Over 60 Stage 3 students from Parkes and Forbes Shire schools joined together to celebrate Schools Tree Day at Eco Day 2017 last week.
Through Eco Day, Central West Lachlan Landcare (CWLL) provides workshops and bus travel to school representatives from years 5 and 6 from Parkes and Forbes Shire schools so that they can be involved in a variety of environmental and rural related activities.

Student representatives attended workshops including; making NetWaste Worm Farms; plant care and propagation with Bunnings; soils with Local Land Services; Parkes Shire Council weeds demonstration and talk; lantern making with recycled products with Ro Burns; and a saleyards tour with Cooper Byrnes from Langlands Hanlon.

The day finished with a “hands on” workshop from Paul Kirk (AKA The Snake Man), and an interactive workshop with Chris Dart from Netwaste, who talked about ways to reduce the waste that goes to landfill. Paul Kirk allows the kids an opportunity to get up close with the reptiles. He talked to the kids about snake safety and how to handle non-venomous snakes. The kids also learn what to do if they are bitten.

“We want the kids to go away thinking about what they can do at home and school that can make a difference and prevent wastage. We hope they leave with a wider perspective of the connection between humans and the environment,” said Margot Jolly, CWLL Chairperson.

CWLL Co-ordinator, Marg Applebee said, “Eco Day is not possible without contributions from many people. We are grateful for the support of Parkes and Forbes Shire Councils, Skillset Green Army, and schools from Parkes, Forbes and Eugowra.”

The votes have been steadily rolling in for Tradie of the Year and Most Popular Business. Forbes Business Chamber is excited by the number of votes that have already been cast, and is encouraging businesses and their friends and families to keep the votes coming.

So, if you haven’t nominated your favourite Tradie or Business yet, there’s still time! To vote for your favourite Tradie person or business just call into News On Rankin and cast a manual vote. Voting forms can be cut out of the Forbes Phoenix or the friendly staff at News On Rankin will assist you with a voting form. The voting box is conveniently located and waiting for your vote!

The second voting method is to put the following link in your browser and follow the prompts. http://www.inxcess.com.au/peoples-
choice/

Please encourage your staff, family and friends to vote for their Tradie of the Year and Most Popular Business.

Central West Lachlan Landcare (CWLL), Forbes Shire Council, Planet Ark and Toyota are inviting Forbes residents to take part in a local National Tree Day event. The National Tree Day event is taking place at the intersection of northern end of Lima Road and Bogan Gate Road, Forbes, on Saturday, 29 July. Activities start from 11am. Please bring your lunch and a chair to join with the group for lunch at the completion of planting.

National Tree Day is Australia’s largest tree-planting and nature care event. Since Planet Ark launched National Tree Day in 1996, more than three million participants have planted 21 million native trees, shrubs and grasses.

Landcare Co-ordinator, Marg Applebee explained “the previous National Tree Day project is flourishing and we look forward to continuing the fantastic work that has already been achieved through these community planting days. We encourage people who are planning to attend to register at the Planet Ark website.”

Forbes Toyota has been a constant support for National Tree Day, providing Tree Day merchandise and tree guards. It is also great to once again be working with Forbes Shire Council who have prepared the site for planting.

National Tree Day Manager Debbie Agnew says, “Our research shows that you can grow happier by getting outside and connecting with nature, so National Tree Day is a free and easy way to boost these feelings.”

To register for National Tree Day, please visit treeday.planetark.org

Forbes High School will celebrate Education Week 2017 on Monday 31 July hosting a Boys’ Night In event. This event showcases the young boys within our school community who are leading the way in helping to educate other male students, staff and family members about Domestic and Family Violence, and what they can do to help stop this.

Forbes High School strives to ensure all young people have the necessary tools to support them in being able to have a better quality of life, and this event is just one of the many programs and activities Forbes High School delivers to help support our students throughout their educational journey.

NSW Department of Education Secretary Mark Scott said Education Week 2017 highlighted how the quality of public education in
NSW is shaped by what happens every day in individual classrooms.

“Our commitment is to meet high expectations, delivering the best possible outcomes for children in our care”, Mr Scott said. “It is a commitment that every child will improve every year, that every teacher is sharpening his or her professional skills and that every school is progressively lifting its standards to deliver better educational outcomes.”

Education Week (Monday 31 July – Friday 4 August) is a state-wide annual event that celebrates public education in NSW. The achievements of public education and local schools are highlighted during the week, with an emphasis on our students, our educators and the communities that support them.

I Learn, We Learn is the 2017 Education Week theme. It celebrates the NSW Department of Education’s commitment to ensuring our students are at the heart of learning and that our public schools improve every year. Date and time of event: Boys Night In Monday 31 July 2017 3:30pm-7pm. Contact Youth Worker Trudi Weyman via Trudi.Weyman@det.nsw.edu.au

On 15 July the Rotary Club of Forbes celebrated its 70th Changeover with the induction of Ross Williams as our President for 2017/18.
More than 40 members, visiting Rotarians, and guests appreciated the cosy and relaxed atmosphere at the Garema Hall, in spite of the sub-zero temperatures outside, and enjoyed a more than adequate two course meal supplied by Ashcroft’s Catering.

Our special guest was Past District Governor Bernie Huxtable and his wife Collina, who commented on our excellent choice of venue which was the revamped Garema hall. Garema is of course Ross’ home town. Outgoing President Peter Norris reported on our achievements and frustrations in the past year and thanked not only our members for their dedication and hard work but also the townspeople of Forbes and district for their ongoing generosity.

Other important guests included Clr. Graeme Miller, Mayor of Forbes and his wife Maureen.

By Leo Butler

“Each morning I have to hobble to the toilet because of a sharp pain in my heel. It settles after a while and feels like I am walking on a bruise.” Is this you? Plantar Fasciitis is the most common cause of heel pain. According to research, 80% of all cases show spontaneous improvement within 12 months. If you want to be a little more proactive there are a few things you can do.

The plantar fascia is a thick fibrous band of tissue that fans from the heel to the base of each toe. It helps to support the arch of the foot. Plantar Fasciitis strikes when degenerative changes occur in the fascia where it attaches to the heel. It is sometimes associated with bony heel spurs however the spurs themselves do not cause pain.

The cause of Plantar Fasciitis is often multifactorial and may include any combination of stiff ankle joints, low arches, high arches, weak foot muscles, poor footwear or increased load due to weight gain or prolonged periods of standing.

Self-treatment for this problem should involve massage to the foot arch and gentle calf stretches before rising each morning, strengthening exercises for the intrinsic muscles in the foot, a temporary decrease in training and a gradual return to sport when it is no longer painful to walk. In addition any biomechanical issues present in the lower limbs should be addressed to prevent recurrence.

“For the fitness of you”
Linda Reilly

I LEARN, WE LEARN AT FORBES HIGH SCHOOL
I Learn, We Learn is the 2017 Education Week theme. It celebrates the NSW Department of Education’s commitment to ensuring our students are at the heart of learning and that our public schools improve every year. The school’s motto is “Education for a Better Quality of Life” and through this we aim to provide all students with the opportunity to succeed and learn in and outside of our school, while catering to the diversity of our community.

We enjoy strong links with our partner primary schools through our transition and Lachlan Engagement and Enrichment Programs (LEEP). Our White Ribbon Boys group would love to welcome all male students, staff, and family members to our school hall on Monday 31 July to attend this event, which will be held between 3:30-7pm.

This event will be helping to increase awareness of Domestic and Family Violence, with our students leading the way!

FORBES PUBLIC SCHOOL – STIMULATING LEARNING
Forbes Public School students learn in a stimulating and challenging environment with a 21st century approach to schooling. Students are supported as individuals ensuring all children reach their full potential as we develop creative, confident and informed future leaders of the community.

Celebrating learning has been a focus across Education Week with many wonderful activities occurring, including an open day at Forbes Public School on Monday the 31st of July from 10:00am-11am followed by a community morning tea that will be served in the Nature Area at 11:05 am, as well as a book fair from 8.30am to 3:30pm at the school library.

Students will come dressed up as their favourite book character on Tuesday 1st of August and will also attend a combined town scripture service at North Side Chapel on Wednesday.

Forbes Public School enables students to become the best they can be and prepares them with a holistic view to education.

FORBES NORTH PUBLIC SCHOOL FOCUSSING ON CONTINUAL IMPROVEMENT
Forbes North School provides each student with countless opportunities to experience success. Opportunities in sport, the arts, culture
and leadership are supplemented with dedicated life skills programs and quality academic experiences. High quality teaching in all key learning areas and extension programs operate across the school K-6.

Forbes North is implementing a new well-being program (Positive Behaviour for Learning) where students will be explicitly taught lessons about expected behaviour. PBL is a comprehensive, integrated whole school approach to student wellbeing.

Forbes North invites the Forbes community to attend an Open Day on Tuesday August 1. During education week, the school library will also host our book fair, and our “Showcase”, where all students will be performing will be held at Forbes High School hall on Thursday 3rd August at 6pm with tickets on sale at the office for $5.