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100 Variety NSW Bash Cars In Forbes

May 13, 2022 by Maggi Barnard

The Forbes Public School will be a hive of activity on Wednesday morning when they host the participants in the 30th Variety NSW Bash for breakfast before 100 cars will depart at 8am on the next leg of the rally to Ardlethan.

The Bash will visit rural and remote communities bringing much needed tourism revenue and equipment for schools. More than $45,000 worth of grants will be given to regional NSW schools, while more than $12,000 is spent at each lunch stop along the route and more than $70,000 at each overnight stop, including Forbes.

Variety Bash cars are renowned for bringing fun and excitement to the communities they visit with themed cars from Paw Patrol, Bob the Builder and Hot Wheels to Lightning McQueen, Scooby Doo and The Flintstones.

This year’s event starts on Sunday, 15th May at Foreshore Park Newcastle and will head to Spring Ridge, Dubbo, Ballimore, Quambone, Cobar, Condobolin, Forbes, Ardlethan, Wagga Wagga, Wyangala, Bathurst, Wattle Flat, Hunter Valley before finishing back for the Family Fun Day in Newcastle on Saturday, 21st May.

The breakfast at Forbes Public School will be open to the community who can come and view the cars.

Snippets…

May 13, 2022 by Maggi Barnard

The famous Goanna on the Sculptures by the Lachlan trail has been photographed from many different angles, but this one sure is eye catching! (Photo credit: Happy Campers Australia)

Prepare For Flu Season: Seniors and other vulnerable people across NSW are encouraged to get the flu vaccination, as COVID-19 is also still circulating. People aged 65 and over can book in a free flu shot at pharmacies and GPs, as well as pregnant women, children aged under five years, Aboriginal people and those with serious health conditions. Influenza cases have more than doubled in recent weeks. More people with flu are being admitted to hospital, including young children. This can be very serious especially for young children who have had little to no exposure to flu over the last two years. People are also encouraged to continue to keep up to date with their COVID-19 vaccinations. It is safe and convenient to get both the COVID-19 vaccine and the flu vaccine at the same time.

Routine Maintenance: Essential Energy will carry out vegetation management in Forbes this month as part of its routine maintenance. Everything is being done to preserve the natural environment, however some management of trees and other vegetation is required to maintain a safe and reliable network. Directional pruning techniques are used that remove branches growing towards a powerline and encourage re-growth away from the power network. Download Essential Energy’s Tree Planting Guide at essentialenergy.com.au/trees for helpful tips on species for planting near powerlines or contact 13 23 91 for more information.

Wyangala Dam Update: Water Infrastructure is back in the field undertaking more geotechnical investigations. This current work is being undertaken from the crest of the dam wall and will help to inform the design development of the proposed Wyangala Dam Wall Raising project. Public pedestrian access to Wyangala Dam Wall will be closed from 2 – 27 May (inclusive).

Arts OutWest in Canowindra: Arts OutWest invites creatives and community members to join them for their annual regional gathering and AGM on Sunday, 5th June in Canowindra. The day starts with coffee at 11am at Perennialle Plants. Then visits to local galleries: David Isbester Gallery, Canowindra Arts Gallery and Melissa Barder Galleries and Café. A light lunch at The Old Vic Inn and the AGM at The Age of Fishes Museum. The day ends around 3:30pm at the Canowindra Historical Museum. The event is free but places are limited to 50 people. RSVP via Eventbrite or artsoutwest.org.au or call on 6338 4657.

Aboriginal Ancestors Reburied In Wellington: The remains of four Aboriginal ancestors have finally been laid to rest in a traditional ceremony after being returned to the Wellington Aboriginal community at the Wellington caves. The burial ceremony last week completed the repatriation process for 13 Aboriginal ancestral remains that were taken from the area from the late 1800s to the 1970s. Local community members conducted a cultural ceremony for the remains after they were repatriated from the Australian Museum. The repatriation process was led by Heritage NSW, in line with the wishes of the Wellington Aboriginal community. Local elder Uncle Barry Smith welcomed the repatriation saying: “This is the greatest thing that’s ever happened to Wellington.”

Secret Translocation To Save Trees: A species of Gondwana era tree is being translocated for the first time, with 20 seedlings being planted across four secret sites in a NSW Government initiative to save the species. The endangered Nightcap Oak tree is only found in one region and was severely affected by the 2019/2020 bushfires. The plight of the Nightcap Oak tree is similar to that of the Wollemi Pine, but it’s the lesser known of the two. This species was only discovered in the year 2000, but its origins can be traced back 40 million years to the Gondwana era. The population of Nightcap Oaks north-east of Lismore is the only known population in the wild, and during the recent bushfires, about 20% of the existing trees were destroyed or impacted. More than 500 seeds were able to be collected for propagation in a specialist nursery, but they’re notoriously difficult and slow to grow. Fifty seedlings have been successfully grown of which 20 will be translocated to four secret sites.

Pick up a yellow ribbon vehicle sticker and/or lapel ribbon for free from Forbes Shire Council’s administration office for National Road Safety Week starting on Sunday.

CWA Tea Rooms Return For Centenary At Easter Show

May 13, 2022 by Sue Cunningham

Robyn Miller busy making scones at the Royal Easter Show. Karen Wright irons the many CWA aprons for volunteers working in the tea rooms.

Two Forbes CWA members worked at the ever-popular Tea Rooms at the Royal Easter Show this year for their fourth time after a COVID break of two years.

It is a major fundraising activity for the CWA, and after two years of no show, the CWA members were excited to be baking scones and selling produce again.

Forbes CWA Evening Branch President Robyn Miller and Vice-President Karen Wright worked the morning shifts on Saturday, 9th April and Sunday, 10th April.

“It was terrific to be able to get back to the show for a milestone year as the Royal Easter Show celebrated their 200th anniversary and CWA its 100th,” said Karen. Robyn said: “Our jobs in the tea rooms this year included ironing the CWA aprons worn by each volunteer (about 60 members per day are needed to staff the Tea Rooms), packing items into the inaugural CWA show bags, cutting of scones and putting them onto oven trays for baking and working on the promotions table selling raffle tickets, merchandise and homemade goodies.”

“The shifts each day were only four and a half hours long but were ‘jam packed’ as the Tea Rooms are so popular with show goers,” said Robyn.

“There were often long lines of people patiently waiting for the next hot fresh batch of scones to come out of the oven,” said Karen.

They were both were very excited and privileged to attend the official opening of the show by Princess Anne. “This was full of pomp and ceremony with her arriving in a horse drawn carriage, having groups of the defence forces marching and a flyover by the Air Force Roulettes,” said Karen.

Support the local CWA’s Open Garden at Helen and Kingsley Green’s property Booklyn on Victory Rd on Saturday, 21st May from 2-4pm. Entry is $10 including afternoon tea.

By Sue Cunningham

Forbes North Public School To Host Biggest Morning Tea

May 13, 2022 by Maggi Barnard

Eleanor and Bethany Osborne attended the Biggest Morning Tea at Forbes North Public School in 2018. The school will once again host the event on Thursday, 19th May. (Photo credit: Lucy Cambourn Photography)

Next week Thursday, 19th May is a BIG day for the school community of Forbes North Public School.

There is great excitement to welcome parents and carers back on site as the school will once again host a Biggest Morning tea to raise funds for Cancer Council and people impacted by cancer. The return of the popular event to the school calendar is hoped to provide an opportunity for families to be welcomed on to school grounds and to raise much needed funds.

This will be the first Biggest Morning Tea at Forbes North for Principal David McGaw who is looking forward to meeting families on the day. “We are delighted to be able to open our school gates to our community for such a worthy cause,” said David.

“I look forward to sharing a cuppa with our visitors.” Students and visitors will join school staff in the school courtyard to share morning tea and make donations.

Around 150,000 Australians are diagnosed with cancer every year, meaning there are many families impacted. Every single dollar raised makes such a life-changing difference in funding vital cancer research, prevention programs and support services for cancer patients and their families.

For more information about the Biggest Morning Tea at Forbes North find us on Facebook or contact the school on 6852 2187.

Dancing Shoes

May 13, 2022 by Maggi Barnard

The Eisteddfod season is in full ‘swing’ and Kristen’s Dance Studio’s 8 years Troupe were on stage for the very first time at the Cowra Eisteddfod on Saturday. Not only did they absolutely love it, but they received a Highly Commended. They are super keen to get on stage again. Congratulations and well done to Miss Lozzy and all the dancers! (Photo credit: Kristen’s Dance Studio Facebook page)

Riverina Campaign Launch In Parkes

May 13, 2022 by Maggi Barnard

Mark Coulton and Michael McCormack at the Riverina Campaign Launch in Parkes on Tuesday.

The Riverina Electorate campaign launch for the National Party took place in Cooke Park on Tuesday with Member for Riverina Michael McCormack and Member for Parkes Mark Coulton.

Michael said he would prioritise the labour shortage and cost of living in Forbes and Parkes if he got re-elected. “These are the two major issues for this electorate, and I will be working on programs and projects for both of those.”

He said while there was a whole host of other issues, like action on climate and national security, he’d been talking to business people who just could not fill their positions, and families young and old who were worried about the cost of living.

Michael said the labour shortage was largely because of the 90,000 backpackers the country lost during COVID. “I don’t think people realise our reliance on overseas labour in hospitality, farming, agriculture, meat processing and other positions.”

He said even in the Central West hundreds of backpackers made a huge difference in the labour market. “Often these positions were word of mouth. One person would work on a farm near Forbes and go home and tell their friends about the great farmer where they could go and work. When the backpackers left and did not come back for two years, that word of mouth broke down. The backpackers came here in their droves and spent a lot of money.”

Michael said while the Australian Agriculture Visa (AAV) program introduced to address workforce shortages in the agriculture sector and backpackers were slowly coming back, the Pacific labour hire program still needed to be enhanced.

“The problem is we cannot invite people back to Australia who are not vaccinated and this is impacting the numbers.”

Ride-on Mower Racing Champs In Forbes

May 6, 2022 by Maggi Barnard

Forbes is hosting the All Australian Ride-on Mower Racing Championships this weekend at the Forbesauto Sportsclub with 82 competitors from four states taking part.

All the action and excitement will take place at 205 Hoopers Road, Forbes from 9am on Saturday with the finals on Sunday after lunch.

Two Forbes locals, Dave Teale and Craig Bratton, not only did all the hard work to get the event here, but will also be competing.

The competitors will be doing laps on a track in different categories depending on whether the mower is standard or was modified. Some competitors do a lot of work to make their mower look spectacular, while some of them have motorbike engines.

Don’t miss the action this weekend!

Forbes Welcomes Three New Citizens

May 6, 2022 by Maggi Barnard

A citizenship ceremony was held by the Forbes Shire Council last week for three new Aussies. Forbes Mayor Cr Phyllis Miller OAM welcomed Rohitha Patabendige, Kamani Nammuni and their daughter Vindi (7) to the community. The couple’s 15-month-old Australian-born daughter, Sindi was also at the ceremony. Member for Orange Phil Dona-to (left) and Member for Riverina Michael McCormack (right) were also at the ceremony with Forbes Shire Councillors.

In The News

May 6, 2022 by Maggi Barnard

Teachers at the Forbes Public School joined thousands of their colleagues in NSW on Wednesday to strike over pay and conditions. It was the second strike in six months by teachers.

The winner of the Forbes Phoenix Easter Colouring Competition 7 – 10 years is Lachie Dent. He was very excited about his prize.

Some call it a spider apocalypse. Many people have noticed a network of spiderwebs in their gardens over the past week as can be seen in Robyne Cowhan’s backyard. (Photo credit: Robyne Cowhan.)

Enjoy the Space and Freedom Of Country

May 6, 2022 by Maggi Barnard

Peter Giles, Project Manager & Sales, with his partner Nartayliah, who is the Director & Compliance Advisor of Giles
Land Development, and their two children Mila and River.

Old Pine Estate is a unique 105ha property located in the beautiful shallow rush area on the western limit of Parkes NSW that is being developed into a residential area for families looking for the beauty of country living. The locally owned and established subdivision is done by Giles Land Development and will comprise six lots of 1.3ha each and 23 lots of 4ha each.

Peter Giles, Project Manager, said the development was named ‘Old Pine’ after the original farm. The development is located adjacent to Moulden Street, Cookapie Street, Back Trundle Road and Gold Rush Road.

Peter said the large blocks were targeted at the family looking for the freedom and lifestyle of country living. “The joys of watching your kids grow up, riding horses or motorbikes, enjoying the outdoors or the older couple looking for a quiet community to retire into, with the added convenience of the town centre only minutes away.”

With the current shortage of property available across the Parkes region and the Central West, Peter and Nartayliah decided it was the perfect time to release this subdivision to the public. “There is currently no other affordable 4ha or 1,3 ha lots available in the area,” said Peter.

“We are very excited to present this affordable and desirable land to the Parkes community.”

All the blocks will have power, sealed road access, new fencing and estate style entryways. There will be no house design or style restrictions, but the standard council regulations for the R5 Zoning code will apply. The 1.3ha lots have town water and street lighting, and all the lots can have a bore installed.

Peter said the response had been great so far, and he and his family were also going to build and live on the estate.

To register your expression of interest and to receive an information brochure scan the QR code in the below image. For up-to-date news, like and share their Facebook page @gileslanddevelopment.

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