Residents, farmers and businesses in Lockhart, Parkes and now Weddin Shires will be able to access disaster assistance to help recover from recent severe weather events. Federal Member for Riverina Michael McCormack said Lockhart and Parkes Local Government Areas have been added to the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) along with three other Riverina Electorate LGAs: Cowra, Forbes and Weddin

“This is about getting support to the places most affected by the recent heavy downpours and flooding events as a result of the rain,” Mr McCormack said.

The disaster assistance will help the Cowra, Forbes, Lockhart, Parkes and Weddin councils cover the costs associated with the operational response and repairing damaged essential public assets.

Local residents will also receive support to get back on their feet, including grants to replace essential household contents or repair structural damage to homes.

Assistance available under the DRFA may include:

Help for eligible people whose homes or belongings have been damaged (eligibility criteria apply);

Support for affected local councils to help with the costs of cleaning up and restoring damaged essential public assets;

Concessional interest rate loans for small businesses, primary producers and non-profit organisations;

Freight subsidies for primary producers;

Grants to eligible non-profit organisations.

For information on personal hardship and distress assistance, contact Service NSW on 13 77 88.

Club Forbes have shown once again what great supporters they are of CanAssist Forbes with a generous donation last week to help those locally battling the scourge of cancer.

“Club Forbes have been great supporters of CanAssist for many years and their support is greatly appreciated by all at CanAssist and the Forbes people affected by cancer that we support,” a statement from CanAssist read.

“The committee and members of CanAssist Forbes thank Club Forbes for their magnificent donation.”

CanAssist Forbes was the first country branch established in 1956. The branch raises funds to provide financial assistance to people in the Forbes community who are undergoing cancer treatment.

“We are very well supported by members, volunteers and the community of Forbes. We believe the community of Forbes are so supportive because they know all the money raised and donated is used to assist Forbes and district cancer patients.”

Areas serviced include: Bandon, Bedgerebong, Bundaburrah, Calarie, Carrawabbity, Corinella, Cumbijowa, Eugowra, Fairholme, Forbes, Garema, Grawlin, Gunning Gap, Jemalong, Mulyandry, Ooma, Warroo, Weelong, Wirrinya and Yarragong.

 

Member for Riverina Michael McCormack has stood up in Federal Parliament to praise and thank those defending Forbes in the face of a flooding Lachlan River.

“I want to say thanks this morning to all of those who helped willingly and voluntarily, doing what they could for their colleagues in the town and, indeed, for strangers who they may never have met before,” Mr McCormack said in a Constituency Statement.

“I have to say thank you also to all the volunteers who came from all parts of New South Wales to render assistance. They came to lend a hand to the people of Forbes.”

Mr McCormack witnessed Forbes residents banding together and the support of first responders and emergency volunteers when he visited the town twice last week.

“That town on the Lachlan River has, of course, been besieged by rising floodwaters. Hundreds of homes were under threat. Many of them had water running through them.”

Mr McCormack thanked the many businesses which have provided free coffee and free care packs, from the smallest coffee shop in town right up to Woolworths and Telstra.

“Fifty thousand sandbags were filled by the State Emergency Service. I also want to acknowledge the outstanding effort by the mayor, Phyllis Miller, and her Shire Council team. Phyllis Miller is one of the great mayors in my electorate, if not the State.”

Mr McCormack warned the flood crisis was not over yet.

 

When Kim and Wendy Muffet decided to move from their farm 60kms west of Forbes, for the more tranquil and idyllic surrounds of Gum Swamp where they established the green living retreat known as Girragirra, Wiradjuri for “Be Well, Be Happy, Be Merry”, they knew there would be some challenges living on the floodplain.

Despite the third setback in less than a decade of living on and then running their small green eco-tourism business, Kim and Wendy, believe Girragirra will always be a magical place for guests to experience no matter what the season brings because it has been designed to be safely embedded in the beauty of the floodplain.

As former landholders and farmers themselves, the Muffet’s feel the pain of the loss and despair floods can bring. On the back of a COVID pandemic, Wendy acknowledges that for many, the losses will be devastating and she hopes that they can bounce back leading into Christmas.

“While we may have lost some bookings and other local businesses have lost thousands, our farmers have lost millions and they are the heart of the valley,” Wendy said.

“The river is the lifeblood and sadly, these disasters can happen in the floodplain.”

Three times in nine years in fact but Wendy isn’t prepared to let it destroy the dream of Girragirra Green Living.

“I love it out here. We both do and we understand floods contribute to the ecological health of the floodplain,” she said.

“Hopefully the water recedes soon enough and things start getting back to normal here at Girragirra and for everyone in the Forbes Shire,” Wendy said.

“Our heart goes out to all those impacted by the floods and we want to thank everyone who messaged us well wishes – we appreciate it!”

Go to www.girragirra.com for more info.

 

Binaal Billa Binaal Billa Family Violence Prevention Legal Service in conjunction with auspice body Yoorana Gunya FHC held a morning tea at the Binaal Billa FVPLS office in Spring Street last week, to recognise that the 25th November is the official day of the elimination of violence against women.

Domestic and family violence is a community problem and not an individual one and it takes a community to help all people stay safe. Sentiments echoed at Binaal Billa FVPLS last week.

“If you see something, if you hear something, say something,” their statement read,

“Binaal Billa and Yoorana Gunya remain committed to raising awareness and offering support to the community. This day acknowledges the victims of domestic and family violence and raises awareness of the ongoing issue that presents itself on a daily basis”.

On average, 1 in 4 women have experienced emotional abuse by a current or former partner since the age of fifteen. Approximately 85% of Australian women have also been sexually harassed. Sadly, one woman is murdered a week by her current or former partner.

Forbes DV committee will be having a display in the planter pots in Templar Street, this year’s theme is the Hidden Victims (children). There will be 200 cut-outs of children both pink and blue placed in the pots soon (weather permitting) and there will be information tiles with statistics informing the community of the numbers of child related victims.

 

Forbes Shire Council has recently launched its iRecycle Forbes waste App, allowing locals to track bin collection days, check what waste goes in which bin and have handy reminders sent straight to a smartphone.

“The Council is sure the iRecycle Forbes App will provide a ‘one stop shop’ for all waste information, that is easily accessible for residents and will enable people to set bin reminders and receive real-time updates of any service changes or delays,” said Forbes Shire General Manager, Steve Loane.

“I found it so useful to have this information available through an App. We all live busy lives and this App will ensure the bins go out on the correct day,” he said.

“The app will make it easier for residents to notify Council of missed bins or damaged bins and will notify users of the app of upcoming waste events planned by our waste team.”

For locals who prefer the hard copy calendar, this can be downloaded from Council’s website and printed. Additional assistance will also be provided for those residents who don’t have access to smart technology.

For more information on recycling services, visit Council’s website: www.forbes.nsw.gov.au/residents/waste-and-recycling/recycling.

 

Entries open December 9 and close December 21 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 (behind Jess’s Essential Beauty and Wellness, pictured), Made Of Fridays or Undercover Sleepwear.

To enter, you will need to take photos of you and the Elf and post on Facebook. Please tag Forbes Phoenix and Forbes Business Chamber so we can share.

The Elf in the Shop is co-sponsored 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.

Members of the community have to identify the twenty stores with an ELF in their window display or another prominent place day or night. Clues are on the entry form. Winners will be announced at 5pm Tuesday December 21st and contacted by telephone.