TAFE NSW Forbes is running a White Card course on Wednesday 10th November 2021. If you meet the below criteria, you can enrol in this White Card course fee free:
• Live or work in NSW
• Be 15 years of older
• Have finished school
• Be an Australian Citizen or Humanitarian Visa holder
This course provides the mandatory work health and safety training required prior to undertaking construction work in NSW. To enrol call in the Forbes Campus.
The NSW Government is investing $21 million to expand the Aboriginal mental health and suicide prevention workforce as part of $131 million mental health recovery package. Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Don Harwin said the four-year investment will allow for the recruitment of 18 FTE Aboriginal Care Navigators and 18 FTE Aboriginal Peer Workers across NSW.
MAN OF STEEL: Light Steel Structures Manager Daniel Relyea with the modern steel fabrication machine situated in the old timber mill in Eugowra.
The Mill at Eugowra is producing frames and trusses again.
No, it’s not the old timber machines firing up again, this time round it is steel made by Light Steel Structures.
Modern, efficient and 100% recyclable, the light gauge steel outweighs the timber option on the weight to strength ratio. Each project is custom produced to maximise speed and minimise cost.
Light Steel Structures is filling a void in the market throughout the Central West with its focus on looking after local builders, many of whom were left high and dry when the timber shortage hit home.
Light Steel Structures Manager, Daniel Relyea says “it’s great to be able to service the most important market sector, the lower volume builders. Together with the latest in machining technology and powerful design software, we can design and produce custom frames and trusses with a short turnaround time.
“I have spent many years in the building and construction industry and always used timber, but now having seen just how advanced steel framing can be, I’m a convert to steel.
The dimple and rivet allow for a flush wall frame meaning fixing linings like gyprock sit flat.”
“With steel frames being much lighter than timber, the system suits owner builders and those with small crews to work efficiently. It will be great to see money staying in the region with a new local business pro-viding building products as well as jobs,” said Daniel.
Contact Daniel at Light Steel Structures on 0477 195 438 or by email: info@lights-teelstructures.com.au
Agricultural and royal shows have received a much-needed funding lifeline with Minister for Agriculture David Littleproud MP recently announcing $25 million to agricultural show societies as they recover from the cost of COVID-19, ensuring they can continue in 2022 and beyond.
Colloquially known as ‘ag shows’, these long-running events in country towns and cities across Australia are staples in the annual community calendar.
There are 580 ag shows held in Australia each year providing a significant contribution of over $1 billion to the Australian economy. Around 6 million people attend an ag show each year.
“The financial support announced by the Australian Government last week will enable ag shows to plan and implement shows in 2022 and the confidence to proceed with their shows for next year,” Agricultural Shows Australia Chair Dr Rob Wilson said.
“This announcement recognises the im-portant role of agricultural shows and the financial impact COVID,” he said.
“We have seen hundreds upon hundreds of shows cancelled in 2020 and 2021 at great cost to communities, agricultural exhibitors and the 50,000 volunteers who underpin show societies.”
Agricultural Shows Australia encourages local shows, their committees and showmen and women to prioritise their grant applications before the deadline.
SMASHING IT AND FIXING IT: Sammy Leonard of Forbes Smash is branching out into more custom and boutique jobs as her business continues to go from strength to strength. Give Sammy a bell – custom job or not at Forbes Smash on 6852 2272.
In 2009 when Sammy Leonard started her own business Forbes Smash at 27 Rankin Street, she never imagined she would still be going… and growing!
While the garage has serviced nearly everyone in the Forbes Shire and surrounds, it is her next foray into more custom work that is sure to whet the appetite of every petrol head and his Datsun.
“Neil Merchant from the Harley Davidson shop Unique Cycle Service Forbes often ships some work to us and it is something that I really get a kick out of – especially after his garage does their thing,” she said.
“I prefer cars but I have a great appreciation for bikes too and love to work on both!”
Forbes Smash now has more staff and are looking at custom and niche related projects too as Sam continues to be a trail-blazer in a male-dominated industry.
“We will also continue to service the Forbes community and keep everyone safe,” Sammy said.
“We do love to be creative and have some fun though too!”
Starting as a spray painter with the late Kevin Vale in the 2000s, Sammy can’t imagine herself doing anything else.
“To be honest I think I will be doing this until the day I die,” she said.
“Ever since Dad got me into tinkering with cars it’s been in the blood and I can’t see it changing.”
“So if it ain’t broke …”
Forbes Arts Society are seeking an operator for their new gallery café – a contemporary food and beverage enterprise with flair, creativity and imagination that meets the demand for quality regional cuisine in the Forbes Shire area. That’s the Forbes Arts Society’s vision for the café to be located within the new Forbes Cultural and Arts Centre at 110 Lachlan Street, Forbes.
FAS are currently seeking expressions of interest from individuals or businesses looking for a unique opportunity to develop their operations in the hospitality industry by running the Centre’s café. With construction set to commence in the coming months, the former Forbes Ambulance Station will soon be transformed into a vibrant, civic hub. The Centre is scheduled for completion in late 2022.
Forbes Arts Society Chairperson, Dr Karen Ritchie said, “we are really excited about the prospect of working closely with the preferred café operator over the next 12 months to create a contemporary eatery that’s welcoming, accessible and complements the Centre’s other creative and collaborative spaces.”
In its current design, the café accommodates seating for 25 people inside, and has an expansive outdoor courtyard with seating for upward of 50 people.
To obtain an Expression of Interest package or to find out more, contact forbesartss@gmail.com. Submissions close 5pm, Friday 29 October 2021.
The Forbes Cultural and Arts Centre development is part of the $7.2 million ‘Boosting the Lachlan Valley Economy Art Project’ which is proudly funded by the NSW Government’s Regional Growth – Environment and Tourism Fund, the Forbes Arts Society, Forbes Shire Council, Lachlan Shire Council and Evolution Mining.
It’s National Bird Week and Gum Swamp hosts 161 variations of birds and is a haven not just for twitchers but anyone who loves nature and wants to experience these species living on and around the swamp that’s totally dedicated to them and where they can live in a natural environment.
Recently the Gum Swamp hides have had a great transformation and now incorporates three two-storey new hides. The existing hide was recently refurbished as part of the Gum Swamp redevelopment project. Built in 1992 with support from Dick Smith & Australian Geographic and local community groups, the ‘bunker’ needed a makeover.
Forbes Arts Society’s Chairperson, Dr Karen Ritchie said, “the existing bird hide has been a tremendous community and tourism asset for close to 30 years, so we are delighted to see it refurbished to be utilised for decades to come.”
Located just four kilometres from the Forbes CBD along the Newell Highway, Gum Swamp is a nationally significant site for ornithology (study of birds) and amateur twitchers will have four, unobtrusive vantage points from which to observe over 160 bird species.
“The landscape lends itself to a diverse range of opportunities. We hope that this redevelopment will attract new user groups, including photographers, artists, health and wellness enthusiasts, and those wishing to just immerse themselves in nature,” Karen said.
The Gum Swamp redevelopment is part of the $7 million ‘Boosting the Lachlan Valley Economy Art Project’, proudly funded by the NSW Government’s Restart NSW program through the Regional Lachlan Valley region as a premier tourism destination.
PUDDING CAKES ALL OVER THE PLACE: Neil Lambert and Ian Acret of Forbes N District Lions at the front of RMB Matthews Williams Lawyers in Forbes, their latest stockists. Great to see our local businesses supporting this Lions Project. Photo by Peter Bright.
The Forbes N District Lions have now got stocks of Christmas Cakes and Puddings at a number of locations around Forbes and Parkes. These cakes are made by a contractor to their own special recipe, so you won’t get these cakes anywhere else.
Lions Cakes Chairperson, Neil Lambert and his trusty assistant, Ian Acret have been out and about this week delivering cakes to our stockists. Get in fast as these goodies won’t last and are an ideal additive to your Xmas shopping list while also supporting the community re-open from COVID and lockdowns.
He has become a familiar face with his daily COVID updates over the past three months for the local health district, but last week Scott McLachlan announced he was leaving the region. Scott has been in the role as Chief Executive of the Western NSW Local Health District for the past eight years. He will be leaving on 10th November to take up the role of Chief Executive of the Central Coast Local Health District.
“This was my first posting as a Chief Executive. While I’m looking forward to my new role, I will always be grateful to the people in our LHD team and communities who have supported me, and who I’ve learned so much from.”
Paul Newcombe, or Boo as he is known, announced earlier this year that he was retiring, but because of the demand he has caught 33 snakes this season. “I think the mouse plague definitely played a role,” Paul said.
He expects the breeding season to be very busy and his best advice if you’re within a metre of a snake to stand very still, and if you’re more than two metres away to back away very slowly.
His Facebook page called Snake Catch-er Forbes and Surrounding Areas, and he can be contacted on 0424 522 608. (If you have a bee swarm that needs to be moved, call Kevin Miles on 0487 912 332 or 6862 5302).
Our friendly girls from Binaal Billa will be helping run the Yoorana Gunya Mobile Children’s Library every Monday from 3.30pm – 4.30pm. Call Binaal Billa for more information 6850 1234 and connect with the Mobile Children’s Library team today!
FRIENDLY STAFF: The team from Binaal Billa are here to help encourage children to read and encourage quality family time. Pictured Jade Acheson and Taylor Hague.
BBONG ROADWORKS: Deputy NSW Premier and new state Nationals leader Paul Toole with Nationals Parliamentary Secretary to the Deputy Premier Sam Farraway on Bedgerabong Road which has recently received $644,375 in the latest round of NSW Government funding for repatching.
Parliamentary Secretary to the Deputy Premier, Sam Farraway said the local project is among 138 to rollout under the $153 million third round of the Program, which facilitates shovel-ready projects to repair, maintain and seal priority roads in their community.
“These projects will give councils a helping hand to address their maintenance backlog and to maintain roads that really matter to their communities, delivering safer trips to school or to the shops, as well as more efficient journeys for freight operators and primary producers,” Mr Farraway said.
“The Forbes community is already reaping the benefits of this program with $644,375 invested into Bedgerabong Road for major repatching of the surface,” Deputy Premier of NSW and Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Paul Toole said.
Fixing Local Roads had already delivered more than $394 million for 361 projects across 91 regional Local Government Areas from Armidale to Albury in the first two rounds.
“Communities across the state are already reaping the benefits of this program with 97 projects now open to traffic – and today’s announcement will see councils deliver a further 138 projects over the next two years,” he said.
“These projects won’t just ensure that locals see the benefits of this investment every time they get behind the wheel, they’re also supporting an additional 1,374 jobs throughout construction. Small projects like these not only make a big difference to the roads locals use every day, but they’ll also support the domestic tourist market when our regions open up again.”
Fixing Local Roads is a $500 million NSW Government program, boosted by the Australian Government with an additional $191 million.
PHOENIX RISING: No it’s not a new Black Eyed Peas album, it’s the new team from the Parkes and Forbes Phoenix – Roxane Manley, Maggi Barnard, Jordana Freney, Josh Matic and Dane Millerd near the new signage at the rear of Rankin Arcade.
While some media outlets are downsizing, the Phoenix Group of Newspapers owner Joshua Matic, is looking to expand his multi-media empire with more investment into staff, resources, skills and local communities.
“The Forbes and Parkes Phoenix Newspapers have shown the respective communities we are here for the long haul, are affordable and willing to partner with the business community,” Josh said.
“We are investigating opportunities to support or sponsor local activities or events and look forward to getting more involved in our communities and encourage local businesses to look to us for help in promoting or advertising their products and services”
The Phoenix Newspaper Group has grown in the last year with three new publications (Cowra, Mudgee and Blue Mountains) plus the existing three Josh already owned – Forbes, Parkes and Canowindra.
“Between the six papers I own and about the same my business partner owns (Hilltops, Hawkesbury, Yass, Griffith and Goulburn) we can cover the southern part of NSW and ensure maximum exposure via our newspaper distribution channels, online, social media and now video,” he said.
“Community papers are as good as the communities who contribute to them. We want to hear your stories!.”
Editorial enquiries – editor@forbesphoenix.com.au
Advertising – sales@forbesphoenix.com.au