Forbes Phoenix

Parkes Phoenix Editor

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

Forbes Gets A Win In State Budget

by

The NSW Treasurer, Dominic Perrottet, last week delivered the state’s budget. The following excerpts are just a few that are pertinent to the Forbes Shire.

DROUGHT
$355 million to extend critical drought assistance measures for farmers and rural communities, $170 million for the Drought Stimulus Packages, and $185 million in onfarm Emergency Drought Relief measures including continuing transport cost rebates and waiving annual land rates

ESTABLISH AN INDEPENDENT AGRICULTURE COMMISSIONER
$2 million over four years to establish an independent Agriculture Commissioner, with legislated powers to protect the Right to Farm, allowing farmers to undertake lawful agricultural practices whilst reducing conflict with other land users.

IMPROVING QUAD BIKE SAFETY FOR NSW FARMERS
$2.8 million over two years to extend the Quad Bike Safety Improvement Program, including rebates for farmers who prefer drones as alternatives to quad bikes.

ROADS AND TRANSPORT
Significant roads and infrastructure programs in 2019-20, including:
The $52.4 million allocation for continued delivery of overtaking lanes along the Newell Highway, and $200 million to reduce flooding on the Newell Highway between Forbes and West Wyalong.

STRONGER COUNTRY COMMUNITIESFUND

$100 million allocated for round three of the Stronger Country Communities Fund for projects and programs in the regions, including $50 million aimed at supporting young people.

RENEWABLE ENERGY BOOST

$30 million over four years to co-fund new on-demand clean energy projects with the private sector through the Emerging Energy Program, including $10 million to pilot initiatives to recycle and re-use materials in solar panels and battery systems.

Develop plans for projects to improve water security in regional communities, including fast tracking regional water strategies, with environmental and economic studies to commence this year. Investigate potential mass water infrastructure projects that will drought-proof Eastern Australia in the spirit of the Bradfield Scheme, contingent on matched funding from the Commonwealth and other states.
$170 million reserved for a special purpose Drought Infrastructure Package to fast track critical water and infrastructure projects.

Seeing Stars For Food Safety

by

People who live, work and visit the Forbes Shire demand a high level of food safety when they choose to eat out. ‘Scores on Doors’ is a promotional program that recognises and celebrates food businesses that have demonstrated a good standard of food safety.

Forbes Mayor, Phyllis Miller OAM said “Scores on Doors creates a consistency in the local industry as everyone is judged on the same criteria.”

All restaurants, cafes, bakeries and takeaways in the Forbes local area can receive a star rating. Officers from Forbes Shire Council frequently inspect food businesses to ensure hygiene standards are being met.

When a business achieves good to excellent standards, after a random inspection, they are awarded a star rating by the inspector. A certificate is then issued by the Council and positioned in a clearly visible location, such as the front window or door of the business.

Mayor Miller stated “This program offers businesses a fantastic opportunity to show customers how seriously they take their food hygiene. This gives customers an idea of what’s going on in the kitchen out the back.”

Forbes Shire has joined the state-wide ‘Scores on Doors’ program, to improve food safety standards and to reduce the instance of foodborne illnesses in the retail food industry. The purple and green certificate and stickers have a rating system of Five Stars for Excellent, Four Stars for Very Good and Three Stars for Good.

Croquet Results

by

Results for the week ending 22 June

Tuesday’s Golf Croquet was a lively affair with all the courts full. We welcomed back Mal Smith, who has been away on holiday for some time. Neville Spry has made a big effort in the last three weeks winning three games in a row. Also winning three games were Bill Scott and John MacCullagh. While one of our newer members, Jenny Job, had two wins.

Saturday’s Aussie Croquet saw 24 players come out and brave the minus two degree temperatures. Only two players won all their games that day. Those players were Merv Langfield and Harley Stewart.

One of the best games on Saturday was the match between Harley Stewart and Ray Burridge who defeated Bob Murray and his partner Doreen Rogers.

Bob’s ball was knocked away on the last hoop by Ray Burridge, giving Harley time to get through the last hoop and get close to the finishing peg. Bob was again knocked away and missed the peg twice before Ray Burridge finished the game with a straight shot at the pin.

Forbes Rallies Together Against Hospital Changes

by

Many local businesses, including Forbes Shire Council, closed their doors on June 20, to join together in the Rally at Forbes Hospital to protest recent changes to services at Parkes Hospital.

“You have full support from Council in keeping all our medical services here at Forbes,” declared Deputy Mayor, Jenny Webb, Radiologist with the Forbes Hospital.

“We are passionately against the downgrading of any services both here at Forbes or at Parkes Hospital.”

“WNSWHEALTH Management is suggesting that maternity services be downgraded at Parkes leaving Maternity patients to come to Forbes for delivery, and that Forbes Elective Theatre cases be performed in Parkes, leaving emergency surgery including caesareans at Forbes. Is this a trade-off, or a compromise?” Councillor Webb asked the crowd. “Downgrading both Forbes and Parkes Hospital has the potential to put birthing women at risk in emergency situations as it will reduce the availability of theatre services to the Forbes community, and cut the level of experienced and skilled theatre staff.”

Councillor Webb pledged that “Forbes Shire Council has and will continue to advocate at all political levels to ensure that there are no cuts to any of our medical services.”

Autumn Night Netball Finals

by

The Forbes Netball Association recently held the finals of the Autumn Night competitions for mixed and ladies teams.

MIXED FINAL
The Mixed final was won by NSG to Postie, who defeated Minor Premiers Aggies by 29-17. The players were very enthusiastic, and both teams played with lots of energy and passion, and the score line did not reflect the physicality of the game. NSG to Postie won the first quarter by 7-4, and continued to draw slightly ahead in the second quarter, with the half time score being 14-9.

Postie’s Isaac Stewart showed excellent ball skills and Sam Smith also helped to lead the way for his team. NSG to Postie’s shooter Jordon Gaffney had an accurate shooting game helping the team secure the lead. The third quarter was dominated by NSG to Postie, winning the goal count by 7-2.

Aggies centre Daniel Ashcroft dominated for his team, and Georgie Price and Chelsea Madden never gave up trying as they fought back in the final quarter, with the goal count 8-6 to Postie.

LADIES FINAL
The Ladies final was a powerful display of netball from Hughes & Co, who won the game against Minor Premiers Forbes Engineering 37-18. Hughes & Co took control of the game from the first whistle, winning the first quarter by 12-6. Forbes Engineering fought back in the second quarter to nearly equal the goal count. As circle defender Nicole Mee dominated the defence end for Hughes & Co, with Kate Loneragan shut down the Forbes Engineering attack. Hughes & Co again dominated the third quarter, with shooter Shannon Hurley, helped by Stephanie Hughes, made the goal count for the quarter 10-3 to Hughes & Co.

Forbes Engineering shooter Brianna Duncan was accurate throughout the game, and keeper Sophie Robinson held a strong defence. Forbes Engineering never gave up.

WAY BACK When

by

Forbes local Allan Hicking has provided us with this wonderful class photograph that was taken at Forbes Catholic School when he was just eight years old. This photograph was taken around 1942.
Have you got an old photograph of a local person or a photograph of Forbes way back when? If so we would love to see it for our new feature “Way Back When”, simply email your photo and information to editor@forbesphoenix.com.au

Letter to the Editor

by

Dear Editor,
For many years now Forbes local and passionate environmentalist, Dianne Decker, has been providing a little tree to every new baby born at the Forbes District Hospital as part of the Trees for Babies initiative.

This initiative has been so successful, that Dianne Decker had recently been made aware that they had run out of cards at Forbes Hospital and has since delivered another batch of locally printed Trees for Babies cards to Forbes Hospital.

The card reads “This tree is presented to ——————– in the interest of preserving and improving our beautiful country, and especially so you can enjoy playing under this tree’s shade as you both grow up.”

The new mother simply has to take the card up to the Nursery on the Parkes Road and they will provide the card holder with a little tree of their choice. Yes, it may only be a little tree, but this has proven to be the most successful way to grow trees in our local area.

If you want to see a collection of some of the trees, go for a little drive past Dianne’s previous little farm that she has just sold on the corner of Greens Road and the West Wyalong Newell Highway.

All of the wonderful trees on her old little farm were planted as tube stock. Now you can see the amazing bottle trees in the front yard and look at the wonderful River Red Gums in the outside paddock, and all the amazing dwarf Sugar Gums. This is living proof that from little things big things grow.

The Trees for Babies initiative of giving a free tree also applies to any little Parkes baby that is to be born at Forbes District Hospital.

Dianne Decker

MAYORAL NOTES

by

How good was last weekend’s Frost and Fire? Thank you for supporting this wonderful event. It’s quite clear an event like that was just what the doctor ordered for our community. We’ll be back next year with more food and drink vendors, amazing artists and performers, as well as fun for the kids. When times are tough, events like that bring people together. Thank you, Forbes and visitors, for your support.

The Flood Study Committee has met with Local and State Government representatives to discuss our future regarding how floods affect our Shire and ways to improve the effects on the community.

This week work has begun in Templar Street as part of the beautification of the CBD. All efforts will be made to avoid disrupting businesses and traffic. The work will include irrigation for the 12 mature Claret Ash trees to be planted in garden beds in the centre of the road. Solar lights will also feature along the street creating an attractive avenue to entice people off the highway and into the CBD.

Forbes will be hosting the Australian Local Government Women’s Association executive board meeting. This sees female Mayors, Councillors and Council staff from local governments across NSW meet and discuss ideas. It’s an honour to host them.

Excitingly on Saturday we will have the weather crew from Sunrise here at the Wirradjuri Dreaming Centre at 7am. They’ll be featuring our beautiful Lake and attractions. Come down and show Australia what a great town we have.

God Bless
Your Mayor
Phyllis Miller

It’s Cold Outside, So It’s A Great Time To QUIT!

by

It’s hard, but with help and support, you can quit smoking. Quitting smoking can be one of the most difficult, yet rewarding, things a person can do. Most smokers say they want to quit, and may have tried at least once.

Some are successful the first time, but others try numerous times before they finally quit for good. It might take time, as your body has become dependent on nicotine, but many people have succeeded in giving up smoking. The benefits of quitting are felt almost straight away. Depending on how much you smoked, you should start seeing benefits in a week.

The first month
• In 12 hours excess carbon monoxide is out of your blood
• In 5 days most nicotine is out of your body
• In 1 week your sense of taste and smell improves
• In 1 month your skin appearance is likely to improve

The first year
• In 2 months your lungs will no longer be producing extra phlegm caused by smoking
• In 3 months your lung function and blood flow improves
• In 12 months your risk of heart disease has halved

Longer term benefits
• In 5 years your risk of a stroke has dramatically decreased
• In 10 years your risk of lung cancer is less than half that of a continuing smoker and continues falling
• In 15 years your risk of heart attack and stroke is almost the same as a person who has never smoked.

If you’d like to quit smoking for good, call into Flannery’s Pharmacy and talk to one of our pharmacists. They can give you information, advice and support to help you quit for good.

Phoenix Office 7/113-127 Rankin Street, Forbes NSW 2871

Editor 0432 337 278
editor@forbesphoenix.com.au

Sales 0432 337 278
sales@forbesphoenix.com.au

View our Privacy Policy. View our Conflict Resolution Process. View our Ethics and Complaints Policy. Want to advertise with us? Information on our Community Promotions.

We are always looking for new articles of interest to the local community.

Please feel free to submit an article for possible inclusion in a future issue.

To submit an article, click here to use our online article submission form.

Subscribe

* indicates required