General Interest Archives - Page 67 of 311

Biggest Firework Display Ever At Forbes Show

September 7, 2023 by Roxane Manley

School work hung for judging and display. Come have a look.

It’s one of the most exciting times of the year, the Forbes Show. Come along and enjoy the fireworks, sideshow alley, pavilions, dog high jump, ring events, shearing, young woman, rural ambassadors, dog trials and so much more.

The CMOC Northparkes Mines firework display will be at 8pm on Friday 8th September. Head to the Forbes Show to get the best view in town. A big thank you to Northparkes Mines for their continued support of the Forbes Show.

Remember pre-purchase your tickets and save yourself time at the gate. https://www.123tix.com.au/events/39629/forbes-show

Pension Boosted But More Needed For Those In Need

September 7, 2023 by Roxane Manley

Results from the 11th Seniors Social Survey.

From 20th September, the Age Pension, the Veteran Payment, the Disability Support Pension and the Carer Payment will receive an increase because of indexation.

The maximum rate of the single Age Pension will rise by $32.70 per fortnight, taking it from $1,064 to $1,096.70. For couples, it will increase by $49.40 per fortnight, taking their combined payment from $1,604 to $1,653.40.

Chief Advocate Ian Henschke said while people who rely on the Age Pension will welcome the increase, under the current system pensioners are still behind, especially when inflation is unusually high.

Several other government payments will also be increased on 20th September in line with announcements made in the May Budget.

A welcome change is the 15% increase to Commonwealth Rent Assistance. The maximum rate for an eligible single renter will rise by $27.60 to $184.80 per fortnight, for a couple by $26 to $174.

“It’s a good start but more needs to be done to help” Mr Henschke said.

“More can be done to support older people doing it tough. As recent National Seniors research showed, a greater proportion of people with low incomes and those who are renting are suffering from cost-of-living pressures,” Mr Henschke said.

“For example, 39% of older renters told us they were experiencing severe cost-of-living impacts compared to only 11 % of older homeowners.

“What we need is additional targeted support for people with limited means and to stop punishing those who need to work.

“We want a change to income test rules for pensioners who want to work and work more. We will continue to fight for a system that improves people’s lives.”

Parkes Arbour Shopping Centre Sells For $8.9M

September 7, 2023 by Roxane Manley

JLL sells Parkes Arbour Shopping Centre with a significant vacancy from Target’s 2021 national store closure.

Parkes Arbour Shopping Centre has sold for $8.9 million to a Sydney-based private investor, as demand for neighbourhood centres with value-add opportunities continues to outstrip supply.

JLL’s Sebastian Fahey, Dylan McEvoy, Nick Willis and David Mahood sold the shopping centre via an Expressions-of-Interest campaign on behalf of a Brisbane-based private investor.

In 2021, parent company Wesfarmers announced the closure or rebranding of more than 160 sites with many of the locations being rebranded to Kmart/K-Hub. The increasingly competitive market was too much for the Target business with landlords scrambling to backfill the vacancies.

Parkes Arbour is anchored by a Coles supermarket and supported by a Liquorland and two speciality retailers. The asset included a 4,019sqm vacant ex-Target space, allowing an opportunity to reposition and or redevelop the centre.

“Parkes Arbour Shopping Centre offered the purchaser an attractive repositioning play with the potential to significantly increase the centre’s income by splitting the major vacancy into smaller offerings. This resulted in the campaign attracting unprecedented demand for a regional neighbourhood centre with over 200 groups and 10 offers being received at the close of the campaign.”

Colleague David Mahood added “Parkes Arbour reaffirms the increase in demand for retail assets with value-add initiatives. Investors are continuing to seek these opportunities as they provide a secure holding income with significant upside through a repositioning.”

Canola Field Day: A Showcase Of Canola Innovations And Research

September 7, 2023 by Roxane Manley

The GRDC NVT will be in attendance to discuss canola trials with growers, advisers, and breeders coming from around
Australia and overseas. Photo: Mathew Dunn, NSW Department of Primary Industries.

Canola trials, disease management tactics, farming systems insights and key data from the Grains Research and Development’s (GRDC) National Variety Trials will be on offer to growers and agronomists as part of canola focused field day in Wagga Wagga in September.

The field day is being held in conjunction with the International Rapeseed Congress 2023 (IRC-2023) and is expected to attract more than 120 international and Australian canola researchers and industry experts, alongside local growers.

Hosted by the NSW Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI) with the support of GRDC the event will be held at the NSW DPI Wagga Wagga Agricultural Institute on Friday, 22nd September 2023, from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.

NSW DPI Wagga Wagga Agricultural Institute director, Deb Slinger said canola was one of New South Wales’ most important crops and favourable seasonal conditions in southern regions of the state had bolstered production this year.

“In NSW our production of canola is worth over $800 million – a significant contributor to our economy,” Ms Slinger said.

“Hosting a field day with GRDC as part of the IRC-2023 is a valuable way to showcase current and past canola research that has helped position the Australian industry where it is today and continues to drive improvements for our sector.”

GRDC NVT manager of operations Ben O’Connor said the field day was an excellent opportunity for growers to directly engage with canola industry experts and to hear the latest research and development.

“Between 2019 and 2022 GRDC made investments, including with partners like NSW DPI, of more than $30 million into canola research projects focused on improving yield and understanding yield drivers and this has really help drive improvements on-farm,” Mr O’Connor said.

As part of the field day NSW DPI will also launch the “Canola in Australia: 21st Century Progress” publication, which has been updated from the 1999 edition to demonstrate the development of the canola industry in Australia over the past 24 years.

The canola field day precedes the IRC- 2023 which is being held in Sydney this year

Field day highlights:

• Exclusive demonstration variety trials from nine leading canola companies.

• Insight into the GRDC Canola National Variety Trial.

• A deep dive into the NSW DPI Research Experiments focusing on Canola, Pathology, and Farming Systems.

• Official launch of the “Canola in Australia: 21st Century Progress Book”. All attendees will receive a complimentary copy.

• BBQ and Coffee Carts available throughout the day for attendees.

• Comprehensive amenities on site for convenience.

Location Details:

Participants are requested to park at the Joyes Hall carpark on Pine Gully Road, Wagga Wagga. Mini buses will be available every 30 minutes from 8:30 am to transport attendees to the event location.

Ticket Information:

Tickets are priced at $25 per person. To RSVP and purchase your ticket and for more information you can visit www.ircsydney2023.com by Wednesday, 13th September. The attendance of Australian grain growers and advisers is subsidised by GRDC.

Savour The Colours Of Spring At The Orange Wine Festival

September 7, 2023 by Roxane Manley

We continue to see the evolution of world class wines from the Orange Wine Region.

Get ready to savour the essence of the finest wines of the season as the 2023 Orange Wine Festival returns to the Orange region with a month-long program, from 29th September to 29th October. This year’s highly anticipated event promises an extraordinary celebration of our region’s cool-climate wine and wine culture, attracting connoisseurs, enthusiasts, and travellers from near and far.

An opportunity to immerse yourself in the enchanting allure of Orange, where lush vineyards meet rolling hills, and the art of winemaking comes alive. The 2023 Orange Wine Festival showcases the diverse array of vineyards, each boasting their own unique terroir and distinctive varietals. From seasoned wine aficionados to those discovering their palate, there’s something to delight every taste bud.

Ned Sweetapple, Orange360 General Manager added; “Wines of the Orange region get noticed and Spring is such a beautiful and colourful time to visit. This year’s Orange Wine Festival is all about colour and taste and we’re thrilled to offer such a diverse program to entice visitors to the region. There are so many good things to enjoy in spring, our region’s latest wine offerings, paired together with fresh local produce and great dining, art, culture, and music.”

Events include:

• Orange Wine Show Tasting: 14th October

• Food & Wine @ Altitude: 28th October

• Boree Lane Ramble: 7th October

• NRL Grand Final at Mortimers: 7th October

However, if these big-ticket items aren’t for you, there are plenty of low-cost events that allow everyone to get involved in celebrating the 2023 Orange Wine Festival, including the popular Night Markets on Friday, September 29th. Further low-cost events include:

• Orange Wine Festival Night Market: 29th September

• Wine and Cheese, Yes Please!: 12th and 26th October

• Yoga in the Vines: 15th October

For information and tickets, visit orange360.com.au/Events/Orange-Wine-Festival

Snippets…

September 7, 2023 by Roxane Manley

Grenfell was put on the “map” again.

Grenfell finally take the Shield home: History was made by this Grenfell Tennis Team in Forbes. Since 1966 this intertown tennis shield has never been won by Grenfell but today was a different story. Congratulations to all the players that have contributed towards this magnificent win, past and present.

Parkes Elvis Festival – Concert Alert: Elvis Leaves His Mark, starring Mark Andrew. Festival-favourite Mark Andrew will be performing at the 2024 Parkes Services Club on Friday and Sunday. Tickets will be on sale for his shows and a King-sized program of other events on Tuesday 19th September, here: bit.ly/PEF2024 Stay tuned for the full program, launching next week!

Forbes High School SASS Appreciation Week: This week schools all around the state are celebrating their amazing SASS (School Administrative and Support Staff) staff. We might be biased, but at FHS we think we have the best SASS staff ever! Without our SASS staff, our school would not be the same. They work extremely hard and are loved by students and staff.

Register Today For The TUFF Workshop: TUFF is a two-day workshop for farmers, fishers and rural blokes to take two days to relax, connect and reflect on what’s important. During the workshop participants will explore strategies and tools for:

• Navigating life challenges.

• Exploring work/life balance – identifying places for change and achievable actions.

• Dealing with difficult situations and conflict.

TUFF is brought to you by the NSW DPI who will cover accommodation, meals and activities during the workshop. The only cost will be travel to and from the venue.

If you, or a rural bloke you know, needs to re-charge contact Henry Goodall on 0438 744 267 or email henry.goodall@dpi.nsw.gov.au.

Trundle Pink Night: Need a lift to the fabulous Trundle Pink Night on Friday 13th September? We’ve got you covered. A bus will depart Cooke Park, Parkes at 5.30pm. The bus will then depart Trundle at 10pm. To book your seat, go to: https://www.123tix.com.au/events/40122/the-pink-bus

Turners Furniture One: The new Forbes store opened on Thursday 7th September. Head down and check out the new store, located at 155/157 Lachlan Street, across the road from the Bernardis.

Come check out the new Turner’s Furniture One location at 155/157 Lachlan Street.

MLA Seeks Cattle Producer Representative

September 7, 2023 by Roxane Manley

Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) is looking to elect three producer representatives; one cattle, one sheep and one lot feeder; to its Board Selection Committee for a three-year term.

Producer members wishing to nominate a person or to nominate themselves for election to the MLA Board Selection Committee at the 2023 MLA AGM must give written notice to MLA by 18th September.

The role of the Selection Committee is to call for applications, review, interview and then report to members on the suitability of candidates for election or re‑election to the MLA Board of Directors.

The Selection Committee has nine members. The cattle, lot feeder and sheepmeat peak councils each appoint one member, two non‑voting members are MLA directors, and the remaining four members are producer representatives elected at the MLA AGM for a period of three years.

At the 2021 AGM, MLA cattle producer members voted to elect Julie McDonald to the Selection Committee, and she is completing year two of her three-year term.

Producer representatives on the Selection Committee are paid a sitting fee in accordance with MLA policy and expenses are covered for travel to attend meetings.

Pillowcase Workshops Helping Aussie Kids Learn About Disaster Preparedness

August 31, 2023 by Roxane Manley

The Forbes, Lachlan and Parkes Shires have been listed as at high risk in NSW.

Australia Post will lend a helping hand to high-risk communities across Australia by supporting Australian Red Cross deliver Pillowcase workshops, an initiative aiming to help kids in schools across the nation understand the importance of being prepared for a disaster. Since 2019, Australia Post has raised more than $1.8 million for Australian Red Cross and contributed towards supporting 470,000 people across 133 emergency events.

Over the next three years, Australia Post is expanding on its support to include the Pillowcase workshops, a disaster preparedness education program for 8 to 10 year-old students living in areas at high risk of disaster, like bushfires and flooding. The workshops teach kids practical skills like what to pack for an emergency and how to prepare their minds for the thoughts and feelings that may arise before, during and after an emergency.

Australia Post will support Australian Red Cross to provide Pillowcase workshops and resources – including supplying the emergency kit pillowcases.

Australia Post Executive General Manager of Community, Sustainability and Stakeholder Engagement, Tanny Mangos, said that Australia Post’s unique presence in regional and remote Australian communities meant it was important to contribute to, and support, disaster resilience.

“Working in every community across Australia, our team members are often at the frontline of disaster. We see firsthand how a disaster can affect a community.

“Ahead of what is already being predicted as a hot, dry summer, our work with Australian Red Cross on Pillowcase is especially critical. The workshops and resources will arm children in high-risk areas with practical skills in the event of extreme weather like bushfires.

“As disasters increase across Australia so does the impact on our communities and wellbeing. Evidence and research continue to show that preparing both psychologically and practically for an emergency improves people’s ability to cope with their impacts.”

Visionary Support For Aspiring Regional Students

August 31, 2023 by Roxane Manley

Country Education Foundation has provided Forbes and Parkes aspiring university students a chance to tour Charles Sturt University campus open days.

The Country Education Foundation of Australia (CEF) has made it possible for dozens of aspiring country university students to see a university campus, with fully subsidised trips to three of Charles Sturt University’s campuses for their open days in August.

Thirty-four students took advantage of this amazing opportunity provided by the CEF, which covered their costs for transport, accommodation, and meals in partnership with Charles Sturt University.

The opportunity allowed students to visit Charles Sturt’s Wagga Wagga, Albury and Bathurst campuses, with 16 students checking out Wagga Wagga, eight students seeing Albury, and 10 students experiencing Bathurst.

CEF transported students from many different towns, including Forbes and Parkes, to attend the open days, to experience what university life is like at Charles Sturt.

Kelsey Mann and Cameron Frogley from Parkes High School, Clarissa Azzopardi, Hunter Kriedemann and Laura Jones from Red Bend Catholic College, and Grace Barbary and Czarah Saladino from Forbes High School, took part in the Wagga Wagga trip.

Students took the opportunity to learn about each campus, the courses they offer, and all other benefits of studying there.

CEF Manager of Partnerships Hilary Matchett, who organised the trip, said, “CEF are excited to partner with Australia’s leading regional university, Charles Sturt University, to give the opportunity to regional students to access their Open Days across three of their campuses.

“Students made the most of experiencing all that Charles Sturt can offer, from hands on learning in their state-of-the-art labs and facilities, to chatting to academic staff about course options, and accessing affordable and vibrant on-campus accommodation options”.

These experience camps offer more than a chance to see a university campus; they give regional students the chance to connect with like-minded peers, hopefully to then become friends for life.

In a separate program through its department ‘Three Rivers Department of Rural Health’, Charles Sturt has partnered with CEF for the last five years to offer scholarships to students studying a health-related degree at Charles Sturt. Students awarded grants by their local CEF foundation, from 18 local CEF foundations across the west are eligible to apply.

The CEF is a national for-purpose organisation that helps rural and regional youth aged between 16 and 25 access post-school education, training and employment through grants, scholarships, support services and resources.

Since 1993 CEF has awarded over 7000 individual grants and scholarships totalling over $15 million, with over 400 volunteers across its network of local foundations working hard to provide local students the support they need.

For more information on the CEF please visit www.cef.org.au or phone 1300 652 144.

MLA Raises A Fork To Celebrate The Value Of Red Meat

August 31, 2023 by Roxane Manley

As the world celebrates World Iron Awareness Week, Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) proudly joins the global effort to raise awareness about the pivotal role that red meat plays in a healthy diet.

This annual campaign, taking place this week from 28 August to 3 September, aims to highlight the importance of adequate iron intake and its impact on global health.

According to the latest Consumer Sentiment research from MLA, 73% of Australians see red meat as an important source of nutrition, with 58% noting it being a rich source of iron as the main health reason for consuming beef and lamb.

Managing Director for MLA, Jason Strong, said it was no secret that red meat is an essential source of iron, but many people do not currently get enough iron in their diet.

“Red meat is a crucial component of a balanced diet, especially for individuals with higher dietary iron needs. Its heme iron content allows for more efficient absorption, helping to reduce risk of iron deficiency and other associated health issues,” Mr Strong said.

Iron deficiency remains one of the most prevalent and critical nutritional challenges worldwide, affecting millions of people, particularly in low and middle-income countries.

Red meat, such as beef, lamb, and goatmeat, is an excellent source of heme iron, which is the most easily absorbed form of iron by the human body.

Within Australia, MLA has launched a website all about the importance of iron in a healthy diet. Australian Good Meat will also feature a series of informative content across its website and social media channels.

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