I am writing to express my appreciation to everyone who supported The Smith Family’s 2020 Winter Appeal.

At a time when Australians have been challenged like never before, we have been humbled and inspired by tremendous generosity. Our charity supports the educational achievement of children in need as a practical pathway out of poverty. The donations we received for our Winter Appeal will mean our vital out-of-school learning and mentoring programs can now be delivered to thousands more students living in disadvantage.

The public’s help could not have come at a better time. Even before the COVID-19 crisis, there was strong evidence that disadvantaged students were falling behind at school through not having the same learning opportunities as their more advantaged classmates. At age 15, the gap is equivalent to around three years of schooling.

In recent weeks, the Grattan Institute has confirmed that disadvantaged children who were already falling behind before the crisis, will have slipped further back. It is hard to stay on top of your learning when you don’t have essential resources for home schooling such as a computer, internet access, textbooks and stationery. These children will need extra support to catch up.

With the donations received, The Smith Family will provide additional educational support for over 16,000 children and young people during terms 3 and 4. These include our home-based programs boosting the reading skills of children, mentoring support, and our after-school Learning Clubs, helping children to increase their literacy and numeracy skills.

Dear Michael McCormack, Deputy Prime Minister of Australia and my Federal Member. How dare you give the regional money that I asked you for to build us a new swimming pool complex here in Forbes to the City of Sydney? How dare you give the city of Sydney $14 million? I did not ask you for $14 million, we only need $8.1 million, Mr McCormack.

Do you think that we are just voices crying in the wilderness? We are an important part of your Federal electorate, which you have just chosen to betray, you have just sold out an important agricultural centre of NSW, sold us out to the city of Sydney. We already have 300 little children who want and need to learn to swim.

Once again 25 April, Anzac Day has come and gone. For the past 48 years I have attended both the Dawn Service and Mid-Morning Service with my Dad (WWII), until he passed away in 1996, and my brother Terry (Vietnam).

For circumstances beyond everyone’s control, Anzac Day this year was to be somewhat different. No one really had any idea how the day would play out, but the people of Forbes and district rose to the occasion and made the day most memorable. Aaron Parry once again turned up at 5.30am to play the Last Post, our Mayor Phyllis Miller and I laid wreaths, and the Ode was recited at the Cenotaph in Victoria Park. Very different from past years but just as moving.

At 6am I stood out the front of my house with a candle and lowered the flag to half-mast. I looked down the street and couldn’t believe my eyes, candles, torches, lights on phones all the way down the street. And from a lot of reports most streets in Forbes all doing the same thing.

Sunday morning, I went to the Cenotaph and counted 43 wreaths that had been laid around the Cenotaph from Individuals, families, service organisations, charity organisations, and all Forbes Schools. What a wonderful gesture from the people of Forbes and district, to honour and remember the 153 men from Forbes and district who lost their lives, and the other 1,439 men and women who gave service to our country, and also to those who are still serving.

Although there was not an organised ceremony of Remembrance the people of Forbes still remembered those service men and women.