Certain people continually issue more than a usual number of statements of claim summons, writs or other court documents, usually against those in close proximity to them. These actions are sometimes started either in bad faith, or deliberately designed to settle an old score or to annoy or embarrass a neighbour.

Someone who habitually drags defendants to court with frivolous claims, which are more of a nuisance to the defendants than of benefit to themselves, is referred to as a “vexatious litigant.” Such a person is a nuisance to society.

The court will not listen to a person who makes trivial or scandalous claims. If someone is declared a “vexatious litigant”, he or she may not continue with the claim or start a new court action, without getting permission from the court beforehand. This may well be refused.

The medical profession has recently become aware of a particular character trait in people who display this uncontrollable urge to fight in court. The phrase is “querulous paranoia” and it is used to describe such types of people.

It is sometimes difficult for a person receiving a summons from, say, an unfriendly neighbour, to know whether the claim is frivolous or vexatious. A solicitor will be able to advise you of this.

If we at Matthews Williams can help you on any legal matter, feel free to call us.

Since 1929, Rotary International has been sending young people around the world to experience new cultures. Currently, there are about 9,000 students being sponsored throughout the world by Rotary International to spend a year in another country’s school and being housed by three or four host families in succession during their stay overseas.

Over the years since the 1970’s, the Forbes Rotary Club has been involved in sending out some eighteen exchange students from both the Forbes High School and the Red Bend Catholic College.

As a result, inward bound students have come from many countries including Japan, USA, Germany, Denmark, Finland, Brazil, South Africa, Canada, Belgium and New Zealand.

It has been unofficially conditional that for every successful outward bound student leaving Forbes for overseas, the Forbes Rotary Club are committed to arrange schooling and host families for an inbound student from another country.

Forbes High School student, Jessica Ashcroft is currently on an exchange student visit in Belgium, this is why Lea Selosse from Belgium is currently enjoying her stay with us in Forbes.

“I come from Belgium, the southern part of the country where we speak French, but I also speak our other national language which is Dutch. I come from a town called Mouscron, in the west of the country, right on the border with France,” said Lea.

“For Belgium, I live in an average size town with 60,000 inhabitants. So Forbes is very different for me as it is very small, but it is very friendly,” continued Lea.

“I arrived on 8th August, and I stay till early July 2020 with four different families. I am doing Year 11 at Forbes High School. The school environment is very different from school back in Belgium, less strict and a lot more communication. We also don’t have school uniforms in Belgium,” Lea said.

Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack is reminding schools to apply for a share in up to $200,000 in funding before applications close on 30th September 2019.

“There has already been a number of applications received from some of the more than 130 schools throughout the Riverina and Central West but, I wanted to again urge those schools which have not already applied to submit an application before the closing date,” Mr McCormack said.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for schools to receive funding ranging from $1,000 to $20,000 to put towards projects which they deem as important to making such a difference for students and their education.

Schools can use the funding for infrastructure projects such as classroom refurbishments, sports facilities or playground equipment.

The money can also be put towards other projects including mental health and counselling services, library resources and new computer facilities,” said Mr McCormack.

The funding is available through the Liberal and Nationals Government’s $30.2 million Local Schools Community Fund, with $200,000 available for each electorate.

Applications are to be submitted through the Department of Education’s SchoolsHUB portal at https://schools.education.gov.au by 5pm on 30 September

Why Not Make A Weekend Of It?

Friday, 20th September Meet Your Makers Q&A: Now held at SYLO Bar kicking off at 6pm, it’s a true Q&A where you get to ask the burning questions. Creative Director O Tama will be on the couch with a few of the growers, movers and shakers of the region. Tickets are $35 each and include dinner. Kicking off at off at 6pm with a 10pm finish, drinks will be available for purchase from the bar. The one hour Q&A session begins at 7.45pm followed by dinner which is included in the price. Send in your questions ahead of time to hello@grazingdownthelachlan.com.

Saturday, 21st September Grazing Down the Lachlan: (Sold out) Jump on your ticketed event bus and head out of town for an epic moveable feast of seven courses with matching drinks as you wander along the tranquil Lachlan River within a stock route that is synonymous with song lines and drovers.

Sunday, 22nd September Amazing Grazing Community Breakfast: Breakfast will be available for purchase in the pop up plaza in Templar Street from 8am to 11am.

Then head on down to the free workshops (weaving, storytelling and painting) at the Wiradjuri Dreaming Centre from 10am – 12noon. Everyone is welcome to the breakfast and workshops. No tickets required!

Rebecca, Shane and Kailey Moxey caught some Taylor Fish at Merimbula recently.

The Voice of a Survivor is a unique project that grew out of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Sexual Abuse.

After four years of harrowing investigation and testimony, the Commission delivered its final report in December of 2017, and in so doing discovered ‘Another Australia’ – one that many struggle to recognise or acknowledge, even today.

What the Commission found was that the sexual and physical abuse of children, prisoners, patients, churchgoers and many other vulnerable people, was endemic across Australian society. Crossing boundaries of colour, sex, age and type, the Commission found nothing less than abuse, and the covering up of abuse, on a breathtaking scale.

As a response to the Commission, The Voice of a Survivor began its work to find justice for the many survivors of abuse in institutions, in the form of letters of apology and financial reparations. Working with some of the finest law firms in Australia, the firm has found such justice for many who felt their voice would never be heard.

The Voice of a Survivor believes passionately in justice for all Australians who have been abused and dispossessed, including members of the Stolen Generation.

If you identify as a survivor of abuse or as a member of the Stolen Generation, then now is the time to act. Do not let your abuser go. Hand back the burden of shame and guilt that you have been carrying, so unfairly, for so long.

Claim back what is yours and move on to a brighter, better day. Contact The Voice of a Survivor today. Call 02 80910978 or email admin@thevoiceofasurvivor.com

Last Thursday night the Bedgerabong Picnic Race Club Inc hosted a thank you nibbles and drinks evening at the Forbes Services Memorial Club for the 2019 sponsors and committee. The Bedgerabong Picnic Race Club Inc feel that there is a need to give a little back to the sponsors to show how much they are appreciated.

The evening was attended by representatives from Western Tree Care, Wallace Bulk Haulage, Forbes Jockey Club, Forbes Small Engines, Earney’s Earthmoving and Forbes Shire Council and 15 of the ever reliable hardworking committee. Without sponsors and volunteers the race day just would not happen.

The Race Club were also able to announce the 2020 Western Tree Care Bedgerabong Cup! Western Tree Care have decided to once again support the race day and become the Major Sponsor for 2020. This is very exciting news, with the current climate conditions hitting businesses very hard in the region. Bedgerabong Picnic Race Club hope to see everyone at the race meeting again in 2020 as it is a great family day out!

The 2020 Parkes Elvis Festival is on course to be the biggest yet with some shows already sold out just days after ticket sales opened on Monday when the 28th celebration of the King of Rock ‘n Roll was launched at the Parkes Motor Museum.

The festival promises to be the biggest and best yet as the almost 30,000 visitors expected over the five days from 8th to 12th January 2020 have started booking out most available accommodation in Parkes, Forbes and around the Central West.

With the theme the 1966 riverboat gambler movie Frankie and Johnny, a wave of people in colourful and fun costumes will flood the streets of Parkes.

“We have the best line-up ever with a huge combination of 65 ticketed and 200 free events,” said Festival Director Cathy Treasure. “With the drought continuing its grip in the region, we want people to come out and just enjoy good entertainment without any worries.”

The stage in Cooke Park is the focus of the free entertainment program and festival goers can look forward to seeing Mark Andrews performing his first ever free concert, Greg Page and the John Field Band with Brendan Chase among others.

True blue Elvis fans can look forward to Dean Z, next year’s feature artist and winner of the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist in 2013. He has dedicated his life to honouring the legacy of Elvis and has been described as an amazing performer.

Next year’s Wall of Fame inductee is Joe Camillero of the Black Sorrows, while Adam Harvey will do a tribute to Elvis’s country albums.

According to Cathy they have taken festival goers’ feedback on board and added more activity areas, more shuttles from Forbes and Peak Hill, introduced sleeper trains for the first time and revitalised Rock ‘n Roll dancing with special guests to be announced later.

By Maggi Barnard

 

Iconic Australian eats with an Indigenous twist will be the inspiration behind the Grazing Down The Lachlan menu in 2019, with renowned Sydney chef O Tama Carey this year’s Creative Director.

The annual foodie adventure will make its return to Forbes on Saturday, 21st September.

Now in its third year, O Tama is set to deliver an exciting, fresh take on Grazing’s successful long lunch format, which attracted over 800 people to town in 2018.

Described as “one of Australia’s most intriguing chefs”, O Tama opened her highly anticipated hopper restaurant, Lankan Filling Station in Darlinghurst last year after years of pop-ups and market appearances.

O Tama’s first solo venture has certainly lived up to the hype – awarded a chef’s hat in The Sydney Morning Herald’s Good Food Guide 2019 after only four months trading.

So, what can Grazers expect in 2019? “Dishes that are tasty, familiar yet with a twist and which hopefully they can giggle at a little too”, O Tama hinted.

“I’m approaching the food like I would a menu in a restaurant, giving a balance of flavours to create something that’s appropriate for the setting, using local produce and native ingredients. This year, I’ll also be loosely basing some of the dishes around slightly daggy Australiana from my youth.”

Set alongside the picturesque Lachlan River, guests are free to wander along the designated corridor of the nine-mile reserve between seven stations offering delicious food with a matched beverage.

The ‘Meet Your Makers’ Q&A has been revamped, finding its new home at SYLO for 2019. Held on the Friday (20th September) evening before Grazing, the Q&A provides guests with the opportunity to hear from the Creative Director and some of the local producers behind the event.

The NSW Government is investing in infrastructure projects that deliver positive social, environmental and recreational outcomes while promoting community participation, inclusion and cohesion. More than $300 million has been awarded to over 13,800 projects through the Community Building Partnership (CBP) program since 2009.

In 2019, there is a maximum of $300,000 to allocate in each electorate. Incorporated not-for-profit community organisations and local councils are eligible to apply for grants of between $2,500 and $300,000. As a guide, the average grant awarded is around $20,000.

“I have had the pleasure of announcing many CBP grants successfully applied for throughout the Orange electorate which benefit many people throughout our communities.

I would encourage your club, group or organisation to apply,” said Phil Donato, Member for Orange.

Eligible projects will be assessed against four equally weighted program criteria:

• Enhancing facilities: the project develops a vibrant, sustainable and inclusive community through the enhancement or construction of community infrastructure.
• Meeting community needs: the project supports activities and services needed by local communities.
• Increasing community participation: the project encourages participation in activities or services needed by a broad section of the community.
• The organisation’s capacity: the applicant has the capacity to deliver the project on time and within scope.

Applications are now open and close on 27th September at 5pm. The announcement of successful projects will take place in late March 2020. For more information visit www.nsw.gov.au/improving-nsw/projectsand-initiatives/community-building-partnership/