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.

Congratulations to the 2020 College Leaders:
• College Captains: Olivia Beasley and Antez Varghese
• Boarding Captains: Breanna Carey and Bradley Matthews
• Boarding Liturgy Captain: Matilda Cruickshank
• Basil House Captains: Ruby Stitt and Cody Crisp
• Basil Liturgy Captain: Claire Barrott
• Chisholm House Captains: Rebecca Smith and Jacob Bell
• Chisholm Liturgy Captain: Hannah Mattiske
• Denis House Captains: Grace Osborne and Matt Dillon
• Denis Liturgy Captain: Emmie Searl
• Loyola House Captains: Madeline Hayes and Thomas Phillips
• Loyola Liturgy Captain: Olivia Twyford
• McAuley House Captain: Courtney Hodge and Noah Hamilton
• McAuley Liturgy Captain: Bethany Burton
• Xavier House Captains: Ashleigh Ward and Jade Page
• Xavier Liturgy Captain: Sophie Heraghty

The Junior Student Representative Council members in alphabetical order are: Ronald Barker, Madeleine Cannon, Marty Davies, Elizabeth Drewes, Vienna Farrell, Emily Gordon, Illerose Haydon, Riley Hough, Aria Johnson, Hunter Kriedemann, Patrick Kupkee, Sophie McGrath and Bella Neville.

The Senior Student Representative Council members in alphabetical order are: Ella Burke, Reed Cavallaro, Alex Drewes, James Finn, Stuart Gordon, Claire Houghton, Abbey Kennedy, Maddison Lewin-Howard, Jasper Mackay, Jorja Mann, Shaianne Metzeling, Bridget Mrak, Jack Nadin, Hamish Neville, Maisy Osborne, Georgia Sideris, Claire Simpson, Isabella Thomson, Georgia Tincknell, Naomi Turner, Sophie Wright and Sue Wu.

Certain people continually issue more than a usual number of statements of claim summons, writs or other court documents, usually against those in close proximity to them. These actions are sometimes started either in bad faith, or deliberately designed to settle an old score or to annoy or embarrass a neighbour.

Someone who habitually drags defendants to court with frivolous claims, which are more of a nuisance to the defendants than of benefit to themselves, is referred to as a “vexatious litigant.” Such a person is a nuisance to society.

The court will not listen to a person who makes trivial or scandalous claims. If someone is declared a “vexatious litigant”, he or she may not continue with the claim or start a new court action, without getting permission from the court beforehand. This may well be refused.

The medical profession has recently become aware of a particular character trait in people who display this uncontrollable urge to fight in court. The phrase is “querulous paranoia” and it is used to describe such types of people.

It is sometimes difficult for a person receiving a summons from, say, an unfriendly neighbour, to know whether the claim is frivolous or vexatious. A solicitor will be able to advise you of this.

If we at Matthews Williams can help you on any legal matter, feel free to call us.

Since 1929, Rotary International has been sending young people around the world to experience new cultures. Currently, there are about 9,000 students being sponsored throughout the world by Rotary International to spend a year in another country’s school and being housed by three or four host families in succession during their stay overseas.

Over the years since the 1970’s, the Forbes Rotary Club has been involved in sending out some eighteen exchange students from both the Forbes High School and the Red Bend Catholic College.

As a result, inward bound students have come from many countries including Japan, USA, Germany, Denmark, Finland, Brazil, South Africa, Canada, Belgium and New Zealand.

It has been unofficially conditional that for every successful outward bound student leaving Forbes for overseas, the Forbes Rotary Club are committed to arrange schooling and host families for an inbound student from another country.

Forbes High School student, Jessica Ashcroft is currently on an exchange student visit in Belgium, this is why Lea Selosse from Belgium is currently enjoying her stay with us in Forbes.

“I come from Belgium, the southern part of the country where we speak French, but I also speak our other national language which is Dutch. I come from a town called Mouscron, in the west of the country, right on the border with France,” said Lea.

“For Belgium, I live in an average size town with 60,000 inhabitants. So Forbes is very different for me as it is very small, but it is very friendly,” continued Lea.

“I arrived on 8th August, and I stay till early July 2020 with four different families. I am doing Year 11 at Forbes High School. The school environment is very different from school back in Belgium, less strict and a lot more communication. We also don’t have school uniforms in Belgium,” Lea said.

Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack is reminding schools to apply for a share in up to $200,000 in funding before applications close on 30th September 2019.

“There has already been a number of applications received from some of the more than 130 schools throughout the Riverina and Central West but, I wanted to again urge those schools which have not already applied to submit an application before the closing date,” Mr McCormack said.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for schools to receive funding ranging from $1,000 to $20,000 to put towards projects which they deem as important to making such a difference for students and their education.

Schools can use the funding for infrastructure projects such as classroom refurbishments, sports facilities or playground equipment.

The money can also be put towards other projects including mental health and counselling services, library resources and new computer facilities,” said Mr McCormack.

The funding is available through the Liberal and Nationals Government’s $30.2 million Local Schools Community Fund, with $200,000 available for each electorate.

Applications are to be submitted through the Department of Education’s SchoolsHUB portal at https://schools.education.gov.au by 5pm on 30 September

Why Not Make A Weekend Of It?

Friday, 20th September Meet Your Makers Q&A: Now held at SYLO Bar kicking off at 6pm, it’s a true Q&A where you get to ask the burning questions. Creative Director O Tama will be on the couch with a few of the growers, movers and shakers of the region. Tickets are $35 each and include dinner. Kicking off at off at 6pm with a 10pm finish, drinks will be available for purchase from the bar. The one hour Q&A session begins at 7.45pm followed by dinner which is included in the price. Send in your questions ahead of time to hello@grazingdownthelachlan.com.

Saturday, 21st September Grazing Down the Lachlan: (Sold out) Jump on your ticketed event bus and head out of town for an epic moveable feast of seven courses with matching drinks as you wander along the tranquil Lachlan River within a stock route that is synonymous with song lines and drovers.

Sunday, 22nd September Amazing Grazing Community Breakfast: Breakfast will be available for purchase in the pop up plaza in Templar Street from 8am to 11am.

Then head on down to the free workshops (weaving, storytelling and painting) at the Wiradjuri Dreaming Centre from 10am – 12noon. Everyone is welcome to the breakfast and workshops. No tickets required!

Rebecca, Shane and Kailey Moxey caught some Taylor Fish at Merimbula recently.

The Voice of a Survivor is a unique project that grew out of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Sexual Abuse.

After four years of harrowing investigation and testimony, the Commission delivered its final report in December of 2017, and in so doing discovered ‘Another Australia’ – one that many struggle to recognise or acknowledge, even today.

What the Commission found was that the sexual and physical abuse of children, prisoners, patients, churchgoers and many other vulnerable people, was endemic across Australian society. Crossing boundaries of colour, sex, age and type, the Commission found nothing less than abuse, and the covering up of abuse, on a breathtaking scale.

As a response to the Commission, The Voice of a Survivor began its work to find justice for the many survivors of abuse in institutions, in the form of letters of apology and financial reparations. Working with some of the finest law firms in Australia, the firm has found such justice for many who felt their voice would never be heard.

The Voice of a Survivor believes passionately in justice for all Australians who have been abused and dispossessed, including members of the Stolen Generation.

If you identify as a survivor of abuse or as a member of the Stolen Generation, then now is the time to act. Do not let your abuser go. Hand back the burden of shame and guilt that you have been carrying, so unfairly, for so long.

Claim back what is yours and move on to a brighter, better day. Contact The Voice of a Survivor today. Call 02 80910978 or email admin@thevoiceofasurvivor.com

Last Thursday night the Bedgerabong Picnic Race Club Inc hosted a thank you nibbles and drinks evening at the Forbes Services Memorial Club for the 2019 sponsors and committee. The Bedgerabong Picnic Race Club Inc feel that there is a need to give a little back to the sponsors to show how much they are appreciated.

The evening was attended by representatives from Western Tree Care, Wallace Bulk Haulage, Forbes Jockey Club, Forbes Small Engines, Earney’s Earthmoving and Forbes Shire Council and 15 of the ever reliable hardworking committee. Without sponsors and volunteers the race day just would not happen.

The Race Club were also able to announce the 2020 Western Tree Care Bedgerabong Cup! Western Tree Care have decided to once again support the race day and become the Major Sponsor for 2020. This is very exciting news, with the current climate conditions hitting businesses very hard in the region. Bedgerabong Picnic Race Club hope to see everyone at the race meeting again in 2020 as it is a great family day out!