In the wake of the unfathomable spike in the deaths of Australian women this year at the hands of their intimate partners, community outrage around the issue is increasing.

The Country Women’s Association (CWA) of NSW will use its annual Aware­ness Week campaign to highlight the need for ongoing action around reducing rates of gender-based violence across NSW and the ACT.

CWA of NSW Awareness Week runs from September 1 to 7, this year highlighting the continuing crisis around gender-based vio­lence – including domestic and family vio­lence, and also including violence against women by men who are not their intimate partners.

It’s the second time in five years the asso­ciation has focused its attention for Aware­ness Week on violence against women, with domestic and family violence chosen as the theme for the 2020 campaign.

Robyn Miller, President of Forbes Even­ing Branch of the CWA of NSW, said it was clearly an enormous issue that was not go­ing away and needed to be brought to the forefront again during Awareness Week.

“This is an issue Forbes community has experienced firsthand with the death of Molly Ticehurst earlier this year”, Robyn commented. “We need to push for more support for women confronted by gender-based violence and make our communities safe for all”.

During this year’s Awareness Week, the CWA of NSW is calling for: Further changes to bail laws to better protect victims, particu­larly in rural and regional areas; Prioritisa­tion of sustainable funding models for front­line victim support services – and services that target perpetrator risk factors; The ex­pediting of the establishment of a real-time system to record, track, and share informa­tion on perpetrators across systems and jurisdictions; and additional resources for women facing violence in rural and regional communities where isolation and lack of services can make it even harder.

On 23rd July our Forbes Garden Club held their social meeting at the Forbes Mens Shed with 34 in attendance. The Garden Club has been invited to a Friendship day by the Young Garden Club on 13th October and if you wish to go you should put your name down at the next meeting. Cost of lunch is $60 and it is being held at Clifton Gardens. The cost includes entry to the Gardens. An in­vitation has also been received from Hartley Garden Club who are showcasing an Open Garden and Plant Fair weekend on the 19th and 20th October.

Therese Davis was our guest speaker on the day and gave a very comprehensive report on her life growing up, becoming a teacher, rearing a family and living in circumstances which were a far cry from the standard of living today. Therese has a wide cir­cle of friends having lived in a number of places before retiring in Forbes. Therese is the daughter of a well known family in Forbes – the Cannon family.

The trading table proved popular with oranges, lemons, plants and books for sale. Flower of the month was well patronised, with first prize going to Joyce Morrison with an orchid, second rpize to Max Swift with a pink camellia and third prize to Marie Langfield with a rose. The raffle was won by Joyce Morrison, and second prize went to Margaret Dent.

Our next meeting will be at 22 Koala Place on Tuesday 27th Au­gust, 1.45pm arrival for a 2pm start. Bring a chair, hat and mug and also a flower to participate in Flower of the Month. In the event of inclement weather the venue will change to the Mens shed.

Our guest speaker for August will be Marian Murray, a new mem­ber, who has retired to Forbes from Coonamble.

By Elvy Quirk

On Saturday 10th August Forbes hosted a free community festival of arts, creativ­ity and wellness. In keeping with the theme ‘Ripple’ Forbes Public School created a Healing Through Art installation to show­case how we utilised art to recover from the devastating 2022 floods. Ivy and Lauren, who are both in stage 3, created a mov­ie that included Emily reading a beautiful poem that was written by Ms Staples.

These are our Healing Dots®

Each dot is a hug, soft and warm, Helping to heal after the storm.

When we’re sad or feeling blue, These dots are there, like friends, it’s true. They glow so softly, whispering low, “You’re not alone; let your worries go.”

Healing is like a long, gentle walk, Step by step, like a quiet talk. Like stars above they show the way, Guiding us to a brighter day.

Every dot is like a magic stitch, Mending our hearts, making us rich. They tell a story, bright and true, Of courage, love, and what we can do. With each bump, they help us feel and see That healing is possible for you and me.

The poem was played over images from our whole-school Healing Dots® work­shops with Aunty Cheree Stokes. They then played a recording of two songs per­formed by FPS Year 2 choir at the Forbes Eisteddfod (2023/2024) over images of students creating our Bush Tucker Garden, Coolamon Indigenous tool, Bee and butter­fly habitat boxes and NAIDOC Community event art.

It was great to see numerous families come along to visit the art installation and watch the seven minute video while their child pointed out their Healing Dots®. The large painting in the picture was created by Auntee Cheree using symbols and words provided by the FPS community to repre­sent our Journey Story.

August is Tradie Health Month, which SafeWork NSW says is the perfect time for tradies to review and speak up about any work health and safety (WHS) concerns to ensure they can have a long and healthy career.

Young tradies need appropriate training, support and supervision. From 2017-2021, approximately 20 percent of incidents re­ported to SafeWork NSW were the result of an injury to a young worker. Just last month, a 19-year-old cabinetry apprentice fell approximately three meters in a stair void, breaking his ribs.

Construction businesses must ensure they are creating environments where workers are protected and where young tradies receive the correct training, super­vision and are empowered to speak up.

For young workers, SafeWork’s message is that if you are not sure about something, stop and check – it’s the safe way, or no way. If you see something that isn’t safe on a worksite and are worried about raising it, you can speak up anonymously using the Speak Up Save Lives app.

SafeWork has also developed a Young Worker eToolkit for employees and workers, containing tips and training materials about work safety rights and responsibilities.

Neighbourhood Central’s Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Scheme (ACVVS) is teaming up with Cycling Without Age, Parkes Trishaw, to help continue reducing social isolation for the elderly in Parkes.

Most locals would be familiar with the sight of the Parkes Trishaw taking passengers sightseeing around our beautiful town. Cycling Without Age is a not-for-profit charity that connects those no longer able to ride for themselves with the Parkes community, by providing free rides on trishaw ebikes, piloted by amazing volunteer cyclists.

The aim is to bring something to the elderly that they may no longer be able to do, all while creating meaningful friendships.

The ACVVS is a free program that supports volunteer visits to provide friendship and companionship to older people. Visits are available to anyone receiving government-subsidised residential aged care or Home Care Package (HCP) services who are socially isolated or lonely. This includes care recipients approved or on the National Priority System.

ACVVS accepts referrals from aged care service providers, health professionals, family members and friends. Older people can also refer themselves. While the program excludes those accessing ser­vices from the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP), we have all bases covered, as Neighbourhood Central can help through our Social Support (Individual and Group) aged care ser­vices.

Neighbourhood Central are also in need of more volunteers across both Parkes and Forbes. If you would like to brighten the days of older people as a valued volunteer, you are invited to join us as we bring this opportunity to those who need a visitor. If you would like any further information, to request a visitor, or know of someone who would benefit from this service, please don’t hesitate to get in contact with Brooke at Neighbourhood Central on phone: 1300 810 771 or email: admin@ncentral.org.au

Forbes Garden Club met on 25th June at the Men’s Shed for their monthly meeting whereby President Margaret welcomed 32 members.

The guest speakers on the day were Da­vid and Kate from Forbes Shire Council, who provided a great coverage in relation to the aspect of gardening, tree planting etc within the Shire. During the meeting there was discussion about the possibility of a day trip later in the year, with the Com­mittee to meet before the next meeting to share ideas.

Elvy congratulated Denise Thurston on being the proud mother of a World Cham­pion, with her daughter Haylee recently re­turning from a competition in Poland as the WKSF Kettlebell Sport World Champion.

The Friendship Luncheon is to be held at Young on 13th October at a cost of $60 per person, which includes lunch and an inspection of Clifton Gardens.

The raffle was won by Jan Stewart and second place went to Loris Molloy.

Flower of the month by popular vote of members was won by Denise Thurston with an Abraham Darby rose, second to Irene Ford with a beautiful yellow succulent and third to Marie Langfield with a Red Hot Poker. Please don’t forget that your contri­bution to flower of the month is an asset to the meeting. Please bring along one stem of a flower for entry into flower of the month, with your name and the name of the flower underneath the container.

The next meeting will be at the Men’s Shed on Tuesday 23rd July at 2pm. Please arrive by 1.45pm so you can secure a seat before the meeting starts. Please bring a mug for a shared afternoon tea.

By Elvy Quirk