General Interest Archives - Page 91 of 352

Know The Signs Of Elder Abuse

June 22, 2023 By Roxane Manley

National Seniors Australia is shining a light on financial elder abuse. Chief Advocate Ian Henschke said people can be at increased risk of abuse as they get older. Sadly, those closest to them are the most likely perpetrators of abuse.

“Elder abuse can take many forms, but financial abuse is the most common. 85% of elder financial abuse is committed by family, with children accounting for nearly 50%,’ Mr Henschke said.

“As opposed to scams by strangers, financial abuse can involve a person in a position of trust coercing or forcing an older person to sign over assets or to change a Will or Power of Attorney, stealing money or taking credit cards. Older people fall victim to such abuses because they might never expect a loved one to take advantage of them, can’t stop it, or are too embarrassed to go to the police.”

“Financial loss in later life is particularly devastating. Unfortunately, people don’t always seek help and identifying abuse can be hard. It can go unreported as it happens behind closed doors, by people in positions of trust,” Mr Henschke said.

Possible signs of financial elder abuse include:

• large bank withdrawals or transfers between accounts

• missing belongings or property

• new changes to a will or power of attorney

• an older person signing strange documents they didn’t understand

• bank statements that go to the perpetrator.

If you are experiencing elder or suspect any type of elder abuse please call the Elder abuse phone line 1800 353 374 – a free and confidential service.

Helping Men Adopt Healthy Habits

June 22, 2023 By Roxane Manley

The Heart Foundation is urging men to think more about their daily behaviour during this year’s Men’s Health Week. The annual week’s theme for 2023 is ‘healthy habits’, with a focus on encouraging men to adopt new, healthier habits to improve physical and mental wellbeing.

Heart Foundation Senior Food and Nutrition Advisor, Jemma O’Hanlon said Men’s Health Week continues to gain traction as men become more aware of their risk factors. “Men’s Health Week is a great opportunity to start and build on conversations about healthy living,” Ms O’Hanlon said.

“We always encourage small changes that can be adapted into people’s daily routines. Generally, that doesn’t mean giving up a favourite food entirely, but rather making small swaps on a daily basis.

“The same applies to exercise, which may begin with gentle walking routines that might lead to something more strenuous in the future. Initially, however it’s about making regular and sustainable changes.”

Here are some of the Heart Foundation’s tips for healthy eating and exercise:

• Boost your diet with potassium-rich fruit and vegetables to help lower blood pressure.

• Enjoy more healthy fats from salmon, avocado and nuts to help lower cholesterol.

• Snack on Greek yoghurt for the ultimate high protein boost, pre or post exercise.

• Beef up meat dishes with additional legumes or lentils (a nice little cost saver too).

• Try a hearty new recipe – download the Heart Foundation’s new Winter Comfort Recipe Book.

The Heart Foundation’s Personal Walking Plans are a free, online, six-week walking program developed by accredited exercise physiologists. Designed for people to reach the Australian physical activity guidelines by week six, the program includes supportive motivational messaging and instructional videos to help get you moving. More information can be found online at: https://walkingplans.heartfoundation.org.au/

Ridiculous Regional Rate Rises

June 22, 2023 By Roxane Manley

The Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART)has approved special rate variations of up to 64.3 per cent for country councils in a move farmers say will smash local communities.

IPART announced 17 council applications for special rate variations had been approved, with the biggest cumulative rises being 64.3 per cent over three years. Ratepayers to Lithgow City Council, meanwhile, will cop a 45.78 per cent rise in just one year.

NSW Farmers President Xavier Martin said the rises were another hit to the bottom line, when farmers and families alike couldn’t afford it. “We’re all facing the same cost of living pressures, high power prices, high fuel prices, rising interest rates, and we’ve got no ability to meet those extra costs,” Mr Martin said.

“Every time you turn around someone’s putting their hand in the farmer’s pocket, and these rate rises will just further squeeze businesses and households in these areas.

“This is going to seriously hurt a number of farming businesses, and will also be a big hit to families.“The way local governments are funded, see ratepayers shoulder the burden,” Mr Martin said.

A Big Thank You, Forbes!

June 22, 2023 By Roxane Manley

The Parkes Betta Home Living store will continue to service the local community.

After 21 years of serving the local community, Forbes Betta Home Living have closed their doors for the final time. We’d like to pay a special thank you to the entire Forbes community for all their love and support of the business. Owners, Ian and Mandy Westcott, are incredibly proud to have been a part of this vibrant and growing community and are so grateful for the friendships and memories they have made along the way.

Family owned and operated, Ian and Mandy Westcott are the second generation in their family to run the Forbes store. For the past 21 years, the Forbes store has been a one-stop shop, helping the local community find the right appliances and furniture for their home, with the store stocking a huge range of kitchen, laundry, small appliances, IT products and bedding.

Despite the closure of the Forbes store, Parkes Betta Home Living will continue to service the local community, which is only a 25-minute drive north of the Forbes location. Customers can still receive amazing service, deals, and exceptional local advice on all your fridge and freezer, kitchen and cooking appliances, air conditioning, furniture, bedding, TV and audio requirements.

This new location offers customers a great shopping experience and even expands upon the previous offerings of the Forbes store. At Parkes Betta Home Living, you’ll be able to shop from an even larger range of all your favourite brands – from Hisense, Fisher & Paykel, Westinghouse, LG, Beko, Samsung, Haier, Chiq, Electrolux, TCL, Kelvinator, Dyson, Miele, Sunbeam, Bissell, Smeg and more.

An IT, electrical appliance and premium cooking stockist all rolled into one, Parkes Betta Home Living is the answer to all your living space needs. Parkes is a one-stop shopping experience, with easy parking access, fully-airconditioned showrooms and a wide range of electrical, furniture and bedding items.

The team at Parkes Betta Home Living would like to offer the community mark-downs and reductions across a huge range of home appliances and consumer electrical goods in its End Of Financial Year Sale (EOFY). Make sure you take advantage of huge saving across all your favourite brands.

Offers end 30th of June, so hurry in-store for incredible deals while stocks last. Visit us in-store at Parkes Betta Home Living, 11 Saleyards Road Parkes. Opening hours may vary, please call or check the Betta website for more information.

Forbes Heated Pool Set To Open

June 22, 2023 By Roxane Manley

The wait is almost over, with Forbes Shire Council handing over the pool to the organising committee.

This week, Forbes Shire Council completed the final handover of the newly upgraded indoor heated pool to the Committee.

Membership forms will be released on 1st July and the pool open day will be Thursday, 6th July between 4pm to 6pm for all the community to have a look. A BBQ will be open available on the day. Memberships can also be paid for at the open day and prices will be released early next week.

Thanks go to Forbes Shire Council staff and all of the local tradespeople for the work they put in over the past few months to get this fantastic facility completed for winter.

Special mention go to the following people; the late Mr Ian Macallum and his associates who founded the Heated Pool and worked tirelessly to keep this facility operating. To the late Mr Andrew McDonald who brought a wealth of knowledge to the committee, a well respected member that worked hard behind the scenes with grant funding and compliance. Also the biggest voice for the committee Mrs Dianne Decker OAM. Di would not take no for an answer from anyone wanting to ensure the upgrade suited all age groups and could be used for years to come. Due to health reasons Di had to step down from her role as President but played a big role with this upgrade.

Congratulations to the small committee of local residents who have worked really hard, and spent hours to ensure this facility was a fresh, functional space for our community.

If the community can be patient while the last few finishing touches are completed, we can’t wait to see you on opening day.

Busting Myths About Working In Agriculture

June 22, 2023 By Roxane Manley

Pictured are students who attended the workshop. AgriFutures Australia hopes to inspire the next generation of agriculture professionals and highlight the exciting career opportunities in agriculture from biotechnicians and marine scientists to agricultural engineers and economists.

AgriFutures Australia and Training Services NSW hosted the tech-savvy, socially minded Gen Zs at inaugural Ag Industry Days, a new event showcasing the diverse career opportunities in Australia’s agricultural industry.

At the one-day workshops, which took place in Albury/Wodonga on 21st June and Wagga Wagga on 22nd June, Year 9 and 10 school students engaged with some of the most dynamic young professionals at the forefront of innovation in agriculture. They also got the opportunity to visit local businesses that are transforming the industry

AgriFutures Australia Manager, Workforce Delivery, Abbey O’Callaghan said the workshops respond to recommendations from a recent community perceptions and worker experiences report that included broadening the conversation about roles in the industry and showcasing new technology as a selling point.

“Some of the world’s biggest challenges are directly related to agriculture: food security, sustainability and climate change. The Ag Industry Days will challenge perceptions of the agriculture industry and galvanise the next generation of agricultural innovators.”

“Importantly, we really want to inspire students to embrace STEM and agricultural subjects as they progress into their senior school years.”

Attendees were challenged to answer the question ‘How do we rethink agriculture?’ Back in the classroom, participating students refined their answer and submitted their ‘pitch’ to AgriFutures Australia. The responses will offer AgriFutures Australia important insights into the perspectives of young people.

Pink Up Parkes Committee Welcome Community Support

June 16, 2023 By Roxane Manley

The Parkes community are encouraged to join the fundraising efforts in the lead up to, and during October, when Pink Up Parkes members will be working towards raising funds for the McGrath Foundation Breast Care Nurses.

The group are welcoming Expressions of Interest from the community to be part of the Pink Up Parkes Committee. Contributions large and small are welcome and there are many different opportunities to contribute.

A short EOI can be filled in and submitted and the link to the EOI can be found via facebook and Instagram @pinkupparkes or by contacting the Secretary, Marg Applebee. The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, 20th June, but you are welcome to contact us at any time.

There are currently 200 McGrath Breast Care Nurses in communities across Australia, who have supported over 123,000 families since 2005. It costs around $140,000 to fund a McGrath Breast Care Nurse for a year including training and development.

We are fortunate to have a McGrath Breast Care Nurse based in Parkes, supporting patients and their families in Parkes, Forbes, Condobolin, Trundle, Tullamore, Tottenham and Peak Hill. We have so many reasons to be fundraising.

Pink Up Your Business; Pink Up Your School; hold a Pink Up event; fundraise; talk about it with your friends; attend a Pink Up Parkes event; donate and support the Pink Up Parkes Campaign on social media.

Keep checking on our social media and in the paper. For further information email pinkupparkes@gmail.com or contact PUP Secretary, Marg Applebee on 0418 611 053.

Financial Support For Rural Patients

June 16, 2023 By Roxane Manley

Do you travel long distances for specialised healthcare?

If you travel more than 100km one way, or 200km in a week, for specialised treatment that is not available locally, you can claim financial assistance towards travel and accommodation costs.

The Isolated Patients Travel and Accommodation Assistance Scheme (IPTAAS) is designed to support patients from rural and regional NSW when they need it most.

People who travel to places like Sydney or Canberra for treatment can benefit from the extra assistance provided by the IPTAAS scheme.

Increased subsidies for travel and accommodation are now available for appointments or treatment. Patients attending high-risk foot clinics, non-commercial clinical trials, highly specialised publicly funded oral health clinics in NSW and ocularists are now also eligible to claim.

If your travels for specialist medical treatment have been impacted by the recent flooding situation in NSW, please contact the IPTAAS team to talk about your individual situation and how we may be able to assist you with your IPTAAS application.

To find out if you are eligible, ask your social worker or healthcare team, call 1800 478 227 or visit: www.iptaas.health.nsw.gov.au

Australia Post Grants Delivering Mental Health Benefits

June 16, 2023 By Roxane Manley

Applications have opened for Australia Post’s 2023 Community Grants program, which funds community-led, local projects that connect individuals and communities to improve mental health and wellbeing.

Eligible not-for-profit groups across Australia can apply for grants of up to $10,000 to support projects which have the primary purpose of improving mental health and wellbeing in local communities.

Last year’s program saw half of all grants, totalling over $200,000, awarded to organisations located across regional and remote Australia.

The Community Grants program illustrates Australia Post’s commitment to mental health, which includes a partnership with Beyond Blue that to date has delivered mental health resources to more than seven million letterboxes across Australia.

Australia Post is also a founding member of Healthy Heads in Trucks and Sheds, which supports mental health and wellbeing in the transport and logistics industries.

Organisations interested in applying are encouraged to review the Community Grant guidelines carefully to check eligibility requirements, with eligible community organisations able to apply until 11.59pm on 2 July 2023 at auspost.com.au/grants.

2023 Parkes Picnic Races Have Been Run And Won

June 16, 2023 By Roxane Manley

Best Dressed Gentleman Robert Bailey.

The President of the Parkes Coradgery and Diggers Picnic Race Club Committee, Tim Keith, declared it was the best weather seen in years. The grounds were in splendid condition, and racegoers had an enjoyable day socialising, entertaining, and watching the races.

The Coradgery Cup sponsored by Parkes Services Club was won by Cartography, trained by Greg Stephens with jockey Nick Heywood holding the reigns.

This year, Chloe Wilson and Shannon Hindle judged the widely anticipated Fashions on The Field. Colts and fillies lined up on the stage to the cheers of the crowd.

Winners for 2023 were: Millinery was won by Alexis Hay, best dressed man was won by Robert Barby, the most stylish couple were Mia and Will Christenson and the elegant lady was won by Anna Barwick.

Foxy Cleopatra rocked the enthusiastic crowd, with many racegoers showing off their dancing style.

The races throughout the day were enjoyed by all racegoers and punters. The Railway Hotel Maiden Plate was won by Shotgun Sophie trained by Sharon Jeffries ridden by A Banks. The Agriwest Maiden Handicap was won by Writtenbyalady with jockey J Barrett, trained by Brett Robb. The McPhersons Parts and Services Handicap, was won by Sestina, ridden by A Gangotens, trained by Doug Gorrel. The final race of the day Telescope Tyres Handicap, was won by Levitcon, trained by Natalie Pearce, with jockey W Peel.

The Parkes Coradgery and Diggers Picnic Race Club Committee would like to thank all racegoers, and in particular the sponsors who generously contributed to make the day a huge success.

Subscribe