Parkes Phoenix Editor

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

New Life For The Lachlan Vintage Village

June 4, 2021 by Maggi Barnard

IMAGE SOURCE: http://www.lachlanvintagevillage.com.au/

The Lachlan Vintage Village was jointly developed in the 1970’s by the Forbes Municipal and Jemalong Shire Councils with considerable community input and effort. This tourism attraction showcased days-gone-by and old trades and was a popular location regionally for school excursions and visitors. The Lachlan Vintage Village, formally closed to the public in 2004. Forbes Shire Council purchased the site in 2017.

In 2021 the Lachlan Vintage Village building will be revived, repaired and refurbished to become the new location for the Forbes Visitor Information Centre with an ideal location adjacent the Newell Highway and on the way to some of Forbes Shires stunning sculptures.

“We are so excited to be rejuvenating the Lachlan Vintage Village site as Forbes Tourist Information Centre,” Forbes Mayor, Phyllis Miller OAM said.

The internal fit out and external cladding and verandah works are to be completed by December with the Visitor Information Centre operating a short time afterwards.

“Local Contractors will be utilised where possible, contributing to the local economy,” Mayor Miller said.

This project is funded by the NSW Government Drought Stimulus Program for the building component and the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure (LRCI) Program.

Sport this week in pictures

June 4, 2021 by Maggi Barnard

GROWING SPORT: Dragon Boat racing is really taking off in the Central West with most towns now with a club.

FIJIAN FLYER: Paulini Lawanikula had a massive game for the Forbes Platypi as she almost single handedly won the match for the women’s side.

NO HORSING AROUND: Horse sports and disciplines such as penning and dressage are becoming increasingly popular among youngsters.

Forbes Among Yellow Ribbon Councils

May 28, 2021 by Maggi Barnard

YELLOW RIBBON COUNCILS: Parkes Shire Council’s General Manager Kent Boyd, Forbes Shire Council’s Director of Corporate Services Stefan Murru, SARAH President Peter Frazer, Parkes Shire Council Mayor Ken Keith OAM and Parkes Shire Council’s Director of Works and Services Ben Howard.

Parkes, Forbes and Lachlan Shire Councils have been announced as Yellow Ribbon Councils by SARAH (Safer Australian Roads and Highways) President Peter Frazer, for their long-time support of National Road Safety Week.

Mayor of Parkes Shire Cr Ken Keith OAM and Forbes Shire Council’s Director of Corporate Services Stefan Murru accepted the certificates. Lachlan Shire Council’s certificate was presented to General Manager Greg Tory by the Councils’ shared Road Safety Officer Melanie Suitor earlier this week.

“We are all touched by road trauma, which echoes through our community and is felt by so many others – family and friends, work colleagues, community groups, emergency service workers and local communities,” Forbes Shire Council Mayor Phyllis Miller OAM said.

“That’s why the Councils’ are very supportive of road safety and have been active in this space for almost 20 years.”

The week honours the memory of the 1,200 lives lost, and more than 44,000 seriously injured on Australia’s roads each year.

People are encouraged to sign an online pledge to not drive distracted, not speed and to never drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Take the pledge at: www.roadsafetyweek.com.au

Forbes Open Studio Trail Sunday, June 6

May 28, 2021 by Maggi Barnard

Embark on an adventure behind the Forbes Shire art scene into the creative lives of six of our most outstanding artists Coralie Crouch, Melody Ruhrmund, Klara Ward, Sue Dingwall, Sampa Bhakta and Sharon Degeling.

In this eclectic multimedia showcase of local talent, these six creatives will open the doors of their private studios on Sun-day, 6 June 2021 as part of the Forbes Open Studio Trail.

Forbes Arts Society Chair, Dr Karen Ritchie said, “the Forbes Shire is home to some amazing emerging and established artists working in diverse artistic practices including textiles, graphic design, wood turning, painting, illustrating, ceramics and many more.”

“This is a rare opportunity to go behind-the-scenes inside their creative spaces, learn about different art forms and see how they are made.”

The event runs from 10am until 3pm. Ticket holders will check-in at the Platypus Gallery, collect their trail map, and are then free to explore each of the open studios at their leisure. Tickets are $10 for Forbes Arts Society (FAS) members and $15 for non-members and can be pre-purchased through the Eventbrite website or on-the-day from the Platypus Gallery.

For more information about the Forbes Open Studio Trail, visit www.forbesartssociety.com or follow the Platypus Gallery on Facebook and Instagram. The Forbes Open Studio Trail is proudly supported by Forbes Arts Society and Arts OutWest. The Platypus Gallery is run by ArtsWeb volunteers, a committee of the Forbes Arts Society.

Featured six artists as part of the event include Coralie Crouch, Melody Ruhrmund, Klara Ward, Sue Dingwall, Sampa Bhakta and Sharon Degeling.

Mayoral Notes

May 28, 2021 by Maggi Barnard

Have you heard? We have wombats in our area! Little Digger was found by our Rangers fit and well in a safe location. He/she has gone viral on the socials and turns out wombats have been spotted all around the Central West. Council will ensure we have areas available for wildlife such as this to make a home and remain safe.

Templar Street paving is nearly complete and I would like to thank everyone for their patience during this work. I know it has been a long process but I can assure you once complete you will love it! Thank you to Dooley Outdoors for the amazing paving work and for keeping everyone entertained with your performances.

So much work is going on at the moment, and the Lions Park Junction Street carpark is now complete as well. Our team will be coming back in the coming weeks to finish off on the landscaping but the carpark is free to use now. The Community Recycling Centre at the Daroobalgie Landfill is coming along nicely as well and the shed will be installed in the coming weeks, which will be great.

Our Council Meeting last week went well and I can report our Operational Fees and Charges are on exhibition as well as the Recreational and Open Space Strategy.

We welcome your feedback before these are endorsed next meeting.

Until next week, God Bless.

Your Mayor,
Phyllis Miller

Be Seen

May 28, 2021 by Maggi Barnard

DOMINOS STRIKES AGAIN: Forbes North Public School kids enjoying free pizza from Domino’s Forbes.

AUTUMN: There’s nothing quite like Autumn in the Central West. Photo courtesy of Neil Harrison.

GOOD TIMES: Kym Weaver and Chris Spicer of Currajong Disability Services at the recent 40th Red Bend Special Sports Day

HERITAGE ART: Forbes Mayor Phyllis Miller OAM with artist Melody Ruhrmond at the Platypus Gallery recently.

Community Funding Round Two

May 28, 2021 by Maggi Barnard

COMMUNITY GRANTS: Community grant recipients with Forbes Shire Council councillors and staff.

Forbes Shire Council has recently awarded the second round of the annual Community Funding Program at the Council Meeting. This provided elected members a chance to congratulate the successful not-for-profit community organisations, who received a share in the $41,000 of in-kind or cash contribution funding through this round.

The revamped funding program accepts online applications only through the Forbes Shire Council SmartyGrants portal, found on Council’s website. This program offers an opportunity for groups within the Shire to access funding to support events, activities and infrastructure. Applicants can receive up to $5,000 in each round over four categories; sport and recreation, culture and arts, community services and rural village enhancement. Across the financial year applicants a total of $100,000 is available in two rounds.

“Council is extremely proud to be awarding another $41,000 of this crucial funding to ensure the community has access to ongoing events, activities and infrastructure,” said Mayor Phyllis Miller OAM. This is the second round of the new format of Community Funding with over $91,000 awarded thus far.

“Community organisations, sporting groups and not-for-profit organisations are reminded to get their applications in for the current round, and as always, our amazing Grants Officers will be available to assist groups with completing and submitting applications to ensure each applicant has the best chance of success,” said Mayor Miller.

The successful recipients include:
• Bedgerabong PA and H Association
• Forbes and District Tennis Club
• Forbes Auto Sports Club
• Forbes Birth to Kinder
• Forbes Art Society
• Forbes Childcare Centre Inc.
• Forbes Country Music Inc.
• Forbes Dragon Boat Club Inc
• Forbes Family History Group
• Forbes Toy Library
• NSW Small Winemakers Show
• Wirrinya Progress Association

The next round of funding is now open and additional information including Funding Guidelines and Frequently Asked Questions are available on the Council website. Please contact Council’s Community Relations Officer on 02 6850 2300 for more information.

Forbes New Grain Treatment Site

May 28, 2021 by Maggi Barnard

Forbes is among 20 regional locations across NSW where the Berajiklian Coalition Government will establish grain treatment sites to help combat the ongoing mouse plague.

“Pending approval, sites will also be set up at other western NSW areas including Nyngan, Condobolin, Coonabarabran and Coonamble, while Merriwa and Walgett are also on the list,” said NSW Agriculture Minister Adam Marshall said.

Mr Marshall also confirmed his hometown of Gunnedah, Dubbo, Holbrook, Inverell, Mudgee, Jerilderie, Narrandera, Scone, Tamworth, Moree, Narrabri, Wagga Wagga and Warialda as the other areas where sites will be situated.

“Instead of the initially suggested ten sites, we’ve now made our grain treatment even easier for farmers to access and doubled that number to 20,” Minister Marshall said.

“These mice are a scourge on our regional communities, but these 20 sites will be strategically located throughout the state’s most affected areas, from Warialda to Wagga, and Condobolin to Scone, to help ease the burden on our farmers,” he said.

Farmers can register for grain treatment through their nearest Local Land Service office, with sites to operate in rotation and by appointment to ensure safe chemical handling and access for staff and customers.

Mr Marshall said the treatment sites would complement the measures already put in place by the NSW Government to support landholders. “Our workshops educating farmers on best practice to manage mice continue to be well subscribed and well received,” Mr Marshall said.

The free grain treatment is part of the NSW Government’s $50 million support package to manage the impacts on regional communities, which also includes bait rebates for households and small businesses, community workshops and targeted pest research.

Interpretation Of Attitude

May 28, 2021 by Maggi Barnard

INTERPRETATION OF ATTITUDE EXHIBITION: Opening night for the Interpretation of Attitude exhibition by Samantha Coronel will be on Friday June 11 at the Platypus Gallery in Forbes.

In her first solo exhibition since moving to the region last year, artist Samantha Coronel has drawn inspiration from what posture can reveal about a person.

“The pose in front of the camera is taken as one’s attitude towards life. The construction of the posture reveals rigidity, fluidity, distraction, sensuality, coldness, daring, in-difference, sensitivity and even absence,” Samantha said.

“Sometimes I omit details to focus on the attitude and the emotion transmitted by colour. The attitude that represents us in every moment of life.”

The ‘Interpretation of Attitude’ exhibition opening will be held at the Platypus Gallery in Forbes on Friday 11 June 2021, at 6.30pm. Tickets are $15 per person, including drinks and nibbles, and can be pre-purchased through the Eventbrite website.

Forbes Arts Society Chair, Dr Karen Ritchie said, “we are always excited to feature new creatives to our region, as well as different artforms.”

“Samantha’s contemporary form of disrupted realism is something we haven’t seen exhibited at the gallery previously – through colour and technique, Samantha challenges and reshapes the conventional approach to portrait painting.”

The ‘Interpretation of Attitude’ exhibition runs until Saturday 26 June 2021. The Platypus Gallery opening hours are Tuesday to Friday, 10am until 2pm and Saturdays, 9am until 1pm. All artworks will be available for purchase.

For more information about the exhibition, visit www.forbesartssociety.com or follow the Platypus Gallery on Facebook and Instagram. The Platypus Gallery is run by ArtsWeb volunteers, a committee of the Forbes Arts Society.

Templar Is Getting Tasty Again

May 28, 2021 by Maggi Barnard

The next exquisite edition of Taste on Templar event is now well under way and Forbes Business Chamber is offering sponsorship packages for the flagship event.

Sponsorship of Taste On Templar will create brand awareness and raise the profile of the sponsors amongst the broad range of businesses across the region, including all Forbes Business Chamber members.

All levels of sponsorship offer businesses the opportunity to showcase their brand through all types of media leading up to the event.”

Sponsorship documents have been sent to as many businesses and individuals as possible. If you haven’t received this document but would like a copy please email the Chamber on forbes.businesschambernsw@gmail.com

Taste on Templar is on Saturday October 30, 2021. Theming is based around local and regional product and produce, local businesses, people and summer.

“The evening will include meet and greet, live entertainment and, of course, you!” Marg Duggan said. “All people from Forbes and surrounds are invited and encouraged to attend this quality and fun event.”

Parkes Phoenix Editor

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