Westpac will provide emergency support for households, businesses and farms affected by the flooding in Central West New South Wales.

Emergency support available:

Affected customers with Westpac home loans may apply to defer repayments for up to three months.

Affected credit card customers may apply to defer repayments to their card for up to 90 days.

Affected customers wishing to purchase replacement goods may apply for a personal loan at a discounted interest rate with no establishment fee.

Westpac will waive interest rate adjustments for affected customers wishing to withdraw term deposits.

Affected customers experiencing hardship may also be offered a halt on all interest accrual on unsecured credit products for a period of up to three months.

Affected customers with Westpac business loans may apply to defer repayments for up to three months.

Affected businesses with existing loans can request loan restructuring without incurring the usual bank establishment fees.

Affected business customers with merchant facilities are eligible to receive assistance.

To access financial assistance Westpac consumer customers can apply online or call Westpac Assist on 1800 067 497. Business customers call Westpac Assist on 1800 067 497. St.George consumer customers can apply online or call St.George Assist on 1800 629 795. Business customers call St.George Assist on 1800 629 795.

 

Sadly, the 2021 Forbes Christmas Carnival will not be going ahead. The Forbes Business Chamber last weekend made the announcement that it has no option but to cancel the date this year.

“The reallocation of another date is just not possible as that date would need to be after the 15th December while the 15th December date is still not confirmed and concrete,” said Marg Duggan, President of the Forbes Business Chamber.

“Under the current circumstances and COVID restrictions the Christmas Carnival is unable to go ahead in Templar and Rankin Streets. This is due to the mandatory requirement that fencing is erected at all entrances and must be manned throughout the evening. People who are not double-vaccinated are excluded from the event. This exclusion is not possible as within the cage area there are essential service businesses. These businesses include health such as pharmacy, dentist, butcher clothing and food services.” said Marg Duggan

The Chamber will be holding late night shopping evenings on the 9th and 16th December until 8pm and are hopeful local businesses will support these evenings. Those businesses that are located out of Rankin, Templar and Lachlan Streets are welcome to bring a table and display into the CBD for those evenings. The items can be sold or used as a promotion for your business.

Other activities will include the Elf In The Shop, sponsored by the Forbes Phoenix this year. Keep your eyes open for the clue sheet.

The prizes in this years’ promotion total $20,000 and $500 draws will be held on Thursday afternoons until December 23. The remaining draws are for December 24 – totalling $20,000.

The winning Why Leave Town Cards are valid until the 30th June, 2022 and are redeemable at a number of Forbes businesses.

“The Christmas Carnival will be back in 2022 no doubt!”

The previously cancelled Meet the 2021 Council Election Candidates Night was held last Thursday night by the Forbes Business Chamber at the Forbes Golf and Sportsmans Hotel.

Speaking in Ballot Order – each of the candidates were given five minutes to present to the audience and media why they would be an ideal candidate for the council and why voters should vote for them number one on the ballot in under a week.

Election day is Saturday, December 4, after it has previously been postponed due to COVID in September 2020. Candidates elected to this Forbes Shire Council, like others, will serve shorter terms as a result.

With former councillor Susan Chau moving interstate and Grant Clifton not contesting this election, there are thirteen candidates vying for nine positions on the Forbes Shire Council. Some like Emma Henderson are running for the first time while others like Phyllis Miller and Chris Roylance will be going again.

All are worthy candidates and deserve serious consideration, there are limited positions and perhaps the disruptions to campaigning will favour those who have experience come polling day. Make sure you cast your vote on December 4 to not just avoid fines but also ensure your preferred council candidate is a chance to be elected. It is after all, your Forbes Shire Council!

Ballot Order: 1. Aidan Clarke; 2. Margaret Duggan; 3. Jeff Nicholson; 4. Thomas Dwyer; 5. Chris Roylance; 6. Steve Karaitiana; 7. Phyllis Miller; 8. Brian Mattiske; 9. Graeme Miller; 10. Michele Herbert; 11. Maria Willis; 12. Emma Henderson and 13. Jenny Webb.

Entries open on Thursday 9th December and close on the Tuesday 21st December for the Forbes Phoenix “Elf In The Shop” Competition. Completed entries must be delivered either at the Forbes Phoenix office under the door in Rankin Arcade, Made Of Fridays, Undercover Sleepwear or Blue Sky Outdoors.

To enter, you will need to collect all of the clues and drop your sheets in. We would also like you to take a selfie and post it on Facebook.

The Elf in the Shop is co-sponsored by the Forbes Phoenix in conjunction with the Forbes Business Chamber. There are six prizes of $50 WLT cards. Prizes will be awarded to the correct entries. If there are more than six winners a draw will take place.

To encourage the Find It In Amazing Forbes and Why Leave Town shop local promotions and to support local businesses, this activity is a treasure hunt held between Thursday 9th and Tuesday 21st December. Members of the community have to identify the twenty stores with an ELF in their window display or another prominent place. The ELF must be visible at night. Clues are provided on the entry form. Winners will be announced at 5pm Tuesday 21st December and contacted by telephone.

The Chamber has almost completed the clues so not long now till it starts! Keep your eyes on the Phoenix.

In other sad news, Forbes Shire Council have had little choice but to cancel this year’s edition of International Day Of People with Disability (IDPwD) celebrations due to the fall out from the recent floods. The event usually attracts NDIS providers from across the region including our very own Aruma as well as Currajong Disability Services out of Parkes among others.

The event had been slated for next Friday December 3rd but sadly this has been canned until further notice. The last installment also suffered a similar fate with COVID forced postponements impacting it as well. Fingers crossed there can be a new date in the new year.

Disability comes in many forms with some 90% of all disabilities unseen meaning awareness is also important. Many struggle daily with their disabilities and often require strong and secure support, systems and routines just to navigate day-to-day life.

IDPwD is a United Nations sanctioned day that is celebrated internationally. It aims to increase public awareness, understanding and acceptance of people with disabilities and celebrate their achievements and contributions. The Australian Government has been supporting IDPwD since 1996 and provides funds to promote and raise awareness of the day around Australia.

As the old saying goes – you may not be impacted by disability at the moment but we all will have a turn one day meaning days like International Day of People with Disability are vital for understanding, growth, and awareness.

More info can be obtained at – www.idpwd.com.au/about/

 

Nominations are now open for the annual Her Sport Her Way Awards to recognise and celebrate the achievements of women and girls in sport.

Minister for Sport Natalie Ward said the awards are a key initiative in the NSW Government’s ‘Her Sport Her Way’ Year Three Action Plan to advance equality in sport.

“These awards are a great opportunity to showcase our trailblazers in sport and inspire the younger generation to get involved at all levels,” Mrs Ward said.

“I encourage NSW sporting organisations and individuals to nominate an outstanding coach, official, administrator or leader who has made a significant contribution to sport becoming more inclusive and appealing for women and girls.”

The ‘Her Sport Her Way’ Year Three Action Plan covers 15 key areas, including removing barriers and advancing women leaders through strategic partnerships.

Minister for Women Bronnie Taylor said it is important for young girls to see female representation in sport across the board.

“Whether it’s on the field or in the boardroom, having female role models in sport empowers young girls to see themselves in those same roles,” Mrs Taylor said.

“Last year Cricket NSW, Wheelchair Sports NSW/ACT and Tennis NSW were honoured at the Awards for their strategic vision and leadership in delivering greater access to sport for women and girls.”

Other key actions in the Year Three Action Plan include funding to address participation and retention of teenage girls in sport and training and professional development support for aspiring female leaders.

The Her Sport Her Way 2021-22 Award categories include: Young Achiever, Local Champion, Outstanding Organisation, Trailblazers and Champion.

Nominations open today and close on Friday 14 January 2022. The award winners will be celebrated at a ceremony next year.

For more information, see www.sport.nsw.gov.au/hersportherway

 

For nearly 30 years Roc Walshaw has been the face of the SES response around these parts. “Rocky” as he is known by one and all is the definition of a local legend, but his mark has been felt far wider. The list of those who speak glowingly of him is too long to print here.

Ask the folks of Moree when the Mehi broke some years back. Rocky tracked down and orchestrated a way for milk, bread and other provisions to get to town. He’s a bloke you want to follow and someone you love to have side-by-side in the trenches.

The Nyngan floods in the early 90s piqued Roc’s curiosity while he was in Narromine and it didn’t take long for him to join the SES where he soon took over from an old army pal upon his return to Forbes.

Since then, he has seen plenty of floods, the past decade has been among the worst and now the 2021 floods after the COVID

pandemic. Even after this interview, Rocky was soon to be boarding a chopper to Corinella cut off by flood waters after the mighty Lachlan burst its banks last week. He was delivering mail and supplies. Five minutes with Roc Walshaw and you can tell he genuinely cares. He doesn’t seek attention and he would give you his last tenner.

He’s seen worse floods than 2021 but acknowledged they’re all different and present their own unique challenges. This one will hurt. They all do.

He looks out over the raging flood waters near South Circle with the thousand-yard stare and steely determination only those who have braved the worst of it can understand with hands on hips.

“We’ll bounce back,” he said. “We always do. Forbes is a resilient little place filled with strong people.”

Solid as a Roc.

Info Sheet

The elections are a vital part of the democratic process, ensuring councils across the State are accountable to their communities.

They also provide both residents and candidates with an opportunity to help shape their local community for the next three years.

This election, 5.2 million electors will cast votes for about 5,000 candidates standing for election for more than 1,200 councillor positions at 124 local councils.

Elections are not being held for Balranald Shire Council, Central Coast Council, Central Darling Shire Council or Wingecarribee Shire Council this year as they are in administration.

Of the 124 councils holding elections in 2021, all but two have engaged the NSW Electoral Commission to conduct their polls, with Penrith and Fairfield using private election providers.

The NSW Electoral Commission is recruiting more than 30,000 people across the State to deliver the local government elections.

The NSW Government will provide an additional funding package of up to $57 million for COVID-safe elections to be held at no additional cost to councils and so councils only pay for the direct costs of holding their polls.

The Government will also maximise voter participation by utilising iVote and expanding the eligibility criteria for pre-poll and postal voting.

The Office of Local Government is the NSW Government agency responsible for strengthening the sustainability, performance, integrity, transparency and accountability of the local government sector.

OLG has a policy, legislative, investigative and program focus in regulating the State’s 128 local councils. OLG, which is part of the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment, is the key adviser to the NSW Government on local government matters.

 

It was the elephant in the room last week when NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet and Deputy Paul Toole flew into Forbes for a whirlwind visit to inspect the flood damage.

The big question that everyone wanted an answer to, that the Premier wouldn’t be drawn on, was – When will the Wyangala Dam Wall Project extension be complete?

Three major floods in the past nine years are prompting many to ask why its taking so long to make a decision about raising the wall.

While all leaders on deck praised the SES volunteers (and rightly so), culminating in a barbeque lunch in Victoria Park, for many residents, the lack of a time frame for such a vital piece of infrastructure needs

to be addressed. Some have experienced horrendous flooding and are still recovering from 2016.

The lack of explanation is at odds with Perrottet’s federal colleagues, especially Michael McCormack, who has been extremely vocal in his push for the wall.

For local Jake Griffiths, the water flooded the whole bottom of his rental property. He has only been in his Browne Street residence since 2017 but was amazed at just how much water made its way into his yard.

“It was ankle deep in our garage and the ground level rooms,” he said.

“We are lucky it didn’t impact us like so many others,” Jake said.