Eugowra resident Grace Katon celebrates returning to her home and also her 83rd birthday.

Long-term Eugowra resident Grace Katon is the first Central West resident to move out of a temporary housing pod and back into her own home. She was met by Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully and Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib who were able to welcome her home. 

Following catastrophic floods last year, Grace and her dog Honey lived in the temporary housing pod while her home’s kitchen, bathroom and walls were repaired. 

As part of the free Pods on Private Property Program across the Cabonne, Forbes and Parkes Local Government Areas, 98 temporary pods were installed by the NSW Reconstruction Authority. 

As of today, 88 households have been able to take advantage of the program, with another 10 pods in the final stages of fit-out. 

The pod program provides people with a safe and comfortable place to live in their own community, while they rebuild or repair their homes, relocate or secure a rental property. 

More than 130 pods in total are expected to be installed across the Central West by the end of August, while decommissioned pods will be used again in the area or across NSW as part of future disaster recovery efforts. 

The NSW Government has also established an At-Home Caravan Program for eligible Central West residents with 129 caravans delivered and in use. 

The NSW Government has provided more than $42 million in grants and subsidies to individuals, households, small businesses and primary producers across the Central West impacted by last year’s devastating floods. 

Almost 3,000 people have received practical assistance at Recovery Assistant Points across the Central West since November 2022 including accommodation assistance, mental health support and access to clean-up services. 

Sam Farraway MLC stands up to try and save the Regional Seniors Travel Card.

The NSW Liberals and Nationals are calling all residents across regional communities to sign the petition to save the $250 Regional Seniors Travel Card.

Shadow Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Sam Farraway said the Coalition launched the petition to stop Labor from cutting the program in the upcoming budget.

“The Regional Seniors Travel Card has become a local lifeline right across the bush,helping our seniors maintain their independence,” Mr Farraway said.

“We have already had a strong response but there is only a month left to get behind the petition, so I would encourage as many people as possible to sign it to convince the Minns Government to keep funding this important cost-of-living measure.”

“It would be devastating to see another great regional initiative sacrificed to prioritise another city project, so I would ask everyone to share this petition as far and wide as you can to show Labor just how important it is.”

Since 2020 more than one million cards have been issued, easing expenses for seniors who need to travel longer distances for their everyday tasks.

Sarah Smith from Parkes Taxis said “It has been a valuable asset for our customers at Parkes taxis over the last 12 months. Passengers have been able to use the transport card for both social, medical appointments, shopping and many other day to day activities. Many passengers have expressed that it will be a great loss to them if transport card does not continue given the hard times along with many other rising expenses.

You can help save the card by signing the petition at www.savethetravelcard.com.au

Next Chapter Innovation partners will have access to grants of $50,000, $100,000 or $200,000 plus executive support and mentoring, access to a think tank to leverage corporate expertise, and involvement in an inaugural conference to be hosted by CommBank.

This announcement coincides with the release of the latest CommBank Community Awareness Survey which included 2,951 people living in NSW, found:

• 22% of people living in NSW have experienced financial abuse from a partner, while 19% have experienced it from a family member

• 20% know or suspect someone they know is currently experiencing financial abuse

The most common behaviours include:

• 44%: Used/is using all wages earned by you for household expenses, while spending their own money only on themselves

• 43%: Has hidden/is hiding assets from you

• 42%: Provided/is providing you with only an inadequate ‘allowance’

• 42%: Has destroyed, damaged or stolen something that belongs to you or a family member

• 41%: Refused/ is refusing to contribute financially to you or to your family

To be eligible to apply for Next Chapter Innovation, organisations must be Australian based and operated with services providing direct funding to Australian based programs. Applications will close on Friday, 25th August. 

For any further details on Next Chapter Innovation, visit: commbank.com.au/nextchapter

Three new citizens were welcomed as Australian citizens in a ceremony presided over by Forbes Mayor Phyllis Miller OAM on 21st July.

Last Friday, 21st July, the Forbes Council Chambers were once again full, as friends and family witnessed Emily Newham (Vanuatu), Amy Smith (New Zealand) and Fionnuala Young (Ireland and United Kingdom) officially become Australian citizens.

Mayor Miller conducted the ceremony and presented the three women with a welcome gift and their Certificate of Citizenship in front of guests and a number of councillors.

“Australia is one of the most culturally diverse nations in the world, as well as home to the oldest surviving culture in the world. Since 1949 Australia has welcomed over 5.7 million new citizens to our shores. We are proud to say that 13.4 per cent of Forbes’ population are born overseas and have chosen Forbes as their home,” Mayor Miller said.

Australian Citizenship symbolises our unity as a nation. Making the Australian citizenship pledge represents commitment to Australia and its people, the values we share and our common future. It also symbolises the sense of belonging to the country where new citizens have decided to make their home.

Choosing to become an Australian citizen is a very important commitment to make, and a significant part of Australia’s future. Forbes Shire Council places high importance on Australian Citizenship and hosts several ceremonies throughout the year.

“Welcoming Australia’s newest citizens, and welcoming them to Forbes especially, is one of my favourite roles as Mayor of Forbes.

“I can appreciate the fact that living in Forbes is enough to make anyone want to make living here permanent!” said Mayor Miller.

Australian Citizenship Day is held annually on September 17, a day to celebrate what unites us as Australians, whether we are citizens through birth or by choice. 

DPE Executive Director of Infrastructure Policy Jonathon Schipp has stated public input is crucial to inform any proposed new laws aimed at preventing small children accidentally falling from windows.

“We want to hear the community’s views on proposed changes requiring safety devices to be fitted in most homes on windows less than 1.7 metres from the floor, if the floor is two metres or more above ground level,” Mr Schipp said.

Since 2013, child-proof safety devices have been required for windows above a certain height in new bedrooms of most homes and all strata buildings in NSW, such as apartments and townhouses.

“We know that cost of living pressures means many people are doing it tough at the moment, and we want to hear from the community on this and other issues they feel should be examined.”

The discussion paper responds to the NSW Deputy State Coroner’s recommendations after the death of a three-year-old who fell from a third-floor residential apartment window which did not have a safety device.

To view the discussion paper and to provide feedback by 21 August 2023, visit: https://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/window-safety