Parkes Phoenix Editor

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

Croquet News

November 23, 2017 by Maggi Barnard

Week ending 18th November
When you are in the Forbes Croquet Club amazing things can happen. One of those amazing things was for the club members to celebrate the 90th birthday of Bruce Field. Bruce is a man who would outdo most 50 year olds when it comes to mobility and agility. He is a much loved and admired member of the club. Congratulations Bruce!

Other birthday celebrations this month is Dorothea Croker, Dorelle Scott and Bill Scott. A very happy birthday to you all. We also celebrated a welcome return to Veva MacCullagh who has been on the sick list for a while. Welcome back Veva! Three wins this week in Golf croquet went to Colleen Liebich, Marjorie Styles and Bruce Field.

‘Beat the rain’ was the name of the game when Saturday saw a turnout of 22 stalwart people, and beat the rain we did. Winners of their three games were Joan Littlejohn and Cherylin Cole.

By Anne Stewart

Flannery’s Pharmacy

November 23, 2017 by Maggi Barnard

How Much Sun Is Too Much?

Did you know that 15 minutes is all it may take to damage your skin? A glorious sunny day may give you a spring in your step, but could there be a darker side to sunshine? We all know about the damage tanning booths can do, but the sun can also cause harm to our skin destroying elastic tissue and making it prone to wrinkles. It can also cause discolouration or mottling of the skin and can even make small blood vessels under the skin dilate, causing thread veins.

But the really bad news is that sun exposure increases your risk of skin cancer and if you have red or blonde hair, blue or green eyes and/or freckles you are at a higher risk of developing skin cancer.

While you can’t reverse sun damage, you can cut your risks of skin cancer and further damage dramatically with a few simple sunsafe steps:
• Use a high sun protection factor sunscreen;
• If possible, stay out of the sun between 10am and 3pm;
• Be generous with the sunscreen and reapply every couple of hours;
• Protect your youngsters! About 50% of your lifetime sun exposure is likely to happen before the age of 18 and
• If you notice any skin changes that you think might be cancer, don’t delay – see your doctor.

When applying sunscreen make sure you cover the curves of your body as areas, such as the tops of your ears, shoulders and top of your chest are particularly vulnerable to sun burn.

Interested in knowing more about sun damage…. Flannery’s Pharmacy can help with more information and advice, the latest sun protection products and a daily UV Index report.

Students Time To Educate

November 16, 2017 by Maggi Barnard

A concerned Year 6 group and their teacher are determined to bring awareness and change. The inspiration to research waste management at their school and within the community came after viewing the ABC series, War on Waste.

Kids Teaching Kids Co-ordinator, Trish Henderson and almost 25 students of Forbes Public School decided that they would identify two key improvements that they wanted to make.

Firstly, they wanted to increase the correct separation and disposal of waste into green waste, recycling and general waste.

The students conducted a ‘waste audit’ of all the red bins within their school playground.

The team took on the task to dramatically reduce the amount of general waste sent to landfill by encouraging fellow students to bring less soft plastic to school and to sort their waste into the correct bin.

Secondly, they wanted to increase the number of reusable cups as a consumer’s preferred choice when purchasing takeaway coffee.

They were concerned about the fact that many takeaway coffee cups are non-recyclable. A survey conducted by the students within coffee shops determined that very few customers brought their own cup.

NetWaste Environmental Learning Adviser Sue Clarke said: “This is the way to change attitudes and behaviour for the future!

Many don’t realise that these cups can’t be recycled and there are so many disposable coffee cups that end up in landfills.”

Netwaste have invited Trish and the students to be part of their campaign to reduce disposable coffee cups by providing them with posters for display in participating coffee shops.

By Gizell van Wyk

MAYORAL NOTES

November 16, 2017 by Maggi Barnard

Staff and Councillors bid farewell to interim General Manager, Max Kershaw last Friday.

It was a privilege to have worked with Max, who worked well with staff and Council and kept the Shire on track as well as advancing our targeted principles.

We are also grateful to Max for his very comprehensive handover to our new General Manager, Steve Loane. We welcome Steve to our Council and look forward to continuing our vision for Forbes Shire.

Director of Engineering and Technical Services, John Zannes, and I attended the National Local and Transport Congress hosted by the Australian Local Government Association in Albany, Western Australia.

The conference was an invaluable experience with a great deal of information which will directly impact future road funding and objectives. We are preparing a full and detailed

report for Council.

Work is being finalised on the Grinstead Oval cricket pitch, the pitch has had a major upgrade. Council has contributed $70,000 to the project to ensure the ever popular sport can continue to be played on our top class sporting facilities.

As this year is very quickly drawing to a close, I am inviting everyone to start thinking about those wonderful people in our community who have really made a difference in 2017. Nominations are now being opened up for the Australia Day Citizen of the Year, Indigenous Citizen and Junior Citizen.

Mayor Graeme Miller

Six Young People Complete Army Of Green Projects

November 16, 2017 by Maggi Barnard

The third and last Skillset Green Army team graduated at the beginning of this month after 20 weeks of valuable environmental work in the Forbes and Parkes Shire Council areas.

The team consisted of six participants between the ages of 17 and 24 years, overseen by team supervisor, Darrin Kopp.

The team did planting work at the Gum Swamp Painted Snipe Project site and at the Forbes National Tree Day site, Parkes National Tree Day site, Memorial Hill Parkes and Parkes Solar Farm. They also obtained work health safety, First Aid and other training, and assisted at Eco Day at the Central West Livestock Exchange.

“The team did well to make the most of the opportunities, and maintaining and improving biodiversity in our local area,” said Central West Lachlan Landcare (CWLL) Co-ordinator, Marg Applebee. She thanked the Parkes and Forbes Shire Council staff for their support over the 18 months of the program.

“It has been a pleasure to work with Skillset to provide work opportunities for young people in our community.” Marg said she hoped it was the beginning of many great things for the participants and that they would be able to build on the skills they have obtained.

Darrin who worked very closely with the team every day, was rather overwhelmed when he thanked them. “Although you pushed me to the limit at times, I really enjoyed it. It was fantastic!”

The participants all agreed they had gained a lot of knowledge of and a much deeper appreciation for nature.

The focus was on increasing the biodiversity and connecting Grey Box Grassy Woodlands corridors to increase habitat for native species.

CWLL will be taking applications as part of the National Landcare Programme (NLP) initiative. Landholders are encouraged to contact Marg on 6862 4914 if there is a project

that would fit the NLP guidelines.

By Maggi Barnard

Want To Eat More Veggies?

November 16, 2017 by Maggi Barnard

Scientists have come up with an innovative approach to tackling Australia’s poor vegetable intake, with the launch of a new app that challenges people to eat more veggies.

Using a gamified approach, CSIRO’s new VegEze app aims to motivate Australians to add extra vegetables to their daily diets and form long-term, healthier habits through a 21-day ‘Do 3 at Dinner’ challenge.

CSIRO nutritionists will also study how effective the app’s game-like nature is at helping transform people’s eating patterns, as part of a broader research study.

“We need a fresh approach to improve Australia’s vegetable consumption and overall diet quality,” CSIRO Senior Principal Research Scientist Professor Manny Noakes said.

“Our research found two out of three Australian adults are not eating enough vegetables, especially as part of their evening meal. It’s time to find more engaging, effective

approaches to help break these entrenched diet habits.”

Challenging users to eat three different vegetables at dinner every day for 21 days, the VegEze app helps people track their intake and tally up vegetable serves, with daily reminders and rewards to help people stay motivated and on-track.

“Committing to eating more vegetables every day is one of the most important ways we can improve our health today. Boosting your intake can be as easy as having three types of vegetables taking up half of your dinner plate,” said Manny.

“After just a few weeks using the app every day, users should feel more confident in adding more vegetables to their menu and notice some positive changes to their health and wellbeing.

“The beneficial nutrients and fibre from vegetables can help improve digestion, and fill you up – which can help reduce eating too much unhealthy junk food.”

Since May 2015, CSIRO has studied the dietary habits of more than 191,000 adults for its Healthy Diet Score research.

Eating three types of vegetables as part of the evening meal was found to be a key marker in having a better diet, but further research of 1,068 adults showed some Australians were being held back from eating more vegetables by low awareness, lack of time and low confidence.

To help people overcome these barriers, the VegEze app features educational resources such as a visual guide to specific vegetable serve sizes, vegetable recipes, nutritional information and motivational rewards.

Information from app users will feed back into CSIRO’s study of Australians’ vegetable consumption, while helping to analyse the app’s effectiveness as an education initiative to improve Australia’s poor vegetable score card.

The technology was developed in Australia in collaboration with digital health solution provider SP Health.

To try the 21-day Do 3 at Dinner challenge and participate in the research study, download the free VegEze app via the Apple App Store: https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/vegeze/id1268951104

Flannery’s Pharmacy celebrated its 60th birthday at the beginning of this month. We asked customers: How long have you been coming to Flannery’s and what do you like about the pharmacy?

November 16, 2017 by Maggi Barnard

Harry Coggian: I’ve been coming here almost every week since the pharmacy opened. The staff have been wonderful since day one. Couldn’t wish for any better.

Sally Spence: Since I was born, I used to come here with my mother. I love the friendly staff they are very helpful.

Tom Edols: Longer than I can remember. They are lovely people with great service.

Netball News

November 16, 2017 by Maggi Barnard

The new Fast 5 committee is being formed. Anyone who would like to be on the committee should email Tiff Nicholson on secretary. forbesnetball@gmail.com.

The Fast 5 competition will be played on Wednesday nights, in mid February and all of March 2018, finishing at the Easter break.

New committee members will need to volunteer before the competition can run. The committee will have the help and support of Netball NSW staff, as this competition will be run very differently to any of the competitions played in the past.

Volunteers for the Fast 5 committee so far are: Jess Priest, Jack Piercy, Ellie Flick, Brianna Duncan, Jack Priest and Aurella White.

The Fast 5 committee has no age restrictions.It is however recommended that they currently be attending secondary school, to open men and women, which will be the playing age of the competition.

The FNA committee has also expressed interest with Netball NSW for the presentation of walking netball in 2018.

This will also be a fun and very different form of the game. More details will be made available as soon as the FNA is informed.

There will be no FNA meetings during December and January.

Locals Victorious In Nissan Classic

November 16, 2017 by Maggi Barnard

Last weekend was the annual Forbes Nissan Classic. This was contested by nearly 180 players with many being visitors from Sydney, West Australia and places in between.

The Scratch winner of the Classic, a stroke event, was local player Peter Nixon. His 71 scratch was accomplished with very little drama. He was well ahead of many of the A-grade, when numerous of them had problems with the greens and the trees.

Another local to taste success was Frank Hanns, who won the C-grade Handicap with a nett 67. He had one of those days when everything meshed well and it was all too easy.

The biggest contingent was a group of 10 players from Cabramatta, closely followed by a group of 9 players from Nelson Bay GC. There were even players from West Australia, who joined the event.

The weekend was an undoubted success, made even more so by the strong support of the sponsors. Once again Frank Spice Nissan was the major sponsor, but there were many others ensuring a lengthy prize list.

On Saturday a 4BBB Stableford event was played. The winners were once again locals, Andrew Cogswell and Peter Nixon with a score of 45 points. They were one shot ahead of a group of six pairings on 44 points. The runners-up were determined by count back, going to Steve Betland and Charlie Dwyer.

By Short Putt

Community Garden Open Day

November 16, 2017 by Maggi Barnard

The Forbes Riverside Community Garden will be hosting its Open Day this Saturday. The Open Day is an opportunity to showcase the Community Garden and to announce the winners of two competitions that they have been running.

The two competition categories to be judged are Best Scarecrow and Best Individual Vegetable Garden Bed.

Approximately 30 scarecrows have been entered into the competition. The judging will be done by popular vote and will take place at the Community Garden in Reymond Street (site of the old Forestry Nursery) between 9am and 1pm.

There are around 20 entries in the Best Individual Vegetable Garden Bed and these will be judged by Darren Kopp.

The presentation of awards will take place between 11.30am and 12.30pm. Prizes for the competition winners have been generously donated by local businesses.

Along with the competitions there will be plant sales, tours of the garden and a sausage sizzle. Entry is free. Sausage sandwiches are $2.00 and cold drinks are $1.00.

Enquiries regarding donating towards the Forbes Riverside Community Garden (a not for profit organisation) can be directed to Anne Hodges on the day.

Parkes Phoenix Editor

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