The National BBQ Championships are coming up and the Forbes BBQ Society have recently announced that Better Homes & Gardens chef Ed Halmagyi has been secured for the event. “The BBQ Championships are about bringing
people together, having a bit of fun and putting Forbes on the map,” said NBC Committee President Chris Roylance, applauding the committee’s hard work in the effort to provide extra value at the event and more to see and do for both competitors and spectators.

The 2015 BBQ Championships will offer everything you would associate with the traditional Aussie BBQ including tasting plates, cheese and wine sampling. There are four categories of meat to be judged such as chicken, beef, pork and lamb. This year the National BBQ Championships have teamed up with Relay for Life so both events will be held at the same venue.

“It just works,” said Chris. “Two major events coming together provides the community and the region with the opportunity to come together to celebrate, raise funds for a good cause and just have a really good time.” Both events will be held at South Circle Forbes on Saturday 17 October and both committees are encouraging everyone in the community to come along and get involved.

Yoorana Gunya Family Healing Centre is a wonderful community spot located in Forbes that can help with holistic care, social and mental health, social and emotional wellbeing, medical and nursing care. The Centre opened in August 2012 and has since progressed from being a little house in town to now being an equipped, purpose designed
facility.

A wide range of services are available to individuals through the centre, including transport services, access to a variety of specialists, sexual health services and much more. The Centre is an initiative trying to ‘close the gap’ and aside from Forbes also services Parkes, Peak Hill, Condobolin, Cowra, Lake Cargelligo and Murrin Bridge.

“We do quite a lot,” says Donna Bliss at Yoorana Gunya. “It’s not just for Aboriginal people to access either, everyone is welcome here.” “We have funding for specialists in drug and alcohol counselling and a partnership with Lachlan Health.”

The best thing about Yoorana Gunya Family Healing Centre is the relaxed and friendly atmosphere; it lacks the clinical vibe that some centres have. Aboriginal artwork lines the colourful hallways and there are many different spaces to utilise. Also, the staff at Yoorana Gunya love their job and the work they do. “I like the people I work with and I love my job,” says Rachael Morgan. “There is a fair bit of autonomy. I love promoting health and helping people get on track with their health needs.” Bulk billing is available at Yoorana Gunya.

The Forbes High School NAIDOC Debating Team have won the Western title for the second year in a row after successfully debating against Cowra High School in the final held in Dubbo on Monday 17 August.

The Forbes team consisted of 4 students; two who are Aboriginal and two who are non- Aboriginal. Year 10 students Madison Collits, Nic Mulligan and Jessy-lea Byrnes as well as Whitney Duffy from Year 7 had to debate the topic “that all sacred lands should be handed back to their traditional owners”. As per this particular competition, students
needed to prepare a case for both agreeing and opposing the statement, and then had the opportunity to present both cases at the event in Dubbo.

They first debated Lithgow High School using their affirmative case, announcing that they had moved onto the final against Cowra High School who the team had previously beaten at the Lachlan level of the competition. In the final, the students debated the negative case and ultimately convinced the adjudicators and the audience that their case was the strongest.

A special mention was made to Whitney Duffy of Year 7 who scored the highest and was announced as speaker of the day by the adjudicator. This is a fantastic outcome for Whitney considering she was up against Year 12 students. The team and teachers also thanked Paige Thomas from Year 8 who helped the team to win at the Lachlan level and wrote one of the speeches.

The Forbes students will now progress to the state finals to be held at Sydney Parliament House in November where they will defend their title as 2014 State Champions. While in Sydney the students will enjoy a cruise around Sydney Harbour and have dinner on Cockatoo Island. “This is quite an excellent reward for their hard work in reaching the State level of the competition,” Anita Morrison from Forbes High School said.

August has been a busy month for Neighbourhood Watch with volunteers heading out to Bunnings for an Information Morning and BBQ. It was a fun morning for the group and Pam Toole’s fruit slice proved to be quite popular with the crowd.

“A public thank you is extended to Allan and Pam Toole, Stephen and Marj Cosgrove, Bruce Adams, Anita Morrison, Dorothea Croker and Maria Peterson for their time, efforts and donations. A thankyou also to Bunnings in Forbes for the use of their equipment.” The last Neighbourhood Watch meeting saw the welcoming of two new members, Stephen and Marj Cosgrove who were both welcomed by the group.

Forbes Neighbourhood Watch is a non-profit scheme that relies entirely on volunteers working together. Their aim is to minimise preventable crime, improve security and report criminal activities. The Forbes Branch continues to grow with more volunteers responding to the call for Area and Street Co-ordinators and more sponsors offering assistance. Individuals and groups that volunteer can attend meetings for feedback and updates and may be able to answer questions regarding any problems in the neighbourhood.

The more areas that are covered, the less each volunteer has to do! Even if you only want to look after a single street, that still makes a difference to the community. Forbes Neighbourhood Watch always welcome ideas and suggestions from the general public as to how the two entities can work together to help make the community a safer one. There are no joining fees attached to being a member either.

Do you have an idea or issue to put forward? If yes then you are invited to get involved in their next monthly meeting which will be held on Friday 7 September from 7:30pm at Forbes Memorial Services Club. A Neighbourhood Watch Information and Display Tent will be on offer at the Forbes Show from 11-12 September.

 

Throughout the month of September participating businesses will be having in store promotions and specials as part of Girls Day Out and Destination Forbes to encourage locals to live local, love local, shop local. Marg at Undercover Sleepwear & Lingerie says ‘every woman should get a professional bra fitting every 1-2 years’.

As part of the Girls Day Out promotion, Undercover Sleepwear & Lingerie will have Susan, a fitting consultant from Triumph coming into the store on Wednesday 9 September to assist ladies and answer questions. Marg always offers professional breast form fittings and chooses Amoena products.

Little Extras Lifestyle “are proud to be associated with Girls Day Out” says owner Leigh. Exciting promotions are happening in store and any purchase during the month of September will go into the draw for a $200 gift voucher. “Our spring launch will be held on Thursday 24th September 5pm-6.30pm which includes discount vouchers on the evening with the latest in spring fashion releases”.

Drinks and nibbles will be provided and all purchases will have a chance to go into the draw for a Samantha Wills piece to the value of $100. Everybody is invited to come along for a wonderful and fun evening.

Painted Daisies Gift Shoppe are offering 20% off store wide as part of Girls Day Outfor one day only on 4 September. Get in there and check out their extensive range of T2 teas, Woodwick candles, new wooden entertaining boards in funking styles and colours, a selection of great accessories and plenty more items to add that perfect accent to
your home. Check out their Instagram page to find out more about their online promotion and follow the steps to go into the draw for a $100 gift voucher which will be drawn 4 September.

The Forbes Jockey Club annual spring races will be held on the 10th of October and they have teamed up with Girls Day Out. Go shopping for your outfit and accessories at one of the participating businesses in the month of September for a chance to win a private marquee and catering package for 6 at the Forbes Spring Races 10th October.

Gunn’s Menswear says “you don’t need to be a woman to enjoy the Girls Day Out Promotion!” As part Destination Forbes, they have an in store promotion during September. If you buy any suit you can choose a shirt and tie of your choice for free! Perfect for the upcoming Spring Races and the wedding season. “Our suits are bang on trend, very stylish and affordable with most suits around the $250 mark”. “A free shirt and tie has an average value of $110!”

The Girl’s Day Out Luncheon will be held on Friday 4 September and the guest speaker will be Julie Snook, a former graduate from Red Bend Catholic College. Julie began her career as a print journalist in Forbes before climbing the ranks in the industry. Julie now works for Channel Nine in the Sydney newsroom. The Luncheon will be held at Forbes Inn Restaurant and a community nurse will also talk about ovarian cancer. Tickets can be purchased from Undercover Sleepwear & Lingerie for $50 per person, which includes a 2-course meal. Contact Marg Duggan on 6851 4405 for more details.

We are fast approaching Destination Forbes 2015 with the Girl’s Day Out Luncheon to be held on Friday 4 September. This year the guest speaker will be Julie Snook, a former graduate from Red Bend Catholic College. Julie began her career in Forbes as a print journalist before moving to the ACT to join the founding team at the Canberra
Weekly Magazine. She then went into television and radio until she accepted a role with Channel Nine in the Sydney newsroom.

The luncheon will be held at Forbes Inn Restaurant and a community nurse will also talk about ovarian cancer. Tickets can be purchased from Undercover Sleepwear & Lingerie for $50 per person, which includes a 2-course meal. Contact Marg Duggan on 6851 4405 for more details.

The new mobile breast screening unit is continuing its tour of Forbes until Monday 28 September following 5 weeks in Parkes. The bus is part of BreastScreen NSW Greater Western’s initiative aiming to increase awareness and promote early detection of breast cancer.

“It is vital for all women aged between 50 and 74 to have a mammogram every two years at a BreastScreen NSW clinic,” said Lachlan Health Service Manager Liz Mitchell. “It is a free service that only takes 20 minutes and it could save your life.” Liz said it is wonderful that women from Forbes can get a free mammogram locally without having to travel during this time, encouraging local women to make the most of the opportunity while the van is in Forbes.

The BreastScreen van is one of 11 upgraded units in the state with the purpose of helping to support early detection for the one in eight women in NSW affected by breast cancer in their lifetime. “Early detection is the key to improving the survival rate of breast cancer, and mammograms can detect cancers before they can be seen or felt,” Liz said.

Enhancements in the new vehicles include things like upgraded digital mammography equipment, a secure wireless communication system, improved air-conditioning and wheelchair access. Lorraine Parker, a Councillor for Lachlan
Health said the upgraded van is a great improvement because it uses the same technology and provides the same service as the BreastScreen service in Orange without the need to travel.

“It is really important that women visit the van while it is in Forbes,” Lorraine said. The BreastScreen Mobile Unit will be stationed in Victoria Park behind the Cenotaph on Harold Street until Friday 28 September, when it will then travel to Tottenham, Tullamore, Trundle, Peak Hill, Narromine and Molong. Bookings can be made by phoning 13 20 50 or just stop by the van.