The Forbes First Exhibition has been installed in the corridors of the Forbes Hospital. This exhibition is part of the Culture and Arts Program, which has been integrated into the hospital’s redevelopment. “We published a call out to local artists and 14 artists replied,” said Arts OutWest Arts and Health Coordinator Christine Mc- Millan. “I would like to thank all of the artists who have contributed to the exhibition, which will make a big difference to the corridors of the hospital. The walls are transformed by bright and cheerful works.”

Lachlan Health Service Manager, Liz Mitchell, is also looking forward to seeing the facility brought to life with the artwork from locals. “It’s fabulous to have new equipment and facilities, but the Forbes Hospital redevelopment is also about making it a more vibrant and friendly place for all our communities.

Integrating the arts is a great way of achieving this,” said Ms Mitchell. “Staff members Sue Dingwell and Michelle Horton have work hanging in the Forbes First exhibition,” Ms Mitchell said. Both Sue and Michelle’s works are based
on animals – Sue’s work ‘Horse’ adds colour to the corridor and the detail draws you into the painting. Michelle’s work ‘Shine Bright’ is the first mirror background mosaic she has made, after 5 years of mosaic making, with a splash of colour in the body of an elephant.

Thirty artworks will be on display. A broad range of mediums are used in the works, including pastels, water colour, acrylic, mixed media, oils and wax and ink. Many of the images are inspired by the Forbes landscape, from historical buildings to the rural Forbes canola season. Wattle flowers to deciduous leaves represent the broad species range of plants in the area.

Karen Ritchie, who has three pieces in the exhibition, said the Forbes wetlands provided a perfect backdrop to explore, in colour and line, the movement and fleetingness of water. “No two views are the same as colour and shape and shadows are reliant on landform and objects surrounding the body of water. Acrylics and ink provide a fluid consistency to try and replicate the
nature of water, while the trees provide an illusion of solidity,” she said.

The artworks are on display until June 15 and can be seen by anyone who visits the hospital during this time. A similar exhibition is currently also running at the new Parkes Hospital.

Young Wildcare volunteer Lynda Oehm has been volunteering on and off for the last 30 years for Wildcare, and knows a thing or two about looking after kangaroos. In fact, she has looked after around 300 injured kangaroos and kangaroo joeys in that time, but with very few volunteers in the Central West caring for Wildcare at the moment, she said she is inundated with animals.

Close to Forbes, there are currently volunteers based in Goologong, but none in Forbes itself. Wildcare is an independent organisation that looks after injured wildlife, with carers that volunteer for them being specially trained to look after different types of animals. Wildcare is a 24/7 service, and generally,
takes injured wildlife into its care when members of the public, local rangers and local emergency services report the injured animals.

Animals’ injuries are assessed in the first instance, with veterinary attention brought in if required, and then volunteer carers look after the animals and maintain their health until they are assessed to be ready for the wild again. On average, the service receives around 2000 calls a year. Common circumstances
include dog and cat attacks on wildlife, motor vehicle collisions, and animals getting caught in netting or fencing.

More miscellaneous situations involve wombats getting stuck in bathtubs, brown snakes in rat traps, and possums in car bonnets. Ms Oehm specialises in looking after injured kangaroos and wallabies, and after years of constantly having new animals come to her, said it was important other people come on board.

“Looking after these kangaroos isn’t like having a pet. They’re not pets. It’s like raising a child. They need full time care,” she said. “We desperately need more volunteer carers, especially for birds, possums and reptiles. It’s becoming too much for the four of us that do it at the moment.” Wildcare liaison officer for Young, Sandra Latham, said licensed shooters (euthanasia) were also being sought.

Anyone interested in assisting Wildcare is asked to call 6299 1966.

Forbes Shire Council is reminding residents that the new kerbside waste, recycling and food and organics collection service starts the week commencing Monday, April 4. Once old yellow and red-lidded bins have been emptied, start using your three new bins in preparation for the first collection the week of April 4 to 8, which will be your red and green lidded bins.

The frequency of collection will be weekly for the green lidded bin and alternate fortnights for both the red and yellow lidded bins.

Every year, the Cabonne Country Balloon Glow and Night Market serve up some of the best food and wine the region has to offer. This year, the Night Market has expanded, with even more regional produce plus a large variety of craft stalls. “The event has really grown this year with so many more things for visitors to see and do whilst they in town. Crafts on offer include art works, goats milk products, handmade jewellery, children’s clothing, face painting and the ever popular glow wands will be available” Jan Kerr said.

To save waiting in queues call ahead into Cowra Visitor Information Centre or the Age of Fishes Museum for programs and to pre-purchase entry tickets. Tickets are $15 per adult and children aged 13 and over while children aged 12 and under go free. The gates will open at 3.30pm before festivities kick off at 4pm with a rugby match between Canowindra and Yeoval, a craft market, a food and wine market and non-stop entertainment including local dance and performance groups. Grab a glow wand and join the Balloon Glow from 7.15pm which will feature ‘Baby Blue’ the whale. Please remember to bring a chair or rug to sit on and ‘share our air’ on Saturday 9th April.

Jemalong Polo Club will be hosting a tournament on 9th and 10th April 2016 at their facility on the Lachlan Valley Way, Forbes. Competition for 3 grades will be for the historic Forbes polo trophies that date back to 1928. Games will commence at 9 am on both Saturday and Sunday and continue until trophy presentation on Sunday afternoon.

Teams and players will be coming from overseas, interstate and together with more local players will make for exciting and colourful polo.

More than one in three people 65 years or older fall at least once a year and aged care residents are even more at risk with up to half of these residents falling at least once a year. The importance of involving carers and patients in falls prevention is highlighted on 1 April, April Falls Day® with the theme – Share the Care: Falls Prevention is everyone’s business®.

Falls prevention activities are planned throughout the Health District during April and are being supported by Health Promotion and the Carer Support Program. These range from morning tea celebrations to information displays and exercise demonstrations. April Falls Day – Share the Care: The Canowindra Community Health Centre is hosting a Falls Prevention Morning Wednesday 6th April 2016 10am-1pm at the Canowindra Services & Citizens Club Hall. It will feature local exercise demonstrations from the Tai Chi & Rehab/Fitness classes, as well as information and display stands focusing on vision, suitable footwear and product aids to assist with falls prevention.

The community is invited along for the opportunity for a free falls/balance assessment from local health professionals. Clinical Excellence Commission, Falls Prevention Program Leader, Lorraine Lovitt said there was a particular focus on staff engaging with carers and patients to prevent falls and keep older people safe. “Carers are an important part of the care team in NSW public hospitals and other health settings,” Ms Lovitt said. Important information carers can share with health workers includes:
• Recent slips, trips or falls
• Changes in memory or thinking at home or in hospital
• Personal habits and history of help support and settle
• Changes in medications
• Personal aids used (glasses, hearing aids, walking sticks)
• Need for assistance with toilet, shower or self-care