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Keeping Roads Safe This Harvest

November 6, 2020 by Maggi Barnard

Melanie Suitor and Peter Nixon, Manager of Forbes Machinery Centre, with an auger.

Agricultural machinery owners and operators are invited to get road ready ahead of the 2020 harvest season, by picking up a free Moving Harvest Machinery USB from all agricultural machinery retailers and rural supply stores in the Parkes, Forbes, and Lachlan Shire areas. The USBs are also available at the Councils Administration Offices.

The ‘Moving Harvest Machinery’ USBs contain all of the relevant notices for safely and legally moving agricultural machinery and combinations on the road along with other useful harvest safety information.

Parkes, Forbes and Lachlan Shire Councils Road Safety and Injury Prevention Officer, Melanie Suitor, says it is imperative that all operators be aware of their responsibilities whilst operating over dimensional vehicles this harvest.

“For the first time in a few years it is looking like it’s going to be a great harvest, which means lots of extra truck movements and agricultural machinery will be using local roads.”

“Safety and compliance during harvest is very important. Operators need to be aware of their responsibilities and ensure that all warning devices and travel requirements are adhered to,” Melanie said.

Regulations do change and this USB will help to ensure that people have up to date information.

“We provide these handy credit card style USBs every harvest. It has been updated with the most current notices and provides other relevant information such as load restraint, chain of responsibility and the Harvesting Fire Safety Guide, to name a few. There is also a live link document, which provides the web address for the attachments on the USB. It is advisable to regularly check the National Heavy Vehicle Regulators website www.nhvr.gov.au for updated notices and/or changes to operating conditions,” Melanie said.

This year there are 1,000 USB devices available.

Find It In AMAZING Forbes This Christmas

November 6, 2020 by Maggi Barnard

Renee Pettit from Evolution Mining, Aaron Acheson, Alison Uphill and Marg Duggan from Forbes Business Chamber.

It is that time of year again, the Forbes Business Chamber and Forbes Shire Council’s Find It In AMAZING Forbes Christmas Promotion is on again, bigger and better than ever.

Evolution Mining have stepped in as this year’s gold sponsor as part of their COVID recovery assistance program.

Steph Wills from Evolution Mining said, “It has been a disappointing time for small business so being able to help where we can, it is beneficial to support this Forbes Business Chamber’s initiative.”

The Business Chamber will be drawing $20,000 in Why Leave Town cards between Monday, 9 November until Christmas Eve.

“The cards have a special brand and are only redeemable at the participating stores until 30 June 2021. Winners need to collect their prize at the time of the draw,” said Marg Duggan, President of the Forbes Business Chamber.

• Silver Sponsors: Bernardi’s and Terry Bros Carpet Court.

• Bronze Sponsors: Undercover Sleepwear, Acheson’s Mitre 10, Central West Diesel, Steele Technology, Michael Robinson & Co, Superbee Honey, C & D Floorcoverings, Flannery’s Pharmacy, Loomsey’s Fish and Fix, Kevin Miller, Whitty, Lennon and Co, Forbes Betta Home Living, Walkers Ag N Vet, Baker Ag Advantage, Central West Diesel and MD Steel.

• Participants: Forbes Shire Council, Bernardis, Terry Bros Carpet Court, Blush Organic Beauty, Forbes Small Engines, Gunn’s Mensland, SportsPower Forbes, Phillip Wells Optometrist, Turners Furniture One, Life Pharmacy, Chapter Two, Jessica’s Essential Beauty, Euphoria Road, Robbs Jewellers, Little Extras, Painted Daisies Gift Shoppe, Allure On Main, Vandenberg Hotel, News On Rankin, Cahills Shoes, Made Of Fridays, The Bakehouse, Agri-West, Forbes Automotive Services, Jelbart Dawson & Co, Hozpots Garden Centre, Walkers Ag N Vet, Superbee Honey, C & D Floorcoverings, Flannery’s Pharmacy, Loomsey’s Fish and Fix, Forbes Betta Home Living, Undercover Sleepwear, Acheson’s Mitre 10, and Steele Technology.

• Supporters: BWL Accountants, Forbes Livestock, Matthew Williams Solicitors, Court Press and McCarron Cullinane and Chudleigh.

Christmas At Kissing Point

November 6, 2020 by Maggi Barnard

Forbes resident Jacqui Greig’s new romance anthology paperback are now available for pre-order.

Local romance author Jacqui Greig has released a Christmas anthology, just in time for Christmas. Titled Christmas At Kissing Point, this will be the third romance novel published by Jacqui, who first published in 2017 and is currently working on a four-novel series from her home in Forbes.

“I attended the 2019 Romance Writers of Australia conference and met some incredible writers. It is where I met the four authors that I teamed up with to publish this anthology,” said Jacqui.

“Romance remains the biggest selling genre for readers the world over, and little wonder as we all need to escape from reality from time to time,” she says. “It goes without saying that most of us can’t wait to put 2020 behind us. And what better way to wait for the year to end and ring in the festive season than with a fun, romantic book?”

Jacqui has a bachelor’s degree in Print Journalism but, having always been tempted to embellish the facts of a story, decided she was more suited to writing works of fiction. She is proud to be a part of the romance genre, believing it has come a long way from the “bodice-rippers” of the 1980s.

“Romance writers nowadays tend to steer away from the reductive portrayals of women’s sexuality that you saw in the 1970’s and 1980’s. I’ve found the romance writing community to be an incredibly inclusive and supportive one, and also fiercely feminist. The feminism angle might be surprising, especially in light of the #metoo movement, but I think the romance community is great at saying ‘you know what? You can be a smart, independent woman, and still enjoy reading about a possessive hero’. Part of being an empowered female is having the confidence to like what you want to like. Romance is a genre that allows women to explicitly centre and explore their own pleasure.”

Christmas At Kissing Point is available as both a physical paperback and eBook.

‘Allegory’ Exhibition Opens At The Platypus Gallery

November 6, 2020 by Maggi Barnard

Locals and visitors are invited to decipher the hidden meanings behind each of the works featured in a new exhibition at The Platypus Gallery in Forbes.

‘Allegory’ will open to the public on Thursday, 5 November, featuring works of various mediums by artists Coralie Crouch, Wayne Miles, and Rosalie Burns.

“An Allegory is a method for creating a symbolic visual or written message. Allegories require the audience to interpret the hidden message which may contain a moral or spiritual meaning,” Coralie explained.

“I encourage viewers to look beyond just the descriptive or decorative purpose of the artworks.”

To celebrate the launch of the exhibition, The Platypus Gallery will extend its opening hours on Saturday, 7 and Sunday, 8 November 2020, from 10am until 4pm.

Throughout the opening weekend, visitors to the gallery will have the opportunity to meet featured artist, Coralie Crouch, and gain an insight into the hidden messages behind each of her installations.

Forbes Arts Society Chair, Dr Karen Ritchie said, “In what has been a challenging year for our industry, we are so looking forward to welcoming back our gallery friends, new and old.”

“To help protect the health and safety of gallery visitors and our volunteers, we will have hand sanitiser available, a QR sign-in at the door, as well as implementing social distancing measures at all times.”

The ‘Allegory’ exhibition runs until Friday, 27 November. The Platypus Gallery will be open Monday to Friday, 10am until 2pm and Saturdays, 9am until 1pm. All artworks will be available for purchase.

For more information about the exhibition, visit www.forbesartssociety.com or follow The Platypus Gallery on Facebook or Instagram.

The Platypus Gallery is run by ArtsWeb volunteers, a sub-committee of the Forbes Arts Society.

Snippets…

November 6, 2020 by Maggi Barnard

Kathryn Matheson photo of Tulips has won the Forbes Phoenix Spring Photo Competition.

Spring Photo Competition Winner: Kathryn Matheson has been named as the 2020 Forbes Phoenix Spring Photo Competition winner. The annual Spring Photo Competition received many delightfully vibrant photographs from all over Forbes and this year, Sarah Hodge from Essjay Photography who sponsored the competition, chose Kathryn’s photograph of Tulips in bloom. The winning photo was chosen due to the image being a captivating depiction of the natural beauty of Spring.

Christmas Cards 4 Farmers Initiative Launched: As the countdown to Christmas begins, Rural Aid is asking Australian school students to take the time to lift the spirits of farmers around the nation. With farmers nationwide enduring years of record-breaking droughts, floods, and fires, Rural Aid CEO, John Walters, is asking students to get their schools involved in their Christmas Cards 4 Farmers initiative in order to lift the spirits of and put a smile on the faces of Australian farmers this Christmas. Students are encouraged to let farmers know they are in our minds by creating homemade cards with a special, personal message. Farmers are central to our everyday life, despite the geographical distance, and in the past this initiative has had a positive impact on farmers’ mental health. Please send in homemade cards before 19 November. Cards cannot be larger than 120mm x 170mm. Do not send in individual envelopes. Mail them to Rural Aid at PO Box 1342, Sunnybank Hills QLD 4109.

Social Farmer Giveaway Winner: The winner of The Social Farmer Giveaway is Emma Mayall. Emma has won a business profile makeover from The Social Farmer that will create and update her social media page and profile to expand her business digitally. The Social Farmer specialises in social media creation, management, and website design.

Great Inland Glossy Count Postponed: Organisers of the Great Inland Glossy Count have chosen to postpone the program due to rain. While rain is great for the region, it makes conditions for volunteers difficult. The new dates are Pilliga, 13 February, Goonoo, 20 February, and Goobang, 27 February 2021.Central West volunteers are needed for the NSW Saving our Species program to become “cockatoo counters” and help be part of the Great Inland Glossy Count.

The great inland Glossy count in Goobang has been postponed from 21 November 2020 to 27 February 2021.

Snippets…

October 30, 2020 by Maggi Barnard

Forbes has seen many improvements this year which not only enriches the lives of residents, but also draws visitors to the town.

Veterans’ Employment Award Nominations: Riverina and Central West organisations which employ and support members of the Veteran community, or Veterans making a significant contribution to their workplace, are being encouraged to nominate for the 2021 Prime Minister’s Veterans’ Employment Awards. More than 5,500 people leave the Australian Defence Force each year and the Federal Government’s aim is to ensure they can transition into civilian life effectively and find meaningful employment.

The Prime Minister’s Veterans’ Employment Program aims to raise employers’ awareness of the enormous value and experience Veterans can bring to the civilian workplace. Nominations for the awards are now open online and will close on 20 November 2020 with winners announced in 2021. For more information go to www.veteransemployment.gov.au.

Regional Tourism Boost: The Morrison-McCormack Government will inject $250 million into regional Australia, encouraging more Australians to travel and experience a home-grown holiday, boosting regional jobs and local economies. The package include two measures, a $50 million Regional Tourism Recovery initiative to assist businesses in regions heavily reliant on international tourism, and $200 million for an additional round of the Building Better Regions Fund.

Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack said the package would deliver targeted support for regional tourism. The aim is to help businesses bounce back by attracting more Australians, and then overseas visitors when our international borders re-open. Tourism is crucial in creating jobs which drive many regional economies. It is important that the tourism sector comes out in the best possible shape post COVID-19.

Federal funding has seen the improvement of existing tourism sights in and around Forbes, as well as the creation of many more. The funding has also gone into improving the functionality and aesthetic in town with many projects having come into fruition in 2020 alone.

Spring Photo Competition: Forbes residents have until Friday, 30 October to get their entries in for the Spring Photo Competition. Submissions can be made on the Forbes Phoenix Facebook page, or emailed to sales@forbesphoenix.com.au.

Saturday is the last day to get your entries in for the Spring Photo Compeition.

Business On The Up

October 30, 2020 by Maggi Barnard

The state’s peak business organisation, Business NSW’s quarterly Business Conditions Survey has revealed the first bounce in business confidence in a year. The survey shows business perceptions about the performance of the NSW economy rebounded strongly from the record low recorded in June.

“The outlook has also improved, with businesses expecting further lifts in the economy for the remainder of 2020,” said Business NSW, Regional Manager Western NSW, Vicki Seccombe.

“While business services, hospitality and tourism businesses are heavily impacted overall, business performance in these industries varies dramatically depending on location and type of customers serviced. Many businesses are about to enter a difficult period as support measures are tapered back; however, it promises to see a strong foundation for recovery emerging in the region.”

The easing of drought conditions led to a boost in the Agricultural sector, this, alongside increased domestic tourism, has helped to bolster the outlook for businesses in Western NSW.

A Horse Drawn Carriage Ride For Jemalong Residents

October 30, 2020 by Maggi Barnard

Jemalong residents enjoying their My Wish, a horse drawn carriage ride through the countryside.

Delighted residents from Jemalong Residential Village in Forbes were recently treated to a horse drawn carriage ride through the countryside as part of Catholic Healthcare’s My Wish program. For the residents, the experience was nostalgic and an opportunity to reminisce, share stories and bond with each other.

Acting Lifestyle Manager, Bec Higgs said, “It was a wonderful and memorable day. We couldn’t have asked for more beautiful weather. The grand carriage drawn by two beautiful Percheron Draft horses was visually mesmerising. The residents were elated and the experience was enjoyed by everyone.”

Residents were taken around Jemalong, along a country road in a rural neighbouring field to a quaint little cottage and back again. Resident Jack said, “I haven’t done this in decades. I used to work with horses every day, and it’s good to be in their company again.”

“On the day, the Home was abuzz with hype and activity and everyone at Jemalong enjoyed the experience. For residents who didn’t want to go on a ride, we made sure there was time in the day to meet the horses, talk to the driver and the lady who owned them,” Bec said.

Remain Vigilant As Restrictions Are Eased

October 30, 2020 by Maggi Barnard

As New South Wales marks three million COVID-19 tests since January, the NSW Government is calling on the community to continue to work together to fight the deadly virus.

Health Minister Brad Hazzard warned that while recent easing of restrictions is very welcome, it comes with risks and it is critical everyone keeps getting tested.

“This is a stealthy virus and if we give it an inch, it will take a mile and undo a lot of good work,” Brad said, “I thank the people of NSW for their efforts and sacrifices during the past nine months, which have put us in a position where we have been able to ease restrictions.”

The NSW Government aims to be able to continue to ease restrictions in the weeks and months ahead, but this depends on us being successful in minimising community transmission.

As of 8pm on 26 October 2020, 3,000,641 COVID-19 tests had been performed on 2,247,101 people in NSW. Of those people tested, 63.7 per cent had a single test and 36.3 per cent had more than one test. NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said it was critical that people continue to come forward for testing and practice COVID-safe behaviours when out and about.

“When we have high numbers of people continuing to get tested, that allows us to detect cases in the community earlier and prevent onward transmission,” Kerry said.

“Get tested at the first sign of even the mildest of symptoms, wash your hands regularly, physically distance and wear a mask when using public transport and in places where you can’t physically distance.”

Templar Street To Close For Weekend Road Works

October 30, 2020 by Maggi Barnard

Forbes Shire Council has pushed ahead with the refurbishment of Templar Street with part road closures that were implemented on Wednesday, 28 October to Thursday, 29 October 2020. The whole of Templar Street will be closed to traffic during Sunday, 1 November, to enable the removal of the existing road base and preparation for the new base to be laid.

“The Northern side of the street, the Dentists side, was closed on Wednesday and Thursday while we removed the islands and pavers,” said Forbes Shire Council Mayor, Phyllis Miller OAM.

“This staged approach will ensure the least amount of disruption to our shopping district. Traffic control will be in place and we ask you be patient when in the area as there may be congestion.”

“On Sunday, the whole street will close, and the majority of the work can be done over the weekend, ensuring a minimal amount of disruption to trade and businesses. Our crews will be working around the beautiful trees we have existing in the street already and ensure they don’t receive any damage whilst the work is being carried out.”

“The current pavers will be crushed and then re-used in future road projects ensuring no waste will be incurred because of works being completed in Templar Street,” Phyllis said.

On Monday, 9 November the adjoining laneways of Collit and Meaghers Lane will have pedestrian diversions in place to enable Forbes Shire Council to install power in the vicinity.

The project is due for completion in December 2020. Forbes residents who require more information are encouraged to contact Forbes Shire Councils Major Projects Manager on 02 6850 2300.

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