Heather Earney (left) and Molly Fuge (right) were presented with cheques by Karen Wright of the Forbes CWA.

Part of the core business for the Country Women’s Association (CWA) is community involvement and being a voice for women, families and rural communities. Continuing the support of this, the Forbes CWA branch is again sponsoring the Miss Showgirl competition entrants Molly Fuge and Heather Earney, Forbes Miss Showgirl and Bedgerabong Miss Showgirl respectively.

At the November meeting both young ladies were presented with cheques to assist with their preparations and expenses in attending the zone finals. The zone finals of the Miss Showgirl Competition will be held in Dubbo on 22nd February next year.

Before then they will be participating in a Deportment weekend in Dubbo where all entrants from the zone are expected to attend to get guidance on how to present themselves.

Miss Showgirl provides a rural voice, especially for rural women, as well as promoting our area so when they represent this area, they are keeping issues of concern to much of our community in the public eye.

Forbes CWA President, Karen Wright and representatives of the Forbes Evening and Day Branches attended a meeting with the Acting Regional Director of Health regarding the concerns surrounding the present and future situations of Forbes and Parkes Maternity Units.

They discussed these concerns and how they will work going into 2020. Karen said that the outcome of this meeting was a positive one. The CWA is concerned with many issues around health and the lack of services in rural areas.

If you would like to join the Forbes CWA, they meet every second Thursday evening at 6.30pm for a meal, meeting and socialising at the Vandenberg Hotel. Come along and see what it is all about if you are not sure. Please note their next meeting will be on Thursday, 13th February next year.

Drought-hit farmers in the Forbes Shire may be able to access one-off payments of up to $3,000 due to the Federal Government’s Drought Community Support Initiative Round 2.

Riverina MP and Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack said the payments would provide relief to some of the worst-hit farming families. “We know farmers are doing it tough during this prolonged dry spell and we want those who are struggling to know we have their backs – always have, always will,” Michael said.

The Drought Community Support Initiative is a measure that aims to ease financial hardship by assisting farmers in covering their day-to-day cost of living. The money may be used for things like groceries, power bills or car servicing. The government has partnered with The Salvation Army to deliver this money to farmers living in the Forbes Shire.

Registrations are now open for drought-affected farmers, farm workers, contractors and suppliers in the Forbes Shire.

Eligible applicants should apply through The Salvation Army by visiting www.salvationarmy.org.au/drought or by calling 1300 551 030. Applicants need to be over the age of 18 and live and work in an eligible Local Government Area.

Forbes Riverside Community Gardens held their annual Scarecrow competition last weekend and the entries did not disappoint. Entries were judged within four categories, consisting of Seniors, Juniors, Community groups and Preschools. With entry numbers up significantly since last year thanks to entries from Forbes Preschool, Bright Beginnings Early Learning Centre, Good Start Early Learning Centre, Forbes Learning Ladder and Forbes North Primary School, judges were delightfully overwhelmed and hard pressed to choose winners from a sea of talent in each category.

Scarecrows were constructed using a variety of materials, some were sculpted from recycled metal while others were made of the more traditional straw. More than 100 visitors came through the Riverside Community Garden gates to delight in the spectacle of the weird and wonderful creations that showcased the talent and creativity of Forbes residents.

Wanita Smith’s Woody in Scarecrow form won the Juniors category.

Rhonda Livingston, ACECQA National Education Leader and General Manager, with Forbes Preschool Director Amy Shine and educators Shirley Duke, Tahlia Horvat and Codie Smith.

Reconciliation Australia was delighted to announce Forbes Preschool had won the Narragunnawali Awards 2019 in the early learning category at the awards ceremony held on Ngunnawal Country on Thursday last week.

Held biennially, the Narragunnawali Awards represent Australia’s first national awards program for reconciliation in schools and early learning services. The Awards have been designed to recognise and celebrate educational environments – across the Government, Catholic and Independent sectors – that have implemented outstanding and genuine reconciliation initiatives.

The ceremony was attended by many leading figures of government and early childhood education. Forbes Preschool Director Amy Shine received the award on behalf of the preschool, thanking Forbes Shire Council and the Forbes community in her acceptance speech. “Forbes Shire Council have been so supportive,” Amy said. “We’ve engaged with lots of people in our community and I believe it is such a team effort.”

Officer Karen Mundine said that each year the Narragunnawali Awards judges had a tough time separating the nominees from the finalists. “We are so inspired by the contributions that students, teachers and broader communities are making to progress reconciliation between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous Australians.

Karen said the judges applauded Forbes Preschool for its approach to reconciliation in a relatively challenging local cultural context. “Courageous conversations are being had not only in the classroom, but also with families and community members.” The Narragunnawali: Reconciliation in Education program, in partnership with the BHP Foundation, enables Australian schools and early learning services to foster knowledge and pride in First Nations histories, cultures and contributions.

The Narragunnawali Awards are Australia’s first and only national reconciliation in education awards that aim to recognise commitment to reconciliation in schools and early learning services.

The Find It In AMAZING Forbes Christmas Promotion will run from 11th November until 10:30am on 24th December. The Forbes Business Chamber would like to thank the sponsors, participants and supporters for assisting to make this Forbes promotion such as success.

When shopping locally you can collect your tickets from any of the following sponsors or participating businesses. Forbes Services Memorial Club, Terry Bros. Carpet Court, Acheson’s Home Timber, Steele Technology, Vandenberg Hotel, Little Extras, Flannery’s Pharmacy, Walkers Ag N Vet, Forbes Family Dentist, Turners Furniture One, News On Rankin, Forbes Vet Clinic, Helloworld Travel, Powertools Plus, Undercover Sleepwear, Gunn’s Mensland, Made Of Fridays, Bron’s Hair Designs, Life Pharmacy, Agriwest, Betta Home Living (Forbes), Loomzys Fish and Fix, Bernardis, HozPots, Blush Beauty, Bowns Sports Power, Euphoria Road, Chapter Two, Cahills, Allure On Main, Painted Daisies and Phillip Wells Optometrist.

Mandy Tooth, Penny Rout, Kim Muffet, Olivia Turner, Wendy Muffet took home gold at the NSW Tourism Awards for Grazing Down The Lachlan last week.

Grazing Down The Lachlan has been awarded gold in the Festival and Events category at the 2019 NSW Tourism Awards. Grazing received the accolade in front of 500 industry representatives at a gala even- ing held at the Four Seasons Hotel Sydney last week.

The Festival and Events category recognises leisure festivals, events and exhibitions that enhance the profile/awareness and appeal of the destination they are held in as well as creating economic impact, increased visitation and community involvement.

The event takes place along the Lachlan River just on the outskirts of Forbes on the Condobolin Road. “This is great news for our region, we are certainly holding our own in terms of Tourism,” said Cr Medcalf OAM, Chair of Central NSW Joint Organisation and Mayor of Lachlan Shire Council.

“Shocked, excited and delighted sums up Team Grazing’s response to the Gold award win,” Chair of Grazing Down The Lachlan Committee, Wendy Muffett said. “It was great to see events and businesses from the bush take out so many of the awards, and it was truly an honour and a privilege to share the stage with them.”

“Heartfelt thanks to our sponsors, caterers, many volunteers and our friends at the Forbes Wiradjuri Dreaming Centre. This win belongs to all of us and just goes to show what this amazing town of ours can do when we work together.”

Now in its 30th year, the annual NSW Tourism Awards are the largest and most prestigious event on the New South Wales tourism calendar.

Grazing Down The Lachlan will progress to the Qantas Australian Tourism Awards to be held in Canberra on Friday, 6th March next year.

Having cemented itself on the regional events calendar, Grazing Down The Lachlan will return to the banks of the Lachlan River in Forbes on Saturday, 18th September next year.

Last week the NSW Government announced $5.7 million to establish The Somewhere Down the Lachlan Sculpture Trail.

The funding will deliver an iconic Sculpture Trail with 20 commissioned artworks along the Sculpture Trail between Forbes and Condobolin, some up to 10 metres tall. There will also be a new cultural centre and three additional bird hides at Gum Swamp to view local birdlife. Sam Farraway announced the project on Friday, saying “This sculpture trail will be a unique, permanent installation unlike anything else in regional NSW, providing visitors with an amazing nature viewing experience that will rival other great local attractions like the Graz- ing Down the Lachlan food festival.”

Forbes Shire Council Mayor Phyllis Miller welcomed news of the funding and said that council would provide a contribution of $784,000 to deliver the project. “This is exciting news for Forbes, the cultural centre will be a place to nurture local talent and celebrate local Wiradjuri art,” Mayor Miller said.

Congratulations and thank you to the Forbes Art Society and Forbes Shire Council for their tireless efforts and contribution to the cultural enrichment in and around Forbes.

The Forbes Business Chamber Find It In AMAZING Forbes Committee are working hard to ensure that the 2019 Christmas Promotion kicked off to a healthy start. The Find It In AMAZING Forbes was officially launched on 9th November at Taste On Templar by Mayor, Phyllis Miller OAM.

The Committee are working hard at developing the Christmas Carnival which will see the beginning of the Find It In Forbes draws. At this stage the draws for the promotion make up a total funding pool of $20,000.

“The Find It In AMAZING Forbes Christmas Promotion will run from 11th November until 10:30am on 24th December. The Forbes Business Chamber would like to thank the sponsors, participants and supporters for assisting to make this Forbes promotion such as success” said chairperson Marg Duggan.

Supporters are: BWR Accountants, Central West Diesel, Hughes & Co., Forbes Livestock Agency, Central West Credit Union and McCarron Cullinane and Chudleigh.

Don’t forget to ask for your Find It In Amazing Forbes Christmas Promotion tickets with every purchase at a sponsor or participating business. The Find It In AMAZING Forbes Christmas Carnival will be held on December 13th in Templar and Rankin Streets