Forbes Shire Council and the Forbes Do­mestic & Family Violence Committee are encouraging the community to get involved in the White Ribbon Day march and com­munity event on Monday 25 November.

As part of White Ribbon Month in Novem­ber, White Ribbon Day raises awareness of men’s violence against women and edu­cates men and boys to be part of the solu­tion.

The march will start at 10am from Victo­ria Park, proceeding along Court and La­chlan Streets, and arrive at Lions Park at 10:30am.

Selected participants in the march will be given a card displaying a victim of domestic violence which they will carry with them and place on display at Lions Park.

Businesses along the route of the march are also being encouraged to stand along the side of the street.

The main event at Lions Park will run from 10:45am until 12pm, including speeches from Forbes Shire Council Deputy Mayor Chris Roylance, Member for Orange Phil Donato, Guinevere Dickie, who has experi­enced domestic violence in her family, and Barry Merrit.

There will also be stalls from service pro­viders and a BBQ available for a gold coin donation.

During the event all male attendees will be asked to make a pledge to never com­mit, condone or remain silent about men’s violence against women.

Forbes Shire Council Mayor, Phyllis Miller OAM, said domestic violence is an issue the Forbes community holds dear.

“Our community knows all too well the devastating effects domestic violence can have, and this is a great opportunity to unite and take a stand against men’s violence against women,” she said.

“Everyone is welcome to march and at­tend the event, so please get involved if you can.”

Meet at Victoria Park at 9:30am on the day. For more information you can email community@forbes.nsw.gov.au

Return and Earn has partnered with food relief organisation Food­bank NSW & ACT to raise $250,000 to help fund half a million meals to feed families in need this summer.

The six-month recycling appeal was launched this week. From now until 21st April 2025, every eligible bottle and can donated to the Foodbank NSW & ACT appeal at a Return and Earn machine or on the Return and Earn app at participating return points, will raise 10c toward the $250,000 goal to support their important work.

Foodbank NSW & ACT is the state and territory’s largest and most trusted food relief organisation, providing much needed food as­sistance to individuals and families across NSW and the ACT.

John Robertson, CEO of Foodbank NSW & ACT said: “At Food­bank, we believe everyone should have access to the food they need, and we are here for everyday Australians who are going without. We currently provide more than 26 million meals each year for those in urgent need.”

This year’s Foodbank Hunger Report reveals food insecurity in Australia has reached a critical point, with one in three NSW households facing hunger. This equates to one million households facing food-insecurity in NSW alone, with 75 per cent of house­holds saying cost of living is the primary cause.

“Donating just five bottles or cans helps fund one meal, so I en­courage everyone to get behind this cause and help us reach our target of $250,000,” said Danielle Smalley, CEO of Exchange for Change.

For more information visit www.returnandearn.org.au.

Get ready for a fun night out in Canowin­dra. On Friday, 29th November, the town will come alive with the Christmas Night Market, offering something for everyone in the heart of the community.

Local businesses will also be open, with special Christmas deals and discounts to make your Christmas season even brighter, while over 40 stalls will line Gaskill Street, offering a variety of unique goods perfect for Christmas shopping. Whether you’re hunting for the perfect gift or indulging in a little treat, there’s something for everyone.

Families will be entertained with plenty of fun activities for the kids, including face painting, a jumping castle, and more. The CWA will be on hand selling delicious Christmas cakes and other homemade goodies, while food trucks and stalls will serve up a variety of tasty eats to keep everyone fueled for the fun. To keep eve­ryone entertained, there will be live music performed by Nerida Cuddy, Sik As and more.

The Lions Club will have their popular BBQ sizzling and will also run a Choco­late Wheel, along with raffles offering the chance to win hams and meat trays—per­fect for your Christmas celebrations.

It’s not too late to book a stall, if you would like to be involved in the Canowindra Christmas Night Market you can register online at www.123tix.com.au. For further information please email canowindrapro­gress@gmail.com.

Gaskill Street will close at 3pm for setup, with festivities kicking off at 5pm and continuing into the evening. It promises to be a wonderful night filled with Christmas cheer, great food, and family fun.

Mark your calendars and come along to kick off the party season in style!

On Tuesday 22nd October the Forbes Garden Club held their last meeting for the year at the home of Evelyn Mahlo. Evelyn spoke on her garden and how she and her late husband Peter moved into their new home in 2007, started planning their garden, and with the help of the late Denis Irvine in some aspects it came together.

The garden consists of many rooms and is picture perfect with plantings of Buxus hedges etcElvy, spoke on the recent Friendship Day hosted by the Young Garden Club, held in the beautiful setting at Clifton Gardens. Four of our members Therese Davis, Janette Thomas, Joyce Morrison and Elvy Quirk attended. Our final speakers on the day were Mi­chelle and David Mahlo. Michelle firstly spoke on how she and her husband David have started their own business named Daves Yard Care which provides all aspects of garden maintenance, Da­vid later spoke on the control of weeds such as Winter grass etc.

Flower of the month was won by Anne Reade with a beautiful red rose, 2nd to Robyn Mattiske with a geranium and 3rd to Denise Thurs­ton with a bearded Iris. Raffle prizes went to Robin Lyell, Sylvia Glasson, Annette Thornton and Gail McKay.

Our final get together for the year will be the Christmas luncheon which will be held at the Vandenberg Hotel on Tuesday 26th November com­mencing 12pm. If you are wishing to attend the cost is $40 for a two course meal and you should have your mon­ey to Lloyd our Treasurer before or on 15th November.

By Elvy Quirk

Newly released figures from Inland Rail show the project is creating jobs and driving economic growth in regional NSW commu­nities.

Delivering Inland Rail between Albury and Parkes has resulted in $7.4 million spent across 86 local businesses between July 2023 and August 2024 and 135 workers employed on the project this year, taking total numbers of workers employed to 434.

Construction has been progressing strongly on the section from Stockinbingal to Parkes (S2P) and the latest data shows how that is boosting employment and local economies. First Nations business across Australia are contributing to the S2P pro­ject, supplying more than $161,000 worth of services. Of the 135 local workers, 24 are First Nations people, making up more than half of the 40 First Nations people who have relocated to the area to work on Inland Rail.

And women make up almost 10% of the workforce, with 40 employed on the project in the period July 2023 to August 2024.

From July 2023 to August 2024, Inland Rail between Albury and Parkes

• 434 people employed, of whom 40 are First Nations

• 135 local residents employed, of whom 24 are First Nations

• 40 women employed

• 33 tradespeople employed

• 86 local businesses engaged

• $7.4 million spent with local businesses

• $161,860 spent with First Nations busi­nesses Australia-wide

Stephen Jones, Inland Rail Executive Direc­tor Program Health, Safety, Environment & Sustainability, said: “Inland Rail is bringing benefits to regional communities throughout construction, with local content key to the program’s success.

“A major focus of Inland Rail has been to build skills in communities along the align­ment, so local communities can participate and benefit from in this once-in-a-genera­tion project and others in the future.”

Did you or someone you know attend Forbes High School back in 1984? This year marks 40 years since the Forbes High School ‘class of 1984’ completed Year 10.

To help celebrate this milestone, some ex-students have gotten together to organ­ise a reunion so that everyone can reunite and have a chance to renew old, and dear friendships. The reunion is open to anyone who was in this school year – whether or not you completed Year 10 in 1984 or Year 12 in 1986 – or even if you were there for just part of it.

The hope is that as many people as pos­sible will attend and partners are more than welcome to come along, in fact it is encouraged. The weekend will kick off with casual drinks at the Globe Hotel in Dowling St from 6pm on Friday 15th November. The official reunion will be held on Saturday, November 16th from 6pm on the veranda of the Forbes Sport and Recreation (Bowl­ing) Club. The cost to attend is $15 per per­son, which covers a delicious grazing table which is being catered by Bec Tarrant and is payable on the night.

If anyone has their school uniform or any other memorabilia from back in the day then we would love for it to be brought along. To round off the weekend there will be a tour of Forbes High, our old stomping ground, on Sunday 17th November.

Help spread the word and if you plan on coming along please RSVP as soon as you can to Mark “Squizzy” Taylor on 0419 247 972.

There’s still time to throw your hat in the ring for the National AgDay photo and vid­eo competition.

You don’t have to be a farmer or own a patch of land to snap a roaring rural photo.

There are so many amazing country towns waiting to be captured; even driv­ing 30 minutes from a city can put you in sight of cute cows, photogenic fences and charming shopfronts.

Take a trip to the edge of town, pack your camera or phone and make sure to check out a famous country bakery while you’re on the road. There’s also farms open to the public that are well-worth checking out. You never know the pots of gold you’ll find.

Just remember to stay out of private property, even if there are no fences. For more tips on farm photography etiquette, check out this guide: https://farmers.org.au/lifestyle/the-ultimate-guide-to-the-best-farm-selfie/

There is no age limit in the AgDay photo comp, and it’s designed to attract all skill levels too; so don’t miss your chance to be in the running!Submit your entry at https://agday.org.au/photography-video-competition1/ and get involved in the celebration of every­thing that makes Aussie agriculture great.

Forbes local and TAFE NSW student Cindy Smith, a proud Dharawal woman, is using her education as a powerful tool to empow­er people with disabilities to express their desires and gain independence.

Armed with her Certificate III in Individual Support, now pursuing Certificate IV in Dis­ability Support, she is on a mission to help her clients break free from rigid schedules that often limit their true needs.

This week, National Careers Week, is a timely reminder of the urgent demands for skilled disability support workers, projected to increase by 128,000 jobs by 2025.

Ms Smith credits her training at TAFE NSW for enabling her to go beyond basic care and provide referrals and support to her clients.

“My qualifications and skills drive my pas­sion to advocate for flexibility and ensure my clients can engage in experiences that reflect their interests and life preferences.

“I want to elevate the level of care and show that life is more than daily routines.

By thinking outside the box and seeking the right resources, they can pursue inter­ests and expand their activities,” Ms Smith said.

She has progressed her career at Curra­jong Disability Service in Parkes since her journey with TAFE NSW, caring for her cli­ents with respect and dignity, and ensuring they have a voice in their care.

Through her practical learnings at TAFE NSW, Ms Smith witnessed how the right referrals can significantly impact the lives of people with disabilities, enhancing their mental health, building social networks and even leading to successful careers or busi­nesses. Ms Smith aspires to further her studies in mental health and community support with TAFE NSW.