Parkes Phoenix Editor

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

Childhood Dream Comes True For Darcie

March 9, 2017 by Maggi Barnard

Darcie Morrison’s blazing performance on the Rugby Sevens world stage the past year won her the Forbes Advocate 2016 Sportsperson of the Year last Saturday.

Darcie, who could not attend the ceremony, was honoured to be nominated and selected by her peers and the community. Ever since attending the Sportsperson of the Year Awards at the age of about 10 she has always wanted to win this award. “I encourage all sports people to give back to the community sporting organisations that have made all this possible,” she said.

The fact that she only started playing rugby sevens in 2015 makes her sporting achievement so much more impressive. It did not take very long for her to be noticed and she was selected to play for Australia at the World University Championships in Wales last year where she scored five tries and was awarded players player.

Darcie went on to captain the CSU Rugby Sevens team at the Australian University Games in Perth. The team went through the competition undefeated and won the gold medal. Darcie scored all but two of the tries. She was again named players player.

She was also invited to play with one of two Australian teams at the Central Coast Sevens in October last year and she played for NSW in the 2016 National Championships where they finished as runners-up to Queensland. The list continues with Darcie named 2016 Blue Belle – NSW Rugby Sevens player of the year, she was invited to play in the Australian Development team at the Darwin Sevens in January, she played an invitational game with the Australian de- velopment team against Ireland in Sydney in January and was invited to tour with the Australian development team to Japan in February.

Our Bloke

March 9, 2017 by Maggi Barnard

Aidan Clarke

How long have you lived in Forbes and what do you like about living here?
I have lived in Forbes my whole life, 21 years. Forbes is my home and I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.

Where do you work and what do you enjoy most about your work?
I work at Forbes Learning Ladder as a room lead- er. The thing I love most about my job is watching the children grow and learn each and every day.

What do you do to unwind after work and on weekends?
Well I am going to be completely honest and say if I am not fishing or having a few tips at Randwick on a Saturday, then I will be parked in front of the TV watching something sporty.

What are you really good at?
I am happy to be an average guy. That said I am really good at caring for and educating kids and received acknowledgement for the 2017 Junior Citizen of the Year.

If you could have a super power, what would it be?
To be a genius and to help find a cure for some of these dreadful dis- eases on our planet.

What is your pet hate?
My pet hate without a doubt would be leaving the toilet seat up! I am a bloke, but you must remember I work with women and have to keep my eye on it!

Tell us about your best holiday ever.
Like I said I love Forbes! Well…. we took a drive to Bogan Gate once!

Snippets

March 9, 2017 by Maggi Barnard

Support for students: The Forbes High School Wellness Hub was officially opened by the Director of Public Schools Maree Angus last Wednesday. The initiative was developed in partnership with local community services to provide students with professional support programs.

It was a day of celebration with the school captains and vice captains cutting the cake, Maddison Collits performing the Missy Higgins song Everyone’s Waiting and a delicious lunch prepared by the Year 11 and 12 hospitality class. Students enjoyed a barbeque prepared by Forbes Neighbourhood Watch, while a number of service providers, such as Binaal Billa, Centacare, and a National Disability coordination officer set up information stalls for students. Carewest provided Fun with Drums.

End of disaster relief: The Lions Disaster Relief Funding in the Forbes Shire will wrap up 31st March. The Forbes and Dis- trict Lions Club has been providing flood relief vouchers to local residents from September last year. As there is no longer any demand for the vouchers the Lions Club will close off the funding. Vouchers will still be valid until 30th June for use. For assistance until the end of the month call 0419 463 803.

Market day: The Forbes Handicraft Centre’s next market day is on Saturday, 18th March outside the shop in Lachlan Street from 9am to 1pm. There will be an abundance of home cooking, cakes, slices, jams, pickles and preserves, plants, and fresh eggs.

Radio news: At the Lachlan Valley Community Radio AGM held recently John Berger was re-elected as president. Other office bearers are vice president, Rod Brown and Bill Stevenson; treasurer, Kerry Stevenson and secretary, Alison Coe. The Forbes station broadcasts close to 105 hours each week with on-air presenters, and do community service announcements free of charge.

Clean Up Australia Day: A total of 84 vol- unteers turned up on Sunday for Clean Up Australia Day. The numbers were boosted by a good turn out of 64 Red Bend boarding students. The volunteers collected approximately 94 bags of rubbish around Forbes. The main items picked up were drink and food containers or wrappers. During the week nine schools also took part in the clean up effort. The NSW government plans to introduce a container deposit scheme with a 10-cent refund for empty beverage containers on 1st December to help curb littering.

Get On Top Of Your Finances In 5 Easy Steps

March 9, 2017 by Maggi Barnard

Here are 5 easy ways to start taking control of your financial situation… remember, money is just a servant, you are the master!

Step 1: Review your financial situation The only person responsible for your finan- cial situation is you. Work out where your finances are right now. Write down what as- sets and debts you have, take away your debts from your assets and see how you’re travelling.

Step 2: Take control of your debt

If you have debt, it’s important to ensure you’re getting a good deal on your interest rate, possibly look at consolidating loans to reduce interest, and pay well above the minimum repayments so that the debt is paid off ASAP. GOLDEN RULE: Pay off credit card debt every month.

Step 3: Build an emergency fund.

It’s hard to get ahead financially if you’re not saving anything. Start saving some money from every pay cheque and build up an emergency savings account.

Step 4: Be your own super hero

Most people don’t understand superan- nuation because no one has explained it to them. Super is simply a way to save money for your retirement and pay less tax on the money. You have enormous control over it and once you understand the power of su- per, you’ll pay attention from that moment forward.

Step 5: Invest in financial education

Hopefully the ideas in this article are starting to give you a heads-up that managing money isn’t really that hard once you learn how. Spend a day at a Wealth Train work- shop and let us share 15 years of experi- ence with you to give you all the tools you need!

Cheers, Daniel

Be Seen

March 9, 2017 by Maggi Barnard

Present at the recent Wiradjuri Cultural and Environment Rangers (WCER) meeting were (L-R) Peter White (Founder of WCER), Russell Spencer (Fish Care Volunteer), Joanne Lenehan (Office of Environment and Herit- age), David Acheson (Forbes Aboriginal and Community Working Party) and Sergeant Scott McWhirter. (See report of meeting on page 5.)

Marg McDonald, Marie Lambert and Betty Lamrock enjoyed the Seniors Week morning tea at Catholic Healthcare Mater Aged Care on Monday.

Murray and Maureen Field like to support Catholic Healthcare Mater Aged Care and enjoyed the morning tea on Monday for Seniors Week.

Ava and Ebony Percy with their friend, Jazz Nash loved their turn in the Fire Engine at the 60th anniversary celebrations of the Forbes North Public School last Saturday.

New Speed Tillers At McClintock

March 9, 2017 by Maggi Barnard

McClintock has new Kubota speed tillers available for the start of the sowing season. A key factor for seed germination is the even incorporation of straw and residues. Kubota has designed the CD1000 and CD2000 series to comply with these requirements. It also offers the farmer a versatile machine, which is ready for shallow, as well as, deeper cultivation. And, not to forget, the mixing of the straw, performance with large amounts of residue (straw, intermediate green crops, etc.), good penetration and cutting quality, output, simple adjustment and minimum maintenance costs.
Contact McClintock, your local Kubota dealer for a demonstration. Keeping the magic of farming alive.

Question of the Week

March 9, 2017 by Maggi Barnard

What do you do to remain fit and healthy?

Kerry Acheson: I eat lots of vegetables and have plenty of exercise. In addition, I have six beautiful grandchildren (and another on the way) who keep me very active.

Best friends Colleen Dean and Ann Mackay:We walk three to five kilometres every day, Mon- day to Friday. We also play lawn bowls every week and enjoy eating lots of lovely local fruit, especially the tomatoes at the moment.

Husband and wife Daniel and Patricia Maxwell: We walk around our lovely lake here in Forbes every morning and make sure we don’t eat junk food. We also believe strongly in keeping our minds healthy by painting (Daniel) and by singing (Patricia).

Glittering History Secures Future For Many

March 9, 2017 by Maggi Barnard

Gold has played a significant role in the history of Australia starting in 1851 with the Bathurst gold rush.

More than 150 years later, the Cowal gold mine near West Wyalong announced a modern day “gold rush” last month with its board approving an investment of approximately $270 million to increase production and extend the life of mine by eight years to 2032. Rated among the top five biggest gold mines in Australia, total production is set to increase to 1.2 million ounces.

Just as all the discoveries of gold all over Australia has boosted the economy, an immediate benefit of the Cowal mine expansion is an increase in employees with 48 new operators in the open pit and the plant.

Community Relations Officer at the mine, Tony Glasgow said interviews for the new positions had already started this week.

The mine currently employs about 400 staff and contractors from the Forbes, Bland and Lachlan Shires, with 64 residents catching the bus from Forbes.

The new investment will deliver two major projects over the next four years: the E42 stage H cutback and the dual leach pro- ject. The E42 stage H cutback will widen and deepen the existing open pit by at least 80m. The pit is currently 340m deep. This has been made possible by a 145% or 2.28 million gold ounces increase in Cowal’s ore reserves since Evolution acquired the op- eration in 2015.

The Dual Leach project will add an additional leaching circuit to the processing plant to target a four to six per cent increase in gold recoveries.

Situated on the banks of the largest inland lake in NSW, Lake Cowal, the mine site has natural beauty not easily found at mines. Hundreds of emus, locally known as bush chooks, roam freely, as well as wallabies, kangaroos, 277 bird species and the dealy tiger and brown snakes.

The environmental sensitivity of the mine site has not been without controversy, but according to Tony the mine operates to very high environmental standards to ensure the least possible impact. Cowal has received ISO14001 certification for mining and ore processing operations and support services for gold and silver production.

Evolution Mining bought the Cowal gold mine from Barrick Gold in 2015 and described it as one of the most attractive gold assets in Australia. Cowal is the biggest of the six mines in the group.

Queen’s Baton Relay Comes To Forbes

March 9, 2017 by Maggi Barnard

Forbes will be one of eight overnight stops in NSW in the Queen’s Baton Relay for the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games. The Queen’s Baton will travel through Australia for 100 days from 25th December, visiting Forbes on Monday 29th January next year.

Mayor Graeme Miller said the event presented the Forbes Shire with a unique opportunity to showcase what we have to offer to the rest of Australia and the world.

Nominations are now open for all Australians to take part in the Queen’s Baton Re- lay. You can nominate someone as 3,800 baton bearers are needed across Australia. If you know someone who has achieved something extraordinary or inspired others, or has made a significant contribution to ei- ther sport, education, arts, culture, or char- ity in the community, you have time until 15th May to nominate them on the website: gc2018.com/qbr

Seniors Savour Energy, Experience And Happiness

March 9, 2017 by Maggi Barnard

By all accounts the Forbes seniors put in a great effort to do more together during the NSW Seniors Festival with many different events on offer around town.

The theme for the this year’s festival was Let’s Do More Together. Tanya Davies, Minister of Ageing said it was about celebrating our seniors for their energy, experience and unique ability to know what inspires and makes them happy.

The festival kicked off last Friday with more than 100 people enjoying a community barbeque at Jemalong Residential Village. The consensus was “it was a lovely lunch” and the sing along with Paddy Mol- loy and Ray Lassere was “really great”.

Neil Gilmour, organiser of the seniors variety concert in the Forbes Town Hall on Sunday estimated there were over 150 audience members. “They were very receptive to all the performances, including James Janetski, Barbara Bruce, Richard Morgan and Forbes College for Seniors,” said Neil.

According to Sam Rath over 50 people enjoyed morning tea on Monday at Mater Aged Care. There were lucky door prizes, raffles and local soprano, Patricia Maxwell sang, ‘What a wonderful world it would be,’ accompanied by pianist Barbara Bruce. “I sing mainly to encourage resident’s involvement,” said Patricia.

The final event of the festival takes place today from 10am to 12pm at the Forbes Men’s Shed located at the Forbes showgrounds. Pop around to hear more about the exciting plans for Men’s Shed to open up a new premises in Union Street later in the year. President, Norm Haley said they looked forward to tripling the space, increasing their opening hours and the number of members. They currently have 47 members ranging in age from 14 to 95 years.

By Dianne Collie

Parkes Phoenix Editor

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