Traffic and Highway Patrol Command officers, together with local police across NSW, will be targeting all road-related rules, including drink and drug driving, distractions, driving tired, and any dangerous driving behaviours which put the safety of road users at risk. 

The NSW Police Force will begin their holiday operation this week with double demerits coming into effect on Friday 22 nd December 2023. 

Shadow Minister for Police Paul Toole said as the holiday period is traditionally the busiest time of year on NSW roads, police maintain a highly visible presence although the key to reducing accidents lies in taking responsibility – for yourself, your family, your passengers, and every other road user. 

“The most important gift you can give this festive season is being responsible. Be the motorist who obeys the road rules and drives to the conditions, not the motorist who drives recklessly and kills someone,” Mr Toole said. 

“While police will be out in force, please remember that road safety is everyone’s responsibility. You don’t want to be the person whose irresponsible behaviour changes a life – or lives – forever. 

“Unfortunately, some people still think they’re above the law, whether it’s quickly checking a text, driving too fast, or getting behind the wheel when tired or under the influence, there are road rules for a reason which, when followed, means everyone can arrive safely at their destination this holiday period.” 

The NSW Opposition is encouraging all drivers to always have a Plan B in place before your first drink, and never drink or drug drive. 

If you are getting behind the wheel – even if it’s a short trip, never drive if you’re tired, buckle up, stay under the speed limit, and put the phone away. 

To help plan your trip, traffic conditions can be found at: https://www.livetraffic.com. 

Forbes North has completed major beautification of our school grounds and infrastructure with our ornamental gardens and green spaces entering the Forbes Garden Society open gardens in 2024. Our school resembles a botanical garden and major landscaping projects including the centre playground at the heart of the school, the main Thomson Street entrance and gardens located in the northern playground are now all complete. The renovation of 8 classrooms is also complete with painting, carpet and furnishing added to learning spaces to ensure our students have the best facilities on offer for a 21st century primary school. The library is now fully refurbished with the addition of 40 new mobile devices supporting our students in inquiry-based learning and research while visiting and learning in lessons in the library. The recently added branding and signage proudly boasts of our ever-increasing relationship with Forbes High School. 

New accessibility ramps constructed this year now see wheelchair access provided to every section of the school and artist Lakkari Pitt returns in 2024 for more First Nations cultural work near our Facey Street entrance. Two new areas are now home to extensive seating to support morning and afternoon gathering locations for our parents and community entering the school. The wellbeing practices at our school are improving and academic aspirations will continue to accelerate in 2024 with the implementation of the high potential gifted education policy and new curriculum reform agenda, supporting a range of new scholastic and sporting opportunities offered to our students, side by side with community expertise regularly providing a positive impact within our school. Our school has now produced a 2nd edition of the FNPS school magazine, to be known as Giralung Bindaya or Shooting Star, a 76-page colour record of the year that was. Our students successfully hosted the first Community Art Show and participated and performed in School Spectacular in Sydney for the first time. What a year 2024 is now going to be in Thomson Street with our anticipated enrolment of 260 students and another 40 pre-Kindergarten children engaging in Link Up to School which sees our school continue to grow and prosper 

The school year ended. It was definitely different finishing the school year at the end of July, and starting Summer holidays! But it was very cool to experience 

My host sister and I went on a week long camping trip. I like camping but dirt in my bed I don’t like. But despite that it was a cool experience! We had to come home a day early because the weather was bad. But that was also an experience! We all got escorted to a safe spot on the back of a tractor trailer by a fire fighter 

We ( my host family and I) went to a petting zoo. The animals were so friendly, and the donkey was like a big dog, It loved cuddles! 

I met my other host sister when she came back from a trip. 

My host sisters and I baked pavlova together 

We went to a family friend’s for dinner and we saw a raccoon. 

Went on a 3 week holiday to Macedonia and Greece 

Macedonia was so different from Germany and Australia but it was definitely amazing different 

There were so many people that would go past the house we were staying at on Motorbikes, with no helmets. On the normal road 

We did many things there but just 2 were going on a walk to a waterfall and we had a tour guide dog! And sewing with one of my host sisters. 

We arrived in Greece on the 24th of August and our resort was a 2 minute walk from the beach. We also did many things there but just 2 were going into the city and going with the dog that lived at the resort and my host sisters to the beach every night to watch the sunset. 

Thank you Parkes. Talk again soon

Forbes North Public School is located on the lands of the Galari river people within the Wiradjuri nation on an expansive eleven-acre site, naturally decorated with stands of established endemic trees hosting a variety of native birds and animals, coupled with a large orchard and commercial kitchen which is part of one of Australia’s first schools to pilot the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program. Since 2009, our expansive ornamental gardens have been maintained and harvested by our students and staff. 

Since 1957, the school has offered quality education in a safe and engaging learning environment from Kindergarten to Year 6. This is inclusive of our best practice Link Up to School program, enabling young children to prepare for school on the same site. Our playground is spacious containing an all-weather undercover court for multiple sports and games, a common playground leading to our Wiradjuri room and Yarning circle shaded by the Aboriginal flag at the heart of the school representing a focus on first nations’ people and culture and supporting the cultural traditions of our 118 Aboriginal students. 

Our new library now contains hundreds of titles in children’s literature and our multi-purpose hall is home to Forbes Learning Ladder after school care and is used four days per week hosting a variety of community engagement events and gatherings. Each day, we offer after school care and school holiday vacation is present all year round. Playground equipment on a large scale has been added in 2023 including a tractor, boat and kitchen café in the infants’ playgrounds next to our canteen preparing nutritious meals five days per week and the Cove where a large indoor play-based area was opened in June. 

Forbes North is a School as Community Centre site offering supported playgroup, transition programs, parenting programs and adult learning courses for our diverse and growing community. Forbes North is consistently praised for its welcoming and inclusive teaching and learning environment with dedicated staff, community volunteers organising programs such as Brekky Club 5 days per week and an energetic Parents and Citizens Association. In 2023, we partnered with Forbes Bus Lines to initiate a first in the Central West with a daily attendance bus which has boosted overall school attendance to above average levels. 

Trailblazing autistic pilot Hayden McDonald has completed his inspiring solo circumnavigation of Australia, proving his flying competence and that he should be judged on his ability, not disability. 

Hayden, 22, touched down at Myrup Airstrip in Esperance at 3pm (WA time) 11th Dec, rounding out a three-month mission, in which he has travelled more than 8000 nautical miles in over 80 hours of flying around the country. 

The unaccompanied flight is believed to be the first of its kind attempted by an autistic pilot. 

“Finishing this flight is a dream come true,” Hayden said. 

Over the past three months, Hayden has visited Whyalla, Port Augusta, Orroroo, Broken Hill, Mildura, Charleston, Parkes, Warnervale, Dalby, Bundaberg, Longreach, Mount Isa, Tennant Creek, Kununurra, Broome, Port Hedland, Karratha, Carnarvon, Bunbury and Albany. 

The trip has covered more than 8000 nautical miles in around 80 hours of flying. 

“Not only have I proven my capability as an autistic pilot, but most importantly, I have been welcomed into towns and communities across Australia in my efforts to build greater acceptance and understanding of autism and neurodiversity.” 

Hayden embarked on the ambitious flight, leaving Esperance on September 8 in his small Jabiru J120 light aircraft he affectionately calls ‘7315’. 

He traversed South Australia, New South Wales, Queensland and the Northern Territory, but was forced to pause the trip in Kununurra on October 30 due to widespread bushfires and smoke making visibility poor and too dangerous to fly.

He returned to the skies two weeks ago, leaving Kununurra on November 29 before travelling down the west coast, completing his final leg from Albany to Esperance yesterday. 

Landing in Esperance, Hayden was welcomed by local community members including his mother, acclaimed fiction author Fleur McDonald, and flying mentor Jonathon Emmanuel. 

Hayden’s love of aviation started as a young child when he would fly with this grandfather. 

That fondness grew and at the age of 15 he took to the cockpit himself, obtaining a recreational pilot’s certificate at 19. 

But his dream of flying with the Royal Flying Doctor Service was crushed when the Civil Aviation Safety Authority denied him the opportunity of a medical because he is autistic. 

Hayden said he had been disheartened after his medical was refused on the grounds his “autism spectrum disorder represents unacceptable risk to aeronautical navigation”. 

So, he founded Wings Without Barriers to help lobby for change. 

“I would like to thank everyone for all of the incredible support I have received over the past three months,” Hayden said. 

“From my sponsors to all the towns that welcomed me, and the schools, Rotary groups and community organisations who invited me to speak about my journey to help achieve greater acceptance and understanding for autistic and neurodiverse Australians – thank you. 

“I would also like to thank my family and in particular, Jonathon Emanuel, who has offered endless guidance and words of wisdom during this journey. The support is greatly appreciated. 

“This journey may now be over, but my passion and drive to promote true inclusion is not. 

“I will continue to campaign loudly so that autism is not regarded as a medical issue. We need to foster real understanding to stop autistic and neurodiverse Australians being stigmatised and discriminated against. Things need to change.” 

Follow Hayden on his Instagram page, Facebook or YouTube channel.