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. 

I started getting to know one of my host sisters. At this time I didn’t know she would be my host sister. But it really was a blessing that her and her family became my host family! 

I made friends with my new neighbour and we went on many walks in the fields together. Fun fact; when I say fields I mean fields of farmers crops. In Germany you are allowed to walk around the crops. There are dedicated paths for people, and there aren’t even fences or gates. How funny! 

I went to visit Flora in her home town! If you don’t know who Flora is she is an exchange student from Germany that our town hosted. And my family was one of her host families for 3 months. It had been 6 months since I had seen her. Because I last saw her in Australia. It was amazing to see her again and to meet her family. One of the things we did together was climbing a “ waterfall of rocks”. It was a bit out of Frankfurt. 

Went to Bonn. Bonn is a city about 3 hours from where I am living. And it has a population of about 338 thousand people. 

In Bonn I saw many cool old buildings, went to museums about German history and history/ art. 

My class and I went to Berlin for a 5 day class excursion. Berlin is the capital of Germany. 

Whilst we were there we did many things but just some were; a guided tour, going to a photo museum and Parliament House. 

Towards the end of the monthI moved to my new host family. It was such a blessing to meet them and I was so excited to spend the next 6 months with them! 

Goodbye for now Parkes! 

The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) is reminding school leavers of the importance of sharing the road safely with trucks, ahead of graduation festivities over the coming weeks. 

A recent study conducted by the NHVR, surveyed 1000 drivers aged 16-25 across Australia and highlighted the disconnect between young drivers’ self-assessed confidence and their actual comfort level sharing the road with heavy vehicles. 

The survey revealed that just 29% felt very knowledgeable about the rules, bringing to light a real risk as an influx of school graduates prepare to travel to Schoolies events across the country. 

NHVR CEO Sal Petroccitto OAM said while heavy vehicle safety is not a usual topic of discussion amongst young people, the NHVR’s goal is to bring the conversation to life, and help teach inexperienced drivers how to safely share the road. 

“This year alone, Australia has recorded 167 fatal crashes involving heavy vehicles and 190 lives lost,” Mr Petroccitto said. 

“Our studies show many young drivers experience anxiety or nervousness driving near heavy vehicles, and with our road toll only continuing to rise, this is a huge cause for concern. 

“Typically, around 70 per cent of serious incidents involving both heavy and light vehicles are the fault of the light vehicle, highlighting the need for greater education with our young drivers. 

Don’t #uck With A Truck is a campaign created by the NHVR last year, to improve young drivers’ awareness and education of how to drive safely around trucks. 

The campaign will also feature on social media (TikTok, Instagram), Spotify and outdoor billboards throughout the duration of Schoolies 

For more information www.dontmuckwithatruck.com.au

It’s a no-brainer that food is very important for a person’s brain health. 

UNSW’s food and health expert, Professor Johannes le Coutre, and Director of UNSW’s Ageing Futures Institute and Senior Principal Research Scientist at NeuRA, Professor Kaarin Anstey, have helped develop a very special brain-friendly cake. 

In collaboration with community care provider, Meals on Wheels NSW, the cake uses ingredients that have shown to be beneficial to the brain while highlighting the widespread issue of cognitive decline among senior Australians. 

Using the currently available scientific evidence, we came up with a list of foods that are understood to provide quality nutrition – which is really important as we age – while still allowing for the nostalgic enjoyment of eating a slice of cake. 

‘The Unforgettable Cake’ was developed by master pastry chef Christopher Thé, well-known as the founder of the famous ‘strawberry watermelon cake’ from Black Star Pastry, with advice from a group of experts. 

The cake includes only natural ingredients that are widely believed to be beneficial to the brain, such as beetroot, spinach, turmeric, olive oil and blueberries. 

For the cake itself, Chris Thé used a mixture of beetroot, spinach, turmeric, and olive oil. 

Beetroot can improve blood flow through the brain, and consequently may improve cognitive function and cognition. Olive oil is famed for its Mediterranean diet qualities, which include the ability to protect the brain, support memory, and reduce Alzheimer’s biomarkers. 

The cake also includes natural sweeteners like honey which has anti-inflammatory qualities and vanilla ermine frosting which is a universally loved cake flavour. 

The cake was topped off with fresh blueberries which are loaded with essential nutrients which help to stimulate the flow of blood and oxygen in the brain. 

The Unforgettable Cake will be delivered to select Meals on Wheels clients from Wednesday 22 November.

Both the Parkes and Forbes Shire Councils are ensuring that children are safe and secure when travelling in vehicles with free child restraint checks by Authorised Child Restraint Fitters in Parkes on Tuesday 5 December 2023 and in Forbes on Wednesday 6 December 2023. 

The Councils’ Road Safety and Injury Prevention Officer, Melanie Suitor, says that these free child restraint checking days will now be held bi-annually as they are usually well patronised and are important in ensuring the safe travel of young children. 

“Due to the success of previous events, we’ve received funding to offer this service twice a year to residents in Parkes and Forbes – one round of checking days will be held in late November/early December and the other round will be in April/May,” Ms Suitor said. 

The upcoming child restraint checking days will be held in Parkes on Tuesday 5 December from 11am – 3pm in the carpark at Kelly Reserve and in Forbes on Wednesday 6 December from 11am – 3pm in the carpark at Lions Park. 

The correct fitting and adjustment of child restraints is vital. Research shows that two out of three child restraints are not being used properly and this puts children at risk of injury in the event of a crash. 

“It is important to have your child restraint checked regularly after prolonged use and installed correctly before use to ensure that your precious cargo is safe,”; Ms Suitor said. Bookings are essential – phone 6861 2364 to secure your place. Information about the child restraint laws will also be available.