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Forbes Phoenix

Our Gal – Joyce Gray

April 1, 2021 By editor

How long have you lived in Forbes? I lived in Forbes for 39 years.

What was your first job? My first job was out at the all-nighter on the West Wyalong road.

What makes you laugh the most? Family and Friends having a good time.

If money were no object what would you do with your time? I love to travel.

Describe your dream holiday? I would love to go to Las Vegas.

What’s your favourite childhood memory? I have a heap hanging out with my cousin Tracey we were always up to something.

If you could live in any time or place where would it be and when? Right now is good time for me as I have my granddaughter.

If you could share a meal with three people past or present who would it be? My Dad, Jimmy Barnes, Luke Combs.

If you could have one superpower what would it be? Invisibility – that would be interesting.

What’s your pet hate? Rude people it costs nothing to be nice.

Forbes Dons Red Day For Ronald McDonald House

April 1, 2021 By editor

PAINT IT RED: Forbes businesses and people alike came together last week for Ronald McDonald House at the Forbes Bowling Club.

The communities of Forbes and Parkes have come out with overwhelming support for Wear Red Day to support Ronald Mc-Donald House Charities in Orange.

Last Thursday, schools, businesses and individuals donned their red clothing and donated in the knowledge all the funds raised will remain in Orange to directly support families from the area.

Since Ronald McDonald House Charities Orange opened almost five years ago, 241 families from Parkes (159 families), Forbes (80 families), and Bedgerabong (2), have stayed free of charge for a total of 1,510 nights.

“On behalf of everyone associated with RMHC Orange I would like to say thank you so much for the fantastic response to Wear Red Day 2021,” said RMHC Orange executive officer Rebecca Walsh.

“With all funds raised remaining in Orange to help us continue to support families from the central and far west, it is a classic case of country people helping each other out during stressful times in their lives,” said Rebecca.

Both Forbes and Parkes council employees supported the day by wearing red to work.

“Representatives from the Orange house including myself were thrilled to be part of the fundraiser held in Forbes last Thursday where Melissa Smith who attended with her husband Anthony and beautiful baby boy George, had the opportunity to tell every-one about her family’s experience staying at the house in Orange,” Ms Walsh said.

Mayor of Forbes, Cr Phyllis Miller, spoke of the importance of supporting RMHC Orange.

“By being able to stay in Orange instead of having to travel to Sydney it is less stressful for families and involves less travel – it is important we do our bit to support the Orange house,” she told the crowd.

RMHC Orange provide accommodation at no cost for as long as is required, emergency meals, complimentary breakfasts, pantry items for self-catering and complimentary toiletries are provided for families staying at the Orange house.

GRATEFUL: Melissa and Anthony Smith of Forbes with their baby boy George who stayed at Ronald McDonald House Orange for the three weeks leading up to the birth. She was in Orange as it was a high risk pregnancy.

Bird In Hand The Latest Installation To Lachlan Sculpture Trail

April 1, 2021 By editor

BIRD IN THE HAND: Forbes Deputy Mayor Jenny Webb with sculptor Mike Van Dam and Forbes Art Society’s Keith Mullette


The phrase ‘a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush’ is the inspiration behind the latest sculpture to be unveiled as part of Sculpture Down the Lachlan (SDL) extension.

‘Bird in Hand’ by Gold Coast sculptor Michael ‘Mike’ Van Dam represents the profound responsibility of environmental preservation, sustainability and development bestowed upon humans.

“This sculpture reminds viewers that we need to preserve and protect this important environment and its future state, such as native birds and all fauna, are in our hands,” Mike said.

“This piece was made from 1600 meters of 10mm, 316 marine-grade, stainless steel chain, with 38 links per meter and 4 welds per link. This equates to just over 243,000 welds and took eight months to complete.”

The 6.5 metre, 3.5 tonne piece depicting a hyper-realistic hand cradling a great white egret, was unveiled at Straney’s Bridge, 37 kilometres from Forbes towards Condobolin.

‘Bird in Hand’ becomes the 14th sculpture featured along the SDL trail from Forbes to Condobolin.

Chair of the Forbes Arts Society (FAS) Dr Karen Ritchie said, “like much of Mike’s other work, ‘Bird in the Hand’ sends a strong message about responsible conservation of our natural environment”.

“We are so excited to launch the latest sculpture in the trail,” said Forbes Shire Council Mayor, Phyllis Miller OAM.

“It is beautifully made and its message will resonate with our locals, that’s for sure!”

The ‘Boosting the Lachlan Valley Economy Art Project’ is proudly funded by the NSW Government’s Restart NSW program through the Regional Growth, Environment and Tourism Development Fund, the Forbes Arts Society, Forbes Shire Council, Lachlan Shire Council and Evolution Mining.

For more information about the project, visit www.forbesartssociety.com

Mayoral Notes

April 1, 2021 By editor

With Easter approaching please travel safe. The roads will be very busy. If you are tired please take a break! We want every-body safe and sound. Easter is an amazing time to spend with family and friends, go to church and eat lots of nice food.

We had road closures with the recent rain event and I want to remind everyone not to go through road closure signs or you will negate your insurance.

Last week we painted the town red for Ronald McDonald House (RMHC). Lots of businesses had donation buckets in their premises for a few days. Thank you to everyone who donated. The service RMHC provides to the Forbes community is simply amazing. They are a volunteer organisation that provides care and compassion to families in need at very tough times of illness and trauma.

With school holidays starting there will be heaps of activities for the kids to do. To name a few we have the Paddle Boats back on the Lake, Obstacool in Lions Park, Clay workshop and a fishing workshop. There will also be an outdoor movie night. Find out more on Council’s website or Facebook page.

Don’t forget to try out the new Ninja Park over the school holidays. The fence will be down just in time for Easter.

I hope you all have a happy Easter and stay safe.

God Bless.
Your Mayor, Phyllis Miller

Forbes Preschool Making Life Easier For Parents

April 1, 2021 By editor

HELPING HAND: Child and Family Health Nurse Jane O’Malley, with Jackie Wright from Forbes Preschool and Child and Family Health Nurse Denise Hopkins measure Myra Davis to see how much she has grown to track her health and development milestones on Tuesday in the Forbes Preschool community rooms, a new space for Child Health appointments.

Forbes Preschool is again making it easier for parents to meet the five crucial domains for early childhood development with Child and Family Health nurse appointments available every Tuesday at the preschool.

“We know how crucial the first 2000 days are of a child’s life and tracking health and development milestones is an important part of that – we also know how incredibly busy those first 2000 days are and by having child health appointments available in our beautiful new community space at preschool we hoped it would make it all that little bit more easier and accessible for parents,” Forbes Preschool Director, Amy Shine said.

Last year the NSW Government announced Brighter Beginnings, a portal dedicated to information and services as well as parenting life navigations tools – we are in the ideal position to be able to compliment this service by having it all under one roof here at Forbes Preschool,” Ms Shine said.

“We continue to develop and run specialised programs to address the other four key domains for early childhood development such as social competence, emotional maturity, language and cognitive skills as well as communication skills and general knowledge, so including another speciality just completes our ability to offer whole child support in the safe, fun and trusted preschool space,” she added.

The Child and Family Health appointments are open to all community members, your child does not need to attend preschool.

Every Tuesday (during the school term) from 9am to 3pm parents can drop in with the two Child Health Nurses available. You can book appointments on 6850 7300.

Yoorana Gunya Partners With Western Area Health

April 1, 2021 By editor

Yoorana Gunya Family Healing Centre.

The Partnership of Yoorana Gunya Family Healing Centre and Western NSW Aboriginal Health to improve health and wellbeing outcomes for Aboriginal people in Forbes was formalised last week.

“Over the years the needs of the Forbes Aboriginal community have changed and the focus of our organisation today is pre-dominantly on providing primary health care and wellbeing services,” said CEO Donna Bliss.

“This partnership will extend our services even further without losing our common goal, providing a range of health, education and family programs to both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people.”

The service provides a full range of primary health care services. The team includes; general practitioners, registered nurses, Aboriginal health workers, counsellors, domestic violence specialists, suicide prevention workers, social and emotional well-being workers.

“It is critical our services are culturally appropriate and are physically, emotionally and spiritually safe and that we work in partnership with people when providing care and treatment,” Ms Bliss continued.

The partnership will ensure safety, quality of care and improved health outcomes for Aboriginal peoples of Forbes and surrounding areas for the foreseeable future.

Forbes Domino’s Feeding The Knead

April 1, 2021 By editor

FEED THE KNEAD: Forbes Domino’s Marketing Manager Tre Griffen with co-owner Shannon Langlands. Domino’s have really delivered post-COVID to help local communities.

Local Domino’s Forbes franchisees William Cody and Shannon Langlands are dedicated to helping those in ‘knead’ – providing safe, hot meals to locals in the Forbes area who are doing it tough due to COVID-19.

As part of Domino’s community based program ‘Feed the Knead’, which aims to provide localised support in the form of free pizza, Mr Cody is proud to have donated more than 100 piping hot pizzas to locals in need, including frontline health workers at Forbes District Hospital; Jemalong Resi-dential Village; pharmacy; and SES.

Mr Cody said Domino’s Forbes is committed to giving back to the community, and encourages individuals to ‘nominate someone in knead’ by submitting a Feed the Knead form via the Domino’s website.

“As a small business owner, I understand it is a privilege to be able to operate and safely feed those in the community during this time.

“That is why we are doing everything possible to live up to that privilege and to return the support that our community has so generously shown us,” Mr Cody said.

“So, whether you have lost your job due to COVID-19, are struggling to put food on the table, or know an individual, business, charity or organisation doing it tough, we want to do what we can to help.

“We know that pizza can’t solve all of the world’s problems, but it can bring a small slice of joy to a bad day, and in these times of extreme stress and uncertainty that’s never been more important.”

For more information about Domino’s ‘Feed the Knead’, program visit www.dominos.com.au/feed-the-knead

Be Seen

April 1, 2021 By editor

ENTERTAINMENT: Georgia Sideris provided musical entertainment for the evening.

 

FEED THE KNEAD: Forbes Domino’s Marketing Manager Tre Griffen with co-owner Shannon Langlands. Domino’s have really delivered post-COVID to help local communities.

 

PARTNERSHIP: Executive Director Aboriginal Health and Wellbeing Western NSW Local Health District – Brendan Cutmore, CEO Yoorana Gunya Donna Bliss, Director of Yoorana Gunya – Aunty Mavis Ohlsen, Forbes Shire Mayor Phyllis Miller and CEO WNSWLH Scott McLachlan at the Yoorana Gunya and WNSWLH announcement.

 

MEMORIAL DAY: Bathurst St Pats and Forbes Magpies come together for the Stubby Collits Memorial Day last week.

 

COVID ROLLOUT: The COVID vaccine has arrived in the Central West and is being rolled out in Forbes.

 

SPONSORS NIGHT: Bedgerabong Picnic Race Club committee wrap-up the 2021 year with a BBQ.

Wettest Month In A Year For Forbes

April 1, 2021 By editor

FLOODED FARMS: Farmer From Down Under Brad Shephard captures flooded farms west of Forbes last week and the devastation they have caused farmers.

 

ROAD CLOSURES: Forbes received approximately 186mm rain – the same as April last year and three times as much as the same time last year. The rain caused flooding and numerous road closures.

Forbes Members Perform Well At Home

April 1, 2021 By editor

SUCCESS: Forbes Pony Club member Jake Tomlinson had a successful event including a first place last weekend.

Training has paid off for Forbes Pony Club members last weekend at the Forbes Showjumping competition with multiple placings won amongst strong classes of competitors attending from Canberra to Cobar.

President Laurie Norris said that he was very proud of all of the club competitors and that the stiff competition and tough courses they faced could only improve their jumping.

Jake Tomlinson and Ellie Glasson were placed first and sixth respectively in the 90cm in the “big ring” and in the slightly smaller levels Rachel Garland was first in the 45, 5th in the 60 and a 3rd and also secured a 1st in the 70. Rachael Morgan placed 4th in the 70, Tess Worland 3rd in the 70 and 5th in the 80 and Jemma Hodder 5th in the 70. Amy Richardson was 4th in the 80 and 2nd in the 70 and Chelsie Farmer 1st and 2nd in the 80 and 5th in the 90.

Of particular note was the 70cm on Sunday where all five placings were taken out by Forbes Pony Club riders. “Big congratulations to everyone and to all riders who represented our club so proudly.”

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