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Snippets

December 21, 2017 by Maggi Barnard

She did it… Carmen Spry shaved off all her hair last Thursday, in an incredible act of generosity and kindness through her participation in the World’s Greatest Shave. Carmen’s original aim was to raise $2,000 but she has managed a spectacular $8,198.75! In case you were wondering, it’s not too late to donate. We applaud you
Carmen!

11 Days Of Double Demerits: Double demerit points will be in force for 11 days over the Christmas and New Year period to improve road safety during the holiday season. It will run from Friday, 22nd December 2017 to Monday, 1st January 2018 (inclusive) for all speeding, seatbelt, motorcycle helmet and mobile phone offences. Lachlan
Highway Patrol Sergeant Dearne Jeffree is warning motorists to obey the road rules as there is a greater chance of losing your licence. “All it takes for people to be hurt or killed this holiday period is for a road user to make one bad choice. We all know that seat belts save lives and that drink-driving creates a real risk to yourself and everyone else around you. If you choose to speed, to look at your phone, to drink and drive, it’s not just yourself you’re putting at risk, it could be someone you know and love that you’re putting at risk.”

Homeless Over Christmas: Almost 300 people in Forbes and Parkes are without a home this Christmas. Centacare Wilcannia Forbes Chief Executive Officer, Anne- Marie Mioche, said the agency is bracing as those in need are expected to increase substantially over the holiday period. Already demand is high for rapid crisis support with some people having to resort to camping out and sleeping in swags. “These numbers are just the people we are helping, many more families and individuals need assistance,” Anne-Marie said. Centacare Wilcannia Forbes is currently operating three programs that provide rapid crisis support, intervention for at-risk youths as well as tenant advocacy and support. Last year more than 600 men, women and children sought assistance. “We encourage people to come in early for help, don’t stay in an unsafe environment, let us help you plan and support you. Homelessness is a very real concern in our community and no one wants to see a family without a home over Christmas or for the New Year.”

Flannery’s Pharmacy… Remember To Keep Hydrated

December 21, 2017 by Maggi Barnard

During the warmer months, and particularly during the festive season, it can be very easy to become dehydrated. The human body is made up of 50 to 75 per cent water. Water forms the basis of blood, digestive juices, urine and perspiration, and is contained in lean muscle, fat and bones.

As the body can’t store water, we need fresh supplies every day to make up for losses from the lungs, skin, urine and faeces. The amount we need depends on our body size, metabolism, the weather, the food we eat and can be impacted on by reduced water intake, increased sweating due to extreme heat and vomiting/diarrhoea bugs.

Along with water loss, small amounts of salts or electrolytes are also lost. Our bodies are constantly readjusting the balance between water (and salts or electrolytes) losses with fluid intake. When we lose too much water, our bodies may become out of balance or dehydrated.

The symptoms of dehydration include thirst, headaches, lethargy, dark coloured urine, weakness and tiredness.

If dehydration is not corrected by fluid intake, eventually urination stops, the kidneys fail and the body can’t remove toxic waste products. In extreme cases, dehydration may result in death.

Replacing your electrolytes when working or exercising in the heat or if suffering from vomiting or diarrhoea is key to maintaining good hydration levels.

Call in and speak to one of our Pharmacists if you are concerned about hydration during the festive season/summer months.

Flannery’s Pharmacy would like to wish the Forbes community a very Merry Christmas and a safe, happy and healthy 2018.

Forbes High School Celebrate HSC Results With Students

December 21, 2017 by Maggi Barnard

With their schooling year complete, Year 12 students at Forbes High School are now able to celebrate their results that they have achieved in their HSC, and can all look forward to a positive future ahead.

The HSC class of 2017 at Forbes High School have reached just one of the many milestones in their life by attaining the HSC and Forbes High School are extremely proud of all of them.

Relieving Principal Jason Nottingham said: “It is lovely to see our students succeed and achieve their HSC. Our students have worked very hard, not just over the last twelve months but throughout their entire schooling journey. Being a part of that journey with them and seeing them successfully complete their secondary schooling has been very rewarding. This only comes through strong partnerships between the school, the student and home.”

Students have also achieved individual success in a variety of subjects, 5 students achieved band 6 in a number of courses and 13 students achieved band 5, with some of the students at Forbes High School gaining early entry into university to continue their studies in their chosen career path.

A stand out includes a score of 99 per cent in Mathematics and a first in the State in Metal and Engineering. The school is proud to have one student in the NSW Merit List of All Rounders and another 5 in the Distinguished Achievers List.

“Our year 12 students have demonstrated a strong commitment to their learning in the past twelve months, and all of the staff at Forbes High School are very proud of what they have achieved,” said Year 12 Advisor Damian Byrne.

The Forbes High School community wishes all of our Year 12 students the very best in their future endeavours and hope they continue on a lifelong path of learning.

India Plays For Australia

December 21, 2017 by Maggi Barnard

Taking a break from hockey proved to be a good strategy for a Red Bend Catholic College student who was selected to play for Australia last weekend.

Sixteen-year-old India Draper played for the NSW U16 team at the Pacific School Games in Adelaide in the grand final against Queensland. The strong NSW side unfortunately did not walk away with gold as Queensland won the title with extra strokes after a 1-1 draw.

This disappointment did not last very long as India was selected for the Australian U16 side with six of her NSW team mates straight after the final. “I did not expect it, as I have just got back into hockey again playing my first carnival for a long time.”

The Australian team is touring to South Africa next year in June for an international hockey test match series. “I am very scared of going on planes, but I’ve never been overseas and feel very excited about the trip,” said India.

Her mum Amanda, who is one of the 19 Parkes torch bearers for the Queen’s Baton Relay, will be joining the supporters tour to South Africa. She said India had trained very hard under the excellent coaching and support of Glen Johnston and Aaron Hubbard. “They have always believed in her.”

India, who went to the same primary school as Mariah Williams at Middleton, looks up at her for inspiration. “I always watch her games on TV.”

Going into Year 12 at Red Bend Catholic College next year, India plans to take it slowly with hockey. “After the South Africa tour, I want to come back and rep for Parkes, and try out for state teams.” Her biggest concern is that it is too long to wait for the hockey season to start again in April next year. “I can’t wait, I just love playing hockey!”

By Maggi Barnard

Red Bend Catholic College Celebrates Successful HSC Results

December 14, 2017 by Maggi Barnard

The Red Bend HSC class of 2017 has much to celebrate as many of the students have achieved fantastic results.

Graduates are marking the end of a anxious few months after receiving their HSC results yesterday.

“Red Bend Catholic College is pleased once again with the overall result,” said College Principal Br Michael.

The College has 20 students being recognised as distinguished achievers with a band 6. A band 6 is equivalent to a mark above 90 per cent.

A further impressive 117 students have achieved a band 5, which is equivalent to a mark between 80 and 89 per cent.

A number of individual students have done tremendously well with some receiving 3 band 6s in their results.

“Speaking to some of the higher achievers this morning, it was clear that the students in general are very happy with their personal achievements.

“Every group of Year 12’s is unique and we don’t compare the results from one year to another but look at the group on its own merits,” said Br Michael.

Br Michael said that in their opinion this group of Year 12 students should be congratulated on their results.

“I would like to congratulate as well, their dedicated teachers who have worked hard on their behalf.”

The 2017 class have also benefited from the Early Entry Scheme for university.

LEGAL Eagle

December 14, 2017 by Maggi Barnard

Sentencing Options Part 2

The second part of the series explaining the range of penalties available to Magistrates.

Dismissal and conditional discharge under Section 10

Section 10 of the Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 gives the court the discretion to find a person guilty of an offence, but discharge that person a conviction. This means the defendant will not have a criminal record. The court will take into account the person’s character, antecedents, age, health and mental condition, the trivial nature of the offence and any other extenuating circumstances when determining whether to grant an outright dismissal.

Intensive Correction Orders (ICOs)

ICOs are an alternative to a sentence of imprisonment and can be made when a court is satisfied that no sentence other than fulltime imprisonment is appropriate for an offender, and that the sentence is likely to be for two years or less. Instead of full-time custody, offenders are managed in the community by the Community Corrections division of Corrective Services NSW. The two major components of ICOs are:

• supervision by a Community Corrections Officer who monitors the offender’s behaviour and address rehabilitative needs; and

• community service work of 32 hours of unpaid work in the community each month.

Full-time Imprisonment /Home Detention Full-time imprisonment should always be the sentence of last resort for courts, with the maximum available term of imprisonment of two years. Home detention may also be an option.

If you have questions on the Marriage Law or anything else, please contact any of our Solicitors at Matthews Williams.

You Have To Move It, Move It

December 14, 2017 by Maggi Barnard

There is an old saying amongst physios that says: ‘The best exercise is the one that gets done.’

A recent study published in the September issue of the New England Journal of Medicine has put this theory to the test. The authors studied the effect early versus delayed exercise, after an acute muscle strain, has on recovery time for recreational athletes.

Most people by now are aware that early mobilisation/walking within pain limits, after an ankle sprain reduces disability and recovery time. But is this also true for muscle tears?

This study took 50 recreational athletes with an acute injury of the thigh or calf muscles. Participants were divided into two groups. Each group performed the same four-stage exercise programme over a 12-week period. One group started this programme two days after injury and the second group started nine days post injury.

The exercise programme consisted initially of stretches then progressive isometric and dynamic loading followed by functional exercises combined with heavy strength training.

The primary outcome measure was return to full asymptomatic participation in sport after successful completion of a functional screening test.

The interval between severe muscle injury and return to sport was shorter in the early exercise group than in the delayed exercise group. The authors concluded that starting rehabilitation two days after injury rather than waiting for nine days shortened the time from injury to pain-free return to sport by three weeks without any significant increase in the risk of re-injury.

The take home message: Get to your sports physio early after a muscle injury in order to minimise recovery time. For the fitness of you,

Linda Reily

Walking To A Healthier Heart

December 14, 2017 by Maggi Barnard

Nine in 10 Australians could reduce their risk of heart disease simply by walking as little as 15 minutes more each day, the Heart Foundation said following a new report from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW).

The report looks at the health impact – or ‘burden’ – of a lack of physical activity in terms of years of healthy life lost through living with an illness or injury, or through dying prematurely.

Being inactive has a strong link with heart disease. One-third of the total burden due to physical inactivity in Australia was caused by heart disease.

This figure demonstrates the significance of being active and having a healthy heart.

It is estimated that if the 89 per cent of Australians who fall in the ‘at risk’ (sedentary, low and moderate activity) category did an extra 15 minutes of moderate activity such as brisk walking five days per week, 13 per cent of the potential disease burden due to physical inactivity could be avoided. And by adding 30 minutes of walking or other moderate activity, five days per week, 26 per cent of future disease burden could be avoided, the report stated.

In May, the Federal Government announced that $10 million in funding over two years would be allocated to the Heart Foundation for an initiative to support up to 300,000 Australians to adopt the easy way to better health – regular walking – by 2019.

Our Emergency Services Heroes

December 14, 2017 by Maggi Barnard

As Australia’s emergency services prepare for the busy summer season, Bondi’s lifeguards are encouraging all Forbes locals to recognise, thank and reconnect with their emergency services heroes as part of the ‘Find my Hero Australia’ initiative.

Launched this year not-for-profit health insurer Emergency Services Health, the initiative aims to have a positive impact on the mental health and wellbeing of workers and volunteers who often miss out on receiving thanks and closure after emergency situations.

By enlisting community support through social media and word of mouth, Find my Hero Australia is helping individuals and families to find, recognise and reconnect with emergency services workers who have made a difference to their lives.

Bondi lifeguard, Andrew ‘Reidy’ Reid has had the opportunity to reconnect with a surfer he rescued and is encouraging more Australians to recognise and thank their heroes as we head into the busy summer season.

“Myself and two other lifeguards found a girl, Candice, face down in the water after being knocked out by some heavy waves. It was my first proper CPR resuscitation and in treacherous conditions had to rescue her and give 8 to 10 rounds of CPR before using a defibrillator.

“We got Candice breathing before paramedics arrived, but for a long time we didn’t know if she would pull through. Then she came back to say thank you and we were really lucky to find out about the rest of her story and that she was ok. It was so rewarding,” said Andrew.

Fellow Bondi lifeguard Ryan Clarke, says not knowing what happens to patients is one of the toughest things they have to face. Find your hero, or help someone else find theirs, by visiting the

Find my Hero Australia Facebook page and sharing your story using the hashtag #FindMyHeroAU, and let the power of social media help bring reconnection.

Busy Program For Forbes CWA

December 14, 2017 by Maggi Barnard

The Forbes Country Women’s Association (CWA) ladies are enjoying a very busy December. During this month the Forbes CWA, currently comprising of almost 28 members, have already prepared 24 Christmas themed toiletry bags which will be delivered to the Forbes Hospital very soon.

The toiletry bags supplied to the Forbes Hospital patients have been an ongoing project. Given along with the bags are beautifully knitted teddy bears and crochet butterflies, and for the maternity section, booties and beanies. These have specially been made by friends and members of the Forbes CWA.

The CWA ladies were inspired by the CWA Evening Group and also prepared some ‘Bags for Dignity’. These were delivered to the Bunnings ‘It’s in The Bag’ box last week.

Furthermore, the CWA have given donations to various community groups.

Havannah House received a donation that will go toward the refurbishment of a room. Captain Meaghan Gallager from The Salvation Army also gratefully received a donation from the organisation.

Robyn Kenny from the Forbes Town Band was extremely happy with a donation that will go towards buying instruments for the band. Molly from the Sunshine Club was

happy to receive a cheque for such a worthy cause.

“Forbes CWA is always looking for new members. If you would like to come along and join us, our meetings are the first Friday of each month at 1:30pm at the CWA hall in Lachlan Street,” said Forbes CWA President Elaine Bright.

By Gizell van Wyk

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