Parkes Phoenix Editor

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

Snippets…

November 15, 2019 by Maggi Barnard

Eden-Monique Hull’s winning entry in the Spring Photograph Competition.

Spring Photo Competition Winner: Congratulations to Eden-Monique Hull on winning the Spring Photo Competition for 2019. Eden’s beautiful photograph was selected from many wonderful entries. “The colours, focus and detail in the image” were what really stood out to Kim Storey who judged the competition. Many thanks to Kim Storey from Avalind Photography for donating the winning prize.

Eden-Monique Hull receives winning prize off Kim Storey for the Spring Photo Competition.

Forbes Public School Spring Fair – In it together: Forbes Public School will run a Spring Fair this evening from 5pm – 8pm for the town of Forbes and surrounding areas. Teachers have solicited sponsors from far and wide who were keen to pro- vide prizes to cheer up struggling farmers and rural families. The response has been overwhelming with $20,000 worth of prizes donated. Forbes Public school urges the entire community to come along and support this cause.

There is something for everyone. Games include yabby races, coin toss, tyre changer, footy toss, dunk machine, lucky ducks, Ninja Warrior course, bat the rat, minute to win it as well as ice-cream decorating, hair spray, lucky dip, face-painting and ‘guess the lamb’s weight’. While you are there you can grab a bite to eat and watch local performers such as the Parkes PCYC Gymnasts and Kristin Woods Dance Studio. Then purchase some of their famous cakes, snow cones, donuts, fairy floss, popcorn, white elephant goods, books or plants. Al- low Forbes Public School students, staff and parents to do something for our community to tackle tough times together. They have done all the hard work and all they ask is that you come along and have fun.

More Wild Weather: Forbes residents endured another day of wild wind and thick dust that saw our sky drenched in brown and orange. The air quality index measures air particles with a diameter of less than 10 micrometres, these measurements were taken hourly at weather stations across the Central West. Between 4 – 5pm in Dubbo the PM10 measured at 954, quite significant when readings above 200 are a serious health hazard. Poor air quality can cause serious health issues so please avoid venturing out during dust storms.

The horses didn’t seem to mind too much but consider your own health in hazardous conditions.

Our Bloke – Shane Sallaway

November 15, 2019 by Maggi Barnard

Our Bloke – Shane Sallaway

How long have you lived in or around Forbes and what do you like about living here? I have lived here for eight years, I like the friendly people and the good community spirit.

Where do you work and what do you enjoy most about your work? I work for myself as a painter. I enjoy starting with something that doesn’t look too flash and ends up looking pretty good and doing work for nice people around Forbes.

What do you do to unwind after work or on weekends? Couple of cold beers, some golf and hanging out with the kids.

What are you really good at? Painting and golf.

What is your pet hate? People who talk behind other people’s backs.

If you could have any superpower what would it be and why? That’s a tough one, to be able to heal people when they’re sick.

Tell us about your best holiday ever? Taking the kids down the South Coast, where we go every year. It is a beautiful place with lots of other families like us down there enjoying themselves in the holidays.

What makes your day? Keeping my clients happy. Knowing I have done a good job and that they are happy with the finished product.

Tell us an interesting fact about yourself? I can teach old dogs new tricks.

Never Too Cool To Splash In The Pool

November 8, 2019 by Maggi Barnard

New and expectant mothers make a splash on Tuesday morning at the start of the free aqua fitness sessions at the Forbes Olympic pool. Photo: Leigh Barry

Another season of Aqua fitness kicked off on Tuesday with new and expectant mothers braving an unusually chilly November morning to exercise in the water.

The ladies gathered at the Forbes Olympic pool just before 9am for the free lessons, for the first of two, six-week sessions held by the School and Community Centre (SACC) and NSW community health.

“The program aims at engaging new and expectant mothers, a couple times a week, in gentle water exercise,” said Marie from SACC.

Running since 2015, aqua fitness is an initiative which “reduces barriers to access” and further reduces excuses to exercise. Health and fitness are vital for both physical and mental wellbeing, and new mothers often miss out on the opportunity to exercise and socialise in a structured and safe environment where their children are being looked after.

Currently the program relies on the help of five selfless volunteers who give up their time to instruct the fitness sessions and help with child minding, many of whom started off as new mothers exercising in the first years of aqua fitness. Marie from SACC invited more to come and help. “We’d love volunteers to come on board and keep it going.”

The aqua fitness sessions will run on Tuesdays and Thursdays until mid-December and then start again in February 2020. SACC welcome new volunteers who wish to support this vital community program.

Council Welcomes New Student Ambassadors

November 8, 2019 by Maggi Barnard

The Youth Ambassadors undertaking leadership training at the Youth and Community Centre.

Forbes Shire Council recently announced the successful Council Ambassadors selected for the Council Ambassador Program as part of NSW Local Government week. Six ambassadors were selected from three local schools.

“We were so thrilled with the response to the program,” said Mayor Phyllis Miller. “It’s wonderful to get young people involved and excited about local government.”

The six successful ambassadors are Milli Robson and Charlotte Markwort from Forbes North, Ruby Jones and Charlie Bray from St Laurences and Halle Brown and Samantha Noakes from Bedgerabong Public School. They were selected after submitting their written applications and attending leadership training sessions held at the Youth and Community Centre.

“It’s a great chance for them to learn some new skills, improve their public speaking and be advocates for their school mates,” the Mayor said. “We may even have a future Prime Minister in our midst.”

The program allows Council to connect with young people in the Forbes Shire who are not quite old enough to participate in the Forbes Youth Action Team but who would like to demonstrate and develop their leadership and communication skills. For Council, this will not only improve their connection with the community but also give our future leaders the chance to develop vital skills and have a chance to be heard. To find out more about the program or register your school’s interest for 2020, contact Council’s Community Relations Officer on 02 6850 2300.

Encouraging Rural Youth To Further Their Passions

November 8, 2019 by Maggi Barnard

Applications for Jemalong Irrigation’s 2020 scholarship program are now open. The program sets to encourage our rural youth to further their passions in rural and regional areas.

Jemalong Irrigation is passionate about helping youth from across the Forbes and Lachlan Shires to reach their full potential, supporting education and skills development, supporting rural communities and supporting young people who are passionate and committed to forging careers that will contribute to the future success of rural and regional NSW.

Applicants must:
• Be a resident of the Forbes or Lachlan Shires
• Be under 25 years of age
• Be an Australian Citizen
• Demonstrate a desire to contribute to the future of regional NSW
• Demonstrate how a scholarship would assist them in achieving their education or training goal

There is no limit on the type of course that qualifies. Applicants can be completing an apprenticeship, studying at TAFE or university, either on campus or by distance

For any further information and an application form please contact Forbes Shire Councils Grants Officer, Andrew Rawsthorne on 6850 2327.

Mayoral Notes

November 8, 2019 by Maggi Barnard

It was wonderful news to hear last week that Forbes Shire Council was successful in receiving $660,000 for an upgrade to the Indoor Heated Pool. This pool is such a vital part of our community and it will be great to improve this facility with a larger area around the pool, relining the pool, a hydraulic lift installed for accessibility and new toilet area. Many older residents use the pool for rehabilitation, and it is open all year round. The pool will remain open for as long as possible while the work is completed but it will have to close for a short time when the pool in relined.

I would also like it to be known that the decision from the Commonwealth Water Holder to release 22 million litres of water from Wyangala Dam is an appalling idea given the current drought conditions. To have valuable water flow past desperate farmers suffering in this drought is not helping the stress already felt by our community. I hope this kind of release doesn’t occur again without a considered plan in place.

I hope you backed a winner this week at the Melbourne Cup, I did. The cup is a chance to get together with friends and get involved in the excitement of race day.

Taste on Templar is on this weekend and I can’t wait to see our beautiful Templar Street full of people enjoying the wonderful food our town has to offer. It is events like this that makes Forbes truly shine.

Till next week, God Bless.
Your Mayor
Phyllis Miller

Our Gal – Umima Austral

November 8, 2019 by Maggi Barnard

How long have you lived in or around Forbes and what do you like about living here? I have lived in Forbes for just over a year, I moved in September last year. I’m originally from Darwin in the Northern Territory. I love the Lake and old architecture in Forbes as well as the feel of the country.

Where do you work and what do you enjoy most about your work? Currently I’m a stay at home mum on leave from my job with the Department of Education in Dar- win.

What do you do to unwind after work on weekends? Looking after a toddler I rarely have time to unwind but I do enjoy eating ice cream and watching tv once he is in bed.

What are you really good at? Talking. I can talk my way through a wet paper bag. I am also athletic and competitive which makes me a good netball player.

What is your pet hate? Definitely unclean kitchen benches and dirty feet.

If you could have a super power what would it be and why? To be invisible so that I could play pranks on people and get away with it.

Tell us about your best holiday ever? My first trip to Bali, it was amazing to enjoy a drink on the beach and watch the action around you. I loved the food and relaxed culture of the place.

What makes your day? Picking up my son from daycare, playing with him and having fun.

Tell us an interesting fact about yourself? Not many people know that I have really long and curly hair that reaches down to my legs.

Largest Logistics Terminal In NSW

November 8, 2019 by Maggi Barnard

ARTC Board Chairman, Warren Truss with Forbes Mayor Phyllis Miller and former NSW Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight at the official opening of the Parkes Logistics Terminal last week.

A good news story for the drought-gripped Central West was the official opening of the $35 million Pacific National Logistics Terminal in Parkes last week.

The very first double-stacked freight train left the new facility, the largest logistics terminal in NSW, last month to arrive in Perth three days later. The terminal will not only enhance productivity for Inland Rail, but will also bring an additional 90 jobs based at the terminal.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack said at the opening: “This is a game-changer for Australian freight.”

“Construction started on the Parkes to Narromine leg of Inland Rail almost one year ago and has already proven a boom for local small businesses while creating almost 900 new jobs, 370 of which are local people.”

NSW Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Paul Toole acknowledged the presence of Forbes Mayor Phyllis Miller saying: “This is more than just Parkes. It is a regional product that would go beyond council boundaries and beyond Forbes to reach more communities.”

“Pacific National’s investment in Parkes demonstrates that regional NSW is ripe for industry investment. We look forward to seeing more industries get on board as Inland Rail rolls out across our State.”

The Parkes Logistics Terminal will be moving 50,000 shipping containers of freight from this terminal this year, going up to 100,000 next year and eventually 450,000.

The unique location of Parkes at the intersection of the East-West line connecting Sydney and Perth and the Newell Highway will put 80% of Australia’s population in reach of the Parkes Terminal overnight.

Croquet News

November 8, 2019 by Maggi Barnard

It was a wonderful surprise on Saturday to see what appears to be the final piece of the ramp jigsaw puzzle safely enclosed at the croquet grounds. The ramp will make things so much easier for members to access the amenities in the club house. Thanks to Forbes Shire Council. The birthday lunch for November will be held at the Forbes Services Club on Tuesday 12th November. The last Croquet day before Christmas will be on the 21st December.

Golf croquet results 29th October
The winners of three games on the day were: John Cole, Kevin Rubie, Bill Scott and Neville Scott. It was more of the same old same old. It shows how competitive the above players have been all season. The closest games on the day were:

• Neville Spry, Geoff Coles 7, def John Job, John MacCullagh 6
• Lily Allegri, John Cole 7, def Lorraine Todd, Bob Murray 6
• Jeff Liebich, Robin Pols 7, def Mary Hodges, Dorelle Scott 6
• Merv Langfield, Lyn Simmonds 7, def Bob Murray, Sandy Hepburn 6
• John Job 7, def Marie Spry 6
• Kevin Rubie, Bruce Field 7, def Veva MacCullagh, Barry White 6
• Ruth Cheney, Barry White 7, def Dorelle Scott, John Browne 6
• John Cole, Lyn Simmonds 7, def Marie Spry, Merv Langfield 6

Aussie croquet results 2nd November
It was a windy morning with hats and chairs being blown in all directions, however it did not dampen the spirits of the players. Welcome back to Jill Rubie after her hospital stay. She recovered quickly as the scores of the day told the story. She won three games on her first visit back to the courts.

Be Seen – Enjoying The Lake

November 8, 2019 by Maggi Barnard

Cath Ward and Anne Maree Dwyer enjoying a brisk stroll around the lake.

Jenny Price from Brisbane soaking up the afternoon sun while watching the dragon boats.

A friendly race between classmates on the dragon boats.

Even birds love bird watching.

Parkes Phoenix Editor

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