Articles Archives - Page 129 of 424

Free Development Checks To Give NSW Kids The Best Start In Life

December 9, 2022 by Roxane Manley

Nine preschools across New South Wales, including Forbes Preschool, will take part in a new study providing free health and development tests for children before they start school.

The state-wide program is an Australian first, with checks assessing hearing, vision, physical and cognitive development, social and emotional development,communication and skills.

The study will help inform the state-wide rollout of the program and will include different types of tests in different locations.

Premier Dominic Perrottet said the NSW Government was leading the nation with a $15.9 billion investment in early childhood commitments including health and development checks for children in preschools.

Minister for Education and Early Learning Sarah Mitchell said the study will run from late November 2022 until February 2023.Minister for Health Brad Hazzard said the program aims to give more families the support they need if it is discovered their child is not on track to meet key milestones.

“A child’s health and development plays an important part in their school journey and these checks will identify issues early so that action plans and support measures can be put in place early,” said Mr Hazzard.

National Theatrical Release For Forbes Filmmaker

December 9, 2022 by Roxane Manley

Fresh off the back of winning Best Thriller at the Montreal Independent Film Festival in September, the new action, home invasion thriller called Avarice, is set for a nation-wide theatrical release on 8th December.

Co-written by Forbes local Dane Millerd (There’s Something In the Pilliga), former resident Adam Enslow, along with acclaimed screenwriter Andrew Slattery and film director John V. Soto (The Gateway), Avarice has been picked up in markets across the world and is currently number one in Austria and Germany.

For Dane Millerd, the journey as well as the reception to the film has been incredible. “When you see the film, it is easy to understand why the feedback has been so overwhelmingly positive,” Dane said.

Screening in Reading Cinemas across Australia, Avarice is a slick production filmed during the height of the pandemic in 2021 in Western Australia with a small but extremely capable cast and crew and was made for over $AU2 million. It was also an official selection at Western Australia’s CineFest Oz and the London Director Awards.

Starring Gillian Alexy (The Americans, Damages and McLeod’s Daughters) and old McLeod’s cast mate Luke Ford (Animal Kingdom, The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor and Underbelly)

$5 Million Boost To Grow And Upskill Regional Health Workforce

December 9, 2022 by Roxane Manley

TRAINING BOOST…Steph Cooke MP pictured with regional nurses.

Healthcare workers in regional NSW will be given the opportunity to enter the workforce or upskill, thanks to the NSW Government’s $5 million Rural and Regional Health Career Scholarships program.

Enter a career in healthcare with extra support.“These scholarships range from helping out with the cost of travel or relocation to study to reskilling our current workforce to ensure each individual is equipped to treat our community the best they can,” explains Steph Cooke MP.

Minister for Regional Health Bronnie Taylor said the program will not only attract new staff to the regions but support existing healthcare workers. “From Bourke to Bega, I’ve heard loud and clear that our health workers want to be provided with the opportunities to advance their careers without having to leave their families, their workplace and their communities,” Ms Taylor said.

“This is about growing and empowering our regional health workforce and builds on the NSW Government’s $883 million regional health workforce incentive scheme, announced as part of the 2022/23 NSW Budget,” said Ms Taylor

The Rural and Regional Health Scholarships form part of Our Vision for Regional Communities and Action Plan 2023-2025, a NSW Government initiative outlining immediate priorities and long-term strategies to make regional NSW an even better place to call home. To find out more about Our Vision for Regional Communities and Action Plan 2023- 2025, visit www.nsw.gov.au/ourvision

Is It A Bird? Is It A Plane? It‘s An Airbus Squirrel!

December 2, 2022 by Maggi Barnard

ALL EYES TO THE SKY… With all the helicopter activity in the area, Pilot Michael Findlater gave us an insight into how he is assisting with the ongoing emergency in the region.

It is hard not to notice all the activity in the skies since the devastating floods hit our region. There have been up to 14 helicopters based at Parkes Airport to help with the biggest emergency operation ever in NSW.

Michael Findlater, a helicopter pilot for Orange Helicopters, is one of the pilots engaged by the SES to support the relief operations.

Michael said that his role was predominantly moving SES personnel and also doing reconnaissance. “Some aircraft are doing the heavy lifting, for example lifting cages full of livestock. I am doing reconnaissance, which involves mapping, crew movements, dropping much needed supplies and generally anything that is needed.”

Michael has been in Parkes for 10 days and will stay at least another week until the next crew changeover. Sadly, he predicts he will be back in the area as the water is not going away, it’s just moving west.

Originally from Dunedin in New Zealand, Michael has flown in six different countries over the last 20 years including Australia, Fiji, Czech Republic, Sage Islands, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.

“Every mission is different in nature and scale. I did the Black Saturday fires in Victoria, flying an MS helicopter into Marysville. The town was flattened by fire, 90 people died and the survivors were all huddled together at the local football oval with their families and pets waiting to be rescued. It was a horrendous event, but all you can do is try to help.”

By Roxane Manley

Find The Elf In The Shop And Win!

December 2, 2022 by Maggi Barnard

Find the ELF in the Shop is another exciting activity added to this season’s Christmas program in Forbes.

The Forbes Business Chamber and Forbes Shire Council launched the activity to encourage children, young people and adults to wander the businesses, use the clues and seek out an Elf that is hidden and stand a chance to win 6 x $50 Why Leave Town cards.

“Basically, this is a treasure hunt reaching across 15 stores with an ELF in their front window or in a prominent position that is visible during and after hours. The competition runs from the 1st to 20th of December” said Chamber President Aaron Acheson.

Clues will be printed on the back of the entry form to direct community members to participating stores.

When the ELF is found the details, including the name of the store are to be completed on the entry form. Hand your completed form into Forbes Shire Council office by close of business on the 20th December.

“We would like to thank Josh Matic from the Phoenix Group of Newspapers for his kind sponsorship and support of the Elf in the Shop activity. Together we will add some magic to Christmas for the children in the area.” said Aaron.

Mayoral Notes

December 2, 2022 by Maggi Barnard

What a couple of months we have had. As I write this column, the weather is starting to look a little more like summer – the sun is out and the temperatures are slowly starting to creep up.

The immediate flood emergency has now thankfully passed and with it the initial adrenalin rush. With the physical clean-up, and the economic burden, we will start to now see evidence of the huge emotional cost.

Things are very raw at the moment for our community, if you weren’t physically affected by the floodwater – your friends, family, work colleagues were. Our region was very much the focus of national media attention. It is sad to see that focus move on in the respect that we are left with the physical mopping up and the push for funding to rebuild, restore and areas that are still very much affected. It is no longer the mindset of our city cousins that we are still suffering.

I just ask you, as we head into the Christmas season, to be gentle with yourselves. Remember that it is not just about the presents under the tree, it is the presence of those we love and cherish, and the wonderful community that we live in. Don’t be afraid to reach out for help, our website emergency page has contacts for mental health, financial assistance and more.

Thank you to all who have so generously donated – whether it be time or money or goods. I love living in Forbes. I love our community.

New Community Recycling Centre In Forbes

December 2, 2022 by Maggi Barnard

The new Forbes Community Recycling Centre at Lot 1 Calarie-Daroobalgie Rd, Calarie will accept resident’s problem waste free of charge.

Forbes residents will no longer have to worry about disposing of problem waste as the town’s first Community Recycling Centre has opened at Lot 1 Calarie-Daroobalgie Rd, Calarie.

The centre is the first of its kind in Forbes where residents can drop off paints, oils, gas bottles, fluoro lights, smoke detectors, batteries and other items, free of charge.

The centre, established with the support of a $93,500 grant from the Environmental Trust, is the 99th facility to open in NSW, joining a network that has to date collected more than 17,000 tonnes of problem waste.

Forbes Mayor Phyllis Miller said the new facility offered a permanent, free drop-off solution, that would make problem waste disposal very convenient for locals.

“We are very proud that we have been able to bring this new facility to our region and it will no doubt help in the clean-up process with the recent flood event,” Phyllis said.

“Local residents should check if their flood impacted waste is eligible and are encouraged to use the centre to assist with recovery.”

The Forbes Community Recycling Centre is purpose-built for residential customers only, and is open 8:30am to 5pm daily.

The centre accepts household quantities (20kg or 20L) of the following problem wastes for free: water and oil based paint, gas bottles, fire extinguishers, motor oils, other oils, car batteries, household batteries, smoke detectors, fluoro globes and tubes, aerosols.

For more information visit: www.epa.nsw.gov.au/wastegrants/index.htm

Costa Returns For Schools Eco Day

December 2, 2022 by Maggi Barnard

Next year’s Year 5 students can look forward to a fun day with Australia’s most famous gardener when Costa will be visiting for the annual Schools Eco Day in March.

He is instantly recognisable by his bushy beard, and he will be back next year!

Australian landscape architect and television presenter Costa Georgiadis came to Forbes last year, and Central West Lachlan Landcare shared the great news that he would presenting at Schools Eco Day in March 2023 again.

Central West Lachlan Landcare organise the annual event for Year 5 students in the Forbes and Parkes Shires and Eugowra.

It is a fun and educational day, bringing together students to learn about the environment.

Central West Lachlan Landcare’s Marg Applebee said Costa also agreed to be the keynote speaker at the Landcare dinner. “To finish off Costa’s visit, he will be joining us at a new event Straight from your Backyard, which we will be holding in partnership with Parkes Shire Council.”

Costa was in Forbes last year for the Schools Eco Day, Landcare Dinner and Forbes Riverside Garden Open Day. His visit was so popular, Marg said: “We knew we had to invite him back to our area once again.”

When Costa heard about the recent flood events impacting our region, he prepared a special video message, which had been shared on social media.

For further information go to www.centralwestlachlanlandcare.org, Twitter, Facebook or Instagram @cwllandcare.

I’m Leavin’

December 2, 2022 by Maggi Barnard

I did get behind the lens on a few occasions like this one at the 2020 Parkes Elvis Festival with Joe Camilleri and Greg Page. (Photo: Keith Turk)

I clearly remember the thrill of having a camera and notebook in my hands again returning to journalism close to seven years ago when I started as reporter for the newly established community newspaper, The Parkes Phoenix.

I had not worked as a journalist for a number of years, and did not have any real prospect of getting a taste of reporting in Australia as so many newspapers were downsizing. And then this opportunity at The Parkes Phoenix came along out of the blue. Little did I know at the time what a lifeline it would become, and how much joy it would bring.

As a relatively new immigrant to Australia with a young child, and having only done some casual work at a school in Parkes, my world was very small and my knowledge of everything Australian was rather limited.

Working for both The Parkes Phoenix and later The Forbes Phoenix catapulted me into every corner of both communities and the wide array of events, traditions,stories and customs, and exposed me to experiences I would otherwise never have had.

From meeting so many amazing and interesting locals and listening to their inspiring stories, countless visits by politicians

including several premiers and prime ministers, the craziness and buzz of the Parkes Elvis Festival to covering Anzac Day, Australia Day, Parkes Show, natural disasters, sporting events and milestone anniversaries… the list goes on and on.

I have learned from every experienced, gained valuable insights in what makes Australians tick, and even became an ‘Elvis expert’ as a bonus! Getting to know our communities inside out has made me even more grateful that my family could make this great country our new home.

In our regular Our Bloke/Gal column we asked people what they like about living in Parkes or Forbes, and so often they would say the community. I couldn’t agree more. I have never felt such a sense of community anywhere else, and the recent flood events once again demonstrated the abundance of kindness and generosity that binds us all together.

Sadly, it is time for me to say goodbye and leave my beloved Phoenix job. Thank you for sharing your stories with me, smiling for my photos and accepting me into the community. It has made me feel very welcome and helped me become Australian.

Maggi Barnard

Rotary Offers Leadership Development Opportunity

December 2, 2022 by Maggi Barnard

With the deadline fast approaching, the Rotary Club of Forbes is once again calling on employer groups in Forbes or employees (18 – 28 age group) to nominate candidates to attend the 2023 Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA).

The 2023 RYLA will be held from 7th to 13th January at the Warrambui Retreat and Conference Centre in Murrumbateman, NSW.

Forbes Rotary President Chris Finkel said after all the strive caused by the floods, this was an excellent program to support young people in their leadership development. He said two current members of the club could not speak highly enough about the benefits of the program they had attended.

Rotary will make a generous subsidy towards the sponsorship fee for each participant, and may attract a further subsidy from the Robes Rotary Club depending on the applicant’s financial situation.

All applications need to be received by Monday, 5th December. There are only two spots left. Participants can complete an online application form by accessing https://forms.gle/bYo1tqn8GduCJ3kL9, or contact Forbes Rotary Youth Director Ross Williams on 0428 531 132.

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