Staff and children at Goodstart Early Learning Centre have dressed up as their favourite fictional characters this week.
Girlpower: Builder Meg Sladek, Cowgirl Annabelle Hartwig and Wonder Woman Meg McKenzie.
Clowning around: Tillee-Jae Johnson, Princess Pearl Paradowski and Alicia Cronin as Little Red Riding Hood.
Karen Wright, President of the Forbes CWA evening branch holds some of the beautiful face masks that the ladies have sewn for the community.
The Forbes Evening branch of the Country Women’s Association (CWA) have again put their time and skills to great use by sewing masks for cancer patients. The colourful face masks are also available to the community for a small donation of $5.
It is not the first time that the ladies’ have put their time and efforts towards supporting those in need, in fact, since its inception in the early 1920’s the CWA has strived to ensure the survival and well being of people living in the country. While some of their earliest achievements were gaining access to proper education, roads, and healthcare in a time where such luxuries did not exist for rural women, the CWA has not tired of finding new ways to improve life and support the wellbeing of all living in the country.
The CWA is the first, largest and most significant women’s association in Australia. The earliest branches of the CWA of NSW demanded change in a male dominated world. Many of the things we now take for granted living out West were only made possible thanks to the efforts of the founding members of the CWA. In a time where life on the land for pioneering women often meant a short, lonely and gruelling existence, a small group of country women banded together and changed this, ensuring the survival of rural communities.
Today the Forbes CWA evening branch continues the legacy of the earliest CWA ladies by fundraising for disaster relief and helping to sponsor countless community programs. The Forbes CWA evening branch also supplies much needed packs for the women’s refuge and miscarriage support packs for grieving women in the community.
The Forbes Evening Branch meets every second Thursday of the month at the Vandenberg Hotel with a dinner meeting. Email forbeseveningbranch@gmail.com for more information.
Ground-breaking research from the University of South Australia confirms that the act of smiling can trick your mind into being more positive, simply by moving your facial muscles.
Since government restrictions put in place in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been an alarming rise in anxiety and depression amongst Australians and around the world. However, the study, published in Experimental Psychology, evaluated the impact of a covert smile on perception of face and body expressions. In both scenarios, a smile was induced by participants holding a pen between their teeth, forcing their facial muscles to replicate the movement of a smile.
The research found that facial muscular activity not only alters the recognition of facial expressions but also body expressions, with both generating more positive emotions.
Lead researcher and human and artificial cognition expert, University of South Australia’s Dr Fernando Marmolejo-Ramos says the finding has important insights for mental health.
“When your muscles say you’re happy, you’re more likely to see the world around you in a positive way,” Dr Fernando says.
“In our research we found that when you forcefully practise smiling, it stimulates the amygdala, the emotional centre of the brain, which releases neurotransmitters to encourage an emotionally positive state.”
“For mental health, this has interesting implications. If we can trick the brain into perceiving stimuli as ‘happy’, then we can potentially use this mechanism to help boost mental health.”
The findings demonstrate a strong link between action and perception. So perhaps there is more to the term “fake it ‘til you make it” than previously thought.
Ridgehaven Poll Dorsets will offer 10 Stud Rams, 20 Stud Ewes and 130 Flock Rams.
Ever since Ridgehaven Poll Dorset stud was started in 1965, it has always been run with a focus on producing top quality, commercially focused animals. Structural correctness, fertility, ease of lambing, growth rates, muscle and fat cover and the wool type have been a basis for selection from the start. In the last four years, the stud has worked with meat processors and UNE to accurately identify genetic lines with superior lean meat yield, intramuscular fat (IMF) and eating quality. Ridgehaven has seen the benefits of carcass measurement and how this can be used for genetic gain and it is now an important annual aspect of their breeding program.
To maximise the opportunity for all their clients to be able to get the rams they want, the Ridgehaven ram sale will not only be held in person on property on Thursday, 10 September, but will also be interfaced on AuctionsPlus.
On Thursday, 27 August, there will be an open day where the rams and ewes can be viewed. For the safety of all attending, on the open day and on sale day, COVID-safe measures will be in place. For more information contact Ruth Klingner 0438642113, Isabele Roberts 0405098335 or Floyd Legge 0402185727.
Felix Rams focuses on producing efficient and profitable prime lambs by breeding high performance, structurally sound rams for efficient prime lamb enterprises. Their commitment to collecting good accurate performance data is in the DNA and is embedded as the fundamental approach to the way they breed sheep.
In the world of big data, 27,000 lambs weighed within 12 hours of birth, 22,000 weaning weights, almost 18,500 scans with weights for postweaning fat and muscle and 4,400 individual worm egg counts is a lot of data. This is the performance data that influences the ram selection and the accuracy of the Sheep Genetics Lambplan asbvs on the rams you buy.
Felix Rams are selected for quick early growth and maturity, not maximum adult ram size. Most of the selection is done at 6.5 to 7 months, reflecting the age most lambs are sold. At Felix it is all about the lambs. Felix Rams selects for early maturity to efficiently produce a 22-28 kg lamb. Early maturity also means your suckers have the best chance of hitting the target year in year out, while attention to the “right” amount of fat means that you will almost always have finish on your lambs at market weights.
Despite the tough start, the 2019 drop rams have transformed with the improved season. Felix Rams selection are for rams that perform on pasture and under commercial conditions. This year’s sale rams are paddock grown and finished and are not pumped up or grown out on a grain feeder.
Felix Rams will offer around 140 Poll Dorset and 50 White Suffolk rams at their 22nd annual on-property sale at Greenethorpe on 1 September at 1pm. Catalogues are available at www.felixrams.com.au. Email felixrams@gmail.com or call Rodney 0417 499 204, Isaac 0437 493 407 or the selling agents, Allan Gray and Co Cowra 02 6342 2377.
With World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) running from 1-8 August, now is the chance to reflect on breastfeeding. The Australian Breastfeeding Association (ABA) is supporting Australian mothers throughout the COVID-19 Pandemic, finding new ways to stay in touch, support, encourage and empower women throughout their breastfeeding journey.
The benefits of breastfeeding are widely known and accepted, the qualified breast- feeding counsellors within the ABA recognise it doesn’t come easily to many mothers and are able to offer guidance and ideas to help overcome challenges they may face. Forbes mothers are able to contact a counsellor via email at abaparkesforbes@gmail.com to discuss any issues.
The national helpline is also available 24/7 on 1800 686 268, where counsellors can be reached day and night. With COVID restrictions in place, our face to face Breastfeeding Education Classes have been replaced with Breastfeeding Education Live, a new online and interactive education experience for expectant parents. More information on these classes can be found at www.breastfeeding.asn.au.
The theme for WBW 2020, ‘Support Breastfeeding for a Healthier Planet’ brings awareness to the impact of infant feeding on the environment. Breastfeeding contributes to general health and food security and breastmilk is a natural, renewable food that is produced and delivered to the consumer without pollution, packaging or waste. When we protect and support mothers and breastfeeding, we are also reducing the impact on our air, water, and land, protecting our young ones and future generations.
Due to COVID-19 the Parkes/Forbes ABA group has temporarily ceased their monthly meeting. To keep up to date with local happenings check out the Australian Breastfeeding Association Parkes/Forbes Group on Facebook.
This year’s NAIDOC Week will be an opportunity for Riverina and Central West residents to showcase the best of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and history, according to Member for Riverina and Deputy Prime Minister, Michael McCormack.
The Federal Government has opened a new round of NAIDOC grants with $1.4 million available to go towards hosting events and other activities during NAIDOC Week from 8-15 November.
“The Riverina and Central West has celebrated NAIDOC Week in past years with wonderful events supported by the Government, including a NAIDOC Fair organised by Cowra High School, a WAWI Festival in Wagga Wagga, workshops and activities at Coolamon and the presentation of stories to preschool children at Peak Hill,” Michael said.
This year’s theme, ‘Always Was, Always Will Be’, is an opportunity for all Australians to engage with Indigenous culture, gain a greater understanding of our nation’s shared history and celebrate the unique place Indigenous peoples have in our society.
Information on the 2020 NAIDOC local grants round is available on the National Indigenous Australians Agency website, www.niaa.gov.au/naidoc, with applications closing Monday, 17 August at 7pm.
When Victory over Japan (VJ) Day dawns on Friday, 14 August it will be 75 years since the guns fell silent, ending World War II. The official instrument of surrender was signed in Tokyo on 2 September 1945. Years of carnage and destruction had come to an end and millions of people took to the streets and pubs to celebrate the peace, mourn their loved-ones and to hope for the future. The end of the war in the Pacific was particularly poignant for Australia with the war literally raging on our doorstep.
To show respect, on Saturday, 15 August, towns across Australia and New Zealand will once again see Town Criers in their roles as official ambassadors for their cities, towns and regions delivering The Cry For Peace, to solemnly commemorate this important day in Australia’s history.
The ranks of our WWII veterans diminish daily and the freedom that we as a nation enjoy today is due directly to the tenacity and courage of those men and women who served in all three branches of the services. In addition to veterans of WWII, many citizens served as air raid wardens, joined the land army, and worked in manufacturing plants that kept the war effort going.
The end of WWII was not only a monumental relief for the thousands of surviving Australian soldiers abroad, but also for the civilians on Australian soil who were under threat. While attacks on Darwin and off the coast of New South Wales and Victoria are well known, Japanese troops also landed in Western Australia and German submariners came onshore in South Australia.
The Cry for Peace is taking place to mark Victory in the Pacific at 11.05am this Saturday. To take part in this commemoration, the Parkes Town Crier will be doing his cry at the Cenotaph in Cooke Park, Parkes.
The free workshops for parents and supervisors of learner drivers are being offered, thanks to Parkes, Forbes and Lachlan Shire Councils.
Parkes, Forbes, and Lachlan Shire Councils will be hosting two online workshops for parents and other supervisors of local learner drivers, full of practical advice and information about completing the 120 hours of supervised driving.
The free ‘Helping Learner Drivers Become Safer Drivers’ workshops are scheduled for Wednesday, 19 August from 6pm and Thursday, 20 August from 12.30pm.
Parkes, Forbes and Lachlan Shire Council’s Road Safety and Injury Prevention Officer, Melanie Suitor, said while the usual face to face workshops weren’t possible due to the current COVID-19 restrictions, the online delivery will hopefully make it more easily accessible for participants to attend.
“Parents and supervisors of learner drivers have a crucial role to play in making our roads safer. That is why we have teamed up with Transport for NSW and the Councils across the Western Region to hold these two free workshops via Zoom.”
“Participants can attend from the safety and comfort of their own home. The estimated run time is around one hour and 15 minutes. The workshop covers the licencing system, how to use the Learner Driver Logbook including the use of digital logbooks, licence conditions for learner and P-plate drivers, the benefits of on-road driving sessions, tips on supervising a learner driver and more.”
“Parents and supervisors who have attended this workshop in the past have found that it boosted their confidence, helped them better plan driving sessions and allowed them to share their experiences with other parents and supervisors,” Melanie said.
Bookings are essential and can be made online via Eventbrite for the Wednesday and Thursday session through the Council’s Facebook pages or by calling Melanie Suitor on 6861 2364.
This week was Local Government Week and Forbes Shire Council welcomed the opportunity to recognise and celebrate the achievements it has made in improving living standards and wellbeing for Forbes Shire residents.
Mayor Phyllis Miller OAM said in the past 12 months Forbes faced unprecedented challenges, from drought to bushfires to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Forbes Shire Council recognised the important responsibility it had to support our community through these crises,” Phyllis said.
“Local Government Week is not about blowing our own trumpet; it’s about making residents aware of the range of services councils have on offer to make their community a fantastic place to work and live.”
Phyllis said the theme of this year’s Local Government week is “Councils Do.”
“Forbes Shire Council recognises the truth of that theme – that we would provide the best possible support for our community through the broad range of services we provide and a proactive response to the many challenges our community face,” she said.
“Councils are the hub of their communities, responsible for community events, libraries, sports fields, parks, pools, building and development assessment and even cemeteries.”
Phyllis said Forbes Shire Council took its role serving the community very seriously. “Councils are the grassroots, frontline level of government for the majority of people in NSW.”
When issues arise at a local level, Council’s are usually the first point of contact and the first to protect and enhance the environment, lifestyle and well-being of the town and its residents. Council also works to draw new residents, business, and development opportunities into Forbes.
For more information on services provided by Forbes Shire Council go to www.forbes.nsw.gov.au.