Earlier this year, after a spate of women were killed in violent attacks, What Were You Wearing organised the first No More rallies. Over three days in April, 100,000 people turned up and took to our nation’s streets to demand that our politicians and change-makers take decisive action. The rallies led to a national cabinet meeting and our government acknowledging that this is a national emergency.

This year alone, 48 women have lost their lives at the hands of men. In 2023, the toll had reached 64 women by the end of the year.

As part of these rallies, organisers are pushing for two national demands:

1. Mandatory trauma-informed training for first responders across Australia.

2. Funding for grassroots organisations in the domestic, family, and sexual vio­lence sector, including men’s behaviour change programs and women’s refuges.

We encourage Australia to join us once again in taking a stand against the epidem­ic of gendered violence we are currently experiencing.

The Central West rally will be held on Sunday 28th July, in Robertson Park, Or­ange at 2:30pm.

For further information on the event please refer to the What Were You Wear­ing social media pages.

Fifty years of regional arts and cultural de­velopment were celebrated in Forbes on Saturday 1st June, with the Arts OutWest 50th Anniversary dinner and exhibitions at Forbes Town Hall. Arts OutWest is the peak arts body and arts development organisa­tion for Central West NSW.

The dinner was enjoyed by 120 guests, including Parliamentary Secretary for the Arts Julia Finn, Member for Orange Phil Donato, Member for Calare Andrew Gee, Ben Franklin MLC, CEO of Regional Arts NSW Tracey Callinan and representatives local councils across the region. Past Arts OutWest staff and board members, artists and community members enjoyed a night of food, visual art and celebrations.

“Arts OutWest has played a pivotal role in nurturing artistic talent, promoting commu­nity engagement, and enhancing the cul­tural vitality on a regional level,” said Arts OutWest Chair Margot Jolly.

Mayor of Forbes Phyllis Miller OAM said at the dinner, “The fabric of life living in ru­ ral and regional areas – we must have arts and culture. I am so proud to say happy 50th anniversary to Arts OutWest. Thank you for everything you’ve done for Forbes.” Julia Finn congratulated Arts OutWest on behalf of the NSW Government: “It is an incredible achievement for an arts or­ganisation, for the creative communities of the Central West, to be able to thrive, adapt and grow over five decades.” Music was provided by Maz Rees, Tim Hansen, Parkes’ Georgia Sideris and duo Great Aunt.

Two free art exhibitions will continue over the June long weekend at St Andrews Hall, Forbes while the work of Wiradjuri artist Ronda Sharpe can be seen daily through­ out June at Forbes Visitor Information Cen­tre.

The event was supported by Forbes Shire Council and Forbes Arts Society.

Rural, regional, and remote Australians have another way to give feedback on tel­ecommunications issues with the release of the 2024 Regional Telecommunications Review survey.

The Review, which takes place every three years, sees the Regional Telecom­munications Independent Review Commit­ tee examine 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.

Submissions and face-to-face consulta­tions have provided needed feedback on a range of matters including the suitability of telecommunications during emergency situations, how emerging technologies could improve connectivity; and ways tel­ecommunications can support regional de­velopment. Previous Review’s have seen the delivery of major initiatives, such as the Mobile Black Spot Program and the Na­tional Audit of Mobile Coverage.

Have your say before 31 July 2024. For more information go to https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/have-your-say/2024-regional-telecommunications-review

Registrations are open for this year’s Central West NSW Heavy Vehicle Breakfast Forum, to be held at the Forbes Inn on Thursday 13th June. Local farmers, contract harvesters, couriers, truck driv­ers and transport company operators are invited to attend.

Parkes, Forbes and Lachlan Shire Councils’ Road Safety and Injury Prevention Officer, Melanie Suitor, said this year’s event will focus on heavy vehicle access, safety, compliance, industry case studies and more. “Since its inception in 2012, the breakfast forum has brought together the local freight industry to discuss issues affecting them.” “This year participants will hear updates about heavy vehicle access from NHVR and Transport for NSW. Divall’s Earthmoving & Bulk Haulage will share a case study about their training pro­ gram. NSW Police will discuss the results of Operation Convoy along with some general road rule reminders and SafeWork NSW will provide an overview of their work in the sector. Westlime and NHVR will also provide a local case study about collaboration,” Ms Suitor said.

You can register online at https://shorturl.at/KAN6V, via the Councils’ Facebook pages or call Ms Suitor on (02) 6861 2364. The forum will kick off at 6.30am with breakfast, and the official program starts at 7am, finishing at 11.30am. The forum is free, but registration is required for catering purposes.

If you are unable to make it on the day, the event is being re­corded and the link to the video will be shared on the Councils’ Fa­cebook pages and in follow-up media articles or contact Ms Suitor to register interest in receiving the link.

2023 Forbes Library National Simultaneous Storytime Emmy & Matilda’s Mum Letitia reading The Speedy Sloth written by Rebecca Young and illustrated by Heath McKenzie.

The Australian Library and Information Association has revealed this year’s National Simultaneous Storytime (NSS) shared story. People across the nation will be reading Bowerbird Blues by Australian author and illustrator Aura Parker, on the same day, at the same time.

Join in the fun on Wednesday, 22nd May at 12 noon when Forbes Library will be sharing the story, followed by a craft session.

Bowerbird Blues stars a beautiful bowerbird on the search for (you guessed it) blue! It’s a moving story of longing and connection, that unfolds as the bowerbird’s search sends him soaring across the sea, sky and city. He swoops and snatches vibrant treasures for his collection, and soon his bower – a mix of natural and unnatural objects – attracts something greater and more fulfilling than he could ever have imagined.

When learning of her book being selected as this year’s NSS story, author Aura Parker said, “National Simultaneous Storytime brings us together and makes us smile, and the shared experience can send imaginations soaring to new heights. I am surprised and blown away with excitement that Bowerbird Blues has been chosen as the book for 2024.”

In 2023, NSS saw over 2 million children reading on the day. For 2024, organisers have adjusted the time slightly, with the goal of further supporting librarians, teachers, parents, and caregivers to get millions of kids in Australia, New Zealand, and around the world reading together.

NSS throws an international spotlight on the important work that libraries do every day. “When we read together it helps language development, learning and literacy, all while building community. It’s a lot of fun,” said ALIA Acting CEO Trish Hepworth.

Find out more about National Simultaneous Storytime at www.alia.org.au/nss

The tight knit Forbes community, along with the rest of Australia are still mourning the loss of local woman Molly Ticehurst.

Molly, a 28 year old mother, lost her life so tragically it is hard to come to terms with. The Forbes community continues to remember Molly and speak out against domestic violence.

On May 1st, Forbes residents, and people across the nation were encouraged to leave their porch lights on for Molly, as a tribute. On May 3rd, a community gathering was held in Forbes where thousands came to farewell the local woman.

This Sunday, 12th May, Forbes Shire Council and Boys to the Bush invite the community to join in a walk around Lake Forbes to honour the life of Molly Ticehurst. Everyone is asked to come along to honour the life of Molly and to show a united stance that domestic violence is not tolerated, and that we as a community will fight for Molly’s Law, so we may see a change in bail laws in order to keep victims of domestic violence protected.

The walk will begin at 8.30am from Lions Park and will loop back around at 10am. The community is encouraged to wear something bright.