Happy 105th Birthday Billie: Many happy returns to Jemalong Residential Village resident Isabelle Mattiske, who celebrated her 105th birthday on 24th June. Isabelle who likes to be called Billie, moved from Sydney to Forbes as a young woman to work as a Home Economics teacher. Soon after arriving in Forbes she met Edwin Mattiske (Eddie) and they courted, going to dances and movies before they married, and Billie became a farmer’s wife. She has one son, two grandchildren and six great grandchildren. Billie was a great cook, renowned for her ginger fluff sponge and Anzac biscuits. She loved having family, friends and neighbours visit the farm and entertaining visitors for morning tea. 

Billie was always very active in the community, and took great joy in socialising with others and giving back to people. She 

was the President of the CWA, involved in the Red Cross and enjoyed playing bowls, tennis, and cards. Billie enjoys having a glass of red wine and she had one for her birthday. Cheers to Billie! 

Nominate A Tradie: Remember to send in your nomination for our popular Tradie of the Month competition, sponsored by Gunn’s Menswear, by email: editor@forbesphoenix.com.au stating your favourite tradie’s name, workplace and contact number. You can also pop into Gunn’s Menswear to nominate someone. We would love to see some female tradies going in the draw too. The winner each month wins a fabulous prize from Gunn’s Menswear, Forbes! 

Exciting STEM Program For Local Schools: Schools in the Central West can be part of an exciting new STEM partnership. Regional Development Australia (RDA) Central West has partnered with Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO for the Generation STEM Community Partnerships Program (STEM CPP). The initiative connects teachers and students with local employers, showcasing the relevance of STEM in everyday life and increases student engagement in related subjects. All high schools in the region are invited to get behind this fantastic opportunity for students in years 9 and 10. The mid-year intake program has opened.For more information, contact: Sophie Lountain on 6369 1600 or email projects_grants@rdacentralwest.org.au. 

Grazing Down The Lachlan: Celebrating its fourth year in 2022, Grazing Down the Lachlan returns to the banks of the Lachlan River in Forbes on Saturday, 17th September. Chair of the Grazing Down the Lachlan committee, Wendy Muffet said: “We’ve spent the last two years working behind the scenes to make our multi-award winning event even more exciting, with a full line up of events and activities celebrating and showcasing the region’s food, entertainment, art, culture and history.” To view the full program and plan your Grazing weekend, head to www.grazingdownthelachlan.com. 

Pay Your Vouchers Forward For Kids In Need: Don’t let your unused NSW Discover Vouchers go to waste. It is so easy to perform a random act of kindness and help kids in need. One Discover Voucher will issue your selected Children’s Charity with two entry passes on your behalf to pass on to children and families in need. The charities include Starlight Children’s Foundation, Variety Children’s Charity, Sydney Children’s Hospitals Foundation and KidzWish Foundation. Go to https://symbiozoo.com.au/paydiscoverforward/ 

Big News For All Super Troupers: Trundle ABBA Festival is going ahead on Saturday, 15th October with Australia’s leading ABBA tribute band, Bjorn Again (AUSTRALIA), headlining the festival. The events team at Parkes Shire Council will be taking over the management of the festival this year. Tickets go on sale from 10am on 4th July at https://bit.ly/Abba2022 or ring 6881 8632. You can use your Parents NSW vouchers. 

Nominate A Tradie: Remember to nominate your favourite tradie in our exciting Tradie of the Month competition, sponsored by Gunn’s Menswear. Readers can nominate a tradie, male or female, to go into the draw and the winner each month will win a prize from Gunn’s Menswear. Simply drop into Gunn’s Menswear at 83 Rankin Street to nominate a tradie, or message the Gunn’s Menswear facebook page, or send us an email at editor@forbesphoenix.com.au. The closing date for this month is Monday, 27th June. 

Are you a volunteer? Forbes Shire Council is organising a Volunteers Morning Tea to say THANK YOU. Whether you are a volunteer or you just want to say thank you to a volunteer, join the morning tea in the Forbes Town Hall on Tuesday, 28th June at 10am to recognise some of the hardest working people in our Shire. Please RSVP to events@forbes.nsw.gov.au or call 6850 2300. 

Free Child Restraint Checks: The annual free child restraint checking day will take place on Saturday, 25th June in the Bunnings carpark from 10am tp 2pm. Forbes Shire Council’s Road Safety and Injury Prevention Officer Melanie Suitor said: “The correct fitting and adjustment of child restraints is vital. Research shows that two out of three child restraints are not being used properly and this puts children at risk of injury in the event of a crash. Bookings are essential, phone 6861 2364 to secure your place. Information about the national child restraint laws, the types of restraints and advice on moving children from one restraint type to the next will be available. 

Nominate A Tradie: Remember to nominate your favourite tradie in our exciting Tradie of the Month competition, sponsored by Gunn’s Menswear. Readers can nominate a tradie, male or female, to go into the draw and the winner each month will win a prize from Gunn’s Menswear. Simply drop into Gunn’s Menswear at 83 Rankin Street to nominate a tradie, or message the Gunn’s Menswear facebook page, or send us an email at editor@forbesphoenix.com.au. The closing date for this month is Monday, 27th June. 

Calleen Art Award: The Cowra Regional Art Gallery has announced that entries are now open for the prestigious Calleen Art Award 2022 of $25,000.The Calleen Art Award is a national acquisitive painting prize in any subject and style (there is no theme). The award was founded in 1977 by Patricia Fagan OAM and is made possible by the generous support of the Calleen Trust. Selected finalists will be exhibited at the Cowra Regional Art Gallery from 9th October to 20th November. The winner of the Calleen Art Award 2022 will receive $25,000 and the winning artwork will join the Calleen Collection at the Cowra Regional Art Gallery. A non-acquisitive People’s Choice Award of $1,000 is awarded at the end of the exhibition. Entries Close: 25th July 2022. 

Long Term Grazing Permits: Livestock producers in the Central West have are invited to make a tender submission for long-term grazing access to select Travelling Stock Reserves (TSRs) for periods longer than 12 months. Tender submissions will close at 11:59pm on Wednesday, 6th July. For more information visit www.lls.nsw.gov.au/tsr and follow the links. 

Double Demerits: A reminder to all motorists that double demerit points will come into force this long weekend from today, 10th June until Monday, 13th June (inclusive) for all speeding, mobile phone, seatbelt and motorcycle helmet offences. Parkes Highway Patrol Sergeant Martin Ling said Police would also be targeting the ‘four Ds’ – drink, drug, dangerous and distracted driving. “Our message is to be patient, obey the road rules and drive to conditions. “There will be more Police on the road which means a greater chance of drivers being caught if they are doing the wrong thing.” The illegal use of a mobile phones will be picked up with mobile phone detection cameras with fines of $352 and 10 demerits. Restricted licences holders including learner, P1 and P2 drivers and riders are not permitted to use their phone at all, including the use of hands-free and Bluetooth functions. 

Mayors Agree On Changes for Rural Health: A total of 15 positive changes were agreed upon when the Mayors of Central NSW met at the end of last month for the Country Mayors Association (CMR) Rural Health Forum in Sydney. They discussed the recommendations of the Legislative Council report into health outcomes and access to health and hospital services in rural, regional and remote NSW. Chair of the Country Mayors Association Cr Ken Keith OAM of Parkes said: “We would like the government to consider including short-term measures to improve rural health including the development of systems to maintain the retention of internees in rural areas and to get international doctors into rural communities. In the long-term, we need to look at establishing more medical schools to train doctors in rural regions.” It was resolved that the government will collaborate on the issue of doctor shortages in the rural health system. 

Nominate A Tradie: Our exciting Tradie of the Month competition, sponsored by Gunn’s Menswear, kicked off last week. Readers are invited to nominate a tradie, male or female, to go into the draw for the Tradie of the Month. The winner each month will win a prize from Gunn’s Menswear. Simply drop into Gunn’s Menswear at 83 Rankin Street to nominate a tradie, or message the Gunn’s Menswear facebook page, or send us an email at editor@forbesphoenix.com.au. The closing date for this month is Monday, 27th June. 

New Number For Women’s Health: The Western NSW Local Health District Women’s Health Service has a new 1800 number. You can reach the service by calling 1800 008 422 between Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm to get in contact with your local women’s health nurse, and to book appointments directly. A referral is not required. 

Real-Time Weather Forecast For Farmers: Farmers and regional communities in the Central West can now access detailed, real-time weather observations received by the new Doppler radar at Yeoval. The radar’s information will revolutionise how weather-dependent decisions are made, and will enhance the productivity of rural communities. The new radar enables the Bureau of Meteorology to provide accurate, real-time data, determining rain and wind velocity, raindrop and hail size, and the height of bushfire plumes up to 200km from the radar site. The addition of Yeoval to the radars at Brewarrina and Hillston-Ivanhoe means an area covering approximately 30% of NSW now has access to real-time weather warnings and forecasts. Data from the Yeoval Doppler radar is available on the Bureau of Meteorology weather app or at www.bom.gov.au. 

New Wyangala Water Treatment Plant: Work to deliver up to 800,000 litres of clean drinking water every day has started at the new $5.1 million Wyangala Water Treatment Plant. The plant will be owned and operated by Cowra Shire Council when work is finished in early 2023. The project’s principal contractor, Enviropacific Services, aim to employ one-third of its workforce locally. 

Testing And Research City at Cudal: The NSW Government has unveiled its vision for regional NSW to become the Southern Hemisphere hub of cutting-edge autonomous vehicle technology, with a testing and research ‘city’ to be built at Cudal, near Orange. The government announced a $9.5 million upgrade to the Future Mobility Testing and Research Centre – once the local airstrip – which opened in 2019. The goal is to develop Australia’s first certification site for driverless vehicles. 

More Return And Earn Points: More return points are being added to the NSW Government’s popular Return and Earn scheme after a new contract was signed with network operator TOMRA Cleanaway. The container deposit scheme has seen more than 7.4 billion containers returned since it began in 2017, and more than $30 million raised for charities and community groups. This resulted in a 52% reduction in the volume of drink container litter and recycling more than 672,000 tonnes in materials. 

Grease and Oil Change Workshop: This is the 7th consecutive year of the brain and body workshops for rural people started by Cherie Quade in 2015 as a way of creating conversation in our community about mental health, wellbeing and real life stories of how people in rural communities stay afloat when the rest of the world seems like a lot. The next free workshop is on Monday, 30th May at 6pm. Clinical Psychologist Vicki Maher is coming to The Back Room in Forbes for an educational, uplifting and practical conversation about mental health in these current times. Numbers are limited due to space, make sure to register at https://greaseandoilchangevickimaher.eventbrite.com.au

Loneliness: It is a growing epidemic impacting seniors across Australia with one in four older Australians identifying themselves as lonely. Community organisation Inclusee is encouraging Australians who are feeling isolated or lonely to visit inclusee.org,au to access the power of connection. Inclusee is calling for participants over the age of 65, as well as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples over the age of 50, who feel they are at risk of social isolation and loneliness. The programs are completely free for participants, though some eligibility conditions apply. You can register to participate online at www.inclusee.org.au or call on 1800 287 687.

Lightweight Bag Ban: The NSW Government’s ban on lightweight plastic bags will come into force from 1st June, and from November more problematic plastics, such as cutlery, plates and polystyrene food ware and cups will be banned. Single-use plastic items and packaging make up 60% of all litter in NSW. Stopping the supply of problematic plastic will help prevent it from entering our environment as litter, or going into landfill. The ban will prevent almost 2.7 billion items of plastic litter from entering the environment in NSW over the next 20 years. So-called “compostable” and “bioplastic” alternatives are also being banned. For more information about the NSW plastics ban, visit http://www.dpie.nsw.gov.au/plastics-ban

Birth Certificate Blitz: Hundreds of free birth certificates will be made available to vulnerable people in NSW, including people experiencing economic disadvantage, Aboriginal people and survivors of domestic and family violence. A new agreement will provide up to 700 free birth certificates for vulnerable people, particularly in regional and remote NSW. The free birth certificate blitz will run up to 30 June 2022.

Vote Tomorrow: The Federal Election is tomorrow, 21st May and voting takes place from 8am to 5pm at the following venues in the Forbes Shire: Forbes High School, Forbes Town Hall, Forbes Tennis Club and Bedgerabong Public School. COVID-19 safety measures will be in place at polling stations. Remember voting is compulsory for Australian citizens aged 18 years and over. For more information visit aec.gov.au

Australia’s Longest Road Tunnel: The NSW Government has confirmed the 11-kilometre toll-free tunnel from Blackheath to Little Hartley in the Blue Mountains as the preferred option following an in-depth feasibility analysis and extensive investigation process, making it the country’s longest road tunnel. “This is a history-making legacy project that will deliver safer and more efficient journeys for locals, tourists and freight travelling between the Central West and the East Coast,” said Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW Paul Toole. The tunnel design features dual carriageways for both eastbound and westbound motorists in separate twin tunnels and a gentler gradient to cut travel times predicted to save motorists up to 30 minutes between Katoomba and Lithgow during busy periods.

Pelicans Take Flight: More than 25,000 pelicans will take flight following two large pelican breeding events in inland NSW. Pelican nests have been counted at Lake Brewster in the Lachlan Valley and Kieeta Lake in the Murrumbidgee Valley. Pelicans at both sites are part of a leg-banding research project by the NSW Department of Planning and Environment and University of NSW to track how far the birds travel and if they return to breed at the site. Banded pelican sightings can be reported via peli.bands@environment.nsw.gov.au.

Seniors Travel Card Very Popular: Less than four months after applications opened for the third year of the NSW Regional Seniors Travel Card, more than 300,000 people are on board. Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW Paul Toole said the program, which gave recipients a $250 prepaid Visa card to use on fuel, taxis, pre-booked NSW TrainLink Regional trains and coaches, and select community transport services, had received a record customer satisfaction rating of nearly 100%. Fuel continues to be the most popular purchase on the card, followed by taxi trips and then train and bus fares. Eligible seniors have until 30 November 2022 to apply for this year’s card. More information at: service.nsw.gov.au/regionalseniorstravel.

Prepare For Flu Season: Seniors and other vulnerable people across NSW are encouraged to get the flu vaccination, as COVID-19 is also still circulating. People aged 65 and over can book in a free flu shot at pharmacies and GPs, as well as pregnant women, children aged under five years, Aboriginal people and those with serious health conditions. Influenza cases have more than doubled in recent weeks. More people with flu are being admitted to hospital, including young children. This can be very serious especially for young children who have had little to no exposure to flu over the last two years. People are also encouraged to continue to keep up to date with their COVID-19 vaccinations. It is safe and convenient to get both the COVID-19 vaccine and the flu vaccine at the same time.

Routine Maintenance: Essential Energy will carry out vegetation management in Forbes this month as part of its routine maintenance. Everything is being done to preserve the natural environment, however some management of trees and other vegetation is required to maintain a safe and reliable network. Directional pruning techniques are used that remove branches growing towards a powerline and encourage re-growth away from the power network. Download Essential Energy’s Tree Planting Guide at essentialenergy.com.au/trees for helpful tips on species for planting near powerlines or contact 13 23 91 for more information.

Wyangala Dam Update: Water Infrastructure is back in the field undertaking more geotechnical investigations. This current work is being undertaken from the crest of the dam wall and will help to inform the design development of the proposed Wyangala Dam Wall Raising project. Public pedestrian access to Wyangala Dam Wall will be closed from 2 – 27 May (inclusive).

Arts OutWest in Canowindra: Arts OutWest invites creatives and community members to join them for their annual regional gathering and AGM on Sunday, 5th June in Canowindra. The day starts with coffee at 11am at Perennialle Plants. Then visits to local galleries: David Isbester Gallery, Canowindra Arts Gallery and Melissa Barder Galleries and Café. A light lunch at The Old Vic Inn and the AGM at The Age of Fishes Museum. The day ends around 3:30pm at the Canowindra Historical Museum. The event is free but places are limited to 50 people. RSVP via Eventbrite or artsoutwest.org.au or call on 6338 4657.

Aboriginal Ancestors Reburied In Wellington: The remains of four Aboriginal ancestors have finally been laid to rest in a traditional ceremony after being returned to the Wellington Aboriginal community at the Wellington caves. The burial ceremony last week completed the repatriation process for 13 Aboriginal ancestral remains that were taken from the area from the late 1800s to the 1970s. Local community members conducted a cultural ceremony for the remains after they were repatriated from the Australian Museum. The repatriation process was led by Heritage NSW, in line with the wishes of the Wellington Aboriginal community. Local elder Uncle Barry Smith welcomed the repatriation saying: “This is the greatest thing that’s ever happened to Wellington.”

Secret Translocation To Save Trees: A species of Gondwana era tree is being translocated for the first time, with 20 seedlings being planted across four secret sites in a NSW Government initiative to save the species. The endangered Nightcap Oak tree is only found in one region and was severely affected by the 2019/2020 bushfires. The plight of the Nightcap Oak tree is similar to that of the Wollemi Pine, but it’s the lesser known of the two. This species was only discovered in the year 2000, but its origins can be traced back 40 million years to the Gondwana era. The population of Nightcap Oaks north-east of Lismore is the only known population in the wild, and during the recent bushfires, about 20% of the existing trees were destroyed or impacted. More than 500 seeds were able to be collected for propagation in a specialist nursery, but they’re notoriously difficult and slow to grow. Fifty seedlings have been successfully grown of which 20 will be translocated to four secret sites.

BOSCARS Cancelled: The Forbes Business Chamber executive committee took the decision to cancel the BOSCARS for this year due to a lack of available committee members and volunteers to organise the event. “We look forward to holding this event in 2023,” said Fiona Ferguson, Admin & Marketing Coordinator.

HSC Exam Timetable: The HSC exam timetable was released this week marking the final stage of the school journey for Year 12 students. HSC written exams will start on Wednesday, 12th October for 76,000 NSW students with English Paper 1 and finish on Friday, 4th November. Management of the HSC is no small feat, with this year’s schedule running across 18 days, for 126 exams and 780 exam centres.

Seniors Scams: Senior Australians are urged to stay vigilant against scams, as the total cost swindled from older consumers skyrocketed to over $11 million last year. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) received 16,915 reports from seniors in 2021. A total of $6.7 million had been lost through false billing scams, while online shopping scams cost Australian seniors $1.8 million last year. A common example is the purchase of a motor home online via fake websites. NSW Fair Trading guide with up-to-date information for seniors about their consumer rights and how to deal with unscrupulous operators are here visit: www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/help-centre/youth-and-seniors/seniors. The Aging and Disability Commission available resources are here www.ageingdisabilitycommission.nsw.gov.au 

Seedling Bank Grants: Applications are open to school and community groups around Australia for National Tree Day grants and close on Friday, 27th May. Just log in and add your application to your registered 2022 National Tree Day event. The Seedling Bank funds projects of all sizes. There is no upper limit to the amount of funding you can request! To register your event, get more information on The Seedling Bank or apply for a grant, visit treeday.planetark.org. 

Observation Survey Results: The 2021 observation surveys measuring seatbelt wearing rates and illegal mobile phone use in Parkes, Forbes and Condobolin are in with mobile phone usage improving 2%. Only 13 people were observed using a mobile phone compared 85 from the previous survey. The seatbelt wearing rate decreased 3%, with 84 people observed not wearing a seatbelt. The best advice when you are driving is to put your mobile phone on silent or activate the ‘Do Not Disturb While Driving’ function on your phone.

Forbes Heritage Festival: After the madness of the Elvis Festival last weekend, the Forbes Heritage festival will bring something completely different to town tomorrow (Saturday) in Victoria Park in the heart of Forbes’ heritage district from 10am to 2pm. There will be live demonstrations from heritage trades including blacksmiths, cheese making, woodturning and more, displays on our town’s rich heritage from the Forbes Historical Society and Forbes Family History Group, and some tall tales at the Bush Telegraph stage. Get up close and personal with some amazing vintage vehicles from the Forbes Historical Machinery Association, while the roving bushrangers from the interactive theatre troupe Convict Footprints will set your heart racing with their daring adventures, and the Swamp Dawkins Bush Band are sure to have you dancing. Don’t miss out on the Annual CWA Damper Competition, and demonstration cooked over real coals on site! Deliver your damper entry to the CWA stall at Forbes Heritage Festival in Victoria Park before 10am tomorrow to be in the running. Make sure your entry is on a paper plate with your name and contact number on the bottom.

Vintage and Collectables Fair: In celebration of Heritage Week, Rotary Ipomoea is holding a Vintage & Collectables Fair at Forbes CWA Hall from 10am – 4pm tomorrow with all day tea and scones, and gold coin entry. This is the first time Rotary Ipomoea have tried to hold a vintage and collectables Fair. It will be a great event for those interested in history and collecting, and some items for sale.

Brain and Body Workshops: The 2022 Grease and Oil Change Workshops will return for the 7th consecutive year as a free event. These not-for-profit gatherings were started by Cherie Quade in 2015 as a way of creating conversation in our community about mental health, wellbeing and real-life stories of how people in rural communities stay afloat when the rest of the world seems like a lot. Rather than having one large gathering, there will be several smaller workshops to accommodate different schedules and needs. The next one-hour workshop will be an online event on Sunday, 8th May from 7:30 – 8:30pm presented by Amanda Bainbridge. Join in to turn off the fight or flight reflex and treat the symptoms of your stress in the privacy of your own home. Find out more and register for this FREE event here: https://stressrecovery.eventbrite.com.au/