Parkes Phoenix Editor

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

Mayoral Notes

May 21, 2021 by Maggi Barnard

DOING IT FOR FORBES: FSC Cr Jenny Webb along with GM Steve Loane and Mayor Phyllis Miller OAM attended the MDANC AGM this week.

The General Manager, Steve Loane, Councillor Jenny Webb and I have attended the Murray Darling Associations National Conference and AGM this week. It has been very interesting to see the Council’s and the communities working together to forge ahead after years of drought and water issues. It is at conferences such as this, we can all share our findings and solutions to water management issues and protect our most important resource, water.

Another important matter we are recognising this week is road safety. The Town Hall is coloured yellow all this week in support for this great message and in reception we have free bumper stickers for your vehicles. On Friday there will be a Load Restraint Information Session at Wirrinya Community Hall for all heavy vehicle operators to learn the correct way to tie downloads.

It has been a very sad week as we lost one of our staff, Mark Collits. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family.

Till next week. God Bless.

Your Mayor
Phyllis Miller

CWA Noticeboard

May 21, 2021 by Maggi Barnard

KEY DATES AND INFORMATION

• Next CWA meeting – Thursday 10th June at 11am (note change of date).

• “Stepping on” – exciting and friendly community-based falls prevention program for seniors. Seven week course, two hours per week. Ph: 68504009

• Stephanie Stanhope returned as President, Judy Houghton and Anne Adams vice presidents.

• Next year’s 100 year State Conference will be held at Randwick Racecourse -stand seating for 1100 delegates and observers with a garden party at Government House. Country Women of the Year competition will also be held for the Centenary year.

• Morning tea was supplied by CWA members to Wollongong Bike riders who were doing a ride in the Central West to raise funds to help in the education of women in the Philippines.

• Members had a very busy weekend supplying the Mural Painters with Morning and afternoon tea and lunch on Saturday at Eugowra.

• Members will do Meals on Wheels from 2nd June to 9th June.

• On 17th July members will perform a skit at the Group cultural Day at CWA rooms in Orange.

Aussie Croquet Produces Some Close Games

May 21, 2021 by Maggi Barnard

On May 15 there were a small number of 25 players who participated in Aussie Croquet. Those who recorded close game scores were: Jill Rubie and John MacCullagh 14 def Bob Murray and Dorelle Scott 13, Neville Spry and Merv Langfield 14 def Ray Burridge and Jeff Liebich 13, Elvy Quirk and John Cole 14 def Geoff Coles and Jill Rubie 13, Lorraine Todd and Lyn Simmonds 14 def Dorelle Scott and John Job 13, Barry White and Bob Murray 14 def Harley Stewart and Dorelle Scott 12, Jill Rubie and Barry White 14 def Doreen Rogers and Merv Langfield 12, Elvy Quirk and Robin Pols 14 def John Cole and Cheryl Toohey 12:

Our valued member Ray Burridge cracked the jackpot winning all three games once again which made his the winning tally for eight consecutive weeks.

The framework is now standing for the small shed and it should be completed in the next week or so with a great deal of thanks going to a small number of members responsible for its erection.

Well done and much appreciated to those responsible volunteers who continue to come and assist.

Staines Wipes Hapless Titans With Double

May 21, 2021 by Maggi Barnard

The Penrith Panthers continued their unbeaten run making it ten on the bounce with an emphatic victory 48-12 over the depleted Gold Coast Titans on Sunday night .

Charlie Staines scored a double early in the comprehensive drubbing that also saw Nathan Cleary bag three which could’ve been more.

The Panthers shot to a 30-0 half time lead after Ese’ Ese was sent off for a high shot on Brian To’o, the pocket rocket who continues to set the league alight with his impressive record.

Tries to Moses Leota, Villame Kikau and Kiwi prop James Fisher Harris, who must be a contender for forward of the year saw the Panthers reach an unassailable lead. The Titans tried but the sin binnings, quality of the opposition and some 50/50 calls against them inevitably proved too much.

Penrith’s unbeaten start makes them the seventh team to do so after ten rounds.

Next week in Dubbo, Penrith face Souths in Dubbo in what many believe may be the game of the season. See you there!

Crowds Flock As KHub Opens In Forbes

May 14, 2021 by Maggi Barnard

TO NEW BEGINNINGS: KHub staff enjoying a Dominos Pizza after working tirelessly over the grand opening of the Forbes store last weekend.

Last Friday KHub opened in Forbes in the old Target Country building in Rankin Street in what is a real bonus for the community.

The new Forbes store is one of 70 new KHubs being opened by the retail giant across the country with Cowra also getting their own specialty shop in September. In the interim though, neighbouring towns will have to travel to Forbes.

“Strategically we are setting ourselves up as a retail hub here in Forbes,” said Mayor Phyllis Miller.

“It is a real win for our town and great to see the space filled after Target,” she said.

Meanwhile Domino’s Pizza Forbes also got in on the launch, donating pizzas to new staff who had been working tirelessly since the grand opening on May 7.

“We wanted to support KHub and show them how much we appreciate them coming to our town and supporting business here,” said Forbes Assistant Manager Tre Griffin.

It was the sentiment echoed by many as numbers piled into the new store all week since the opening in a great boost for local retail.

Mayoral Notes

May 14, 2021 by Maggi Barnard

What a fantastic week it has been. Our Heritage Week celebrations concluded with us celebrating 150 + 1 years of Forbes Shire Council on Saturday night. We were joined by Deputy Prime Minister, Michael McCormack and the Hon. Sam Farraway. Previous Forbes Shire Mayor, Alistair Lockhart was one of our guest speakers and our Deputy Mayor, Chris Roylance was the MC for the night and did a magnificent job. Councillors Grant Clifton, Graeme Miller, Steve Karaitiana, Michele Herbert and Jenny Webb also joined in the celebration.

I met with the Commissioner of Crown Lands, Richard Bush and Dr Brendon Logan this week. We had a long discussion on the new Crown Lands Act and we were able to highlight the many problems that come with Plans of Management. Watch this space, we hopefully will see common sense prevail in this space.

Next Week is National Road Safety Week. Every year, approximately 1200 people are killed and another 44,000 are seriously injured on Australian roads. This road safety awareness week highlights the impact of road trauma and ways to reduce it. Town Hall will be lit up yellow in support.

You will have noticed Camp Street Bridge has finally had new asphalt laid and doesn’t it look great! The lines will come in the next week. Junction Street car park asphalt has also been laid and it looks amazing. This too will have the lines marked in the coming week.

Till next week.

God Bless.
Your Mayor,
Phyllis Miller

Happy Birthday Forbes!

May 14, 2021 by Maggi Barnard

HAPPY BIRTHDAY FORBES: National’s Upper House member Sam Faraway, Forbes Mayor Phyllis Miller OAM and National’s Leader and Deputy PM Michael McCormack at the Forbes Town Hall last Saturday night to commemorate the 151st birthday of our town.

Forbes last week celebrated over 150 years of rich history with the staging of the Forbes Heritage Week culminating in a five-star gala evening for current and former staff, councillors, business identities and government officials last Saturday night.

The week began with festivities in Victo-ria Park showcasing roving entertainment group, Convict Footprints. For those present, it felt as if it really was Forbes in 1870. There was a variety of exhibitors including our local museum as well as a Blacksmith and a Cheese Maker showing the old techniques to the public.

The CWA and Lions Club Damper competition was also on again as these two rivals battled it out to see who could make the best damper. There were also vintage cars and machinery lining Harold Street, the Swamp Dawkins Bush Band, family history, and a variety of stalls all promoting Forbes’ magnificent history.

There was also plenty for sports lovers too and big crowds at Lion’s Park and numerous other locales across town. For many, it was a tremendous week and exactly what was needed after a disruptive 2020.

Saturday evening saw a who’s who of our region with Nationals Upper House MP Sam Faraway, Nationals Leader and Deputy PM Michael McCormack, Parkes Mayor Ken Keith and Forbes Mayor Phyllis Miller OAM all in attendance to mark the milestone.

All in all it has been an incredible week celebrating the birthday of our town – #amazingforbes.

By Dane Millerd

Can Anyone Stop Flint Tropics In 2021?

May 14, 2021 by Maggi Barnard

JOSTLING FOR POSITIONS: Like the players from Maybe Babies and KMS, teams are battling for semi final spots with four teams vying for three spots.

The latest round of Forbes Basketball Association Men’s Competition means that after ten rounds, Flint Tropics remain undefeated with an imposing 10-0 record – three wins clear of defending champions Misfits after their 38-31 victory last week in a potential grand final preview.

In the battle for third and fourth leading into the semi finals, Cespitorians held on 37-33 over Zinger Blockers in a dour affair where neither team could get away. The win was vital for Cespitorians, who remain the real dark horse for the title and who now sit at 6-4 only one win behind Misfits but more importantly, two wins clear of Zinger Blockers (4-6) and three clear of KMS (3-7) who are battling for fourth. KMS won 49-32 over the much improved Maybe Babies.

With the semi finals in sight, the ladder is starting to take shape and the real question everyone is asking is – can anyone stop Flint Tropics and steal their thunder? Will 2021 be the year they breakthrough? Watch this space…

Budget Boost To Rural Bulk Billing To Benefit The Bush

May 14, 2021 by Maggi Barnard

The Morrison Government is investing more than $65 million from January 1, 2022 to boost bulk billing rebates and provide more affordable healthcare for patients in regional, rural and remote areas.

A new, progressive incentive schedule will be applied that increases the value of the Rural Bulk Billing Incentive (RBBI) based on remoteness. This will enhance the financial viability of practices in rural and remote areas as well as reducing the gap paid by patients.

The more remote the area, the greater the incentive payment they will receive per eligible consultation to recognise the greater challenges and cost pressures.

Federal Regional Health Minister, Mark Coulton said the Coalition Government is delivering the progressive rural bulk bill-ing incentives in recognition of the ongoing need to provide the right incentives for the health workforce in rural, regional and remote areas.

“Australians in rural and remote areas have poorer access to and use of health services, compared to people living in metropolitan areas,” Minister Coulton said.

“The new Rural Bulk Billing Incentive will support those GPs providing services to people in greatest need and who have the lowest propensity to pay for healthcare.”

Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner?

May 14, 2021 by Maggi Barnard

DINNER GUEST: Gardening Australia’s Costa Georgiadis will be in Forbes on May 28/29 for School’s Eco Day and a Landcare dinner among other events.

Better known for his exploits on ABC’s Gardening Australia or as Costa the Garden Gnome on Get Grubby TV, Costa Georgiadis, will be coming to the Forbes River-side Community Garden for their open day on Saturday, 29 May. It will cap what has been a huge month for Central West Land-care and Forbes Riverside Gardens.

Aside from being a television personality and presenter, Georgiadis is a landscape architect, an environmentalist and producer. He has helped created Costa’s Garden Odyssey for SBS and also picked up a Sil-ver Logie for his Gardening Australia work.

Costa is also involved with regenerative agriculture and holistic practices that deal with the issues arising from a rapidly urbanising world. His passion for plants and biodiversity is all-encompassing.

The event has been organised by Central West Lachlan Landcare, who have invited the popular green thumb to participate in the Schools’ Eco Day on Friday, 28 May and speak at the Landcare dinner that night.

While it isn’t a Costa look-a-like competition, pre-school aged children are encouraged to come to the Open Day dressed as garden gnomes and to take part in the Gnome Parade at 11am. Each gnome will be presented with a token gift as a memento of the day.

To help raise funds for Landcare’s Schools’ Eco Day, the Community Garden is raffling two tickets, total value $200, to the Landcare Dinner on Friday, 28 May.

Raffle tickets are only $5 each (prize – two dinner tickets) are available at the Community Garden between 9am and 11am each day, except Sundays, and at various retail outlets around town. Forbes Riverside Community Garden is at 59-71 Reymond Street, Forbes.

Please pre-register if you are coming to the Garden on Open Day. Tickets are a COVID requirement. Go online to www.stickytickets.com.au/YQZMK to book.

Parkes Phoenix Editor

KEY DATES AND INFORMATION

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