Nine preschools across New South Wales, including Forbes Preschool, will take part in a new study providing free health and development tests for children before they start school.

The state-wide program is an Australian first, with checks assessing hearing, vision, physical and cognitive development, social and emotional development,communication and skills.

The study will help inform the state-wide rollout of the program and will include different types of tests in different locations.

Premier Dominic Perrottet said the NSW Government was leading the nation with a $15.9 billion investment in early childhood commitments including health and development checks for children in preschools.

Minister for Education and Early Learning Sarah Mitchell said the study will run from late November 2022 until February 2023.Minister for Health Brad Hazzard said the program aims to give more families the support they need if it is discovered their child is not on track to meet key milestones.

“A child’s health and development plays an important part in their school journey and these checks will identify issues early so that action plans and support measures can be put in place early,” said Mr Hazzard.

Find the ELF in the Shop is another exciting activity added to this season’s Christmas program in Forbes. 

The Forbes Business Chamber and Forbes Shire Council launched the activity to encourage children, young people and adults to wander the businesses, use the clues and seek out an Elf that is hidden and stand a chance to win 6 x $50 Why Leave Town cards. 

“Basically, this is a treasure hunt reaching across 15 stores with an ELF in their front window or in a prominent position that is visible during and after hours. The competition runs from the 1st to 20th of December” said Chamber President Aaron Acheson.

Clues will be printed on the back of the entry form to direct community members to participating stores. 

When the ELF is found the details, including the name of the store are to be completed on the entry form. Hand your completed form into Forbes Shire Council office by close of business on the 20th December. 

“We would like to thank Josh Matic from the Phoenix Group of Newspapers for his kind sponsorship and support of the Elf in the Shop activity. Together we will add some magic to Christmas for the children in the area.” said Aaron.

Council and the Forbes Business Chamber are encouraging children to write their letters to Santa as soon as possible so he can send a reply to each and every child. 

“It has been a difficult year for some students with the floods preventing time together with friends, so we have partnered with Santa to provide letter templates and a post box in the reception area of the Council Administration building,” said Forbes Shire Council General Manager Steve Loane. 

“We want to bring back the excitement of receiving a letter in the mail, especially from Santa!” 

Santa Letters need to be posted by 20th December at the Council office. 

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet announced a joint Commonwealth and State Government disaster recovery package this week, which includes $50,000 Small Business Grants. 

“We congratulate both the Federal and State Governments for moving so swiftly to ensure the Small Business Grant is announced and launched and we are particularly pleased to see that the first $25,000 will be paid out quickly” said Vicki Seccombe, Regional Director – Western NSW, Business NSW. 

“Central West businesses are incredibly resilient but these floods have really affected so many businesses and these grants will provide them with the support they need to get the doors back open and running.” 

Forbes Floods Donations and Help 

Forbes Shire Council has set up a GIVIT donation page to match you up with people who need help. If you want to donate go to www.givit.org.au/donate-items. If you need help call 1300 585 054 or email givit@forbes.nsw.gov.au 

Service NSW 

If you need to replace your licence, birth, death or marriage certificates after the flood, Service NSW has set up a mobile service in the Lawler Street car park to immediately help residents. This service will be available from 9am – 4pm until today (Friday) and will then be in the Recovery Assistance hub in the Town Hall concourse from Monday. 

The Forbes community is encouraged to let their imagination go in creating entries for the 10th Christmas Tree Festival next month.

Rotary Ipomoema has confirmed that the 10th Christmas Tree Festival will be taking place as planned from Friday, 2nd December to Sunday, 4th December.

All entries need to be delivered to the Forbes Town Hall from 7am on Friday, 2nd December.

Anyone can enter. No matter how big or small, your entry will brighten our community at this time when the spirit of Christmas is really needed.

Your tree could reflect your organisation, the festive season or have a Christmas message. There are no restrictions. A sewing group could decorate their tree with patch work decorations, for example. A school or pre-school can make paper decorations for a tree, while a choir could decorate a tree with musical notes or carols. A sporting group could make lots of ball shapes in Christmas colours. Welders may wish to weld a tree, or builders may like to nail up an entry. The possibilities are endless. 

The trees will be open for viewing from Friday afternoon and throughout the weekend. By coming to see the Christmas Tree Festival you will also assist Rotary raising important funds to share within our community at this time of need.

For more information call 0427 201 445 or 6851 5197.

Good news from Forbes High School is that six students and staff left for Sydney on Tuesday to take part in the School Spectacular Extravaganza. The group used the rest of the week for dress rehearsals and will be doing two performances today and two tomorrow. A bus load of students will also be going to Sydney today to watch the performance. On the photo are (L-R) Emma Dick, Angus Carpenter, Sarah-Jane Sullivan, Chloe Cowell, Logan Harvey and Hailey Mckeon Ovington.

The Trees are out. Each participating business will have a wonderful timber Christmas Tree out the front of their business or close to their front door. 

“We are so pleased to be able to offer $20 000 in prizes this year,” said Aaron Acheson of the Forbes Business Chamber. “It has been a tough year so the Forbes Business Chamber is delighted to have kept the draws to encourage local shopping.”

Due to the floods and businesses needing to clean up, the draws will begin on Thursday, 1st December with the first $500 being electronically drawn. Please make sure that your electronic entry is filled out correctly. All you need to do is scan the QR Code and fill in the details. There are 7 x $500 up until Christmas Eve and then 10 X $500, 1 x $1500, 2 x $2500 and 1 x $5000 which will be drawn on 24th December. 

Major sponsors and participants: Forbes Shire Council and Forbes Business Chamber. Gold Sponsor – Bernardis, Silver Sponsors -Terry Bros Carpet Court and the Forbes Phoenix. Bronze Sponsors – Flannery’s Pharmacy, Gunn’s Menswear and Embroidery, MD Steel, Steele Technology, Walkers Ag N Vet and WA Knights. “All the sponsors will have a QR code for you to scan when you shop in their business.” For those people who don’t have a phone, there will be a sign-on-sheet. Your details will be entered manually prior to each drawer.

Participating businesses: All of the above plus Acheson’s Mite 10, Allure On Main, Blue Sky Outdoors, Betta Home Living, Blush Organics, Bowns Sports Power, Brons Hair Design, ChapterTwo, Forbes Automotive Services, Forbes Central Butchery, Forbes Small Engines, HelloWorld, Hozpots Garden Centre, Isabel’s Place, Jessica’s Beauty, Life Pharmacy, Little Extra’s Lifestyle, Loomzys Fish n Fix, Made Of Fridays, McMillian Industries, News On Rankin, Phillip Wells Optometrist, Robbs Jewellers, The Bakehouse, The Book Dispensary, Turners Furniture One and Undercover Sleepwear and Lingerie.

“We hope the Find It In Forbes Christmas Promotion and Christmas Carnival will bring some fun and happiness to all,” said Aaron.

Forbes Christmas Carnival on 9th December from 5 – 9pm.