Another big week in COVID-19 land. I hope you are all doing well and taking care of each other, from a distance.

An interesting call came into Council this week about my son Joshua coming home. Joshua’s gym in Wollongong has closed due to the Coronavirus regulations and therefore he has lost his income. Joshua came back to Forbes prior to any travel restrictions and he did not have to self-isolate. I am very lucky to have a home big enough to have him back.

This Easter however, my message cannot be any clearer, I am asking all residents to please stay home.

We have received very strong advice from our Public Health officers that anyone who travels around our state has the potential to carry the virus COVID-19 so it is imperative we reduce the risk and stay home.

This crisis has impacted all of us and our thoughts and prayers are with those who have contracted the virus, to their families and to the amazing health care workers who are working so hard to look after us all.

The sooner we stop the spread, the sooner life can return to normal. Then, we can start planning all those parties and holidays we missed over the time we have been staying home.

At the time of writing this column Forbes Shire is still Coronavirus free! That is because the community of Forbes are doing all the right things; social distancing, washing our hands and coughing into our elbow. These simple things are terribly important in preventing the spread of this virus. Please keep it up!

Staying at home is also an important way to prevent the virus from spreading. Although I remind you not to forget all the restaurants, hotels and cafes that are doing takeaways.

We all need to be mindful of them doing it tough through this pandemic and maybe order a takeaway at least once a week or grab a coffee.

The Australian Government has put a brilliant fact sheet out in relation to the Jobkeeper program they released this week. This can be found on the Treasury website www.treasury.gov.au.

If you have had to let staff go, this program can help. This stimulus package is one of the very best I have seen.

The Australian Government is doing an excellent job and I must congratulate Scott Morrison and Gladys Berejiklian for their leadership throughout this pandemic. We will come out the other side of this, but we must stay calm, take time to smell the roses and be grateful we are all ok.

What a week it has been for everyone. We are currently living in uncertain times as we work through this terrible virus situation.

It is with great sadness to see all the hotels and clubs close this week, creating a stressful time for hospitality staff who have lost their jobs. In addition to this, the gym and Youth and Community Centre has also closed.

I know there is a lot of talk about whether this is an over-reaction from our governments, but I want to assure you, it isn’t!

If we all take the measures suggested seriously, the effect it will have on our community will be minimal. I ask you all to practice social distancing, washing hands and coughing into your elbow as it is so very important. This virus is serious and if we as a community bunker down we should all come out okay.

The General Manager is looking after staff at Council to ensure the essential services can continue to be supplied to the community. Thank you to Council staff for their dedication and hard work. We are all in this together and we need to enjoy the family time we are being forced to have. Get the cards out, board games and outdoor walks, eat healthy, rest up and stay safe.

The Coronavirus is in Australia but that does not mean we go immediately into panic mode. I am shocked at the level of panic buying in our local supermarkets. If this continues it will be difficult for all people, especially the vulnerable in our community, to get necessary supplies.

Our health system is world class, and if you do have doubts about your wellbeing call your GP for advice. Above all else stay calm, we can get through this.

Unfortunately, we have had to postpone and cancel some events. We will arrange new dates when this pandemic has passed. Our priority is the safety and peace of mind of our residents.

This week’s Council meeting also has been affected with Councillor Chris Roylance unable to attend the meeting, he is in compulsory self-isolation due to arriving back in Australia from an overseas trip.

On a brighter note the days have cooled down and the gardens are looking great. It’s good to be back outside in the garden. We still need prayers for our drought-stricken farmers, as resilient as they are, rain is still crucial to plant crops. Stock numbers are low and consequently prices are high.

Lastly a reminder to please stay calm, live your life with care based on the advice from our health professionals. More information on the Coronavirus Covid-19 is available at the health department’s website: www.health.gov.au.

What a winning week we have had in Forbes! Grazing Down the Lachlan took out the Bronze in the National Tourism Awards in Canberra last Friday. Congratulations to everyone involved in pulling an event such as this together and at such a high standard.

International Women’s Day was celebrated all over the world last week and for me it began with a luncheon in Sydney at the QVB Tea Rooms. On Sunday was the Breakfast celebration in Forbes which was attended by 150 people! Lions Park looked amazing, decked out in purple and the weather was stunning. Our events team at Council, ably led by Nina Hooper did a remarkable job. Thanks Jolene, Kimberley, Sarah and Taylah for all your hard work. Thank you to Deputy Mayor, Jenny Webb who emceed this event.

The Homemakers Centre stage two is going ahead in leaps and bounds. We will be having a site inspection with the developer in the coming weeks.

This week I attended the State Memorial Service in Sydney to pay my respects to those lost in the fires, and to honour service men and women for their bravery in fighting the horrendous fires. It was a great opportunity to show our appreciation to the amazing fire fighters who have worked tirelessly over many months to protect lives and property. I cannot thank Rural Fire Service Commissioner, Shane Fitzsimmons, and his people enough for the leadership he has shown throughout this very difficult time.

You may have noticed people with clip- boards wandering around our sporting fields and parks this week. They have started surveying our recreation and open space areas to help us plan for the future. ROSS Planning are conducting the survey and will be leading the consultations with the public. Please take the time to answer their questions if you are asked to participate, as this will provide Council with valuable information in planning out these areas and form part of our Strategy moving forward.

It was fantastic to see the rain hang around for a couple of days last week and provide good rainfall. However, this does not mean the drought has been broken, but it is a good start nonetheless. There have been a lot of tractors busily ploughing of late and I wish every farmer the best for 2020.

Bedgerabong Races were fantastic last weekend with a very healthy crowd. There were some absolutely stunning outfits on both men and women. On Saturday evening we had the launch of Regional Lifestyle Magazine Autumn edition in the Town Hall. This edition features Forbes and Parkes, showcasing many beautiful and informative stories from both our Shires. Make sure you get yourself a copy, it’s a fantastic read.

It was so good to have rain this week, I was excited even though it makes my hair curly! Grinstead Cup celebrations were fantastic last weekend with around 200 people attending the 100-year celebrations. Special guests Rodney Hogg, Simon Taufel and Chris Anderson were all sensational to meet. Congratulations to Ross Williams and his band of workers for a great night.

This week I have been busy trying to get some rate relief for farmers and businesses affected by this drought. If ever there was a time where State and Federal Governments should be working together as a team, it is now. I acknowledge there are great packages on offer for farmers when the drought breaks, but relief is required now. Local Government can’t give rate relief. If we did, we wouldn’t be able to provide services. The State Government has paid the Local Land Services rates for farmers, so they are doing their bit.

Council has been busy preparing budgets for the 2020/21 year. Lots of work for staff and Councillors to make sure the balance is right.

It has been another busy week with lots of discussion around our Lake, playgrounds and parks. We want to ensure our Lake area remains green and inviting as this is a tremendous asset for our town, for residents and visitors alike. Forbes is a green oasis with neighbouring towns suffering from the drought, we want to maintain this whilst still conserving water during this drought.

Stage two of Homemakers Centre is coming along beautifully. The Canopy overhead is almost complete , the project is on track for completion in late March 2020. This is another great asset for our community bringing many new jobs to town.

I look forward to celebrating 100 years of the Grinstead Cup this weekend. Cricket has played an important role in our community and it is rumoured to be the oldest continuously contested cricket competition in NSW. I imagine many incredible stories will be told of its rich history during the reunion dinner.