Articles Archives - Page 127 of 412

Snippets…

September 23, 2022 by Maggi Barnard

Remember you can recycle your household problem waste at the Forbes Shire Council. Drop in your mobile phones, household batteries and other small e-waste at the Community Recycling Centre.

School Holidays Activities: Virtual reality tournaments, Lego animation workshops and horse-riding clinics are among the many free or discounted activities available these spring school holidays thanks to the NSW Government’s $10 million Holiday Break Program. A new online interactive map is available outlining the programs, when the activities are running and how to book. Create NSW is delivering a range of artistic activities, including its popular song-writing program, SongMakers. To find activities near you through the new interactive map, visit www.nsw.gov.au/HolidayBreak.

8 Billion Containers: A major environment and recycling milestone was reached last weekend with eight billion bottles, cans and drink cartons returned through the NSW Return and Earn return point network. Minister for Environment James Griffin said the incredible effort from NSW communities was transforming how we recycle.

The eight billion containers have delivered $800 million in refunds to the people of NSW, and reduced drink container litter by a massive 52%. “Heading to the local Return and Earn point has become a routine part of life, and I’d like to thank the almost 80% of adults in NSW who have got involved.” Return and Earn has contributed more than $35 million in donations to community groups and charities since its launch.

Students And The Future: Applications for the Infrastructure Traineeship Program are now open for school leavers across the Central West. The two-year program brings together leading infrastructure government agencies and industry partners to offer school leavers practical experience in the infrastructure sector. More than 100 trainee roles are available through three rotations of eight months each with government agencies, contractors and consultants. For more information and to apply, visit: www.apprenticeshipcareers.com.au/infrastructure-traineeships

Calling On Youth: Young people across regional NSW are encouraged to apply to become a member of the 2023 Regional Youth Taskforce consisting of 18 members, which includes two members from nine regions. “If you are aged 12 to 24 and are passionate about your region, being on the Taskforce is an opportunity to work with like-minded people and let us know how the NSW Government can help you and your peers work, live and thrive in your community,” said Minister for Regional Youth Ben Franklin. The Taskforce meets four times per year with travel costs, meals and accommodation covered. Applications close 23rd October. Visit www.nsw.gov.au/regional-nsw/regional-youth-taskforce

Flooding seems to be far from over with river levels expecting to rise more after more rain this week. This bench at Lake Forbes had become unreachable last weekend.

Great Weather And Exciting Menu Leave Grazers Fulfilled

September 23, 2022 by Maggi Barnard

DRAGON DANCE… Kristen’s Dance Studio entertained guests at Grazing Down the Lachlan with a wonderful production of the dragon dance usually performed at Chinese New Year. The setting among the gum trees provided a beautiful contrast for the colourful costumes and dragon.

The fourth edition of Forbes’s very unique long lunch has lodged itself in the memory banks of the 700 plus guests who came from far and wide to enjoy a degustation menu among the magnificence of the Central West’s gum trees.

Many said it was the best Grazing Down the Lachlan yet, and director Wendy Muffet agreed that it might be judged by the resoundingly positive feedback. “I could not be more delighted with how it all worked out.

“The highly curated menu by Creative Director O Tama Carey was very exciting this year,” said Wendy. O Tama, who created all the recipes for the degustation menu, drew inspiration from the local history during the gold rush era and incorporated ideas from Chinese dishes found in regional restaurants in Australia with touches of native ingredients and flavours.

What is there not to enjoy about meandering from food station to food station through the wondrous landscape at the Gum Swamp Wildlife Refuge while enjoying carp crackers, ginger and shallot scrolls, kangaroo dim sums, a family soup, Ants Crawling on Trees (rice vermicelli with lam mince) and burnt bloodwood honey gelato each very carefully matched with a beverage?

The return of the multi-award winning event after a two-year hiatus came with a new set of weather challenges leaving the usual event site at 9 Mile Reserve under about a foot of water, and a new venue had to be found last minute.

“I take my hat off to the team, they are so resilient,” said Wendy. “That was a highlight for me when nobody said we could not do it.”

According to Wendy the new venue at Gum Swamp turned out to be a huge bonus as they were able to highlight the beauty of the area. “Many locals had never been there.”

Leaving the site as they found it by delivering a no-waste, environmentally responsible event makes this foodie adventure truly unique. Guests have the option to donate back their goodie back of items, including wine glass, enamel plate, linen napkin and recycled cutlery to be used the following year. Items worth $19,000 were donated back after the previous event. “We literally leave only footprints as everything is recycled,” said Wendy. “We find that more and more people are commending us on this philosophy, as so much waste is left behind at huge festivals and events across Australia.”

The benefit of this small idea that has grown into something really big, is not just a direct injection of $400,000 in the local economy, but the profits are delved back into community projects, such as the ever growing Sculptures Down the Lachlan art trail.

By Maggi Barnard

Forbes Public School

September 23, 2022 by Maggi Barnard

The Deputy Secretary, School Performance DOE Mr Murat Dizdar, accompanied by other senior system leaders, visited Forbes Public School on Thursday,1st September.

Mr Murat was greeted by our SRC leaders before viewing every classroom, sharing in delight the wonderful student results, our teaching practice, the engagement of students and strong school culture of efficacy.

Educational journey was the theme of Mr Dizdars visit, as he was presented with a ‘Forbes Public School Travel Journal’ to mark this occasion, filled with wonderful results, stories and extracts of each year group.

As he visited each classroom, teachers and students had the opportunity to share with him the everyday teaching and learning opportunities that take place, their classes and classroom practice, referring to the featured pages that reflect them and their students in his take away ‘travel journal’.

Our school grounds, so green at the moment and framed by the lake, as well as the refurbishment of our classrooms, our new outdoor learning space, dubbed Conservation Corner, and the cultural safety projects inclusive of our new PBL signs in Wiradjuri and totem murals were all things that staff and students took great pride in showing.

Mr Murat’s visit was made significant by the unveiling of a piece of artwork by Cheree Stokes which celebrates our flourishing school community. Cheree collected our staff’s personal FPS stories in the form of words and symbols and then incorporated them into this visual representation. The artwork showcases the strong culture our school shares and the journeys our staff have been on.

We were honoured to receive such distinguished guests and relished the opportunity to highlight our wonderful school.

Forbes North Public School

September 23, 2022 by Maggi Barnard

The Deputy Secretary of the NSW Department of Education, Mr Murat Dizdar came to Forbes North as part of a scheduled visit to look at public education in Forbes. Mr Dizdar arrived right on time and spent the afternoon at Forbes North. This significant visit included seeing 3/4P and Miss Parker in the kitchen and garden, preparing and eating vegetable linguini with produce harvested from our very own garden. The touring party then went to Miss McMillan in 1/2M who were studying Science and the life cycle and botany of troublesome weeds on our farms and properties. In 3/4F, Miss Fliedner led the demonstration of investigating decimal numbers less than 1 and placing them on number lines. Our visitors then enjoyed time in our support unit with K-6J and Miss Jones who were preparingfor Father’s Day, and finally our esteemedguests were astounded by the FNPS Wiradjuri choir performing no less than foursongs

in Wiradjuri Calare and English in an emotional performance at our Yarning circle.

Mr Dizdar completed his visit talking to our entire staff after school and was warmly welcomed, enjoyed afternoon tea, was presented with multiple gifts including a traditional totem design from our Wiradjuri tutor Miss Haines and then they headed back to Parkes to fly and return to Sydney.

Our captains Corby and Will were perfect hosts, and the guests were amazed to see primary students cooking, gardening, doing maths and science lessons, getting excited for Father’ Day and then listening to our choir.

The official party visiting Forbes North included:
• Mr Murat Dizdar, Deputy SecretarySchool Performance
• Mr Dean White, Executive Director RuralSouth and West
• Mr David Lloyd, Director EducationalLeadership, Cowra Network
• Mr Damien Dooley Human ResourcesBusiness Partner Department of Education
• Miss Evonne Webb Deputy SecretarySocial Media Officer

Our visitors were impressed with Forbes North, its beautiful appearance, the collaboration between teachers, the data collected to inform teaching practice and the improvement focus ongoing for every child at our school. We hope they all return soon to Forbes.

Forbes High School

September 23, 2022 by Maggi Barnard

The Deputy Secretary of Education, Mr Murat Dizdar accompanied by Mr Dean White, Executive Director, Rural South and West, and Mr David Lloyd, Director Educational Leadership, Cowra Network, visited Forbes High School as part of a scheduled visit. The dignitaries were joined by members of the Deputy Secretary’s team throughout their stay.

The official guests were greeted by our student leaders, Benjamin Barnard, Emily Gartner and Rachel Todd who led the school tour. Mr Barry Merritt, Aboriginal Education Officer discussed the significance of the school’s updated mural and his passion for our students was evident in his talk. We toured our school stopping in Advanced Maths where the use of a reflection tool was discussed as a means of ensuring that HSC revision was targeted and specific. The Learning Centre was visited and the many dynamic projects that emanate from this space were explored. Year 7 Wood and Metal Work classes were in action and the students were able to discuss their hands-on approach to learning. Year 11 Biology were busy with an experiment extracting starch from leaves and explained the processes they were undertaking. Year 12 HSC Major Works showcased the exceptional skills of our staff and students. All guests were in admiration of the work of our students and what they accomplished in their HSC course.

Year 11 Hospitality provided a delicious lunch for our guests and allowed for additional guests, Ms Megan Staples, Principal of Forbes Public School and Mrs Natalie Walker, P and C President, were able to attend. The entrée consisted of asparagus topped with a poached egg and Hollandaise sauce, which was followed by main of Cowra lamb loin filled with spinach and pine nuts, dauphinoise potatoes, charred broccolini and lamb sauce. The feedback from the guests was that it was the best meal they had in Forbes and the best food they had ever eaten in a school.

Congratulations to the staff and students at Forbes High School for a magnificent showcase of our exceptional school.

Forbes Public Schools Receive Special Visit

September 23, 2022 by Maggi Barnard

The special visit by Murat Dizdar kicked off with a dinner at the Forbes Inn with Middle Leaders and Principals from the Forbes Public Schools.

Murat Dizdar, Deputy Secretary, School Performance, NSW DOE and special guests visited Forbes Public Schools on Thursday,1st September.

The visit began with a warm welcome and dinner at the Forbes Inn hosted by the Middle Leaders and Principals from the Forbes Public Schools. The following morning the party went to the Wiradjuri Dreaming Centre for breakfast catered for by the Bakehouse. The visitors met with the Forbes Aboriginal Education Consultative Group and an acknowledgement of the Wiradjuri country our guests were visiting. Mr Dizdar spent the rest of the day visiting each of the three schools, beginning with Forbes Public School, before heading to Forbes High School and then ending the day with Forbes North Public School.

Murat Dizdar and his special guests visited the Wiradjuri Dreaming Centre for breakfast where they met with the Forbes Aboriginal Education Consultative Group.

At the Wiradjuri Dreaming Centre the guests were welcomed with an acknowledgement of Wiradjuri country.

The Day The Prince Came To Parkes

September 23, 2022 by By Jenny Short

Prince Charles accompanied by Parkes Shire Mayor Robert Wilson on 27th January 1994.

The year 1994 was significant for many reasons.

At the movies we were watching the Shawshank Redemption and Forrest Gump. As a country we were celebrating our first medal at a Winter Olympics, and in Parkes we were getting ready to celebrate the second Elvis Festival.

But most significant for Parkes was a visit by HRH Prince Charles on 27th January. Quite the crowd had rallied to catch a glimpse of the Prince on Bushman’s Hill, the site of the first gold mine in Parkes.

After a stirring rendition of the National Anthem by Angelique Symington, proceedings lent themselves to a potted history of Parkes. And what better way to re-tell this than through a skit. Members of the local Musical & Dramatic Society rose to the occasion with Warwick Tom being cast as Sir Henry Parkes himself, John Short as an inebriated miner and Jenny Hawke as his wife. The cast being ably directed by the late Lizzie Matthews.

The skit was to be performed on a temporary stage with the players entering from stage left and leaving stage right.

To add a little veracity to his role, John had purchased a small flask of brandy and poured a little over himself, carrying the remainder in the pocket of his waistcoated costume. He decided it simply wasn’t believable that he would enter the stage from the same side as his ‘wife’, so he ducked around the back of the stage to enter from the opposite side.

And that is where everything turned to custard!

The security detail were still a little anxious from the previous day when a would-be assassin had run on to the stage in Sydney with a fake pistol and waved it at the Prince before being rugby tackled to the ground by the then Premier, the late John Fahey. When met with John reeking of booze and being somewhere he wasn’t supposed to be they said: “And where do you think you are going Sunshine?”

John responded that he was about to go onto stage to perform a skit, the two burley security detail responded with “Well no one told us about that” and with one either side of him the beleaguered actor was frog-marched up the hill to an awaiting Police van.

Fortunately, a nearby local had caught sight of the entire episode and alerted Lizzie.

In her signature style of utter fearlessness, she bolted up the hill in hot pursuit, calling for them to stop. She was able to explain the situation and John was returned.

Meanwhile, John’s ‘leading lady’, Jenny Hawke, was working herself into quite a frenzy not knowing where John was. She went on without him making it up as she went along. Her relief when John finally stumbled onto the stage was palpable.

The skit continued without further incident with the crowd knowing nothing of the incident until Lizzie later apologised for the delay, but that an attempt had been made to arrest John. There was a gentle ripple of mirth through the assembled crowd before, as they say the show went on.

Later, when fortunate enough to speak with the Prince, he shared a joke with John commenting that he was indeed in good company as Sir Barry Humphries had been ‘arrested’ in a similar fashion during a performance for the Prince.

The 27th of January 1994 will long remain in the memory of all involved.

By Jenny Short

The temporary stage at Bushman’s Hill with a packed Parkes crowd.

Workshop Prepares Wirrinya For Harvest

September 16, 2022 by Maggi Barnard

The Wirrinya event was well attended. The recording of the field day held at Forbes Saleyard can be accessed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9o6yykVxiY&t=39s

As harvest time is fast approaching more safety workshops were held in preparation at Wirrinya, Peak Hill and Lake Cargelligo.

The ‘Be Road Ready for Harvest’ satellite events attracted about 45 participants with lots of positive feedback given.

The satellite events were spin offs of the main event held at the Forbes Saleyards in early August.

“We held information sessions in these locations as part of the Load Restraint Education Program last year,” said Parkes, Forbes and Lachlan Shire Councils’ Road Safety and Injury Prevention Officer Melanie Suitor. “The sessions were well attended, and participants asked us to come back and run similar events on other relevant topics – hence the pre-harvest satellite events.

“The topics covered were similar to what was discussed at the main event, but we also included presentations from the Councils’ engineers about road upgrades and access as well as from NSW Police about compliance and rules/regulations.

“There was some feedback that we didn’t spend as much time as the audience would have liked on the relevant notices, rules and regulations, which we will take on board for next year’s events,” Melanie said.

There were also presentations from SafeWork NSW, NSW Rural Fire Service, NSW Farmers, Essential Energy, Transport for NSW and Rural Adversity Mental Health Program with advice about staying safe during harvest.

The winner of the Brass Monkey 15 litre fridge was Royce Johnston, who attended the Lake Cargelligo satellite event.

Dancing For Charity

September 16, 2022 by Maggi Barnard

Dancers at Kristen’s Dance Studio during their fundraising week for Redtember.

Kristen’s Dance Studio in Forbes raised $350 during its Redtember dress up week to raise money for Ronald McDonald House charities.

The money will go directly to the Ronald McDonald House in Orange, which is a vitally important haven for families from Forbes and Parkes needing medical care.

Parkes tops the list of families using the facility in Orange with 195 families using 1,412 room nights. This equates to accommodation savings of $211,000 for families. Forbes is second with 91 families using 410 room nights, with accommodation savings of $62.800. Condo and Cowra both had 89 families using the facility, Dubbo 44 families, Mudgee 39, Grenfell 36, Cobar 21, Young 18 and Canowindra 17 families.

Redtember runs throughout September, supporting families who need to stay at RMHC Central West NSW. Any fundraising effort is welcomed.

Memories and Recollections Of Queen Elizabeth II

September 16, 2022 by Maggi Barnard

Mark Lyell at the Queen Elizabeth II display in the Forbes & District Historical Museum.

The passing of Queen Elizabeth II last week has started many conversations and brought back plenty of memories for people who had seen the monarch during one of her many visits to Australia.

Mark Lyell, who volunteers at the Forbes & District Historical Museum, clearly remembers her infamous visit in 1954. “I was in primary school in Sydney and we lined Military Road as she came from Taronga Zoo. She drove past us in an open car.” It was her first visit to Australia as the Queen aged 27.

Forbes resident Greg Ridge said he was a young snapper living in Darwin in the early 70s when he saw the Queen. “We greeted her at the RAAF base airport.”

Another Forbes resident had the singular honour of opening a door for the Queen. Kenneth Wren was working in security at Parliament House in 1996. “I opened the main door to Parliament house for her Majesty.”

While the Queen never visited Forbes, many people will remember when the new Monarch King Charles III came to Forbes on 27th January 1994.

He planted a tree in Victoria Park, and the spade he used is on display at the Forbes & District Historical Museum, which forms part of a bigger display on the Queen. It contains a display cupboard filled with memorabilia.

The Queen visited Wagga Wagga in 1954, and Member for Riverina Michael McCormack recalled when he met her as editor of The Daily Advertiser in Sydney in 2000 and said where he was from, she immediately replied ‘Wagga Wagga a market town’.

“She remembered all those years ago visiting our city,” said Michael. “We then had a very convivial conversation about Wagga Wagga and the season. She recalled it in detail straight off the top of her head. I was amazed.”

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