Forbes Mayor Phyllis Miller OAM has sin­cerely thanked the Minns State Govern­ment, NSW Health Minister Ryan Park, Treasurer Daniel Mookhey and State Mem­ber Phil Donato MP for their ongoing sup­port to have the $20.2 million Forbes Hos­pital Operating Theatre Redevelopment included in the 2025/26 State Budget.

Mayor Miller has warmly welcomed the budget announcement, saying: “This is a significant investment in healthcare for our region and marks a significant milestone that will enhance the medical facilities and services available to residents of Forbes and the surrounding region.

“The new hospital theatre will be equipped with state-of-the-art technology and designed to meet the highest stand­ards of modern medical care. It will sig­nificantly expand the hospital’s capacity to perform a wide range of surgical proce­dures, reducing wait times and improving patient outcomes,” Mayor Miller added.

A new operating suite for Forbes District Hospital will mean we can continue to of­fer minor day surgeries, ENT, other speci­alities, as well as obstetrics as the primary birthing unit in the Lachlan Health District.

“A new operating suite will help reduce the demand in Orange, Dubbo, Bathurst and other hospitals in the region, as Forbes District Hospital often assists with overflow cases from the Base Hospitals,” Mayor Miller said.

Forbes Shire Council has a long history of supporting NSW Health to improve ac­cessibility to health services. The Council has developed several initiatives, including housing, to address barriers to long-term sustainable health services for our com­munity.

The Forbes District Hospital has always been dedicated to delivering comprehen­sive healthcare services to the Forbes community with a focus on patient-centred care. The hospital strives to meet the evolv­ing needs of its patients through continu­ous improvement and innovation. Demand for surgery at Forbes has grown from 621 cases in 2022/23 to 771 cases in 2023/24.

The Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) welcomes the release of the Second Edition National Consensus Framework for Rural Maternity Services, which reaffirms the criti­cal role of Rural Generalists in delivering safe, high-quality mater­nity care across rural, remote communities.

ACRRM President Dr Rod Martin says Rural Generalists are uniquely trained to provide comprehensive maternity care, in­cluding antenatal and postnatal services, planned deliveries, and emergency obstetrics.

“Rural Generalists are vital members and leaders of multidiscipli­nary rural maternity teams, working alongside midwives and other health professionals to ensure women can receive care within their communities,” Dr Martin says. “This not only improves outcomes but reduces the emotional and financial strain of travelling long distances for birthing and pre and antenatal care.”

Dr Martin says the ongoing closure and downgrading of rural maternity services is deeply concerning. “Every closure reduces access to affordable, timely care and puts the safety of mothers and babies at risk. Properly supported, integrated models that in­clude Rural Generalists with advanced obstetrics, anaesthetics, and paediatrics skills, can sustainably deliver care to the highest standards.

“The Framework offers a roadmap for evidence-based, cost-ef­fective locally led maternity care and calls for genuine investment and infrastructure to bring it to life. I commend all those who con­tributed to the development of this Second Edition National Con­sensus Framework for Rural Maternity Services.

“ACRRM looks forward to working with the review stakeholders and governments to ensure the Framework leads to real, lasting improvements for rural, remote and First Nations families.”

The latest NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) quarterly up­date reveals domestic violence assaults in regional parts of NSW have risen to even more alarming levels.

In the March 2025 quarterly report, do­mestic violence-related assaults increased by 3.6%, with rises recorded in 8 of 13 Regional NSW areas and 3 of 15 Greater Sydney locations. In some areas, the rate of violent crime is more than double the state average.

Shadow Minister for Police Paul Toole said the latest report gave a sobering re­minder of the reality of domestic violence in NSW.

“The lack of decisive action from the NSW Labor Government is leaving victims in regional communities vulnerable and al­lowing domestic violence incidents to in­crease,” Mr Toole said.

“We cannot continue to have innocent lives lost or permanently affected by acts of violence in their own homes.

“The cries from the bush are going unan­swered by this city centric government and this cannot go on.”

In 2024, the NSW Police Force attended 152,268 domestic and family violence inci­dents equating to on average NSW Police officers responding to 560 domestic and family violence incidents each day.

Community pharmacy plays an important role in supporting men’s health, and this men’s health week (9-15 June the Pharma­cy Guild of Australia is calling on patients to pop in for a chat with their community phar­macist.

Brad Butt is a community pharmacist and founder of Men’s Health Downunder. He has specialised in men’s health, specifically urological health and understands the role that a community pharmacy can play in sup­porting men to recover and build their con­fidence.

“Men are less likely to visit a GP and often delay their treatment,” says Brad Butt. “We need to make it as easy as possible for men to access care – and community pharmacy can play a key role in that. On average, peo­ple visit a community pharmacy every three weeks.”

“That means we are in a privileged posi­tion where we are able to have private con­versations with patients to check in on their progress and identify where additional sup­port may be helpful,” Brad Butt adds.

“All men should know that there is support out there for sensitive or ‘embarrassing’ is­sues – they are not alone and men should be able to access treatment and care wher­ever they live.”

“The ability to have discreet conversa­tions at community pharmacies about medi­cation, devices, continence support, erec­tile function and testosterone management can help men access the care, support and treatment that they deserve.”

Is there anything more powerful than a woman moving furniture around her house, alone, on a timeframe (before the baby wakes up)? I ponder this thought as I carry our large microwave/oven from the kitchen to its new resting place: in the laundry on top of the drinks fridge. The husband was not on board with this idea. “Leave it on the bench”, he says, “that makes the most sense”. It does, of course, seem sensible to have a kitchen appliance residing in the kitchen. But the kitchen has been newly renovated, with beautiful white pressed tin as a splashback, so the large, yellowed mi­crowave felt out of place and took up valu­able bench space.

So I decided to move it. Grunting, I shuf­fle to the outside laundry, using all my en­ergy to carry the remarkably heavy metal box, praying my c-section scar would be up to the task.

No doubt, you’ve moved heavy furniture too. Or on the farm, you’ve lifted a heavy, wet ewe from the mud onto the back of a motorbike or ute. Maybe you regularly lift a drum of roundup, or the fat labrador that refused to “get up”. We ask a lot of our bod­ies, and sometimes, they give out on us.

Ever noticed when a tennis player hits the ball, they groan, or when a boxer makes a punch, they blow out through pursed lips? It’s how they let go of air during exertion: decreasing the pressure inside their body.

I’ve seen so many farmers that come to see me, after a hernia repair and I ask, how’d you do it? Often they aren’t sure – which terrifies them, as they don’t know if it will happen again.

Often, they are the breath-holders. Got to lift the tractor tyre? They’ll take a deep breath in, fill up the lungs with air, put maxi­mum pressure on their abdomen, hold their breath and then lift a ridiculous weight, the perfect storm for a hernia or disc bulge to appear: a sign of a pressure system under great strain.

How to decrease the strain and still get the job done? Take a breath in, then breathe out as you lift. Your pelvic floor, back, and potential hernias will thank you for it.

Yours in pursuit of regular home-rear­ranging,

Rach x

Diabetes- Diabetic retinopathy is the lead­ing cause of avoidable vision loss and blindness in working-age Australians.

It is a chronic disease that occurs when there is too much glucose in the blood. This happens because the body is not produc­ing insulin or not using insulin properly.

This National Diabetes Week, we’re shin­ing a light on something many people don’t realise: your eyes can be one of the first places diabetes shows itself.

At Hansen Optometrist Parkes, we often see patients who feel perfectly fine and have good eyesight, but their eye exam has revealed early signs of diabetic eye disease.

Diabetes can quietly damage the small blood vessels in the retina which we call di­abetic retinopathy. Diabetic retinopathy can be seen long before symptoms appear and leads to permanent vision loss. The good news? Early detection of diabetic retinopa­thy through regular eye checks can prevent severe vision loss.

If you live with diabetes, or are at risk due to family history, weight, or lifestyle, then a yearly eye exam is vital. It’s quick, painless, and could save your sight and at Hansen Optometrists Parkes we have the latest technology to assess your eye health.

Visit us at 267a Clarinda Street, Phone 6863 5577 or book online at hansenoptom.com.au

The recent free child restraint checking events, a service provided by Parkes, Forbes and Lachlan Shire Councils, dis­covered that 79% of the child restraints checked were incorrectly fitted.

The service provided free child restraint inspections in Parkes, Forbes and Con­dobolin, by local Authorised Child Restraint Fitters. Nineteen child restraints were brought in by parents and grandparents for checking – mostly rearward/forward facing converter child restraints or forward facing/booster converter child restraints. There were also two installations.

The Councils’ Road Safety and Injury Prevention Officer, Melanie Suitor, said these bi-annual events continue to be pop­ular.

“The child restraints that were incorrectly fitted had minor problems that needed fix­ing to ensure the safety of the child” Ms Suitor said.

“The correct fitting and adjustment of child restraints is vital. It is important to make sure that your precious cargo is safe and buckled up every time they are in the car – whether it’s a five minute or five-hour journey” Ms Suitor said.

While these safety checks were free biannual events, local Authorised Child Re­straint Fitters can install and check child re­straints all year-round for a small fee. The local fitters in Parkes are Col Fletcher Ford & Kia and Parkes Tyrepower. The local fit­ter in Forbes is Jelbart Dawson. The local fitter in Condobolin is Central West Tyre Service.

National child restraint laws have been in effect since 2010. All children must be safe­ly fastened into the correct child restraint for their age and size. Children need to be at least 145cm or taller to use an adult lap sash seatbelt.

Research shows children who are not restrained correctly are seven times more likely to sustain life-threatening injuries in a crash than those who are properly secured.

You can visit www.childcarseats.com.au for more information about child restraint rules.

Have you had your macula checked? May is Macular Month, and a good reminder that if you are over 50 you should be having regu­lar macula health checks.

The macula is the most sensitive part of the retina which deals with fine detail. A healthy macula is vital for good vision.

Macular Degeneration is a disease that causes central vision loss. This makes it very difficult to read, recognise faces, watch TV and even obtain a driver’s license.

Macular Degeneration is the leading cause of blindness in Australia. It is more common as we age, and the risk of Macular Degeneration increases if there is a family history of macula problems, cardiovascular disease or you are a smoker.

Like most diseases, early detection and treatment for Macular Degeneration is vital to maintain good vision throughout life.

Hansen Eyecare Plus has all the latest technology for a comprehensive eye exam, including Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT). OCT is the gold standard for the early detection of Macular Degeneration.

Unlike standard retinal photography, OCT enables detailed assessment of the deeper layers of the retina.

DRY MD
Characterised by a slow, progressive loss of the RPE cells due to the build up of drusen at the macula. This makes up about 85% of moderate to advanced MD cases resulting in a gradual deterioration of the central vi­sion. Diet and a special formulation of vita­mins and high-dose antioxidants, such as MD eyes have been shown to slow down the progression of MD in those with moder­ate to advanced MD in at least one eye.

WET MD
This affects about two-thirds of advanced MD patients. This occurs when abnormal blood vessels grow underneath the macular and these vessels canspontaneously bleed, leading to a sudden loss of vision requiring immediate medical treatment. Treatment of­ten requires regular injections to shrink the blood vessels.

To have your macular thoroughly checked, make an appointment today with Hansen Eyecare Plus P: 6863 5577. Book online www.opticalbookings.com.au/hansen-optometrists-parkes/store

Heavy rain and challenging conditions didn’t deter the Life Pharma­cy Group (LPG) team from hitting the road for the 10th annual Be­yond Bitumen Rally, raising funds and awareness for Beyond Blue.

The Beyond Bitumen Rally entourage of 72 vehicles travelled al­most 2000 kilometres from Taree to Port Stephens via Grafton and Armidale (March 27 to 31).The Cavaliers, which includes LPG CEO Michael Flannery (Origi­nally from Forbes) and Chief Operating Officer Warwick Marx (From Dubbo), raised more than $34,000 for the charity this year, taking out the highest fundraising honours for an individual participating car. “We’ve been taking part in the Beyond Bitumen Rally for seven years now,” Life Pharmacy Group CEO, Michael Flannery, said.

“It all started after a mate of mine shared his mental health bat­tles and the role Beyond Blue played in supporting him during his darkest times. It didn’t take us long to find ourselves a car and The Cavaliers were formed.”

Did you know men are three times more likely to take their lives in Australia? and remoteness is a major contributing factor.

Growing up in regional Australia, The Cavaliers understand the importance of checking in on friends and seeking the appropriate support. “Most of us grew up in the bush and this rally is a great op­portunity to hit the road with our mates, see parts of the country we may not have experienced previously, support communities along the way, and raise money for Beyond Blue,” Michael said.

“As a team we’re very proud to have raised more than $200,000 for the rally over the past seven years, and we’re thankful for the support we’ve received from our colleagues, friends, and families along the way.”

Since its inception, the Beyond Bitumen Rally has raised more than 3.5 million dollars for charity.

Nestled at the base of the hill our home sits on, is an old abandoned homestead.

In its front yard, recently dozens of beauti­ful bulbs spring up from the neglected gar­den beds. I piled the kids in the ute and we drove down, shovels on the back. We dug out bulbs and they played in the old house.

I liked the sound of their childish laughter.

Our hands dug deep into the dirt. The sun warmed our backs as we pulled, shoveled and lifted; carting loads back to the ute. I was sweating, my legs ached and my heart rate was up.

We drove home, cheeks flushed pink, eyes bright from the exercise, arms and legs happily sore from the exertion.

We worked quickly. We transplanted the bulbs into our garden, the kids dug holes haphazardly, shoving them into the warm soil. They turn the hose on the transplanted bulbs briefly, then on each other. They ran, they played, blood pumping, muscles grow­ing, and bones getting stronger.

Could exercise get any more enjoyable? I once asked a client what she did for ex­ercise. “Oh nothing really, I don’t go to the gym, I don’t go for walks. I’m just in the gar­den most of the day”. I asked what she did in the garden. She listed a range of activi­ties, including using a push mower up steep hills, mulching and lifting heavy branches.

“That’s all great exercise,” I reassured her.

I catch a glimpse of the new plants through the window. Sunning themselves in their new home, a happy reminder of a day at our very own outdoor gym.

Are you not a gardener, but are looking for ways to exercise? Join our pilates classes or senior exercise classes at Kerin Health.

Contact us on 0437749746 or visit kerin­health.com.au