HSC GREEN LIGHT: HSC exams will go ahead from November 9, 2021. Students from Forbes High and Red Bend will be able to sit their HSC exams and receive their results in time for university offers to be made.

All HSC students will get the opportunity to complete their studies in 2021, with the full complement of HSC exams to go ahead from November 9, 2021. Students will be able to sit their HSC exams and receive their results in time for university offers to be made.

The NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) has issued a revised timetable, with 110 exams taking place over 19 days, ending on December 3.

Students will receive their ATARs on January 20, 2022, with their HSC results released on January 24.

Strict COVID safe protocols supported by NSW Health will be in place to protect students, exam supervisors and school staff when HSC exams commence.

The protocols for a COVID-safe HSC require exam supervisors to be fully vaccinated and strongly encourage eligible HSC students to receive two vaccine doses before exams start.
68,710 students are on track to receive the HSC in 2021, according to the HSC Enrolment Snapshot which was released on Monday by NESA.

View the 2021 HSC exam timetable: https://www.educationstandards.nsw.edu.au/wps/portal/nesa/11-12/hsc/key-dates-exam-timetables/hsc-written-exam-timetable
View COVID-safe exam protocols: educationstandards.nsw.edu.au/covid-19-advice

As students and staff are preparing for a return to face-to-face learning, NSW Minister for Education Sarah Mitchell said the state government is carrying out a systematic review of all learning spaces to ensure all schools continue to operate in the safest ways possible.

The review will focus on ventilation in classrooms and also provide support to schools to adapt lessons to make full use of school facilities including outdoor learning areas.

“This is a mammoth task, as we have 2,200 schools in the public system with more than 50,000 learning spaces. The health of students and staff has always been our priority,” Ms Mitchell said.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic Ms Mitchell said they have made “significant increases in hygiene practices”.

“Advice and supplies will continue to be provided to principals to ensure they can operate their school in a COVID safe way”.

Schools will be communicating how they are implementing the Level 3 restrictions in their own settings. Parents are encouraged to look online or in newsletters to learn about new procedures that have been introduced.

For updated information on the return to school and restrictions, visit: https://education.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/advice-for-families.

Ongoing wellbeing support: https://education.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/wellbeing-for-students-and-families.

ADF VAX CLINIC THIS WEEKEND: ADF run 2nd dose vax clinics will be back operating from Forbes Town Hall this weekend Sept 18-20.

Supported by Western NSW Local Health District, the Australian Defence Force (ADF) will begin administering second doses of COVID-19 vaccines this weekend in Forbes and other centres as the next phase of a region-wide vaccination blitz starts.

The ADF will return to more than 30 communities across the district in the next three weeks to hold second-dose clinics, which will result in thousands of residents being fully vaccinated.

The clinics over the next three weeks are only for second doses, the ADF will not deliver first doses, and they are not walk-in clinics.

The people who received the Pfizer vaccine will be contacted with advice on when they can return to their relevant clinic to receive their second dose.

Those who received AstraZeneca will be contacted with advice on how to receive their second dose of the vaccine, in line with the recommended interval between first and second doses. Locations and dates below for our region are as follows:

• Parkes: Northparkes Oval 14 September – 16 September
• Forbes: Council Town Hall 18 September – 20 September

ROADMAP TO NOWHERE: NSW Shooters Party MP Phil Donato has questioned the NSW Liberal Berejiklian Government over the Roadmap to Freedom.

NSW Shooters Party MP and Member for Orange, Philip Donato, has criticised the NSW Government for their Roadmap to Freedom. Donato believes what we currently have are merely a new set of conditions without any defined point at which we can reclaim a life of real freedom and without health order restrictions.

“On September 9th the Premier and her Deputy released their document titled “Roadmap to Freedom” www.nsw.gov.au/media-releases/roadmap-to-freedom-unveiled-for-fully-vaccinated
“This isn’t a map at all, it’s yet another mishmash variety of the Government’s health order restrictions which are confusing to community and business,” he said. “Freedom doesn’t come with T’s & C’s or strings attached. We need a solid plan with a realistic vaccination goal of the willing, at which our lives are no longer controlled by health order restrictions.”

Donato also said he believed that the impacts had driven many to breaking point as businesses close, mortgages default and relationships and mental health become strained.

“The NSW Government has subscribed to the Doherty Institute’s modelling, which is centred on 50, 60, 70 and 80% vaccination targets. The modelling shows substantial COVID transmission reduction by 70 and 80% targets. Given this is the accepted measure, 80% vaccination is the official high target and therefore the point at which society should resume normality, free of health order restrictions,” Donato said. “I’m calling on the Premier to give us a defined benchmark for the return of our pre-COVID freedom.”

Forbes Shire Council is working to a plan adapted by Council and the community for the improvement of the CBD. This plan will build economic resilience for the Forbes Shire and serve to provide a pleasant environment to shop for locals and visitors alike.

With funding from Stronger Country Communities and Building Better Regions FSC have been able to achieve the new paving and stamped asphalt in Templar Street, front to kerb car parking including line marking, installation of planter boxes and the trees planted in the eastern end of Templar Street.

This new component of the project will deliver the following stages:

1. Seating around the trees to provide additional seating for pedestrians, and also to provide protection to the tree roots

2. Removal of rose beds at the Lachlan Street corners of Templar Street (out the front of Platypus Gallery and Made of Fridays) and the paving to be extended. The rose beds will be repurposed around town

3. Pergola Structures (part roofed/ part vine covered) within pedestrian verges at the four corners of this section of Templar Street. The vines covering these pergolas, although they will take some months to grow, will provide shade in summer and additional sun in the winter months as the focus will be on deciduous species.

Large benches installed along Templar Street to provide additional seating, these benches will have back railing and bollards to minimise the risk of vehicular/pedestrian interactions.

“There are also several exciting com-ponents of the CBD masterplan to follow these works which will occur as funding is readily available,” FSC said in a media release.

“Construction is underway off-site and Council is hopeful it will be installed and completed by the end of December 2021.”

Council will be utilising local Contractors where possible, in accordance with Building Better Regions funding.