Rural Aid are calling on photographers to submit work for their Bush Photo Competition.

Calling On Photographers: Rural Aid is calling all photographers for their inaugural Bush Photo Competition. The ‘life on the land or in the bush’ competition is open until 3 September 2020. If you are a photographer or a budding photographer and you have a love for rural Australia, then this is the competition for you. Rural Aid are looking for images, ground level or aerial, of our Aussie farmers and their families, and a depiction of what their life is like on the land or in the bush. There are also great prizes to be won.

To enter, participants can submit their entries from 10 August to 3 September 2020 by posting high-resolution images on Instagram with the hashtags #RAPhotoContest and #SpiritoftheBush and tagging @ruralaid in the image. Alternatively, submissions can be emailed to images@ruralaid.org.au. The photos will then be added to stories and a highlight reel on the Rural Aid Instagram page.

Lachlan Water Restrictions Lifted: The NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment have announced the lifting of temporary water restrictions for general security account water in the Lachlan regulated river water source.

Recent rainfall has provided sufficient inflows to both Wyangala Dam and Lake Brewster which have increased by a combined 115 gigalitres (GL) in July and are still rising.

Based on the inflows so far, there is now enough water to meet critical human and high priority needs. Under these circumstances, water security has been restored so the temporary water restriction applied in the public interest is no longer required and has been repealed. The lifting of the temporary water restriction also means that normal water sharing plan and accounting rules now apply.

Road Closures: As predicted, the rain that fell over the weekend has resulted in roads in and around the Forbes Shire being closed to traffic. Water over the road and damage to roads means Littles Road and Forest Road are open to local traffic only. Pinnacle Road is closed to all traffic with no detour in place. Seymore Armitage Road is also closed. All unsealed roads in the Forbes Shire are closed to vehicles over 4.5tonne, excepting school buses, Council road plant and emergency vehicles. Concessions are available upon request by contacting Council’s Engineering Department on 6850 2300 and choosing option two. More information can be found online: https://www.forbes.nsw.gov.au/residents/emergency-information/road-closures.

Road closures in and around Forbes continue after more rain last weekend has damaged and left some roads underwater.

From September onwards, Daroobalgie will no longer accept cash payments. (Image: Forbes Shire Council Facebook)

Daroobalgie Tip Going Cashless: From 1 September 2020 the Forbes Shire Council Daroobalgie Landfill site will only accept card payments. Due to the continued COVID-19 situation, Council is moving to a card only system for the Daroobalgie Landfill site and no cash payments will be accepted after 1 September.

Forbes Shire Council General Manager Steve Loane is urging residents to pay by card in order to help the fight against COVID-19. Steve went on to remind residents that Daroobalgie is a business that takes it’s responsibility to keep its employees, and the community, safe. By ceasing the handling of cash, Daroobalgie will keep the transfer of disease and germs at a minimum.

“The inconvenience is highly regrettable but our community safety is the key priority and the decision has been made to ensure the ongoing health and safety of all persons involved,” Steve said.

The Daroobalgie Waste Facility is operational seven days a week between the hours of 8.30am – 5pm. Visa or Mastercard and EFTPOS or Tap-and-Go will be accepted.

The Forbes Shire Council encourages all members of the community to dispose of their waste correctly and to only send waste to landfill that cannot be recycled or recovered any other way. For more information please contact Forbes Shire Council or go to www.forbes.nsw.gov.au.

Motorists Advised Of Heavy Rainfall: Motorists are advised to prepare for ad- verse driving conditions and expected road closures due to heavy rainfall forecast across far west NSW.

Transport for NSW Director West Alistair Lunn said the Bureau of Meteorology has advised heavy rainfall is expected this week with potential widespread impacts on the 2850km network of unsealed roads in the Far West NSW, with many expected to close. Motorists are advised to delay travel unless necessary, to check the road conditions before travelling, and to be extra cautious in driving to the conditions.

“While some closures are necessary for the safety of motorists and workers during and after heavy rainfall, Transport for NSW endeavours to maintain access along all major corridors within affected areas,” Alistair said.

Permanent signs will be used to provide motorists with traffic information. For the latest traffic updates call 08 8082 6660 for a recorded message road conditions, available 24 hours a day, 132 701, visit livetraffic. com or download the Live Traffic NSW App.

Motorists are being warned of road closures due to predicted heavy rainfall..

Council General Manager Steve Loane and Mayor Phyllis Miller unveiling the plaque at the 150th anniversary of Forbes Shire Council.

Forbes Shire Council Celebrates 150 Years: On Thursday, 23 July Forbes Shire Council celebrated 150 years after the ordinary July Council meeting. Celebrations began with previous Mayor of Forbes, Alistair Lockhart reading the first Council Meeting minutes from July 7, 1870.

The Councillors and staff members had gathered various mementos to be placed in a time capsule which was buried in the Chambers courtyard. Some of the mementos included in the time capsule were a copy of the Mayor’s Column, Council necktie and a facemask to recognise the interesting times we live in, plus more cultural and time reflecting items.

The small crowd then moved over to Victoria Park to plant a tree representing the special occasion. The tree is to symbolise the legacy of Council and all that they have achieved over the last 150 years.

Bulky Waste Collection: Next week, from 3-7 August is the annual bulk waste kerbside collection. Council will be collecting bulk waste on their yearly collection drive for items that can no longer be used. Fridges, washing machines, microwaves and stoves must have doors removed. Televisions, mattresses, furniture, and carpets are all accepted. Items that cannot be accepted are building waste, car parts, furniture exceeding two cubic metres in dimension, liquids, or any hazardous waste products. Please place waste items neatly to the edge of the kerb without blocking the footpath this weekend and separate into three piles, general bulky waste, bundled organics and finally, scrap metal, white goods and e-waste.

A tree symbolling the achievements of Forbes Shire Council over the last 150 years was planted in Victoria Park.

Mayor Phyllis Miller took Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack for a walk around the impressive sculpture.

DonateLife Week: Despite most Australians saying they support organ donation, only one in three are registered. Registering as an organ donor gives hope to the 1,600 Australians and their families that are currently waiting for a life-saving organ transplant. Many more Australian lives can be transformed through tissue donation. Registering is quick and easy at donatelife.gov.au. It only takes a minute with your Medicare card. In NSW, you can no longer register via your driver’s licence. DonateLife Week runs from Sunday, 26 July to Sunday, 2 August 2020 and is the national awareness week for organ and tissue donation.

Changes To Visitors At MPS’s: NSW Health has implemented new measures due to the current risk of COVID-19 now in the community. Anyone with fever or respiratory symptoms, even mild, is excluded from the facility. Any visitors who have been in Victoria in the last two weeks are excluded from the facility. Until the end of July, any visitors to any residential aged care facility who have been in Liverpool, Campbelltown, Camden, Wingecarribee and Wollondilly areas in the last two weeks are also excluded from the facilities. It also remains in place that visitors may not enter facilities if they have; returned from overseas in the last 14 days, returned from the greater Melbourne area in the last 14 days or have been in contact with a person confirmed to have COVID-19 within the last 14 days. To protect aged care residents, visitors must show evidence of 2020 influenza vaccination.

Heavy Foot Traffic At New Attraction: Within the first week of it’s launch, Varanus the 22 metre long Goanna, has attracted 1,500 visitors. The awe-inspiring sculpture by Northern NSW sculptor Glen Star was officially launched on Wednesday last week, with Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack and Upper House MP Sam Farraway stopping by for a visit on Thursday last week. The Sculpture, which is the first of many to be placed along the Lachlan River between Forbes and Condobolin, promises to contribute to a massive boost in tourism for Forbes and surrounding towns. The roads in and around Gum Swamp are currently closed for repair and maintenance work, as well as the construction of new bird hides and the rehabilitation of the current bird hide.

Sculptor Glen Star welded pieces of Varanus together the day before the official launch.

Adam Loftus, Karen Wright from Forbes CWA, driver Gary Thomas and Cassie Bush were at the Showgrounds on Wednesday to distribute fresh produce to those in need.

Fresh produce and pantry goods charity, Foodbank visited Forbes on Wednesday to distribute fresh produce and grocery hampers to people who are in need and struggling to afford basic food items. The Foodbank team leader Adam Loftus said the turn out was good, with a steady flow of families and farmers who came down on the day.

The charity, which runs off donations from farmers, the Sydney markets, and Waste Not Want Not, provides 22 million meals annually in NSW and ACT. The charity has seen an 80% increase in demand in 2020 alone, with 33% of donations distributed to regional NSW.

“This day could not have gone ahead without the help we have received from the Forbes CWA,” said Adam. Havana House, the CWA, Salvation Army and Nells Pantry have partnered with Foodbank to distribute any produce left-over on Wednesday.

“Farmers are so generous, so we like to pay it back,” Adam said about the Foodbank’s work in regional NSW. The organisation has seen new demographics of people attending the pop-up events and is working to connect local people with organisations in Forbes for ongoing support.

Katie Norbury is hoping to see an increase in donations and volunteers on the ground in Forbes to help support vulnerable women.

Share the Dignity In Forbes: Share the Dignity are once again running their biannual drive to collect sanitary products for women and girls experiencing homelessness, fleeing domestic violence or doing it tough. Share the Dignity are asking for volunteers in the Forbes Shire community to help with collection, counting and distribution of these products.

Share the Dignity founder, Rochelle Courtney says that with an increased need, and a decrease in the April drive donations, it is crucial to have help on the ground. “At Share the Dignity, our volunteers are called ‘Sheroes’ and ‘Heroes’, they are the heart and soul of our organisation and we couldn’t do it without them.” Every woman in Australia deserves to be able to manage their period with dignity, and donations will be collected in Forbes Woolworths in August. For more information on how to become a volunteer with Share the Dignity you can visit their website. www.sharethedignity.com.au

Have Your Say: Last week Forbes Shire Council unveiled a new community consultation website to allow community members to have their say on important issues.
Adam Loftus, Karen Wright from Forbes CWA, driver Gary Thomas and Cassie Bush were at the Showgrounds on Wednesday to distribute fresh produce to those in need.

Your Say Forbes will allow anyone with a connection to the internet to make their voice heard and have an impact on Council decisions.

The new site will allow Council to gather community opinions using a variety of purpose-built tools that go beyond the usual survey, including interactive mapping, quick polls and more.

Want to get involved? Head over to www.yoursay.forbes.nsw.gov.au to have your say. To participate in discussions you’ll need to register, but it’s a quick and easy process, and will help Council keep you in the loop about conversations that might interest you in the future. There are three consultations currently running, including an Events Review, a Recreation and Open Space Survey, and the opportunity to make a submission on the Forbes Local Strategic Planning Statement – a vision for the future of Forbes. For more information please contact Council’s Community Relations Officer on 02 6850 2300.

Restrictions Remain In Forbes Health Services: Western NSW Local Health District (WNSWLHD) has been monitoring the COVID-19 situation and reviewing hospital visitor rules to help ensure the safety of patients, staff, and other visitors. Visitors to hospitals or health services should check in advance to make sure they know and understand the rules at that time, and follow the directions of staff. Visitors may not enter if they have; returned from overseas in the last 14 days, returned from Victoria in the last 14 days or have been in contact with a person confirmed to have COVID-19 within the last 14 days. The safety of health service staff, patients and visitors must be prioritised and all visitors and staff need to undergo applicable screening processes in place. For more information call the National Coronavirus Helpline on 1800 020 088 or Healthdirect on 1800 022 222.

The most popular flower competition will be held at the Forbes Garden Club meeting.

Good News For Gardeners: The Forbes Garden Club has some long awaited good news, much needed after the last few months. Elvy and the committee have been working hard to organise an exciting year for garden enthusiasts in Forbes. The club is having their first meeting since lockdown, on Tuesday, 28 July at 1.15pm for a 1.30pm start. The meeting will take place in the downstairs area at the Forbes Golf Club .

There will be a surprise guest speaker followed by a show and tell by creative members who have kept busy during lockdown with crocheting, sewing, patchwork or other crafts. Perhaps some have been working on a new garden. Please bring a photo where it is not feasible to bring the item. The committee will also have their competition for the most popular flower of the month. Please write your name and that of the flower on a small piece of paper and place under the container and please bring your own mug.

Text And Rest: Western NSW Local Health District (WNSWLHD), Health Protection Manager, Priscilla Stanley, is urging anyone having a test for COVID-19 to ask whether they are able to receive negative test results by text message. If you are having a COVID-19 test in a public hospital or in the mobile services operated by the Western NSW Local Health District, then you are eligible to register to receive negative test results by text message. Everyone who has a test is asked to isolate until they receive their results. The messaging service is easy to register for and those tested should receive their negative result within 24 hours. If people have a positive result, they are contacted by a public healthcare worker who will provide information on what happens next.

The Trees Go In: This week saw the first two of eight beautiful palm trees planted near the new Camp Street bridge. The construction is in its final stages with Forbes residents excitedly anticipating the convenience of its reopening. The landscaping work around the bridge and lake will continue to take shape over the coming months and promises to make this much utilised area better than ever, with far reaching benefits for the economy, health and wellbeing of the residents of Forbes.

Landscaping has begun around the Camp Street Bridge. (Credit: Forbes Shire Council Facebook.)

Wendy Muffet takes viewers on a tour through her amazing retreat in the new tourism campaign #wewantyouback.

With Filming Complete: The ‘We Want You Back In Central NSW’ campaign has kicked off with Forbes’ very own tourism superstars, Kim and Wendy Muffet. In a visually stunning advertisement, Wendy takes viewers on a journey through their beautiful Girragirra eco farmhouse retreat. Kim and Wendy are legends in Forbes, both earning the Forbes Citizen of the Year Award earlier this year at the Australia Day celebrations by the Lake for their tireless work in promoting Forbes as a prime tourist destination. The Citizen of the Year award came on the back of winning Gold at the 2019 NSW Tourism Awards for the Grazing Down the Lachlan food festival. Kim and Wendy are yet again showing the rest of Australia why Forbes is a must-see destination.

Financial Support Remains In Place For Drought-Affected Families: The Australian Government is continuing its support for drought-affected farming households by extending Round 2 of the $148.5 million Drought Community Support Initiative (DCSI) program until the end of this year.

Since December 2018, the Australian Government has committed $181.5 million in financial assistance to support farming households in drought-affected communities through the DCSI. St Vincent dePaul Society Chief Executive Officer, Toby O’Connor, welcomed the ongoing help for farming households through the extension of DCSI. Head of Community Engagement at The Salvation Army, Stuart Glover, said this news brings some certainty to family budgets during this period. “The extension of this funding allows us to continue to sup- port farming households who are in need because of this ongoing drought,” said Stuart. More information can be found at https://www.regional.gov.au/regional/programs/drought-communities.aspx

Road Closures For Large Vehicles: Unsealed roads in Forbes have been closed this week to vehicles over three-tonnes with the exception of school buses, Council road and emergency vehicles, due to the wet weather. Concessions can be requested by contacting Council’s Engineering Department on 6850 2300 and selecting option two.

Going Green: The Forbes Town Hall has been illuminated in green as part of an Australia-wide acknowledgement of and gratitude for parks, gardens and green spaces, and those who maintain them during the COVID-19 restrictions. Forbes residents took to physical activities in greater numbers during the restrictions to look after both their physical, mental and social wellbeing.

All lit up, Forbes Town Hall has been lit green to acknowledge the value of our green spaces here in Forbes.