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Forbes Phoenix

Parkes Phoenix Editor

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

U3A Offers Learning Opportunities For Older People

July 29, 2022 by Anne Stewart

U3A Forbes Members enjoying a Taste of Forbes earlier this year.

A busy, fun and informative first half of the year has come to an end for Forbes U3A (University of the Third Age) members with a wide range of activities. 

We’ve had some excellent presenters in our “My Brilliant Career” series, a lesson on how to prune roses, a grand tour of local restaurants in our “A Taste of Forbes” series for lunch and “Show and Tell” a fun series where members bring precious, historic or unusual objects to talk about. Our regular activities set to keep the brain working and the body moving are croquet, Tai Chi, Scrabble, and our wonderful choir which continues across the year. 

Our members enjoy trips to the theatre in Orange, as well as a two-day trip to Goulburn, Australia’s first Inland city with a host of historical features. 

As we are preparing for our next range of activities over the next five months, new members are very welcome and can come along to our next general meeting on Tuesday, 9th August at 1:30pm in the Uniting Church Hall for a presentation on the next half year’s courses and activities. For further information please call Anne Stewart, secretary on 0403 874 855.

By Anne Stewart 

Universities of the Third Age, or U3As are voluntary, non-profit organisations which aim to offer older people low-cost educational opportunities which operate in a pleasant, supportive social setting. There are no formal entry requirements, no examinations and no “awards”. U3As are basically self-help groups built on the premise that collectively older people have the skills and knowledge to provide learning opportunities (education) for themselves. After all, “experts” of all kinds in all fields eventually retire! In fact the word “university” in the title is used in its earliest sense – a community of scholars who get together to help each other in a learning/social experience. 

Mayoral Notes

July 29, 2022 by Maggi Barnard

Local Member Phil Donato MP (left) and Forbes Shire Mayor Phyllis Miller (right) welcomed Wafi Rahim, Rubaiya Haque and little Ayra as new Australian citizens with a special ceremony last week.

It was with great pleasure our Local Member Phil Donato and I welcomed our newest citizens at a ceremony in Forbes last week. We welcomed Wafi Rahim, his wife Rubaiya Haque and their daughter Ayra. 

Wafi is our Geographical Information Systems Officer here at Forbes Shire Council and he and his family are valuable members of our Forbes community. 

Have you got your tickets for the Agribusiness Today Forum at the Forbes Golf Club on 4th August? Guests will hear from 13 expert agricultural speakers. It is also an opportunity to catch up with the Central West agribusiness community. You can get your tickets on Eventbrite. 

The General Manager, Councillors and I are away at the National Saleyards Conference which I imagine this year will be vital for keeping up with Australia’s action again Foot and Mouth Disease. 

Another reminder, Sunday is National Tree Day and in Forbes we will be planting trees out near the Homemaker Centre. All welcome. We hope to see you there. 

Rich Environment And Diverse Experiences At Forbes High

July 29, 2022 by Maggi Barnard

Forbes High School is creating bright futures for all students who enter our gates. Our school environment is rich and filled with diverse experiences that cater for all learners. We are fortunate to have expansive grounds which have recently undergone significant transformation to ensure that our learning environment is inviting and conducive to learning. 

High quality educational experiences are what you find at Forbes High School. Highly experienced educators fill our classrooms who differentiate the learning to support all students. This creates an educational experience that shapes the future of the students, whether that be further study at university, TAFE or employment. All our graduating students are successful in the future career pathways and several of the cohort of 2022 have already secured university placements. 

Our passion at Forbes High School is providing the complete education experience. High quality teaching and learning is paramount, this occurs in an environment rich in extra curricula opportunities and in a highly supportive and inclusive environment. Forbes High School caters for all students and supports their educational pathway, recognising that individual needs must be supported. 

Forbes High School offers public speaking, academic competitions, sporting opportunities and caters to all areas of the Creative and Performing Arts. Recently, we had a very successful Forbes Eisteddfod with our school placed first in the schools point score trophy. 

We work closely with our community partners including Forbes Local Aboriginal Education Consultative Group (AECG), local businesses and our P and C. We have an active parent and community body who work alongside us ensuring that the education received at Forbes High School creates the best possible future for our students. 

EDUCATION WEEK 

Education Week 2022 takes place next week from 1-5 August. This year’s theme is ‘creating futures – education changes lives’ and celebrates quality education and the opportunities available to everyone in NSW public education. 

Education Week is your chance to celebrate the achievements of your school, students or learning community. “This year NSW public education continues to celebrate the journey students and learners take throughout the NSW Education system, focusing on how we are creating futures for our students, staff and families. 

“From the first days in child care to post-school pathways, our education system is preparing young people to be agile thinkers and lifelong learners.” 

 

Popular Café Reopens Seven Days A Week

July 29, 2022 by Brett Sale

The friendly staff at the Lakeside Café are (L – R) Trina Potter, Vickie Fry, Debbie Neilsen and Shane Neilsen.

The popular Lakeside Take Away Café in Forbes has reopened its doors with a menu full of goodies.

Shane Neilsen and his family opened the doors a month ago and business had been great. “We are getting smashed,” said Shane. “We are advertising on Facebook only at the moment and word is clearly getting around.” There plenty of great reviews on the café’s Facebook page with many compliments for the great service, steak burgers, fresh fish, scallops with gravy, generous portions and friendly staff. The Lakeside Café has indoor and sun-catching outdoor seating situated only 300m from Lake Forbes on the corner of Wambat and Oxford streets. The family run business offers a wide range of delicious foods including seafood baskets, Cherry Ripe and Mars Bar Milkshakes, take away coffees and more. The business is open from Monday to Friday 6am to 7pm, and Saturday and Sunday 7:30am to 7pm.

By Brett Sale

Free Course For Young Livestock Competitors

July 29, 2022 by Maggi Barnard

Young livestock competitors at the 582 agricultural shows around Australia are encouraged to complete a free online course in animal welfare and handling standards offered by Agricultural Shows Australia. The courses are designed for young exhibitors and judges of poultry, cattle, alpacas and sheep and are available on the organisation’s website. It was developed in partnership with the Australian Government’s Department of Agriculture, Water and Environment.

The courses provide training in the basics of animal handling and care, the principles of animal welfare and show ring ethics, safety and animal wellbeing. The courses can be accessed for free online at agshowsaustralia.thinkific.com

Be Seen @ Kate Kelly Exhibition

July 22, 2022 by Maggi Barnard

Zoe and Hannah Connell.

 

Rose Jones and Antoinette Affleck.

 

Stafford Orange, Philippa O’Donnell and Benson O’Donnell attended the opening of the Kate Kelly Exhibition in Parkes last Friday.

Forbes Junior Wins Australian Title

July 22, 2022 by Maggi Barnard

Hugh Hope-Hodgetts from Forbes won the 85cc Modified 9-u12 class to become Australian champsion. Second was Taylen Howard (Gold Coast) and third Jake Paige (Bris-bane). Right: Holly Hope-Hodgetts from Forbes came second in the 150(2St) 250(4st) girls class with Anika Loftus (Brisbane) in first place.

A junior member of the Forbes Auto Sports Club won a national title at the Australian Junior Dirt Track Championships in Brisbane recently. Hugh Hope-Hodgetts is the Australian champion in the 85cc Modified 9-u12 class, while his sister Holly claimed second place in the 150(2St) 250(4st) girls class. 

They competed with five other members of the Forbes club: Michael Price, Hayden Duggan, Lenny Duggan, Lochie Duggan and Roy Duggan. They all trained very hard to get to the level needed. Racing at these events is off the charts, and it all depends on the day who will win. The Forbes riders did very well with most of them making the finals in their classes.

This race meet had been a long time planning going through four cancellations because of rain, COVID-19, and border restrictions over the past few years 

Mayoral Notes

July 22, 2022 by Maggi Barnard

Goldridge landowners are in fact exactly that this week. After what has been a long wait, the Land Registry Services has registered the individual Stage One lots and our very first purchasers are making the move to settle. 

Council has received several development applications already and work is expected to commence on the first house this month. A newsletter will be going out in the next week for all purchasers and those hoping to purchase land in one of our future block releases. 

Following the news of Forbes’ expected population growth of 32% (substantially higher than the State’s expected growth) there has never been a better time to buy a block of land in Forbes to build your dream home. The development of Goldridge Estate has been designed to provide lifestyle size blocks for new homeowners while freeing up the supply and availability of housing in other areas around town. 

Talking Forbes growth, when Council completed its 2018-2030 Agricultural Strategy it identified ways to sustain and develop opportunities for rural production. Next week we will be hosting the Agribusiness Today Forum organised by Regional Development Australia – Central West. 

This key agricultural event has been giving producers access to high calibre and leading speakers for more than 25 years. 

The theme for this year is Mixed Farming Enterprises – adapting to a changing climate and takes place in Forbes on 4th and 5th August. 

Now that the rain has briefly cleared all major projects are drying out and great progress is being made on all. 

Be Seen

July 22, 2022 by Maggi Barnard

Seven junior members of the Forbes Auto Sports Club took part in the Australian Junior Dirt Track Championships in Brisbane recently. At the back are Lenny Dug-gan, Holly Hope-Hodgetts and Michael Price. In front are Roy Duggan, Hayden Duggan, Lockie Duggan and Hugh Hope-Hodgetts.

 

The runners-up in the Forbes Netball Autumn ladies competition was Swish Swish.

 

The mixed competition runners-up was Late Or Never.

CWA Eugowra Opens

July 22, 2022 by Janet Noble

Jenny and Greg Maher from Nashdale visited the new CWA Op Shop in Eugowra last Saturday.

A new Op Shop opened in Eugowra last Saturday after lots of hard work put in by members of the CWA. 

The day was a great success and the next opening days are on 6th and 20th August. Donations for the shop may be left on meeting days, on the second Friday of the month or with members. 

Earlier in the month the CWA catered for the Rural Advisory Mental Health Program in the CWA rooms. Phillip Worrad the presenter, talked about “Responding to suicide risk in our community”. He spoke about what you can do to avoid getting to a stage where you would want to end your life. 

We learned about box breathing – hands together, breathe in for four as you take them above your head, hold for four as you take them wide, lower hands as you breathe out counting to four, and finally bring your hands together counting to four. 

Phil also touched on mindfulness and positive reframing – turning negative thoughts into positives. 

The fundamentals for good mental health include six to eight hours of sleep, a healthy diet, regular exercise, regular breaks from work, a relaxing hobby, and moderate caffeine and alcohol intake. 

There are many services available for mental health or contact Philip.Worrad@health.nsw.gov.au or call the Mental Health Line 1800 011 511. 

By Janet Noble 

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