This year’s NAIDOC Week will be an opportunity for Riverina and Central West residents to showcase the best of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and history, according to Member for Riverina and Deputy Prime Minister, Michael McCormack.

The Federal Government has opened a new round of NAIDOC grants with $1.4 million available to go towards hosting events and other activities during NAIDOC Week from 8-15 November.

“The Riverina and Central West has celebrated NAIDOC Week in past years with wonderful events supported by the Government, including a NAIDOC Fair organised by Cowra High School, a WAWI Festival in Wagga Wagga, workshops and activities at Coolamon and the presentation of stories to preschool children at Peak Hill,” Michael said.

This year’s theme, ‘Always Was, Always Will Be’, is an opportunity for all Australians to engage with Indigenous culture, gain a greater understanding of our nation’s shared history and celebrate the unique place Indigenous peoples have in our society.

Information on the 2020 NAIDOC local grants round is available on the National Indigenous Australians Agency website, www.niaa.gov.au/naidoc, with applications closing Monday, 17 August at 7pm.

When Victory over Japan (VJ) Day dawns on Friday, 14 August it will be 75 years since the guns fell silent, ending World War II. The official instrument of surrender was signed in Tokyo on 2 September 1945. Years of carnage and destruction had come to an end and millions of people took to the streets and pubs to celebrate the peace, mourn their loved-ones and to hope for the future. The end of the war in the Pacific was particularly poignant for Australia with the war literally raging on our doorstep.

To show respect, on Saturday, 15 August, towns across Australia and New Zealand will once again see Town Criers in their roles as official ambassadors for their cities, towns and regions delivering The Cry For Peace, to solemnly commemorate this important day in Australia’s history.

The ranks of our WWII veterans diminish daily and the freedom that we as a nation enjoy today is due directly to the tenacity and courage of those men and women who served in all three branches of the services. In addition to veterans of WWII, many citizens served as air raid wardens, joined the land army, and worked in manufacturing plants that kept the war effort going.

The end of WWII was not only a monumental relief for the thousands of surviving Australian soldiers abroad, but also for the civilians on Australian soil who were under threat. While attacks on Darwin and off the coast of New South Wales and Victoria are well known, Japanese troops also landed in Western Australia and German submariners came onshore in South Australia.

The Cry for Peace is taking place to mark Victory in the Pacific at 11.05am this Saturday. To take part in this commemoration, the Parkes Town Crier will be doing his cry at the Cenotaph in Cooke Park, Parkes.

The free workshops for parents and supervisors of learner drivers are being offered, thanks to Parkes, Forbes and Lachlan Shire Councils.

Parkes, Forbes, and Lachlan Shire Councils will be hosting two online workshops 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’ workshops are scheduled for Wednesday, 19 August from 6pm and Thursday, 20 August from 12.30pm.

Parkes, Forbes and Lachlan Shire Council’s Road Safety and Injury Prevention Officer, Melanie Suitor, said while the usual face to face workshops weren’t possible due to the current COVID-19 restrictions, the online delivery will hopefully make it more easily accessible for participants to attend.

“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 these two free workshops via Zoom.”

“Participants can attend from the safety and comfort of their own home. The estimated run time is around one 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,” Melanie said.

Bookings are essential and can be made online via Eventbrite for the Wednesday and Thursday session through the Council’s Facebook pages or by calling Melanie Suitor on 6861 2364.

Forbes Public School’s Mrs MacGregor with student Bianca Colvin.

Education Week 2020 began on Monday, with schools across the Forbes Shire and the State celebrating the many achievements of public schools and the critical role they play in equipping our students for the future.

Minister for Education and Early Childhood Learning Sarah Mitchell said ‘Learning Together’ is a fitting theme given the extraordinary challenges this year has presented.

“In the face of drought, bushfires and the COVID-19 pandemic, our school communities have proven just how strong and adaptable they are,” Sarah said.

“Teachers and support staff moved quickly to online lessons; parents and carers took on additional responsibilities at home and students adjusted to a new way of learning.” Education Week has been a highlight of the NSW public education calendar for more than 60 years, and this year provides an opportunity to reflect on achievements over the past year.

“This is particularly relevant for the past year, as our education system has triumphed amidst difficult circumstances,” Sarah said.

“I cannot overstate the appreciation I have for the incredible way everyone has responded to the challenges of this year. Right across the state, students and families have received incredible support from their schools and teachers, and stronger relationships have grown between schools and their communities.”