General Interest Archives - Page 30 of 311

Crime Crisis In Country Communities

February 6, 2025 by Roxane Manley

The youth crime crisis is escalating across parts of regional NSW, with the Minns Labor Government’s limited bail reforms proving unsuccessful at keeping communities safe.

Shadow Minister for Police Paul Toole said a lack of leadership and action has led to a law and order breakdown.

“Youth violence and street crime continues to wreak havoc and it’s hard to ignore the growing chaos in NSW. The police are stretched thin and it seems the Minns Government isn’t prioritising public safety,” Mr Toole said.

“Recent incidents highlight just how out of control things are. Public spaces and homes aren’t as safe as they used to be, leaving people questioning if enough is being done to address young reoffenders racking up rap sheets similar to hardened criminals.

“Our regional communities have had a gutful. Residents tell me they are scared and crime has never been as bad as it is right now under a weak Labor Government. How many more innocent lives will be turned upside down?“Community safety should be the number one priority – not the criminals.

The Opposition will continue to fight for stronger laws and interventions to protect communities.

Calling Emerging Aboriginal Artists

February 6, 2025 by Roxane Manley

The 2025 CatholicCare Wilcannia-Forbes Aboriginal Art Competition is open for entries. Pictured are the winning artworks in 2023 with judges Bishop Columba Macbeth-Green of the Catholic Diocese of Wilcannia-Forbes (right), CatholicCare Wilcannia-Forbes CEO Anne-Marie Mioche (centre) and Red Bend Catholic College visual arts teacher Tracie Axton (left).

Aboriginal community members of western NSW are invited to put paint to canvas for the 2025 CatholicCare Wilcannia-Forbes Aboriginal Art Competition. A total prize pool of $4,000 is on offer for the best original works.

CatholicCare Wilcannia-Forbes has launched the competition to discover and recognise emerging Aboriginal artists in western NSW. Entries close on Monday March 31, 2025.

CatholicCare Wilcannia-Forbes provides a broad range of programs and services caring for the wellbeing of individuals, families and communities, especially the vulnerable and at risk, supporting our local community.

CatholicCare Wilcannia-Forbes Chief Executive Officer Anne-Marie Mioche said the organisation was pleased to hold the competition for the fourth time.

She is encouraging emerging Aboriginal artists living in the Diocese of WilcanniaForbes, or in communities where its services are available, to enter.

“Each time we’ve held this competition, we’ve received some truly awesome and inspiring entries,” Ms Mioche said.

“We started this competition in 2019 because we knew there was unrecognised talent in our vast region, and we wanted to showcase these artists.

“In 2023 the competition attracted 14 entries from across our region, and two impressive artworks tied for first place.”

The competition offers the prize pool to encourage emerging Aboriginal artists to create and share meaningful artworks that show the rich Aboriginal culture and artistry in western NSW.

The winner of first prize will receive $2,000, while second prize is $1,500 and third prize is $500.

Previous winning artworks have subsequently featured in CatholicCare Wilcannia-Forbes branding and publications.

Ms Mioche said the competition was warmly embraced by her team.

“I always feel excitement at the arrival of new entries, I know our team members do as well,” she said.

“We love viewing the artworks and learning the story behind them.”

The full information pack is available here https://tinyurl.com/mrck53an

Wiradjuri Culture Recognised In Parkes Bypass Artworks

January 30, 2025 by Roxane Manley

In September 2024, Transport for NSW, in consultation with the local Aboriginal community, invited all local Aboriginal artists to submit artworks to be chosen to feature on two elements of the $287.2 million Parkes Bypass project – on safety screens on the Victoria Street Bridge and on signage at either end of the bypass.

Following a review of the submissions, Wiradjuri women and cousins from Parkes Kyah and Katlyn Turnbull’s design was selected to appear on the bridge’s safety screens and Wiradjuri local from Peak Hill, Scott ‘Sauce’ Towney’s artwork will feature on the signposts.

Kyah Turnbull said their design reflected Wiradjuri culture and the local environment by using symbols and patterns alongside a range of animals local to the Parkes area.

“We have used meeting place symbols and travelling lines to connect Parkes to its surroundings towns, essentially creating a map of the Parkes Shire. These include Peak Hill, Trewilga, Alectown, Cookamidgera, Bogan Gate, Trundle and Tullamore,” Kyah said.

Reflecting on his winning submission, Mr Towney said “Wiradjuri pattern symbols serve as a visual representation of the land while the people figures are a nod to our elders who have paved the way for us.”

“Parkes is depicted as the main meeting place, symbolising its importance as a cultural hub for the Wiradjuri people and its outreach to surrounding towns.”

No ‘Transition Advocate’ For Live Sheep Farmers More Than Six Months On

January 30, 2025 by Roxane Manley

Leader of The Nationals David Littleproud front and centre at The Farmers Rally.

Labor has failed to find a live sheep ‘transition advocate’ more than six months since it passed the Export Control Amendment (Ending Live Sheep Exports by Sea) Bill 2024.

Leader of The Nationals David Littleproud said despite the position having a $1.7 million commitment from Labor, not one single person in the entire country wanted it.

“It is Australia’s least wanted, highest paying job, paying an enormous $1600 a day for up to 80 days. It is clear no one wants to be the transition advocate, because no farmer wants the phase out of live sheep exports to proceed.”

Quorn Park Hybrid: Project Update

January 30, 2025 by Roxane Manley

Our team enjoyed the Parkes Elvis Festival atmosphere and fully embraced it by dressing up, and stepping back in time to celebrate his iconic influence.

The Quorn Park Hybrid Farm, on Back Trundle Road, Parkes NSW, is progressing the construction phase of the project.

Initial construction activities started with material import for temporary tracks and working pads, soon to transition for permanent internal access roads. Vehicle movements towards the solar farm have remained monitored and under control, whilst the final road upgrade in Henry Parkes Way and McGrath Lane are completed. Once the upgrade is underway, additional construction activities will begin, including piling (support structures for the photovoltaic panels), perimeter security fencing and foundations.

Light and heavy vehicles are transiting on Henry Parkes Way, Mc Grath Lane, Back Trundle Road as goods and personnel are transported to site, generally between 7.00am – 5.30pm Monday – Friday.

Quorn Park project team recently took part in the Parkes Elvis Festival in January 2025.

Potentia Energy had a stall at Cooke Park from 8-11 January 2025, where our team was able to share information about Quorn Park Hybrid and solar and renewable energy more generally, answering questions about our project, who we are and what we do, while giving away resources on renewable energy, and Potentia Energy branded merchandise.

Potentia Energy and Beon Energy Solutions (EPC contractor for the project) aim to maximise opportunities for local contractors and suppliers to participate in the project through the provision of goods and services to the project site and workforce.

Beon Energy Solutions will seek to employ a local workforce to support the construction of the project. Opportunities will include labourers, truck drivers, cleaners and plant operators. The specifics of these roles will be made publicly available in early 2025For further queries or feedback about Quorn Park Hybrid we encourage you to reach out via email quornparkhybrid@potentiaenergy.com.au

Coalition To Cut Red Tape To Support Small Businesses

January 30, 2025 by Roxane Manley

Michael with Gaylene Crabtree at the Olde School T-house in Bethungra.

Small businesses across the Central West, Riverina, Snowy Mountains, South West Slopes and Southern Tablelands are set to benefit from a new Coalition policy that will cut red tape.

A future Liberal-Nationals Government will introduce a capped tax deduction of $20,000 for business-related meal and entertainment expenses – excluding alcohol – for small businesses with a turnover of up to $10 million.

Federal Member for Riverina Michael McCormack said the policy would help boost small businesses and stimulate the hospitality industry. “As a former Minister for Small Business and as a former business owner, I can certainly attest to the tangible benefits cutting red tape can have on helping a business survive and thrive,” Mr McCormack said.

“This announcement will also give the hospitality industry a much-needed boost – with many cafés, pubs, restaurants, clubs and entertainment facilities themselves small or family-owned enterprises.”

The measure, which will run for an initial two years, will be exempt from Fringe Benefits Tax. “This is about supporting small businesses that have felt the brunt of a cost-of-living crisis completely mismanaged by the Labor Government over the past three years,” Mr McCormack said.

“Small businesses are the engine room of the economy, particularly in regional and rural communities.

“The Liberals and Nationals understand this important symbiotic relationship between small and family-owned businesses and the local communities they serve and live in, which is why a future Coalition Government will always have their backs.”

Under this Labor Government, more than 26,000 small businesses have fallen into insolvency, with more than 4,000 of those in the hospitality sector.

This measure builds on the Coalition’s commitment to rebuild small business by making the Instant Asset Write-Off permanent.

Farmers Welcome Plans To Attract More Vets To Regional Nsw

January 23, 2025 by Roxane Manley

The state’s peak farm body has welcomed a new government initiative to address acute shortages of vets across rural NSW.

Under the NSW Government’s Welcome Experience program, vets, vet nurses, vet technicians and their families are now eligible to receive assistance with sourcing housing, childcare and other services when moving to rural NSW.

NSW Farmers’ Member Dr Robyn Alders AO said news of the initiative had been warmly welcomed by farming communities across the state, as they continued to grapple with critical workforce shortages.

“Farmers know that healthy animals are productive animals and they need to have access to vets if they are to successfully protect animal health on-farm.”

“If we want to build a sustainable veterinary workforce here in rural NSW, then we need a range of solutions that address the complex challenges that have caused this shortage in the first place,” Dr Alders said.

“Globally, governments are supporting a range of initiatives to ensure the availability of appropriate, affordable veterinary services to livestock producers, and it’s critical our government does the same.”

Ange Clarke Announced Forbes Australia Day Ambassador

January 23, 2025 by Roxane Manley

Ange Clarke, left, with her son Will, second from the right, former Australian cricket captain Steve Waugh, right, and artist Ben Quilty, second from left.

Forbes Shire Council is excited to announce advocate for inclusion and Where There’s a Will Founder and CEO, Ms Ange Clarke, as its 2025 Australia Day Ambassador.

Ms Clarke will take part in Forbes Shire Council’s official Australia Day proceedings at the Citizen of the Year Gala Dinner on Saturday 25 January, and the Community Breakfast at Lions Park on Sunday 26 January.

Ms Clarke’s son, Will, lives with autism, and during his childhood he often struggled to be included in activities most children would fit into easily.

Determined to break the stigma around people with disabilities and be a champion for inclusion, Ms Clarke created Where There’s a Will in his name – a business that re-purposes donated cricket bats into works of art and symbols for inclusion and kindness. It has been so successful some bats now appear at celebrity’s homes in Hollywood and Australia House in London.

Ms Clarke is no stranger to Forbes, having grown up in nearby Orange. She said “I’m very keen to share my story and passions with the Forbes community and I can’t wait to get involved in the events over the weekend to celebrate Australia Day.”

“It’s an honour to be an Australia Day Ambassador. You get the privilege of meeting inspiring people who have achieved great things in their community and inspired others around them to be better.”

The Australia Day Community Breakfast will run from 8am – 10am at Lions Park.

It’s Back To School Time: Remember Road Safety

January 23, 2025 by Roxane Manley

Most school zones are operational between 8am – 9.30am and 2.30pm – 4pm on school days, when the lights are flashing.

The new school year is set to resume for thousands of local students in the coming weeks and the Parkes, Forbes and Lachlan Shire Councils are reminding local drivers and parents about children’s safety around school zones.

The Councils’ Road Safety and Injury Prevention Officer, Melanie Suitor, said that road crashes account for over half of all accidental deaths among children aged 5 – 14 years old.

“Please obey the parking signs around schools. They are there to keep children safe. There are 40km/h school speed zones around all schools in NSW. The school zone in Bushman Street, Parkes, is operational all day from 8am – 4pm. Police will be targeting school zones to ensure drivers obey the 40km/h speed limit when school returns,” she said.

Child restraint laws require children up to seven years old to be restrained in an approved child restraint. For more information visit www.childcarseats.com.au

Some road safety rules to follow

• Where possible, drop-off and pick-up your children on the school side of the road.

• Make sure children use the footpathside door when getting in and out of a car – this is called the safety door

• Use a pedestrian crossing where possible and avoid being distracted by friends, mobile phones or listening to music through headphones whilst walking.

• Children aged up to 10 years old should always be supervised when near traffic.

• Children aged up to eight years old should always hold an adult’s hand when crossing the road or walking near traffic.

• Make sure your children always wear a helmet when riding a bike, scooter or Skateboard.

• If your children catch a bus, always walk with them to the bus stop.

“Road safety around schools is everybody’s responsibility – students, teachers,parents, carers and drivers. We all have a part to play” Ms Suitor said.

Spooner Oval Works Reach Milestone

January 23, 2025 by Roxane Manley

The new grandstand project at Spooner Oval is starting to take shape after the project reached a significant milestone this week with the concrete pour for the foundation.

Part of stage 1 of the Spooner Oval Masterplan, the project is set to deliver a stateof-the-art grandstand that will feature 210 seats, two levels with lift access to the upper level, dressing rooms, a club room, bar and a canteen.

The project began after extensive community consultation, with the first sod turned in December 2023.

Works completed so far include:

• New water and sewer connections to the grandstand;

• Connections from the grandstand to the NBN, electricity and gas network;

• Earth and concrete works for the water tanks that will be constructed;

• Formwork and reinforcement of grandstand foundations.

Forbes Shire Council Mayor, Phyllis Miller OAM, said the new grandstand would be a game-changer for sport in Forbes. “This will give us a modern facility that will be able to attract and host larger, regional events andboost the local economy,” she said.

“The existing facilities are outdated and not at a true usable standard, so this upgrade will ensure Spooner Oval can be used by sporting groups for many years to come.”

Works commencing in 2025 include:

• Structural steel erection;

• Lift shaft installation;

• Roof and walls to be installed;

• Perimeter concrete and concrete stairs installed;

• Internal linings and fit out.

The project is being funded through the Australian Government Local Roads and Community Infrastructure program and the NSW Government Stronger Country Communities Fund and Regional Sport Facility Fund.

It is expected that the project will be completed in, or around September 2025.

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