Living & Lifestyle Archives - Page 34 of 52

Help Support Pop-Up Op Shop This Weekend

March 17, 2023 by Roxane Manley

Craft and clothing being sorted for the Pop-Up Shop this Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The Fat Parcel in Eugowra received donations of barista Almond Milk from Islamic Council of Queensland.

The Forbes CWA Evening Branch has received a container full of donations for flood affected communities. The donations have been very generously collected by the Islamic Council of Queensland. Forbes Shire Council asked Forbes CWA Evening Branch to take on the job of distributing the items.

“We are ready to open our Pop-Up Op Shop this Friday 17th, Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th March at the Forbes Showground Commercial Pavilion,” said Ms Robyn Miller, President of Oxley CWA Group.

Doors will open on Friday from 10am to 4pm and Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 2pm. If there are enough volunteers and items to sell, the Pop-Up Op Shop may run the same days next week as well. If you would like to assist, please head along.

Prices will range from $2, with designer clothing from $10. All proceeds of the Op-Shop will stay within the area. “It would be fantastic if we could sell all these donations and give those who are flood affected some vouchers to help them return to their homes,” said Ms Miller.

Skip The Que And Get Your Vote In Early

March 17, 2023 by Roxane Manley

The upcoming NSW State Election will be held on Saturday, 25th March. However, early voting will be taking place from this Saturday, 18 March to Friday, 24th March.

If you are in Parkes or Forbes, and would like to avoid the huge crowds and long lines on election day, then you are encouraged to get out and vote early.

Early voting in Forbes will be available at the Forbes Town Hall in Harold Street, Forbes at the following times:

• Monday – Wednesday 8:30am – 5:30pm

• Thursday 8:30am – 8:00pm

• Friday 8:30am – 6:00pm

• Saturday 9:00am – 6:00pm

Early voting in Parkes will be available at the Parkes Early Voting Centre, 30 Welcome Street, Parkes at the following times:

• Monday – Wednesday 8:30am – 5:30pm

• Thursday 8:30am – 8:00pm

• Friday 8:30am – 6:00pm

• Saturday 9:00am – 6:00pm

If you are an Australian citizen aged 18 years or more, you are required to vote in federal, State and local government elections and by-elections. Ensure your voting registration details are correct.

A full list of local election cadidates will be available in next week’s edition of The Forbes & Parkes Phoenix.

Save Power Kit Available At Forbes Library

March 17, 2023 by Roxane Manley

If you’re like the rest of us, you’re keen to save money on your power bills! The Forbes Library have stepped in to help, partnering with Forbes Council and the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment’s Sustainable Council and Communities Program (SCC) to provide community access to the Save the Power Kit for loan from Forbes Library.

The Save Power Kit provides tools and useful information to help households measure how they use power at home. It also identifies simple actions that households can take to save money, power and reduce impacts on the environment.

The kit can help identify the biggest users of electricity in your home and describes many easy, low cost things we can do at home to use less power and save money on bills, without changing your lifestyle. The Save Power Kit contains: Power-Mate lite, stopwatch, infared thermometer, light meter and thermometer.

The kits come with full instructions, a power mate to test the power use of appliances on stand-by, thermometers to check for drafts and heating and cooling, stopwatch and light meter. Even when an appliance is on standby, it can draw power, adding unnecessary costs to your power bills.

A guide book is included, and there is an action plan to allow each borrower to record results and plan improvements and savings. Best of all, it can be borrowed for free from Forbes Library.

There are 37 Councils across NSW who are members of the program. Call Forbes Library on 6852 1463 to reserve the Save Power Kit.

Nats Invest In The Future Of Our Kids

March 17, 2023 by Roxane Manley

Every child in NSW will gain a financial head-start under a life-changing Liberal and Nationals plan to futureproof the finances of generations to come, giving them the best start to life.

This is the most significant financial security investment in NSW history. Under a re-elected Liberal and Nationals Government, every child in the Orange Electorate aged 10 and under – and continuing each year with every newborn child – will be eligible for a Kids Future Fund account, which will receive a $400 starting payment from the Government.

Parents will be able to contribute to the fund, with payments matched by the Government up to $400 per year, with interest also earned over time.

Once the child turns 18 they will be able to withdraw from their fund – which could be worth between $28,000 and $49,000 per child.

Nationals candidate Tony Mileto for the Orange Electorate said this landmark initiative is the first of its kind in Australia and will help provide financial security to an entire generation in the Orange Electorate.

“This investment will change the lives of children in NSW in the Orange Electorate forever,” Tony Mileto said.

Embracing Equity

March 10, 2023 by Roxane Manley

Women of all ages, from across Forbes came together to celebrate International Women’s Day this week.

The sun rose on another annual International Women’ Day in Forbes’ Lions Park, setting the scene for soothing yoga, a hearty breakfast and a soul-warming address from guest speaker, communications guru, Dr Neryl East.

Mayor Phyllis Miller OAM welcomed the wisdom and advice from Dr East on removing barriers to embracing equity in business, in the community and everyday life.

“Forbes has such a wealth of knowledge, capabilities and strength in our women and so often we can unknowingly limit our presence by not having that belief in ourselves, that confidence. Dr East spoke of some simple ways in which that can be addressed,” Phyllis said.

“She provided practical tips on how to communicate in business settings, for example just through the language you use. Simple things like using the phrases; ‘in my view’ or ‘in my opinion’ to give weight to your learnedness.”

Dr East also highlighted the importance of personal (internal) communication, through which negative self-talk is the most significant way to erode confidence.

Positive affirmations, such as those used by Olympic swimmers (of which she had some great anecdotes), remove negativity and set the focus of what you are setting out to achieve.

The IWD breakfast was hosted by Forbes Shire Council with funding assistance from the NSW Government.

The event is held each year to embrace the vital role women play in our community, whether it be in the workforce, the community or at home.

Dr East also addressed a number of business representatives on Tuesday night, providing insight into online reputations and business reputations.

“We thank Dr East for her time in Forbes, and look forward to seeing her advice come into play,” said Phyllis.

No-Grounds Eviction Ban A Win For Renters, But More Is Required

March 10, 2023 by Roxane Manley

A long awaited decision announced, as the NSW Coalition commits to reform no-grounds evictions, but warns that further steps are required.

An end to no-grounds evictions has long been championed by a range of advocacy groups and NGOs including the Tenants Union of NSW, St Vincent de Paul Society NSW, Shelter NSW and NCOSS.

All major parties have now committed to some form of no-grounds evictions policy.

As the peak social services body, NCOSS said that the ban on no-grounds evictions for periodic leases could make a difference to the lives of people in NSW, but more safeguards are needed.

“These changes have the potential to make a difference to those renters in NSW who are on periodic leases,” said NCOSS CEO Joanna Quilty.

“This is a positive step to help some renters improve their access to safe and secure housing.

“However, our main concern is that this announcement does not go far enough. The commitment does not include fixed-term leases, which is a critical piece of the puzzle if renters are to be given the housing security they so desperately need.

The NCOSS Policy Platform called for an end of no-grounds evictions and other stronger protections for NSW renters.

Do Your Kids Love Sport, Adventure Or Nature?

March 10, 2023 by Roxane Manley

IMAGE SOURCE: https://www.sport.nsw.gov.au/

The NSW Office of Sport is offering free Holiday Break camps to kids from regional NSW in the April school holidays.

Regional kids aged 12-15 can enjoy a free overnight camp at four sport and recreation centres.

A range of activities, including mountain biking and BMX, stand-up paddleboarding and survival skills, camps include all meals and accommodation.

Office of Sport Chief Executive Karen Jones said the Holiday Break camps were an opportunity for regional kids to challenge themselves, learn new skills and have fun.

“With camps at Berry, Jindabyne, Lake Keepit and Broken Bay on the Central Coast, we’ve got all corners of the State covered. Register your kids and give them a once in a lifetime experience,” said Karen.

The Holiday Break camps are funded through the Office of Regional Youth’s Children and Young People Wellbeing Recovery Initiative as part of the NSW Government’s COVID-19 Economic Recovery Strategy.

Camp dates and locations:

• Berry: 17th – 19th April

• Lake Keepit: 17th – 19th April

• Jindabyne: 12th – 14th April

• Broken Bay: 17th – 19th April

For further information and to register call 13 13 02 or visit: www.sport.nsw.gov.au/holiday-break-camps

Families Set To Save With Voucher Swap Scheme

March 10, 2023 by Roxane Manley

Parents will have more choice when it comes to cost of living support thanks to the NSW Liberal and Nationals Government’s Active Kids and Creative Kids voucher swap initiative.

Premier Dominic Perrottet said families would be able to use the two vouchers interchangeably from Term 2, letting kids do more of what they love.

“Our Active Kids and Creative Kids vouchers have been incredibly popular with parents across the state, with almost 7 million vouchers already downloaded and redeemed saving families $694 million,” Mr Perrottet said.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW Paul Toole said the change would allow families to lean into the activities their kids loved.

“Whether it’s playing netball, footy or the violin, we want kids to be able to extract the most out of every day. Helping families with costs like these means they can focus on seeing their kids grow and kick goals, no matter what they love doing,” Mr Toole said.

Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government Victor Dominello said families across the State could use the digital voucher in just a few clicks through the Service NSW app.

The voucher swap program will commence from the start of Term 2, 26th Apriland only apply to:

• $100 Active Kids voucher for sport and recreation costs including school holiday programs.

• $100 Creative Kids voucher for arts and cultural activities costs including school holiday classes and workshops.

Families can download their child’s vouchers via the Service NSW app or website and by calling 13 77 88.

Starting Medicine At 40

March 3, 2023 by Roxane Manley

Suzie Hill is currently a first-year student in the University of Sydney’s Doctor of Medicine program, which is on offer in Dubbo.

Becoming a doctor was never a lifelong dream for Suzie Hill, but with two children who are now adults and have left home, she began looking at the next stage of her life.

Suzie is currently a first-year student in the University of Sydney’s Doctor of Medicine program in Dubbo. She will complete the entire four-year postgraduate degree at the School of Rural Health in Dubbo with clinical training centered on Dubbo Hospital.

Suzie had previously been practicing as a Radiographer for over 15 years. Like many rural residents, she is acutely aware of the impact the shortage of doctors has on our communities. She has been inspired by the care and support her son received by a specialist and the efforts he went to in bringing treatment closer to home as well as some gentle encouragement from Radiologists she has worked with over the years.

“Being able to study in Dubbo has been a huge attraction in maintaining my family life. I love that I’ll be learning in a smaller cohort and the opportunity to develop relationships with teaching and clinical staff that, hopefully I’ll be working with one day as a doctor.”

Suzie is part of the second cohort of students now studying the University of Sydney’s entire four-year Doctor of Medicine program in Dubbo. Students in Dubbo study the same world-class medical education as their peers in Sydney, while gaining hands-on experience in rural and remote medical practice.

The Dubbo Stream is only available to students eligible for Commonwealth Supported Places and pathways are available for First Nations students and those with rural backgrounds.

The School of Rural Health in Dubbo features state-of-the-art medical education facilities including learning studios, anatomy teaching lab, and six-suite simulation training centre.

For more information visit sydney.edu.au/medicine-health/dubbo

Almost $8 Million For New Bridge At McGrane Way

February 24, 2023 by Roxane Manley

NSW Nationals Candidate for Orange Cr Tony Mileto, Parkes Shire Council Deputy Mayor Cr Neil Westcott, MR354 Committee Member Fiona Aveyard, President of the MR354 Committee Gary Langley, Parkes Shire Council Director of Operations Ben Howard, Transport for NSW Western Manager Kristine Boggs and Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Sam Farraway.

The long awaited announcement has been made that the NSW Liberal and Nationals Government will invest almost $8 million to build a new bridge at Graddle Creek on The McGrane Way through the latest round of the Fixing Country Roads Program.

Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Sam Farraway said the new bridge will improve safety and ensure the community and truckies have better access during times of extreme wet weather events.

“This will ensure local freight operators and farmers in the region can get our region’s great produce to international and domestic markets sooner and more safely, which will keep our state moving forward,” said Sam Farraway.

Mayor of Parkes Shire Ken Keith OAM said the community is very excited and very grateful for the near $8 million that has been allocated for a new bridge at Graddle Creek and realignment works on The McGrane Way through the Fixing Country Roads Program.

“This road is a vital route for transporters connecting the west to Narromine and Dubbo, producers to grain silos, saleyards and mining operations,” Ken said.

“The new bridge will be more resilient, replacing a narrow causeway that is subject to frequent flash flooding which has posed a serious safety risk for the community.

“This project will deliver safer and more reliable journeys for all road users across the region, helping to keep moving the more than 800,000 tonnes of freight transported each year along The McGrane Way.”

Member of the MR354 Committee and local farmer Fiona Aveyard thanked the NSW Government and said the investment was a big win for the community.

“We are grateful to the NSW Government for this investment of close to $8 million,” Fiona said.

“This investment will keep freight moving, get families home safe and will keep Tullamore, Parkes and regional NSW moving forward.”

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