Parkes Phoenix Editor

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

Our Bloke

February 9, 2017 by Maggi Barnard

Rowan Woods

How long have you lived in Forbes and what do you like about living here?
I moved to Warroo from Parkes when I was 3. I went to primary school in Warroo and attended High School in Forbes. In 1992 I moved to Forbes so have lived in town for 25 years.

Where do you work and what do you enjoy most about your work?
I work at Jemalong Wool. The best thing about my work is the people I work with and our clients.

What do you do to unwind after work and on weekends?
To unwind I drive the boat whilst friends and family water ski, fly my Pilot Cherokee when I get the chance, and pottering around my garden.

What are you really good at?
That is a hard one… I am told I am good at diplomacy and my kids love my poached eggs.

If you could have a super power, what would it be? To fly like a bird.

What is your pet hate? Disloyalty and rudeness. In addition, people who mispronounce kilometres.

Tell us about your best holiday ever. The best holiday ever was in 1987 when Sue and I backpacked for five months through Europe and the British Isles. We stayed with friends in Scotland, swam in Loch Ness, drove around England and Ireland and got a EuRail train pass and travelled in Spain and Greece. We loved it as the weather was hot like here, and it was as cheap as chips.

Snippets

February 9, 2017 by Maggi Barnard

Robyn Miller (left), member of the Forbes Evening Branch of the CWA, and Margaret Adams, Member of the Forbes CWA with the “amazing” Challenge Trophy. Robyn won the CWA/Lions Damper Challenge and Margaret came third.

Damper Competition: It was hot on Australia Day, but when the dampers arrived from 4pm onwards at Frogs Hollow in all shapes, sizes, colours and types, the pleasantries started. The open section was won by CWA Evening Branch member Robyn Miller. Second place went to Jenny McNulty, a visitor from Northern NSW and third place to Margaret Adams of the CWA. Highly commended was awarded to Alison Lockhart of Forbes. CWA also won the coveted trophy CWA vs Lions Club Challenge trophy with CWA members Robyn Miller first, Catriona Hunt second and Margaret Adams third.

Phoenix spreads its wings: From today The Forbes Phoenix will be available in Trundle, Tullamore and Tottenham every Friday. You can pick up your free copy at the Trundle Newsagency, Casho’s Café in Tullamore and Tottenham Post Office and Foodworks.

Bedgerabong Races postponed: The event had to be postponed to Saturday, 29th April due to extreme temperatures forecast for tomorrow. All entries for the competition in The Forbes Phoenix will be kept for the new date.

Bunnings fundraiser: Over half a million dollars has been raised through the annual Aussie Day Weekend Fundraiser BBQ. Held on Saturday, 28th January at every Bunnings store nationally, NSW residents helped raise over $136,000, with all funds going directly to NSW Rural Fire Service, and NSW State Emergency Service. Over 2,200 team members and local volunteers ran more than 270 BBQ’s all over Australia.

Finding it hard to get to the Library? The Housebound Library Service, offered by volunteers from Neighbourhood Central, is a free service for Forbes Library members who are no longer able to visit the Library in person due to infirmity, physical or sen- sory impairment or extended illness.

In consultation with the client, Library staff selects appropriate library items, and volunteers deliver books, large print books, audio books, magazines and DVDs to pri- vate homes and residential aged care fa- cilities. The volunteers also pick up and return items to the Library, and most im- portantly, engage in conversation with the client and provide regular social support.

If anyone would like to access the service, call Monica on 6851 4550 or drop into Neighbourhood Central at the HACC Centre, 7 Harold Street Forbes, or contact the Forbes Library on.

Doreen Amor is the longest serving Housebound Library volunteer at Neighbourhood Central.

Heat Challenges Croquet Players

February 9, 2017 by Maggi Barnard

The biggest challenge last Tuesday for croquet players was the heat with some players not able to play all games.

The consistent players across the three games of golf croquet were John H Brown, Bruce Field, Bill Scott and Ken Styles with a score of three out of three. They were followed by Kathleen Broderick, Colleen Leibich, Joan Littlejohn, Neville Morrison and Carol Slattery, with two wins each across the three games. Congratulations to all – it’s a pleasure to see some strategic thinking happening on all courts.

Despite the cooler weather last Saturday, fewer members than usual came along. There were some in depth discussions between partners as to how to approach the hoop and knock the opposition out, with some hilarious results and laughter.

Alex Todd, with the assistance of his partners, was the only player to win all three games. Several players won two of their matches: John and Cherylin Cole, Lorna Field, Joan Littlejohn, Kevin Rubie, Libby Smart, Lorraine Todd and Barry White. Well done teams. Happy birthday to Jill Rubie.

By Harley Stewart

Increase The Productivity Of Your Beef Herd

February 9, 2017 by Maggi Barnard

With the establishment of a local Senepol Stud in Central West NSW, producers now have another option in the market place. Southern Star Rural is a Senepol stud based in Canowindra NSW, breeding Senepol, Angus and Charolais composite bulls.

Senepol has produced a tough, adaptable breed of cattle with the ability to thrive under harsh conditions, maintaining fertility and feed efficiency as well as drought and heat resistance, whilst producing an excellent eating quality carcase.

The development of the breed placed high natural selection pressure on structural soundness, hardiness and fertility.

Senepol are best described as being of medium frame – extremes of muscle and bone having been avoided in striking a workable balance of feed efficiency to growth, fertility and calving ease. Senepol offers cross breeders excellent hybrid vigour from a tropically adapted Taurine breed, with a genetic package which has not been subjected to unbalanced single trait selection.

Consider using a Senepol sire this breeding season to ensure maximum hybrid vigour. Call 0439 029 204 for more information.

Beginner Band Will Blow Your Mind

February 9, 2017 by Maggi Barnard

There are many benefits to playing music, so why not think about joining the Forbes Town & District Band.

The first Beginner Band class of the Forbes Town & District Band is starting on Monday, 20th February. Beginner Band is a great way of encouraging aspiring musicians to learn a musical instrument to assist with cognitive development, sharpen brain pathways and interact in a musical team.

Justin Screen of Mitchell Conservatorium has lead the Forbes Town & District Band since 2011 and has over 20 years’ experience teaching woodwind for school and leading concert bands.

The Beginner Band class is on Mondays from 6.00 to 7.00 pm during school term at the recently renovated Forbes Town Band Hall at 165 Rankin Street. All ages from eight to eighty plus are welcome.

Membership is $20 per year for beginners. The Band has a large range of instruments for hire for $50 per year.

For more information please check out the Band’s website http://www.facebook. com/forbestownband or Forbes Town & District Band Facebook page

www.facebook.com, or contact Band- master Justin Screen on 0419 884 775.

Jemalong Wool Weekly Market Update

February 9, 2017 by Maggi Barnard

Just over 40,000 bales were put before the trade this week.

Merino fleece saw no massive rises or falls, just steady gains in the finer mi- crons and consolidation in the medium to broader end, as has been the case in recent weeks it was the low CVH finer section of the market which had the greatest rises with some lots recording increases of over 60 cents.

The skirting market was also a solid performer generally adding 30 cents for the week with the finer better style types enjoying the largest gains.

The oddment market was a mixed bag; locks and crutchings generally lost 5 to 10cents,stainswerefirmandlambs were generally 20-40 cents dearer however extreme in some cases, particularly washing lambs which are be- coming very short in supply.

The crossbred section continued to falter recording losses of between 5 and 20 cents.

46,000 to be offered next week. Source: AWEX

FSMC IS A GOOD SPORT!

February 9, 2017 by Maggi Barnard

At the handover last week were (L-R) Mick Miller, Joelene Jones, Tracy Prior, Alison Uphill and Doug McKenzie.

Three Forbes sport clubs were on the receiving end of the Forbes Services Memorial Club’s biannual local not-for- profit community grants. The Forbes and District Soccer Club, Rugby Union Club and Forbes Rugby League Club received shares in the $3,700, which will be used to purchase new equipment and uniforms. Application forms for the grants are located in the magazine rack at the front of the club.

All You Need Is Love

February 9, 2017 by Maggi Barnard

We all crave love and companionship in our lives, so why ignore the celebration of love this Valentine’s day on Tuesday, 14th February.

Think back to the beginning of a relation- ship where sparks flew, gazes longed and passion was ignited. What happened you must be thinking? Effort is the answer, and too often people slip into what is easy and comfortable. Make the change this Valentine’s Day and bring the romance back into your life.

Romance is the key to keeping that burning passion alive for one another. Whether it be big or small gestures, just make them count. Be thoughtful in giving and grateful in receiving. Be spontaneous, go on a dar- ing adventure, cook a meal (even if you are a horrible cook), make something special (even if you don’t have a creative bone in you) and most importantly, listen. Listen to not only your loved one’s tedious rants and raves but his or her goals, aspirations, dreams, wants and desires. Get to know one another again, like really get to know each other.

Valentine’s Day is known as the day of roses, chocolates and cards but where did it actually come from and surely there is more to it?

It is believed that Valentine’s Day origi- nated from the ancient Roman fertility festival Lupercalia. During this festival young women would place their names in a large urn, young men then drew a name out and whomever they drew they were now romantically linked to them for the next year.

Another version is that the day originated as a Western Christian liturgical feast day honoring one or more early saints named Valentinus., and is recognised as a significant cultural and commercial celebration in many regions around the world.

According to Wikipedia, the day first became associated with romantic love within the circle of Geoffrey Chaucer in the 14th century, when the tradition of courtly love flourished. In 18th-century England, it evolved into an occasion in which lovers expressed their love for each other by presenting flowers, offering confectionery, and sending greeting cards.

Whatever the origin of Valentine’s Day, why not celebrate what all humans crave in life, being loved. Celebrate it, rejoice in it and enjoy it.

Love Quotes for Valentine’s Day

“The best love is the kind that awakens the soul, that makes us reach for more, that plants the fire into our hearts and brings peace to our minds.”

“Love is our true destiny. We do not find the meaning of life by ourselves alone – we find it with another.” – Thomas Merton

“Love is what makes two people sit in the middle of a bench, even if there is plenty of room at both ends.”

“I don’t mind when our conversations get a little boring or when we’re texting and we run out of things to say. I don’t care when we’re hanging out but doing nothing, be- cause just having you is enough to make me happy.”

“I love you every day, not just on Valentine’s Day!”

“All you need is love, but a little chocolate now and then doesn’t hurt.” – Charles M. Schulz

“Before I met you, I never knew what it was like to be able to look at someone and smile for no reason.”

Meat Cut To Your Taste

February 9, 2017 by Maggi Barnard

Thinking about getting one of your farm animals killed for meat, then give Shannon Bermingham at Forbes Central Butchery a call. He can organise for the animals to be sent to the abattoir to be killed and will then cut it up as you require at his butcher shop in Forbes. It is a great way to get the best meat possible, particularly as he will cut it to your specifications.

Forbes Central Butchery is also making the trip to Trundle, Tullamore and Tottenham each Friday, so be sure to get in touch with him if you are wanting a meat order delivered to your door. Call him on 6851 6745.

Love Letters Straight From The Heart

February 9, 2017 by Maggi Barnard

Johnny Cash’s note to his wife, June Carter, on her 65th birthday: We get old and get used to each other. We think alike. We read each other’s minds. We know what the other wants without asking. Sometimes we irritate each other a little bit. Maybe sometimes take each other for granted. But once in awhile, like today, I meditate on it and realize how lucky I am to share my life with the greatest woman I ever met.

Zelda Fitzgerald to F Scott Fitzgerald – Autumn 1930: Darling – I love these velvet nights. I’ve never been able to decide … whether I love you most in the eternal classic half-lights where it blends with day or in the full religious fan-fare of midnight or perhaps in the lux of noon. Anyway, I love you most and you ’phoned me just because you phoned me tonight – I walked on those telephone wires for two hours after holding your love like a parasol to balance me.

Parkes Phoenix Editor

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