The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) has launched the third phase of the Don’t #uck With A Truck campaign, team­ing up with young drivers to spread a critical message; to drive safely around trucks.

NHVR Acting Chief Operations Officer Mi­chelle Tayler said by co-designing the new phase of the campaign with young drivers, the regulator has been able to create a se­ries of road safety videos that use a combi­nation of humour and serious messaging to engage young viewers.

“The new Don’t #uck With A Truck videos depict young drivers as ghosts after they have been in an accident with a truck due to their unsafe driving” Ms Tayler said.

“Even a minor distraction can have devas­tating consequences.

“Our goal is to prevent situations where an inexperienced driver could be in a lane next to a turning truck, they pull in front of a truck too soon or they linger in a truck’s blind spot.”

The campaign will be broadcast across social media including TikTok, Instagram and YouTube, meeting young drivers where they are consuming content.

For more information and to watch the lat­est videos, visit: www.dontmuckwithatruck.com.au

Forbes Shire Council is calling on residents to nominate their local heroes for its 2025 Australia Day Awards, with nominations now open.

Do you know a local hero who contributes to the Forbes community and helps make a positive impact? If so nominate them. The award categories are Citizen of the Year, Young Citizen of the Year and Senior Citi­zen of the Year. Any resident is eligible for Citizen of the Year, while Young Citizen of the Year is open to residents aged 25 or younger. Anyone aged 65 years or older is eligible for Senior Citizen of the Year.

Forbes Shire Council Mayor, Phyllis Miller OAM, said this was the perfect opportunity for residents who have displayed excel­lence, made a significant contribution to the community or had an outstanding achieve­ment to get the recognition they deserve.

“There are so many remarkable residents of our Shire who have helped it thrive, done a good deed or made it a better place to live in some way,” she said.

“Make sure you nominate anyone you think deserves an award under any of the categories so they can be celebrated.”

Australian citizens who are residents of Forbes Shire are eligible to be nominated.

Nominations are now open and will stay open until 5pm Friday 17th January 2025.

To nominate go to www.forbes.nsw.gov.au/community/our-community/australia-day and download the nomination form.

Copies of the nomination forms are also available from Forbes Shire Council’s of­fice at 2 Court Street, Forbes.

Forms can be returned to Council by email at community@forbes.nsw.gov.au or by mail to PO Box 333, Forbes NSW 2871.

Award winners in each category will be de­termined by a judging panel that is made up of members of the Forbes Shire com­munity.

Forbes residents will be able to find records of family members dating back generations thanks to a donation from Forbes Shire Council to the Forbes and District Histori­cal Society (FDHS).

Council donated 29 books of records dat­ing back to 1917 on Thursday 3rd October, including revenue and cash books, rates billing records, correspondence registers, letter registers and newspaper clippings.

The records are from the former Jema­long Shire and Forbes Municipal Councils, which merged to form Forbes Shire Coun­cil in 1981, and will be held in the Forbes Museum, which is managed by FDHS.

Forbes Shire Council Mayor, Phyllis Miller, said the records gave an amazing insight into the history of Forbes.

“They show what residents paid for rates over 100 years ago, letters written between the Councils and residents and how they communicated before telecommunications took over,” she said. “For residents whose families have lived in Forbes for many gen­erations, they will also be able to view re­cords of their ancestors.”

“Forbes Museum is a wonderful asset to our community and the FDHS does an amazing job displaying our shire’s history for the public to enjoy.”

FDHC President, Bruce Adams, said it was a coup for the museum to be able to preserve these important records. “They’re a very important addition to the museum and we’re very appreciative of Forbes Shire Council for its donation,” he said.

“We’re providing a secure location to store them, and while they won’t be per­manently displayed, anyone can view them privately by contacting us to make an ap­pointment.”

Forbes Museum is located at 11 Cross Street, Forbes. Open daily between 2pm and 4pm. To contact just phone 6851 6600 or email forbesmuseum@gmail.com

With the local government elections now complete, the focus shifts to the upcoming federal election. I have decided to step down from NSW Parliament to give my full attention to representing the peo­ple of Calare as Nationals candidate.

I will deliver my valedictory speech in the November sitting before formally resigning from the Parliament. It has been an in­credible honour to serve in the NSW Parliament, where I’ve held various roles, including Deputy Government Whip, Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Minister and Shadow Minister.

Now, I believe the best way to deliver for our community is to represent them as their Federal MP.

One of my proudest achievements has been getting the Bet­terment Fund up and running—a program that provides essential funding to rebuild regional transport and road infrastructure after natural disasters.

These are initiatives that matter. They are about more than poli­tics; they are about real people and real change for the communi­ties I’ve always been passionate about representing.

To my colleagues and friends, both in and out of Parliament, your friendship, encouragement and belief in me has helped me through some of the toughest moments and have made the wins even sweeter. I leave knowing that the work we’ve done will con­tinue to make a difference in the lives of people across the state.

Thank you to everyone who has believed in me, and to the peo­ple of the Central West—you will always have my deepest respect and appreciation.

And lastly, to my family—my mum, sister and brothers—you’ll never know how much your love and support has meant to me.