Parkes Phoenix Editor

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

Women’s Basketball In Search Of More Players

April 14, 2016 by Maggi Barnard

The Forbes Women’s Basketball Association is looking for more players to register, ahead of the start of its season on May 5. This year’s competition will be played on Thursday nights from 6.15pm at the Red Bend College undercover courts.

But with the start of the season soon approaching, Association President Candice Morrison said anyone interested in playing should register as soon as they can. “We have registration packs available at News on Rankin on Rankin Street, and they’re also downloadable from our Facebook page,” she said.

“The first two weeks of the competition will be training, getting to know each other, and finalising the teams, which we hope to have about seven of.” Morrison said any women from Parkes interested in playing basketball were also encouraged to make the short drive down to Forbes. “Parkes doesn’t currently have a basketball competition, so women from there are more than welcome to come down to Forbes to play,” she said.

The Association managed to put together seven teams last year, and is hoping to build on that in 2016. Morrison said girls aged 16 in the Forbes Basketball Association could also step up toplay seniors.

Meanwhile, the Association has elected a new committee, with Candice Morrisonas President, Samantha Rath as Secretary, Debbie Hearn as Treasurer, and Julie Crimp as Publicity Officer.

Forbes Rodeo – A Local Favourite

April 14, 2016 by Maggi Barnard

The annual Forbes Rodeo is proving itself to be one of Forbes’ favourite events for the year and the 2016 event did not disappoint. Committee member, Troy Read, although exhausted from the huge weekend, was very happy and felt that the crowd attending was the best so far.

The committee have worked tirelessly over the past months to provide the best possible facilities for competitors and spectators and have been rewarded for their efforts with some extremely positive feedback. Many of the top Barrell Racers in the country commented on the particularly high standard of the arena, which boasted an exceptional surface for their horses, allowing them to compete to the best of their ability with minimal risk of injury.

A clash of dates with Rodeo’s near Tamworth and Yass saw a drop in Professional riders attending but this was more than compensated by a huge increase in novice competitors which was very pleasing to see. Rodeo is a competitive sport that arose from the working practices of cattle herding in Spain and Mexico. It involves horses and other livestock and is designed to test the skill and speed of the cowboys and cowgirls in two basic categories: rough stock events (Bull riding etc.) and timed events (Barrel racing, Steer un-decorating etc.)

Mr Read made special mention of the many local sponsors who support this event, “without them we would not be able to continue” he said. The committee are looking forward to continuing to bring this event to Forbes which attracts visitors from far and wide and increases the town’s economy in
the process. The committee see a great future for the Forbes Rodeo and are working towards a permanent home for the event at the old Rodeo grounds located at Botanical Gardens.

Locals Enjoy Seniors Week In Forbes

April 14, 2016 by Maggi Barnard

The senior citizens of Forbes enjoyed 10 days worth of fun-filled activities recently, as NSW Seniors Week took off across the state. Seniors Week actually ran for 10 days, but in Forbes, activities were held on seven of those days across town.

Friday April 1 saw the event launch with a seniors expo at the Youth and Community Centre, with stalls and information available on how seniors can get involved in the local community. Sunday April 3 had an opera show on at Forbes Town Hall entitled ‘Songs of Love and Loss.’

On Monday April 4 a morning tea was held at Mater Aged Care, while the following day saw Jemalong Residential Village host a morning tea of their own. The Forbes Sport and Recreation Club held a lawn bowls ‘come and try’ day last Thursday, while last Saturday had a dance show and the Forbes Rodeo take place, with seniors discounts on offer. The event ended last Sunday at the Forbes Services Club with the Country Music Muster.

Sally Spence, Lifestyle Therapist at Jemalong Village in Forbes, said the residence’s morning tea was well received. “We had three students come across from Forbes High School who entertained the crowd. They sang and played songs for our residents,” she said. “We were also celebrating two birthdays that day. One of our residents turned 100, and another turned 91.” “The residents really love anything involving music and food. Seniors Week was great for that.”

Forbes Shire Council Community Relations Officer Blake Nicholson organised the Seniors Expo, and said the aim of the day was to display ways seniors could get out and get active in the community. “Stallholders included the Forbes Menshed, Neighbourhood Watch, College for Seniors, Home and Community Care, Flannerys Pharmacy, Australian Unity Home Care Service,” he said.

Get Lost In The World Of Magic

April 14, 2016 by Maggi Barnard

With organised gaming on the rise, Greenlight Collectables on Welcome Street has become an official venue for competitive Magic: The Gathering play, also known as Magic. Magic: The Gathering is the world’s most popular trading card game with approximately 20 million players. The game can be played by two or more players and each game represents a battle between wizards known as ‘Planeswalkers’ who employ spells, artefacts and creatures depicted on each individual card to defeat their opponents.

As the original concept drew heavily from motifs of traditional fantasy role playing games such as Dungeons & Dragons, the gameplay has substantially more cards than many other card games which make this game not only fun but also mentally challenging.

Magic combines fantasy themes with strategic thinking and is a great social and competitive hobby for people of all ages. On Friday nights players can now compete for prizes, Planeswalker points and become part of a growing gaming community. Magic is a great addition to the competitive schedule
on offer at Greenlight Collectables, who offer a wide range of table top and trading card games. Everything from Dungeons and Dragons to Yu-Gi-Oh is in stock and tables are always open for play. Friday nights at Greenlight Collectables are focused on providing an accessible, fun night out for players
of all ages and ability levels. Come on down, meet some new friends and join the fun!

Diggers Racing Club set to light up ANZAC Day

April 14, 2016 by Maggi Barnard

The Forbes Diggers Harness Racing Club will be one of the main showpieces in Forbes on ANZAC Day. The day will feature six races. People have been flocking to Forbes on ANZAC Day since the 1950’s, as it has been tradition to head out to the pace way on the commemorative day.

While the massive crowds of yesteryear may not be as big as they once were, there is no denying that it keeps a very special part of history close to our hearts. It’s official name, the “ Forbes Diggers Trotting Club”, is very symbolic to locals.

All the committee have been working overtime to ensure that everything is ready for another carnival, run over two weekends, and no doubt come the end of it, they will be enjoying yet another great success. The program will start at 1.00pm with the running of the Forbes 3yo Pace (1680m)

Forbes Sheep Market Report 12.4.16

April 13, 2016 by Maggi Barnard

Forbes Sheep Sale

Conducted 12/04/2016

Yarded 27967 including 22944 lambs. Prime lambs, especially heavies were again well supplied. The reduced numbers helped to hold prices close to last week’s rates and prices were similar. Light lambs eased $2 to $3 bot all grades of slaughter sold at unchanged rates to slightly better in places for the heavy export lambs. Merino lambs were fully firm compared to last weeks sale.

Trade weight Lambs (18 to 22kg)
$102.00 to $129.00

Heavy Lambs (23 to 26kg)
$128.00 to $142.00

Extra Heavy Lambs (over 26kg)
$146.00 to $177.00

Store Lambs
$75.00 to $108.00

Heavy Merino lambs
$128.00 to $145.00

Trade weight Merino Lambs
$95.00 to $126.00

Hoggets
$84.00 to $105.20

There were 5023 grown sheep yarded prices were $3 to $5 below last weeks dearer rates.

Shorn Merino Wethers
$75.00 to $103.00

Merino Ewes
$72.00 to $109.00

XB Ewes
$80.00 to $123.00

Light Sheep
$27.00 to $68.00

Merino Rams
$70.00 To $110.00

Forbes Cattle Market Report 11.4.16

April 13, 2016 by Maggi Barnard

Forbes Cattle Sale

Conducted 11/04/2016

There were 2335 yarded. Increased numbers included more plainer grades and all descriptions eased as expected. Prime yearlings were 10c a kilo cheaper but the feeder types dropped 15-20c. Heavy steers were back 10c and cows eased as much as 15-25c compared to last week’s sale.

Prime yearling steers up to 440kgs
278.0c to 310.0c

Prime yearling heifers up to 440kgs
247.0c to 288.0c

Feeder steers
285.0c to 315.0c

Heavy Steers over 500kgs
270.0c to 288.0c

Heavy steers over 600kgs

Heavy Heifers
245.0c to 267.0c

Cows – 2 score
176.0c to 212.0c

Cows – 3 score
200.0c to 225.0c

Heavy Bulls
to 255.0c

Question of the Week?

April 7, 2016 by Maggi Barnard

What do you think about Daylight Savings ending?

Cody Banks – I don’t like that daylight savings has finished. I liked being able to do heaps of stuff after school before it gets dark.

John Schrader – I like the fact that it has finished. I think it starts about three weeks too early and finishes about three weeks too late.

Rachel Wythes – I like it. My husband is home earlier and we can have dinner before 9pm.

Forbes Golf Association Set For Major Events

April 7, 2016 by Maggi Barnard

The Forbes Golf Association has received a massive boost to its operations, with Golf NSW announcing the Forbes Golf Course will host the inaugural Sand/Grass Greens State Championships in August. In another huge boost for Forbes, the local golf course will also host a qualifying event for the NSW State Championships in June.

Part of the events will also be staged at the Grenfell Golf Course, with Forbes Shire Council teaming up with Weddin Shire Council to help make the event possible, as well as the two golf associations of each shire working together with Golf NSW. With at least 150 players expected at the State Championships qualifier, and many more at the Sand/Grass Championships, Forbes Golf Association President Andrew McDonald said both events would be a massive boost for Forbes and the surrounding region.

“All of the activities as well as the profiles of each event and the participation opportunities will bring a lot of golfers to Forbes from across the country as well as our own region,” he said. “The winner of the State Championships qualifier will get automatic entry into the State Championships, so that incentive should bring a large number of golfers in
to Forbes.” Several years ago, the state of the Forbes Golf Course was in dire straights, and it would have been hard to imagine any major golf event coming to town, according to Mr McDonald.

At that stage, the Association partnered with Forbes Shire Council, and this led to vastly improved irrigation systems and equipment, and the golf course is now one of the best in the Central West. Mr McDonald said partnerships were what the Association now strived to achieve in order to continually improve the quality of golf in Forbes.

“We were fortunate enough to receive some grants from Golf NSW as well, which helped with our improvements,” he said. “Nowadays we’ve got high quality employees, and new, modern mowers, as well as the Jack Newton golf partnership, where our own Dan Newton works with other golf clubs in our region.”

“We always want to work with other golf clubs, and it’s great that Grenfell are on board with these two events as well.” The Forbes Golf Association have signed a three-year agreement to host the Grass/Sand Championships, and will host the State Championships qualifying event this year after Golf NSW decided to take qualifying events to the country for the first time.

Golf NSW Chairman John Robinson said qualifiers had been taken to the country to provide greater opportunities for regional golfers to have a go at making the State Championships. Forbes Mayor Phyllis Miller said Council was “honoured” to partner with both events as well.

The State Championships qualifier will be held on June 18 and 19, while the Sand/Grass event will be August 20-21.

VCR Livestock Marketing Services Report Good Pig Sales

April 7, 2016 by Maggi Barnard

VCR Livestock Marketing Service’s Scott Reid said recent pig sales have been a
success in Forbes, with pig numbers and prices being on par with expectations for this time of the year. About 650 pigs lined up for the most recent pig sale last Friday, with different types of pigs selling at different prices.

Small pigs sold for about $10 per head cheaper than average, but the grown pig, bacon and pork markets sold at firm prices, according to Mr Reid. He added the best sow pigs sold for between $1.40 and $1.80 per kilo, sold at live
weight, while boars sold for between $0.25 and $0.75 per kilo, again at live weight.

Both bacon and pork were sold per head, with prices varying depending on the quality of the pig. Mr Reid said the best bacon pigs were sold for $300 each, while the best pork pigs went out for about $190 each. However, he added there was a wide variety of selling prices, with bacon pigs selling from $150 upwards, while pork pigs went out the door from $100 upwards.

Mr Reid said each statistic from the sale showed the pig market was operating
as one would expect for this time of the year. “The pig market is strongest around Christmas time,” he said. “Prices have eased off since Easter, but
this is normally the cheapest time of year for pigs as the demand is lower.”

“Having said that we’ll expect the prices of sows and bores to come back up during the winter period, but the other types of pigs should stay similar to what they are currently.” The next pig sale will be next Friday, April 14.

Parkes Phoenix Editor

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