The purpose of NAIDOC Week held in September is to celebrate the achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and to foster greater understanding of Indigenous culture. As part of this year’s NAIDOC Week celebrations recognition will be given to the outstanding contributions that local Indigenous people make to improve the community or to promote Indigenous issues. Award categories include:

• Indigenous Person of the Year (18 years and over)
• Indigenous Youth of the Year (Under 18 years)
• Indigenous Sports Person of the Year
• Indigenous Creative Person of the year

Nominations are now open and will close at 5.00pm Friday 31 August. If you would like to nominate an Indigenous person for an award please complete a nomination form and return to Forbes Shire Council – Attention: Sarah Williams, PO Box 333 Forbes NSW 2871 or you can drop forms into 2 Court Street, Forbes. Completed nomination forms will also be accepted by email at community@forbes.nsw.gov.au

Awards will be judged by representatives from the NAIDOC Week working committee. Should you have any questions or if you would like to take part in this year’s NAIDOC Week celebrations please contact Sarah Williams on 6850 2300.

As part of the Lions Park Refurbishment Project, drainage works have now begun at Lions Park. These works will see 150m of sub-surface drainage installed and the infilling of the current open drain.

Excavation of the site began on Monday 29th July and is anticipated to be completed in mid-September (weather permitting).

“This project is an important step in making Lions Park more user friendly for the whole community,” said Mayor of Forbes Cr Phyllis Miller OAM. “Filling in the current open drain will make Lions Park safer and more accessible for both visitors and residents and will take our amazing Forbes events to the next level.”

The project will see the current drainage channel widened temporarily to approximately 10m to allow for the installation of pipe work. This work will be completed in sections to ensure minimal disruption caused by water from the lake. Pedestrian diversions will be in place during this time, and the pedestrian bridge currently in place will be removed permanently.

“We will be using a sediment fence in the lake throughout the works,” said Phyllis.

“This is important to ensure the future of our beautiful lake and prevent any damage to this important community asset, so please don’t touch it!”

Sections of Lions Park will be closed to allow for these works but the park will remain functional at all times throughout the works. Temporary traffic lights will be installed at Junction St in late August to allow works to occur near the road however this is expected to cause only minimal traffic delays.

Upon completion of drainage installation the open drain will be filled and finished with turf, and the pedestrian footpath replaced to ensure immediate amenity and usability.

Residents and visitors are reminded to please be mindful of Council staff and observe site signage at all times.

Grazing Down The Lachlan has been awarded Silver in the Festival and Events category at the 2019 Regional Tourism Awards for Destination Country and Outback.

Grazing received the accolade in front of over 160 industry representatives at a gala evening held at Dubbo’s Taronga Western Plains Zoo on Saturday night. Deni Ute Muster took out Gold in the category, while Bathurst’s Winter Festival was awarded Bronze.

Chair of Grazing Down The Lachlan Committee, Wendy Muffett said, “we are beyond thrilled to have been awarded silver, and proud to have been among such an amazing line up of regional events.”

“A big thank you to our amazing volunteers, sponsors and local community, without whom, Grazing would not be possible,” continued Wendy.

“We would like to acknowledge and thank our partners, Destination NSW and the NSW Business Chamber who have both been instrumental in ensuring the success of the 2019 Regional Tourism Awards,” said Regional Tourism Awards Chair, Jane Barnes.

The Regional Tourism Awards are held annually to acknowledge excellence in tourism in regional NSW. Entrants are made up of tourism businesses, events, marketing organisations, clubs and individuals.

The award tops off a successful few weeks for Grazing – a sell out in 2019 for the third year running. Just over 900 ‘Grazers’ are set to embark on the epic long lunch down the banks of the Lachlan River in less than 8 weeks’ time.

‘Every Student, Every Voice’

Education Week is a state-wide, annual event, held during August to celebrate NSW public education. The theme for 2019 is ‘Every Student, Every Voice’ and encompasses a celebration of student empowerment and how the NSW public education system gives students the skills they need in order to have and express a voice during their educational journey and as engaged global citizens.

The innovative teaching and learning happening at Forbes High School will be on display at the Semester 1 Assembly as part of Education Week celebrations. “Forbes High School continues to strive towards excellence and our staff, students and parents have much to celebrate from our recent external validation, in which peer Principals acknowledged our school is excelling in educational leadership and wellbeing,” said Principal Ms Safija Bristina.

Forbes North Public School has a range of activities on offer this Education Week. The Scholastic Book Week will run all week in the library. There will also be open classrooms on Tuesday 6th August from 12noon to 1pm and the Education Week Showcase will take place on Thursday 8th August at 6pm at Forbes High School Hall, tickets are $5 per person.

Forbes Public School is a vibrant and innovative learning community. Dedicated and expert teaching staff, the school chaplain, and school learning support officers work collaboratively with a supportive parent body to set a positive school tone. This generates an open, safe and caring learning environment where students are supported to be future focused and reach their full potential. Spacious grassy play areas, play infrastructure and a committed P&C provide students a stimulating environment in which to learn, play and grow. The school strives to produce innovative learning opportunities and celebrates a proud tradition of excellence. Students are given the opportunity to improve, achieve and excel through strong academic, sporting, cultural and creative arts programs.

At West Wyalong High School, each and every student is valued and continually striving to give students the platform to use their voice. The students are presented with endless opportunities aimed at extending themselves socially, culturally and educationally. The school strongly encourages every student to be involved in the successful leadership programs, directed towards developing confidence, communication skills and relationships within the school and local community.

Grants Available For Central West Schools

Nationals’ MP and Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack is urging schools to apply for a share in up to $200,000 in funding this Education Week.

“All schools in the Central West will be eligible to apply for funding ranging from $1,000 to $20,000 as part of the Liberal and Nationals Government’s $30.2 million Local Schools Community Fund,” Mr Mc- Cormack said.

“I have written to the Principals of the 131 schools across the Riverina and Central West to encourage them to apply for funding for projects which will make such a tangible difference to students’ education.”

“We know that school leaders and their communities are best placed to know what their schools need and the Local Schools Community Fund ensures they can apply for funding for a project which will make the biggest difference to their students’ education needs,” continued Mr McCormack.

“This could be anything from a small-scale refurbishment or extension to a classroom, playground equipment and sports facilities to mental health and counselling services, new computer facilities and library resources.”

Schools should identify their projects in consultation with their local school community.

Before applying for funding, schools are required to notify their approved authority.

Applications are to be submitted through the Department of Education’s Schools HUB portal at www.schools.education.gov.au by 5pm on 30 September.

Projects must be completed by the end of 2020. A committee will be established by Mr McCormack to independently assess each application from schools. The Local Schools Community Fund is open to all schools but eligibility conditions will apply. Guidelines, frequently asked questions and other information about the LSCF are on the Department of Education’s website at www.education.gov.au/local-schoolscommunity- fund

Paul Menzies caught this whopper at Four Mile just outside of Forbes it was 90cm in length and 7.8kg in weight.

Meet Australian author Felicity McLean when she tours the Central West in August. Felicity will be at the Forbes Library on Tuesday 6th August at 2pm.

Her book The Van Apfel Girls Are Gone was chosen as the book for the One Library, One Book project where 200 copies were distributed to the community to involve everyone in a book club.

Felicity has become an international publishing sensation with rights to The Van Apfel Girls are Gone sold in the US, UK, Spain and France. She is currently launching her book in the USA.

Part mystery, part coming of age story The Van Apfel Girls are Gone is set in a distant suburb on the encroaching bushland, over the long hot summer of 1992. It’s the summer of the school’s Showstopper concert. The summer Tikka never forgot. The summer the Van Apfel sisters disappeared.

Felicity is a writer and a journalist. Her writing has appeared in The Good Weekend, the Daily Telegraph, the Herald Sun, the Big Issue and more. Her book Body Lengths was co-written with Olympian Leisel Jones. It won the 2016 Australian Book Industry Awards ‘Readers Choice’ for Small Publisher Adult Book of the Year.

As a ghost-writer Felicity has collaborated with celebrities, sports stars and business leaders.

Keen readers of the book will be able to directly ask her questions about her writing and the book The Van Apfel Girls are Gone: Bookings are now being taken online via Eventbrite.com or you can call 6852 1463 to book your spot.

Forbes Shire Council has received the coveted ALMA Animal Welfare Award last week at a presentation in Roma, Queensland.

This win is further proof that animal welfare is a critical priority for Forbes Shire Council and the Central West Livestock Exchange (CWLE).

The CWLE is a state-of-the-art facility for buying and selling premium quality cattle, sheep and pigs. With 105,000 Cattle and 1,466,900 Sheep throughput at the facility each year and a major driver for the Forbes economy.

“I’m very proud of our Council winning this award, but even prouder of the wonderful staff and facility we have at the Central West Livestock Exchange. The livestock exchange serves an important role for our farming community and we will continue to upgrade and maintain this amazing infrastructure,” says Forbes Shire Council Mayor, Phyllis Miller.

Further to external staff training Council has developed and implemented a CWLE induction for all users to the facility which aims to educate and promote responsibilities for all users of the facility.

General Manager, Steve Loane, passionately states; “The CWLE is one of the best facilities I have seen in Australia and to ensure we remain competitive we need to ensure those in charge and running the facility are trained accordingly. I am incredibly proud of the staff and their willingness to undertake the training proposed to ensure the CWLE runs like a well-oiled machine.”