BEE-COMING BEE SMART: Woolworths Debbie Rad-burn promoting the Bee Bonus grant for Forbes Shire education and learning centres.

Applications for the 2021 Woolworths Junior Landcare Grants Program are now open for Forbes Shire.

Primary schools and early learning centres across Forbes Shire can also apply for a Bee Bonus, as part of a $1.5million investment by Woolworths into the program. Up to one thousand Woolworths Junior Landcare Grants are being offered, for up to $1,000 each.

Recipients in Forbes Shire can use the grant to grow a vegetable or bush tucker garden, composting, worm farm or other environmental projects in their schools and communities, helping to educate the younger generation about the importance of the environment.

Primary schools and early learning centres can also apply for a Bee Bonus, in addition to the $1,000 grant. The Bee Bonus offers $500 of extra funding to support the conservation of Australia’s bees.

An estimated 15.6 million hectares of native Australian forest was destroyed in the 2019-2020 bushfire crisis, resulting in a negative impact on the ability of honey bees to provide pollination services to Australian crops and horticulture.

Woolworths Forbes Store Manager Noel Reardon said: “Our Woolworths Junior Landcare Grants Program is all about inspiring Aussie environmental champions in Forbes Shire. The Bee Bonus puts the spotlight on the impact honey bees and native bees have on our ecosystem, creating awareness and encouraging positive action.

“The grants help deliver programs that not only educate younger generations on how to be more environmentally conscious, but also get Forbes Shire students hands-on and directly supporting the growth of a sustainable, greener future.

“If we work together, we can help support growth of flora and fauna so that bees can continue their vital role in supporting our agricultural systems and improving biodiversity.”

Applications for Woolworths’ Junior Landcare Grants are open from 10 February. To find out more visit landcareaustralia.org.au/woolworthsgrants

Click here to listen to the owner of the Phoenix Newspaper Group, Joshua Matic discussing the impact on community newspapers when Facebook removed access to media pages this week. @ 18 minutes 00 seconds

Australia will develop a nationally consistent bushfire modelling and prediction capability under an agreement announced between CSIRO, AFAC and the National Council for Fire and Emergency Services.

The partnership involves the development of Spark Operational, a cutting-edge bushfire simulation tool based on CSIRO’s ‘Spark’ fire prediction platform.

Fire and emergency services agencies across Australia will be able to use Spark Operational, opening bushfire prediction opportunities across borders and over different landscapes.

CSIRO’s Spark platform combines current fire behaviour knowledge with state-of-the-art simulation science to produce predictions, statistics and visualisations of bushfire spread, as well as simulating hours of fire spread across a landscape in a matter of seconds.

AFAC’s Fire Prediction Services Group will work with CSIRO to improve existing technology and build a national system that allows for consistent bushfire predictions to support emergency service and response teams across borders.

Phase one of the technology’s implementation commenced January 2021, with further developments over the next three years.

CSIRO Chief Executive Dr Larry Marshall said the innovation built on decades of expertise. “Our solutions from science have protected Australians from the threat of bushfires for over 70 years, from roadside fire danger signs to advanced burn over protection materials,” Dr Marshall said.

“But 2020 changed the game forever. So, we have changed our game too, by unleashing new science and technology to protect our firefighters and Australian communities.

“We believe this advanced system will help firefighters outthink fire, to anticipate its actions, and to get ahead of it, so they can beat it.”

O Tama Carey from Sydney will return as Creative Director.

Grazing Down the Lachlan will draw upon the gold rush era for inspiration for this year’s menu, with renowned Sydney chef O Tama Carey returning as Creative Director. While the menu is kept secret until the day, the theme provides ‘Grazers’ with a little insight into what to expect.

“During the gold rushes of 1850s and 60s, thousands of Chinese-born people migrated to the region. With them, they brought their cuisine”, O Tama said.

“The dishes will incorporate ideas of Chinese dishes found in regional restaurants of Australia with touches of native ingredients and flavours. Our ingredients and produce will again be sourced locally.”

Following a hiatus in 2020, the multi-award winning foodie adventure returns to Forbes on Saturday 18 September 2021. The epic long lunch is set alongside the picturesque Lachlan River. ‘Grazers’ are free to wander along the designated corridor of the nine-mile reserve between six stations offering delicious food with a matched beverage.

Chair of the Grazing Down the Lachlan committee, Wendy Muffet said, “This year we’re excited to explore cultural diversity in the wake of the first gold rush in partner ship with our major sponsor Evolution Mining – an extraordinary synergy. Events like Grazing are so important for regional communities, showcasing and celebrating local culture and history, while boosting local economies.”

To ensure the Grazing committee can deliver a COVIDSafe event, ticket numbers have been capped at 500.

“The health and safety of our community and visitors is first priority,” Wendy added.

“While we have limited numbers to the main event, we will be hosting some supporting events on the Friday and Sunday to extend the Grazing weekend. We are so looking forward to sharing the details of those supporting events when we launch the full 2021 program in the coming weeks.”

Parkes, Forbes and Lachlan Shire Councils will be hosting another online workshop for parents and other supervisors of local learner drivers, full of practical advice and information about completing the 120 hours of supervised driving.

The free ‘Helping Learner Drivers Become Safer Drivers’ workshop is scheduled for Wednesday 24 February from 6pm.

Parkes, Forbes and Lachlan Shire Council’s Road Safety and Injury Prevention Officer, Melanie Suitor, said the online delivery will hopefully make it more easily accessible for participants to attend.

“We have held three of these online workshops during the second half of 2020 and had a great response. Parents and supervisors of learner drivers have a crucial role to play in making our roads safer. That is why we have teamed up with Transport for NSW and the Councils across the Western Region to hold another one of these workshops via Zoom,” Ms Suitor said.

Participants can attend from the comfort of their own home. The estimated run time is 1 hour and 15 minutes. The workshop covers the licencing system, how to use the Learner Driver Logbook including the use of digital logbooks, licence conditions for learner and P-plate drivers, the benefits of on-road driving sessions, tips on supervising a learner driver and more.

“Parents and supervisors who have attended this workshop in the past have found that it boosted their confidence, helped them better plan driving sessions and allowed them to share their experiences with other parents and supervisors,” Ms Suitor said.

Bookings are essential and can be made online via Eventbrite, through Councils’ Facebook page or by calling Ms Suitor on (02) 6861 2364. For further information please call Parkes, Forbes and Lachlan Shire Councils’ Road Safety and Injury Prevention Officer, Melanie Suitor, on (02) 6861 2364.