No Trout About It

The NSW trout fishing season started on Saturday, 2nd October with expectations it will be the best in years. “Rain over the key trout spawning period in late autumn and early winter has hopefully resulted in good natural recruitment, which also bodes well for the next few seasons,” said Minister for Agriculture Adam Marshall. He said there were many popular trout fishing locations across NSW, including a range of productive streams in the New England area, the Thredbo and Eucumbene Rivers in the Snowy Mountains, and the Fish River near Bathurst. “It is important all anglers check they have a current and valid NSW Recreational Fishing Licence, and that anglers are aware of the rules associated with recreational fishing, particularly during times of COVID. For more information visit the Marine Area Command – NSW Police Force page or www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/home/covid-19.

RASF Grants

The Royal Agricultural Society Foundation (RASF) is offering up to $25,000 in grants for projects that can provide long-term social or economic benefits to regional areas in NSW. Applicants must identify a need within the community and partner with a local community organisation to be eligible, before creating a clear plan that outlines how they intend to complete the project. Previous projects range from rebuilding areas of showgrounds impacted by bushfires to local education workshops and social programs that give back to the community. Applications for the 2022 RASF Community Futures Grant Program close on Friday, 31st December 2021. Visit rasf.org.au to find out more and apply.

High Value Conservation Areas

The NSW Government has opened nominations to identify and protect Areas of Outstanding Biodiversity Value (AOBVs) on both private and public lands across the state. “Local communities or private land-holders can now conserve areas that would otherwise not be captured or recognised through any other legal instrument, such as in National Parks,” said Environment Minister Matt Kean. Once identified, AOBVs are an ‘automatic priority’ for investment by the Biodiversity Conservation Trust (BCT), meaning landholders can access funds to manage the land for conservation. Identified by rigorous scientific assessment, AOBVs are designed to conserve high value conservation sites, threatened species or critical habitats. This includes climate refugia, migratory pathways or areas with a high variety of biodiversity values.

 

Call For Visual Artists

Arts OutWest is offering a unique opportunity for 15 regional visual artists to create artworks in response to locally written and recorded music. The challenge to artists is to “Show me what it feels like… While the World Waits”, responding to the album While the World Waits that was commissioned by Arts OutWest in response to the impacts of Covid-19. The selected artists will have three months to produce work which will become the While the World Waits touring exhibition, launching in February 2022 and travelling to multiple locations across the region. Arts OutWest is seeking expressions of interest (EOI) from emerging and established visual artists living and working across the local government areas of Parkes, Bathurst, Blayney, Cabonne, Cowra, Forbes, Lachlan, Lithgow, Mid-Western, Oberon, Orange and Weddin. Selected artists will receive a payment of $500 to assist with materials and/or production costs. Interested artists can listen to some of the tracks via the artsoutwest.org.au website. Applications are due on 15th October. For more information visit artsoutwest.org.au or call 6338 4657.

Big Win For Regional Teachers

Teachers and students at schools across regional NSW will benefit from a complete overhaul of how the government attracts and retains teachers in the bush. The NSW Government has committed $15 million to action initiatives in response to the review, including: Increasing the value of targeted recruitment bonuses from $10,000 to $20,000, making schools located in the hardest-to-staff parts of the State more attractive for prospective employees; doubling the number of teach rural scholarships to 120 per year, and expanding the the Rural Experience Program to fund up to 50 places from 2022; expanding eligibility so temporary teachers can receive incentives; and working with the Teacher Housing Authority NSW to upgrade, repair and build new accommodation for teachers in areas of high demand.

World’s Biggest Garage Sale

Started from a neighbourhood garage sale in 2013, the World’s Biggest Garage Sale (WBGS) is now revolutionising how Australians engage with dormant goods. Australian homes currently have $43 billion of under-utilised goods at risk of ending up in landfills. WBGS is solving this issue through the activation of dormant goods for good and building a truly circular economy. By empowering Australians to reduce, reuse, recycle and repurpose, the World’s Biggest Garage Sale helps people to see the beauty in re-loved or ‘second life’ goods. Its online store and events provide community members with alternate ways to source and purchase high-quality products (such as clothing, antiques, furniture and white goods) at prices that are affordable, paving the way for thousands of Australians to save money, time and the planet.

National Landcare Program

Review of the National Landcare Program is open for public consultation until 15th October. Interested parties are invited to provide feedback as part of its second five-year review. Minister for Agriculture David Littleproud said: “The National Landcare Program has been pivotal in improving how farmers and other land managers look after their land, and this review provides an opportunity for all stakeholders to tell us what works, what doesn’t and where it can be improved.” A terms of reference for the review, along with information on how to get involved, is available at www.nrm.gov.au/national-landcare-program.

Royal Far West Receives Gift

Royal Far West announced the receipt of a gift of more than $650,000 from The James G. Boswell Foundation, following the sale of the Australian farming and cotton operations known as Auscott Limited. Jacqueline Emery, CEO of Royal Far West, said: “We are honoured to be selected for this incredible donation and with the gift being unrestricted, it means we will be able to use it where we see the most need. After some of the most challenging times for Australian country families, this wonderful gesture by The James G. Boswell Foundation will give hundreds of country kids the chance to thrive.”

New Website For School Holidays

Fam-ilies across NSW can enjoy a new website – Family Project – that provides fun COVID safe ideas for families to connect including rock art, backyard movies, building herb gardens, creating chalk art and meditation. The safe online portal provides a new project daily at familyproject.org.au

Return Of Students

As students and staff are preparing for a return to face-to-face learning in NSW public schools next month, the NSW Government is ensuring that all schools are safe, clean and secure. The Department of Education is carrying out a systematic review of all learning spaces, including libraries and halls, to ensure all schools continue to operate in the safest ways possible. The review will focus on ventilation in classrooms and also provide support to schools to adapt lessons to make full use of school facilities including outdoor learning areas. This mammoth task includes 2,200 schools in the public system. “The health of students and staff has always been our priority and parents should feel confident their child’s school is well equipped to keep them as safe as possible,” said Minister for Education Sarah Mitchell.

2021 HSC Enrolment Snapshot

There are 68,710 students working towards the 2021 Higher School Certificate. Most of this year’s cohort started Kindergarten in 2009 and will finish their 13-year schooling career in the next few weeks, before exams begin on 9th November and ending on 3rd December. Enrolment this year is consistent with previous years, with Mathematics, Biology and Business Studies attracting the largest number of students for nine years running. There are 898 sets of twins and 15 sets of triplets and quadruplets spread across NSW cities and regions. “The entire NSW community is behind you as you prepare for your final exams. It is not too late to ask for help, either for your study preparations or for your personal wellbeing,” said Minister for Education Sarah Mitchell.

Creatability Internship Program

The NSW Government’s Createability Internship Program for NSW artists and practitioners with disability is calling for applicants for 2021/2022. Arts OutWest has been approved as a potential host organisation for this program. The Createability Internship Program provides customised training for up to 10 participants with disability, followed by paid internships in major NSW organisations across the arts, screen and cultural sectors. Arts OutWest are open to creating a program of experiences to fit the intern, which could include: general administration, graphic design, marketing and communications, exhibition assistance, programming, production management, research and events. Applications open Monday, 20th September and close at 5pm on Monday, 18th October. Guidelines are available on the artsoutwest.org.au website.

Central West Photography Competition: ‘There’s no place like home’ is this year’s theme for Regional Development Australia Central West’s (RDA Central West) annual photography competition. Applicants are encouraged to capture the essence of their hometown. Chair of RDA Central West, Ruth Fagan, said: “We’ve all spent a lot of time at home due to COVID-19 but I think it has led to a deeper appreciation for the Central West. I’m looking forward to seeing this year’s entries and celebrating our region!” Entry is free and open to all ages and photographic abilities. Entries close at 5pm on Friday, 24th September. More information available at www.rdacentralwest.org.au. Any questions call 6369 1600 or email admin@rdacentralwest.org.au

Platypus Returns: After an absence of over half a century, the iconic platypus is set to make its return to The Royal National Park just south of Sydney. The platypus is seen nowhere else on the planet, and like so many other native species, its future is uncertain. A partnership between UNSW, the World Wild Fund for Nature-Australia (WWF), Taronga Conservation Society Australia and the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) will ensure the platypus’ future. There have been no recorded sightings of platypus in the park since the 1970s. This project will translocate an initial group of 10 platypus, a mixture of males and females, in the first half of 2022. Fitted with acoustic tags researchers will be able to track their progress and breeding for up to two years.

Road Trains Through Parkes: Road train operators can now access the entire length of the Newell Highway, including through Parkes. Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Paul Toole said providing end-to-end access for all eligible vehicles up to 36.5m long and Performance Based Standards (PBS) Level 3 vehicles on the Newell was a huge win for the freight industry. Gazetted access will now be available to all eligible vehicles along more than 1,000 kilometres of highway. “Parkes was the last section of the Newell where road trains were restricted, but the trials we did with road trains to move fodder through drought and last year’s harvest has guided this change. These higher productivity vehicles are able to move as much as 63% more freight per trip than a 26m B-Double heavy vehicle, which means less trucks on our roads, greater efficiency and reduced costs.”

Parkes Day VIEW Club: Due to the COV-ID-19 lockdown the Club had to cancel its meeting on 8th September. Depending on future restrictions, the meetings for the rest of the year may also be cancelled.

Contract awarded for Parkes Bypass: Major construction is set to start on the Parkes Bypass later this year after the announcement that Georgiou Group Pty Ltd will carry out the Australian and NSW Government’s $187.2 million project, following a competitive tender process. The 10.5km bypass is projected to remove more than 1,200 heavy vehicles and other through traffic from the centre of Parkes every day, increasing safety for both commuters and pedestrians.

COVID-19 Check-In Card: Service NSW is offering a personalised “check-in card” to anyone who does not have a smart phone. The card is used to check in when entering a shop or business. You can register for a “check-in card” for yourself or an elderly relative by calling 13 77 88 or by visiting the Service NSW website.

More Care For People With Disability: A NSW Government initiative aims to accelerate worker recruitment and enhance on-the-job training and support with up to 2,500 new workers to be upskilled through the first phase of More Jobs More Care. The success of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) has driven immense growth in the disability care sector across our state, resulting in enormous demand for workers. The first phase of the $17 million program will focus on regional areas and will support service providers to ramp up recruitment, training and on-the-job support.

2022 Rural Women’s Award: Nominations for the 2022 Rural Women’s Award is now open. Previous winners and finalists have gone on to further their vision and made wonderful contributions to primary industries and rural communities. Nominations close on 8th October. Applications and further information can be found at rural.women@dpi.nsw.gov.au.

‘Let’s Do This’ Campaign: The NSW Government has launched the next phase of its statewide COVID-19 advertising campaign aimed at encouraging people across NSW to get vaccinated. The ‘Let’s Do This’ campaign will include metropolitan and regional television and newspapers, as well as radio, digital, social media and out of home advertising across NSW with material translated into 19 languages and adapted for Aboriginal media channels. To make a COVID-19 vaccination booking go to www.nsw.gov.au

Health Of Knowledge: Passionate mental health advocate and Member for Orange, Philip Donato MP, unveiled a comprehensive mental health directory this week. It will be mailed to each household across the electorate in the coming weeks. “On top of drought, flood, bushfire and mouse plague, COVID-19 has had a detrimental impact on mental health in our community.” Phil compiled a comprehensive directory of the various service providers, charitable organisations, not-for-profits and community groups in a convenient booklet. It has been specifically developed for the residents of the Orange electorate to erase some of the confusion by providing a map in their hands to better navigate the many pathways to access appropriate mental health services and support.

Native Sportfish Season Re-Opens: The Australian Bass and Estuary Perch season opens on Wednesday, 1st September. Minister for Agriculture Adam Marshall said the annual four-month fishing closure from May to August had been in place in all NSW rivers and estuaries to protect these species when they form schools and migrate over late autumn and early winter to trigger spawning. A total bag limit of two Australian Bass or Estuary Perch per person or a combination of both species with a possession limit of four is in place. When fishing in rivers, only one fish is permitted to be over 35cm in length. Fisheries officers will monitor compliance to protect the health of sport fishery. Information on freshwater fishing rules can be found on the NSW DPI website www.dpi.nsw.gov.au. For the latest COVID-19 rules and restrictions, visit www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19.

Free Training During Lockdown: The NSW Government has announced an additional 3,000 training places for people across NSW to skill up at home during lockdown. An extra 60 short courses are now on offer to study for free including business skills, mental health, marketing, finance and IT skillsets. The courses are an expansion of the 10 free skillsets recently announced by TAFE NSW. The free courses are available to anyone across the State who is unable to work due to public health orders. Training will be funded through the JobTrainer program, which has already seen more than 120,000 people in NSW skill up since it was announced in October last year. For more information and to see full eligibility, visit: https://bit.ly/37DYSvq

Vietnam Veterans Day: This event could not take place on Wednesday. A new date will be discussed at the Parkes RSL Sub Branch meeting on 26th August. The favoured day is to move it to Remembrance Day on 11th November.

Parkes Showgirl: The judging and din-ner of the 2021 Parkes Showgirl had to be postponed on Saturday following the snap lockdown coming into effect at 5pm. The Parkes Show Society have time until October to finalise its entry for the NSW Showgirl competition.

Non-Urgent Elective Surgery Postponed: In response to the COVID-19 outbreak and increasing number of local cases, the Western NSW Local Health District has temporarily postponed non-urgent elective surgery. All emergency surgery and urgent elective surgery will continue to be performed. Non-urgent elective surgery has been postponed from Monday at Dubbo Base Hospital and Mudgee Health Service, and from Tuesday at Bathurst, Bourke, Coonabarabran, Cowra, Forbes, Orange and Parkes public hospitals. The step was taken to ensure staff, patients and members of the public are safe and that there are hospital beds available should the need arise.

Land and Stock Returns Due: Landholders across NSW are reminded to lodge their Local Land Services (LLS) Annual Land and Stock Returns before the end of August. The returns are a statutory requirement and were posted to thousands of landholders in June. Landholders help build a picture of agricultural land use and livestock numbers across NSW by filling in the returns. Land and Stock Returns can be submitted online and should be the number of stock or birds on the property as at 30 June. Returns are to be lodged no later than Tuesday, 31st August through the dedicated online portal at www.lls.nsw.gov.au or by calling 1300 795 299 for further support and other options to lodge.

Parkes Phoenix NOT Locked Down: The lockdown has not impacted the publishing of The Parkes Phoenix, and we will still be delivering community news in print and online via our website, Facebook and Instagram pages, as well as our weekly email subscription. News and media services are considered an essential service and permitted to keep trading under the Public Health Order. To subscribe for our weekly issue on email, visit www.parkesphoenix.com.au and fill out the online form.

One Thousand Farmers Benefit: Australia’s leading rural charity, Rural Aid, will be assisting 1,000 farmers from its $1 million mouse plague fund. Rural Aid opened the fund in June for farmers whose livelihoods and incomes had been affected by the devastating mouse plague. Each eligible farmer will receive a $1,000 pre-paid Visa card. Mice numbers peaked in late autumn and early winter across most of eastern Australia. Bingara farmer Robert Groth said he had never seen anything like it, and was very grateful to receive support. The mice numbers have largely steadied for now. Rural Aid is welcoming any farmers in need of assistance to get in touch on 1300 327 624, or contact@ruralaid.org.au

How to help save Daffodil Day: Every August, communities around Australia love coming together to spread hope and support the Daffodil Day Appeal. Now in its 35th year, the Daffodil Day Appeal is Cancer Council’s most iconic fundraising campaign. This year it falls on Friday, 27th August. However, the current COVID-19 outbreak in NSW means many people can’t be out in the community. Here are three ways to to show your flower power and help save Daffodil Day this year:
1. Make an online donation at www.daffodilday.com.au/donate,
2. Become a Yellow Fundraiser. Take on a challenge, get active in yellow, give up something you love for the month of August and register here: https://www.daffodilday.com.au/fundraise-your-way/,
3. Join the Game for Good campaign by visiting https://tiltify.com/cancer-council-australia/game-for-good to get started. If you have been affected by cancer, reach out by calling 13 11 20.

Support for regional students: The Royal Agricultural Society of NSW Foundation (RASF) Rural Scholarship program has supported regional students achieve their career aspirations by providing financial assistance for the past 14 years. With the scholarship criteria focusing on how students can give back to the community through their chosen career path and positively contribute to the future of regional and rural NSW, students from any discipline are encouraged to apply for the 2022 program. With funding of up to $3,000 for part-time and up to $6,000 for full-time study available, interested students can visit www.rasf.org.au to learn more and start the application process. Applications will close Monday, 6th September 2021.

Bush Tucker Day Cancelled: The Trundle Bush Tucker Day committee announced the cancellation of Trundle Bush Tucker Day on 4th September with great sadness. “Given the unpredictable nature of the current COVID situation in NSW, we feel it is not safe to proceed with the planning of TBTD 2021.” The committee thanked all volunteers and people in the background helping to make the event come together, with planning and commitment all year around. “We would also like to thank the community of Trundle, our generous sponsors, stall holders, food vendors, entertainment, Parkes Shire Council and most importantly our ticket holders! This has been a difficult decision to make, but was based on the safety of our region and our community here at Trundle.”

Technology And Homelessness: Technology can be the key to helping curb homelessness by playing a part in helping to create environments where people with rooms to spare can provide much needed aid to homeless people. A program like the Mend App gives the public an opportunity to help those who are homeless in their community by taking action instead of simply walking by. The app will send a report to local services with a request to check on this individual, and ensure they are receiving the care they need, while also analysing in real time a more accurate picture of what is happening for rough sleepers and couch surfers in NSW. Another way the public can assist is through the text line and web platform Mend: Couch Surfers. Download the Mend app in the App Store or Google Play.

Best Spring For Cattle: Cattle producers are expected to experience the best spring in recent memory, according to Meat & Livestock Australia’s (MLA) latest Australian Cattle Industry Projections. MLA’s Market Information Manager Stephen Bignell said: “With a favourable three-month weather outlook signaling a strong spring, average adult carcase weights are set to rise significantly leading to higher weight gain. Carcase weights have been revised 11kg higher to average 311.7kg and slaughter will remain depressed, with the 2021 volume expected to hit 6.3 million head.” He said the national herd is estimated to reach 26 million head this year, 5% above 2020 levels.