Parkes Phoenix Editor

Maggi Barnard has been with the Forbes Phoenix since 2021 and loves writing about her community.

Forbes Autosports Hopeful Of Bumper Weekend

August 27, 2021 by Maggi Barnard

READY TO RACE: Forbes Autosports Club is hopeful NSW Stay-At-Home restrictions will be lifted by the time their September 18-19 weekend of racing comes around.

Having felt the sting of COVID restrictions like many sports groups, Forbes Autosports Club remain hopeful of a bumper weekend in late September.

A One-Day Motocross Coaching School at Forbes Motocross Track has been pencilled in for Saturday 18th September. Forbes Race Day and The 2 Stroke Cup will be held on the Sunday 19th September.

Round 2 MX will also see the 2-Stroke Cup on offer with a large prize pool up for grabs proudly sponsored by LRM Forbes & JC Mechanical Repairs. The event is open to all senior riders from 125cc and up.

First prize on the day takes the trophy plus a prize pool to the value of $500 while second and third get the same but $300 and $200 prize pool values respectively. Riders are encouraged to follow the Forbes Autosports Facebook page as well as NSW Health for the latest COVID updates and restrictions.

Fingers crossed for a great weekend of racing out at the track and a good turn out!

Bookings must be made online through www.mxracedevelopments.com.au

Snippets…

August 27, 2021 by Maggi Barnard

CHECK COVID TIP TIMES: Residents are advised to check the latest COVID tip times after the most recent restrictions.

Tip Times During Lockdown: Mayor Phyllis Miller OAM has expressed her gratitude for the patience of Forbes residents while the Forbes Landfills have been closed this week to residential rubbish disposal. The details of the opening hours and special conditions can be found on the Forbes Shire Council website at – www.forbes.nsw.gov.au/news/august-2021/tip-times-during-covid-lockdown

Permits For Travel To Regional NSW: A permit system for some travel between Greater Sydney and regional NSW has taken effect from 12.01am on Saturday 21 August. Permit applications will be made available on the Service NSW website. Due to ongoing concerns about community transmission in some regional areas, stay-at-home orders in place for regional NSW have been extended until 12.01am on 28 August 2021, in line with orders for the Greater Sydney area. Everyone must stay at home unless they have a reasonable excuse to leave. NSW Health urges people to continue to be tested immediately with even the mildest of cold-like symptoms. There are more than 450 COVID-19 testing locations across NSW, many of which are open seven days a week.

To find your nearest testing clinic, visit the NSW Government website: www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/health-and-wellbeing/clinics.

Donato: Survey Says We’re Still Second-Class Citizens: Member for Orange Philip Donato MP yesterday shared survey results which, disappointingly, indicate that frontline workers and vulnerable people from country NSW are exposed while waiting for the call to have their COVID-19 vaccinations rescheduled.

“Following the foolish decision by the Premier and her Deputy to redirect Pfizer vaccines from regional NSW to the city, I received a flood of messages from country folk whose scheduled COVID-19 vaccination had been cancelled,” Mr Donato said.

“Gladys Berejiklian and John Barilaro’s decision to redirect Regional NSW’s much-needed vaccines to Sydney for year 12 school students, knowing that many vulnerable people and frontline health workers were still waiting to be vaccinated – was entirely reckless.”

“To get a more accurate snapshot of the vaccination interruptions caused, I recently launched a survey,” he said. “I thank the hundreds of respondents for participating. The results support the feedback I was receiving but are very troubling to me”. The survey shows nearly 80% of respondents had their scheduled vaccination cancelled.

Central West Rugby Abandons Season 2021

August 27, 2021 by Maggi Barnard

LONG BUILD UP: The Forbes Platypi First XV have played their last game for the season 2021. See CWRU announcement in Sport.

Earlier this week, the CWRU made the difficult decision to abandon the remaining competitions for this season. The spread of COVID throughout our community is an enormous concern and we believe we have a responsibility to our communities to limit travel and potential infection, the statement said.

“The safety and welfare of our Players and Community are of the utmost importance,” the statement read.

“At this stage, some teams still involved in Finals have not played or trained in over 4 weeks. Furthermore, when Community Sport is allowed to recommence, we have concerns on the extremity of restrictions applied to return to play protocols, training limits, crowd limits etc. It has been determined that Premierships will be awarded,” said the statement.

Blowes Cup Competition Premiers are determined by final ladder positions. Congratulations to the following teams:
• Blowes Cup 1st Grade – Cowra Eagles;
• Blowes Cup 2nd Grade – Orange Emus;
• Blowes Cup 3rd Grade – Orange Emus;
• Blowes Cup Colts – Orange City;
• Westfund Ferguson Cup – Bathurst Bulldogs.

“We would like to thank all Clubs and their volunteers for what has been a challenging last two seasons. We look forward to a more enjoyable experience in Season 2022.”

Flagship Property Yamminga Aggregation Sold

August 27, 2021 by Maggi Barnard

SOLD: Yamminga Aggregation one of the bluechip properties in the region has been purchased for between $9.5 million and $10 million according to Johnston Group Rural who negotiated the sale. It includes land, water and fixed improvements.

Yamminga Aggregation – an exceptionally productive mixed farm ideally situated on the banks of the Lachlan, with a substantial irrigation water entitlement, has sold.

Comprising 670.13 hectares (1,655.89* acres), the Aggregation (including River-view & Yamminga, Stirling, Fisher’s Dairy and The Bedgerabong Road Block) is well situated upstream of Jemalong Weir and within 15 minutes drive of Forbes and the Newell Highway.

Vendor’s, the Robinson Family, owned and operated the majority of the Aggregation for over 30 years, after buying from the Caldwell Family Estate in 1988.

Under the Robinson’s, the properties have been extensively developed. The decision to move on has been a tough but necessary generational decision for the family as they look to retire from fulltime farming.

Agents Johnston Rural Group said the Yamminga Aggregation was offered for sale ‘as a whole’, as well as in four separate par-cels and was sold as a result of a successful Expressions of Interest (EOI) submitted before the close date of 12 noon AEDT 31st March 2021.

The campaign generated significant interest, both locally and from further afield. Ranging from corporates to family farmers, there were over 50 individual genuine enquiries.

The successful purchaser was a family farming, livestock breeding and finishing business from the southwest slopes region of NSW. Whilst the final sale price remains confidential, the property sold for between $9.5m and $10m for the land, water and fixed improvements.

More at www.johnstongroup.com.au

Mayoral Notes

August 27, 2021 by Maggi Barnard

I am proud to say we are now having our sewage tested for COVID-19! Our first test was a negative last Friday with more testing to do. It did take a bit of commotion to get our NSW Health Department CHO to understand.

I want to thank the community for coming out this week to get tested for COVID-19, and for all abiding by the Stay-at-Home order set by the NSW Government. This is a short sharp lockdown and it will be over before we know it. We must do it now to ensure the virus doesn’t spread throughout the community. Whilst we have amazing medical facilities we do not have the resources to handle a large amount of cases.

You cannot have visitors to your home from outside your household, including family and friends. One visitor at one time to fulfill carers’ responsibilities is allowed.

I do encourage everyone to get vaccinated if they can. This advice comes from our health professionals, we need widespread vaccination to help ease the pressure on our hospital system.

The Forbes Visitor Information Centre remains closed as does the Council administration office to the public. I can assure you Council staff are busy working inside. We will reassess the situation later in the week to see if all can re-open again next week.

The Central West Livestock Exchange remains open for registered buyers, agents and council staff only.

Take care. God Bless.

Your Mayor,
Phyllis Miller

Chandler Burns The Course

August 27, 2021 by Maggi Barnard

GROWING NUMBERS: With many sports cancelled or not allowed under tough new restrictions, golf remains one of the few acceptable forms of exercise and as a result numbers are growing in recent weeks.

Last Saturday the golfers competed in an Individual Stableford event, under COVID-19 regulations, with many players enjoying the conditions and returning good scores. Most notable was Bruce Chandler whose score matched the conditions.

The Div-1 winner was Phil Maher, who tidily compiled 41 points. Runner-up, on count back, was Nick Greenhalgh with 39 points who skipped past Neil Duncan with a better back-9 score.

The Div-2 winner was Bruce Chandler with his 45 points. Luckily he was at the end of the field as he scorched round the course which would have made it hard for any following players. Runner-up was Jarrod Hall (Trundle) with 40 points.

The ball sweep went to 34 points on count back, so please check in the Pro Shop. The NTP’s went to: 9th – Rob Webb; 18th – Kim Herbert. The 3rd hole Super Pin went to John Betland.

The field for the Sunday Stableford Med-ley comp winner was Louise French with 41 points, ahead of runner-up Niel Duncan with 38 points, on count back from Jake Shaw.

The ball sweep went to 36 points on count back, with the NTP’s going to – 9th: Peter Nixon, 18th: Andrew Dukes.

The Golf NSW 2-Person Ambrose Medley to have been played on Saturday 28 August will be rescheduled to later in the year. Instead an Individual Stableford will be played.

By Short Putt

Boys Can’t Catch Miss Ezmae!

August 20, 2021 by Maggi Barnard

They say winning becomes a habit and that is exactly what is happening with Forbes-based greyhound trainer Raymond Smith who came home from Dubbo with a hoard of silverware.

But it was Miss Ezmae who stole the show who’s 34.35 over the 605m carry was a track record and making it two on the trot after a 35.69 in Bathurst three weeks ago over a slightly longer distance.

Smith’s other chargers also performed well with Zipping Hoppo returning to racing after nearly a year on the sidelines with an impressive first up win. The time of 22.91 They say winning becomes a habit and that is exactly what is happening with Forbes-based greyhound trainer Raymond Smith who came home from Dubbo with a hoard of silverware.

But it was Miss Ezmae who stole the show who’s 34.35 over the 605m carry was a track record and making it two on the trot after a 35.69 in Bathurst three weeks ago over a slightly longer distance.

Smith’s other chargers also performed well with Zipping Hoppo returning to racing after nearly a year on the sidelines with an impressive first up win. The time of 22.91

Sports Briefs

August 20, 2021 by Maggi Barnard

No Charlie No Trouble

It was a grind and the scoreboard didn’t reflect the closeness of the contest but the Penrith Panthers got it done over a desperate St. George-Illawarra Dragons 34-16.

Staines was a late omission and replaced by Brent Naden from Wellington and against the run of play Naden drew an intercept off an Adam Clune pass to take an early lead and not long after followed it up with a second as Penrith took a 16-6 lead to the sheds.

The Dragons continued to fight but the class of Nathan Cleary proved evident in his first start since a shoulder injury in Origin II.

In the end the 34-16 score flattered Penrith and they will need to lift this week against fellow contenders South Sydney.

Close Games In Croquet

We had 26 players on Saturday 14th. August to play Aussie Croquet. There were 5 players who had 3 wins – John Allegri, Ray Burridge, John Farah and John and Cherylin Cole. The big winners were 14 – 8 Cherylin Cole and John Allegri. Close Games: Cheryle Toohey 14 Lorraine Todd 13.

Many Sports Postponed And Cancelled

Due to the snap lockdown announcement, a number of senior and junior sports were impacted. Forbes Autosports Club cancelled their Sunday meet while Group 11 Rugby League gave every side a point. Central West Rugby has had to postpone and adjust the semi-finals while restrictions on numbers has meant junior sports have also been severely disrupted. Forbes Sporting Shooters have also canned this week’s events. People are encouraged to check the latest COVID updates regarding sport. Contact your sports club for more information.

Be Seen

August 20, 2021 by Maggi Barnard

CANCELLED FOR 2021: Grazing Down The Lachlan is an unfortunate casualty of COVID after the committee made the heart-wrenching decision to cancel the 2021 event. There are plans to pick-up again next year.

ABSTRACT ART EXHIBITION: Forbes Art Society and Platypus Gallery are holding a number of COVID-safe exhibitions this month including an exhibit for first time local female artists like Shelly Borham, called Abstract Distractions until August 29. All art will be available for purchase.

END OF THE RAINBOW: This brilliant snap by resident photographer Vince Kirk captures our beautiful town after recent showers. Winter 2021 has been among the wettest in recent history with the potential of more to come in the back half of the year.

Countback Decides Doolin Trophy

August 20, 2021 by Maggi Barnard

PERFECT DAY FOR IT: Michael Prior, Frank Hanns, Barry Parker and Les Little capitalised on unusual sunny conditions at Forbes Golf Club last Saturday. Golf is still an approved COVID-safe exercise sport for groups of two only.

Last Saturday the golfers competed for the ‘Bob & Daine Doolin Memorial Trophy’, a 4BBB Stableford Medley, sponsored by the Francis family and contested by 58 players, including 11 Ladies.

The Winners were decided on countback, with four pairs finishing on 43 points. Ultimately it was the pair of Will Lovatt and Caleb Hanrahan who got the nod ahead of Jacob Bernardi and Tony Cogswell. The unlucky pairs to miss out were Dave Lickess and Riley Pike and Frank Hanns and Mike Prior.

The ball sweep went to 41 points on countback, so please check in the Pro Shop. The NTP’s went to: 9th – Men: H Callaghan, Ladies: E Coombs; 18th – Men: B Slack-Smith, Ladies: nil.

The 3rd hole Super Pin went to Tony Cogswell with a shot of 3.62 metre proximity, slightly wider than last week’s winner. There were no visitors.

Under COVID-19 Stay-At-Home orders golf is deemed an approved exercise, played under specific conditions. Thus the Sunday Stableford Medley was able to be played, with playing allowed in pairs only.

The field for the Sunday comp took advantage of another sunny day, with 26 players participating. The winner was Nick Ryan with 38 points, ahead of runner-up Brett Thomas with 36 points.

The ball sweep went to 32 points on count back, so check in the Pro Shop. The NTP’s went to – 9th: Peter Cowhan, 18th: Shane Sallaway.

The 3-Person Ambrose Medley which was to have been played will be rescheduled to later in the year. Also note that the ‘Roy-lances Tractor Replacements Cup’ scheduled for September 25 has been postponed to 2022, with a date to be confirmed.

This Saturday we are still under ‘Covid Rules’ so the competition has been changed to an Individual Stableford, still playing in pairs. Sunday will be a Stableford Medley.

By Short Putt

Parkes Phoenix Editor

No Charlie No Trouble

Close Games In Croquet

Many Sports Postponed And Cancelled

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