Forbes Shire Council has cooked up a plan to give the old barbecues at Apex Park a second life, following their decommission­ing as part of the Park’s redevelopment.

The former BBQ shelter has come down to make way for a new, accessible shelter and modern cooking facilities. In a win for sustainability, the still-functional barbecues have been relocated to Forbes Pool, where they can continue to be enjoyed by the community and visitors.

Forbes Shire Mayor, Phyllis Miller OAM said “It’s all part of Council’s ongoing efforts to be more sustainable and reduce waste across its projects.”

Council has also donated the decommis­sioned play equipment to the Rotary Over­seas Relocated Playgrounds Program, helping give structurally sound equipment a second life in communities across Sri Lan­ka, Nepal and Papua New Guinea.

The much-loved flying fox, accessible roundabout and nest swing has been re­tained as part of the upgrade. The existing shade sails will also remain, ensuring the park continues to provide comfort and func­tionality for families and visitors.

“We’re always looking for smarter, more sustainable ways to deliver projects, and this is a fantastic outcome,” the Mayor said.

The Apex Park redevelopment will deliver a range of new features, including:

• New play equipment featuring an impres­sive 8.7-metre tower with three slides

• Rubber soft fall surface for improved safety

• Accessible and inclusive play options, including an All-Abilities Harness Swing and a Skippy Swing

• New pathways, seating and landscaping

• New amenities block to enhance con­venience for visitors

• Improved drainage and car park facili­ties.

The project aims to enhance accessibility, improve amenities and ensure the play­ground is designed to withstand major flood events.

The redevelopment is expected to be fin­ished in time for summer. For more informa­tion about the project, visit www.forbes.nsw.gov.au

Old Girls Nursing is a local Forbes busi­ness, established in April 2025, that aims to provide dedicated in-home nursing and support specifically for rural clients.

Elita Coughlan, from Old Girls Nursing said, “Business has been steadily growing.

Positive marketing, local advertising, social media and word of mouth have been cru­cial for us to grow.”

For the month of June Old Girls Nursing have decided to GO PINK and have dyed their hair pink in support of the National Breast Cancer Foundation. They have set a target and are trying to raise crucial funds as well as awareness.

“Our little team has proudly pledged to GO PINK in June. Many in our communi­ties, friends, families have been affected or know someone affected by breast cancer.

This is our way of supporting a great foun­dation”, said Elita.

The girls played hairdresser, with Dayle colouring her own hair pastel pink, and Elita colouring her own hair and Jett’s hair.

Jett is a part time NDIS support worker with old Girls nursing.

Since 1994, when the National Breast Cancer foundation was first established, they have invested over $200 million into more than 600 world-class research projects. In that time the death rate from breast cancer in Australia has reduced by over 40%. This has been in large part thanks to research in the areas such as prevention, early detection and new and improved breast cancer treatments. It is progress to be proud of, but the job is not done.

The Old Girls Nursing team want to raise funds to improve research, treatments and outcomes for patients – work towards the zero death from breast cancer vision. If you would like to support them and make a do­nation, please go to http://fundraise.nbcf.org.au/fundraisers/OldGirlsNursing

Neither pouring rain nor the current fuel cri­sis could stop the seventh annual Tractor­thon from taking to the Canowindra Show­ground last weekend in support of sick country kids.

The event, hosted by Central West Chari­ty Tractor Trek Group Inc saw a fleet of trac­tors complete a total of 1,920 laps around the Canowindra Showground, covering a staggering 1,536km in the 24 hour period.

The 400 litres of fuel required to keep the tractors rolling through the night was gen­erously provided by Road and Rail. The event also could not have occurred without strong community support and a team of 60 volunteers who drove through the night or worked tirelessly in the catering tent to keep everyone fed and warm.

Funds directly support Little Wings, a children’s charity that provides free, profes­sional and safe flight and ground transpor­tation for sick children and their families liv­ing in regional and remote areas.

Enough money was raised on the week­end to directly fund 10 missions to transport central west children to medical treatment in Sydney. With each mission now costing an average $2,200, this is a remarkable achievement – well done to all who partici­pated!

Registrations are now open for this year’s Central West NSW Heavy Vehicle Break­fast Forum, which will be held at Club Forbes on Thursday the 11th of June.

Local farmers, contract harvesters, cou­riers, truck drivers and transport company operators are invited to attend.

Parkes, Forbes and Lachlan Shire Coun­cils’ Road Safety and Injury Prevention Of­ficer, Melanie Suitor, who is organising the forum said this year’s event will focus on legislation and policy updates, access im­provements, safety, compliance, an indus­try case study and more.

“Since its inception in 2012, the breakfast forum has brought together the local freight industry to discuss issues affecting them.

“Come along to listen, learn and ask questions of industry experts from NHVR, Transport for NSW, Parkes Shire Council, Forbes Shire Council, Lachlan Shire Coun­cil, NTI, NatRoad, NSW Rural Fire Service and NSW Police.

“The topics include; HVNL Reform 2026, Transport for NSW Freight Branch update, access improvements, NTARC Accident Report, NatRoad’s Truckies First Aid Pro­gram, mental health and a Q & A with NSW Police,” Ms Suitor said.

You can register online with this link: htt­ps://www.trybooking.com/DMCAS, via the Councils’ Facebook pages or alternatively you can call Ms Suitor on 6861 2364.

The forum will kick off at 6.30am with breakfast. The official program starts at 7am. The event will finish at 11.30am.

The forum is free, but registration is re­quired for catering purposes. If you are unable to make it on the day, the event is being recorded and the link to the video will be shared on the Councils’ Facebook pages and in follow-up media articles or contact Ms Suitor to register your interest in receiving the link.

Let me share a story that’s close to home.

When Emma was just 3 years old, she was diagnosed with tuberous sclerosis.

This was long before the NDIS existed.

Long before Telehealth. Her family travelled from Yeoval to Dubbo twice a week for Ear­ly Intervention appointments. Speech ther­apy. Occupational Therapy. Assessments.

Support. And honestly? It sounds like it took a whole village.

There would have been exhaustion. Long car rides. Rearranged schedules. Financial pressure. Siblings shuffled around. The emotional weight of trying to do the very best for a child you love deeply.

But her family kept showing up. Because when you love a child, you do whatever it takes.

Now, Emma has just turned 40. She lives independently, zips around Dubbo in her little red car, and her checkout line at Woolworths is always the longest because everybody wants to talk to Emma.

She remembers people’s names. Their dog’s names. She is witty, funny, social and deeply loved by her community.

Emma, is my beloved sister-in-law.

And I think watching Emma’s journey un­fold as a brothe shaped Luke deeply, too.

He has a glimmer of understanding of what sits behind every appointment of the families who come to see us at Keirn Health — the hope, the advocacy, the exhaustion and the love.

It’s something we think about often at Kerin Health.

And this is the WHY behind Kerin Health.

Because early intervention matters. Not just for milestones. But for confidence.

Connection. Independence. Quality of life.

Sometimes I think about the therapists, teachers and support people who helped shape Emma’s life all those years ago.

The therapists. The teachers. The family members. The people who believed in her future.

And what an incredible privilege it is that we, at Kerin Health, now get to be that sup­port for other families, too.

We are currently opening additional ap­pointments for Speech Pathology and Oc­cupational Therapy, both face-to-face and via Telehealth, for families across the Cen­tral West.

And if something in your gut has been telling you your child may need extra sup­port, please know you don’t have to navi­gate that alone.

Royal Far West supports Little Wings in its call for urgent, targeted funding support dur­ing the current fuel crisis, to ensure that they can continue supplying aeromedical trans­port services, especially to families in rural and remote communities.

Royal Far West partners with Little Wings through its Medical Wings program to de­liver specialist outreach clinics directly into regional communities several times each year. Little Wings also supports approxi­mately 40 per cent of all families travelling to Royal Far West’s Centre for Country Kids in Manly, with three to five families relying on the service every week.

The current aviation fuel crisis has cre­ated extraordinary and unsustainable pres­sure on Little Wings’ operating costs. With­out urgent intervention, there is a real risk that flights may need to be reduced or sus­pended.

“The past few months have been really heartbreaking. We are doing the best we can with the resources we have, but we’ve cut our capacity and will have to reduce our services even further if the avgas contin­ues to go up,” Clare Pearson, CEO of Little Wings, said.

“Little Wings eases the pressure on these families. The fuel crisis is tearing that lifeline to shreds, leaving them without a backup, and we need swift support to keep our op­erations running,” she added.

“The consequences for rural and remote families would have an immediate impact.

Delayed diagnoses, missed treatments, and reduced access to specialist services would widen existing inequities for children who al­ready face significant challenges accessing care.” said Dr Briony Scott, CEO of Royal Far West.

The partnership between Royal Far West and Little Wings is critical in ensuring coun­try children can access specialist care, re­gardless of where they live. Your support means country kids can connect with the care they need, when they need it. Donate today at www.royalfarwest.org.au/ways-to-give/