Enjoying The Biggest Morning Tea celebrations at Forbes North Public School on Friday were Hayley Crump (Office of Regional Youth), school captains Benji Hodges and Ruby Dumbrell and Schools Community Centre coordinator Maree Yapp.

Through the simple act of sharing morning tea, 240 Forbes North Public School students and their families have raised over $1,000 for the Australian Cancer Council. Inclement weather didn’t deter students, staff and their families from gathering to taste sweet success with their Biggest Morning Tea fundraiser. 

Schools as Community Centre coordinator, Maree Yapp praised the Forbes North community for their efforts in the Cancer Council’s 30th year of Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea. 

“People are so generous,” Maree said. “The floods come and go, and the mice come and go, but cancer is always there.” 

According to the Australian Cancer Council, one in every two people are diagnosed with cancer before the age of 85. This year’s effort follows on from the school’s outstanding result last year, which saw $1,300 raised by the school community. 

The biggest morning tea cakes and slices were donated by staff, parents and the school canteen. Ten raffle prizes – also donated by staff – were up for grabs during the fundraiser, and ranged from chinaware to assorted comfort foods. Students brought a small plate of morning tea to share with their classmates and friends. 

This year marks the second consecutive year of Forbes North Public School being recognised as a Royal Tea Club member with the Australian Cancer Council Biggest Morning Tea fundraiser. 

The Beautiful Lake Forbes will soon feature a beach at Lions Park

Lake Forbes is about to add another feather to its bow this month as yet another exciting phase of its development plan takes shape. 

A beach is currently being built at the water’s edge of Lions Park to allow for watercraft access to the popular Lake Forbes under the Lake Forbes Activation Plan and funded by the State Government. 

Forbes Mayor Phyllis Miller said the use of the lake by watercraft like paddle boats, canoes and dragon boats was yet another drawcard for everyone, and now with beach access using watercraft on the lake will be even easier. 

“It is so exciting to see this next phase of development for our beautiful Lake Forbes – it supports our community’s love of the outdoors and physical activity,” Mayor Miller said. 

“The lake is already an amazing place to be, after several stages of the extensive development plan have already been completed –the new footbridge and fishing platform, solar lighting, and redeveloped BMX track for example. 

“Lake Forbes is a focal part of town and is of a great benefit emotionally, physically and economically. It is a vital community asset and is home to many of our most loved and recreational facilities, including Lions Park. 

“Council has been working on a long-term plan for the development of the lake and its surrounds for some time, catering for Forbes’ needs now and well into the future,” Mayor Miller said. 

The $2 million Lake Forbes Activation Plan, funded under the NSW Public Spaces Program, has been created following extensive consultation with the community and is being completed in stages. 

Pedestrians can still walk around the lake using a detour whilst the beach is being constructed

Head along and score yourself a bargain as Forbes Better Home Living prepares to close its doors.

After 21 years of serving the local community, Forbes Betta Home Living are closing their doors for the final time on Friday, 9th June. With an impending retirement near, owners Ian and Mandy Westcott have decided to close the business.

Family owned and operated, Ian and Mandy Westcott are the second generation in their family to run the Forbes store. For the past 21 years, the Forbes store has been a one-stop shop, helping the local community find the right appliances and furniture for their home, with the store stocking a huge range of Kitchen, Laundry, Small Appliances, IT products and Bedding.

To mark its closure, the team at Forbes Betta Home Living are offering the community mark-downs and reductions across a range of home appliances and consumer electrical goods. For a limited time until the final operating date of Friday 9th June, Forbes Betta Home Living are offering bargains including:

• Up to 25% off Fridges
• Up to 30% off Washing Machines
• Up to 50% off Small Appliances
• Up to 30% off Floorcare
• Up to 20% off Dishwashers

The Forbes Betta Home Living Closing Down Sale will run until Friday 9th June 2023, while stocks last.

Despite the closure of the Forbes store, Parkes Betta Home Living will continue to service the Forbes local community, which is only a 25-minute drive north of the Forbes location. Customers can still receive amazing service, deals, and exceptional local advice on all your fridge and freezer, kitchen and cooking appliances, air conditioning, furniture, bedding, TV and audio requirements.

Parkes Betta Home Living are located at 11 Saleyards Road Parkes and you can contact them on 6862 2237. Opening hours may vary, please call or check the Betta website for more information.

Some members of the Parkes Garden Club joined the coach trip, looking forward to a pleasant day out in the glorious autumn weather

The Forbes Garden Club members and friends enjoyed an entertaining coach trip to Dubbo recently on the invitation from the Dubbo Garden Club to view three gardens 

Our first garden to visit was at the home of Rosalie Peppermann and a delightful Devonshire morning tea was served. Her garden featured many hedges expertly trimmed with borders of coloured plants seen from the verge and beautiful pots of flowering geraniums. 

Our next garden at the home of Narelle Stonestreet was situated in natural bushland with a modern home built with timber and iron features wonderfully designed. Her garden of native plants and succulents with stone paths leading to outdoor areas was just delightful! She and her husband have worked hard to maintain their lovely home. 

The third garden visit was the home of Fay Woods a large area with tennis court, swimming pool and spacious garden of shrubs trees and flowers. We were joined by their garden club members with tables and chairs set on the lawns for our lunch. Soup was served, also quiches, salads and slices. A walk around the garden saw many hours of love and care to create this lovely garden. 

Our President Elvy Quirk thanked the hosts for a wonderful lunch and day out. Upon leaving Dubbo, a stop was made to view the Waste to Art exhibition at a local gallery. 

By Green Thumb 

Maybe you were raised Catholic, but somewhere along the line stopped practicing your faith. Now you want to come back, but you don’t know how to re-engage with the church. Catholics who have been away for some time often worry about the changes that have occurred in the Church and how they may feel when they don’t know what to do or what others might think.

Maybe you know someone who has fallen away from the Church but is looking to come back. Where should you direct them to help them reconnect and grow in their faith? An invitation is more likely to be effective if it comes from a family member or friend or someone who attends church and is willing to walk with them on the journey. 

The aim of this program is to connect fallen-away Catholics back to the Church in a friendly non-judgemental environment. The six sessions of informal conversations will answer questions about returning to Church after having been away. A small group of Catholics who have returned to the Church, or joined the church as adults, will be part of the group assisting with the running of these sessions. 

By Fr Barry Dwyer 

Mitch Westcott with wife Cailin and son Billy, showing off their business signage on the fence surrounding Spicer Oval.

Alectown local, Mitch Westcott and his wife Cailin are excited to announce they will be opening a new shop front in Parkes, in what will be next exciting step for EMC Electrical Maintenance & Construction. 

They have recently secured the lease for the old plumbing hardware store, next to Super Cheap Auto in Parkes, on the Forbes Road.

Mitch has been an electrician for 10 years and has worked with other companies in Parkes on projects such as the Water Sewerage Treatment Plant and the Pet Food Factory. 

While EMC previously focused on industrial and commercial electrical services, they will be looking to take on more residential work, and have also just taken on a new employee, Ellie Russell.

Mitch has quietly graduated from apprentice, to sole trader to partnership to Director of his own company. He is now looking to build and expand on the experience that he and his team share. 

EMC boasts a level two certified electrician and an apprentice. Cailin is the administrator and brings a wealth of experience to the business. 

“I’ve been lucky to have worked jobs in HR, safety, administration, accounts and procurement, which has really helped me be an asset to Mitch and EMC,” said Cailin.

EMC service the areas of Parkes, Peak Hill, Forbes, Condobolin, Dubbo, Yeoval, Wellington and beyond.

They provide a range of electrical services including industrial, commercial, rural, solar and residential. With the new shopfront, that range of services will now include electrical repairs for appliances and whitegoods including washing machines, pumps, dryers and basically any electrical fault. You just have to drop them off to the shop and they will repair them on-site.

Mitch and Cailin love to support local and are also heavily involved in the Parkes Rugby Union Club with Mitch playing first grade for the Boars and Cailin playing for the Boars women’s team.