Parkes Phoenix Editor

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

Tickets, Trees And Amazing Sign This Christmas

November 22, 2019 by Maggi Barnard

The Find It In AMAZING Forbes Christmas Promotion will run from 11th November until 10:30am on 24th December. The Forbes Business Chamber would like to thank the sponsors, participants and supporters for assisting to make this Forbes promotion such as success.

When shopping locally you can collect your tickets from any of the following sponsors or participating businesses. Forbes Services Memorial Club, Terry Bros. Carpet Court, Acheson’s Home Timber, Steele Technology, Vandenberg Hotel, Little Extras, Flannery’s Pharmacy, Walkers Ag N Vet, Forbes Family Dentist, Turners Furniture One, News On Rankin, Forbes Vet Clinic, Helloworld Travel, Powertools Plus, Undercover Sleepwear, Gunn’s Mensland, Made Of Fridays, Bron’s Hair Designs, Life Pharmacy, Agriwest, Betta Home Living (Forbes), Loomzys Fish and Fix, Bernardis, HozPots, Blush Beauty, Bowns Sports Power, Euphoria Road, Chapter Two, Cahills, Allure On Main, Painted Daisies and Phillip Wells Optometrist.

Welcome To Forbes, Where Our Stories Meet

November 22, 2019 by Maggi Barnard

New residents of Forbes were welcomed last Friday evening at the biannual Welcome to Forbes Reception hosted by the Forbes Shire Council.

New residents of Forbes gathered last Friday evening for the biannual Welcome to Forbes Reception, hosted by the Forbes Shire Council. The recent arrivals mingled with long-time locals and community leaders while enjoying great food and music at the Forbes Sport and Recreation Club.

Mayor Phyllis Miller was there to meet new residents of Forbes, along with other council members. It was evident in her welcome speech that Mayor Miller shares in the pride that Forbes residents have, stating “Forbes is the love of my life. It is a place that gives it’s residents the opportunity to realise their dreams”. This was a sentiment shared by many of the locals in attendance on the night. Mayor Miller’s speech concluded with the gifting of vouchers to the newcomers, to be redeemed at local retailers.

As the evening progressed, guests shared their experiences of relocating, as well as how and why they had come to Forbes. Some of the guests had come from other countries and some had come from other states and cities in Australia, some had settled here decades ago, whereas others had only come a few months ago.

The Welcome to Forbes event is a fantastic initiative taken by the Forbes Shire Council which gives the opportunity for newcomers to become better acquainted with local people, organisations, community groups as well as the culture of Forbes in general, hopefully resulting in a smoother and happier transition into country life.

By Alexandria Irvine

Grazing Gets Gold

November 22, 2019 by Maggi Barnard

Mandy Tooth, Penny Rout, Kim Muffet, Olivia Turner, Wendy Muffet took home gold at the NSW Tourism Awards for Grazing Down The Lachlan last week.

Grazing Down The Lachlan has been awarded gold in the Festival and Events category at the 2019 NSW Tourism Awards. Grazing received the accolade in front of 500 industry representatives at a gala even- ing held at the Four Seasons Hotel Sydney last week.

The Festival and Events category recognises leisure festivals, events and exhibitions that enhance the profile/awareness and appeal of the destination they are held in as well as creating economic impact, increased visitation and community involvement.

The event takes place along the Lachlan River just on the outskirts of Forbes on the Condobolin Road. “This is great news for our region, we are certainly holding our own in terms of Tourism,” said Cr Medcalf OAM, Chair of Central NSW Joint Organisation and Mayor of Lachlan Shire Council.

“Shocked, excited and delighted sums up Team Grazing’s response to the Gold award win,” Chair of Grazing Down The Lachlan Committee, Wendy Muffett said. “It was great to see events and businesses from the bush take out so many of the awards, and it was truly an honour and a privilege to share the stage with them.”

“Heartfelt thanks to our sponsors, caterers, many volunteers and our friends at the Forbes Wiradjuri Dreaming Centre. This win belongs to all of us and just goes to show what this amazing town of ours can do when we work together.”

Now in its 30th year, the annual NSW Tourism Awards are the largest and most prestigious event on the New South Wales tourism calendar.

Grazing Down The Lachlan will progress to the Qantas Australian Tourism Awards to be held in Canberra on Friday, 6th March next year.

Having cemented itself on the regional events calendar, Grazing Down The Lachlan will return to the banks of the Lachlan River in Forbes on Saturday, 18th September next year.

Croquet Results

November 22, 2019 by Maggi Barnard

Golf Croquet Tuesday, 12th November
There was a great roll up for the game with the early start beating the heat of the day. Evelyn Mahlo, Lorraine Todd and Bruce Field were the winners of 3 games.

Close games recorded were B Scott and J Littlejohn 7, L Todd and K Rubie 6, D Scott and G Coles 7, J Littlejohn and B Scott 6, L Todd and R Cheney 7, L Allegri and D Scott 6.

A very pleasant luncheon was enjoyed at the Services Club to celebrate the birthdays of Bruce Field, Bill and Dorelle Scott. The OBE award was presented to Dorelle.

Aussie Croquet Saturday, 16th November
The cooler mornings brought out members for another great social game with friendship and light exercise the main aim. There were 3 winners who won all games, John Browne, Merv Langfield and Barry White. Some close games were Kath Broderick who was playing like a professional and J Cole 14, J MacCullagh and C Liebich 12, J Rubie and S Hepburn 14, L Smart and M Spry 12, M Langfield and B White 14, E Quirk and V MacCullagh 13, E McLean and J Littlejohn 14, D Rogers and L Todd 13, B White V and MacCullagh 14.

MAYORAL NOTES

November 22, 2019 by Maggi Barnard

What a great week Forbes has had! Grazing Down the Lachlan won gold at the NSW Tourism Awards. Congratulations to Wendy and Kim Muffet and the whole Grazing team. You have done an amazing job.

Last Friday Sam Farraway announced $5.7 million for the Somewhere Down the Lachlan Sculpture Trail. Congratulations to Keith Mullette and the team from the Forbes Art Society. Yet another enthusiastic group of people who have a wonderful vision for Forbes. I can’t wait to see the new sculptures, cultural centre and the re- development of the Bird Hide area at Gum Swamp.

Lastly Forbes Preschool has won a national award for their engagement with the principles of reconciliation. Amy Shine and her team do a wonderful job in educating our little ones.

This week I have been in the Adelaide Hills for the Australian Local Government Association Board Meeting and the National Local Roads and Transport Congress. The congress has provided some very interesting presentations including Heavy Vehicle National Regulatory Review and The State of Australia’s Infrastructure by Infrastructure Australia CEO, Romilly Madew AO. The theme for this congress was “Breaking Through for Modern Transport”. It is great to hear about how technology and innovation will help us maintain our local roads well into the future.

That’s all for now. God Bless.
Your Mayor Phyllis Miller

Netball News

November 22, 2019 by Maggi Barnard

Carmen Jelbart, Kally Molloy and Marg Spackman took part in the FNA Umpiring Program.

This is the final week for Forbes Netball Spring competitions for both mixed and ladies’ teams.

Next week the two top teams on the point score ladder in each competition will play off for first and second place.

Any teams willing to play next week should come to the office on Wednesday night to be included into a draw.

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

If, for some reason the weather is unsuitable to play, the team that finished first on the point score ladder will be declared the winner.

Thank you to the helpers
The FNA Committee would also like to thank all the volunteers who have helped run the competition. Thank you to the umpires who have umpired every week. Thank you also to Vanessa, who has organised the office duties, so games can be played on time.

Forbes On A Winning Streak With Government Grant

November 22, 2019 by Maggi Barnard

Last week the NSW Government announced $5.7 million to establish The Somewhere Down the Lachlan Sculpture Trail.

The funding will deliver an iconic Sculpture Trail with 20 commissioned artworks along the Sculpture Trail between Forbes and Condobolin, some up to 10 metres tall. There will also be a new cultural centre and three additional bird hides at Gum Swamp to view local birdlife. Sam Farraway announced the project on Friday, saying “This sculpture trail will be a unique, permanent installation unlike anything else in regional NSW, providing visitors with an amazing nature viewing experience that will rival other great local attractions like the Graz- ing Down the Lachlan food festival.”

Forbes Shire Council Mayor Phyllis Miller welcomed news of the funding and said that council would provide a contribution of $784,000 to deliver the project. “This is exciting news for Forbes, the cultural centre will be a place to nurture local talent and celebrate local Wiradjuri art,” Mayor Miller said.

Congratulations and thank you to the Forbes Art Society and Forbes Shire Council for their tireless efforts and contribution to the cultural enrichment in and around Forbes.

Medallist Honours To Dan Bayley

November 22, 2019 by Maggi Barnard

Garry Collits putting while George Falvey watches intently.

The Men’s golf last weekend was an 18 Hole stroke event, sponsored by Loomzy’s Fish n Fix, that incorporated the Annual Medal of Medallists (MoM). The MoM was contested by 30 players and Dan Bayley won the Honours with nett 65.

The Individual Stroke comp also had good scores. Dan Bayley won the Division 1 comp with his 65 nett, while runner-up was Jacob Bernardi with 67 nett. In Division 2, Graham Newport had his best day for a long time with a nett 65, finishing ahead of Garry Collits on 68 nett.

NTP’s were available on all Par-3’s. The Comp NTP’s went to – 1st: James Co- nolly (Duntryleague); 9th – J Zannes. The Tuesday Golfers sponsored went to: 3rd A-Grade: I Bown, B-Grade: P Conway, C- Grade: B Squires; 18th A Grade: S Kirk- man, B-Grade: G Newport, C-Grade: nil.

The ball sweep went to 72 nett on count back: 65 – G Newport, D Bayley; 67 – J Bernardi; 68 – G Collits; 69 – M Wood, A Alley; 70 – D Ridley, T Morgan, M Spice; 71 – D Mylecharane, D Churchill, M Wood Jnr (Dubbo), A Dukes; 72 – Alf Davies, T Grif- fiths, T Callaghan, R Besgrove, P Dawson.

On Sunday the Annual VW Scramble, a 4-person Ambrose event, was played. However, this year the numbers were well down.

The winning team (D Bayley/T Callagahan/B Hodges/B Robinson) had a scratch score 59, with nett score 53 1⁄4. The runners-up (P Dawson/J Betland/D Sly/J Fletcher0 were back with 62 scratch, 57 5/8 nett. Meanwhile 3rd place went to visitors N Walker/ D Faro-Mann/ A Mann/ A Bullock, with a 64, nett 59 1⁄2.

Saturday, 23 November is a 4BBB Med- ley, playing in the Deacon Dwyer Day, and sponsored by Rod Besgrove. Saturday, 30 November is an 18 Hole Stroke, sponsored by Knights Fabrications, with a Stableford Medley on Sunday, 1 December.

By Short Putt

Forbes Community Gathers To Honour Our Soldiers

November 15, 2019 by Maggi Barnard

Vice-president of the Forbes RSL sub-branch Neil Biddle led the Remembrance Day service on Monday in Victoria Park.

At 11am on Monday the nation paused for Remembrance Day, marking the 101st anniversary of the Armistice that ended the First World War on 11th November 1918.

Between 1914 and 1918 a newly federated Australia sent 414,000 of their citizens to face the horrors of modern industrialised war. By 1918, almost 62,000 Australians lay dead among the mud and destruction of the trenches in Europe and on the sands of Sinai, Palestine and Syria, never to return to their loved ones back home.

On 11th November, at 11am, people all over the world observe a minutes silence in memory of those who have died or suffered in war and on peacekeeping and humanitarian operations, a tradition the Australian War Memorial continued at its National Ceremony in Canberra as well as in towns and cities all over Australia.

In Forbes around 200 residents including ex-servicemen and their families, members of community groups and schools, both young and old gathered in Victoria Park to lay wreaths at the Cenotaph and observe a minutes silence. This was concluded by the playing of the Last Post. Neil Biddle, Vice President of Forbes RSL sub-branch gave an emotive and moving address to those gathered for the service and representatives from Forbes High School and Red Bend Catholic College read the names of local servicemen who had died in conflict.

Find It In AMAZING Forbes

November 15, 2019 by Maggi Barnard

The Forbes Business Chamber Find It In AMAZING Forbes Committee are working hard to ensure that the 2019 Christmas Promotion kicked off to a healthy start. The Find It In AMAZING Forbes was officially launched on 9th November at Taste On Templar by Mayor, Phyllis Miller OAM.

The Committee are working hard at developing the Christmas Carnival which will see the beginning of the Find It In Forbes draws. At this stage the draws for the promotion make up a total funding pool of $20,000.

“The Find It In AMAZING Forbes Christmas Promotion will run from 11th November until 10:30am on 24th December. The Forbes Business Chamber would like to thank the sponsors, participants and supporters for assisting to make this Forbes promotion such as success” said chairperson Marg Duggan.

Supporters are: BWR Accountants, Central West Diesel, Hughes & Co., Forbes Livestock Agency, Central West Credit Union and McCarron Cullinane and Chudleigh.

Don’t forget to ask for your Find It In Amazing Forbes Christmas Promotion tickets with every purchase at a sponsor or participating business. The Find It In AMAZING Forbes Christmas Carnival will be held on December 13th in Templar and Rankin Streets

Parkes Phoenix Editor

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