An amendment to the road rules was announced this week by Ministers Melinda Pavey and Troy Grant. It is aimed to enhance the safety of SES volunteers and other emergency personnel at the scene of an incident where they are working in close proximity to traffic.

The new rule will require drivers to slow down to 40km/hr when approaching a stationary or slow moving police or emergency vehicle with its red and blue lights flashing, and not to accelerate until safely past.

This important amendment will be trialled for 12 months from 1st September and is the result of close collaboration between NSW SES, the Department of Transport, The Sheep Field Day has a variety of demos for sheep OEM and other emergency services.

Community members have the next Rotary Ipomoea market to look forward to! With over 21 stalls booked in, there will be a wide range of homemade goods at the market held on Saturday, 14th April at the Sir Francis Forbes Park, Camp Street from 8am to 12.30pm.

The market will offer lots of good quality stalls including plants, jewellery, woodwork, craft, cakes and slices to name just a few. People visiting Forbes for the weekend’s rodeo might like to sample some Forbes home cooking, buy a cup of coffee from the coffee man or buy a hot breakfast from the Rotary breakfast van that is at every market. Rotary members will have a stall selling pumpkins, plants and a Mother’s Day raffle will also be a feature.

At the March market, new stall holders were seen and this month there will also be new stall holders. Regular marketers, such as Kate Speed’s stall of beautifully hand knitted toys, can also be expected. Kate and her husband Rob are from Waroo.

Forbes High School announced the appointment of a new Principal on Wednesday afternoon. Safija Bristina was successful in gaining the position of Principal through a rigorous merit selection process.

Safija will bring a leadership skill set, which has been developed across a number of school settings and is collaborative and consultative in nature.

Her appointment ensures a continuity of successful leadership for Forbes High School and will allow for strategic planning for the future which is evidence-informed and focused on student and staff achievement, growth and wellbeing.

“I wish Safija all the best in the Principal role and encourage the school and wider community to engage in a positive partnership with the leadership team on the journey of continual school improvement,” said Director Public Schools NSW, Charles Dwyer.

“I also acknowledge, along with my appreciation and thanks, Jason Nottingham for his committed leadership as Relieving Principal during my tenure as Director Public Schools NSW over the past three terms.

“He has been ably supported by Daniel West and Pamela McConnell in their relieving roles as Deputy Principal and Head Teacher Secondary Studies, respectively. This effective leadership has allowed the school to develop a strategic plan for 2018- 2020 to support every student, every teacher and every leader improve every year,” said Charles.

“As I reflect on my time as a teacher and Principal of Forbes High School, I want to thank the students, staff, parents and carers and the wider community for the support that they have shown to the school and for their engagement in the journey of educating our students and children,” said Jason.

The Forbes and District Relay For Life event will take place from 12th to 13th May at the South Circle Oval. This year’s theme for the Relay For Life is ‘Forbes Farming Games’. A nod to the agricultural industry in the area with a competitive edge, after experiencing all the Commonwealth Games action.

Participants are encouraged to decorate their campsites, dress up and get involved with fun farming inspired challenges and activities like the hay bale obstacle course, gumboot throw, wheelbarrow race, petting zoo, agility demonstrations and much more. There will be lots of country music and plenty of action for everyone to get involved in, get ready for a boot scootin’ good time!

Relay For Life is a fun and moving overnight experience that raises vital funds for Cancer Council’s research, prevention and support services. It’s a chance for communities to recognise and celebrate those who have overcome cancer or are undergoing treatment, as well as the people who care for them. Relay also provides an opportunity to celebrate the memory of loved ones lost to cancer.

Now into its ninth year, the Forbes community have got behind this worldwide movement and together raised over $347,000. These lifesaving dollars have helped Cancer Council NSW fund vital cancer research that has improved treatment and diagnosis for cancer patients in Forbes and across Australia. It has also provided funds for support programs that connect patients and carers around the country as well as advocacy initiatives and prevention programs that help reduce the risk of cancer in our communities.

Cancer Council NSW plays an active role in Forbes through programs such as Transport to Treatment in the Central West, our Eat It To Beat It Program ensuring primary school parents receive important information on good nutrition and Sun Sound reminding individuals to use sunscreen and cover up when in the sun.

Join the thousands of Australians who take part in Cancer Council’s Relay For Life each year in the fight against cancer. Start or join a team in the Forbes and District Relay For Life 2018 Relay today!

Come along to a team information night to find out how you can make a difference through participating in Relay For Life. Already participating? Come along and we can answer all your questions about the day on Tuesday, 24th April at the Services Club Auditorium 6pm or Saturday, 5th May at the South Circle Oval 6pm.

For more information visit www.relayforlife.org.au/forbes or call Cancer Council NSW Orange Regional office on (02) 6392 0800.

Ten boys have stepped up and taken the opportunity to be a part of the White Ribbon Boys group at Forbes High School.

The program aims to provide young men with the opportunity to be leaders within their school community and raise awareness about violence against women and the impact it can have.

Students participated in two days of White Ribbon Boy DFV and Peer Skills training workshops in early April under the guidance and support of the schools Youth Worker, Trudi Weyman and Aboriginal Education Officer, Barry Merritt. The training helped students learn and experience respectful relationships, gender equality and how to challenge attitudes which support violence. The aim is to create real generational change to stop violence against women and children in Australia. Trudi said: “It’s great to see our young male student volunteers, step up and be leaders in our school community and apart of this group.”

Congratulations to the following students for completing their training Blake Bray, Tyrhys Jones, Sebastian Markwort, Levi McDaniel, Angus Turner, Trent Tyne, Joshua Withers, Stuart Shaw, Jack Cole and Joshua Tooze-Rumble.

For all of the boys, the main driving force to be involved was that they wanted to stand up and help make change. Year 8 student, Angus Turner said: “I became involved to help make a difference,” which was something echoed by all students.

As a White Ribbon School, Forbes High School has a strong partnership with the Forbes Domestic Violence committee and the White Ribbon Day March held each year in Forbes. The White Ribbon Boys group played an integral part of the Forbes White Ribbon Day held March last year, being involved significantly in the formal proceedings throughout the day.

Barry said: “The boys had two fantastic days of training and really displayed dedication to the group and its goal of increasing awareness of domestic and family violence.”

Part of the group’s role will be being involved again this year in hosting a ‘Boy’s Night In’ later in the year, as well as being actively involved in the White Ribbon Day March in November. If you would like to find out more about White Ribbon Australia you can visit their website at https://www. whiteribbon.org.au/stop-violence-againstwomen/.

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Nadine Mattiske of Wirrinya and Ann Murray of Manildra were recognised for their enormous contributions to their communities. The two women were honoured at a certificate presentation ceremony held at the Forbes Country Women’s Association (CWA) hall last Monday.

Shooters Fishers and Farmers MP and Member for Orange, Philip Donato presented Nadine and Ann each with a certificate to recognise their service to rural communities during the ceremony. This comes after being named in the 2017 Hidden Treasures Honour Roll.

“It was my absolute honour to recognise two outstanding women from our local community,” Philip said. “Both Nadine and Ann are passionate about their communities through their involvement in organisations over many years and it is only fitting their hard work and efforts be acknowledged in this way.”

“I am inspired by the dedication of women in our rural communities who volunteer countless hours to a variety of organisations to enhance the quality of life for so many people,” Philip said.

The 2017 Hidden Treasures Roll was officially launched at the NSW Rural Women’s Gathering in Narrandera in October last year. “The Hidden Treasures Honour Roll is a wonderful opportunity to promote volunteer organisations and highlight the importance of volunteering within rural and regional communities,” said RWN coordinator Allison Priest.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Seniors Week Begins

Seniors Week is a festival designed to thank, celebrate and recognise seniors for the role they play and the contributions they make to the community.

Forbes Shire Council is a proud supporter of the NSW Seniors’ Festival which is now in its 60th year. If you are over 60, NSW Seniors’ Festival gives you the chance to make new friends or get together with old ones at an array of local community events. Seniors Week this year will start off with a concert at the Forbes Town Hall on Sunday, 8th April from 2.00pm.

From 10.30am on Wednesday 11th April, Mater Aged Care is hosting bingo. Families and community members are welcome to attend with great prizes on offer.

Jemalong Residential Village will be hosting a BBQ and entertainment on Thursday, 12th April from 12noon. The community is encouraged to come along and get involved. For information contact Briony on 6850 2355 or email briony.ferguson@forbes.nsw.gov.au.

Preventing Macular Degeneration

Macular Degeneration (MD) is a progressive eye disease in which the photoreceptors at the macular start to deteriorate and die due to the breakdown of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). This causes a build-up of retinal metabolic waste that clinically appears as yellow spots, called drusen.”

Ways to promote macular health:

• After you turn 50 years old, have your eyes and macular checked regularly (every two years) by your optometrist.

• Abstain from smoking.

• Have a well-balanced diet. Include fresh fruit and vegetables (especially green leafy vegetables) daily, oily fish 2 to 3 times a week, handful of nuts a week and limit fat intake and high-GI carbohydrates.

• Exercise regularly and maintain a healthy body weight.

• Have adequate sun protection for your eyes.

Make an appointment today at Hansen Optometrists.

The Easter Festival this Saturday brings together different community groups and churches to thank the community of Forbes for their generosity over the last 12 months. This event will take place at Apex Park (near the aeroplane) starting at 10am.

The Easter Festival committee from Havannah House would like to invite everyone down to enjoy some ‘old school’ games such as three-legged races, sack races, fishing for eggs, thong toss, ring toss and tug-of-war.

This year there will also be a new junior obstacle course game for preschool age children. There will be plenty of prizes to be given away for those that take part in the games.

The day will have a free sausage sizzle, hot and cold drinks and will conclude with a 6,000 Easter egg hunt divided into three age groups.

The committee would like to thank Bunnings Forbes for getting on board this year for face painting.

There will be live music by Greg Prow. Also, there will be plenty of shade with the
two marquees.

The winners of the colouring in competition that was distributed to the local schools of Forbes, Bogan Gate and Eugowra will be announced on the day.