FORBES PHOENIX STILL PUBLISHING DURING LOCKDOWN: During the lock-down over the next seven days, our publishing will not be impacted. We will still be delivering community news in print and online via our website, Facebook and Instagram pages, as well as our weekly email subscription. News and media services are considered an essential service and permitted to keep trading under the Public Health Order.

“Whilst our printed newspapers will only be able to be delivered to businesses that remain open, such as supermarkets, pharmacies and newsagencies, our posted copies to rural roadside mailboxes will be unaffected, and will continue as normal,” said owner Joshua Matic (pictured above).

To subscribe to our weekly email news distribution, visit www.forbesphoenix.com.au and fill out the online form.

We are your only fully locally owned and operated and greatly appreciate your support during this time.

Most importantly, please remember to support our local businesses that remain open at this time, such as hospitality venues still offering takeaway, and local retailers still offering delivery and “click and collect”. #lovelocallovelocalsupportlocal

SCIENCE WEEK: It may be home-school this week but Science Week is upon us. Given the state of the world, our next scientist or developer of a life-saving vaccine might be among us. Check out the link – https://www.scienceweek.net.au/schools/

RED NOSE DAY LAST WEEK: Last Friday August 13 was Red Nose Day and while 2021 may not have been like other years it was a time for people to reflect on those who have lost a baby or child. The organisation was founded in Victoria in 1977 with the first national Red Nose Day held in 1988. In 2020, Red Nose was awarded $1.5m from the Federal Government to deliver a national stillbirth awareness campaign to reduce the high rates of stillbirth in Australia.

STAGE UNDER CONSTRUCTION AT LIONS PARK: One of the centrepieces of Forbes, Lions Park, continues its redevelopment with a new stage for entertainment being constructed. In what is sure to get extensive use, the stage will support a great number of local events including live music like this years community awards where numerous young local musicians graced a make-shift stage. Hopefully we can get plenty of use out of it this summer after the madness stops! Great work to Forbes Shire! It is looking amazing!

 

Thank You RFS And SES: Forbes Shire Council recently held a presentation of donations to RFS and SES as a thank you for their generous contribution to Frost and Fire. “We have great pleasure in making this donation to the local RFS and SES in appreciation of the amazing work they do for the community and in particular for Frost and Fire,” said Mayor Phyllis Miller.

The RFS provided 15 volunteers to look after the safety aspects of Frost and Fire event. The crew helped with overseeing acts that included fire and the lighting of the magnificent effigy. Cheques of $250 for both Yarragong and Forbes Central Station. Presentations were made to the Captain of Yarragong Brigade, Andrew Barnard and Forbes Central Captain, Ron Hocking.

The SES were also at the event with their boat to oversee water safety during the event with Rocky Walshaw and two other local members with a donation of a pair of binoculars to thank them for their contribution.

Farewell To Two Forbes Institutions: Two of Forbes best kept secrets are now public knowledge with first Grant Clifton selling the Vandenberg Hotel and then Marc Wright doing the same with the Pit Stop in a few months time. Congrats to both of you and your families for looking after the people of Forbes! Thank you! Enjoy your retirement and we hope to see you around town. The Pit Stop reopened last week.

Calls To Kids Helpline Increasing In Numbers Since COVID: Data from Kids Helpline six monthly report identifies a 200% increase in counselling contacts from 5-year-olds over the first six months of 2021 when compared to 1st January to 30th June 2020. Citing issues including emotional wellbeing and loss or grief concerns, national numbers spiked from 14 contacts from 5-year-olds in the first six months of 2020, to 42 counselling contacts to Kids Helpline in the first six months of 2021. The number of answered contacts requesting counselling support have all increased in the first half of this year compared to the first half of 2020.

Works Continue Around Shire: From Lachlan Vintage Village to Lions Park – Forbes Shire Council continues to beautify our amazing town with a number of projects being undertaken at the moment. Along with all the recent rain the town has never looked as good!

 

 

 

Forbes farmer part of award-winning photo: Forbes farmer David Kalisch (pictured) is the centre of a remarkable drought photo taken by Sydney-based photographer Joel Brian Pratley.

Pratley has since accepted the National Photographic Portrait Prize from isolation in Redfern for the image taken in drought-affected western New South Wales last year.

He told ABC in an interview – “I was in Forbes in central NSW in January 2020 helping to create a film to raise funds for those doing it tough on the land, as both drought and bushfires caused devastation across the country. All at once, a huge dust storm swept over, obliterating the horizon.

“We were on the edge of Dave’s property and what you could usually see was fence line in the distance, the cattle, a bit of vista, but all of that kind of swept over and [there was] this kind of uncertainty,” Pratley said.

“We got Dave to walk off into the distance because his cattle were just out of frame and I just feel like that was a really strong moment when he was striding off with that kind of stoicism.”

Judges of the National Photographic Portrait Prize agreed.

“The vastness of the landscape turns farmer David Kalisch into an anonymous presence, leaving a space for us to consider our own place inside nature,” they said.

Farewell Emma: The Phoenix Group of Newspapers would like to say farewell to Emma Henderson who after only a short stay has decided to pursue other opportunities. Emma left quite an impression in such a short amount of time and we are sorry to see her go. All the best!

Scammer Alert: At least two businesses and one resident have been impacted by scammers the past week with everything from fake social media pages taking payments through to fake QR codes and phony ATO calls. Locals are asked to stay alert and contact police if they feel they have been targeted by scammers.

Local Government Week This Week: Local Government week is this week August 2-8 and is the perfect opportunity to celebrate the community. This year’s theme is “Locally Led” and Forbes Shire Council has been celebrating the role they play in the community by sharing some of the amazing locally led projects and programs they are doing.

 

 

Dr Dan’s Flying Skin Cancer Visit: Dr Dan recently travelled solo to Parkes, Tottenham, Condobolin and Forbes. Liz Mitchell in Parkes and Forbes helped navigate COVID risk assessments and secure the clearance so Dr Dan could still conduct skin cancer checks and treatments in their towns. Unfortunately, RN Sammy was stuck in the Sydney lockdown, checking in patients from afar. Dr Dan saw 63 patients, and one-third required skin cancer treatments. In metro areas, about one in 10 people need skin cancer treatment. In rural Australia, the rate is much higher, mainly because people don’t have the same access to advanced skin cancer services.

Goldridge Estate Cable Laid: It’s the new development that will go a long way towards addressing housing challenges and the sewer mains for the new Goldridge Estate should be laid by the end of August, with works on water mains to begin immediately thereafter according to councils’ engineering department at the July council meeting. The report said the construction team had started making some good progress after some wet weeks and delays laying almost 200 metres of sewer main each day. Goldridge Estate is a council land release that will feature 221 residential blocks with a central green space for parkland. The first stage will have 25 blocks available for purchase off the plan by Spring all things being equal.

An Easy Way To Donate To CanAssist: Commencing on February 22 this year, Forbes CanAssist will become a donation partner on the Forbes Return and Earn vending machine in Sam Street, Forbes. This means that anyone using the machine from then will be able to donate their proceeds directly to CanAssist Forbes by pushing the appropriate button on the vending machine. Forbes Canassist will be a donation partner for 6 months from February 22nd until August 22nd. We hope you will consider this and help CanAssist continue to provide assistance to Forbes and district residents living with and/or receiving treatment for cancer.

 

McCormack Welcomes Dedicated National Referral And Support Service For People With Disability: Federal Member for Riverina Michael McCormack is urging those with a disability in the Riverina and Central West to take advantage of a new national referral and support service. Mr McCormack said the dedicated one-stop service would provide advice and up-to-date information.

“This is an important service for those with a disability, as well as their loved ones, across the Riverina and Central West,” Mr McCormack said.

The Disability Gateway can assist with a range of support, from locating advocacy services, finding a sporting team that meets the needs of a person’s disability or identifying local disability-related events.

It is available at www.disabilitygateway.gov.au or by calling 1800 643 787 Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm AEST.

Conditions Of Entry For Bird Sale And Poultry Auction: Central West bird sale, community markets and poultry silent auction will be going ahead as planned on Saturday 14th August (pending further COVID restrictions). At this stage all sellers and the public will be subject to the following –
1. COVID check-in meaning you must have access to a smart phone;
2. Masks MUST be worn (a COVID Mar-shall will ask anyone to leave who is not complying);
3. A proof of address such as license will be checked. Anyone from a current hot spot including any area subject to COVID restrictions will be refused entry.

Other precautions we will implement include:
• We will have several sanitising stations throughout the venue;
• The toilets and hi-touch areas will be sanitised every 30 minutes;
• Three sheds will be used for selling of birds to lessen crowding;
• All market stalls will be outside;
• All sellers will enter via rear gate; (Racecourse Road) and general public by main entry (Show Street);
• All sheds will have entry and exit doors.
• Sharon 0406 512 851 for more info.

Mitre 10 Ladies Night: Ladies night is on again at Acheson’s Mitre 10 in Forbes. The blue chip event will be held on Thursday August 26 from 6-8pm. There will be promotions, prizes, info, refreshments and much more! Check their Facebook page for more info and latest COVID announcements and restrictions.

 

 

Woodfired Eugowra Saturday August 7: Will you be heading to Woodfired Eugowra this year? At this stage we are still plan-ning to run this fantastic event on Saturday 7th August 10am – 5pm, following COVID guidelines at the time. Along with the cooking competitions and demonstrations, there will be market stalls, food vans, live music and free entertainment for the kids, like face painting! Book your tickets now! https://www.123tix.com.au/events/18448/woodfired-eugowra See you there!

Anything Goes Exhibition runs to 29 July: The rules are out the window for the mid-year members’ exhibition at the Platy-pus Gallery. The ‘Anything Goes’ exhibition opened at the Platypus Gallery last week, showcasing a diverse collection of artworks from Forbes Arts Society members. Forbes Arts Society Chair, Dr Karen Ritchie said, “Anything Goes is exactly what it implies. Without boundaries or restrictions, our members have the opportunity of creating work in any style, mediums or size of their choosing.”

“When it comes to art, creativity is limitless.” The ‘Anything Goes’ exhibition will run until Thursday 29 July 2021. All art-works will be available for purchase. The Platypus Gallery opening hours are Tuesday to Friday, 10am until 2pm and Saturdays, 9am until 1pm. In line with the current public health order, visitors are reminded to please check in using the QR code and wear a mask. For more information, visit www.forbesartssociety.com or follow the Platypus Gallery on Facebook and Instagram.

Waste Wednesday – Time to clean out the Garage! The next Bulky waste collection drive will be conducted the week of the 3rd – 7th August 2021. You can put your bulky waste out the weekend before for collection. The Contractor and Council have the right to reject any items that they consider unacceptable. For further information on what is acceptable or unacceptable visit Forbes Shire Council website https://www.forbes.nsw.gov.au/residents/waste-and-recycling/collection or phone our Waste & Environmental Specialist on 6850 2300.

Congrats to Topsoil Organics: Big congrats are in order for Topsoil Organics who have been announced as the major winner in the Regional Job Creation fund set up to create future job opportunities in Forbes!

Grazing already sold out! Grazing Down The Lachlan 2021 has sold out in 2 hours! There’s still a limited number of tickets available to Sundowners by the Lake if you fancy being part of the Grazing weekend fun. View the full program of events here: https://bit.ly/3wpM1qu

 

 

NAIDOC Week This Week: NAIDOC Week is being held from 4-11 July nationwide. Forbes Shire Council will hold its celebrations in Spring to include our youth in these very important celebrations (they are on school holidays at present). We do however recognise this special week now and the chance to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, locally and across the country. This year’s theme is ‘Heal Country, heal our nation’ and it calls for us to recognise, protect and maintain First Nations culture and heritage.

National Tree Day July 31: Join us on Saturday 31 July at Daroobalgie Landfill site, this project will create a buffer between the road and the landfill site. Volunteer registrations can be located and completed here: https://treeday.planetark.org/site/10023148 For more information contact Council’s Waste and Environmental Specialist on 02 6850 2300.

Skin Cancer Check? We’re heading back to Parkes, Tottenham, Condobolin & visiting Forbes for the first time for skin cancer checks & treatments in July. Don’t miss out! You can book now to see Dr Dan in Forbes on 15 July at the Forbes Hospital, Elgin Street. To book an appointment for yourself or a loved one (or both), visit this link: https://bit.ly/FSCD3nL or call 1300 754 637. No referral is required. Skin cancer checks cost $125, and you’ll receive a $38.75 Medicare rebate. If you have any questions give us a call. Note that due to COVID-19, we take extra measures during our clinics to maintain patient and staff safety.

Bowel Cancer Screening Reminder: WNSWLHD Director Cancer Services and Innovation Dr Ruth Jones, has urged men and women aged 50 to 74 to screen for bowel cancer. “Around 81 people in WN-SWLHD will lose their life to bowel cancer this year. My message to everyone in our community is do the test when it comes in the post. Don’t put it off. This piece of mail could save your life. We need people to stop putting the test away in a drawer and forgetting about it.”

Forbes Heated Pool Progress: The Forbes Heated Pool is progressing well and to schedule. A reminder to neighbours and users of the area to be aware that there are heavy vehicles around the site. Any concerns please raise them with Council’s Project Manager Aaron Parker on 6850 2300.

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.

 

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

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.