinatal depression and anxiety, and parents need to know that it is okay to ask for support.

“While parents can expect normal periods of fatigue, worry or irritability as they adjust to parenthood, it’s really important to talk to your GP if low or anxious feelings persist,” Christina said.

NSW Health, led by the Perinatal and Infant Mental Health team in South East Sydney LHD, has launched a series of videos and tips for dads whose partners are unwell and unable to take care of the baby while they receive treatment.

“To those dads who are taking on the role of two parents, please know you’re not alone,” Christina said.

“Many men have been through what you’re going through now. Things do work out.”

To watch the video, read tips and hear from other dads, visit: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/mentalhealth/services/parents/dads/Pages/default.aspx.

Grazing Down the Lachlan (GDTL) is set to return on Saturday, 18 September 2021, and so too will Evolution Mining who is back on board as the event’s major sponsor.

Following the event’s sell-out success in its first three years, GDTL and Evolution Mining have chosen to extend their partnership to 2025.

The new five-year sponsorship agreement is valued at $150,000. The general manager of Evolution Mining’s Cowal Gold Operation, John Penhall said the mine was proud to secure its partnership with the award-winning event.

“The mine has stood alongside the Forbes Arts Society since Grazing Down the Lachlan was launched,” John said.

“Since then we have had the pleasure of watching it grow year-on-year and I’m proud to say we will be continuing our partnership for the next five years as the major sponsor of the event.”

Chair of the Grazing Down the Lachlan committee, Wendy Muffet said, “This is our dream partnership. Based on the bedrock of shared values, it enables us to leave a legacy as one of the funding streams for the extraordinary Sculpture Down the Lachlan trail and related projects.”

In 2019, the GDTL committee decided to take a 12-month break to refresh the event, a decision which has been deemed a sheer stroke of luck in light of COVID-19.

“We used our one-year hiatus to review Grazing’s existing format and explore new and different opportunities and ideas,” Wendy said.

“Next year’s event has been developed in conjunction with a robust COVID-19 safe plan, and we are so looking forward to announcing the 2021 program early next year.”

Proceeds of GDTL support the Forbes Arts which so far have facilitated the commissioning of 20 new sculptures to extend the Sculpture Down the Lachlan public art trail, the redevelopment of Gum Swamp reserve and the construction of a new Cultural and Arts Centre.

Australia Day 2021 will be celebrated differently than previous years by the Forbes Shire, but it will be celebrated. Next year, Forbes Shire Council are asking residents to celebrate our great nation at home with family and friends, ensuring the COVID safe protocols are adhered to.

“I call on you all to celebrate Australia Day with a BBQ, a few friends and family around, and think about the incredible year we all have just lived through,” said Deputy Mayor, Chris Roylance. “We are disappointed not to be celebrating like we did last year, by the Lake with hundreds of people for a Party in the Park, but we do need to keep our wits about ourselves and remain COVID free.”

“It is now time to nominate your local heroes. We will still crown our amazing citizens of the year, and recognise their great achievements, because no doubt they do deserve to be recognised,” continued Chris.

The categories this year there are: Citizen of the Year, 25 years or older, Young Citizen of the Year, 25 years or younger, and Senior Citizen of the Year, 65 years or older. The award ceremony will be livestreamed on Facebook.

“We can also happily inform everyone that the Australia Day fireworks will still go ahead,” said Chris. “They will be from a new location though to ensure everyone in the town can get a view of them from their own backyard. We will let you know more in the coming weeks.”

The Australia Day Ambassador for 2021 is local hero, Phillip Adams, Commonwealth and Olympic medal winner shooter who is highly regarded as a great sportsman and a generally great guy.