The Forbes Spring Races have been rescheduled and rebranded and will be on Saturday, 19th November. The new event will be called the Spring Flood Recovery Cup and the Forbes Jockey Club will have an array of activities to help the community recover from the floods. “The aim of the flood recovery cup is to provide a chance for the locals to come together after an extremely difficult time and celebrate the resilience of our community,” said Secretary of the Forbes Jockey Club, Blake Nicholson.

Footraces will be replaced by a sandbag challenge where participants will have to ferry as many sandbags as possible in two minutes with a cash prize for the winner. Fashions on the Field have a new category of best flood outfit with extra points awarded for water or nautical themed clothing. Extra points will also be awarded for clothing that contains floodwater brown. Races will be named in flood themes with the main race being the Bankstown Sports
Swamp Rat Flood Cup. Other races will include Mandagery Creek Mile (named after Eugowra Creek that feeds the Lachlan River), the Southern Cross Sprint (named after the area east of Forbes that feeds major floods), the Iron Bridge Handicap (where river levels are managed), the Roads Closed Handicap (transport difficulties) and the Farmers’ Flood Maiden (named for the fact the flood have disproportionally affected primary producers).

A significant donation will also be made to the Lions Club disaster relief fund for the work they have done to assist the community. “The meeting doesn’t aim to take itself too seriously and it’s supposed to be a day of fun. However we do acknowledge that many people have lost their income and one person lost his life,” Blake said. Marquee bookings are available by calling 0439 911 052.

Flannery’s Pharmacy is getting a complete face lift for the first time since 1994. “We are very excited to be getting a brand new store,” said Manager Debbie Prior. She said since the merger of Flannery’s and Michael’s Amcal Pharmacy 12 years ago and the move to Rankin Street, the shop had never had an update. “We are putting in automatic doors in front and for the back door at the moment, and next week we will start with a complete new
refit inside. This will include three new consultation rooms for professional services and a nurses clinic room.”

While the new fixtures and fittings are being done, business will be done from half a store. “We apologise for any inconvenience this might cause, but hope customers will see the benefit of the new shop when it is all done by early December,” said Debbie. Once all the work is done, the new shop will be launched with an exciting range of new Christmas stock.

With the advent of summer combined with the big rains we have experienced during winter, it is time to think about ensuring that your fly screens are in place and don’t need repairing. Mosquitoes will be prevalent, as you have already experienced, and more so than in other years. It is best to get in early to make sure they don’t become a major annoyance. There is nothing worse than a mozzie flying around your head at night.

JD’s Glass and Glazing are only a call away. They can give you a measure and quote and have fly screens installed within a couple of weeks. Security doors are a necessity for summer too, and while you are at it, look at replacing your shower screen too. At JD’s they have a large range to choose from. Call JD’s Glass and Glazing today on 6851
1402.

Forbes and other flood ravaged communities in the Central West have been thrown a life-line with $13 million from the NSW Government to provide immediate funding relief for councils to fix local roads destroyed by floodwater. Forbes is among the five most affected Local Government Areas that will receive $1 million each. The other councils are Lachlan, Parkes, Bland and Hilltops. Deputy Premier Troy Grant and Minister for Roads and Freight Duncan Gay were in the region last week and announced an additional $1 million to investigate options to improve flood resistance of the Newell Highway at Tichborne to keep the highway open during heavy flood events. “Some local government areas are experiencing the wettest conditions in decades with significant road detours in place and some likely to be there for weeks,” Troy said.

Minister Gay said he had inspected roads across the region and met with local councils and it was clear the repair of the council road network was a priority. “The task to repair the network is going to be a big one – with the base under many of the roads completely saturated,” Duncan said.

The Orange Wine Region has a lot to celebrate: 20 years of being a certified wine region, fantastic vintages, high ratings in the Halliday Wine Companion and a number of wines winning ten trophies at wine shows around NSW recently. The Festival has over 90 events. The tasting event at the Showground Pavilion on Friday, 14th October has a record of 328 entries. The wines will be matched with delicious food prepared by The Agrestic Grocer. Don’t forget Wine Central, Monday to Thursday at the Union Bank from 5.30pm for a free tasting of a range of varieties.

A new event is the Mixed Dozen Portraits of the Winemakers of Orange, at The Barracks Galleries & Studios on Peisley Street. There is the inaugural Vino Velo – cycle two of the region’s wine trails, finishing with lunch at a winery. Joins thousands at the Orange Wine Festival Wine and Food Night Market on Friday, 21st October at Robertson Park. Visit the website www.orangwinefestival.com.au for more information or download the full program http://www.emagcloud.com/brandorange/OrangeWineFestival2016/

The Bernardi Group is once again calling on applications for their Community Benefits Program, which will see the funds awarded to three community groups. For every product purchased at Bernardi’s, a percentage of the price is donated to the program with the 2015-2016 figure totalling in excess of $6,000.

CEO, Joseph Bernardi, says he is thrilled to be offering the grant which will mean a lot to the beneficiaries. “Grants like this can be of huge benefit to small charities and organisations who are working towards specific projects.”
The Community Benefit application forms can be obtained by emailing sarah@bernardigroup.com.au. It only requires 250 words about what the funds will be put towards.

Applications close on 14th October, with the beneficiaries announced shortly thereafter. The announcement comes at a busy time with Bernardi Group currently upgrading their Forbes store to revitalise their retail presence and provide further choice to local shoppers.