Parkes Phoenix Editor

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

Lots To Win In Fashions On The Field

November 17, 2016 by Maggi Barnard

The weather looks promising, the prize pool is fantastic so get your best race wear on and head to the Forbes Spring Races tomorrow. Forbes Services Memorial Club is the major sponsor and 43 other local businesses have donated to the $6,000 prize pool consisting of cash, vouchers and prizes. Fashions on the Field organizer, Leigh Bartholomaeus said: “We have such a wonderful community that continually support and donate to the many fundraisers and
events in the Forbes district.”

Five categories will be hotly contested and the new special category, Fashion in Flood, will no doubt feature very interesting and creative outfits. With a minimum $500 cash prize for the Fashion in Flood category alone and nearly $6,000 in prize packs for the other categories, many contestants are expected to try their luck. Judging criteria applies to all categories. Full details of categories and criteria are available on the Forbes Spring Races Facebook page. It is recommended to observe the criteria carefully.

Registrations open at 1pm tomorrow at the Fashions on the Field marquee, with preliminary judging starting at 2pm and final judging on the red carpet at approximately 4pm.

Our Gal – Stevie Morrison

November 17, 2016 by Maggi Barnard

Stevie Morrison

How long have you lived in or around Forbes? For 23 years. I have always considered Forbes home even when I was at boarding school in Sydney and at university on the Gold Coast.

Where do you work? HE Silos Forbes.

What do you enjoy the most about your work? I enjoy working with everyone on the HE Silos Team but in particular working alongside my dad, Steven, mum, Jenny, and brother Josh every day.

How do you start your day? I wish I could start it with a cocktail in each hand on a beach, however in real life you will find me at the gym with my boyfriend sweating it out.

How do you like your coffee? Depending on my mood but The Brew makes a mean double shot skim latte.

What makes your day? Knowing that I have the ability and the opportunity to work in an industry that manufactures an exceptional product. We build from scratch in the local community with local people, supplying local farmers and other industries, and adding to the local economy. It’s really satisfying!

Where would you like to go on your dream holiday? My dream holiday would be going to Tahiti; it just looks absolutely stunning.

Cowboy Logic At Sahara Park

November 17, 2016 by Maggi Barnard

A dozen cutting horse enthusiasts joined world-renowned horseman Tony Ernst for a weekend workshop at the Sahara Park Riding School last weekend. The riders and their horses came from across the state to refine their skills under Tony’s expert instruction. Tony is one the most sought after and highly respected horsemen in the world. He has developed a unique approach to horsemanship, based on respect, attitude, and breathing. “Horse whisperers are for Hollywood,” he said. “You’ve got to be a horse listener.”

Tony stressed that his approach isn’t just about helping horses, it’s about helping people. And he has helped a lot of people. Aside from cutting horse enthusiasts, Tony has delivered workshops for troubled students, and has also run corporate clinics to help executives enhance their leadership skills. It all comes down to earning respect. “You have to prove you’re someone worth following,” he said. “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”

Tony believes that a lot of wisdom is found in adversity. Listening to his story, it becomes clear where his wisdom was forged. In his youth Tony was involved in an horrific accident and was confined to a wheelchair for three years until he taught himself to walk again. He credits his recovery to a positive attitude, his practice of Kung Fu,
and the power of breathing exercises. This formed the foundations for Tony’s unique horsemanship program, which he has branded Cowboy Logic. “The only thing you’ve really got control of in this world is your attitude,” he said.

By Raen Fraser

Mums And Dads Can Suffer From Perinatal Depression

November 17, 2016 by Maggi Barnard

This week is Perinatal Depression and Anxiety Awareness Week and beyondblue has urged parents to visit its Healthy Families website. The website provides information and advice for new mums and dads from pregnancy
to 12 months after birth. Up to one in seven women experiences postnatal depression and one in ten experiences
depression during their pregnancy.

About one in twenty dads feels anxious or depressed during their partner’s pregnancy, while one in ten experiences a mental health condition after the birth of their baby. “We’ve come a long way, but unfortunately when a new parent is having a tough time, some people can still be very judgmental. No one should feel ashamed or be discouraged
from asking for help,” said beyondblue CEO Georgie Harman. Visit healthyfamilies.beyondblue.org.au
or call mental health professionals 24/7 on 1300 22 4636.

Are Core Stability Exercises A Good Idea?

November 17, 2016 by Maggi Barnard

Everybody knows the plank exercise, but does performing this type of core stability exercise actually help people with low back pain? Physiotherapists, Professor Peter O’Sullivan from Curtin University and Professor Paul Hodges from The University of Queensland, wrote the book on spinal stability exercises. They did a lot of research into the abdominal muscles in the 1990’s and the focus on Transversus Abdominis came from their work. So what are they
saying now?

The plank exercise involves a person on their elbows and toes while holding their body stiff for a period of time. This is not what core stability means, says Professor Hodges. If you think about most functions, we actually need the spine to move. Core stability is about getting the spine to move. Professor O’Sullivan says many people with back pain are already too rigid. Their muscles have already tensed up as a protective mechanism due to pain. Static
exercises like planking can actually be counterproductive. Tensing up a structure that is already tense doesn’t make much sense. Instead we should be relaxing the muscles around our trunk when we have back pain.

So where does that leave us? Should we be telling the gym instructor to take a jump next time they ask for a plank? If we don’t have low back pain planks are fine. Better still are dynamic exercises that require us to naturally activate our core muscles such as squats. If we have low back pain, core activation exercises along with movement and learning to turn off over active muscles beat planks hands down. The spine is designed to move.

“For the fitness of you”
Linda Reilly

Long Lunch Raises Thousands

November 17, 2016 by Maggi Barnard

More than 150 people supported the Long Lunch By The Lake on a very windy Sunday afternoon to raise funds for a good cause. The aim was to raise enough for a physio touch machine for the Forbes and Parkes Hospitals. According to organiser Debbie Roylance the target of $32,000 was reached. With money from ticket sales for the lunch, $3,732 from the raffle, the auction and pledges raised $12,485 with the help of auctioneer Kevin Miller, the Breast Cancer
Support Group donated $2,000 and funds previously held, the target was reached. “We are absolutely delighted with the response and support from the community, and a special thank you to the businesses and individuals who have donated both to the raffle and the auction,” said Debbie.

Businesses from both Parkes and Forbes supported the event, with about one third of the people at the lunch from Parkes. The physio touch machine has immediate results as it helps to reduce swelling and pain, and improve the range of motion of lymphedema patients. The machine can also be used in general scar tissue management and inflammation post-surgery, such as post hip or knee replacement. The order will be placed for two machines for
the hospitals as soon as the money is in the bank. The machines will be placed in the physio departments at each hospital. Debbie thanked all the volunteers for their help.

By Cheryl Newsom

Songs In The Key Of Motown

November 17, 2016 by Maggi Barnard

By popular demand, the all-singing, alldancing Songs In The Key Of Motown is coming back to Australia! Two of the best and biggest Las Vegas soul shows are coming together again and bringing with them the best in soul and Motown music. Transporting audiences back to the era where The Temptations, The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, Martha & The Vandellas, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles reigned supreme. Songs In The Key Of Motown will literally leave you breathless.

It is a spectacular live concert production that takes you on a journey through Motown. Featuring Spectrum, a first-class vocal quartet that draws upon the talent of four radiant voices and diverse personalities. They have spent six stellar years recreating the sound and style of the Four Tops in Las Vegas.

Superstars and Legends In Concert the group has developed the versatility to credibly cover the music of groups from the Platters to the Temptations to Boyz- 2Men. It is this versatility that has propelled them to the status of headlining their own shows in which they perform stirring renditions of all the best cover tunes. They have teamed up with Radiance, a talented vocal quartet formed specifically to pay tribute to the Disco and Motown era paying tribute to the music of The Supremes, Martha & The Vandellas, The Marvelettes and other female artists from that amazing musical era. Together they have created SONGS IN THE KEY OF MOTOWN, a spectacular show transporting audiences back to an era of music that formed a major cornerstone in American music of the 60’s and 70’s. The costuming, the choreography, the harmonies, the energy and excitement are second to none.

Together they provide an array of talent that is the best in entertainment that leaves audiences wanting more! See them perform on Thursday, 24th November at the Orange Civic Theatre.

Community Chest Charity Raffle Program A Big Help

November 17, 2016 by Maggi Barnard

Twelve community groups have so far received financial assistance in the Community Chest Charity Raffles Program of the Forbes Services Memorial Club (FSMC) since its inception a year ago. More than $28,000 have been raised and donated to local community groups. President of FSMC, Wayne Richards, said: “The progam is a new initiative of the Club’s CEO, David Fitzgerald and the Board of Directors. It is not just a gift to the recipients, but also to the whole community as it will provide additional financial support to local community organisations.”

David said the money could not have been raised without the support of the Club’s members and guests who purchase raffle tickets every Wednesday and Friday night. “A big thank you to all.” If your community organisation or sporting group is looking for assistance, send a letter to the Board of Directors to be included in the program. Two more recipients, the Forbes Women’s Refuge and Friends of Forbes Hospital, will receive donations today.

Bigger Than Ben Hall

November 17, 2016 by Maggi Barnard

The infamous bushranger Ben Hall held Forbes captive last Saturday night as he rode into town in the independently produced feature film The Legend of Ben Hall. The notorious character was larger than life as his story was projected onto a huge inflatable screen at the Forbes Showground for the audience of 900 people who attended the world premiere.

Lead actor Jack Martin bore an uncanny resemblance to the outlaw, and his brooding portrayal won many fans, and quite a few hearts. “I didn’t have the pleasure of meeting him,” he joked. “But I did a lot of research and felt a great affinity with him,” he said. Jamie Coffa plays John Gilbert, Ben’s partner-in-crime. Jamie said the cast had to do a horse riding crash-course for the film. “It was the most challenging part of filming,” he said. “Doing dialogue, on a horse, while shooting a gun; they don’t teach you how to do that at drama school.”

The film is the brainchild of writer/director/ producer Matthew Holmes, and has been his enduring passion for the best part of a decade. Matthew was slowly crowd-funding the finance, when Forbes Shire Council got involved. With their faith in the project, momentum quickly picked up, and the team was able to embark on production. “The scope of the project was epic,” Matthew said. “We were constantly facing a battle of the budget.”

The film was shot in locations across regional NSW and Victoria and the production took a grueling two years to complete. The filmmakers were delighted to bring the film back to the heart of Ben Hall country for its premiere screening. “We are so grateful for the support from Forbes Shire Council, and it was great to be able to bring the film back to where it all started,” Matthew said.

By Raen Fraser

Find it in Forbes this Christmas…

November 17, 2016 by Maggi Barnard

Christmas shopping is well under way in Forbes and there are 15,000 reasons why keeping it local is the way to go. The Find it in Forbes promotion is starting to gain momentum with lots of local and regional shoppers taking advantage of the opportunities in Forbes this Christmas. Forbes Business Chamber President, Chris Roylance has put it out to residents to keep it local this year and support businesses who have endured some hard times. “This promotion is also an opportunity for the businesses to say thank you to everyone for their ongoing support and award not one but three lucky shoppers for shopping locally.”

Parkes Phoenix Editor

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