Lee Sanderson shows off the beautiful art that is made by local artists.
Greg Ridge and Cassandra Gates out to remind drivers to park ‘nose in’ in Templar Street.
Be Seen
Snippets…
The newest light up installation in Victoria Park.
Christmas In Forbes Shines: Forbes residents will be happy to know Christmas is not cancelled this year. Despite a tumultuous year for events and celebrations, Forbes Shire Council has decorated the town with an extensive array of Christmas decorations including many new locations and displays. Mayor Phyllis Miller said the community deserves a pick-me-up after what has been a difficult year after many difficult years of drought.
Recognising the broad appeal of these decorations in lifting community spirits, Council has expanded the Christmas decorations project to include more displays in and around the CBD. Lions Park has also been included in the display and will have lights, similar to the ones in Victoria Park, hanging from the trees.
Victoria Park will also feature an immersive Christmas display which will give residents and visitors a fantastic vantage point to watch the projection on Town Hall.
The tale of Santa Koala by Colin Buchanan and Glen Singleton will be brought to life on the Harold Street side of Town Hall. The short story animation will be projected onto the building with lighting effects like those seen at Sydney’s Vivid Festival.
The lights and projections will remain in place until January 2021.
Christmas Colour-In Competition: The Forbes Phoenix is running a Christmas Colour-In Competition from Friday, 27 November to Friday, 11 December 2020. The winner of the competition will win a special prize just in time for Christmas, with the winner to be announced in the Phoenix’s last edition of 2020, on Friday, 18 December. To enter the competition, simply colour in the picture on page four, take a picture of the complete colour-in, and send it to us via the Forbes Phoenix Facebook page or email editor@forbesphoenix.com.au with the entrants name and age. We look forward to seeing the wonderful work from children in the Forbes Shire, so get colouring!
The Book Dispensary: Forbes’ newest local is opening on Thursday, 10 December at 4 Templar Street. This new business is a joint venture between Debbie Prior, Warwick Marx and Michael and Ange Flannery and brings to Forbes a long-awaited offering for the book enthusiasts in the community.
The team have been working hard to get the store open before Christmas and aim to end what has been a challenging 2020 for the community on a positive and exciting note.
Debbie Prior said that she is really excited about this new venture and the opportunity to open not only a new business in Forbes, but a bookstore. “It will be sad to leave my role at Flannery’s Pharmacy after nearly 23 years but I am looking forward to starting a new chapter in my life,” she said.
The Book Dispensary will be launched on Thursday and will be open for late trading during December so drop in and say hello.
Hot Day For Deacon Dwyer Trophy
The Saturday Competition was the annual Deacon Dwyer Trophy event, a 4BBB Stableford Medley sponsored by Rod Besgrove. The field of 70 players competed in very hot and windy conditions, but all finished their rounds.
The pairing of George Falvey and Brianna Duncan, on 46 points, won on count back from Nicole Death and Jenny Fletcher with the Ladies handling the heat better than the men.
The NTP’s went to 9th, Ladies’ J Fletcher, Men T Morgan; 18th, Ladies’ Nil, Men B Parker, with the 3rd Hole Super Pin going to Mike Spice. The best Two of the day was an eagle scored on the 13th hole by Brianna Duncan, with a very fine chip in after a monster drive.
The weather conditions on Sunday meant there was no Stableford Medley field.
The Mid-Week Christmas Hamper scheduled for Thursday, 10 December will be a 12-hole event run in conjunction with the Vets Competition. There will be over all hamper prizes, but separate ball sweeps for the vets and non-vets players.
The Tuesday golfers are having their Christmas lunch on Tuesday, 8 December, after their usual morning play. Players can play and then eat, or join in the lunch only. Contact Geoff Drane for details.
The Forbes-Parkes Vets are having their final event and Christmas break-up on 17 December at Parkes. Gathering at 9.30am for a 10am start.
Head Pro Adam had his last Junior Coaching class for this year on Thursday and has been very happy with the response by the children. For next year he is trying to organise a Holiday Camp in January 2021, and will continue the Junior Coaching in Term One of 2021.
Saturday, 5 December is the Monthly Medal, sponsored by Nutrien Ag Solutions Forbes. Sunday, 6 December is a Stableford Medley.
By Short Putt
Netball News
The finals of the Netball Spring Night Competitions for both Mixed and Ladies’ teams were played this week. The competition ladder was very close, with only a point or two separating many of the teams.
Last week, Speculators did not umpire for the first time, and must pay the $50 fine before they play this week and give their opposition a five-goal start.
The next night competitions will start in February 2021, and everyone should stay up to date with all the latest news on Forbes Netball Facebook and the local newspapers.
The Annual General Meeting of the Forbes Netball Association will be held on 18 February 2021.
There will be lots of help needed to bring netball to the Forbes community in 2021.
The Night Competitions will be organised for Autumn and Spring, and the new Saturday Junior Mixed Inter Town Competition will be played for all players, 17 and under, between the Forbes, Parkes, and Young netball associations.
NetSetGo for all players five years and up, will also be played in Forbes each Saturday during the winter months, in line with the Inter Town Junior competition.
Council Water Grid Agreement
Image credit: Adobe Stock
At last week’s Forbes Shire Council meeting the Centroc Water Grid Business Paper was pulled for further discussion by Councillors. The report provided Councillors with details of the Centroc Water Grid proposal between Central Tablelands Water, Parkes Shire Council and Forbes Shire Council. In this report a pipeline was proposed linking Gooloogong to Forbes, and then to form a part of the Central Tablelands County Council Water Supply to outlying towns of Parkes and beyond.
“Unfortunately, we had to defer the matter to our next Council Meeting to give our elected members time to fully understand the matter,” says Forbes Shire Council Mayor, Phyllis Miller OAM. “Everyone needs to understand what it means to Forbes and our water security. We are always willing to work with our neighbours, but not at the detriment of others.”
Council’s Manager of Water understands that the modelling did not allow for Council’s potential use of groundwater, or for the fact that in drought years Water NSW operates the system to minimise wastage and extends the existing water supplies for as long as possible, which is much longer than under normal allocation scenarios.
In addition, since the Millennium Drought, there have been changes to Water NSW’s water allocation assessments, factoring in three years of essential water supply when making its annual water allocation determinations. Council has also improved its security position in reducing demand by increasing the water usage charge and undertaking some water recycling works, maintaining its yearly usage at approximately 200ML less than the typical yearly usage used in the 2009 report. Council has also installed a third groundwater bore since that report and can now treat groundwater through both treatment trains at the Water Plant.
Forbes Shire Council will discuss the proposal at the next briefing with a report to come at the December Council meeting for Councillor’s to form a position.
Our Lil’ Guy – Jamal Alghamdi
What school do you go to and what do you like most about it? I go to Forbes Public School and I like it because I get to play with my friends.
What is your favourite subject at school and why? I like art because I’m really good at drawing and like free drawing.
What makes you laugh the most? Van and Max.
What is your dream job? To work at Google because they’ve got a slippery dip and you can have unlimited sushi for free while working at a computer.
If you could have a superpower, what would it be? To control time and physics.
What is something you are really good at? Drawing, definitely.
What is your pet hate? Global warming and the next mass extinction.
If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live and why? When there is no COVID, I would probably go to Canada for a year to see the snow, then live near the Great Barrier Reef.
Community Funding Announced
Phil Donato MP
The electorate of Orange has secured $299,829 in funding for a total of 20 projects through the NSW Government’s 2020 Community Building Partnership Program.
Phil Donato MP, said the State Government funds will deliver much-needed improvements to local facilities.
“This grassroots funding will directly help create a more vibrant and inclusive local community with positive social, environmental and recreational outcomes. It’s great to be able to do my part in assisting our local region.”
“I congratulate all the organisations that were successful in their application and look forward to seeing how these projects make a real difference for our community groups in the area,” Phil said.
Some of the successful applicants for projects in the Forbes Shire were the Eugowra Community Children’s Centre Inc. including a renovation of the old community hall to expand Eugowra Children’s Centre, Bogan Gate Golf Club Co-op Ltd for new solar panels, as well as the Forbes Pastoral Agriculture for a Ladies auxiliary kitchen and lawnmower.
The Community Building Partnership program has funded more than 15,000 community projects since it commenced in 2009.
Applications for the 2021 Program open in early 2021. Visit www.nsw.gov.au/cbp for more information.
Croquet Catch-up
Golf Croquet
The winners of three games were Bruce Field, Tony Thomson, and Bob Murray. Good wins of the day were 11-2 John Browne and Barry White and 10-3 John Allegri and Tony Thomson. Quite amazingly, there were 17 close games:
• John MacCullagh and Joan Littlejohn 7, Jill Rubie and Ray Burridge 6.
• Lorraine Todd and Jeff Liebich 7, Marie Spry and Viv MacCullagh 6.
• Dorelle Scott and John Farah 7, Mal Smith and Vince Roberts 6.
• Sandy Hepburn and Tony Thomson 7, John Jobb and Lyn Simmonds 6.
• Evelyn Mahlo and Geoff Coles 7, Bill Scott and Neville Spry 6.
• Jill Rubie and Libby Smart 7, Joan Littlejohn and Mary Hodges 6.
• Merv Langfield and Sandy Hepburn 7, Bill Scott and Jeff Liebich 6.
• Bruce Field and Bob Murray 7, Dorelle Scott and Barry White 6.
• Alex Todd and Marie Spry 7, John Jobb and Vince Roberts 6.
• Kevin Rubie and Mal Smith 7, Robin Pols and Geoff Coles 6.
• Lorraine Todd and Ray Burridge 7, John Farah and John MacCullagh 6.
• Bruce Field and Geoff Coles 7, John Allegri and Sandy Hepburn 6.
• Bill Scott and Libby Smart 7, Mary Hodges and Vince Roberts 6.
• Colleen Liebich and Dorelle Scott 7, Lorraine Todd and John Farah 6.
Aussie Croquet
The five winners of three games were John Browne, John MacCullagh, Kevin Rubie, Bill Scott and Barry White. Good wins were 14-8, Kevin Rubie and Bob Murray, John Browne and Merv Langfield, John MacCullagh and John Farah. Bill Scott and Tony Thomson won 14-9 over Bob Murray and Geoff Coles. Close games were:
• Barry White 14, John Allegri and John Farah 13.
• John MacCullagh and Ray Burridge 14, Sandy Hepburn and John Job 13.
• John Browne and Libby Smart 14, Joan Littlejohn and Merv Langfield 11.
• Lorrine Todd and Neville Spry 14, Geoff Coles and Bob Murry 11.
• Jill Rubie and John MacCullagh 14, John Job and Tony Thomson 11.
• Neville Spry 14, Lorraine Todd and John Allegri 11.
• Joan Littlejohn and Bill Scott 14, Ray Burridge and Sandy Hepburn 11.
• Barry White and John Farah 14, Geoff Coles and Marie Spry 11.
• John Browne 14, Marie Spry and Lorraine Todd 11.
• Kevin Rubie and Merv Langfield 14, Tony Thomson and Cheryl Toohey 11.
Grain Truck Signs Remind Drivers About Harvest
Andrew Rousell, Melanie Suitor and Cr Chris Roylance with one of 20 new grain harvest signs around the Shire to improve road safety.
Harvest is well and truly underway across the region, with a record number of trucks transporting grain to local silos.
Drivers are being reminded about the extra truck movements with 20 new signs installed on roads throughout the Forbes, Parkes and Lachlan Shire Council areas.
The Councils’ Road Safety and Injury Prevention Officer, Melanie Suitor, said that the signs were the first of their kind in NSW.
“The fold-down harvest truck warning signs were designed and approved by Transport for NSW.”
“They are a pilot and based on the feedback we receive, may be rolled out in other locations on the regional road network next harvest,” Melanie said.
The Caution Grain Trucks signs have been installed on roads where grain trucks travel, and near silos in Parkes, Forbes, Trundle, Condobolin, Lake Cargelligo and Tottenham.
“The safety of all road users during harvest is very important, especially this year as we see record numbers of truck movements following many years of drought.”
“The signs are currently opened and will be closed at the end of harvest.”
“By displaying the sign only at times when trucks are likely to be present, the credibility and hence the effectiveness of the sign is maintained,” Melanie said.
Forbes Preschool Welcomes Continued Support
JUMPING FOR JOY…Forbes Preschoolers Mathew Brunt and Fletcher Morrison will continue to benefit from the NSW Government’s support.
Forbes Preschool has welcomed the NSW Government’s announcement to continue free Preschool for three to five year old’s in 2021.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian, Treasurer Dominic Perrottet, and Minister for Education and Early Childhood Learning, Sarah Mitchell announced the funding last week.
The free preschool program which was initially announced in response to COVID-19 has supported countless jobs and kept children learning and engaged during crucial developmental years.
Forbes Preschool Director Amy Shine said the announcement was excellent news for families.
“We work hard to always keep our fees at a minimum and waive them when we can, so it is very encouraging to get the government’s support and endorsement for this,” Amy said.
The funding provides 15 hours of free care per child each week and highlights the government’s acknowledgment of how important preschool is for everyone.
“Early childhood education is crucial to a child’s development, especially in those critical years before school, and with this announcement families know they can include preschool in their children’s early years of learning,” added Amy.
Forbes Preschool has a long and successful history of developing inclusive programs that are holistic in their approach, which prepare the children for school by developing confidence and engaged learning skills, as well as a community minded attitude which benefits children well into adulthood.
“Early learning is such an exciting space to be in and Forbes Preschool continues to be at the forefront of learning and delivery. We are already delivering holistic services which work with the students through speech, occupational therapy and specialised play therapy in all our programs.”
“We continue to try and meet demand, and will partner with Forbes Shire Council and other bodies to ensure we make pre-school available, as it is a crucial time of learning for children under five years of age,” Amy said.
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