General Interest Archives - Page 64 of 311

Cast Your Vote This Saturday For The Voice Referendum

October 12, 2023 by Roxane Manley

If you are over 18 you must vote this Saturday. Find your nearest polling place at https://www.aec.gov.au/referendums/voting

This Saturday, 14 October 2023, Australians will have their say in a referendum about whether to change the Constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing a body called the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice. Voters will be asked to vote ‘yes’ or ‘no’ on a single question. The question will be:

“A Proposed Law: to alter the Constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice. Do you approve this proposed alteration?”

The Voice will be an independent, representative body for First Nations peoples. It would advise the Australian Parliament and the Government and give First Nations peoples a say on matters that affect them.

If approved at the referendum, the following words would be added to the Constitution: Chapter IX Recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples 129 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice In recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Peoples of Australia: there shall be a body, to be called the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice; the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice may make representations to the Parliament and the Executive Government of the Commonwealth on matters relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples; the Parliament shall, subject to this Constitution, have power to make laws with respect to matters relating to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice, including its composition, functions, powers and procedures.

Forbes Shire Council Is Going On A Bear Hunt

October 12, 2023 by Roxane Manley

The annual Teddy Bear Picnic is back bigger and better than ever after several years of absence due to COVID and flooding.

Teddy bears will be in the spotlight at Forbes’ stunning Lions Park between 10am and 2pm, this Saturday 21st October.

Mayor Phyllis Miller OAM welcomed funding assistance from the State Government, saying support for events like Children’s Week is so important.

“Children are indeed our future and like this year’s Children’s Week theme outlines, all children have the right to relax, play and join in a wide range of leisure activities.”

Council has organised an enormous list of activities including ‘funtastic’ items like a jumping castle, face painting, temporary tattoos, food vendors and craft.

But wait – there is so, so much more! Who could pass up circus performances, the chance for a beloved teddy bear to have a ‘health check’, balloon twisting, obstacle courses, making delicious fruity faces and get a ‘beary’ cute pic taken in the photo booth.

Forbes NSW Fire and Rescue will have their big red truck there for the young ones to experience in person, Netwaste will be spreading their recycling message and parents will have the opportunity to have their child car seats, boosters and harnesses checked for safety.

Word on the street is that there are some extra special surprise guests lined up as well.

Mayor Miller urges all youngsters to grab their teddy – and their parents or carers – and head to Lions Park to celebrate.

“Lions Park is the perfect setting for a teddy bear picnic, and with spring well and truly here let’s celebrate Children’s Week outdoors in the sunshine with all those we love and cherish,” she said.

For more information head to the Forbes Youth Action Team’s Facebook page or Forbes Shire Council website.

Spring On Full Display This Weekend For Forbes Open Gardens

October 12, 2023 by Roxane Manley

The Forbes Garden Club will be hosting open gardens this weekend 14th and 15th October, with eight magnificent gardens on display.

The wristbands and maps needed for entry to all gardens will be available at Forbes Riverside Community Gardens 59/71 Reymond Street from 9.30am each day. The cost is $20 to visit all gardens or should you wish to just visit an individual garden, the cost will be $5. All gardens are open from 10am to 4pm on both days.

Riverside Community Gardens will be serving a delicious morning tea for a gold coin donation. The Forbes Men’s shed will be catering for lunch at garden number 5 from 11am onwards and will also have fresh cake and slices for sale made by Garden club members.

Beautiful weather is expected, so take advantage of the opportunity to get out and about and support the charities of the garden owners choice.

$300,000 In Grants Available To Kickstart Community Infrastructure Projects

October 6, 2023 by Roxane Manley

Applications opened this week for the 2023 Community Building Partnership (CBP) program, with grants available to help make our region a better place to live, work, learn and play. The program invests in infrastructure projects that deliver positive social, environmental and recreational outcomes while promoting community participation, inclusion and cohesion.

Since 2009, the program has awarded more than $436 million to more than 19,700 projects across the state, from access ramps for community halls to resurfacing the local sporting grounds.

Incorporated not-for-profit community organisations and local councils are eligible to apply for grants of between $5,000 and $150,000. In 2023, grants must be for building, refurbishing or repairing community infrastructure, or for buying freestanding equipment or vehicles.

Grant applications close Friday, 27th October 2023 at 5pm. To apply, visit the Community Building Partnership website: nsw.gov.au/cbp

“I strongly encourage local organisations to apply for this much loved program,” Philip Donato MP said.

Celebrating Regional Women

October 5, 2023 by Roxane Manley

Nominations are now open for this year’s NSW Regional Woman of the Year Award.The awards provide an opportunity to recognise exceptional women doing inspiring things in their communities.

The award is all about showcasing women who contribute to the fabric of their local area by making contributions that have a significant and positive impact on the lives of others.

There’s no denying that women who live and work in rural and regional areas face conditions that sometimes require that extra level of resilience and determination, so it’s fitting that there’s an award that specifically honours women in the regions.

If you know of an inspirational woman that is making an outstanding contribution, whether it be in education, health, agriculture, the arts, fundraising, volunteer work, or just generally within the community, please take the time to nominate them.

Nominations close Tuesday 24th October 2023, and can be made at: www.nsw.gov.au

Rotary Ipomoea Christmas Tree Festival

October 5, 2023 by Roxane Manley

A previous Christmas Tree Festival. This years festival will run from Friday 1st to Sunday 3rd December.

The members of Rotary Ipomoea invite you to make and decorate a Christmas tree, a nativity, wreath or wall hanging, as long as the entry has a Christmas theme they will exhibit it at the 11th community Christmas Tree Festival.

Exhibits will need to be delivered to the Forbes Town Hall between 7am and 10am on Friday 1st December if possible. However, no exhibits will ever be late, they will glady be accepted right up until the opening time.

The exhibition of trees will be open to the public on Friday 1st December from 1pm-5pm and all day Saturday 2nd December, 9am-5pm and from 9am-2pm Sunday 3rd December.

Your entry can reflect your organisation, the festive season or have a Christmas message. There are no restrictions placed upon entires at all.

There are no size restrictions for trees, big or small Rotary love them all. Trees can be commercially bought, a tree in a pot, a branch in a bucket full of wet sand or a painted tree branch. Trees can be from recycled materials, welded, nailed, or glued.

Lights can be added but are not necessary. Entrants are aksed to place a Christmas greeting on or under their tree.

Please indicate your intention to take part in this the 11th Christmas Tree Festival by phoning Rotary Ipomoea members on 0439 708 456, 0427 201 445 or 0413 274 735.

There will be a $5 fee to enter your exhibit. This fee can be brought along with your entry on Friday 1st December. This fee will be used by Rotary Ipomoea to support local Rotary Ipomoea projects. Entry to the Christmas Tree Festival will be $5 per adult and free for primary school children.

McCormack Slams Labor’s Superannuation Betrayal

October 5, 2023 by Roxane Manley

Federal Member for Riverina Michael McCormack MP.

Federal Member for Parkes Michael McCormack slammed the Albanese Labor Government’s proposed superannuation tax changes as a betrayal of its pre-election promise not to touch super.

Mr McCormack said the proposed changes to increase tax on unrealised gains to 30 per cent were not only a betrayal but also fundamentally flawed policy that would disadvantage farmers and young people into the future.

“Labor’s proposed changes are an absolute betrayal of the Australian public who expect consistency and honesty from the Government when it comes to superannuation,” Mr McCormack said.

“How can people have the confidence necessary to make investments into their retirement when Labor backflips on its promises and change the rules?”

Mr McCormack said he was particularly concerned about how the proposed changes would affect farmers and young workers. “While Labor might think the $3 million threshold only hurts the big guys, they have forgotten that many farmers own their farms through self-managed super funds – and $3 million doesn’t buy a lot of farm.

“These are businesses that face a lot of uncertainty and volatility in terms of weather, natural disasters, land and global commodity prices. To tax unrealised gains at 30 per cent when a farmer never knows what’s in store for them next season is just bound to hurt farmers’ ability to plan for the next season.

“Young workers aren’t going to escape Labor’s cash grab either. The proposed $3 million threshold isn’t indexed to inflation. Who knows what inflation will be over the next 30 or 40 years?

If this wasn’t simply a cash grab by Labor, the Government would do the honest thing and index the threshold to inflation,” Mr McCormack said.

Modeling by the Grattan Institute predicts around one in 10 workers retiring within 30 years will have super balances of around $3 million.

Parkes Turns Pink To Support The McGrath Foundation

October 5, 2023 by Roxane Manley

Members of the Pink Up Parkes Committee L-R Kerryn Jones, Carolyn Ricr, Marg Applebee, Margot Jolly, Vee Vian Higgins, Ken Kieth and Hannah Farrant-Jayet.

The Pink Up Parkes (PUP) Committee welcomes support from community members to join their fundraising efforts during the month of October to raise funds for the McGrath Foundation Breast Care Nurses.

In Australia, one in seven women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime. Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women in Australia.

There are currently 200 McGrath Breast Care Nurses in communities across Australia, who have supported over 123,000 families since 2005. It costs around $140,000 to fund a McGrath Breast Care Nurse for a year including training and development.

You can help support the Pink Up Parkes campaign in so many ways: pink up your business, pink up your school, hold a pink up event, fundraise, attend a pink up parkes event, donate and support the pink up parkes campaign on social media.

PUP Chairperson Carolyn Rice said, “The Committee is still encouraging organisations and businesses to register to be a contributor to Pink Up Parkes. It isn’t too late to be involved. Just go to our webpage at www.pinkupparkesnsw.wordpress.com and all of the information on how to be involved or donate is in one place.”

“We want to support the McGrath Foundation to raise funds and awareness for our Breast Care Nurses, of whom we are fortunate to have one working to support patients and their families in Parkes, Forbes, Condobolin, Trundle, Tullamore, Tottenham and Peak Hill,” said Carolyn.

2023 RDA Central West Photography Competition Now Open

October 5, 2023 by Roxane Manley

The winning photo of the 2022 Junior Category ‘Into the Light” was take by Poppy Starr from Cowra.

‘This is Central West’ is this year’s theme for Regional Development Australia Central West’s (RDA Central West) annual photography competition.

Entrants are encouraged to submit photos that showcase the magic of our region as a destination to live, work and visit – whether that is a place, scene, person or event. Director of RDA Central West, Steven Bowman, said the competition is a wonderful platform to highlight everything that is special about our region and showcase it to other Australians, putting Central NSW on the map for tourism and investment.

“The Central West has so much to offer and the ‘Central West is Best’ photography competition is a great way to capture what you love most about where you live,” said Mr Bowman.

Mr Bowman said that entrants should not be deterred by their level of photographic ability.

“You must be in it to win it. We are encouraging locals from all levels of ability to submit photographs and we also have a junior category for the under 18’s.”

“The competition is judged externally and this year we welcome 2022 winner Craig Murphy, who sits as major sponsor Charles Sturt University’s Digital Innovation Project Officer, as one of the judges.”

“Thanks to the generosity of sponsors Charles Sturt University and Camera House Orange, the prize pool has increased this year and we are so excited to see 2023 submissions from around the region.”

Entry into the 2023 ‘Central West is Best’ photography competition is free and open to all ages. Entries close 5pm AEST Friday, 27th October. Entrants can submit up to four photographs. More information, including how to enter, can be found on the RDA Central West website at www.rdacentralwest.org.au

Breast Cancer Awareness Month Pink Promise

October 5, 2023 by Roxane Manley

October 1 marked the start of Breast Cancer Awareness Month and at Breast Cancer Network Australia (BCNA) the theme is “Living Well, Your Way”. With 20,458 women and 217 men expected to receive a diagnosis in 2023, raising awareness around the different support and resources available to help people live well with or beyond breast cancer is essential.

The theme recognises that many people struggle to ‘live well’ following a diagnosis of breast cancer and that a quality lifestyle looks different for different people.

“Living well looks different for everyone, and it is likely that people affected by breast cancer will require different types of support at different times,” said BCNA CEO Kirsten Pilatti. “It means seeing the whole person, rather than the disease.”

Throughout Breast Cancer Awareness Month, BCNA will share information about different resources available, across topics such as psychosocial support and exercise. They will also share personal stories from members about what helps them to live well.

BCNA offer trusted information and a variety of resources which can all be accessed via BCNA’s newly refreshed website at www.bcna.org.au.

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