Forbes Phoenix

Letter to the Editor

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Dear Editor,

Voices 4 Riverina is a community-based organisation encouraging participation in democracy.

We hold Kitchen Table Conversations in all areas of the federal electorate of Riverina, and invite people from Forbes to host a group of up to eight people in their own homes to contribute to a report being compiled to gather ideas, thoughts and visions about where they live.

All contributions remain anonymous and the final report will be presented to the current member so he has a wider appreciation of what concerns and interests his constituents.

Please call Pennie Scott on 0427 44 11 07 for further information and to register your interest to host a Kitchen Table Conversation.

Voices 4 Riverina can also be found and contacted on their Facebook page.

Yours sincerely,
Pennie Scott

Letters…

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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.

The Smith Family exists to change children’s lives through supporting their education. To do this, we rely on the generous support of thousands of Australians. To everyone who offered a hand up to support a child in need through our Appeal, please accept my grateful thanks.

Dr Lisa O’Brien
Chief Executive Officer
The Smith Family

Letters…

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Letter To The Public

Police are urging residents to lock their vehicles and secure their possessions in response to a recent spike in opportunistic thefts.

Officer in charge of Parkes Police, Chief Inspector Dave Cooper has a simple message for everyone, “Lock your vehicles.” Recent incidents have been very opportunistic in nature, whereby offenders are checking cars parked on the street or in driveways, and if they are unlocked, they have entered the vehicles and stolen anything of value. If the cars are locked, the offenders have move on.

The same principle applies with property that has been left unattended in a front yard or on a veranda. If it is easy to grab, the offenders may target it. If it is locked away, they won’t get the chance.

Unfortunately, the days of leaving our cars and homes unlocked, due to our laid-back country lifestyle, are over. We need to target harden and make it difficult for offenders. Police are also urging residents to be vigilant, if you see or hear something that does not seem right, call the Police.

Police will be increasing proactive patrols in response, but they just cannot be everywhere, we are calling on our community to do their bit and lock up.

With thanks
Chief Inspector David Cooper Central
West Police District

Letters

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To the Editor, 6 July 2020
Through Mr Phil Donato MP, Member for Orange:

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.

Many children drown every year in Australia, and in our heated pool, each month, there are more than 700 people from Condobolin, West Wyalong, Eugowra, Grenfell, Parkes, Peak Hill and Forbes, as well as a large group of people with disabilities who use this facility.

How dare you deny us the opportunity to provide vital construction jobs during this difficult time, and how dare you deny us the opportunity to increase our tourism events in Forbes during this very difficult time of recovery from drought and the virus?

I am very saddened by your behaviour, and disappointed that you have betrayed our important community of Forbes and the Central West.

Dianne Decker, AM JP.

Letter to the Editor

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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.

A day of Remembrance and a day to Remember.

Lest we Forget.
Forbes RSL Sub-Branch.
Michael Walker President

Editor’s Notes

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This holiday period is all about spending quality time with our loved ones. It is a time for good food and even better company. A time of great stress for some as well as much rest, I hope.

I’d like to say a special thank you to the many people who contribute to our paper, whether it is weekly or a one off, you are appreciated.

I’d like to wish each of our readers a very Merry Christmas and an even happier New Year. Please stay safe, hydrated and happy. We will see you in the New Year.

Alexandria Irvine

Letter to the Editor

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Dear Editor,
For many years now Forbes local and passionate environmentalist, Dianne Decker, has been providing a little tree to every new baby born at the Forbes District Hospital as part of the Trees for Babies initiative.

This initiative has been so successful, that Dianne Decker had recently been made aware that they had run out of cards at Forbes Hospital and has since delivered another batch of locally printed Trees for Babies cards to Forbes Hospital.

The card reads “This tree is presented to ——————– in the interest of preserving and improving our beautiful country, and especially so you can enjoy playing under this tree’s shade as you both grow up.”

The new mother simply has to take the card up to the Nursery on the Parkes Road and they will provide the card holder with a little tree of their choice. Yes, it may only be a little tree, but this has proven to be the most successful way to grow trees in our local area.

If you want to see a collection of some of the trees, go for a little drive past Dianne’s previous little farm that she has just sold on the corner of Greens Road and the West Wyalong Newell Highway.

All of the wonderful trees on her old little farm were planted as tube stock. Now you can see the amazing bottle trees in the front yard and look at the wonderful River Red Gums in the outside paddock, and all the amazing dwarf Sugar Gums. This is living proof that from little things big things grow.

The Trees for Babies initiative of giving a free tree also applies to any little Parkes baby that is to be born at Forbes District Hospital.

Dianne Decker

LETTER To The Editor

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Dear Editor,

Sport played in Forbes throughout 2018 confirmed to me that it remains an important aspect of life and community.

It provides that all important nucleus to assist us in becoming more rounded and tolerant individuals.

The recent SOYA Awards night was again very well attended and an enjoyable event.

A diverse group of people came together to share their common interest in and love of sport.

Despite the very tough time in rural NSW and retail in general, our local sponsors have continued to support SOYA. For this we are very grateful.

The judges this year once again were diligent with their task and made some very tough decisions. The number of nominations was up a little as was the diversity of sports represented. This is very positive.

Forbes Council continues to provide wonderful facilities throughout the town. This is not only beneficial to our local sportspeople but encourages bigger events to be staged in Forbes which in turn helps the entire community.

The backbone of SOYA is of course the committee. To this small but very hard working and supportive group I give my biggest thanks. You have made my current role of President relatively easy and certainly very enjoyable.

The plaudits and acknowledgements of the SOYA concept after the presentation night are always plentiful, but I believe the sporting community of Forbes needs to become more involved if they want it to continue.

With this in mind, it is with very mixed feelings that I have decided not to stand for the Presidents role or for the committee of SOYA for the upcoming year.

I have been involved for over 20 years and have certainly enjoyed the experience. I now believe new ideas, fresh eyes and ears are needed to bring this organisation more into the life of this sports active community.

Many thanks,

Andrew Norton-Knight

Letter To The Editor

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Dear Editor,

I am pleased to inform you that we were successful in forming a Christian Democratic Party (Fred Nile Group) branch in Parkes. The meeting was held at the Pink Orchid in Parkes last Tuesday and we thank the coffee shop for their generosity in allowing us to use the space to hold our meeting. The food was great and the venue was warm and friendly.

There was good attendance from members and supporters and we heard a very comprehensive speech from Craig Hall, State Manager for the Christian Democratic Party (CDP).

Local farmer, Maurice Davey from “Grayeston” Alectown, was elected as President of the Parkes branch. Suzanne Wright was elected Secretary and Elizabeth Naveau was elected as Treasurer. All enquiries can be directed to Craig Hall on 9633 3255.

On the same day, another meeting was held at my own home in Forbes. Well known local farmer, Kevin Rubie was elected President, Margaret Herbert was elected as Secretary and Jeanette Haley was elected as Treasurer.

The CDP (Fred Nile Group) has been around and in Parliament for over 37 years and stands for all aspects of good government. The CDP is Australia’s only registered national Christian political party. The Rev Fred Nile MLC is well known for his stand over many years. The Hon Paul Green MLC (the former Mayor of Shoalhaven) has held the balance of power alongside Rev Fred Nile for the last few years. He is up for re-election in March next year. I hope to stand for the Federal Senate at the next Federal election possibly in March or May next year.

Regards,
Dianne Decker AM

Letter to the Editor

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Letter To The Editor,

Four weeks ago, I had just finished filling my car up with petrol at the Forbes Caltex, when I received a phone call to say that my sister had passed away. I went in to pay for my fuel and explained what had happened.

Zoe, the Manager, immediately offered assistance to me and gave me a seat, offered water and to call someone for me.

She was absolutely wonderful and compassionate and ensured I was ok, as I called someone to collect me.

Such acts of kindness as these are often passed over for the negative things in our world and they should not be let go as insignificant or taken for granted.

The kindness shown to me that day, helped me beyond words and I wish to share with our local community how one
such act of kindness can help someone beyond measure.

Thank you so very much Zoe! Have a lovely day… and keep warm.

Kind regards,
Annie White

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