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Forbes Phoenix

Parkes Phoenix Editor

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

Be Harvest Ready

October 23, 2020 by Maggi Barnard

The recent Be Road Ready For Harvest Virtual Field Day, held via Zoom, was a sellout. More than 90 people registered for the event with a further 20 people signing up to the waitlist.

Attendees were a mixture of farmers, contract harvesters, transport companies, agricultural machinery retailers, government agencies, council staff and relevant associations.

The event was supported by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator, Transport for NSW, NSW Police, NSW Farmers, WFI and Parkes, Forbes and Lachlan Shire Councils.

It provided information about the current regulations for safely and legally moving agricultural vehicles and combinations on the road.

Parkes, Forbes and Lachlan Shire Councils’ Road Safety and Injury Prevention Officer, Melanie Suitor, said it was great to see strong numbers for the Virtual Field Day, especially as the region is expecting a good harvest for the first time in a number of years.

“Unfortunately due to the current COVID restrictions we weren’t able to hold our face to face event at the Central West Livestock Exchange at Forbes, but it was very pleasing to see many of the regulars join us for the online event. There were also a large number of first-time attendees from right across the Central West.”

“Safety and compliance during harvest is very important. Operators need to be aware of their responsibilities and ensure that during harvest all warning devices and travel requirements are adhered to.”

“Regulations are constantly changing and events like this are important to ensure people are up to date on what’s required before the upcoming harvest period,” Melanie said.

The Virtual Field Day was recorded and can be accessed on the Forbes Shire Council’s YouTube channel.

Counting Glossies: Central West Volunteers Needed

October 23, 2020 by Maggi Barnard

The NSW Saving our Species program is calling for community volunteers to become “cockatoo counters” and help be part of the Great Inland Glossy Count this November.

National Parks and Wildlife Service Senior Project Officer Adam Fawcett said anyone can be a part of it.

“Bird lovers, citizen scientists or anyone with an interest in this beautiful threatened species, are needed to survey Glossy Black Cockatoo populations at three key sites around inland NSW.

“Glossies are easily spotted with their distinctive red markings and this cockatoo count will help our scientists understand more about this threatened bird,” he said.

This is the second year the Great Inland Glossy Count has occurred. In 2019 seventy volunteers participated and counted over 700 Glossy Black Cockatoos across inland NSW.

On Saturday, 21 November, Goobang National Park, some 100km from Forbes, will be surveyed.

“What a great opportunity to get out to some of our amazing national parks and state forests, sit back and watch a threatened species in its natural habitat,” Adam said.

Volunteers will need to pre-register using the Department of Planning Industry and Environment’s website www.app.betterimpact.com/PublicEnterprise. COVID guidelines will be followed.

The project is funded by the NSW Government’s Saving our Species program and the NSW Environmental Trust, and is led by Central West Local Land Services in partnership with NPWS, NSW Forest Corp, Dubbo Field Naturalists, Australian Wildlife Conservancy and the land owners and managers within these areas.

Teddy Bears Have Their Picnic

October 23, 2020 by Maggi Barnard

Keep an eye out for the hidden teddy bears throughout the CBD.

The 2020 Children’s Week will be celebrated a little differently this year. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the annual Teddy Bears Picnic will be going virtual!

Forbes Shire Council has partnered with the Forbes Business Chamber for an amazing Teddy Bear Hunt, taking place in the Forbes CBD from Saturday, 24 October until Friday, 1 November. Find the bears hidden in shop windows throughout the CBD, then upload your photos to Instagram with the @forbesyouthactionteam and @forbesbc tag for your chance to win a $50 Why Leave Town card. Alternatively, post your photo to the Virtual Teddy Bears Picnic event page on Facebook for the chance to win. Council is also supporting Forbes preschools and day-care centres to carry out their in-centre celebrations and is looking forward to sharing all the fun and photos from these events. Parents and carers are encouraged to follow @ForbesYouthActionTeam on Instagram and Facebook and to like the Virtual Teddy Bears Picnic event to stay in the loop.

The Youth Action Team will also be sharing ways parents and carers can celebrate Children’s Week at home throughout the week, including recipes, DIYs, and fun activities.

Be Seen

October 23, 2020 by Maggi Barnard

Golf: The weekends main Championship winners were Steve Betland (A Grade), Kim Herbert (A-Reserve), sponsor Tony Cogswell, Stephen Uphill (B Grade), Ben Robinson (C Grade).

 

Solar Lights Award: Steve Loane GM, Mayor Phyllis Miller, Aaron Parker Project Manager, Viv McGrath.

 

The latest Central West Credit Union Monthly Sports Achiever is Gracie-May Lander who broke the 50m junior girls backstroke and individual medley at the St Laurence’s School swimming carnival.

Forbes Shire Council Wins Environmental Award

October 23, 2020 by Maggi Barnard

Waste Wednesday Award: Senior Communications Officer Cassie Gates, Mayor Phyllis Miller and Waste and Environmental Specialist Hiral Patel.

Forbes Shire Council has been awarded the winner of Division A: Behaviour Change in Waste for their Waste Wednesday social media campaign.

“Through this campaign we engage with the community and spread awareness about the ongoing resource recovery facilities available in the Forbes Shire, as well as innovations and additions to the existing resource recovery programs,” says Forbes Shire Council Mayor Phyllis Miller OAM.

“It is our commitment to continue this campaign on a weekly basis for the foreseeable future, providing high quality and valuable information to the community about improving resource recovery and waste issues.”

Council also received a Highly Commended in Division A: Sustainable Infrastructure for the solar lights around Lake Forbes walkway.

Forbes Shire Council installed five kilometres of solar lighting along the ten kilometres of walking track surrounding Lake Forbes.

“This is actually believed to be the longest installation of solar lighting in the world,” Phyllis continued, “The work so far has been undertaken by farmers and farm labourers affected by the 2018/19 drought in a special employment program created by Council to help support the local farming community during the drought.”

“The installation of the solar lights next to the walking tracks surrounding the Lake has proven to be highly popular with residents and visitors alike. We continued to use these lights in lower Templar Street as well due to their efficiency and the ambient light they project.”

Forbes Shire Council has also been nominated as one of three Councils within NSW by NSW EPA to be involved in a pilot education campaign in relation to Food Organics and Garden Organics (FOGO) as a means to reduce the amount of organic waste going into landfill.

Another bin audit will take place in November to identify if waste behaviours have in fact changed due to the education program.

Local History; Charles West – Part Two

October 23, 2020 by Maggi Barnard

Charles married 19-year-old Harriet Jane Ewer on 9 September 1848 at All Saints Church in Bathurst, NSW. Harriet was born on 7 April 1829 in Parramatta, NSW and died 27 June 1856 at just 27 years of age. Charles and Harriet had two children, Charles Edward West, born 20 July 1850, and Ann West, born 25 August 1852. Charles was married to Jane Macllveen at Goulburn in the year following Harriet’s death and together, they had one daughter.

Charles Edward West married Frances Rose Newnham on 9 September 1881 in Forbes. He worked as a horse-breaker at “Brumbion” on the Turon River near Tambaroora, NSW and afterwards worked for Keiran L.G. Cummings, a squatter, on “Grojary” near Forbes. Charles drowned in the Lachlan River at Jemalong near Forbes in May 1860, aged 40.

The Forbes Family History Group is open on Wednesdays from 10am to 12pm and on Saturdays from 11am to 3pm. The group is contactable by email at ffhg@westserv.net.au and the rooms are located behind the Library. Phone 6851 5096 for more information.

Our Bloke – Matt Prow

October 23, 2020 by Maggi Barnard

How long have you lived in or around Forbes and what do you like about living here? Twenty years, I like walking around the lake, it’s still and countryesque.

What was your first job? I worked at Gunn’s Menswear, when I was 14.

What makes you laugh the most? A good joke.

If money were no object, what would you do with your time? I’d go to the beach a lot, or just go somewhere nice to enjoy the outdoors with an iced coffee.

Describe your dream holiday? Morning walks with a coffee and breakfast to follow, and then theme parks or waterparks and then a nice dinner by the ocean.

What is a favourite childhood memory of yours? I love Christmas, massive family BBQs and get togethers, we always go away somewhere, and I love that.

If you could live in any time or place, where and when would that be? Hollywood in the 1960’s.

If you could share a meal with any three people, past or present, who would they be? My partner Ben, Kristen Chenoweth, and Jennifer Aniston.

If you could have a superpower, what would it be? To breathe underwater.

What is your pet hate? Micromanaging.

Snippets…

October 23, 2020 by Maggi Barnard

With increased road travel predicted for 2021, it is important for businesses to support the ‘Free Cuppa For The Driver’ scheme.

2021 ‘Free Cuppa For The Driver’ Business Registrations Open: Local businesses are invited to help tackle driver fatigue by registering to take part in next year’s ‘Free Cuppa for the Driver’ scheme. The multi award-winning driver fatigue awareness campaign will run from 1 March to 31 May 2021.

The scheme encourages visiting drivers to stop at participating businesses for a free cuppa and to take a break from driving long distances. Entering its eleventh year, the scheme sees partnerships formed between participating Councils and local businesses. The Councils provide the marketing and administer the scheme whilst the participating businesses provide the free cuppas.

Since its inception the ‘Free Cuppa for the Driver’ scheme has given away more than 27,000 free cuppas in 265 participating businesses across 91 towns, and cities in regional NSW. Organisers are expecting to see a large increase in road travel in 2021 as domestic and international flights remain heavily reduced.

The closing date for phase eleven registrations is Friday, 30 October 2020. If your business would like to participate in the ‘Free Cuppa for the Driver’ scheme please contact Melanie Suitor on 6861 2364 or email Melanie.Suitor@parkes.nsw.gov.au

Spring Photo Competition: It is that time of year again. The Forbes Phoenix is running its annual Spring Photo Competition, and we are looking for your best and brightest spring snaps taken in and around beautiful Forbes. This year, Sarah Hodge from Essjay Photography is sponsoring the competition. Submissions can be made on the Forbes Phoenix Facebook page, or emailed to sales@forbesphoenix.com.au. Entries are being accepted until the end of October 2020.

COVID-19 Restrictions Eased: Gatherings in outdoor public spaces and group bookings at restaurants will be increased to 30 people under a relaxation of COVID-19 rules. From this Friday, 23 October, 30 people can gather outdoors in public spaces. Previously this was 20. The previous rule of a maximum of 10 customers per table and per booking in hospitality venues has now been extended to 30. Also, as of last Friday, 16 October, corporate functions of up to 300 people can now be held at any appropriate premises, including at restaurants, subject to a COVID-Safe plan.

From 1 December, the number of people who can attend weddings will be lifted to 300 people subject to the four-square metre rule indoors and two-square metre rule outdoors.

Time is running out to enter the Spring photo competition.

Our Gal – Daniella Perceval

October 16, 2020 by Maggi Barnard

How long have you lived in or around Forbes and what do you like about living here? I have lived here for five years, I love the friendly people and there is so much to do.

What was your first job? I was a cook.

What makes you laugh the most? Seeing the funny things my kids do every day.

If money were no object, what would you do with your time? Traveling, I’d wake up in a new city every day.

Describe your dream holiday? Beach, tequilla, no kids.

What is a favourite childhood memory of yours? Spending Christmas holidays at my nans with the whole family together.

If you could live in any time or place, where and when would that be? 1920’s in Chicago.

If you could share a meal with any three people, past or present, who would they be? Nelson Mandela, Axel Rose, and Chris Rock.

If you could have a superpower, what would it be? To be able to be everywhere at once.

What is your pet hate? Unmotivated people.

Hot Scores In Club Champs

October 16, 2020 by Maggi Barnard

Brett Thomas and Jordan Brett anxiously watch Jordan’s tee shot.

The Club Championships for Men, sponsored by Lachlan Commodities and Marg Hurst, commenced on the weekend with good fields. Alongside the Championship there are daily competitions, sponsored by Pool Magic.

The Saturday Daily Competition results were quite tame. Division One was won by Tony Wallace with 69 nett, getting there on count back from Ken Sanderson. The Division Two returned similar scores with Ben Robinson on 69 nett, and closely followed by Steve Grallelis on 70 nett.

The ball sweep went to 74 nett on count bac, players need to check the Pro Shop to see if they were successful. The NTP’s went to: 9th, M Spice and 18th, J Coulthurst. The ProShop Super Pin went to Scott Kirkman.

The Sunday Daily Competition saw many hot scores returned. The Division One winner was Steve Uphill with a 64 nett, ahead of Jacob Bernardi on 66 nett. In Division Two, Brett Thomas was inspired with nett 63, with Glendon Hooper on a nett 66. The ball sweep again went to 74 nett on countback, players need to check in the Pro Shop. The NTP’s went to 9th, D Mylecharane and 18th, T Wallace. The ProShop Super Pin went to Ben Robinson, who had a great day.

The Club Championship continues this weekend with rounds three and four and there will be a seeded draw for the top placings on Sunday.

The 2020 VW Scramble is on Sunday, 25 October, registrations can be done online or through the Pro Shop. Talk to Adam for more details.

The ASI-sponsored 2020-21 Summer Sixes competition commenced this week, with many new players signing up. Results for Week One will be available next week.

Head Pro Adam is organising Junior Coaching for the school fourth term. Contact him at the Pro Shop on 6851 1554 for more details.

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