Every year, Forbes Shire Council celebrates the achievements, contributions and hard work of the shire’s youth with the Youth Week Awards. These awards recognise the vital role that young people play in making Forbes a vibrant and strong community and are presented as part of the week long Youth Week activities to be held from 14th to 22nd April.

Rosie Yapp explains what this recognition means to her:

1. Which award did you win? Youth Citizen of the Year (Forbes)

2. Why do you think you won the award? I won the award because someone kind and thoughtful nominated me.

3. Has winning the award changed your life? How? Winning the award made me aware that things I do are appreciated. I was incredibly surprised and wasn’t sure I deserved it, but I’m so happy I received it. Also, it looks very good on a resume!

4. Do you do anything differently now? Nothing much has changed, I go about things the same way, but it did boost my confidence.

5. Why do you think it is important Forbes has the Youth Week Awards? It celebrates and encourages awesome young people by letting them know they are appreciated.

Nominations for the 2018 Youth Week Awards closed on Wednesday.

“These awards are a great acknowledgement of the awesome things Forbes youth are achieving in and for our community. I really hope people of Forbes have nominated those youth who deserve this accolade, as I am certain there are many who do,” said Forbes Shire Council’s Youth Development Assistant, Lauren Cook.

The awards ceremony will be held on Saturday, 21st April at Halpin Flat, starting at 12 noon, with the general public invited to attend.

“It’s going to be a great day celebrating Forbes’ youth, with the Youth Week Awards, music and food.”

The team at Flannery’s Pharmacy is busy raising funds to build a school in Nepal.

“The Nepal earthquakes in 2015 were devastating,” said Debbie Prior, Manager of Flannery’s Pharmacy. “In addition to significant loss of life, they caused damage to over 35,000 classrooms across the country, leaving more than a million children lacking access to safe learning spaces.”

The magnitude 7.8 earthquake and subsequent tremors which struck Nepal two-and a- half years ago claimed the lives of 9,000 people, injured tens of thousands more and destroyed homes, schools and roads.

In the Lower Solukhumbu region alone, 200 schools were destroyed and more than 600 classrooms lost.

The Flannery’s team has been busy raising funds for this worthwhile cause. Recently, team members provided home baked morning tea to local businesses. “We raised roughly $400 thanks to the generosity of local businesses and their staff,” said Debbie.

Flannery’s Pharmacy has a donation tin in the pharmacy for anyone who might like to donate.

“Our next fund raising activity will be an Easter basket raffle, so please call in to Flannery’s to buy a ticket or make a donation,” said Debbie.

The 2018 Sydney Royal Easter Show will be held from Friday, 23rd March until Tuesday, 3rd April.

The traditional coming together of city and country began in Sydney in 1822 and the 2018 Show will be the 20th anniversary of “The Show” being held at the Sydney Showground, Sydney Olympic Park.

General Manager Agriculture and the Sydney Royal Easter Show, Murray Wilton says getting online early will save you money on Easter Show tickets.

“The Sydney Royal Easter Show is fast approaching and our team has been working tirelessly to deliver a sensational 2018 Show,” said Murray

“From woodchop and pet and livestock competitions to the very latest in fashion and technology. The Sydney Royal Easter Show always delivers and we are certain 2018 will continue that tradition of top shelf entertainment and learning.”

The 2018 Sydney Royal Easter Show has many new attractions including a Silent Disco After Dark event for 18+. This disco will light up the night, but not in the conventional way you may be thinking! Featuring Amastro, Colour Castle, Hydraulix, KAYEX, SAYYA and Audiopaxx DJ’s. Three different dj’s will perform each night of the event, spinning a wide range of genres from the hottest hits to old-school favourites.

For the younger ones there will be the likes of Paw Patrol, Despicable Me 3 and Shimmer and Shine in the Amphitheatre. And don’t forget the Outback Stockman Arena will be full of entertainment and things to do with sheep shearing, the Bonnie Yard Dogs and the Dairy Farmers Milking Barn, you’d be barking mad not to check it out!

Tickets pre-purchased online prior to the show start at: $37 adult, $22 child (4 to 15 years), $27 concession and $99.50 family (2 adults and 2 children). Tickets can be purchased online via www.eastershow.com.au

To stand a chance to win a family pass to the show, complete the entry form on the front page and return it to the Ian Simpson & Co office. Or enter online via our website www.forbesphoenix.com.au for your chance to win. Entries close 2pm on Thursday, 22nd March.

Direct from the USA and due to popular demand across Australia The Sun Records All-Stars will return to Australia in 2018.

Showcasing the music and the artists of the time, this show is a timely reminder of the birth of Rock ’n’ Roll and the incredible musicians that contributed to the history of music of the time.

The 1950s was the birth of Rock ’n’ Roll and many would say it started in Memphis, Tennessee. Sun Records and Sun Studios was launched by legendary American producer Sam Phillips, quite appropriately on January 3rd, 1950, and became the launching pad for numerous Rock ‘n’ Roll greats, most notably Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Roy Orbison.

The music recorded in that building went on to become the foundation of modern music – everyone from The Beatles to The Rolling Stones to Foo Fighters went on to credit these great musicians as providing inspiration and love of music that shaped their music careers.

The Sun Records All-Stars is an all singing, all playing tribute to the origins of Rock ‘n’ Roll where it all began in the 50s at the famous Sun Records.

This was the day that Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis, also known as the “Million Dollar Quartet” got together in a tiny studio and along with Sam Philips, changed music forever.

The show is presented in two parts, featuring all the hits that captures the imagination, the passion and the phenomenon of this incredible era of music with authenticity and dedication.

The Sun Records All-Stars are playing at the Bathurst Panthers on Saturday 25th March 2018.

The complex laws of contracts still apply to land conveyancing, but the method solicitors undertake conveyancing is changing as we go down the electronic pathway.

As the NSW Government has imposed electronic settlements through a company called PEXA, it will become compulsory in the near future for the more common conveyancing settlements to happen electronically. Note: Settlements are when the final monies are paid while at the same time transfers and deeds are handed over, mortgages are discharged and/or mortgages are created on land.

Forms still need to be completed, but they are done over the internet. Settlements still take place over the internet, but registration, paying stamp duty and other payments are done electronically and much quicker than the current paper system.

Some transactions are already compulsory, for example, stand alone mortgage discharges can no longer be done on paper but must be done through PEXA and thus electronically. For those who have paid off their mortgages and simply want to have their mortgages discharged, they should approach their financial institution and solicitor to arrange registration of that discharge to avoid the mortgage still being registered on their title.

All solicitors and financial institutions will need to be registered by 1st July, 2018 with PEXA so that settlements may take place. There will still be the need to have a paper contract and some paper settlements for less common transactions will still need to happen.

Here at MATTHEWS WILLIAMS we have been registered with PEXA from almost the inception of electronic conveyancing and we can help you. Do contact us.

Forbes Shire Council has finalised its negotiations with the Vanfest insurers. Final  figures were secured after a protracted and detailed claim lodged and negotiated by Forbes Shire Council.

Saturday only ticket holders will receive 100% of ticket price refunded, two day ticket holders will be refunded 75%, bus tickets (Saturday only) will be refunded 100% and 50% of camping sales will be refunded. Ticketbooth has advised once the funds have been received it may take up to 10 working days for refunds to be distributed as it is dependent on financial institutions.

The Forbes Heated Pool has been identified as having significant structural failures and has been ordered closed by the facility’s insurer.
In a joint statement, the Forbes Heated Pool Committee and Forbes Shire Council announced the facility has been deemed unsafe by a structural engineer and are awaiting further direction for the future or interim use of the pool.

The Forbes Heated Pool Incorporated has been a community run facility for 50 years. The committee had recently approached council for assistance as the facility’s condition was declining and it is located on Crown Land.

Concerns regarding the building lead to the engagement of an independent structural engineer, whose report identified “the building as it currently stands is not safe for use by the public”.

“This is a devastating blow. It is such a valuable community asset. The heated pool is a well supported and much valued fixture in our community,” Forbes Shire Council General Manager Steve Loane said.

Heated Pool Committee President, David Hodder said the safety of patrons is paramount. “If we did not follow the order to close down
the heated pool we would be in a complete breach of public liability, the WHS Act and individuals could potentially face criminal charges if something were to happen,” said David.

“Our committee is committed to do what we can to make the facility structurally sound. “All current members will receive their annual fees returned on a pro rata basis and we are working with council for members to have free access to the town pool for the remainder of the season.

“While the heated pool is a massive asset for our town and region for everything from  Learn to Swim to Occupational Therapy and rehabilitation it does have its limitations. We currently have more than 722 individual users but are limited due to its size.

Once the heated pool was closed, the committee started contacting users and stakeholders to advise them prior to the public announcement. The Heated Pool Committee and Council has already begun to identify and actively seek external funding to improve and upgrade the town’s pool precinct.

The eighth year of the multi-award winning ‘Free Cuppa for the Driver’ scheme was launched last week at The Two Fat Ladies Café and Lolly Shop in Lucknow. Councillor Jo McRae, Deputy Mayor of Orange City Council officially opened the eighth phase of the scheme. Guest speakers included Phillip Donato, MP Member for Orange and The Two Fat Ladies Café and Lolly Shop owner, Ms Alyson Yager.

The scheme commenced on Thursday, 1st March and will run through until Thursday, 31st May in a bid to reduce fatigue related crashes on NSW roads.The ‘Free Cuppa for the Driver’ scheme offers drivers who have travelled more than 100km from the address on their drivers licence a free cup of tea or coffee from any of the 94 participating businesses in Western and South Western NSW.

Parkes, Forbes and Lachlan Shire Councils’ Road Safety and Injury Prevention Officer, Melanie Suitor said that since its inception in 2010, over 6,000 free cuppas have been given away by 185 participating businesses throughout 161 cities, towns and villages in Western and South West NSW.

“Fatigue is one of the biggest killers on NSW roads, last year it contributed to 72 fatal crashes in NSW. “The ‘Free Cuppa for the Driver’ scheme targets all drivers; cars, caravans and also heavy vehicles – because all drivers face the risk of becoming fatigued whilst driving,”
Melanie said.

Drivers can use the ‘Free Cuppa’ website www.freecuppa.com.au to find participating businesses near them and also get useful information on the scheme on the ‘Free Cuppa’ Facebook page.

Eligible drivers can also enter the draw to win a prize and fuel vouchers to the value of $600.

“Don’t be shy! Just ask for your free cuppa,” Melanie said.

There has never been a better time to travel, with airfares at an all time low. We have fantastic offers to Hawaii from $748 return with Hawaiian Airlines, Asia from $613 return with Cathay Pacific, as well as last minute specials to Europe with Emirates for as low as $1,207 return to London. All prices include taxes and luggage and are subject to availability at time of booking.

We also have some great tour and accommodation offers to go with the airfares. Call Helloworld Travel on 02 6852 2344 or call in store for these great offers.

The annual Tottenham Picnic Races are on this Saturday, 10th March and is an experience not to be missed. With a prize money increase this year, these are the races to go to! The new major sponsor hosts the Tottenham Picnic Liberty Rural Race, being the major race of the day. Delta Ag is the sponsor of the free and legendary luncheon starting from 12 noon and is a must for anyone longing for some country hospitality.

The first race is at 2pm but the gates will open at 11.30am for the keen punters wanting to soak up the atmosphere. The bar and barbeque run from midday through to close, with Jade Martin and Peter Riley playing live evening entertainment.

This is a great day out for families, with $20 to enter for 17 and over (under 17’s are free). It includes a luncheon, all children’s entertainment (clown, jumping castle, merry-go-round) are all free and your night time entertainment.

The courtesy bus departs from the Tottenham Hotel in the main street and will be running at half hourly intervals from 11.30am to 2:00pm. Transport back to town starts again after the last race. There are great facilities at the grounds, with the local CWA ladies supplying afternoon tea and cool drinks. It is lovely and green with plenty of shaded area.

As part of the off-track attractions, the annual Fashions on the Field contest will be held for the ladies and gents. With very attractive
prizes up for grabs, it is sure to attract the most stylish of race goers. Come and have a great day at one of the friendliest race meetings in NSW.