Special Interests Archives - Page 26 of 118

Forbes Garden Club Report

June 13, 2024 by Elvy Quirk

The Club’s monthly meeting was held on 28th May at the home of Peter and Meg Scholefield, where beautiful weather was the order of the day.

President Margaret welcomed members and Secretary Robin bought along the Garden Clubs of Australia magazine to show members that we had an article in the magazine about our 70th Birthday luncheon which was written by past President Elvy.

David was a very informative speaker and on behalf of the Garden Club David was thanked and given a small token of appreciation by Robyn Mattiske.

Flower of the month was won by Denise Thurston with a Chrysanthemum, second to Sylvia Glasson for a Rose, and third to Marie Langfield for a Rose.

At the conclusion of the meeting a discussion was held and Elvy Quirk has been nominated to buy the raffle prizes, vouchers and/or gifts for the host gardens and the guest speakers.

Our next meeting will be at the Men’s Shed on 25th June at 2pm. Members are encouraged to support Flower of the Month, and bring one stem of a flower along with your name and the name of the flower underneath the container.

By Elvy Quirk

NFF Demands Equitable Childcare For Bush Families

May 31, 2024 by Roxane Manley

Along with more than 50 other organisations, the National Farmers Federation (NFF) is calling for the Federal Government to create bespoke options so families can overcome one of the biggest barriers to workforce participation.

NFF Chief Executive Tony Mahar said of endorsing an Early Childhood Education and Care policy earlier this month. “Childcare services in the regions are waning and, in some cases, they are non-existent, at a time when demand is growing and the agricultural sector is crying out for workers.” While better access to care could boost farm productivity and improve developmental, social and academic outcomes for regional children, Mr Mahar said it was essential to overcome this hurdle for women, who commonly bear the care burden.

“We’re proud to have a growing number of women employed in agriculture and women in leadership roles, but we need to support this trajectory through the child rearing years. Often when the patter of tiny feet arrives, leadership journeys are put on ice simply by a lack of care options.” To view the NFF’s Early Childhood Education and Care policy go to https://nff.org.au/

Have You Had Your Macula Checked?

May 23, 2024 by Roxane Manley

May is Macula 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 that deals with fine detail. A healthy macula is vital for good vision. Macular Degeneration is a disease affecting the macula causing 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.

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 can spontaneously bleed, leading to a sudden loss of vision requiring immediate medical treatment. Treatment often requires regular injections to shrink the blood vessels.

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

Optical Coherence Tomography (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 using optical ultrasound.

To have your macula thoroughly checked book online www.opticalbookings.com.au/hansen-optometrists-parkes/store, phone 6863 5577 or call in to make an appointment.

Support To Help Small Businesses Thrive

May 23, 2024 by Roxane Manley

Beyond Blue welcomes renewed Federal Government funding to provide small business owners access to much needed mental health support.

The Federal Government’s investment of $7.7 million to extend Beyond Blue’s NewAccess for Small Business Owners (NASBO) program is an acknowledgement that small business owners are struggling and are really doing it tough,” says Beyond Blue Chief Executive, Georgie Harman.

The NASBO program is available for free between from 8am to 8pm, to small and medium business owners nationally. The service uses evidence-based low-intensity cognitive behavioural therapy and offers small business owners up to six sessions and two follow up sessions, working with a trained coach with a background in small business themselves.

Adapted specifically for small business owners, NASBO is based on Beyond Blue’s highly effective NewAccess program and is funded by Commonwealth Government. The program is not only effective at improving mental health but has also been independently determined to represent good value for money and delivers a positive return on investment.

Participation is free. Small business owners who are interested to know more can visit www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/newaccess-mental-health-coaching/small-business-owners or call 1300 945 301.

Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Scheme

May 16, 2024 by Roxane Manley

Pictured from left to right are Gloria Jarrick and Bonita Gwyn and Margaret Wheeler

Neighbourhood Central’s Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Scheme is bringing members of the community together and they are looking for more Volunteer Visitors.

This program is funded by the federal government as part of its Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Scheme, which provides friendship and companionship to eligible older people by matching them with a volunteer visitor who will visit regularly and become a friend. This scheme helps to improve their quality of life by reducing social isolation.

At Neighbourhood Central, Bonita Gwyn and Gloria Jarrick have been volunteer visitors for quite some time now and have formed a beautiful friendship with Margaret Wheeler. The ladies meet every week for a catch up and a few games of cards. Margaret looks forward to her visits with Bonita and Gloria and has expressed how much she enjoys their company and having someone to play cards with.

Bonita and Gloria expressed that the visits with Margaret does as much good for them as it does for Margaret.

Brooke from Neighbourhood Central said, “As an aged care volunteer visitor coordinator, it is wonderful to sit and have a conversation with matches that have been made and witness in person the beautiful friendships that have formed and continue to grow with each visit.”

Being an Aged Care Volunteer Visitor can be incredibly rewarding; by having meaningful conversations, you can drastically improve the quality of life for an older person.

Volunteers from all social and cultural backgrounds from Forbes, Parkes and Condobolin are encouraged to join the program. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer visitor, please contact Brooke at Neighbourhood Central.

If you would like to brighten the days of older people as a volunteer, or if you would

like to request a visitor, please contact Brooke at Neighbourhood Central on 1300 810 771 or email: admin@ncentral.org.au

Kerin Health Opens New Clinical Facility

May 9, 2024 by Roxane Manley

For the past two years, the team at Kerin Health have been dreaming, planning and finally building a brand new state of the art clinical facility. It is the first of its kind in the whole of New South Wales and you are invited to help celebrate its grand opening on Friday 17th May from 5:00pm at 28 Armstrong Street, Parkes.

Rachel Kerin, Director and Physiotherapist said, “This facility increases our service capacity – meaning we can treat more clients, support more families, and bring more specialised clinicians to the local area.”

Head along, as Kerin Health showcase their wide range of services, and how they can support you and your family. It will be a night of celebration, including goodie bags, live music, nibbles, a raffle, and a whole lot of free resources.

Domestic Violence Service Calls For Urgent Action

May 2, 2024 by Roxane Manley

Relationships Australia NSW (RANSW) has called for urgent intervention from the NSW Government to address men’s violence against women following the horrific murder of Forbes woman Molly Ticehurst.

RANSW CEO Elisabeth Shaw said it is critically important that domestic violence services are adequately and sustainably funded to address the growing rate of violence against women.

“My heart breaks to hear the news of yet another victim of alleged domestic violence,” Ms Shaw said.

“Our country is facing a systemic issue of men’s violence against women, and we need urgent intervention to address this issue at the core.

“We know that Men’s Behaviour Change Programs (MBCPs) can be an effective intervention to help men stop using violence in their relationships – but these programs are chronically underfunded.

“Our organisation currently has 235 men on a waitlist for our Men’s Behaviour Change Programs – these are men who want to stop using violence, but cannot access the help they need.

“We would not say that a behaviour change program would have saved Molly’s life. Some men would never put themselves forward to look at their own actions. However, for those that do, we have to seize that moment and move in fast.

“The NSW Labor Party committed to longer-term funding for the social services sector during the election, and has a strong commitment to addressing domestic violence – now is the time the Government makes good on its promise and delivers fulsome, generous funding for domestic violence services.

“We cannot keep lurching from one crisis to another. It’s time for action.”

To access more information on RANSW’s MBCPs you can visit www.relationshipsnsw.org.au

Connectivity Issues Spotlighted

April 25, 2024 by Roxane Manley

Communities across regional, rural, and remote Australia can now have their say on telecommunications issues as public submissions open on the Regional Telecommunications Review.

The input of local communities will form an essential part of the Review – held once every three years – which will see the Regional Telecommunications Independent Review Committee deliver recommendations to Government.

The Review is closely examining the experiences of people in regional, rural, and remote parts of Australia with telecommunications delivery, as well as considering the unique needs of First Nations communities.

Residents, businesses and community organisations can make a submission, with the Terms of Reference – announced by Minister for Communications, the Hon Michelle Rowland MP – outlining key issues for the Committee to examine. An issues paper has been released to help frame ideas.

Feedback from the public has been essential in previous reviews to ensure the Committee’s recommendations are well-targeted and based on evidence. For this Review there are three options available to have your say: attending a face-to-face consultation, providing a formal submission or completing a survey. The survey will be published in May 2024.

Since March 2024, the Committee has visited Western Australia and Tasmania for face-to-face consultations with local issues also forming an important part of the Committee’s considerations. More locations for face-to-face consultations will be announced shortly.

The 2024 Review is being led by the Hon Alannah MacTiernan, former Western Australian Minister for Regional Development as Chair of the Review Committee. She is supported by the Hon Fiona Nash, Ms Kristy Sparrow, Dr Jessa Rogers and Mr Ian Kelly.

To have your say just visit www.infrastructure.gov.au/have-your-say/2024- regional-telecommunications-review

Chair, the Hon Alannah MacTiernan went on to say “Access to telecommunications services is critical for regional residents and businesses across so many aspects of everyday life – and we want to understand the lived experience of these services so that future policy actions are well-targeted and backed up by evidence.

“We really encourage Australians in the bush to have their say via a submission or completing the survey in coming months, while we continue our face-to-face consultations across the country.

Five Tips For Growing High-Vigour Canola Seed

April 25, 2024 by Roxane Manley

The Five tips for growing high-vigour canola seed is available on the NSW DPI website at https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/broadacre-crops/winter-crops/canola-and-safflower/five-tips-for-growing-high-vigour-canola-seed

The NSW Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI) has released a new publication called Five tips for growing high-vigour canola seed to support producers using grower-retained seed for their canola establishment.

The publication outlines the key steps identified in a joint investment project between NSW DPI and Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) to improve seed vigour.

Colin McMaster, NSW DPI Research and Development Agronomist said how growers manage this year’s seed-crop could well determine the success of next year’s establishment and financial return.

“The margin of error in establishing canola is much smaller than it used to be, as we are now sowing less seeds, it is costing growers more money, and we are placing those seeds in more hostile seed-beds due to earlier sowing.

“Canola seed has less energy reserves than larger-seeded crops and, as a result, is more sensitive to poor establishment across a range of seasonal conditions and agronomic management practices.

“Research and field surveys have identified that growers often only establish half of what is sown, and if the autumn break was less favourable its likely to be much less,” said Mr McMaster.

To reduce financial risk, some growers in the low to medium rainfall zone use open-pollinated (OP) canola varieties because the seed is cheap to buy, and it will grow true to the parent crop.

These traits allow growers to confidently retain seed which can increase flexibility and reduce financial risk within the farming system, for example, if sowing conditions are marginal then seeding rates can be increased, or in the event of a failed establishment growers can spray out for an alternative option.

The guide also covers other agronomic factors to improve canola establishment including reduced sowing speed, adequate fertiliser separation from the seed, reducing stubble loads and shallow/uniform seed placement.

Forbes Rotary Members Take Action To Save Their Rotary Club

April 11, 2024 by Roxane Manley

Pictured is Club President Chris Finkel.

At their most recent meeting, the members of Forbes Rotary Club agreed to hold a special Rotary awareness meeting on Friday the 16th of April 2024 at 6pm for 6.15pm at the Forbes Services Club.

60 invitations have been sent out to potential new Rotarians in the 30 to 50 age group in an attempt to gain new membership to keep our club operating and solve the problem of the current lack of office bearers in the club who are willing to continue on as executive members to run the club.

A finger food menu for the meeting which will be provided at no charge for attending guests as this will be covered by donations from current members who are anxious to keep the Forbes Rotary Club continue its service work to the local, national and international communities.

The deadline for RSVPs for those wishing to attend this function is 6pm on Friday, 12 th April.

For those residents who would like to attend this evening and did not receive an invitation please phone, text or email our Forbes Rotary Secretary, Grahame Uphill on 0427 640 065 or email dorso@westserv.net.au. Current President, Chris Finkel also said he would like

RSVPs from all current members and Friends of Rotary to add to the total of attendees.

Chris then stated: “We can only hope that with the forthcoming Rotary Awareness evening we can gain enough new members to rejuvenate and reactivate our club to what it was when I first became a Rotarian at the age of 37. My request to our current members is to ask one or two of their younger associates or friends along to next week’s meeting and consider helping us out.”

Rotary International theme for 2023/24 is “Create Hope in the World”.

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