Telstra 5G Now In Forbes: Telstra 5G coverage is now available in Forbes and Cobar, with Telstra recently switching on 5G services as part of a national rollout of the next generation of mobile technology.

The recent 5G network upgrade will also deliver improved 4G capacity and speeds in the local area. More than 60 percent of Australia’s population now lives in Telstra’s 5G footprint and Telstra has made a commitment to roll out its 5G network to 75 percent of the population by the end of June.

More information on Telstra’s 5G coverage or devices available to use this new technology is available at Telstra stores or online at www.telstra.com.au/.

Telstra’s 5G coverage maps in this location and nationally are available at telstra.com/coverage-networks/our-coverage.

Survey For Central West Farmers: Check your mailbox! That’s the message to more than 2000 landholders across Central West NSW who’ve been specially selected to take part in a survey about land and farm management practices. Led by Southern Cross University, the Soil CRC Australian Farmer Survey project aims to understand what land and farm management practices farmers undertake, and why they choose the farming methods they do. The project also aims to provide sound information on the challenges facing farmers and their aspirations for the future. For more information about participating in the survey, contact Dr Hanabeth Luke at hanabeth.luke@scu.edu.au, or call 1800 317 503

Lions Recycle For Sight: Do you have any unused eyeglasses or sunglasses which are in good condition? These can be Recycled by giving them to the Lions Club as part of their Recycle For Sight program. This will be running during the month of June. The glasses can be dropped into the collection boxes at Eyewear Specs or Phillip Wells Optometrist in Forbes. Please do not leave the cases as these cannot be recycled. The glasses are then forwarded to a recycling centre in Brisbane for cleaning and grading.

Funding Now Available For Veterans’ Health Week 2021: Veterans and their families in the Riverina and Central West are being encouraged to increase their physical activity, with $200,000 in funding available nationally to assist community groups and ex-service organisations with planning and hosting Veterans’ Health Week events in October. The theme for Veterans’ Health Week will be – Get Moving. Veterans’ Health Week will be held from Saturday, 16 to Sunday, 24 October.

Mobile Service Centre Provides Access To Federal Government Services: Mccormack: The Mobile Service Centre Desert Rose travelling through the Central West to provide support to rural and regional communities will be in Forbes next week. Member for Riverina Michael McCormack said Desert Rose would be parked adjacent to Victoria Park on Wednesday, 7 July, and Thursday, 8 July, between 9am and 4pm. Mobile Service Centres provide customers assistance with essential government services including Centrelink, Medicare and Child Support services.

Load Restraint Village Tour A Success: More than 100 local farmers attended the recent load restraint village tour sessions in 12 locations across the Parkes, Forbes and Lachlan Shire Council areas. The practical load restraint information sessions featured displays, case studies, how-to videos and presentations from NSW Police, Transport for NSW Heavy Vehicle Inspectors, Safework NSW and NSW Health’s Rural Mental Health Adversity Program. Parkes, Forbes and Lachlan Shire Councils’ Road Safety and Injury Prevention Officer, Melanie Suitor, said the sessions were part of the Councils’ current ‘Load Restraint Education Project’ which is targeting the safe transportation of hay bales, machinery and general freight. “We held sessions from Bedgerebong to Tottenham, with good numbers at most of the sessions,” Ms Suitor said. The sessions covered load restraint fundamentals, legal requirements, penalties, case studies and tips for getting it right.

Gooly Hall Gets Funding: Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke recently awarded Gooloogong’s Memorial Hall a $23,882 grant from the CRIF program to paint the interior and exterior of the hall in a real win for the community.

23,000 REASONS TO SMILE: Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke with Gooloogong Memorial Hall members at the announcement of the funding.

FROST AND FIRE 2021: The second edition of Frost and Fire went off without a hitch at the Ski Dam over the weekend.

Frost And Fire A Hit: It may have come on the back of a COVID scare but Frost and Fire went off without a hitch last Saturday night June 19 at the Ski Dam. From local band Fog Pilots to Jebediah frontman and solo artist Bob Evans, tickets were sold out well in advance for the family friendly event.
There was a bonfire, hot food and an array of entertainers ensuring that the flagship event was an outstanding success. Bring on 2022!

Garden Club Update: Our Garden Club were invited to hold a stall at the Forbes Riverside & Community Gardens on the 29th May and received runner up in the scarecrow competition. Big thanks must go to Ann Reade, Meg Scholefield and Annette Thornton who were responsible for the creation whilst Pammie Thomson painted the face and all stall volunteers. Our Garden Club Executive always gives us something to look forward to and have partnered with Landcare on the weekend of the 24th October. Also in the spring we are taking a trip to Mayfield Gardens with dates and numbers to be. Our raffle at the May meeting was won by Margaret Wilson with Doddy Englert second.
We have recently decided to again donate some monies to charities which was decided by members votes. Charities who are recipients are Boys to the Bush, North-side Chapel, Can Assist, CWA, Red Cross, Care Flight, Far West and Guide Dogs. Happy Gardening.
By Sweet Pea

COVID Latest: No COVID-19 community transmission has been detected at the end of the critical 14-day period since two people later diagnosed with the virus passed through the Western NSW Local Health District.
“This is welcome news for our communities and I particularly want to thank the people of Coonabarabran, Dubbo, Forbes and Parkes for their incredible response to what was a worrying situation, said WNSWLHD Chief Executive Scott McLachlan.
“It was heartening to see our communities respond in such large numbers, with more than 3,000 tests conducted in a short period of time. Not one positive test result means we can be relatively confident that COVID-19 is contained.”
The Western NSW Local Health District currently has no confirmed cases of COVID-19. For information on where testing is available in NSW go to www.nsw.gov.au For information on COVID-19 vaccination go to www.healthdirect.gov.au

NO CONFIRMED CASES AS OF JUNE 22: Forbes and the region have had no confirmed COVID cases according to WNSWLHD Chief Executive Scott McLachlan.

NEW DATE: ABBF organiser Luke Acheson and MC Benny Bogan will be there at Bedgerabong Racecourse on November 13 for the festival .

Bogan Fest Gets New Date: Australia’s Biggest Bogan Festival was unfortunately postponed due to COVID issues that arose in the week leading up to the event. Now, the committee have a new date.
“We are pleased to announce we will be back with the same program on November 13 – though we are confirming that as we speak,” said organised Luke Acheson.
“The warmer weather and hopefully no COVID will allow us to do the event justice,” he said.
“We will be advertising tickets again soon and ask all punters who bought theirs to keep them until the event.”

Woolworths And Landcare Team Up: The next generation of environmental champions across Forbes Shire are set to benefit from the largest ever round of Woolworths Junior Landcare Grants.
Early learning centres in Forbes Shire have been awarded grants of up to $1000, to help local students enhance native habitats, improve sustainable food production and recycling or support waste management projects at their school, Woolworths Forbes Shire Store Manager, Kathryn Simpson said.
This year’s grants also placed an emphasis on the importance of bees and pollinators in the environment with applicants offered extra funding of up to $500 for projects that directly support the conservation of Australia’s bee population.

Bernardi’s Marketplace Calls For Noms For $20k Building Better Communities Fund: Bernardi’s Marketplace is calling on its communities, Forbes, Bathurst, Blayney & West Wyalong to nominate local organisations to be in the running to share in $20,000, as part of the latest round of their Building Better Communities Program.
Since its inception in 2019, the Building Better Communities Program has proudly donated $120,000 to local organisations such as local schools, hospitals, sporting clubs and charities in Forbes, Blayney Bathurst & West Wyalong. This year, Bernardi’s has committed to donate a further $40,000 via it’s Building Better Communi-ties program – taking overall donations (including previous initiatives outside of the program) since 2011 to $800,000 dollars.
Bernardi’s Round six beneficiaries will be announced in July and voting will commence from July to December. Beneficiaries will share in a donation pool of $20,000 ($5,000 to each town).
Bernardi’s Marketplace invites you to nominate or share the word and apply via their website at www.bernardis.net.au/community.

BETTER COMMUNITIES: Bernardi’s is working hard to build better communities across the Central West.

DOUBLE DEMERITS: Police across the region will be out in full force this June long weekend and with conditions expected to be wet and cold, police are encouraging motorists to take extra care on our roads.

Double Demerits For June Long Weekend: Locals and holidaymakers planning a long weekend getaway are being reminded that double demerit points will be in force across NSW.
Parkes, Forbes and Lachlan Shire Councils’ Road Safety and Injury Prevention Officer, Melanie Suitor, said with lots of events planned across the three Shires, it’s expected that there will be an increase in people travelling to the area, which increases the road safety risk.
“The double demerit point period will be in place for four days, commencing on Friday 11 June and ending on Monday 14 June (inclusive). Friday 11 June is a publicly notified school day, therefore double demerit points will apply to all relevant school zone offences committed on that day,” Ms Suitor said.
Parkes Highway Patrol Sergeant Martin Ling said the Queen’s Birthday Operation, the annual State-wide high-visibility traffic enforcement operation, will run over the June long weekend.
“Highway Patrol will have a strong presence across the Parkes, Forbes and Lachlan Shire Council areas this long weekend. We want everyone to do their bit and travel safely,” he said. “Officers will be targeting excessive speed, alcohol and drug driving, fatigue, seatbelt, helmet and mobile phone offences.”

A Night Of Art Holistic Avenue Fundraiser: Holistic Avenue Fundraiser is on Friday 13th August at Generocity Church, Forbes from 7pm and is for 14yrs and older. Cost is $30 per person. Holistic Avenue is a charity that provides a free trauma informed support service for domestic and family violence and sexual assault for women and children in Forbes NSW and the surrounding communities.

Registrations Open For Heavy Vehicles Breakfast Forum: Registrations are now open for this year’s Central West NSW Heavy Vehicle Breakfast Forum, which will be held at the Forbes Inn on Wednesday 23 June. Local farmers, contract harvesters, couriers, truck drivers and transport company operators are invited to attend. This year will feature three sessions; one on effluent, load restraint and Chain of Responsibility, one on heavy vehicle access and one on PBS vehicles. You can register for all of the sessions, just one or two… You can register online with this link: https://forms.office.com/r/g5hNK5jyec or call Ms Suitor on 02 6861 2364. Speakers include representatives from NHVR, Transport for NSW, ALRTA, LBRCA, NSW Farmers, Parkes Shire Council, Forbes Shire Council, Lachlan Shire Council and Midland Industries from Parkes.

REGISTRATIONS OPEN: Registrations are now open for this year’s Central West NSW Heavy Vehicle Breakfast Forum, which will be held at the Forbes Inn on Wednesday 23 June.

GARDEN OPEN DAY: Costa Georgiadis with some young fans at the Forbes Riverside Community Garden Open Day last Saturday.

Costa Comes To Forbes: ABC green thumb Costa Georgiadis came to town last Friday and Saturday as part of Central West Lachlan Landcare’s big weekend of events that included Eco Day on Friday followed by a dinner and an open day at Forbes Riverside Gardens.
CW Lachlan Landcare coordinator Marg Applebee was chuffed with the results of the weekend and rightfully so after extensive planning hampered by numerous challenges all finally came to fruition. From all reports it was an outstanding weekend.

Bill Closes Curtain On 56 Years Of Drama: Bill Jayet first fell in love with the theatre at Forbes Town Hall as nine-year-old while watching Oklahoma. It was a passion that lasted his life and just recently culminated in a final performance in the production Wicked.
Bill, who is a life member of the Parkes M & D Society, paid tribute to everyone singling out Lyn Townsend and Neil Westcott for special praise. Well done Bill!

Studio 10 Is Coming To Town: Daniel Doody, the resident roving reporter for Channel Ten’s breakfast program Studio 10, will be at Acheson’s Mitre 10 from 8am-12noon on Thursday June 10 doing live crossed for Australia’s Biggest Bogan Fest which is on at the Bedgerabong Racecourse from June 11-13. Tickets can be purchased here at – www.eventbrite.com.au/e/australias-biggest-bogan-festival-tickets

Snake-Catcher Paul Newcombe Retires After 20 Years: When Paul Newcombe started catching snakes it was only a hobby. Newcombe had always owned and been interested in reptiles and soon the hobby became a lifestyle as the regional licensed snake-catcher.
Now some two decades later, Paul is hanging up the net and heading in a new direction and while we don’t blame him it does leave a vacancy for a resident snake-catcher if anyone is keen?

Two Local Screenwriters See Film Get Made In WA: Adam Enslow and this writer, Forbes Phoenix Editor, Dane Millerd along with director John V Soto have written a feature film screenplay called Avarice set to be filmed in Western Australia this month starring Luke Ford (The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor) and being produced by Epic Pictures.
The film follows a woman who must confront her husband’s secretive double life amidst a vicious home invasion by two ruthless assailants. Millerd, who helmed There’s Something In The Pilliga, will then co-produce a project on Katherine Knight – Australia’s worst female killer.

FUNDED FEATURE FILM: Local photographer, musician, videographer and producer Adam Enslow (above) along with Forbes Phoenix Editor Dane Millerd have had their screenplay Avarice taken up by Epic Pictures to be filmed this month in WA.

FIREWOOD COLLECTION: Residents sourcing their own firewood this year are encouraged to be mindful where they source it from so as to avoid being fined.

Heavy Fines For Illegal Firewood Collection In National Parks: As the weather cools, the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is reminding residents across the Central West that it is illegal to collect firewood in national parks, state conservation areas and nature reserves. NPWS Central West Area Manager Fiona Buchanan, said it is important that residents around Bathurst, Orange, Dubbo, Condobolin, Forbes and Grenfell are aware of the heavy fines that apply.

“We are getting the message out there that collecting firewood, including dead wood and fallen trees, is not permitted in national parks,” Ms Buchanan said.

“Dead hollow-bearing trees and woody debris provide habitat for many endangered native animals in the Central West. Illegally cutting down dead trees and removing this fallen timber for firewood destroys critical habitat that these animals depend on for survival,” she said.

NPWS uses surveillance cameras in parks to detect illegal activities, including firewood collection. On-the-spot-fines apply, and very large fines can be handed out by the courts.

“A number of people have received fines totalling thousands of dollars in recent times for illegally collecting firewood from local national parks and nature reserves,” Ms Buchanan said.

Costa arrives in Forbes: Better known for his exploits on ABC Gardening Australia or as Costa the Garden Gnome on Get Grubby TV, Costa Georgiadis, will be coming to the Forbes Riverside Community Garden for their open day on Saturday, May 29.

Aside from being a television personality and presenter, Georgiadis is a landscape architect, environmentalist and producer. He has helped creat Costa’s Garden Odyssey for SBS and also picked up a Silver Logie for his Gardening Australia work.

School Eco Day: Central West Lachlan Landcare have also invited Costa the popular green thumb to participate in the Schools’ Eco Day on Friday, May 28 and speak at the Landcare dinner that night.

While it isn’t a Costa look-a-like competition, pre-school aged children are encouraged to come to Open Day dressed as garden gnomes and to take part in the Gnome Parade at 11am.

Forbes Riverside Community Garden is at 59-71 Reymond Street, Forbes. Please pre-register if you are coming to the Gar-den on Open Day. Tickets are a COVID requirement. Go online to www.stickytickets.com.au/YQZMK to book.

FORBES VISIT: ABC greenthumb Costa Georgiadis will be here in Forbes this weekend.

HAPPY PLACE: Forbes Playgroup is proving extremely popular with families at the Youth Centre according to coordinator Maree Yapp.

Playgroups In May: The weather is perfect, restrictions have eased and all Playgroups in Forbes are open for business and are welcoming new families. Playgroup welcomes families with young children not yet at school and in Forbes we have a number of supported Playgroups from Forbes North SaCC, Forbes Playgroup and CatholicCare. Playgroups have activities, craft and play every session and provides an opportunity for families to connect with others.
Forbes Playgroup meets every Thursday during school terms from 10am to 12noon at the Youth and Community Centre (YACC) in Battye Street, and, thanks to funding from Council and NSW Playgroup, attending Playgroup this year is free.
As a special treat for families in May, Forbes Playgroup is hosting a Biggest Morning Tea on May 27th. “We are delighted to be able to offer such wonderful activities for families with young children in May” said Forbes Playgroup Committee member, Mrs Di Whitty, “we look forward to catching up with Playgroup friends and meeting new ones”. Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/groups/ForbesPlaygroup or call Di on 0428 150 582.
Forbes North SaCC Playgroup runs every Wednesday at Forbes North School from 10am to 12 noon and is a free service. Facilitator, Maree Yapp said “Play-groups are a great place for families to have fun with children in their care and are also great places to learn more about our community”. Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Forbes-North-Schools-as-Community-Centres-113660286939446 or call Maree on 6852 3008.

Grant Recipients: Forbes Arts Society and Forbes Public School P&C have both been successful gaining Arts OutWest grants. FAS sought funds for support for a one-day Regional Art Trail event while Forbes Public can now engage a local Indigenous artist who is an old boy of the school to paint an Aboriginal mural. The project will involve Forbes North, St Lawrence’s Primary, Forbes High and Red Bend as well as Aboriginal Education Community Group (AECG) representatives and our 292 students in education connecting them to country (NAIDOC theme this year) and Dreamtime storytelling.

Well Done FSC For Heritage Week: Credit where credit is due – Forbes Shire Council really turned it on for Heritage Week last week. From period re-enactments to heritage walks and talks, a big congratulations to Cass, Nina, Jolene, Sarah, Andrew, Kimberley and the team who put in a monumental effort to make this happen. You’re all stars!

JOB WELL DONE: Forbes Shire Council turned it on for Heritage Week culminating in a spectacular 151 year extravaganza at Forbes Town Hall last Saturday night lead by Events Manager Jolene Jones (right).

OFFICIAL OPENING: NSW Shooters Party MP Phil Donato was on hand to help open the new Forbes Menshed.

Menshed and Ninja Park openings attract MPs: Last week, NSW Liberals MP Bronnie Taylor along with Nationals Upper House MP Sam Faraway and NSW Shooters Party MP Phil Donato were on hand to officially open the Forbes Community Menshed and Forbes Ninja Park. Both these assets are the best in the region and we are extremely grateful and lucky to have them.

Nearly 100,000 reasons to smile: Rebecca Miller is just short from hitting her incredible fundraising goal of $100,000. As of earlier this week, her total sat at just over $96,000 on her Ripple of Kindness Project Go Fund Me page. Rebecca recently finished a gruelling 355km run from Parkes to Westmead Children’s to raise awareness and as much funds as she can for the Leukaemia Foundation, Bandaged Bear, Carrie’s Beanies for Brain Cancer and Can Assist. Congratulations on a magnificent effort Bec!

Small Costas for tickets to special dinner: Tickets are still available for the Landcare Dinner with Gardening Australia guru Costa Georgiadis. Tickets for the Dinner can be found via the Central West Lachlan Landcare website or social media. Links for registration for the Garden Open Day can also be found there. For further information visit www.centralwestlachlanlandcare.org Twitter, Facebook or Instagram @cwllandcare

Taste on Templar is back! Save the date October 30 because Taste on Templar is back! The event will start at 6:30pm and again there will be magnificent food and beverages for all. Watch this space for more!

FSC donates to Ronald McDonald House: Forbes Shire Council donated $6,117.60 raised from their International Women’s Day High Tea and Wear Red day event on March 25 to Ronald McDonald House Charities Orange. Meanwhile the Forbes branch of the U3A in partnership with Forbes Shire Council have donated $500 raised from their Senior’s Week Variety Concerts to Red Cross, Forbes Branch.
Ronald McDonald House Charities Orange Manager Rebecca Walsh was rapt with the donation and said they would like to thank the Forbes Shire Council and members of the Forbes community for their amazing support.
Ms Walsh said that raising over $6,000 for the charity is phenomenal and will remain local. “We look forward to continuing the in-valuable partnership in supporting families that come to Orange for treatment.”
Since the house opened Ronald McDonald House Orange has hosted 79 families for a total of 355 nights, all free of charge.

REBATE: Small businesses can sign up for a new scheme to help cover government fees and charges.

Small Business Rebate: Small businesses are encouraged to sign up online for a new $1,500 rebate scheme to help cover the cost of NSW and local government fees and charges.

The Small Business Fees and Charges Rebate is open to small businesses which have a total wages bill below the new 2020-21 $1.2 million payroll tax threshold and have a turnover of at least $75,000 per year.

It is available from 1 April 2021 until 30 June 2022, for eligible fees and charges due and paid from 1 March 2021.

Fees and charges that can be claimed back through the scheme include liquor licences, food authority licences, council rates and outdoor seating fees.
For more information go to www.smallbusiness.nsw.gov.au

Forbes RDA Info Evening: The Forbes RDA Branch will be hosting an information evening on Wednesday, 5 May at Club Forbes.

The information evening will begin at 6pm, with the committee providing information about what the Forbes RDA Branch does locally and how people can help.

This will be followed by the branch’s annual general meeting at 6:30pm with all committee positions open.

RDA is a volunteer organisation providing equine assisted activities for people with disabilities to develop and enhance abilities. For more information about the Forbes RDA Branch contact Kylie Ryan on 0459 960 376.

Nearly Time For Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea: Hosting a Biggest Morning Tea on 27 May is easy. There’s a great free host kit and you can make your morning tea as simple or as fancy as you like. After COVID cancelled many cuppas in 2020, it’s time to get everyone back together. So what are you waiting for? Go to www.biggestmorningtea.com.au for more info on how to host or get involved with existing events in the Forbes shire.

Arts Outwest Offers Free Arts Business Course: The course is only open to people living in the NSW Central West local government areas of Bathurst Region, Blayney, Cabonne, Cowra, Forbes, Lachlan, Lithgow, Mid-Western Region, Oberon, Orange, Parkes and Weddin. Artists who complete the course will get a free one-year membership of industry website ArtsHub. Those interested are asked to put in a very short expression of interest, due by Monday, 3 May. The application form can be found on the artsoutwest.org.au website.

FREE COURSE: Aspiring artists who want to learn about business are encouraged to apply online by Monday, 3 May.