I would like to acknowledge and congrat­ulate three of our local residents—Jake Hemming, Duncan Fox, and Stuart Cuskel­ly—on the successful completion of their training as On-Call Firefighters with Fire and Rescue NSW.

Forbes Fire Station has a proud and longstanding history within our community, having been established in the late 1800s and operating from our current station since 1929. Over that time, generations of firefighters have served the town with dedi­cation and professionalism.

Recent recruitment has been necessary following the retirement of several longserving members of Forbes Station 294.

We have been fortunate that Forbes con­tinues to attract strong local interest from individuals wanting to give back to their community, ensuring the ongoing strength of our brigade.

The newly qualified firefighters will now join the operational members of 294, where they will continue to develop their skills and experience in a real-world response envi­ronment. We are also pleased to note that two additional recruits are nearing comple­tion of their training and will soon join their three teammates as part of the Forbes Fire and Rescue NSW family.

Fire and Rescue NSW is widely known for its firefighting role; however, our crews are also highly trained to respond to a wide range of incidents including hazardous materials (HAZMAT), rescues, and other emergencies. This training ensures our community is well protected across many different situations.

We congratulate our new firefighters and thank them—and all members of Forbes Station 294—for their continued commit­ment to serving our community.

Yours sincerely,
Fire and Rescue NSW
Captain Mark Willis
Fire and Rescue NSW, Forbes 294

On 31st July it was confirmed that Miss Peg had terminal cancer. True to her charitable nature, she wanted to make a final act of kindness to a community that, as she said, had been so kind to her.

As Peg always took pride in her long hair, she decided to put it to some use before it fell out. So, why not have it cut to make a wig for someone who may need one! In doing so, raise some funds to assist the local Parkes ‘CanAssist’ continue their good work supporting those on their journey with cancer.

Peg hoped to raise about $500, but the response was such that she has now raised in excess of $4,500. Contributions, big and small, were made from the local community, and from overseas.

She is overwhelmed by the enormous re­sponse to a simple request and says that it is indicative of the generosity of people, in particular, the local community, to support a worthy organisation, Parkes CanAssist.

Miss Peg, simply says, ‘’Thank you”.

The ‘Act of Kindness’ closes on 30th Sep­tember. You can still make a contribution at https://www.mycause.com.au/p/351308/pegs-fundraiser-for-can-assist

Dear Editor,

Abhorrent. This is the only word that comes to mind to begin to describe the current state of both the unsealed and sealed roads in the Forbes Shire.

With no end in sight to the situation of the roads and with harvest looming, the deterioration of these roads will only be exacerbated once headers and trucks and chaser bins start using them on a regular basis.

The potential for an accident is imminent. The potential for severe damage to a vehicle is imminent.

Don’t get me wrong, I understand that Mother Nature is having an irrefutable hand in what is happening to the roads. I understand that nothing can be done about what nature will throw at us and that with so much water lying around it does make it difficult to be able to access some roads to begin vital repair work.

What I don’t understand is the lack of trying, or that when an attempt is made it appears to be a waste of wages and diesel as the roads only turn out worse and require more effort to repair.

If all roads lead to Forbes for tourism and spending what happens when those roads stop being travelled?

What happens when our farmers can’t get contractors to harvest or cart their grain because a contractor is fearful for damage to his asset travelling those roads?

Fixing roads is a necessity for safety and access and continuing financial stability for everyone in the region.

I ask, is Council able to show when and how the path to repairing our roads will begin?

Michelle
(Letter shortened. Ed)

Dear Editor,

I am relatively new to town and have recently been enjoying walking with my daughter and grandchildren around Forbes and nearby towns. On some of our meanderings of late, we have been pleasantly surprised to come across the word, ‘Eternity’ written on the back of street signs and on the footpaths. We wondered if it might be a prevue to some coming church event or is it just someone reinventing the work of Arthur Stace of long ago? 

I thought to write and ask you to post this question in the hope someone might know. It has certainly given my family and I a smile on more than one occasion and we love the hunting game it has begun. I have put together a few verses so that others might enjoy the hunt while stepping out and about in this fabulous area.

ETERNITY

Can you see ‘Eternity’ written on the ground

in the dust or up there in chalk, waiting to be found?

Could it be Arthur’s ghost back to prompt our thought?

Or just some clever, mysterious soul that I hope is NEVER caught?

Either way, we need such hope as happiness we lack,

the Black Dog is not alone, he now travels in a pack!

What we need is a little game to bring us all out in the sun,

a hunt for a word that means so much, hooray on with the fun!

If by chance you find out who is spreading joy with chalk,

keep it to yourself, don’t spoil the game and end it all with talk!

So, as you wonder on your way about this wonderful place,

lift your heart and caste your eye, for the word of Mr. Stace.

Linda Clark

Dear Editor

Following negative publicity from the Red Cross Bushfire Appeal of 2021, and the subsequent Red Cross Telethon Flood Appeal held on 12th March on Channels 7, 9 and 10, I would like to explain to your readers how donations are being distributed to people.

We raised $25.2million for people impacted by the floods in Queensland and NSW in March. We are currently disbursing two types of grants: a bereavement grant of $20,000 per grant, and relief grants of $500 each. These grants are a gift from the Australian people.

So far $8.8M has been distributed leaving a balance of $16.4M. for distribution.

Our grants team is working around the clock to process grants as quickly as possible. Applications that have all of the correct information, identification and bank account details are being processed faster. We are getting high numbers of incomplete, ineligible and duplicate applications that are slowing down the approval process. All applications are checked and approved by our grants team to ensure donor’s money is going to eligible people impacted by floods.

All donations from individuals via our website and the telethon have been received. We are in the process of collecting donations from businesses who pledged during the telethon.

The dashboard for these grants is updated daily on the following website: www.redcross.org.au/cashassistance/

Sue Strahorn
Red Cross Zone Representative
Parkes/Forbes

To The Editor,

The members of Forbes Historical Society were pleased to hear the Vandenberg Hotel has been resold to local people. We understand that it is to be reopened as a hotel with accommodation upstairs. The restoration of these facilities is essential as this particular building is of great significance to our town, not only because of its history but it is where, until its closure, many organisations held their meetings. It also provides unique accommodation for tourists overlooking Victoria Park and our unique heritage buildings.

We understand that the previous sale was legal, but it is the transfer of poker machine licences that concerns many of us. In the last 20 years we have lost five of our hotels in similar circumstances and apparently for similar reasons. This raises the question as to what has happened to these hotel licences?

Country pubs in country towns are part of our way of life in the bush. They are a meeting place for young and older people, a tourist attraction, our heritage and a vital component of the lifeblood of our town.

The Forbes community has worked very hard to make Forbes the wonderful tourist destination that it is today.

These business deals are not only happening in Forbes, it is also happening in other rural communities.

We are resolved to explore every avenue open to us to make other people aware of what is happening and hopefully gain the support of the state government to initiate an inquiry, maybe even legislate to prevent these poker machines from being sold or transferred.

We will support any efforts undertaken by Forbes Council to prevent these deals in the future.

Yours faithfully, Bruce Adams
Forbes Historical Society (President)

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