Parkes Phoenix Editor

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

MAYORAL NOTES

November 30, 2017 by Maggi Barnard

Parliamentary Secretary for Western NSW, Rick Colless and Member for Orange, Phillip Donato, presented the Forbes District Soccer Club with a cheque of $146,236 on Monday for the refurbishment and rebuilding at the Forbes Botanical Gardens sportsground.

This is great news for the multipurpose sports facility and will help fund significant improvements in the amenities at the grounds. Council has also committed $150,000 for the project which will include new toilets with disabled access, storage and change rooms.

More than 5,000 weekend passes have been sold for Vanfest this weekend. This is going to prove to be a massive boost for our town. Ticket sales have already exceeded our expectations and we are grateful for this injection of funds into our local economy. Make sure you have got your tickets to be a part of this music festival. I might look a little bit out of place but I will also be there to enjoy it on Saturday night.

I’m looking forward to attending the Rotary Ipomoea Club’s Christmas Tree Festival tonight, starting at 6pm. This is a great way to start the festive season and I look forward to seeing if the club has the 100 entries it was aiming for this year.

A reminder to all, Carols by Candlelight will be on Sunday night. Starting at 7pm, it is a wonderful family evening to spend together and I look forward to seeing you there.

Mayor Graeme Miller

FSMC Christmas Festival Find It In Forbes

November 30, 2017 by Maggi Barnard

Have you noticed the Christmas trees located around town? Gorgeous pallet Christmas trees, some painted, some decorated with baubles and others with lights. Each tree indicates a participating business in the Find It In Forbes promotion.

In store there are specials, surprises and of course the Find It In Forbes tickets. For every purchase over $10 you will receive a ticket to enter the draw.

Also underway are the Forbes Memorial Services Club Christmas Festival Markets. The festival activities and markets will be located in Templar and Rankin Streets from 4pm to 9pm on the 14th December. To date there are food stalls, craft and other stalls.

For an application form please email forbes.businesschambernsw@gmail.com.

The Find It In Forbes Committee members would like to thank the major sponsor, Forbes Memorial Services Club, Gold Sponsor Forbes Shire Council and Silver Sponsor Terry Bros Carpet Court.

Lachlan Dragons Make A Serious Splash On Wagga’s Lake Albert

November 30, 2017 by Maggi Barnard

The Wagga Wagga Dragon Boat Regatta was the epitome of friendliness with a great time experienced by all.

It started for the Lachlan Dragons with a team barbecue on the regatta eve with a lot of fun and laughs shared by the crew and some friendly rivalry aimed at opposition paddlers who were sharing the area.

The atmosphere continued throughout the Regatta Day with lots of jovial challenges exchanged between competing teams.

The rains fell only on the furthest peripheries and the predicted thunderstorms held off so that the only booming was that of the drums ringing across Lake Albert. Teams of paddlers were egged on by those beating drums as well as by the cheers of their support crews.

The Forbes Lachlan Dragons raced in all three categories: men’s, women’s and mixed. The men’s, combined with the Sudu Dragons of Wollongong, raced a beautiful final to take the third place trophy.

The coaches expressed how happy they were with all races. “You all raced extremely well against very stiff competition,” said Coach Carmen Stephens.

“Your power in the boat and your technique was great,” added Coach Warren Edwards.

The Lachlan Dragons will stay geared up under these two inspiring coaches, with a bit of a break over Christmas, in readiness for the Canberra Regatta in January.

Back home on Lake Forbes, many new paddlers have been turning up for a try and loving it. Most are returning for another go and some are even joining up as members.

If you’re looking for a great sport that fits any age, and is a real workout for any ability or fitness level, come and give it a go.

For more information call Bill Thomas on 0418616500 or Chris Sweeney on 0414 762 775.

If you could be any cartoon character, who would you be and why?

November 30, 2017 by Maggi Barnard

Jakieal Ware: I’d like to be Daffy Duck because he has big feet almost like flippers and then I could swim even faster.

Erin Mayo: I would like to be Chase from Paw Patrol. He is a police man and saves people and I also like dogs.

Lola Morrison: Lola Bunny, because of her name!

Good Support For Free Cuppa

November 30, 2017 by Maggi Barnard

Ninety-five businesses across Western and Southwestern NSW have signed up to participate in next year’s ‘Free Cuppa for the Driver’ scheme from 1st March to 31st May.

The scheme offers drivers who have travelled more than one hundred kilometres from the address on their drivers licence a free cup of tea or coffee at any participating business.

“If it wasn’t for participating businesses supplying the ‘free cuppa’, this scheme would not be possible, said Parkes, Forbes and Lachlan Shire Councils’ Road Safety and Injury Prevention Officer, Melanie Suitor. A total of 17 businesses in the Parkes, Forbes and Lachlan Shire Council have signed up.

FHS Wins Ben Hall Shield

November 30, 2017 by Maggi Barnard

Forbes High School has claimed the Ben Hall Shield for 2017, in what was a very competitive and close competition with Blayney High School.

At the end of October, Forbes High School hosted the annual Ben Hall Shield against Blayney High School. In its fourth year this competition is proving to be an exciting opportunity for our students to demonstrate their skills on the sporting fields.

The competition saw Blayney High School take the lead and start off strong against some of the Forbes High School teams defeating their junior girls and boys’ basketball teams and junior and senior girls’ touch football teams.

With the home ground advantage Forbes High School were able to step up and come home with a convincing win, taking out seven of the eleven games. The teams had success in the volleyball, junior and senior netball, senior girls and boy’s basketball and both the junior and senior boys’ touch football.

The Ben Hall Shield proves each year to be a prize both high schools seek out to win and which seems to bring out a competitive nature in all students to want to succeed.

Deputy Principal Jason Nottingham said, “It’s great to see all students from both high schools bring such a competitive spirit to the Ben Hall Shield and strive to do their best. We had a really lovely day hosting Blayney High School and look forward to travelling there next year.”

Croquet News

November 30, 2017 by Maggi Barnard

Week ending 25th November

Weather wise, this day was the pick of the season. Some close games were played, especially an epic battle between John Cole and Bill Scott on the second last game of the day. Winning scores of three games on Tuesday were four women, namely Dorelle Scott, Kathy Broderick, Joan Littlejohn and Robin Polls. They outnumbered the men with scores of three games, namely Mal Smith, Alec Todd and Barry White.

Saturday morning warmed up very quickly and a members vote was taken to hit off at 8:30am on Tuesday and Saturday mornings in order to beat the heat. Winners on the day with scores of three games were Dorothea Croker, Bruce Field and Bob Murray.

A reminder to all members that our Christmas lunch will be held on Tuesday, 12th December.

By Anne Stewart

Netball News

November 30, 2017 by Maggi Barnard

Dates have already been set for some events in 2018. The new Fast 5 night competitions for both mixed and ladies teams will run from mid February and all of March, and finish before Easter. The Forbes All Age regional carnival will be held on 6th May.

The Forbes and district primary schools gala day will be held on Monday, 5th March. The Saturday competition ‘Come and Try’ day will be held on 10th March. Regional League will be played in Orange on 25th February, 25th March and 15th April.

Netball Courses: There are many netball courses available on the NNSW website. These courses are available for any member to up-skill and update accreditation. Play By The Rules and the Australian Sports Commission also have courses available for updates.

Mobile Phones Still A Driver Distraction Across The Region

November 30, 2017 by Maggi Barnard

Forbes, Parkes and Lachlan Shire Councils are reminding drivers to put their mobile phones down, after the latest observation survey recorded 29 motorists using their phones while driving.

The survey conducted in Forbes, Parkes and Condobolin, showed that there was no improvement to the mobile phone usage rate compared to an earlier survey conducted in April.

The survey also showed a 0.2% decrease in the combined seatbelt wearing rate in comparison to the April survey.

The Councils’ Road Safety and Injury Prevention Officer, Melanie Suitor, said that this equated to 70 people not wearing a seatbelt.

“Whilst our combined seatbelt wearing rate of 98.9% is better than the state average (98%), it is disappointing to report that 11 more people were observed not wearing a seatbelt in comparison to the April survey.

“In a crash a person who is not restrained with a seatbelt will continue to travel forward at the speed the vehicle was travelling until something stops them. This could be the steering wheel, dashboard or windscreen. Seatbelts save lives and prevent injuries,” said Melanie.

The observations surveys are conducted bi-annually in Forbes, Parkes and Condobolin and aim to measure, monitor and improve local seatbelt wearing rates and the number of drivers complying with mobile phone legislation.

There is an urban and highway location in each town with survey staff conducting the observations for an hour in the morning and an hour in the afternoon at both locations.

The survey shows that the group most at risk were males. There were 14 male drivers observed using their mobile phone.

The next observation survey will be conducted in April 2018.

For further information, please contact Parkes, Forbes and Lachlan Shire Councils’ Road Safety and Injury Prevention Officer, Melanie Suitor, on (02) 6861 2364.

OUR Bloke

November 30, 2017 by Maggi Barnard

Steve Loane

How long have you lived in Forbes and what do you like about living here? I have a long association with Forbes through the saleyards. It is a beautiful town and the people are warm and friendly. I am looking forward to this being my new home.

Where do you work and what do you enjoy about your work? I work for Forbes Shire Council. We have the opportunity to make a positive difference in our community.

What do you do to unwind after work or on weekends? I enjoy spending time with my family and gardening, as well as travelling.

What are you really good at? Growing stuff, I’ve actually got a very green thumb and enjoy gardening a great deal.

If you could have a super power, what would it be? To empower others – the ability to make others realise their potential.

What is your pet hate? Bullies. Tell us about your best holiday ever. Any one of my many trips into the desert, into the most remote areas of Australia. I am lucky to have travelled around most parts of Australia and I love this beautiful country of ours.

Parkes Phoenix Editor

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