Parkes Phoenix Editor

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

Our Bloke – Steve Grallelis

August 10, 2017 by Maggi Barnard

Steve Grallelis

How long have you lived in Forbes and what do you like about living here? We came here five and a half years ago to be closer to family. The people are welcoming, and it has been easy to get involved in community groups.

Where do you work and what do you enjoy most about your work? I work with Forestry Corporation NSW, based at Forbes. I enjoy the staff, the variety, and the chance to see the countryside as I travel around.

What do you do to unwind after work and on weekends? I’m a golf tragic, and spend a lot of time at the golf course. I also have a large, neglected garden in which I spend time in the afternoons.

What are you really good at? Finding humour in most situations. Laughter can dispel tension in difficult moments, and then we can look for resolutions.

If you could have a super power, what would it be? To wave a wand and immediately undo the harsh words, accidents, and so on, that can change lives in a moment.

What is your pet hate? My wife says there are many. Perhaps it’s people who dither about what they say. Just say it and get on with it.

Footy Tipping Results Round 22

August 8, 2017 by Maggi Barnard

Our Gal – Amy Townsend

August 3, 2017 by Maggi Barnard

Amy Townsend

How long have you lived in Forbes and what do you like about living here? I have lived in Forbes for 3 and a half years. I like that everyone here is so community minded and friendly. I have only lived here for a short time but I really do feel like a local.

Where do you work and what do you enjoy most about your work? I am the manager of Anytime Fitness and I love the fact that every single day I get to help people accomplish their goals.

What do you do to unwind after work and on weekends? After work I like to have a nice dinner with my boyfriend, and on weekends I love to play football.

What are you really good at? I am really good at organising, which I put into practise in not only my work but the Forbes Magpies as the club secretary.

If you could have a super power, what would it be? It would be to have super speed.

What is your pet hate? Where do I start?

What was your best holiday ever? We went on a family holiday to Darwin, to visit my cousin who was there for his first army posting.

Taylor And Carpenter A Winning Combination

August 3, 2017 by Maggi Barnard

On the weekend, the Men’s Competition was a Stableford Multiplier contested by 30 pairings. The winners, Ray Taylor and Bruce Carpenter, combined well and used their steady play to score an impressive 81 points.

A long way back were Andrew McDonald and Tony Cogswell, with 71 points. They had two ‘wipes’, but recovered well. The remaining scores ranged from 68 to 32. The ball sweep went to 62 points on count back, going to: 81 – Taylor/Carpenter; 71 – McDonald/T Cogswell; 68 – Shine/G Webb; 67 – Donohoe/Squires, Borger/Borger; 66 – Byrne/Hanns; 62 – Bown/Drane. The NTP’s went to: 9th – P Dawson; 18th – P Maher.

On the cards the scores for individual holes ranged from 9’s to zeros. But the best score on any hole, a 12, was shared by Pymont/Kay (on the 5th) and Dawson/Bayley (on the 7th). The Stableford Medley on Sunday was a quiet affair with many regulars playing away to help other clubs. The winner was Ron Morris with 35 points. There was no runnerup or ball sweep. There was no NTP’s either as no-one hit the green with their tee shot!

This week the ‘Winter 3’s’ competitors did play very well. The winner this week was Murray Field with nett 28. Following behind on 32 were: M Ewing, E Uphill, J Haley. About 10 Forbes players ventured to Caragabal on Sunday to play in their Special Event, a 2-person Ambrose. The field of 46 players enjoyed a good day. Forbes players among the prize winners were: Third on count back – Andrew Dukes and Ash Tucker with 62. Longest drives to Ash and Andy, on separate holes. Good team work by the boys.

By Short Putt

Quality Early Childhood Teaching Shines in Forbes

August 3, 2017 by Maggi Barnard

Forbes Preschool is receiving accolades from early childhood educators far and wide, after delivering a top quality professional development conference on 21 July. Amy Shine came up with the idea for The Moving Forward in Forbes conference to prove that the big cities don’t hold a monopoly over excellence in these events.

“The preschool is one of the newest, biggest, most cutting-edge in the state. We thought, we need to showcase what we do. We’re pretty humble about what we do. We need to show people that you can do anything if you put your mind to it.”

Amy and her team booked international education expert Anthony Samaan twelve months in advance, and invited other speakers from around the local region. “Anthony was our keynote speaker and he ran some workshops throughout the day. We also had five other workshops and we found those presenters from within an hour’s travelling time of Forbes.

“Everyone says there’s nothing available. Well, there is. You just have to think outside the square,” said Amy. The conference ran smoothly and was a raging success, with presenters and attendees providing rave reviews and eager to come back next year.

“We loved reading the feedback that came in from people. It was awesome. Made us feel proud,” said McKenzie Morrison, of Forbes Preschool. It was such a success that Amy and her team plan to run an even bigger and better event next year.

By Rochelle Bright

Question of the Week?

August 3, 2017 by Maggi Barnard

What is your number one tip for healthy teeth?

Caitlin Herbert – Oral Health Therapist: Good home care, and a visit to the dentist every six months.

Dr Danny Demosthenous – Dentist: Avoid drinks that bubble, eat more cheese, and drink tap water.

Tabitha Blake – Senior Dental Assistant: Clean your teeth morning and night. Especially at night!

Snippets…

August 3, 2017 by Maggi Barnard

#Montefamous Review Choon Goonz – Serious Fun
The latest EP from Choon Goonz “Serious Fun” can only be described as a party starter! “Serious Fun” is a brilliant combination of Hip-Hop, Electronic and Pop, proving that Choon Goonz are skilled at genrehopping. The Brisbane Duo has produced a stunning Hip-Hop/Funk cover of the Beatles “Come Together”, turning it into a sultry slow dance track for 2017. There are some tongue in cheek tracks on the EP. Chocoholic” is brilliant at describing some peoples love of chocolate, with a strong beat and clever lyrics Choon Goonz elevate this track into an addictive beat. “Serious Fun” is a must have for lovers of music who enjoy blending genres on the same EP.

Forbes Medical Centre welcomes new Dietitian: Forbes Medical Centre is pleased to advise that their visiting Dietitian service is back on track with the recent commencement of local Dietitian Rebecca Peters. Rebecca, an Accredited Practising Dietitian started weekly visits to FMC in June. With a Bachelor of Nutrition and Dietetics (Honours) from the University of Wollongong, Miss Peters is an up to date and credible source of nutrition and dietary advice. Miss Peters hopes to use her knowledge of nutrition to benefit and improve the health of the Forbes community through her work at the Forbes Medical Centre. She will be available every Wednesday for appointments which can be made by phoning the Medical Centre on 6851 1300.

Rugby League Twin Town Derby on this weekend: This Sunday, the Forbes Magpies will take on the Parkes Spacemen in the annual rugby league Twin Town Derby. The teams are on equal points going into the round, which could decide third place on the ladder with two games remaining. The first game kicks off at Springers Oval at 10:30am with the women’s league tag. The club would love to see the community out in force to support the game.

Council Comments

August 3, 2017 by Maggi Barnard

As you know Forbes Shire Council recently ensured that the Vanfest music festival will continue to be a key attraction for Forbes. This year it will run over December 1 and 2. This is a massive win for Forbes and we need the community’s support in welcoming all visitors to our beautiful town.

Vanfest may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but we can’t deny the benefits to Forbes. Up to 7000 people attend the event each year, delivering an enormous economic injection to our Shire.

This year’s massive Vanfest line-up includes the likes of Amy Shark, Tash Sultana, Thundamentals and Dune Rats. I haven’t heard of any of these bands but young people from across the state have, and tickets sales have already exceeded any previous Vanfest.

This week is Local Government Week and on Monday we had visits from a number of groups interested in learning more about local government. Learning Ladder in particular discussed some important matters and passed a resolution to have ice cream for afternoon tea.

The motion was carried unanimously. Planning for Australia Day is about to kick off and Council will soon call for nominations from community members who want to help. It would be great to see as many community members as possible get in and help make the 2018 Australia Day celebrations bigger and better than ever.

Councillor Chris Roylance

Forbes Steps Up To Save Lives

August 3, 2017 by Maggi Barnard

We all know that we live in a generous, connected, and compassionate community here in Forbes. Last weekend, we outdid ourselves raising over $1,000 at the Step Up and Run event that was held at Anytime Fitness to increase awareness and raise money for Suicide Prevention Australia.

The event saw hundreds of Anytime Fitness clubs in cities and towns across the country invite their members to step up to the treadmill challenge over a 24 hour period. Here in Forbes, the challenge started at midday Friday and ran until midday Saturday. More than thirty people came along and hit the treadmills to support it either by walking or running on a treadmill, or buying tickets in the raffle or 100 Club competition.

Amy Townsend, local Anytime Fitness manager, was amazed by the community response. “We were in the top 20 clubs across the country for fundraising,” Amy said. “It was so good to see Forbes get behind such a great event and make it work.”

Forbes raised more money than many larger centres like Dubbo, and even big clubs in cities like Melbourne. Having lost several friends to suicide, Amy wanted to do something to support suicide prevention work in Australia. She is grateful to the members of the community who came long to help out. “We did really well and I’m so proud of our town,” said Amy.

Thanks and congratulations to Amy and everyone who got involved on the day.

Ooh La La! French Doors are a Stylish Addition

August 3, 2017 by Maggi Barnard

French doors create a sense of luxury in any home. Their lavish styling is complimented by their practicality, with a variety of options available to open up your living area and allow wide access to a courtyard.

At the Glassplace, hinged French doors are available as double or single doors, and come in either aluminium or Western Red Cedar with a full range of matching windows available in either material. If interior wall space is limited, French doors are a great option. Available as both an open in or open out application, French doors have the ability to be a stunning 2400mm high. French doors can be fitted with toughened or laminated glass or with Low E glass for energy savings and more comfortable living.

Full locking options are available for security, safety and peace of mind. You can view various French doors and single hinged door options on display at the Glassplace showroom, where you will see for yourself how Low E Glass can make your home more comfortable and energy efficient.

Visit the Glassplace showroom in Clarke St Parkes, the website www.glassplace.com.au or contact them on 6862 2346 to learn more about the range of French and single hinged doors.

Parkes Phoenix Editor

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