A new round of grants under the NSW Government’s Heritage Near Me program will see $2.8 million directed towards projects to protect unique local heritage around the state. Heritage managers or owners in the Orange Electorate are encouraged to apply, Parliamentary Secretary for Western NSW Rick Colless announced last week.

Applications are now open for this year’s Heritage Activation grants, which are designed for owners or managers of local, publicly accessible heritage items, from buildings to parks and monuments to special natural and cultural places.

“These grants recognise the importance of bringing local heritage spaces and precincts in our community to life to conserve their heritage significance,” Rick said. “The Heritage Activation grants are for projects that actively encourage community interaction and participation with publicly accessible heritage items that are listed on a local council’s Local Environmental Plan (LEP).

“This program supports local communities in their efforts to conserve and celebrate their stories, places and values. I encourage all heritage managers or owners across the area to apply for this funding,” Rick said. Past grants have allowed heritage managers or owners, most often community groups and local councils, to undertake conservation work, improve accessibility to their heritage item, add interpretation to a site, or  reuse an old site for a new purpose.

Applicants can apply for support for their projects for amounts from $10,000 to $100,000. Applications close on 20th April for projects that begin after 1st July.

For more information on the Heritage Near Me program, visit www.environment.nsw.gov.au/heritage-near-me-incentives, call 02
9873 8544 or email heritage.nearme@environment.nsw.gov.au.

Anytime Fitness Forbes has been operating for just over four years. During this time they have managed to build a solid base of regular
members who are making great progress in their health and fitness journeys.

They have also been involved in many local charity events, helping raise funds for much needed causes and are always on the lookout
on how they can help within the community. The club is accessible to members 24 hours a day, making it a very convenient way to come in and do a workout session. Offering a secure environment and catering to all levels of fitness as well as age groups!

Located at Lachlan Valley Plaza, 131-135 Rankin Street. Visit the team to see what they can do for you. Don’t delay, pop into the office during the week or get in touch by calling 6851 5400. If you have an event coming up and feel that Anytime Fitness could help, please get in touch.

Making history come alive in Forbes is an exciting way of sharing and learning the rich heritage of our town. The people charged with
the responsibility of sharing this knowledge are often volunteers who started out from a personal interest or while researching family history.

“It is exactly those people, who know and celebrate our exciting past that Forbes Shire Council will be recognising and rewarding with the presentation of the Forbes Heritage Medal and Volunteer awards,” Mayor Graeme Miller said.

“We are looking for people who have made outstanding contributions as a volunteer to the heritage of Forbes and district. So many people are committed to celebrating our history, so it should be an exciting list of nominees,” he added.

Nominations are now open for two significant heritage awards:
• The Forbes Heritage Medal will be awarded to a person or organisation responsible for making an outstanding contribution to the shire’s environmental heritage or to the understanding of that heritage.
• The Forbes Heritage Volunteer Award recognises and rewards an individual in the Forbes Shire who has a consistent record of excellence and has made outstanding achievements as a volunteer in the heritage of Forbes and district.

Nomination forms and judging criteria are available at Forbes Shire Council’s Administration office or can be downloaded from Council’s website. Nominations will close at 5.00pm on Friday, 23rd March. The awards will be presented as part of the Heritage Week celebrations in May.

Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injuries in children and adolescents were previously thought to be uncommon but as imaging and clinical awareness has improved, the number of ACL injuries diagnosed in 5 to 14 year olds has also increased. Whilst improved methods of diagnosis may in part explain this increase, a recent Australian study published in The International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health indicates that the number of ACL injuries in the 5 to 14 year old population is also increasing.

This study looked at the number of paediatric (5-14 year olds) ACL injuries presenting to Victorian emergency departments between 2005 and 2015. They found a 147% increase in ACL injuries for this age group over the 10-year period with 96% of total ACL injuries occurring in 10-14 year olds.

The authors of the study suggest this worrying trend may be due to greater demands being placed on young athletes through increased training, younger sports specialisation and an emphasis on year-round competitive play. Whilst ACL injury causes significant initial discomfort and disability long-term, it can lead to decreased levels of activity and contribute to obesity and increased risk of osteoarthritis.

Injury prevention programmes such as FIFA 11+, AFL Footy First and Netball KNEE don’t eliminate ACL injury risk completely, however they can reduce the risk by at least 50% when performed regularly. Another advantage of these programmes is that they also improve speed agility and power. Fewer injuries and increased performance … maybe it’s time to get the kids onto these exercises too.

For the fitness of you,

Linda Reilly

Forbes will once again celebrate the achievements of local youth as part of the Youth Week activities to be held from Friday, 13th April to Sunday, 22nd April.

It is organised by young people, for young people and is an opportunity to share ideas and have their voices heard. Youth Week began in 1989 and has since become a national event to celebrate young people across Australia.

“Here in Forbes we are looking forward to recognising the contributions of Forbes’ with the annual Youth Week Awards, a highlight of our Youth Week celebrations,” Mayor Graeme Miller said.

“This year our awards ceremony will be on Saturday, 21st April which will be the final major event for the week long celebrations,” he added.

Nominations are now open and are being sought for the following awards for youth aged between 12 to 25 years:

Youth Citizenship Award: This award will be presented to a young person who has had an active and positive role in the community. Contributions can include ongoing volunteer work, taking a lead role in organising events including charity work, partaking in sporting and or cultural groups etc.

Sports Volunteer Award: This award is for any young person who volunteers or contributes to Forbes’ sport and recreation. The young person may assist with refereeing, coaching, setting and packing up, mentoring, canteen duties and any other way that provides assistance to the sport and/or club.

Brighter Future Award: This award is for apprentices, trainees or students. They may be participating in tertiary education or work placement. They must have demonstrated strong commitment, consistent effort, a high level of passion and determination for their chosen field/career path.

Nomination forms are available at Forbes Shire Council administration centre or can be downloaded from Council’s website.

Red Bend Catholic College is a co-educational day and boarding school in Forbes. Red Bend has a proud heritage. Prior to 1977, the Catholic education of students in this region was provided by three secondary schools: Our Lady of Mercy College, Forbes; Our Lady of Mercy High School, Parkes; and Marist Brothers’ College, Forbes.

In February 1977, the three schools combined to form one co-educational high school, called Red Bend Catholic College, at the site of the former Marist Brothers’ College on the banks of the Lachlan River. This merger, as symbolised on the College crest, brought together the great teaching traditions of the Mercy Sisters and the Marist Brothers.

Since that time, the College has expanded in numbers, in teaching areas, and in facilities. The boarding residences, the swimming pool, the multi-purpose hall and performing arts centre, and the design and technology centre have complemented the strong characteristic features of the main College building.

These days the College educates 740 students and offers 150 boarding places.

Red Bend Catholic College will hold their annual Open Day on Sunday, 11th March from 11am to 2pm. Guided tours will be running on the day and prospective families will have the chance to meet the principal and staff. For more information call the College on 6852 2000.

Member of Parliament for the Riverina, Michael McCormack replaced Barnaby Joyce as Deputy Prime Minister of Australia on Monday.

Michael, who first went to Parliament in 2010, became leader of the National Party following Barnaby’s resignation, and also took up the position of Deputy Prime Minister.

Michael is from Wagga Wagga in the Riverina region, where he still lives with his wife and three children. McCormack began working life as a cadet journalist with the Daily Advertiser in Wagga, and shot through the editorial ranks to become editor at just 27. As the MP for Riverina, Michael regularly attends events in the Central West.

Join other festival goers this Easter weekend and head to Tullamore for fun, enjoyment, music, dancing and good Irish fare.

Tullamore residents weren’t content to see their community lose population, services and to a certain extent, heart. They decided that by working together to produce a festival, not only would they have a focus but they would attract people to their small town in the Central West. Thus was born the Tullamore Irish Festival.

The annual Tullamore Irish Music Festival celebrates the entire range of all things Irish – that is, the Irish, the near-Irish, the stereotypically Irish and the not-really Irish.

This year, the Tullamore Irish Music Festival is celebrating the best of two great cultures. John Williamson will be flying the Australian flag with a two hour concert on Saturday afternoon and flying the Irish flag is the Barley Shakes and Blackwater Irish Band. Maria Forde will also be doing a show in the Tullamore Catholic Church on Good Friday. She has the voice of an angel and you will be disappointed if you miss out.

As well as great music, the festival also will be offering Irish food, Irish dancing and a shearing demonstration. The main day of the festival is Saturday, where from 10am to 8pm there is constant entertainment provided, firstly through the street parade and then to the Festival Village where the entertainers start their full program. On the other days there are activities such as Tullamore Irish Festival Art Exhibition, Stations of the Cross, farm tours, Good Friday concert, local self guided car tours, Ecumenical service and a Hooley on Easter Sunday.

Tickets are $60 for the entire weekend and kids under 18 are free. Stay the weekend and camp under the amazing stars and get into the Irish spirit.

The local WIRES branch has been busy with a seasonal influx of microbats and flying foxes.

Recently, a local resident called for help with 22 little forest bats which were roosting in a pool umbrella when it blew into the pool.

An orphaned grey-headed flying fox baby, nine days old, was found by another local resident with injuries from a raptor (bird of prey) attack.

All are recovering in the care of WIRES members and will eventually be released.

WIRES assists all orphaned, injured or displaced native fauna and they are currently in need of more local members.

Anyone interested in joining the Weddin Lachlan WIRES team can attend the next WIRES RICC (Rescue and Immediate Care Course) to be held in Cowra on Saturday, 17th March. For more information please email training@wires.org.au to register. The course includes an online theory component which is completed prior to attending the course.

If you find a sick, injured or orphaned bat or flying fox, please do not attempt to handle or catch it yourself as there is a potential health risk. Please call WIRES on 1300 094 737 immediately with the location details and they will facilitate a rescue by a trained and vaccinated member.

If you find an injured animal or bird, please call WIRES or ‘Report a Rescue’ following the links on the website www.wires.org.au.