Parkes Phoenix Editor

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

Snippets…

October 20, 2016 by Maggi Barnard

Garage Sale Trail: Forbes Shire Council is involved in the national Garage Sale Trail for the second year and is encouraging households, schools and community groups to host a sale tomorrow. It is a unique opportunity to promote the reuse of items that might otherwise end up in landfill. All you have to do is register your sale on the website www.garagesaletrail.com.au. Registration is free and includes a seller webpage that can be personalised.
Enjoy your kids again: Parents all over the world have turned to the award-winning 1-2-3 Magic program to help them get back in charge of their homes and learn how to enjoy their kids again. 1-2-3 Magic is a simple, precise and effective way of managing – gently and firmly – the behavior of children in the two to twelve-year-old range. CentaCare Forbes will be running the 1-2-3 Magic program over two nights on 25th October and 1st November at the CentaCare office at 134 Lachlan Street from 6 to 8pm each night. Michael Browne, CentaCare Men and Family worker, and Natasha Harris, Family worker are encouraging parents to attend together as managing behaviours is a team effort. The workshop is free of charge, but space is limited so make sure to book early. Call
CentaCare Forbes on 68501777 to secure your seat.
What a Wonderful Night: St. Laurence’s P & F held its second successful art exhibition last Friday. The student art competition drew a wide range of infant and primary entries and was judged by Jan Ashe one of the exhibiting artists. Winners were: Infants: 1st Jett Rudd, 2nd Ruby Spry, 3rd Konner Coleman and Highly Commended
Madeline Morrison. Primary winners were: 1st Clancy Bolam, 2nd Laylah Davies, 3rd Sienna O’Connell and Highly Commended Cassidy Robb-Potts. The raffle first prize was won by Andrew and Pam Peters, a pastel work “Old Barn”
by artist Colin Darley, second prize a wheelbarrow of meat and produce donated by Baa Moo Oink was won by Penelope O’Connell and the six bottles of wine from Bernardi’s IGA were won by Reilly Godsell. Thank you to all the sponsors, Forbes artists, artists who exhibited, the Art Society for the loan of their easels, the show committee for the use of their display frames and the Lions Club who dropped off and collected these.

Flood Theme For Revamped Spring Races

October 20, 2016 by Maggi Barnard

The Forbes Spring Races have been rescheduled and rebranded and will be on Saturday, 19th November. The new event will be called the Spring Flood Recovery Cup and the Forbes Jockey Club will have an array of activities to help the community recover from the floods. “The aim of the flood recovery cup is to provide a chance for the locals to come together after an extremely difficult time and celebrate the resilience of our community,” said Secretary of the Forbes Jockey Club, Blake Nicholson.

Footraces will be replaced by a sandbag challenge where participants will have to ferry as many sandbags as possible in two minutes with a cash prize for the winner. Fashions on the Field have a new category of best flood outfit with extra points awarded for water or nautical themed clothing. Extra points will also be awarded for clothing that contains floodwater brown. Races will be named in flood themes with the main race being the Bankstown Sports
Swamp Rat Flood Cup. Other races will include Mandagery Creek Mile (named after Eugowra Creek that feeds the Lachlan River), the Southern Cross Sprint (named after the area east of Forbes that feeds major floods), the Iron Bridge Handicap (where river levels are managed), the Roads Closed Handicap (transport difficulties) and the Farmers’ Flood Maiden (named for the fact the flood have disproportionally affected primary producers).

A significant donation will also be made to the Lions Club disaster relief fund for the work they have done to assist the community. “The meeting doesn’t aim to take itself too seriously and it’s supposed to be a day of fun. However we do acknowledge that many people have lost their income and one person lost his life,” Blake said. Marquee bookings are available by calling 0439 911 052.

Our Gal – Melissa Gaffney

October 20, 2016 by Maggi Barnard

Melissa Gaffney
How long have you lived in Forbes?
Twenty years, I was born in Forbes and lived in Sydney for five years before moving back here.

Where do you work? I have worked at Blush Organic Beauty for eight years – as the owner for the past 15 months.

What do you enjoy most about your work? I enjoy caring for all of my lovely clients and helping them to enhance their natural beauty.

What makes your day? By making someone else’s day.

What do you do in your spare time?
Going to the trots or races. Spending time with family and friends.

How do you like your coffee? Cappuccino or mocha, no sugar.

Where would you like to go on holiday? America and Canada

Question of the Week?

October 20, 2016 by Maggi Barnard

What is your favourite flower and why?

Pat Thomas: Definitely roses – they are the queen of the garden. I love their perfume. I have a lot of roses in my own garden some of which are 60 years old and still beautiful.
Marcia Simmons: Orchids are my favourite flower. My daughter Sharon has some and I am fascinated by the way the flowers just burst out in the most amazing colours. (Pictured are Jenny Dwyer, Marcia Simmons and Pat Thomas.)

Anne Hodges: Always roses – they just say “Hello, look at my happy face” and give you so much joy. I used to have hundreds of roses when I lived on the farm but do not have many in my current garden in town.

Home Front

October 20, 2016 by Maggi Barnard

“We’ve Bought Elsewhere and We Need a Sale”
200 Farnell St, Forbes
• 3 bdrm brick and tile home with office. All bdrms have BIR and ceiling fans
• Ducted evap. air con, natural gas heating and rev. cycle aircon.
• Lounge room with substantial built in storage
• New laundry with second toilet
• Enclosed entertaining area and paved BBQ area
• 2000Lt rain water tank, garden shed, storage shed/ chook yard
• Well-kept gardens and lawns with underground watering system
• Fully fenced with rear lane access
Comprehensive information memorandum available.
Offers prior to auction will be considered
Auction: 1:30pm Saturday 19th November 2016, ONSITE
Open Homes: 2-2:30pm, Saturday 29th Oct, 5th and 12th Nov.
Ian Simpson: 0417 468 565 ian.simpson@iansimpsonandco.com
Office: (02) 6851 1911 www.iansimpsonandco.com.au

Petition To Get Popular Vote For Mayor

October 20, 2016 by Maggi Barnard

Eligible voters in Forbes could be electing the Mayor in the next Local Government election in 2020 if a referendum is held to change the current system before then. A petition to Council for a constitutional referendum will start circulating around town this week to get signatures from residents. “We need at least 500 signatures, but aim
for 1,500 to 2,000,” said Duke Jelbart. At the moment the Mayor is voted in by the nine Councillors of the Forbes Shire.

“Shouldn’t the person with the most primary votes be the Mayor,” is a question people had been asking. As a former councillor serving two terms, Duke has received many requests to start the process for change. Once Council has a petition it would have to decide on whether to go to a referendum for a simple yes or no vote for or against a
popular vote for the Mayor.

“It would be quite costly, but if people want the change, Council would have to find the funds in the budget for the referendum,” Duke said. According to Duke the change would empower the community to put the person in who they believe should be Mayor and this would result in more stability as the Mayor would serve the full term of four years.

“Voters would also know from the start of the campaign who is running for Mayor.” Duke said there would be comments that he was doing this to stir as he was not reelected, but added: “I have been talking about this change for six years. Voters feel like they don’t count and we want to make them count.”

Open for Inspection…

October 20, 2016 by Maggi Barnard

200 Farnell St, Forbes
Will be open for inspection on the following dates…
• Saturday 29th October 2pm – 2:30pm
• Saturday 5th November 2pm – 2.30pm
• Saturday 12th November 2pm – 2.30pm
For further information please contact Ian Simpson & Co. on 02 6851 1911

Darcie Leads CSU Sevens to Gold

October 13, 2016 by Maggi Barnard

Forbes local Darcie Morrison is making a name for herself in the world of women’s rugby sevens. As captain of the Charles Sturt University (CSU) team she led by example at the 2016 Australian University Games in Perth. Her team won back-to-back titles in the competition without conceding a single game. Four teams competed for the title with
two full rounds played before the finals commenced. Darcie scored three tries per game on the first day and continued to clock points with a similar performance on the second day. CSU came up against Griffith University in the semi-finals and then took on James Cook University in the final match to claim the gold medal. Darcie was
unstoppable racking up five of the team’s six tries for the match and converted her last try on the bell.

Prior to the trip to Perth, Darcie was invited to attend the Australian Women’s Sevens camp in Narrabeen and was asked to play in one of two Australian Development teams to compete in the Central Coast Sevens Tournament in October with the hope of securing a contract.

The Rugby Sevens season is in full swing and Darcie will be playing in Noosa with the NSW Development team and also Byron Bay with the Sydney University team in the next two weeks before giving it her best shot to secure a spot in the Australian squad.

Our Bloke – Andrew Carstairs

October 13, 2016 by Maggi Barnard

Andrew Carstairs

How long have you lived in Forbes? I was born here and moved away when I was 18 and came back 16 years ago in 2000.

Where do you work? I am the owner of Lachlan Valley Smash Repairs for the past 12 months.

What do you enjoy most about your work? Finished products and happy customers.

What makes your day? Smiles on my childrens’ faces, happy people and waking up alive.

What do you do in your spare time? Spend time with my wife and four kids.

How do you like your coffee? White with one sugar.

Where would you like to go on holiday? I like going to Surfer’s Paradise – the kids enjoy it there too, but I just don’t like driving there.

Southern Star Rural Bull Achieves Top Price

October 13, 2016 by Maggi Barnard

A senepol bull of the Southern Star Rural Senepol stud at Canowindra achieved a top price of $12,000 at the 14th annual 5 Star Senepol and African Hybrid Bull Sale held at Rockhampton recently. Clayton and Sarah Maynard own Southern Star. Their bull was sold to the Goodard family from Queensland.

With 81 lots auctioned, the sale grossed a total of $545,000 with an average of $7,569 and the top lot going for $16,000. Buyers came from Queensland and northern NSW. What sets these bulls apart from other Senepol bulls is that they are selected from over 500 male progeny. Selection is done whilst running on ticky forest country at Mt. Eugene, Jambin and Belmont Research Station, Rockhampton. They have to perform on grass, adapting to heat, ticks, flies and Lantana, with minimal chemical treatment. Geoff Maynard, stud principal for 5 Star Senepol, said there had not been a better time for the cattle industry with record prices throughout the country.

Clayton and Sarah also produce Senegus Bulls (Senepol Angus cross) which were all sold at the auction for an average of $6,000. The Senegus bulls are small birth weight and suited to heifer matings. They have many more variables that affect ease of calving, namely gestation, length, muscle pattern, and nutrition especially in the third trimester.

Parkes Phoenix Editor

Subscribe