Parkes Phoenix Editor

Last Friday KFC and Caltex representatives were at the official sod-turning ceremony of Stage Two of the Homemakers Centre on the Newell Highway with Mayor, Phyllis Miller.

Construction will commence in two weeks’ time, with fencing and sheds going up this week. The build will be 30 weeks in total and we should see them opening at the end of the first quarter of 2020.

The new centre will cater for a number of heavy vehicles that use the Newell Highway day and night. Both Caltex and KFC will front the Newell Highway just north of Bunnings and Spotlight, with the Caltex offering facilities for both male and female transport industry workers.

Mayor Miller is very excited about the new development.

“This is a project that started about threeand- a-half years ago,” said Mayor Miller.

There will also be a large emphasis on supporting local tradespeople throughout the build which is great for Forbes.

Further blocks in the Homemakers Centre area are available for development.

With Spring now upon us residents will be looking to take part in a bit of Spring-cleaning and renovation work around Forbes.

Forbes Shire Council offers free professional advice from a Heritage Advisory Service, to assist with any amendments building owners may have. The advisory service is available to owners who want to renovate or redevelop private homes or commercial buildings, occupiers of buildings with historical significance, or owners of movable heritage items who want to undertake conservation work.

“Forbes Shire Council wants to assist local residents to preserve our town’s amazing heritage,” says Forbes Mayor Phyllis Miller OAM. “Heritage assets are fundamental to the economy of Forbes as a tourism asset as well as celebrating our wonderful history.”

Small grants are available from a local heritage fund, established by Forbes Shire Council with the assistance of the NSW Heritage Office. These funds can be accessed for a variety of uses, including painting, signage, repairs and purchase of historical data. Funding is usually on a dollar for dollar basis with Council contributing up to $3,000.

Owners of heritage buildings and movable objects in the Forbes Shire Council area are invited to apply. For more information call 6850 2300 or email development@forbes.nsw.gov.au

If you think a day of grazing, tasting and meandering through vineyards to savour delectable organic food and wine sounds like an itinerary item for a trip around Tuscany, you are on the wrong continent!

Cowra Tourism will be running half day guided Wine & Forage Tours of the Cowra and local wine region this spring giving you the opportunity to experience the very best of local organic food and wine.

Antonio D’Onise of Antonio’s Vineyard, formally Gardener’s Ground, kicks off the tour with a wine ‘treasure’ wander through his vineyard to not only fill up on very interesting facts about organic and vegan wines, but also taste his latest imaginative shiraz and chardonnay releases.

Taking over from Antonio is Sam Statham who takes the group on a wander through Canowindra’s first organic vineyard and farm at Rosnay. Along the way there is a tasting table with a range of fig and olive products.

The last stop is at Wallingtons, with its unique straw bale cellar door. Sitting under the pergola tasting the Bald Hill wines with breathtaking views over the valley, while lunch is being prepared in the wood fire pizza oven, it is easy to imagine yourself in Tuscany…

After a successful three days at The National Merino Wether Challenge in Dubbo the Forbes High School Show Team came away with the following awards:

• Champion Commercial Team of Three Wethers for Combined Sheep Valuation.
• 3rd Combined Wool Valuation.
• 2nd Combined Carcass Valuation.
• 4th Overall Individual Wether.
• Bridie Hughes placed 3rd in the under15’s Junior Fleece Judging.
• Nat qualified for the final Open FleeceJudging.
• Of the two teams, Team 1 placed 2nd,with Team 2 placing 9th overall.