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.

BEDGERABONG CAMPOUT: Bedgerabong will not only stage Australia’s Biggest Bogan Festival on June 11-13 but it will also stage the Bedgerabong Country Music Campout from October 5-10.

Local Country Music Scene Abuzz: Forbes Country Music Club held a COVID friendly event at the Gooloogong Hotel last weekend and from all reports the live music was a real treat and went down well with the great menu and the locals. The FCMC usually hold events at Club Forbes but due to the pandemic had to hold the event at Gooloogong.

In other country music news, the Bedgerabong Country Music Campout will be going ahead this year from Tuesday, October 5 to Sunday October 10 at the Bedgerabong Showgrounds. The campout is set to feature performances from Paul Costa, Marie Hodsen, Aleyce Simonds, Stephen Cheney and many more.

For further details please contact President Wendy Dixon on 02 6852 4085, email: forbescountrymusicclub@gmail.com or follow on facebook: friendsofcountrymusicinforbes.

Central NSW JO Council Frustrated At Reports: Mayors across the region have expressed their disappointment hearing reports there were an extra 3-5 hours added to visitors’ journeys over the Easter long weekend.

“It’s frustrating to hear, and it affects our reputation, we don’t want to deter folk from coming back, we need to fast track a safe swift link from Sydney to Central NSW” said Cr John Medcalf OAM, Chair of Central NSW Joint Organisation, Mayor of Lachlan Shire Council. The Central NSW JO Councils are seeking to work with the Western Sydney Councils and key stakeholders for solutions before the next Federal election.

Cash Injection For Ag Shows: More Australian Government support for COVID affected agricultural shows and field days is on its way for 110 events around the country to help them recover. Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management David Littleproud said $710,818 in supplementary expense claims has been approved under the Sup-porting Agricultural Shows and Field Days program. “Almost $34 million has already gone out to the 378 shows and field days approved for funding for costs paid from 1 July 2019 to 30 June 2020,” Minister Littleproud said. “These events are at the heart of our rural and regional communities and help farmers stay competitive by sharing innovation and new ways of doing business. For more information on the Supporting Agricultural Shows and Field Days program visit www.agriculture.gov.au/ag-farm-food/infrastructure/supporting-ag-shows.

EXTRA FUNDING: Some $34 million has been invested into agricultural shows across the country in the wake of fires, floods and a pandemic.

All Abilities Cooking Day: Mark Wednesday, 21 April at 10am in your calendars as Forbes Preschool along with the Forbes Youth Action Team are holding the All Abilities Cooking Day. For further information on the All Abilities Cooking Day or any other holiday event, please contact Forbes Shire Council on 02 6850 2300 or www.forbes.nsw.gov.au/contact-us

Rebecca Wilson visit: Author Rebecca Wilson (who has written a book on Kate Kelly, sister of bushranger Ned) will be visiting this month on April 16 at the Book Dispensary, Forbes. The workshop begins at 10:30am and finishes at 1:30pm. Kelly, for those who are unaware, is buried in Forbes cemetery.

New Doctor Training Scheme To Boost Bush GP Numbers By 400: Up to 400 general practitioners will train to work in regional Australia over the next four years, with the establishment today of the Coalition Government’s Rural Generalist Training Scheme (RGTS) to boost doctor numbers in the bush.

The Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) will deliver the Government-funded $49.7 million program, with ACRRM providing up to 100 Rural Generalist GP training places each year.

Federal Regional Health Minister, Mark Coulton said the end goal of the RGTS is for patients to have increased access to primary health services in rural and remote communities.

“Rural and remote communities want safe and high quality primary healthcare services delivered by well-trained GPs with training in an extended rural skill set,” Minister Coulton said. “Our Government is committed to making this happen by continuing to build the rural medical training pipeline.”

“I want to acknowledge ACRRM’s hard work over the past twelve months to bring this program to fruition for aspiring rural generalists. By providing more rural training places, we will open more GPs’ eyes to the significant benefits of being a rural generalist and living in a regional community.” Minister Coulton said rural generalist GPs are critical to the delivery of healthcare in rural and remote communities, and their specialist skills and training allow them to provide medical care in a wider range of circumstances.

Forbes Community Day April, 29: If you’re free on April 29 between 10:30am and 2:30pm and need help with anything from bills to Centrelink debts or even family law issues or Disability Royal Commission submissions, then come down to the Uniting Church Hall, 27 Brown Street, Forbes. For more info call 68501234 or email enquiries@binaalbilla.com.au

You Choose Set For Return: We are pleased to announce You Choose is re-turning to Forbes this month and this time around Melissa McGuiness will be holding an adult session for parents and guardians. This powerful information session is essential for all parents of young drivers. Bookings are essential and can be made by phoning Sarah Williams on 6850 2300 or emailing sarah.williams@forbes.nsw.gov.au

FSC And DPI Run Fishing Workshop: Forbes Shire Council is partnering with the DPI to bring yet another Fishing Workshop to the lake. Come along and learn fishing tips and tricks and win some amazing giveaways! All participants under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. The event is being held on Tuesday, 13 April from 9am-11am at Lions Park. Cost is free.