Parkes Phoenix Editor

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

Netball News And Results

November 29, 2019 by Maggi Barnard

The Forbes Netball Association will play the Finals of the Spring Night competitions for both mixed and ladies’ teams this week. The two top teams on the point score ladder will play off.

Best and Fairest points have been added for the season and the awards will be presented to players this week. Presentations will be held immediately after each final is played, and the Best and Fairest awards will also be presented. If for some reason the finals cannot be played, the teams that finished first on the ladder will be declared the winners.

Two social games will also be played this week, before the finals.

All players must have played three games with their team to be able to play in the finals.

Last week, two teams did not supply umpires for their duty of one umpire per allocation. Both teams lost two competition points. Ruff Neck Ring Inns and FPS Teachers must pay their $50 fine each, for not supplying an umpire for the first time. Payments can be made at the office on Wednesday night.

Ladder placings

Ladies competition: Hughes & Co, Chunky Pies, Trundle Hotel, Postie Hotel, Ruff Nek Ring Ins, Not Fast Just Furious.

Mixed competition: Gundamain Guns, RBCC, Van Hotel, FPS Teachers, Aggies,

Straya Mate, NSG to Postie, Couples Retreat, Swampies.

Annual General Meeting

The Annual General Meeting of the Forbes Netball Association will be held on Thursday February 20 2020 at 7 pm at the Forbes Services Memorial Club.

Autumn Night competitions

The 2020 Autumn night competitions for both mixed and ladies’ teams will start in February.

Nominations will close at the 2020 February monthly meeting, to be held immediately after the AGM. The competitions will be played through until June. No competition will be played during school holidays.

Snippets…

November 29, 2019 by Maggi Barnard

Selina Win Pe and Grahame Uphill reading the winning numbers for the Lions Club raffle on Wednesday evening.

Finding Peace In Giving: Last week on Wednesday evening Selina Win Pe gave a talk about her mission to improve the lives of country children, farmers and communities at the Forbes Services and Memorial Club, hosted by the Forbes Lions Club. Selina, who survived the 2014 Lindt Siege has sought alternative methods in her journey of healing from the trauma of the siege. Part of her healing has put her on a path of helping others which is why Selina is travelling across rural and remote NSW to meet with farmers and town people to gauge what different people need in their respective towns and to deliver whatever resources she can. Thanks to John Zannes and the Forbes and District Lions Club for inviting Selina to speak and for organising the evening. More information is available on Selina’s website www.selinawinpe.com.au

Pool Safety Reminder: With summer on our doorstep Forbes Shire Council is urging residents to assess pool safety at home. Residents are encouraged to make an appointment to talk to Council staff about their inflatable pool and fencing requirements. Appointments can be made by calling Council on 6850 2300 during office hours.

A Spectacular Weekend For Trundle Students: Year 7 students Charlie and Maggi Anderson, Sam Charlton and Oliver Dunn from Trundle Central School joined more than 150 other students from across drought ravaged NSW for a special week- end away in Sydney to see the Schools Spectacular.

The Trundle students travelled to Sydney as part of Wish Upon a Star, a joint initiative of the Department of Education and the Office of Sport and Transport NSW, supported by sponsors from RØDE Microphones and REX Airlines. The students were selected to attend the 2019 Schools Spectacular by their Principal, John Southon, as a reward for their good behaviour and merit.

Minister for Education Sarah Mitchell joined the visitors at the Saturday matinee of Schools Spectacular after they had enjoyed a day at the surrounding Sports and Recreation Camps, and said it was fantastic to see students whose communities are struggling from the impacts of drought able to relax and see a world-renowned show, “I hope that these young people have had a weekend to remember, and one that boosts their classmates when they return home and share their joy.”

Trundle Central school students attended the Schools Spectacular last weekend which included 5500 performers, including a 100 piece symphony orchestra.

Forbes High School Would Rather Be About It, Than Talk About It

November 29, 2019 by Maggi Barnard

Forbes High School operates as a community of people invested in the future. But don’t take their word for it, the proof is in the ways students access opportunities for lifelong success and is indicated by Sydney University’s preference to send Practice Teachers for internships. Sydney knows this is a school where teachers teach and learners learn; Forbes High School recognises the potential of education to enable, expand and enrich the lives of young learners inside and outside the classroom.

Forbes High School is leading the way in using technology to enrich learning with a future-focussed approach that enables students’ voice and choice. How does this impact on their students? The curriculum is diversified and students are encouraged to grow as creative and critical thinkers.

Question of the week

November 29, 2019 by Maggi Barnard

What are your thoughts about the planned upgrades to public areas around the Lake Forbes?

Steven Jarick: I reckon they’re great. What Council has done around the lake is brilliant, the cricket fence and the lights.

Andrew Barrass: It’s fantastic, we were at the opening of the pontoon and it’s just fantastic, the changes being made.

Jill Rubie: It’s all very beautiful, I just wonder if we needed that many lights and if the money could have been spent elsewhere.

Forbes Public School Growing In 2020

November 29, 2019 by Maggi Barnard

Next year Forbes Public (FPS) school will continue to be an exciting place to be for teachers, students and the parent community, operating under a philosophy that encourages high expectations, healthy relationships and promotes a really positive learning environment.

Next year FPS will have three kindergarten classes which is the most they have had for a long time. Kindergarten teachers will be Emily Gersbach, who has lots of experience in teaching infants, Tegan Davidson who comes from an early childhood background and Wendy Nicholls will continue as Assistant Principal as well as take on the third kindergarten class. Wendy has lots of experience in leadership as well as with teaching the early years and setting a solid learning foundation.

The school continues to maintain a focus on delivering a high-quality curriculum as well as wonderful sports programs. Other curriculum opportunities like the Enrichment and Engagement Program (EEP) which continue to give Forbes Public School students hand on science, mathematical and critical thinking-based learning opportunities..

Principal Meg Staples said, “We are all looking forward to returning together to continue the team effort and collegial approach to ensuring every student is known, valued and cared for at our school.”

A Great Turnout For Film Premiere

November 29, 2019 by Maggi Barnard

Fishing Australia’s Rob Paxevanos presented the Total Native II World Premiere on Friday evening.

Forbes was privileged to host the World Premiere of Total Native II last Friday night at Lions Park. Food vans, live music and a bar ensured the audience were in the utmost comfort.

Hundreds gathered with their camping chairs, picnic rugs and bean bags to watch the film, which featured a whole chapter filmed in and focusing on fishing in Forbes. Host of WIN’s Fishing Australia, Rob Paxevanos who starred in the film, also attended to present the film, answer questions and to talk about the filming of Total Native II. Rob seemed to be very impressed with his experiences fishing the Lachlan River for Murray Cod and Golden Perch over the course of filming. “We went looking and we found the fishing of our lives.”

Rob said that aside from presenting Australia and the fishing world with a surprising insight into Australian inland river fish and their behaviours, the film also showed people outside drought stricken Western NSW that “the Central West isn’t just some big dust bowl, there is water and there are fish.”

One stand out feature of the stunning cinematic journey was the capture and release of an enormous Murray Cod, weighing in at just over 45kg. This is the first time such a large Murray Cod has been captured on film. Filmed by Eugowra local Andrew Barnes, the premiere was thoroughly enjoyed by all in attendance.

Council Comments

November 29, 2019 by Maggi Barnard

It was a busy week for me. On Tuesday I attended the Local Government Transport Forum Western Region in Dubbo. There were presentations regarding fixing local roads and country bridges and road safety awareness and initiatives. Last year, an astounding 44 people died on our Western NSW roads, 20% were not wearing seatbelts. Statistics shouldn’t be this high and I think we can do something about this situation.

I also attended the Central NSW Joint Organisation (JO) in Canberra this week, as our Mayor, Phyllis Miller is on a well-earned holiday. Our region JO consists of 10 local council members and they are transforming the way the NSW Government and local councils collaborate, plan, set priori- ties and deliver important projects on a regional scale. United we are a strong voice that advocate at state and federal levels. Our region’s main priorities include Roads and Transport Infrastructure, Water Infrastructure, Health, Telecommunications, Regional Economic Development and the continuing drought and rural support.

How great was last Friday night at Lions Park watching the world premiere of the movie Total Native II. Thank you to our wonderful events team at Council for pulling it together and congratulations to Andrew Barnes and Rob Paxevanos on the production of such an amazing film. Seeing Lions Park full of people was a great sight to see.

Deputy Mayor, Jenny Webb

Forbes North Public School’s 2020 Vision

November 29, 2019 by Maggi Barnard

Kindergarten students couldn’t wish for a better start to their schooling life at Forbes North Public School with two dynamic, energetic, dedicated and highly experienced teachers to lead them through the very first stage of their educational journey.

This is exactly what is in store for new kindergarten students commencing school at Forbes North Public School in 2020. The 2020 Kindergarten kids will have the benefit of two outstanding teachers in Melissa Karaitiana and Dell Welsh focussing on their every learning need. Kindergarten students will also have the benefit of a full-time Learning Support Officer in their classrooms as well as access to a fully qualified and highly skilled school Speech Pathologist. Additionally, Forbes North Public School students are able to take advantage of a full-time Learning Support/ Intervention teacher who is dedicated to supporting students from kindergarten up to year two.

At Forbes North Public School, they believe it is absolutely vital that kindergarten students have the strongest possible foundation on which to build their future learning. Their holistic and community minded approach to enhancing the experience of Kindergarten in 2020 will provide students with just that.

Deportment And A Voice

November 29, 2019 by Maggi Barnard

Heather Earney (left) and Molly Fuge (right) were presented with cheques by Karen Wright of the Forbes CWA.

Part of the core business for the Country Women’s Association (CWA) is community involvement and being a voice for women, families and rural communities. Continuing the support of this, the Forbes CWA branch is again sponsoring the Miss Showgirl competition entrants Molly Fuge and Heather Earney, Forbes Miss Showgirl and Bedgerabong Miss Showgirl respectively.

At the November meeting both young ladies were presented with cheques to assist with their preparations and expenses in attending the zone finals. The zone finals of the Miss Showgirl Competition will be held in Dubbo on 22nd February next year.

Before then they will be participating in a Deportment weekend in Dubbo where all entrants from the zone are expected to attend to get guidance on how to present themselves.

Miss Showgirl provides a rural voice, especially for rural women, as well as promoting our area so when they represent this area, they are keeping issues of concern to much of our community in the public eye.

Forbes CWA President, Karen Wright and representatives of the Forbes Evening and Day Branches attended a meeting with the Acting Regional Director of Health regarding the concerns surrounding the present and future situations of Forbes and Parkes Maternity Units.

They discussed these concerns and how they will work going into 2020. Karen said that the outcome of this meeting was a positive one. The CWA is concerned with many issues around health and the lack of services in rural areas.

If you would like to join the Forbes CWA, they meet every second Thursday evening at 6.30pm for a meal, meeting and socialising at the Vandenberg Hotel. Come along and see what it is all about if you are not sure. Please note their next meeting will be on Thursday, 13th February next year.

Be Seen

November 29, 2019 by Maggi Barnard

John Zannes, Dianne Pymont, Garry Pymont and Jo Donnelly went to hear Selina Win Pe speak at the Forbes Services Memorial Club last week.

Graeme Mowbray spent some time chatting to Selina Win Pe after her talk on Wednesday evening.

Chantel Enslow with children Ivy and Jasper enjoying live music before the world premiere of Totally Native II at Lions Park on Friday night.

Noelene and Vic George came well prepared for the film premiere.

Parkes Phoenix Editor

Ladder placings

Annual General Meeting

Autumn Night competitions

What are your thoughts about the planned upgrades to public areas around the Lake Forbes?

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