General Interest Archives - Page 77 of 352

Forbes Christmas Promotion And Christmas Carnival Will Bring Fun, Laughter And Happiness To All

November 16, 2023 By Roxane Manley

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

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

The draws began on November 13th.“All you need to do is scan the QR Code in store and fill in the details. If you don’t have a phone each store will have a manual sheet. We want to make sure that everyone has a fair turn,” said Aaron Acheson. $500 draws will be held on Thursday afternoons on the 16, 23 and 30th November, 7, 14 and 21 December. 5 x $500 draws will take place at the AMAZING Forbes Christmas Carnival on the 8 December. The remaining draws for the 23 December are 6 x $500, 1 x $1500, 2 x $2500 and 1 x $5000 giving a total funding pool of $20000.

Participating businesses offering support for the Find It In AMAZING Forbes This Christmas. The businesses Acheson’s Mitre 10, AgriWest, Allure On Main, Bernardis, Blue Sky Outdoors, Blush Organic Beauty, Bowns Sports Power, Cahills Footwear Forbes, Chapter Two Boutique, C&D Floorcovering, Euphoria Road, Flannery’s Pharmacy, Forbes Automotive Services and ARB, Forbes Business Chamber Inc., Forbes Central Butchery, Forbes Shire Council, Forbes Small Engines, Graces Hair Studio, Gunns Menswear and Embroidery, HozPots Garden Centre, Isabel’s Café, Jessica’s Beauty, Life Pharmacy, Little Extras Lifestyle, Loomzys FishNFix, News On Rankin, MD Steel, Phillip Wells Optometrist, Robbs Jewellers, Steel Technology, Terry Bros Carpet Court, The Bakehouse, The Book Dispensary, Turners Furniture One, Undercover Sleepwear and Lingerie and WA Knights Cranes, Walkers AgNVet.

Local Artist Sean Cassidy Digs Art

November 16, 2023 By Roxane Manley

Sean James Cassidy at 100-year anniversary for the Australian watercolour institute (AWI), L-R Sean With AWI president David Van Nunen.

Local artist Sean James Cassidy has received an outstanding recognition by being invited to join the Australian Watercolour Institute (AWi). His nomination and subsequent induction, was a unanimous decision by the Institute based on the quality of his work.

At the AWi’s recent exhibition, Brushes with History, held at Lion’s Gate Lodge at the Royal Botanical Gardens Sydney, Sean submitted a painting titled Melodies of Woven Light which he was delighted to sell. This art work and the materials used to create it were entirely made by Sean. The paper was handmade from a variety of recycled products and included wood powder from the Paperbark tree. Kangaroo fur from the local area was also incorporated to strengthen the paper and to include some DNA from the Central West.

Sean used three colours in his work and made each of them. One colour was created from beetroot juice, purple carrot juice and red wine and produced a paint throwing hues of magenta, amethyst and lilac. The yellow was made by crushing local ochre rock and adding turmeric. The white was also a crushed local rock. The binder used to set the colour to the paper was a mixture of Cootamundra Wattle sap, homemade vinegar and locally-sourced honey. This latest recognition for Sean has come after a recent cultural exchange with the Archaeology Faculty at the University of The Philippines. He was hosted by Alfred Galvez, a friend with whom Sean set up an art school and while Sean is no longer an owner, the school Galvez Atelier is flourishing and has connections with both the New York and Florence Art Academies. Sean is very proud of Alfred’s achievements and his philosophy of offering opportunities in art across all socio-economic groups.

During his visit, Sean was invited to view museums and galleries, in the process of being built, to house the country’s important archaeological collections from Colonial and Pre- colonial history and to speak on the article co-written with Kerrie Peden, Excavating Bridges for Future Streams.

Based on Sean’s previous contributions to exhibitions at the university, he was invited to study an intensive course in understanding the discipline of archaeology, to participate in skill sharing with doctoral student Mr Timothy James Vitales and to accompany a group of archaeologists on two expeditions.

He was also asked to conceptualise an exhibition based on the expeditions’ findings, in collaboration with the National Museum of The Philippines and National Geographic. This project, Puliran, is to examine an ancient copper tablet discovered near Laguna Lake in the southern Luzon region. The tablet is covered in an unknown text and archaeologists plan to begin another dig in the area in an attempt to discover further clues to the tablet’s origin and the people who created it. Sean has also been asked to create programs in 2024 to help build ties between the local community and the archaeologists.

In the future, Sean will be using the knowledge gained to explore his Celtic history through its patterns and iconography. He intends to study in Northern Ireland while researching his convict ancestry and plans to have his findings complete in time for the International Cassidy reunion in Enniskillen in 2025.

IMAGE: Sean With his digital works in the main street of Parkes.

BIG W Giving Tree Returns

November 16, 2023 By Roxane Manley

BIG W’s annual Giving Tree has returned to stores, inviting customers to share in the true spirit of Christmas and support families needing a little extra support this year.

From now until Christmas Eve, customers can place an unwrapped gift under the Giving Tree at their local BIG W, helping to bring joy to families in their local community who need it most.

BIG W has partnered with Good360 Australia to match all 177 stores with a local charity. This year the Giving Tree will support 106 organisations across Australia, including women’s shelters, youth centres, homeless shelters and children in hospital.

Good360 Australia has been a charity partner of BIG W since 2017, helping to match surplus goods to local families in need, essential goods to disaster-affected communities, and special gifts to vulnerable people during important celebrations such as Christmas, providing hope.

In 2022, the Giving Tree initiative saw BIG W customers and staff collect and distribute over 10,000 gifts nationwide. For more information, visit www.bigw.com.au

Call To Action: ACCC Must Investigate Supermarket Meat Prices

November 16, 2023 By Roxane Manley

IMAGE: Leader of The Nationals and Shadow Agriculture Minister David Littleproud pictured at rams sales.

Leader of The Nationals and Shadow Agriculture Minister David Littleproud is calling on Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Agriculture Minister Murray Watt to investigate supermarket meat sale prices.

Mr Littleproud said Treasurer Chalmers and Minister Watt must urgently direct the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) to hold a price inquiry.

“According to Meat and Livestock Australia, some sheep and lamb categories have fallen by up to 70 per cent in the saleyards in the last 12 months,” Mr Littleproud said.

“Lamb prices have drastically reduced and cattle prices have fallen by about 60 per cent. Yet families at the supermarkets have barely noticed a difference in prices.”

While a farmer’s payment for cattle (eastern young cattle indicator) has fallen from $10.21 per kilo to just $3.65 per kilo over the past 12 months, at the supermarket it still costs around $36 per kilo for grass-fed rump steak, $25 per kilo for beef rump roast and $19 for a kilo of grass-fed beef mince.

A farmer’s payment for lamb (national trade price) has fallen from $8.39 per kilo to $4.82 per kilo, yet families at the supermarket are paying $27 for a kilo of grass-fed graze lamb boneless shoulder roast, $18 for one kilo of lamb loin chops and $8 per kilo of lamb leg roast.

A competition task force recently established by Labor, to conduct a review of competition policy settings over a two-year period, failed to provide the urgent response that families and farmers required.

“This is impacting family budgets right now. It needs an urgent response because families and farmers can’t afford to wait potentially two years for answers.

“Many families are struggling to afford their grocery bill each week so it’s important the government acts swiftly to ensure there’s transparency in meat prices.”

Distance Does Not Prevent Kindness

November 9, 2023 By Pam Nankivell

IMAGE: Que President Kath Whitchurch passes on Thuringowa’s generous donation to Forbes Public School’s Vice
Captain Milly Ridley and Principal Meg Staples.

Principal Meg Staples and Vice-Captain Milly Ridley from Forbes Public School were warmly welcomed at Parkes Que as the Thuringowa Quota Club in Queensland had sent, via our club, $2,300 to be used where it would do the greatest good for our regional flood victims.

Milly gave a powerpoint presentation and talked about what had happened at their school, beginning with a map of Australia, with a dark line drawn, linking Thuringowa with Forbes and expressing that ‘Distance does not prevent kindness.’

When the flood first threatened, teachers and pupils raised everything up as high as they could, but 80% of the buildings were filled with water and the school was lost. The situation was so grim that the army arrived to help then cleanout the buildings and salvage anything that was possible.

Principal Meg then continued “The Principal of Forbes High (not impacted by the flood waters) rang her and suggested that they could set up a temporary school in part of their grounds, and so 31 demountables were placed on site in just 20 days and they had 80 children there the first day and 300 by the end of the week, which included some children from Eugowra.

Meg told us that “after a year of living on adrenalin, many of the flood victims were now feeling very down, and the donation would be used to hold a free community barbeque where they could all come together to talk, to exchange ideas and stories, to laugh a bit, to enjoy a bit of entertainment, perhaps to pick up some useful things, but mainly to break the isolation and despair many were now feeling as they battled to begin life again”.

“A school is more than just bricks and mortar” said both Milly and Meg.

By Pam Nankivell

Free Online Child Car Seat Safety Workshops

November 9, 2023 By Roxane Manley

IMAGE: The workshops are being conducted by Parkes, Forbes and Lachlan Shire Councils in partnership with Transport for NSW West Region.

Parents, carers and grandparents of young children are invited to attend one of two free online workshops being held to provide important safety information about child car seats.

The workshops will be held via MS Teams, Wednesday 22 November at 10am and again at 7pm.

The Council’s Road Safety and Injury Prevention Officer, Melanie Suitor, said the correct selection, installation and adjustment of child car seats is vital in ensuring children’s safety when travelling in vehicles.

“The workshop will cover the National Child Restraint Laws, types of child car seats available, correct installation and adjustment, when to move to the next car seat, accessories, tips for secondhand car seats and much more”.

“It will be a great refresher for grandparents, as child car seats and the rules have changed a lot since they had their children, but also for parents and carers as they are navigating their way through their child or children’s growth”.

“The results of our local checking day events show that around 80% of the child car seats that were checked were incorrectly installed. Transport for NSW research shows that children who are not restrained correctly are seven times more likely to sustain life- threatening injuries in a crash than those who are properly secured. It is so important to ensure your precious cargo is safe” Ms Suitor said.

These online workshops were the first of their kind when they were trialed in May 2023.

“There were almost 20 families that took part in the May workshops. Participants rated the workshop 4.75 out of 5, said they would be very likely to recommend it to a friend or family member and were glad they had attended” Ms Suitor said.

To book your place use this link: https:// bit.ly/NovemberWorkshops2023 or call on (02) 6861 2364.

Free Meal

November 2, 2023 By Roxane Manley

The Monthly Monday Meal being enjoyed at the Uniting Church Parkes

The Parkes Uniting Church has been providing a free meal to the community of Parkes for over six years. On the first Monday of every month the church sees between 35 – 50 people come through its doors to enjoy a fresh home cooked 2 course delicious meal.

Doors open at 5.45pm and the meal is served at 6pm all year round. So if you would like some company or meet new people, or have trouble making ends meet or just want a night off from the kitchen, a beautiful meal awaits you. Just turn up.

A team of approx. 12 people including church members plus a few members from the community are on a roster each month and provide a very warm and welcoming atmosphere.

It is this church’s mission to reach out to the local community and try to be there in time of need.

The following is some feedback which has come from those who support the dinner. Some of whom have been attending since the very first dinner.

MMM Guests share the following thoughts about the meal they enjoyed on the 2nd of October

“Always beautiful meals and good service”, “A great service here giving some of us local battlers a cooked delicious meal then a nice bowl of dessert. Finished off with a coffee or tea. Always very pleasant staff here”, “We have been here every month since it has started, except when they stopped for covid. The meals are fantastic and very delicious every time.

We are very appreciative of the efforts given by the helpers for our monthly meals which are always delicious.”

Insurers To Visit Central West NSW As 90 Percent Of Claims Closed

November 2, 2023 By Roxane Manley

The Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) and insurers will be in Parkes and Eugowra in November to assist insurance customers with their claims following last year’s floods.

More than 90 per cent of all claims from the November 2022 flood event are now closed, with insurers actively working through remaining claims.

This will be the fourth community consultation held in the region by the ICA and insurers since the floods that devastated the community almost one year ago, causing $246 million worth of insured damage.

The in-person meetings are an opportunity for customers to discuss their claim directly with their insurer at a time that suits.

Event details:

• Tuesday, 7 November 2023 – Venue Parkes Services Club, Address 9/17 Short St, Parkes. Time 10.00am to 6.00pm

• Wednesday, 8 November 2023 – VenueEugowra Community Bowls & Recreation Club, Address 5 Hill St, Eugowra. 10.00am to 6.00pm

Policy holders from surrounding areas are also encouraged to book an appointment. To check appointment availability and to book go to www.insurancecouncil.com.au/Bookings

Insurance Council of Australia CEO Andrew Hall said that “The severity of the floods in Central West New South Wales is evident in the scale of damage caused and the ongoing effects on impacted communities one year on”.

Kerin Health Began As A Dream

November 2, 2023 By Roxane Manley

Rachel Pictured in the new build which is close to completion.

Kerin Health was founded in 2016 by local Rachel Kerin, and currently employs in excess of 25 Allied Health professions, all of which are women.

Rachel Kerin had a dream to provide a service to rural and remote communities that was a premium standard of healthcare. A dream to have a close knit, multidisciplinary team that truly cared about clients and community. And so she created Kerin Health. It started with Rachel, and one other Physio who took a chance on a small start-up, Jess (who is still with Kerin Health).

Very quickly, it was clear to Rachel that there was a real need for more access to Allied Health care in the Central West. In no time at all, she started bringing on new members to the team as needs grew in the surrounding areas.

Kerin Health provides exceptional health care services to the local Parkes and surrounding communities through services such as Physiotherapy, Counselling, Speech Pathology, Occupational Therapy, Early Intervention services, Women’s Health services and more.

Rachel and the team are currently in the process of a major new building construction (due for completion in November 2023), which will expand their capacity to deliver services to the local community. This new, state of the art facility is the first of its kind in NSW. Some exciting components of this new build are an early learning sensory playground, sensory therapy clinic rooms, copious clinic room space, as well as a large pilates studio audio visual room which is available to hire to the local community.

The new building will have three clinic rooms for hire to health professionals, “I’d love to get a psychologist here, I’d love to get a gynaecologist here, an obstetrician, so women don’t have to drive to Dubbo and Orange for their healthcare” said Rachel.

The Kerin Health team are ready to help Parkes and Forbes locals

Students Encouraged To Enter Christmas Card Design

November 2, 2023 By Roxane Manley

Last years third place winner

Federal Member for Riverina Michael McCormack is encouraging Kindergarten, Year 1 and Year 2 students to enter his 10th annual Christmas Card Design competition.

Mr McCormack said the theme for this year’s competition was “Christmas in My Back Yard”. “Christmas is always a busy time for everyone, but it is important to remember the reason for the season and to try to look at what this time of the year looks like through the eyes of a child,” Mr McCormack said.

“I encourage school students in the Riverina and Central West to create a scene depicting a quintessential country Christmas in a rural back yard. “A regional Australian Christmas is unique – it can involve a casual barbecue in the back yard, a camping trip to one of our many beautiful waterways or fully embracing the

traditional Christmas lunch with all the trimmings.”

The design judged as the winner will feature on the front of Mr McCormack’s 2023 Christmas card. Second and third place will appear on the back of the card.

“The three winning entries will receive book prizes and every student who submits a design will receive a keepsake participation certificate,” Mr McCormack said. “More than 1,300 entries were received in last year’s competition, with last year’s winning design being a Christmas koala enjoying a day on the water. “The Christmas cards will be sent to community members and prominent political figures.”

Mr McCormack has sent letters and entry forms to Primary schools across the Riverina electorate inviting students to enter the competition.

This year’s competition closes on Friday 10 November 2023 and is open to Kindergarten,Year 1 and Year 2 students in the Riverina electorate. Completed entry forms can be sent via email, michael.mccormack.mp@aph.gov.au or can be delivered toMcCormack’s Parkes office.

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