Mental illness remains a heavy and wildly unspoken topic and through the connection people have with their dogs particularly in testing times, Thank You Dogs a new social media campaign aims to make the conversation about mental illness less cumbersome for many by incorporating their best mates of the fury kind into their stories.

Rural wedding photographer, Edwina Robertson, is the content creator for the project and said it’s all about helping people open up a little more.

“On the farm, your dog is probably your best worker, your best mate and they might just be your best listener too,” said Edwina If you have a story that you’d like to share about a tough time you’ve experienced and how your favourite furry friend helped you in getting through that time, then Thank You Dogs would like to hear from you. Simply follow them on Facebook and Instagram @thankyou_dogs and submit your stories and images to try and break this stigma about mental illness!

MyBlindSpots is a new questionnaire that can help you build better relationships with not only those who you work with but also your own personal relationships.

Knowing yourself and recognising these ‘Blind Spots’, that can easily lead to misunderstandings, both in your personality and the personality of those close to you, is an important step in building a relationship that will grow and flourish.

If you are in a relationship MyBlindSpots.com.au can provide a bonus report for 2 people. It looks at the ‘Blind Spots’ in your particular relationship with useful tips for a more positive interaction between 2 people.

Knowing yourself and recognising these ‘Blind Spots’, that can easily lead to misunderstandings, both in your personality and the personality of those close to you, is an important step in building a relationship that will grow and flourish. It will assist you in understanding yourself.

The questionnaire you take will create a profile with insights into your personality style including some of the ‘Blind Spots’ that others may see but you tend to overlook or be blissfully unaware of.

Try it out now for as little as $39.99 on www.myblindspots.com.au

Forbes Shire Council would like to advise the public that the Bedgerabong and Garema Landfills will have new opening and closing times from the 2nd October 2019.

Bedgerabong will be open to the public from 1.30pm – 4.30pm on Wednesdays and 9am – 12 noon on a Sunday.

Garema will be open Wednesdays 8am – 11am and Sundays from 1.30pm – 4.30pm.

“With Spring in the air we encourage residents to do a little spring cleaning around their homes. It is important residents take steps to reduce the risk of fire around their properties,” says Forbes Shire Mayor Phyllis Miller OAM.

“The weather forecast for summer is for a long dry one this year, so everyone should be preparing their homes and yards now,” continued Mayor Miller.

“Simple things like cleaning out your gutters, pruning bushes and cutting overhanging branches around your home can make the world of difference,” Mayor Miller says.

“The Bush fires have already started and it’s only September, so everyone please start preparing for this fire season, now,” urged Mayor Miller.

Each respective landfill will only accept residential waste from their respective villages and surrounds. For commercial, construction and demolition waste, please use the Daroobalgie Landfill in Forbes. This facility is open 7 days a week 8.30am – 5pm.

Residents are reminded there is also a Chemical Cleanout scheduled for 17 October for residents to be able to drop off unwanted chemical based waste such as; old paint tins, garden chemicals, fluorescent tubes and household cleaners to the Council Depot between the hours of 1-4pm.

The annual 5 Star Senepol Sale was held at CQLX Gracemere, in Qld on Monday.

Sarah and Clayton Maynard, Southern Star Rural, Canowindra sold 6 bulls through the 5 Star Sale this year. Southern Star Rural managed the top price Senelais (Senepol/Charolais) bull at $12,000 and also the top priced Senegus (Senepol/Angus) bull at $12,000.

There were 54 Bulls were sold on the day with an average of $7,425, a top of $17,000 and a 100% clearance rate.

For more information on pure bred Senepol and Senegus or Senelais Bulls on offer in Canowindra please contact Clayton Maynard on 0439 029 204.

Will Wright with his first barramundi on the Kendall River near Pormpuraaw.

Forbes Shire Council would like to assure residents the Shires water supply is safe despite recent reports in the Sunday Telegraph, 15th September, saying Forbes will be out of water by March 2020. The
Lachlan River water supply condition is closely being monitored by Council and if needed an increase in the level of restriction will be implemented.

“Conditions will be closely monitored in the coming months,” says Forbes Shire General Manager, Steve Loane. “If necessary the level of water restrictions will be increased. Forbes currently sits on 100% allocation from the Lachlan River by WaterNSW, if the situation declines we will look to increasing the level of restrictions.”

“The story claims are unfounded as Forbes’ situation hasn’t been fully considered in the article. The town has access to supply from the Lachlan River and three bores.”

“Forbes is in a very fortunate situation,” says Mr Loane. “Careful usage from residents ensures demand doesn’t exceed our supply. Forbes Shire Council is also committed to using water responsibly and we all have a role to play.”

If residents have concerns they can contact Council on 6850 2300

Riverina MP and Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack says tough new farm trespass laws passed in the Federal Parliament last week will further protect farmers from unlawful activity.

“We will always be on the side of our farmers,” Mr McCormack said.

“We have delivered on our election commitment to bolster these laws which will ensure the actions of extreme activists will be held accountable by the law.”

Mr McCormack said the Criminal Code Amendment (Agricultural Protection) Bill has made it a criminal offence to publish material, via a carriage service such as the internet, if the intent is to incite trespass, property damage or theft on agricultural land.

“Animal activists who use the personal information of family farmers to incite trespass risk imprisonment of up to five years,” Mr McCormack said.

“These extremists do not understand the vast majority of farmers do the right thing and care for their animals while looking after the environment and using water and soil to the best of their ability to produce the very best food and fibre.”

“This is not about protecting animal abusers from the spotlight or banning protests; it is about preventing farmers and their families having their lives and businesses invaded by extreme activists. We cannot afford to put at risk the $60 billion agriculture industry which employs many throughout the Riverina and Central West. The Liberals and Nationals are standing up to protect our farmers and the agriculture sector and this Bill ensures extreme activists will be held to account for their unacceptable behaviour,” concluded Mr McCormack.