Forbes Public School (FPS) students took part in a Mini Olympics event at the school recently organised by Year 6. The 300 students were divided into nine countries and marched in an opening ceremony with the school captains carrying the Olympic torch donated to the school by Robert Lytton OAM, who carried the torch through Forbes in 2000.

The year 6 students ran activities like tug of war, gum boot toss, sack races, egg and spoon obstacle course, hoop throwing, hurdles, relays, soccer dribbling races and target ball throwing. Students have been studying the Olympic Games and loved seeing the joy on the faces of outstanding role models displaying sportsmanship and national pride. They also witnessed athletes who have trained hard, sacrificed a lot and competed with everything they had.

With Australian childhood obesity at a record high, FPS is committed to exposing students to as many opportunities as possible to enable them to find their preferred sport and develop a life-long love of it. As part of this term’s skipping unit, FPS participated in the Jump Rope for Heart Program. In the classroom, students learnt about heart health including nutrition and the dangers of smoking. In sports skills, students learnt tricks using skipping ropes and choreographed routines, and in the community, students fundraised for the Heart Foundation, while the school newsletter featured articles educating parents about healthy eating and keeping children active.

After the Mini Olympics event, students from Kindergarten to year 6 put on an amazing skipping show. The school raised well over $5,000 for the Heart Foundation and the P & C raised more than $600 through the Mini Olympics, Jump Rope for Heart skipping show and celebration lunch.

By Katie Stitt

The Forbes State Emergency Service (SES) has been a hive of activity since Saturday with more than 40,000 sandbags being filled by Tuesday.

Local and visiting volunteers have been preparing for floodwater in Forbes this week. The Lachlan River peaked at 10.35m at the Iron Bridge on Wednesday slightly under the level of 10.55m recorded in the 2012 flood. This level is rated as moderate flooding, but with further rain expected from today this may not be the only flooding that will affect the community in the coming weeks. Wyangla Dam is above capacity at present and water released is being staggered to minimise the severity of flooding and damage.

All residents in low-lying areas were alerted and the Red Bend College was closed on Wednesday. More than forty volunteers have been at the SES depot every day to fill sandbags for delivery to areas expected to be most affected. On Tuesday a massive 55.6 tonnes of sand was bagged into approximately 3,500 bags each weighing 15kg. SES volunteers have come from far and wide to assist Roc Walshaw and his crew. They had only praise for the Forbes community and were amazed by the teamwork and community spirit. Visiting SES volunteers stay for about five days, so anyone with spare time is encouraged to help at the SES depot.

The depot provides regular and accurate information regarding the flooding. Even though the flood levels were lower than 2012, experienced volunteers believe that the density of grasses from the winter season will slow the flow of water causing the water to recede and disappear much slower.

The public are reminded not to drive through any roads signposted as closed, as this could compromise their insurance should they get into trouble.

By Anita Morrison

Mayor Phillis Miller promised a questioner at the Meet the Councillor Candidates evening last week to find out more about the building embargo at the old ambulance station site. She has asked Forbes Shire Council General Manager, Danny Green, to look into the history of the ambulance station. “He is busy to determine what business has taken place to date and will come up with a solution to the owner and advise the public on it,” the Mayor said in the final week of her term before the Local Government Elections tomorrow.

Mayor Miller reminded all residents to vote. “The most important thing about this election is that 17 people had the courage and conviction to put their names forward, and they need to be commended for that.” She said the candidates represented a great gender mix with six women standing, which is 35% representation. “This compares very well considering there is only a 20% representation of women on local councils on average.”

Mayor Miller said the past four years had been trying in some parts, “but we have been able to take Forbes forward in terms of job creation. I have loved every minute of my time on Council and hope I can serve a seventh term as Mayor as I still feel as much passion as I did on my first day.”

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A.A.Blatch in Parkes, founded by Allan A Blatch (senior) in 1952, was recently taken over by Allan A Blatch (junior) and Susie to keep the business in the family for a third generation. Allan and Susie bought out Allan’s parents, Warren and Nancye Blatch, in 2015 after moving to Parkes from England. “Our business is different to many others as we are not just here for a quick sale, but to build relationships with farmers over generations.

Many people remember coming here with their grandparents in the 1950s – so we have fifth generation customers,” said Allan. A.A.Blatch is a one-stop shop for bearings and power transmission, and automotive and agricultural spare parts. “Whether it’s a clutch for a header, a diesel engine rebuild kit for a truck, a suspension lift-kit for a Landcruiser or the world’s finest triple- lip bearings for your prized machinery; A.A.Blatch has you covered.”

In addition it is an exclusive distributor for Black Bearings by NTN Japan, and Tsubaki chains, as well as an official distributor for premium bearing brands including NTN, Timken-Fafnir and NSK. It is also an official distributor for Gates belts, Fleetguard filtration, Drivetech 4X4, All States Trailer spares, Kerrick Pressure Cleaners, Exedy Clutch, Engine Australia, Neil’s Parts, Bareco, Narva and many more.

“At A.A.Blatch we try and minimise customer’s downtime. We have three daily deliveries to Forbes, Peak Hill and Dubbo, two daily deliveries to Condobolin, and a daily plane delivery to Lake Cargelligo. “We have won over many far-flung customers by getting a parcel collected at 8am in Parkes and delivered by 11.30 to Lake Cargelligo on the plane,” said Allan. “We use overnight freight to just about anywhere in Australia!”

Allan and his team are looking forward to the business’ 65th anniversary next year and serving the farming community well into the future.

You still have time to pay new membership fees before the big rush for the cut off date on Wednesday, 7th September. The membership fee is absolutely worth the money, and allows you to get the full benefit of all of the happenings at the Show. Annual membership is $40, which covers entry for you, one guest and school-aged children on both days of the show, plus parking in the Pony Club Grounds. Single membership is $30 and covers one adult and three school-aged children.

Make your dollar go further and buy a $30 sheet of tickets for only $25 no later than Thursday. These tickets can be used for rides, as well as showman’s food stalls and sideshow alley. For people entering the Pavilion events, avoid the Thursday morning rush for entry tickets by picking them up at the Show Office between 9.30am to 3.30pm on week days, or from the Glass Menagerie on Templar Street. Remember to check the schedule for the exact time sections close if you are bringing entries in on Thursday morning.

The entertainment programme will be posted on the Forbes Show Facebook page, as well as any updates. For any enquiries call Julie Hurkett on 6852 1311.

One of the biggest crowds ever turned up for the Meet the Councillor Candidates evening at the Forbes Services Memorial Club on Tuesday night when more than 180 people attended. The evening was organised by the Forbes Business Chamber with Margaret Duggan acting as facilitator.

All 17 candidates were present and each person had two and a half minutes to present a case for why they should be elected as a councilor at the Local Government Elections on 10th September. Eight of the candidates are current councilors standing for re-election. The candidates talked passionately about a variety of issues they would focus on with tourism, economic development, housing, rural and water issues the main ones.

There were several promises to work towards a more transparent council that would listen to residents and involve them more in decision making, working on further improvement of medical services, being a voice for the youth, helping people, better internet services, keeping government services in town and long-term employment opportunities for young people.

During question time there was a lot of discussion about the importance of attracting smaller businesses to town, selling Forbes as a tree change destination and the need for more local education opportunities.