Wiradjuri artist, Lakkari Pitt, has installed a stunning representation of the journey from Link Up to Year 6 and beyond titled ‘Forbes North Journey’ which is painted on the wall looking toward the Facey and Thomson Street intersection. This artwork represents the first stage of a large-scale program embedding First Nation’s cultural presence within the school grounds at an unprecedented level.

Term one at Forbes North Public School started with significant improvement projects initiated to commence a major revitalisation of the school infrastructure, appearance, and image. This included painting and decorating of classrooms, multiple accessibility ramps and landscaping.

New resources were applied to Wiradjuri language programs and the renowned Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program is now operating three days every week.

Forbes North commenced the 2023 school year with 240 students in 13 classrooms and is fully staffed with high quality teaching and learning occurring from Link Up to high school transition and beyond to Forbes High School.

During term one, the local community were welcomed into the school to attend a community breakfast and barbecue, as well as an opportunity to attend ‘Connect Meet’ parent teacher interviews. This evening attracted over 150 students and their families.

The school also hosted a Harmony Day barbecue and welcomed Uncle Larry Brandy to retell significant Dreaming and cultural stories.

Forbes North plays host to the Launching Rocket Learners Workshops for parents and brings together young mothers and their children to a variety of events such as the monthly Australian Breastfeeding Association meetings, weekly Baby Sensory Group meetings, Thump Jump Rhyme focusing on music for early childhood with the Mitchell Conservatorium of Music, Forbes Community Playgroup for babies and young children and Rhyme Time in conjunction with Forbes Library.

Students enjoyed a successful Easter Hat Parade this week and have additionally, proudly participated in Clean Up Australia Day, International Day of People with Disabilities, Premiers Reading Challenge, Eco Sustainability Day and the Indigenous Insights performance at Forbes Town Hall.

The school is leading the Forbes Junior AECG, has attended multiple sporting carnivals at school and zone level and all the while settled into the academic rigour of a school year which is full of possibilities and exciting challenges. 

See you all in term two!

A proud mum moment for Jenny Parfitt when 14 year old daughter Lilly decided to follow in her footsteps and take on a role at Parkes McDonalds.

New licensee of Parkes and Forbes McDonalds, Jenny Parfitt, spoke proudly of her daughter Lilly who has decided to follow in her mother’s footsteps by applying for her first job at Maccas. “She has really thrown herself into her job, doing four to five shifts per week,” said Jenny. 

Jenny employs over 150 staff across the two stores, including 13 managers and one supervisor, but they still need more employees. Maccas is without doubt a huge employer of youth, but there are opportunities available for older staff during the day, in the Cafe and as delivery drivers. The age of the staff at Maccas Parkes and Forbes ranges from 14 to 62 years. 

You would be perfect for a job at Maccas if you are high energy, fast paced and able to change tasks when needed. 

“One minute you might be working in the drive-thru, then you might have to swing over to help the Cafe, the mornings are all about coffee, at lunchtime the kitchens are pumping, Friday night is dinner box after dinner box, so you just have to be ready to go where you’re needed,” said Jenny. 

Eliza Fahey, Austen Brown, Kirby Maslin, Tom Maslin, Hannah Thorpe, Ashlee Coe, Mrs Marcia Simmons, Mrs Pat Duncan, Laura Vonthien, Charlie Vonthein, Claire Turner, Brodie Gartner, Emily Molloy, Will Bolam, Meg Fahey, James Edmunds, Gerogia Cole and Pat Tulaga. Front: Gerogia Nixon (flower girl), Lincoln Molloy (page boy) and Elsie Ball (flower girl)

After months of planning, fundraising and dance lessons, eight gorgeous young ladies and their equally handsome partners impressed and delighted their invited guests at the debutante ball on Saturday, 25th March.

The group consisting of Georgia Cole and Pat Tulaga, Eliza Fahey and Austen Brown, Meg Fahey and James Edmunds, Kirby Maslin and Tom Maslin, Emily Molloy and Will Bolam, Hannah Thorpe and Ashlee Coe, Claire Turner and Brodie Gartner, Laura Vonthien and Charlie Vonthien, were present to Mrs Pat Duncan, Ambassador for the Motor Neurone Disease Association of NSW. 

The group were accompanied by flower girls Elsie Ball and Georgia Nixon, and pageboy, Lincoln Molloy. 

The nervous duos performed their feature dance to “I’ll Be There” by Foster which was choreographed by Miss Emily Jack. 

The ladies looked spectacular in their white gowns and the young gents wore smart single breasted navy suits, crisp white shirts, tan shoes and light blue accessories which complemented the colour theme.

Traditionally, debutante balls were formal occasions where young ladies were presented to society after learning manners and etiquette customary of the time. Modern debutante balls still teach participants social skills but are an opportunity to raise valuable funds for charities and not-for-profit organisations. 

The tireless efforts of the debutantes and their partners cooking barbeques, selling raffle tickets and more, were justified with a profit of almost $2,400 raised which will directly benefit the Motor Neurone Disease Association of NSW.

MND is a progressive neurological disease that results in high levels of disability. Without functioning nerves, muscles waste and no longer function which affects the neck, shoulders, hands, feet, arms, legs and breathing. There is currently no cure for MND and two people are diagnosed and a further two die with MND every day in Australia. 

The group chose to support the MND Association of NSW as it was dear to their hearts, with some of the group’s family members having been directly affected by it.

The monster raffle drawn on the night was well supported by local businesses and families who generously donated all nine of the prizes. First prize was a Malvern Star Adult bike sponsored by Bown’s Sportspower was won by Kim Maslin, second prize a garden parcel donated by Achesons Mitre 10 went to Deb Waters, June Dollar took out third prize, the REPCO vehicle cleaning kit, fourth prize a Tyreright gift voucher went to Jodie Vonthien, fifth prize a Blush Organic voucher was won by Gaye Donnelly, the Orange Tenpin Bowl voucher donated by the Fahey family went to Anthony Ireland, Eliza Fahey received the meat tray donated by Flint Street Butchery, James Edmunds took home the Merge Virtual Reality Goggles and Alex Molloy took out the final prize of the night, the Fisher Price interactive toy package. 

Event coordinator, Anita Morrison, commended the group on their efforts and congratulated family and friends for their support.

The Debutante’s strike a pose before cutting the cake.

Good news for communities that were flood affected with the announcement more financial support will be made available, including Medium Size Business Support grants, as the recovery from flooding which began in August, 2022 continues. The latest round of support includes:

Funding for community and volunteer non-government-organisations (NGO) to support community-led recovery projects.

The Medium Sized Business grant will be available in the LGAs of Balranald, Berrigan, Bogan, Bourke, Brewarrina, Cabonne, Carrathool, Central Darling, Cobar, Cowra, Dubbo Regional, Edward River, Federation, Forbes, Griffith, Gunnedah, Hay, Junee, Lachlan, Leeton, Moree Plains, Murray River, Murrumbidgee, Narrabri, Narrandera, Parkes, Wagga Wagga, Walgett, Warren, Warrumbungle and Wentworth.

The Back Home grant provides payments of up to $20,000 for owner-occupiers, $15,000 for landlords and $5,000 for renters, while the Rental Support payment covers the cost of 16 weeks of rent.

The extended disaster recovery packages are jointly funded by the Australian and NSW governments under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.

For more about disaster recovery assistance, contact Service NSW on 13 77 88 or visit: www.service.nsw.gov.au. Information is also available on the Commonwealth Government’s Disaster Assist website at: www.disasterassist.gov.au.