Governor of New South Wales, His Excellency General The Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Ret’d) and his wife have spent the past two days visiting some of the top contributors to the Forbes economy as part of a three day tour of Parkes and Forbes shires.
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His Excellency General Hurley and Mrs Hurley spent Tuesday morning visiting Forbes Shire Council’s Central West Livestock Exchange, before an afternoon tour of Red Bend Catholic College and a visit to Mitchell Conservatorium.
The Vice-Regal couple’s morning and afternoon appointments were interspersed by a lakeside lunch.
General Hurley, who plans to visit as many parts of the state as he can during his term as Governor, said he and his wife believe it is important to visit a region’s largest employers and key industries.
The couple’s visit coincided with sheep and lamb sale day at Central West Livestock Exchange, but General Hurley and his wife also toured the saleyards’ cattle selling area, accompanied by Forbes mayor Cr Phyllis Miller, deputy mayor Cr Graeme Miller, former livestock agent Kerry Smith and saleyards manager Cassie Walmsley.
General Hurley was briefed on the history of the facility and a proposal to increase the capacity of the saleyards.
“It’s good to come and see first-hand what’s improved here. It seems to be a good news story for the region,” His Excellency said.
General Hurley said he and his wife both have some input into their itinerary while visiting parts of the state.
He said issues like rural and regional development, youth leadership, mental health services and indigenous issues often attract his attention.
General Hurley said that while his tours are apolitical, he thought it was vital for regional residents to engage with the local government reform process currently underway.
“The Australian economy is in a period of change and the whole question of how we develop our rural economies and improve rural conditions is being discussed right now, so I think it’s important that communities try to be part of that discussion,” he said.
“I’m certainly not a policy maker but I think it’s important for me to be up to speed with what’s happening in our rural areas and that’s why I try to include places like this on my itinerary.”
General Hurley said it’s the first time in a long time that he’s been to Forbes.
“I think it’s quite a vibrant community from what I’ve seen and heard,” he said.
“There’s a lot of energy and a real loyalty to the township; they’re looking for ways to be sustainable.
“All those themes are running in the town.”
His Excellency was also a fan of the idea of the Somewhere Down the Lachlan sculpture trail as a way to boost tourism in the region.
“I do like the way the sculpture walkway is looking at a regional approach,” he said.
“If they want to attract visitors they’ve got to have a variety of things.”
The Governor and Mrs Hurley also attended a private cemetery service on Tuesday afternoon, visited Forbes disability services provider House With No Steps yesterday, followed by a Vice Regal dinner at Parkes Services Club that evening and will be doing a tour of Parkes business Foodservice Central on Thursday.
