Parkes Phoenix Editor

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

Editors Note…

April 12, 2017 by Maggi Barnard

Dear Easter Bunny,
Could you please fill my eggs with health and happiness and deliver them to everyone that I love?

Easter is not only a symbol of hope, renewal and new life, but also an opportunity to spend quality time with your loved ones and sharing lots of chocolate of course! If you are going camping, take time to really look at the sky and tell your sky stories to each other. You might even be inspired to join the Skywriters project – see our story on page 4.

Or you might think of the wonderful community you live in. When we ask people why they like living in Forbes, so many say it is because of the supportive community. This is once again demonstrated in the story on page 4 about the Forbes Rugby Club giving generously to community groups, and on page 5 the wonderful opera organised to help Ava Garland and her family.

Wishing you all a happy and safe Easter!

Maggi Barnard Editor

April 12, 2017 by Maggi Barnard

More than 60 guests were at the Parkes Services Club last Thursday to toast the success of Quality Wool’s recent charity wool auction for Ronald McDonald House Westmead. The auction raised $77,000 to assist seriously ill children and their families.

Quality Wool’s New South Wales Opera- tions Manager Chris Scott said the compa- ny was thrilled with the result and thanked all growers who donated wool for the auction from the Riverina to the Central and Western regions.

“Our wool drive for Ronald McDonald House Westmead was again well support- ed and with the delayed auction timing this year, it was great to see a number of new growers donating wool,’’ Chris said.

“We had donations from our stores in Parkes, Orange, Wagga Wagga and Condobolin, as well as from near Oberon, Dubbo, Gilgandra and Coonamble, and down to Grenfell and Young.’’

Buoyed by a flourishing wool market and a delay in the sale fixture this year that helped increase growers’ wool donations for the auction to some 14,000 kilograms (93 bales), this year’s total of $77,000 easily eclipsed last year’s figure of just over $55,000.

Quality Wool visited farms to pick up do- nated wool and clean out sheds for grow- ers, and it pressed and auctioned the wool free of charge. The Australian Wool Testing Authority also tested the wool for free, ensuring all proceeds would go to Ronald McDonald House Westmead.

In its fifth year, the charity wool auctions have raised over $225,000 for the home away from home that supports families with seriously ill children attending The Children’s Hospital Westmead.

https://www.forbesphoenix.com.au/5441-2/

Will Your Retirement Be Spent On The dole!

April 12, 2017 by Maggi Barnard

If you ever read through the comments sections of online news articles about government debt, you’ll find numerous people complaining about how it is going to rob our children of lifestyle in the future and that a simple solution is to stop handing out the dole to those bludgers who are too ‘lazy’ to work.

These are likely the same people who will be happy to go on the ‘dole’ when they’re older. The definition of someone on the dole is a person who is unemployed and reliant on welfare to make ends meet, which de- scribes most Australian retirees! Somehow, I don’t think they would see it that way, nor do I… but how will you feel when you get to 67 if you can’t afford to pay the bills without receiving welfare payments? This is the reality most Australians face in retirement.

It’s time we recognise the simple facts that we are living longer and longer and that it’s not the government’s job to pay for any of us to be retired. In a first world country like Australia we will continue to pay an age pension to ensure people can survive, but if you’re like most people, I don’t believe you want to wake up at retirement and discover you’ve worked your entire adult life to then spend the next 30-40 years just ‘surviving’.

At Wealth Train, we don’t want to see people surviving in retirement, we want to see them thriving! Get on board and learn how.

Cheers, Daniel

Cooler Weather Brings More Croquet Players

April 12, 2017 by Maggi Barnard

The cooler weather is bringing members back to the courts in larger numbers raring to hone their strategies and hitting skills af- ter a rather wet and hot start to the year. While most people get a laugh out of the antics on the courts, others bear the brunt of sneaky moves by the opposition resulting in challenging play and losses.

Congratulations to John H Browne on win- ning three out of three games on 4th April’s golf croquet. He had assistance of partners Kath Broderick and Carol Slattery in two of the games. A great game playing two balls and defeating Kevin Rubie in the first game.

Congratulations to Dorothea Croker and Colleen Leibich on winning all three games on 8th April’s Aussie croquet with the help of their partners, Joan Littlejohn, Dorelle Scott, Veva MacCullagh, Harley Stewart, Colleen Leibich and Tony Thompson. A great effort by all participants.

Have a safe and happy long weekend and enjoy your Easter eggs. By Anne Stewart

Successful Golf In Mixed Conditions

April 12, 2017 by Maggi Barnard

Last Saturday’s Men’s Monthly Medal saw a solid field competing enjoying balmy weather conditions.

The A-grade winner was Tim West with 68 nett. Runner-up was Andrew Grieson with 70 nett. The B-grade was won by Neil Duncan, with 71 nett, and runner-up Michael Spice with his 74 nett.

The C-grade was won by Ross Williams with a powerful 68 nett. Runner-up was Steve Grallelis, with 72 nett. The NTP’s went to: 9th – R Nixon; 18th – B Parker.

The ball sweep went to 74 nett on count back, going to: 68 – R Williams, T West; 70 – A Grierson; 71 – Niel Duncan; 72 – B Shine, S Grallelis; 73 – A Alley, B Squires; 74 – M Spice, R Taylor, B Carpenter, L O’Connor and S Betland.

On Sunday the Grand Final of the ASI- sponsored Sixes Summer competition was played. Conditions were not summery, with some heavy storms before play and strong, cold winds during the afternoon.

The overall winners were Forbes Toyota, with a score of 114. Runners-up were Boys & Girls on 118.5. Equal third were F-Troop and Kool Kats, both on 123. The scores were not scorchers, but good efforts in try- ing conditions.

The best net score of the day went to Jake Hanley of Forbes Toyota with 35.5. He was blessed with a bit of luck, but also had strong game to contend against the wind.

The presentation prize night and dinner was held upstairs in the Golfie, and en- joyed by over 100 players and guests. The sponsors, Jeff and Vanessa Herdigan of ASI Capital, were thrilled with the partici- pation by social and serious golfers alike. They also affirmed their sponsorship for next year’s competition.

There were a number of prizes handed out across a range of categories including – Weekly Winners, Most Games Played, Most Team Points, and more.

It was a fun night rounding off a fun sum- mer competition.

By Short Putt

Two Big Days For Harness Racing

April 12, 2017 by Maggi Barnard

The Forbes Diggers Harness Racing Club will be presenting two big race meetings on Anzac Day, 25th April and the TAB Carnival of Cups Market Day on 30th April.

The club welcomed Braden Sullivan as its new president this year as Robert Parsons has stepped down from the role.

Forbes Harness Racing has one of the youngest committee in NSW with Melissa Sullivan as treasurer and Emma Gaffney as secretary.

Forbes has a strong team of harness rac- ing trainers and drivers. The club is grateful for all the help the committee and volun- teers put in to make events happen, as well as its sponsors. Forbes Services Memorial

Club is the major sponsors and has been for many years.

The Forbes RSL sub-branch is a big supporter of the Anzac Day Race Meeting when a ceremony is held to commemorate Anzac Day and pay respects. One of the feature races on Good Friday will be the Neville Pellow Memorial race.

The club will also be helping out at the Good Friday Camel Races this year and will be running their Calcutta.

The TAB Day on 30th April will feature a market day. You can follow the club on Facebook, Forbes Diggers Harness Racing Club, with daily posts.

Contribution Of Youth Celebrated

April 6, 2017 by Maggi Barnard

Rosie Yapp was the overall winner of the 2017 Youth Community Award at the Youth Week Awards ceremony at the Forbes Town Hall on Tuesday night.

Elise Dukes received a highly commended award in the same category as the judg- es had trouble splitting the two nominees.

“I have not had much time to really com- prehend what has just happened,” said an overwhelmed Rosie afterwards. “There are so many deserving people in our community of this award, so I am really grateful.” Rosie said she hoped it would serve as inspiration for whatever path she chooses after finishing school this year.

The award recognises young people who have an active and positive role in the community by doing volunteer work, taking the lead in organising events, charity work or outstanding contributions to sport or cultural organisations.

Mayor Graeme Miller handed out more awards to acknowledge the contribution our youth makes to the Forbes community. The Young Sports Volunteer Award was again a tight race and two winners were announced: Janssen Mores and Brianna Duncan.
Two Education Awards were handed out to an outstanding student from Forbes High School and one from Red Bend Catholic College. The recipients were Chelsea Turner and Jackson Burton respectively. Both students not only have achieved ac- ademically, but they are also very active in various other school activities.

The Bright Future Award for apprentices, trainees or students went to Cheyenne Stokes-Hicks, a student of TAFE Western.

By Maggi Barnard

Steers Might Steal Sydney Show

April 6, 2017 by Maggi Barnard

The cattle team of Red Bend Catholic College is competing in the Sydney Royal Easter Show.

Ten members of the team left on Sunday with the school’s two trade steers and eight purebred limonsins.

They were setting up on Monday, prior to the steers being weighed, scanned, and inspected on Tuesday. Judging of the eight purebred school steers took place yesterday and the two trade steers will be judged today.

Last Thursday the team took the animals through their paces shortly before leaving for Sydney. “The students learn a great deal about animal behaviour,” said Cattle Team Coordinator, Susan Earl.

“It is essential the students gain their trust as during the competition they lead the cattle into and around the ring and stand with them as they are judged.” The students confidently lead the animals, weighing up to 500kg or more, with an encouraging whisper in their ear or a gentle pull on their halter needed at times.

“The animals can become a bit sooky when they are in a strange place so they often seek comfort from the students,” said Susan.

Students elect to join the team making a solid commitment to raise, train and care for the cattle not only during sport but also on a weekly roster at lunch time, one afternoon a week after school and at times on the weekend.

By Dianne Collie

Local Area Athletes Dominate Triathlon

April 6, 2017 by Maggi Barnard

Close to 300 athletes competed in the six races of the new look Forbes Triathlon last weekend, which now forms part of the NSW Tri Series.

In the longest of the six contested dis- tances of a 1.9km swim, 90km bike ride and 21.1km run, Nick North from Bathurst won in a time of 4.00.48 with Rhys Clarke (4.06.46) from Werombi second and Leigh Chapman (4.12.00) of Penrith third. Nick said he was grateful to have a race in his own backyard.

In the Women’s Ultimate distance it was Jessica Richards of Orange that took the win in a time of 4.37.43 ahead of Alex Larkman (4.47.41) of Bondi and Shannon Chapman (4.52.35) of Mudgee in third place.

Jessica said the course was deceptively tough with winds increasing in the afternoon and the flat topography of the bike leg meant there was no rest on downhills as there was on other courses.

Saturday’s event was made possible by droves of volunteers to raise funds for local community groups and charities. “The Forbes triathlon festival is only made possible by the hard work of our fantastic volunteers,” said Jody McClaren the volunteer manager at Elite Energy.

Our Bloke

April 6, 2017 by Maggi Barnard

John Berger

How long have you lived in Forbes and what do you like about living here?
28 years – so that nearly makes me a local. Having lived in large cities I love the sense of community in Forbes, the fact you can walk safely at night, you know your neighbours and can stop whilst out and have a chat with friends.

Where do you work and what do you enjoy most about your work?
I am the office secretary for the Anglican Church and a casual teacher’s aide at Forbes High School. I love working with people and having a positive impact on their lives.

What do you do to unwind after work and on weekends?
Chillaxing with my wife and youngest son. I’m president of Valley FM and a radio show presenter so I unwind by listening to 80’s music and organising the songs and themes for my Wednesday night show.

What are you really good at?
I’m pretty good at trivia, especially music trivia. Doesn’t serve any actual purpose in life.

If you could have a super power, what would it be?
It would be to take away people’s pain. I hate seeing people in physical and emotional pain.

What is your pet hate?
It would be mobile phone etiquette. I hate people carrying on a phone conversation on loud speaker in a room of people.

Tell us about your best holiday ever.
It would be a trip in 2007 to New Zealand with my wife and three kids. We hired a campervan and travelled around the South and North Islands.

Parkes Phoenix Editor

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