Forbes Phoenix

Galari River Arts Festival Presents “ripple”

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Galari River Arts Festival makes a splashing return to Forbes in 2024, pictured top is Sydney band Lolo Lovina who will be performing, and bottom is Canowindra performer Nerida Cuddy.

After a five-year break, the beloved River Arts Festival is set to bring a wave of creativity back to Forbes on Saturday, August 10th, 2024, at Lions Park from 9am-7pm. Festival Director Rob Shannon and the committee are thrilled to once again celebrate the town’s artistic spirit and foster a sense of community through the power of art.

This year’s Festival has been given the name “Ripple”. Held on the shores of Lake Forbes, we want to send ripples of creativity and positivity out to the community through the arts. It is a chance for everyone to get involved in workshops, from the community mural with Sheree Stokes, The River Arts Community Choir with Nerida Cuddy or lantern making with Ro Burns for the Lantern Parade in the evening.

There will be a healing space featuring yoga, meditation, sound healing and more.

Wander through the extensive artisan stalls from all over the region.

We are featuring some amazing music this year, and are very excited to be hosting “Lolo Lovina” from Sydney, lead by RomaniGypsy vocalist Sarah Bedak, and featuring musicians from all over the world, Serbia, Ukraine, Malta and Bulgaria. They have performed all over the globe from Havana to Texas, China, western Europe and all over Australia. They will be towing their caravan (stage) into town especially for the day.

Also performing will be the high energy rockabilly trio “Felix Albert and the Gentlemanly Two” (Bathurst), modern folk song writer, singer and guitarist Nerida Cuddy (Canowindra), plus a whole heap of local performers from diverse backgrounds.

The day will culminate in the dreamy and inspiring lantern parade and Lolo Lovina taking us on a wild ride of passionate gypsy world music to close the night.

We look forward to this being something the whole community can enjoy.

Farmers Reminded To Check Wage Changes

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NSW Farmers is reminding employers that minimum award pay and superannuation rates changed from Monday, July 1.

Employers with award-reliant employees were encouraged to review their staff pay rates to ensure they met the applicable minimum rates and conditions and had the relevant documentation in place for pay arrangements that deviate from the award terms.

As part of its Workplace Relations service to members, NSW Farmers publishes Rural Wage Guides for agriculture-related awards every year, so farmers can stay up-to-date on pay rates and impending changes in employment matters.

“Running a farm is no different to running any other business, it’s important to stay up to date with these changes,” NSW Farmers Workplace Relations spokesman Chris Stillard said.

“No matter what industry you’re in, whether you’ve got one worker or 50, make sure you’re prepared.”

The 2024 NSW Farmers Rural Wage Guides are now available for members, outlining the superannuation increase to 11.5 per cent and increases to minimum wage standards, among other guidance.

For more information about the annual wage review, visit Fair Work website. To find out more about the NSW Farmers Workplace Relations service, visit nswfarmers.org.au

2024 Parkes Yard Dog Trials

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All results for the weekend are available on the NSW Yard Dog Association website.

The fourth annual yard dog trials were a successful weekend, with entries up on last year. Competitors travelled from across New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria. The open section attracted handlers and dogs that have won many Australian champion­ships between them. The weekend catered for a variety of classes including Novice, Maiden, Encouragement, Junior, Local and Open. The results for the Local section were First Danail Day with South Stormy, second Bernard Dwyer and Annie, third place Don­na Lindley and Bonnie.

Frost And Fire Returns For Fifth Year

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Forbes’ own Celia Pavey, known professionally as Vera Blue, will be headlining Frost and Fire 2024.

Forbes is gearing up for a spectacular even­ing as the highly anticipated Frost and Fire Festival returns this Saturday 22nd June.

This year promises to be the best yet, fea­turing an incredible lineup of artists head­lined by Forbes’ own Vera Blue, who has taken the world by storm with her soulful performances. In a long awaited official re­turn Vera will captivate her hometown audi­ence once again.

Frost and Fire offers a family friendly ex­perience with free entry for children under 18. Attendees can look forward to fireworks display that will light up the winter sky, ac­companied by the warmth of fire buckets scattered throughout the venue. The festival also boasts an array of hearty food trucks.

“Having Vera Blue, a homegrown talent, headlining our festival is a tremendous hon­our and a testament to the incredible talent that emerges from our community,” Mayor Phyllis Miller OAM said.

“We have watched Vera – who we then knew as Celia Pavey – grow from a young girl with a dream to an international sensa­tion and we are thrilled to welcome her back to where it all began.”

Entertainment at this year’s event in­cludes cultural performances, bubble magic shows, and mesmerising fire performers. A special appearance from the Ice Queen will enchant children and add a touch of magic to the evening.

Forbes Shire Council and Evolution Min­ing proudly sponsor this community-driven event showcasing the region’s resilience and spirit. The festival promises a night of unforgettable entertainment, supports local businesses, and fosters community growth.

Join us at the Forbes Ski Dam this Satur­day for a night of music, magic, and memo­ries at the Frost and Fire Festival. Tickets are available exclusively at 123tix.com.au.

Mental Health In Young Men – More To Do

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Kids Helpline is encouraging boys and young men to take time to prioritise their mental health this week, as part of Interna­tional Men’s Health Week.

yourtown CEO Tracy Adams says this week is important for all members of the community, but particularly young men and those with young men in their lives, to build a positive culture around mental health and emotional wellbeing.

Data from Kids Helpline highlights that young males are less likely to engage in help-seeking for mental health concerns compared with females. On average during May Kids Helpline recorded 57 responses a day from young males compared with 195 females.

Counsellors at Kids Helpline respond to 21% males and 79% females on any given day, with males aged between 19 to 25 years of age representing the largest (37%) male help-seeking group.

Kids Helpline offers boys and young men a safe, inclusive space to connect with pro­fessional support 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Kids Helpline is Australia’s only na­tional 24/7 counselling service specifically for children and young people aged 5 to 25 years – free call 1800 55 1800 or www.kid­shelpline.com.au

Forbes Garden Club Report

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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

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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?

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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

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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

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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

Phoenix Office 7/113-127 Rankin Street, Forbes NSW 2871

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