Parkes Phoenix Editor

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

From Gliding In The Air Down To Dancing In Trundle

March 7, 2019 by Maggi Barnard

If you are in the Trundle district and look skywards in the next couple of weeks, you may see flying objects! No you are not dreaming!

Trundle is about to become the epicentre of Australian paragliding!

The extraordinary Wings Out West Paragliding Competition and exciting Trundle District Bush Dance will be held from the 13th to 17th March.

Forty pilots from around Australia and overseas will be tow launching from a paddock near Trundle to fly around a course anywhere from Condobolin to Dubbo and surrounds, to compete for flatland paragliding glory.

The Trundle community is hosting the paraglider pilots at a community Bush Dance on Friday, 15th March at the Trundle Showgrounds from 7:30pm. All dances will be taught on the night with music supplied by the renowned Kelly Gang Bush Band. It is one of the highlights of the Paragliding Competition, so come along and meet these crazy folk.

Tickets at the door are $15 per adult, $5 per child or $35 per family including a light supper. For more information contact Jen Kelly on 0417 697 770 or see the ad on Page 7.

Also, stand a chance to win a family pass to the Wings out West Paragliding Competition Bush Dance by entering our competition on Page 6. Entries close Wednesday, 13th March at 2pm. Don’t miss your chance to be part of this exhilarating event!

Netball News

March 7, 2019 by Maggi Barnard

The Forbes Netball Autumn night competitions for both mixed and ladies teams played the first round this week. More teams have entered the competitions, but there is now room for another ladies to enter and take up the bye in that competition.

Team representatives are asked to please update and complete their team sheets.

All players are reminded that they must be registered by the third round of games, and anyone wanting help with registrations should come to the office on Wednesday evenings. Please do not leave paying the registrations to the last minute.

Anyone interested in learning to umpire, or umpire at any stage, is very welcome.

Help and support will be given to anyone who would like to learn. Please see Umpires Convenor, Marg Spackman at the courts on Wednesday nights.

The FNA will be organising a ‘Come and Try day’ for all boys and girls to start the Saturday junior mixed netball season. Net- SetGo will also be starting on the ‘Come and Try day’.

The day will be held on 16th March from 10am till 12 noon. A free sausage sizzle will end the occasion.

Up And Dancing Like It’s 1979!

March 7, 2019 by Maggi Barnard

Friday on My Mind – Falling in Love Again – Down Among the Dead Men – Love Is In The Air – Pasadena – Yesterday’s Hero – It’s a Long Way To The Top… all written by some of the most extraordinary songwriters of our time Harry Vanda and George Young, while John Paul Young was at the heart of their hit making era.

John Paul Young and The Allstar Band The Vanda & Young Songbook is a concert celebrating this incredible song-writing duo’s creations.

The songs that gave Australia it’s unique soundtrack during the 60s, 70s and the 80s and still to this day.

With hits written for The Easybeats, AC/DC, Grace Jones, Ted Mulry, Vanda & Young’s own studio unit “Flash and the Pan” to the wealth of hits written for John Paul Young, this show will have you up and dancin’ like it’s 1979.

John Paul Young & The Allstar Band will travel you through the decades of mega hits and John’s own behind the scenes stories about the songs and their making, at a time when music was king.

John Paul Young is one of the most iconic artists in Australian music’s history, with over 4 million world-wide album sales and numerous awards which garnered him an induction into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 2009. In 2012 John received an Order of Australia (OAM) for his services to charity and the music industry.

The Allstar Band features two of the original members in Warren “The Pig” Morgan who cut his teeth in the original Aztecs, and Ronnie “Rockwell T James” Peel, of The Missing Links and La De Das fame. Both have been with John since the beginning and have been joined over the years by Greg Plimmer, Juan Gonzalez and Michael “China” Walker and this outfit has been together since the early 80s.

This performance is on at Bathurst Panthers on Friday, 29th March and Dubbo Regional Theatre on Saturday, 30th March. To book tickets head to www.abstractentertainment.net.

Commercial Precinct Given Green Light To Build A Better Forbes

March 7, 2019 by Maggi Barnard

A new commercial precinct is set to add life and entertainment to Forbes thanks to almost $870,000 in funding under Round 3 of the Federal Liberal and Nationals Government’s highly successful Building Better Regions Fund.

Deputy Prime Minister and Federal Member for Riverina, Michael McCormack visited Forbes last Sunday and said that the precinct would create an exciting community space for visitors and locals to enjoy.

“With over five locations, we’ll be building new gardens and green spaces, upgrading signs, installing new banners and line-marking. Bicycle stands will be added along with new seats, public toilets and drinking fountains,” said Michael.

“I’m particularly excited to see a new popup café coming to town, as well as a pergola and playground with a soft fall surface to make sure all children have fun but most importantly they can play safe.

“It is projects such as the Forbes Commercial Precinct that make our regional communities even better places to live, work and raise a family and I’m excited to see the positive difference this funding will make to the community.”

“We are supporting our regions through investing in important local infrastructure, as well as great community-building and planning initiatives under the Building Better Regions Fund and other Government priorities such as the Regional Growth Fund and our decentralisation agenda.

“We have seen fantastic outcomes from the first two rounds, and today’s announcement continues our commitment to unlocking the economic potential of regional Australia and ensuring our regions continue to thrive.”

By Gizell van Wyk

RURAL ROUNDUP

March 7, 2019 by Maggi Barnard

Agriculture A Winner Of Indonesia Trade Deal

Australian farmers are big winners in the Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IA-CEPA) which was signed this week. Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources, David Littleproud said once in force the deal would help farmers sell more product. “We’re giving our farmers more options and creating competition for Australian produce,” said David.

“Beef and sheep farmers are big winners – tariffs will disappear and more cattle will be exported. All tariffs on beef and sheep meat will be eliminated over five years with most eliminated immediately.

At the moment they sit at five percent. The first 575,000 head of live male cattle are now duty free, growing to 700,000 over six years.” “Sugar tariffs will be slashed from a maximum 12 percent to five percent. The first 500,000 tonnes of grain per year will also be duty free and that will grow by five percent a year. Improved duty free quotas will also be put in place for citrus and horticultural products.”

“Also we’re increasing work and holiday visas for Indonesians from 1,000 to 5,000 which makes a big difference for producers who need seasonal workers.”

“Since coming to government, the Coalition has delivered six major free trade agreements. These are key to realising our ambition of a $100 billion agricultural industry by 2030. It will help boost farm gate prices, driving regional growth and jobs,” said David.

Fast Facts:

• Indonesia is our fourth largest agricultural export market, worth $3.35 billion in 2017.

• Agriculture, fisheries and forestry totalled $54 billion in export earnings in 2017-18.

• Australia imported $833 million of agricultural commodities from Indonesia in 2017.

Combating Weeds

Central West Local Land Services, through its Regional Weeds Committee, facilitated the signing of a partnership agreement with Local Control Authorities across the region.

In a proactive approach to region-wide weed management, eight local authorities including Parkes, Bogan, Castlereagh Macquarie, Dubbo, Forbes, Lachlan, Narromine and Weddin, have committed to weed eradication at a local level. The agreement is seen as a major step forward in weed control as weeds are a major threat to our natural environment.

New Record Set For Ewe Sale

What’s understood to be a new Western Australian record for a commercial line of breeding ewes was set at an on-farm sheep sale near Hyden late last week.

The Varone family sold their mob of 4,486 sheep, and recorded a sale average of $257 a head. But the top price paid was an eye-watering $310 for 719 white tag ewes, aged around one and a half years old, mated and with about six months’ wool on them. (Source: ABC Rural)

NSW Farmers’ Tertiary Scholarships

Are you a student looking for a career in agriculture? NSW Farmers is offering five scholarships valued at $4,000 each for students committed to enhancing agriculture and rural communities. To be eligible you must be a member of NSW Farmers. Visit the NSW Farmers website for applications details. Applications close Monday, 18th March.

News And Results Off The Croquet Courts

March 7, 2019 by Maggi Barnard

Week ending 2nd March

Tuesday’s golf croquet was a busy affair with 33 players, and six close results of 7-6.

Two of the more interesting matches were between Barry White and Merv Langfield who defeated Bruce Field and his partner John MacCullagh, as well as the game between Mal Smith and Libby Smart who defeated Evelyn Mahlo and John Cole 7-6.

The winners of three matches of Tuesday’s golf croquet were John Browne, Dorelle Scott and Barry White. Congratulations!

Some of the games were a family affair with three married couples having wins as a team. Jill and Kevin Rubie, Dorelle and Bill Scott and finally Bruce and Lorna Field.

We send a message to one of our dearest and long serving players, Veva MacCullagh, who has not been well for some time.

We all miss you Veva and hope that you will be back with us on the courts soon.

Saturday’s Aussie croquet saw six players win their three games. They were John H Browne, Bruce Field, Bob Murray, Jill Rubie, Kevin Rubie and Geoff Coles. My theory that golfers make good croquet players was proven again with new comer, Geoff Coles, winning three games. He only started playing at the beginning of the year.

Elvy Quirk had two holes in one. This was the first time we have seen it happen in two consecutive holes. It is lovely to see Doreen Rogers back on the courts, she has been absent for a few months.

On the 12th March we will welcome players from the Wyalong Croquet Club for social games. The games will start at 9am with a sausage sizzle after the game. All welcome.

On behalf of the croquet committee and all players we would like to send our condolences to the family and friends of John Brown who passed away last week. John loved his croquet and was a much loved player. Rest in peace to our good mate.

By Anne and Harley Stewart

Flood Proofing The Newell

March 7, 2019 by Maggi Barnard

The Forbes community is brimming with excitement over the announcement last Thursday by Deputy Premier, John Barilaro to commit $200 million in new funding to flood proof the Newell Highway between Forbes and West Wyalong.

The economic value of this grant is significant and Mayor of Forbes Shire Council, Phyllis Miller says the community is very grateful to the Deputy Premier and the government for this commitment and looks forward to the commencement of this project.

This major arterial road sees over 3,000 vehicle movements a day, and is the highway life-blood between Melbourne and Brisbane, and one of the most productive freight corridors in Australia. The impact of the 2016 flood is still being felt by businesses in both of these towns. Estimated productivity losses for the 2016 flood stand at $150 million.

This major project will improve safety for motorists as well as build resilience against future flood events and will address the need for government to spend vast amounts of money in road maintenance and flood detours. State and local roads suffered with over $1 million worth of repair work required after the last flood.

Forbes Junior Cricket

March 7, 2019 by Maggi Barnard

Results of games played 2nd March

Under 17’s: Hawkes 3/124 (Best fielders: Abi Simpson and Royce Simpson) defeated Achesons 6/112 (Best fielder: Jed Matheson). KMWL 4/84 (Best fielders: Patrick Cormie and Lachlan Dunstan) defeated Bayliss 4/82 (Best fielders: Ryan Dunn and Jasper Moore).

Under 14’s: Sixers 6/75 (Best fielders: Liam Freeman and Jack Milne) defeated Bernardis IGA 33 (Best fielders: Sam Klingner and Thomas Brindle). Livestock 7/85 (Best fielders: Harry Whitty and Jasper Mackay) defeated Thunder 5/76 (Best fielders: Jackson Plummer and Daniel Hando).

Under 12’s: Hazell & Field 151 (Best fielders: Reece Matheson and Charlie Francis) defeated Renegades 71 (Best fielders: Callum Rowbotham and Holly Duncan). Walkers AgNvet 3/113 defeated Scorchers 2/83 (Best fielders: Bailey Price and Tom Ball). Sportspower 82 (Best fielders: Sterling Francis and Tom Greenhill) defeated Adept Plumbing 80 (Best fielders: Marcus Hardy and Tayte McNamara).

Under 10’s: The first cross town games for 2018/19 were played at Keast Park 1 and 2 between Parkes and Forbes. Forbes 7/222 defeated Parkes Morgans/Rossers 64. Forbes 132 defeated Parkes Clarkes/ Dunfords 99.

Pointscore after games on 2nd March:

Under 17’s: Hawkes 19, Achesons 19, KMWL 18, Bayliss 13.

Under 14’s: Livestock 31, Sixers 26, Thunder 18, Bernardis IGA 18.

Under 12’s: Sportspower 35, Adept Plumbing 31, Hazell & Field 28, Walkers AgNvet 27, Renegades 17, Scorchers 15.

Friday, 8th March: Game to begin at 5:45pm, players need to be there by 5:30pm.

Saturday, 9th March: All games to begin at 8:30am, players need to be there by 8:15am.

Under 10’s: Games start at 8:45am.

SNIPPETS…

March 7, 2019 by Maggi Barnard

RAISING FUNDS AND HOPE… Kylie Spice (right) presented a cheque to John Schrader from CanAssist recently. The cheque was made up from half the proceeds raised from the recent Ladies Night Fundraiser. The proceeds were shared between CanAssist Forbes and the Northside Chapel.

Work continues to develop options for the future of Warroo Bridge: Development work is progressing on the upgrade of Warroo Bridge across the Lachlan River. The NSW Government has committed $10 million in funding from Bridges for the Bush program to upgrade the bridge. Parliamentary Secretary for Western NSW, Rick Colless said Warroo Bridge was built in 1909 and due to its age is in poor condition. The bridge is 63 metres long and has one Dare timber truss span and only a width of 4.5 metres between traffic barriers, and is limited to general mass limit vehicles. “The bridge is narrow and does not meet current load standards and limits options for freight and local farmers moving equipment within the region, we need to develop a plan to provide a longer lasting and safer bridge for all road users,” said Rick.

Australia’s Climate Report Card: Newly released figures from the Environment and Energy department show there’s been a 0.9 percent increase in greenhouse gas pollution in the year to September 2018. Greenhouse gas pollution has now been rising for more than three years. “There’s been no leadership on climate change and this is the result,” said Climate Council CEO, Amanda McKenzie. “Last week we’ve seen the Federal Government recycling a failed policy, the Emissions Reduction Fund. Today’s data tells a very clear story. Without effective policy, Australia’s pollution will keep rising. We are further away than ever from meeting our 2030 Paris climate commitments,” said Amanda. “Australia has great opportunities to tackle climate change, but we have had no effective Federal policy,” she said.

Milk price index review: The Milk Price Index will face a thorough examination with a review into how well it meets the needs of farmers and processors. Minister for Agriculture, David Littleproud said: “I’m not convinced the index is working as well as it can for farmers so I want to know if that’s the case and what can be done to make it better. The Milk Price Index is to let farmers compare farm gate prices, to encourage competition among processors. I encourage all dairy farmers and processors to take part in the review.” The review runs until April with a report due after Easter. To take part in the Milk Price Index review visit: https://haveyoursay.agriculture.gov.au/ organisation.

The Senior’s Week Concert held last week, completed this year’s Senior’s Festival in Forbes and saw 150 guests attending the event at the Forbes Town Hall

Jemalong Wool Weekly Market Update

March 7, 2019 by Maggi Barnard

The first weekly loss of the 2019 calendar year, saw the NRI slip 11 cents. Last week’s price rise encouraged more sellers into the market, resulting in 48,948 bales being put before the trade.

Melbourne sold in isolation on Tuesday and quickly realised the losses, experienced in Fremantle last Thursday, with prices generally falling by 25-35 cents.

When sales resumed on the second day, it was Sydney’s turn to catch up, recording losses of 15-35 cents while Melbourne and Fremantle steadied and recorded modest increases for the day. In a contrast to the previous week, there were positive signs to finish the series, with the three regional indicators all recording increases on the final day.

The crossbreds had mixed results, with 28 & 30 microns dipping slightly below last week’s records, while 26 & 32 managed to gain some more ground.

Source: AWEX

Parkes Phoenix Editor

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