CatholicCare Wilcannia-Forbes is excited to launch its 2023 Aboriginal Art Competition to discover talented Aboriginal artists in western NSW.

CatholicCare Wilcannia-Forbes chief executive officer Anne-Marie Mioche encouraged Aboriginal artists living in the Diocese of Wilcannia-Forbes, or in communities where its services are available, to enter.

“At CatholicCare Wilcannia-Forbes we are passionate about creating opportunities for Aboriginal people and empowering all to succeed and this competition will generate opportunities and recognition for three aspiring artists,” Ms Mioche said.

“We know there is a lot of unrecognised talent in this region and we hope this competition will showcase these artists.

“This is the third time we have run the competition and this year we hope to attract even more talent from our communities.”

Raymond Thorpe of Forbes won the inaugural CatholicCare Wilcannia-Forbes Aboriginal Art Competition in 2019 with his painting, Platypus Waterholes.

In 2021 Robert Sloane of Condobolin claimed top honours with his artwork, Mirri (dragonfly).

The competition offers a total prize pool of $4,000 to encourage emerging Aboriginal artists to create and share meaningful artwork that shows the rich Aboriginal culture and artistry in our diocese.

First prize for the winner is $2,000, second prize is $1,500 and third prize is $500.

Artists living in the Diocese of Wilcannia-Forbes, or in communities where CatholicCare Wilcannia-Forbes offers services, including from Broken Hill, Wilcannia, Cobar, Bourke, Brewarrina, Nyngan, Warren, Narromine, Dubbo, Parkes, Forbes, Bathurst, Orange, Cowra, Lake Cargelligo, Condobolin or elsewhere within the Diocese of Wilcannia-Forbes are encouraged to submit an artwork.

The closing date for entries is Monday 28th August, so get your entries in now.

There’s just two days left for residents and those working in the area to participate in the Parkes Liveability Strategy Survey. Currajong Senior Planner Brent Tucker is assisting Council with the project and is encouraging everyone to complete the survey. 

“So far, we’ve had a great response with close to 400 surveys completed, but there are a large number of surveys that have been started but are showing to be uncompleted, the survey takes less than 15 minutes to complete and will influence hundreds of decisions moving forward over the coming years. If you only participate in one community engagement activity this year, make it this one,” said Brent. 

The Parkes Liveability Strategy will identify key projects, ‘missing’ infrastructure and services that people living and working in the area need for a healthy, happy and connected community. 

For more information and to access the Liveable Neighbourhoods Survey, visit www.yoursay.parkes.nsw.gov.au. Submissions close 9th July 2023. 

Last Saturday, 1st July, The Modular and Tiny Home Co. held its first ever Open Day in Parkes. Business owner, Daniel Relyea was happy to report the day was a smash thanks to the support of the community who helped him promote the event and the people who came along on the day. 

The flow was non-stop with many great enquiries. The mood was relaxed with many positive comments. People were excited that there was a local manufacturer of Modular and Tiny Homes. It was encouraging for us to be able to engage with so many locals who are looking for accommodation alternatives. 

NSW Nationals Upper House MP and Shadow Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Sam Farraway has launched a petition in the Central West and Western NSW to stop the NSW Labor government from cutting the $250 Regional Seniors Travel Card. 

Mr Farraway said he hopes the petition will save the seniors travel card from being cut. “Travel cards allow seniors to take a trip to visit friends and family, travel for a doctor’s appointment, or visit the shops to pick up groceries”. 

“We all know someone in our community who benefits from the Regional Seniors Travel Card, and we all have an important reason to sign this this petition,” Mr Farraway said. 

“Over the coming weeks I will be asking people to share this petition far and wide to save our Regional Seniors Travel Card so seniors in our community can continue to do things they love and need to do. 

“The NSW Labor Government has prioritised Sydney projects over regional seniors, and we hope this petition will convince the Minns government keep it in place,” Mr Farraway said. 

To sign the petition go to: www.nswnationals.org.au/save-the-travel-card/

What an incredible term here at Forbes North. As we reach the halfway point of 2023, we can celebrate an enormous number of achievements where our students participated in cultural, scholastic, artistic and sporting opportunities across Forbes and beyond.

Our great school has accumulated an impressive amount of meetings, excursions, and community events such as the ANZAC Day Service held in Victoria Park and a school commemoration at Forbes North. 

Our school leaders attended the GRIP Leadership Day in Dubbo where all our school parliamentarians and leadership team came home inspired. 

The FNPS Cross County held at Forbes Racecourse was a huge success and our school was then selected to host the Lachlan PSSA Small Schools Athletics Carnival welcoming Eugowra, Quandialla, Bogan Gate, Bedgerabong and Caragabal students to our school.

Forbes North were proud to attend the MADD Forbes High School musical extravaganza and concert the same week we participated in the Peachey Shield Rugby League gala day in Condobolin before receiving a musical incursion from Goobanji Indigenous performances.

Our school is a great place to host an occasion and the 2023 Biggest Morning Tea and Mother’s Day Breakfast raised over $1,000 for the NSW Cancer Council and made our deserving mums feel special. 

The list of guests coming to our school continued with Forbes Shire Council executive staff coming for a school tour and morning tea hosted by Mr McGaw in our Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden rooms. 

We also hosted the Forbes Junior and Senior Aboriginal Education Consultative Group meeting in our new refurbished library space. 

To reward great behaviour from our students we held two fun days, namely a PBL Pyjama Day and Crazy Hair Day either side of National Walk to School safety day.

One of the highlights of term two was the Doing it for Rural Aussie Kids concert by Tania Kernaghan and Jason Owen in our school hall which was outstanding. This was followed by the visit of the Life Education Program starring Healthy Harold the famous giraffe. 

Our community minded school hosted Launching Rocket Learners sessions for existing and future FNPS parents and our year 5 and year 6 visited the Junee Chocolate Factory with our senior girls then travelling to Dubbo for Girls in Aviation. 

The Forbes Eisteddfod is a community highlight and Forbes North took out the overall point score, perpetual shield and $500 first prize with our commitment to the creative and performing arts giving our kids so many opportunities.

Forbes North is committed to Aboriginal Education and our successful Reconciliation Week and NAIDOC Week celebrations focusing on cultural immersion and Wiradjuri language leads the way in public education. 

Term two was super, and we look forward to term three in Thomson Street.