Parkes Phoenix Editor

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

Ridgehaven Ram Sale Offers Top Quality Animals

August 21, 2020 by Maggi Barnard

Ridgehaven Poll Dorsets will offer 10 Stud Rams, 20 Stud Ewes and 130 Flock Rams.

Ever since Ridgehaven Poll Dorset stud was started in 1965, it has always been run with a focus on producing top quality, commercially focused animals. Structural correctness, fertility, ease of lambing, growth rates, muscle and fat cover and the wool type have been a basis for selection from the start. In the last four years, the stud has worked with meat processors and UNE to accurately identify genetic lines with superior lean meat yield, intramuscular fat (IMF) and eating quality. Ridgehaven has seen the benefits of carcass measurement and how this can be used for genetic gain and it is now an important annual aspect of their breeding program.

To maximise the opportunity for all their clients to be able to get the rams they want, the Ridgehaven ram sale will not only be held in person on property on Thursday, 10 September, but will also be interfaced on AuctionsPlus.

On Thursday, 27 August, there will be an open day where the rams and ewes can be viewed. For the safety of all attending, on the open day and on sale day, COVID-safe measures will be in place. For more information contact Ruth Klingner 0438642113, Isabele Roberts 0405098335 or Floyd Legge 0402185727.

Our Gal – Amy Gallagher

August 21, 2020 by Maggi Barnard

What school do you go to and what do you like most about it? I attend Forbes High School and what I like most about it is the culture surrounding the school community and the support system in place to assist the students for success in all aspects of their schooling.

What is your favourite subject at school and why? My favourite subject is biology because it makes you think deeper about the world you live in and it is interesting to learn all about the human body.

What makes you laugh the most? My gal pals.

What is your dream job? My dream job is to become a surgical or anaesthetist nurse.

If you could have a superpower, what would it be? The superpower I wish I could have is the ability to time travel into the future or back to the past.

What is your pet hate? People being on their phone during class time.

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live and why? I would live in New York City, because there is a range of different cultures and there is always something to do, you can never be bored.

Stop Gowning Around To End PJ Paralysis

August 21, 2020 by Maggi Barnard

Forbes Hospital staff are taking part in the #endpjparalysis 90-day-challenge in September. (credit: rjah_nhs instagram)

Staff across the Western NSW Local Health District (WNSWLHD) are encouraging patients coming to the hospital to bring spare clothes, as part of the #EndPJParalysis 90 Day Challenge.

WNSWLHD project lead, Rachael Hallam said: “The international campaign focuses on the mental and physical benefits of patients wearing day clothes and keeping active during their stay in hospital.”

Our clothes influence our feelings, behaviour, and identity. “Wearing normal day clothes instead of pyjamas helps make patients feel more confident and independent,” Rachael said. By wearing their own clothes, patients are also encouraged to maintain a routine and be more social which in turn, keeps them active with a more positive mindset.

“It also makes it easier to keep active which reduces the risk of muscle weakness, falls and pressure sores. This is especially important for the elderly, one week in a hospital bed can lead to a loss of 1.5kg muscle and 10% loss of general fitness,” Rachael said.

Forbes Hospital will begin the challenge on Tuesday, 1 September and staff are participating in the challenge to get as many patients up, dressed and moving each morning as possible. “Patients can support the campaign and improve their health by bringing comfy day clothes to hospital or asking family, friends or carers to bring suitable clothes,” Rachael said.

The #EndPJParalysis initiative was created by Professor Brian Dolan, to encourage patients to get up, dressed and moving to reduce the risk of deconditioning while in hospital.

Felix Rams 22nd Annual On-Property Sale

August 21, 2020 by Maggi Barnard

Felix Rams focuses on producing efficient and profitable prime lambs by breeding high performance, structurally sound rams for efficient prime lamb enterprises. Their commitment to collecting good accurate performance data is in the DNA and is embedded as the fundamental approach to the way they breed sheep.

In the world of big data, 27,000 lambs weighed within 12 hours of birth, 22,000 weaning weights, almost 18,500 scans with weights for postweaning fat and muscle and 4,400 individual worm egg counts is a lot of data. This is the performance data that influences the ram selection and the accuracy of the Sheep Genetics Lambplan asbvs on the rams you buy.

Felix Rams are selected for quick early growth and maturity, not maximum adult ram size. Most of the selection is done at 6.5 to 7 months, reflecting the age most lambs are sold. At Felix it is all about the lambs. Felix Rams selects for early maturity to efficiently produce a 22-28 kg lamb. Early maturity also means your suckers have the best chance of hitting the target year in year out, while attention to the “right” amount of fat means that you will almost always have finish on your lambs at market weights.

Despite the tough start, the 2019 drop rams have transformed with the improved season. Felix Rams selection are for rams that perform on pasture and under commercial conditions. This year’s sale rams are paddock grown and finished and are not pumped up or grown out on a grain feeder.

Felix Rams will offer around 140 Poll Dorset and 50 White Suffolk rams at their 22nd annual on-property sale at Greenethorpe on 1 September at 1pm. Catalogues are available at www.felixrams.com.au. Email felixrams@gmail.com or call Rodney 0417 499 204, Isaac 0437 493 407 or the selling agents, Allan Gray and Co Cowra 02 6342 2377.

Mixed Foursomes Success

August 21, 2020 by Maggi Barnard

The weekend had a Men’s Stableford on Saturday and the Mixed Foursomes Championship on Sunday, where John Betland achieved success in both.

In the Saturday Men’s 18-Hole Stableford, sponsored by Gunns Traffic Control, there were 76 starters with only 72 finishing.

The Division 1 winner was Kim Herbert with 38 points, very nicely ahead of runnerup Peter Dawson on 34 points. Both players managed a few birdies in the heavy conditions. The Division 2 winner was Liam Whitfield with the day’s best score of 39 points, closely followed by Jeff Haley on 37 points, on count back.

The ball sweep went to 32 points on count back; 37, L De Bock; 34, P Dawson, N Ryan, A Currey, T Morgan, D Churchill, B Chandler, A Dukes; 33, M Simmonds, D Bernardi, P Grayson, D Earl, T Callaghan, B Slack-Smith; 32, M Duff, L O’Connor, R Smith, D Bayley, B Doyle, S Uphill, J Cutler and A Grogan.

The NTP’s went to 9th D Mylecharane; 18th Betland, with Andy Dukes taking the ‘Super Pin’ prize. Visitors were Lex de Brock from Gosford and Rowan Fessey from Kogorah.

The Mixed Foursomes Championship was played on Sunday. Among the 19 pairs who contested the Championship were a few new pairings in the field, some of whom were surprising performers.

After the opening 18-holes, the Scratch leaders by two shots were John Betland and Nicole Death, while Pete and Lindy Cowhan led the Handicap event by a narrow margin of one stroke.

The Scratch Champions, and winners of the Les Forbes Trophy, were John Betland and Nicole Death on a score of 125. Runners-up were Barry Shine and Heather Davidson with a score of 132.

The Handicap Champions, and winners of the Treanor Memorial Trophy, were John Betland and Nicole Death with a score of 106.25 nett. Runners-up were Pete and Lindy Cowhan with a nett 109.25.

The ball sweep went to 115.75 nett, going to 111.5, Sallaway/Rebelato; 112.5, S and E Uphill; 113.25, Shine/Davidson; 115.25, Griffiths/Fletcher; 115.75, Taylor/Lyell.

All players are advised that due to COVID-19 restrictions in the Golfie Hotel, the scanning of score cards will be done by a designated member and not by individual players. It is important therefore that your score cards are completed correctly.

Keep in touch on Facebook forbesgolfcourse, Instagram forbesgolf2871, or the website www.forbesgolf.org.au.

By Short Putt

Be Seen

August 14, 2020 by Maggi Barnard

Babies and brunch. Sienna and baby Alice enjoying a morning cuppa in town.

Umima Austral and sweet little Millie Dukes out on the town for brunch.

Barista Brett Slessor is a town favourite who gets a thumbs up from patrons.

Snippets…

August 14, 2020 by Maggi Barnard

Rural Aid are calling on photographers to submit work for their Bush Photo Competition.

Calling On Photographers: Rural Aid is calling all photographers for their inaugural Bush Photo Competition. The ‘life on the land or in the bush’ competition is open until 3 September 2020. If you are a photographer or a budding photographer and you have a love for rural Australia, then this is the competition for you. Rural Aid are looking for images, ground level or aerial, of our Aussie farmers and their families, and a depiction of what their life is like on the land or in the bush. There are also great prizes to be won.

To enter, participants can submit their entries from 10 August to 3 September 2020 by posting high-resolution images on Instagram with the hashtags #RAPhotoContest and #SpiritoftheBush and tagging @ruralaid in the image. Alternatively, submissions can be emailed to images@ruralaid.org.au. The photos will then be added to stories and a highlight reel on the Rural Aid Instagram page.

Lachlan Water Restrictions Lifted: The NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment have announced the lifting of temporary water restrictions for general security account water in the Lachlan regulated river water source.

Recent rainfall has provided sufficient inflows to both Wyangala Dam and Lake Brewster which have increased by a combined 115 gigalitres (GL) in July and are still rising.

Based on the inflows so far, there is now enough water to meet critical human and high priority needs. Under these circumstances, water security has been restored so the temporary water restriction applied in the public interest is no longer required and has been repealed. The lifting of the temporary water restriction also means that normal water sharing plan and accounting rules now apply.

Road Closures: As predicted, the rain that fell over the weekend has resulted in roads in and around the Forbes Shire being closed to traffic. Water over the road and damage to roads means Littles Road and Forest Road are open to local traffic only. Pinnacle Road is closed to all traffic with no detour in place. Seymore Armitage Road is also closed. All unsealed roads in the Forbes Shire are closed to vehicles over 4.5tonne, excepting school buses, Council road plant and emergency vehicles. Concessions are available upon request by contacting Council’s Engineering Department on 6850 2300 and choosing option two. More information can be found online: https://www.forbes.nsw.gov.au/residents/emergency-information/road-closures.

Road closures in and around Forbes continue after more rain last weekend has damaged and left some roads underwater.

What To Look For In An Investment Property

August 14, 2020 by Maggi Barnard

Today I am discussing all the things you should be looking for when purchasing an investment property.

It is important to look for a property with desirable qualities, as this is going to assist you in the long run with aspects such as how long it takes to fill the home, how much rent you can get per week, and the quality of tenant you attract.

The location of the property is important, properties within close proximity to town and main areas such as schools and facilities are desirable.

It is also helpful to consider the condition and quality of the property, purchasing a property that will continuously require work and problems is not ideal for any investor.

Tenants often desire a more modern and comfortable home, sometimes this may be a minor face lift to the home.

Another area to focus on is the neighbourhood, as this will sometimes affect the type of tenants that you do attract.

It is crucial to do your sums beforehand, as cash flow is always king when aiming to ensure an adequate return on investment.

Once you have selected the perfect investment home, it is time to choose a property management team that will provide you peace of mind and security. After all, you want your property to be in the best managing hands.

For more information regarding our property management services, feel free to contact us at Century 21 Central West.

Netball News

August 14, 2020 by Maggi Barnard

Saturday Junior Mixed Netball
There is still time to come and try Saturday Junior mixed netball, but all the girls and boys who have been coming are now required to register. This will allow the committee to structure the programming on Saturday mornings.

Players will be asked to record their names before they play in both time slots, so they are asked to come 10 minutes earlier, so this can happen, and not take up any playing time.

Thank you to all the parents who are helping with the sessions, it makes for a lot of fun when everyone can enjoy their time at netball.

Players register online in MyNetball, and the link is on Forbes Netball Facebook.

If anyone needs help with registration they can come to the office on Saturday and ask. Some restrictions are still in place because of COVID-19 and the FNA has a COVID-19 Safety Plan in place.

Junior players can be accompanied by one adult only, and everyone is required to observe social distancing. Thank you to everyone for observing the restrictions that are in place, so the committee can run junior netball and all players can enjoy their time at netball in a safe environment.

Our Bloke – Jack Cole

August 14, 2020 by Maggi Barnard

What school do you go to and what do you like most about it? I go to Forbes High School and I like the support from teachers.

What is your favourite subject at school and why? Agriculture, I am most passionate about that industry.

What makes you laugh the most? English class.

What is your dream job? To be a Farmer.

If you could have a superpower, what would it be? It would be to have the ability to fly.

What is something you are really good at? Showing cattle.

What is your pet hate? People chewing loudly.

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live and why? I would choose Forbes, I love the small country town and community.

Parkes Phoenix Editor

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