Parkes Phoenix Editor

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

Snippets…

March 10, 2016 by Maggi Barnard

Save The Date! For this year’s Cabonne Country Balloon Glow on Saturday, 9th April. Get ready for a day of flames and fun as gates open at 3.30pm at the Canowindra Sports Oval. One of the highlights of the night, the rugby union game, will kick off at 4pm in what’s sure to be a blazing battle between Canowindra and Yeoval. New entertainment for this year includes a wine, food and craft market and fire dancers, so things might get heated! If you’d like
a stall please email lisa@canowindrachallenge.org.ay for an application form.

CMCA rolls into town: The Campervan and Motor Club of Australia’s ‘Solo Network’ will be in Forbes next week, from March 14-21. The Solo Network is a branch from the CMCA for members who are single, and they will rally through Forbes starting Monday. There will be an open day and market day for the public to attend next Saturday at the Forbes Showground. The
Solo Network was established in 1997 with the goal of encouraging singles to travel happily solo.

Media Reforms protect Regional News: Last week marked the announcement of the most significant media reform in a generation and it is good news for regional communities. These reforms will protect local news services, which are incredibly important and valuable to the people of Calare.
The changes come as regional media is facing increasing competition from less
regulated services in a rapidly changing digital landscape. These proposed measures (subject to the passage of amending legislation), will commence in 2016 with the Australian Communications and Media Authority to monitor and enforce the local programming obligations.

Mobile Black Spot Programme Round two launched: The competitive selection process of Round 2 of the Coalition Government’s Mobile Black Spot Programme has begun. Mobile Network Operators will nominate locations where they would install a new or upgraded mobile base station to address mobile black spots nominated by members of the public.

Gee puts hand up for Calare: Member for Orange Andrew Gee will contest The National’s party preselection for the federal seat of Calare. “Having weighed it all up I’ve decided to seek preselection because there is, right now, a real opportunity for the Federal Government to get some things done that will make a real difference to the lives of the people of this region,” he said.
He accepted he would leave Orange at a crucial time should he win preselection, and then the general election, but said it was an exciting time to enter federal politics. The preselection meeting will be held
in Bathurst on April 30.

Mackay Ready for April Poultry Auction

March 10, 2016 by Maggi Barnard

Forbes teenager Sam Mackay tends to get himself involved in the community a little more often than most other people his age. Besides trying his hand at most sports in town, including rugby league, cricket, and tennis, the 14-year old also involves himself heavily in the livestock industry.

And on April 10, he will be hosting the Forbes Poultry Auction at the Forbes
Showground. While it will not be the first time the teenager will host his own auction, it will be the first time he sells other poultries besides just chickens.

He will also be selling ducks and turkeys on April 10, but the auction will also be the first time a new computer system will be used to assist with the sales.
A Microsoft Excel-like program, it has been developed by his aunty, Trisha Milford, and her husband, and can process sales and store information. Before now, everything was done the old-fashioned way on paper, Mr Mackay said.

He said he loves being able to host poultry auctions, taking some genes from his father Tim Mackay, who works for Forbes Livestock, and said his passion helps him to be so organised for someone as young as him.

“It’s something I’ve always been interested in- the sales and everything,” he said. “I help my dad out with his work during the school holidays, and I seem to really like that.”

“I can’t even remember how it all started to be honest. I think I just had a real build up of chooks one time. I have my own chooks and I couldn’t get rid of them.” “I thought to myself ‘I wish there was a sale around’, and then thought that I would just run one.”

During the April 10 auction Mr Mackay will organize all of the chickens, including recording their pen details, and individual chicken details, while his father Tim does the auctioneering. Sam Mackay has organised four auctions
in the last 12 months, but said from now on he’ll likely limit himself to one per
year.

“It’s something I really enjoy doing,” he said. “I would love to follow my dad’s footsteps and make a career out of it. Probably not with chooks though, but with cattle of sheep.”

“Unfortunately I can’t hold my own cattle and sheep auctions as they already have them going at the moment, but I go to them every Sunday to help prepare for the cattle sale.” “Whenever I can get a Tuesday off I go down to the sheep sales as well.”

Our Gal – Verdel Maclean

March 10, 2016 by Maggi Barnard

Verdel Maclean

How long have you lived in or around Forbes for? I actually live in Grenfell, and have only lived there for about two weeks. I have moved inland from East Gosford on the Central Coast.

What do you enjoy about living in the Central West? I enjoy the affordable living, charming town atmosphere, the historic buildings and the countryside. There’s a nice feeling about the place.

What do you do for work? I’m doing a maternity relief contract as tourism development officer at Forbes Shire Council.

Where would your dream holiday be? I love Hong Kong. The food and sights are amazing. However, there are so many places in the world that could be a dream holiday.
What do you do in your spare time?
I will be spending my spare time getting settled into my new place.

Success at Canberra Show for FHS

March 10, 2016 by Maggi Barnard

It was another successful trip for Forbes High at the Canberra Hoof and Hook competition, at the Royal Canberra Show two weekends ago.

Forbes High school had three steers entered this year. Two Limousin steers from Heather and Richard Cole of ‘Lachlan Dale Limousin Stud’ and a Murray Grey steer from Ian and Narelle Wilcox of ‘Ayr Park Murray Grey Stud.’

The Limousin steers were in a huge group of 40 steers in the medium weight domestic class and were judged 3rd and 6th on the hoof (live). These 2 steers then placed 4th and 12th on the hook (carcass). The Murray Grey steer was placed second in the Export steer hoof section and placed 4th on the hook.

The steers were not the only ones to perform well at Canberra with all of our students competing well in the Junior Parader’s Competition. Konnor Ryan achieved a 3rd in his U/15s heat, Jessie Alcorn achieved 1st in her heat and 5th overall in the hotly contested U/16s section, and Sally Downie achieved 4th place in the U/17s section. This is an amazing result again for our small state school against some of the best agricultural schools in NSW.

The student’s behaviour and performance was of a high standard for the whole trip and they were a credit to themselves and the school.

By Forbes High School Show Team

Mayoral Notes

March 10, 2016 by Maggi Barnard

This weekend Forbes is hosting the NSW Fire and Rescue Regional Championships at Stephan Field. There will be 25 teams from across the state competing in a range of events based on the skills that firefighters use in emergency situations. It is great for Forbes to be hosting these championships,
so grab a chair and head down to Stephan Field to see how fun and fit our
firies are.

Speaking of visitors to town, next week Forbes will welcome about 350 members of the CMCA Solos Network as part of their annual rally. The group will be staying at the Forbes Showground and are looking forward to introducing themselves to locals and will be participating in a range of activities while in town.

One of the main reasons they have chosen to come to Forbes is because of how friendly our community is and the great shopping we have. The Free Cuppa for the Driver Scheme has started back up again and will be running until May 31. Forbes is one of 18 local councils to be a part of the project with 62
businesses ready to serve drivers with a free cup of tea or coffee. The businesses taking part in town are the Bakehouse, Lakeside Takeaway, Superbee Café and Metro Ben Hall Roadhouse.

To find out the other cafes part of the project, download the smartphone app Free Cuppa.

Have a great week, stay safe and God bless.

Mayor, Cr Phyllis Miller OAM

Premium Partner Bonus Pays Big to Monola Farmers

March 10, 2016 by Maggi Barnard

MSM Milling’s Premium Partner Bonus for growers of the specialty high oleic canola variety, Monola*, will deliver a $105/metric tonne Premium for certified growers in acknowledgement of their commitment to sustainability
and food safety.

MSM Milling’s $10/tonne Premium Partner Bonus is in addition to a $95/tonne premium paid to Monola growers, bringing to $105/tonne the premium paid to farmers who grow Monola.

MSM’s General Manager Commercial Charlie Aldersey says the Premium Partner Bonus not only benefits contracted farmers but provides food safety and sustainability assurances to restaurants, food manufacturers and end-users that MSM Milling takes its role as a processor of locally grown, quality non-GM oils extremely seriously.

“We know our farmers grow quality, sustainable and safe crops in an extremely strict regulatory environment. MSM Milling is formalising that acknowledgement and promoting Australia’s high food safety and
sustainability standards to customers here and overseas.”

“The uptake of high oleic oil by food manufacturers means that Australian producers are reducing their reliance on imported, less healthy oils. MSM’s Premium Partner Bonus shows our commitment to farmers and Australia’s clean and green, sustainably grown, produced and processed safe food products,” Mr Aldersey said.

To be eligible for the Premium Partner Bonus, farmers will be required to complete a self-declaration at the commencement of contracting or when they fill in a planting declaration, similar to the scheme used in the EU.

MSM Milling has recently diversified its product range and now offers a range of high quality refined, bleached and deodorised soft oils. For more information, please call MSM Milling in Manildra on 02 6364 5999.

Monola® is a Triazine Tolerant (TT) specialty canola variety that presents farmers with the crop management and rotation benefits of TT canola but also rewards growers with a significant price premium. Monola® is a registered trademark of Nuseed.

Magpies Prepare for Memorial Cup After First Hit-Out

March 10, 2016 by Maggi Barnard

The Forbes Magpies have turned their attention to the annual Brendon Collits Memorial Cup after a solid outing at the West Wyalong knock-out competition last weekend.

In 2013 former Magpies player Collits was tragically killed in a car accident while on his way to training, and since the incident, the fixture has been played in his memory.

They will play Bathurst in the game, and should enter it with plenty of confidence after almost taking the West Wyalong competition. After losing to the Young Cherrypickers 22-12 last Friday night, they beat the Queanbeyan Kangaroos 8-6, before losing to Gundagai 14-10 in extra time after the
scores were locked at 10-a-piece at fulltime.

Gundagai went on to win the grand final in the next match. Magpies President Greg Grogan said the side played well in its first hit-out of the year.

“They played very well considering they’re only a young side,” he said. “We had a few injuries, but the competition [Group 11] doesn’t start until the end of
April, so they should be alright.” “It was only a trial though. The competition-
it’s a long year, and anything can happen.” Jake Grace is captaining and coaching the side this year.

The side will field a very strong forward pack this year, with Grace joined by Zack Merritt, Ben Robinson, Ben McGuire, and Ethan Gaffney. The backline is not too much more unformidable either, with Matt Roylance, Carl Johnston, Mitch Bourke, Mitch Andrews and Patrick Murphy steering the team
around the paddock.

Grogan said the club would look at moving forward from a great year last year, when it won the Club of the Year award for having all four grades represented in the semi finals. “Everybody made the semis which was a great achievement,” he said.

“Hopefully we can improve in the first grade side so we last a bit longer in the
finals. But the main thing is to improve and keep competitive. That’s what the supporters want to see.”

Par Golf to Win Medal

March 10, 2016 by Maggi Barnard

On Saturday 5 March the play was for the Monthly Medal, sponsored by Michael Robinson and Co. The field of 45 players meant that there was greater opportunity to win, but you still needed to deliver. But the best score barely broke Par.

In the A-grade Shane Sallaway used this day to fine tune his Pennants game, winning with 72 nett. Bruce Carpenter was Runner-up with 74, and wished he had not faltered on the 4th with a ‘7’.

Sunday was the regular Stableford Medley. The sunny conditions were welcoming, but the temperatures were quite stifling leading, to a small field. The winner was Joe Davies (P) with 27 points, although it was a near thing as he got there on count back from Roy Bell (P).

They both enjoyed the Forbes excursion. Ron Hurst (F) was back on deck and quickly into his winning ways, although this time it was for the Bradman award.

The Mick Miller shield was a very close contest. The prodigal son, Digit, used his score to get Forbes across the line with 149 points to Parkes 147. Close contests like that are not good for the heart.

And here is the news:
Unfortunately our Pennants teams ran into strong opposition. On Sunday 6 March, both the Div 1 and Div 2 teams played at Duntryleague.
And unfortunately they both lost 3/2. Each team had close encounters with
the result hinging on one game. Well done to all players, and we shall look forward to 2017.

Andrew Dukes keeps the Hole-in-One tradition in the Forbes ASI Capital Sixes comp alive by recording a Hole-in-One on the 3rd. This is the third Hole-in-One scored this comp.

Geoff Drane got his photo in the paper for his efforts in the Diggers Swimming Pup Cup. Unfortunately, he tried to match his slow, lanquid swim stroke to his golf game, but fell way behind his handicap mark because there was no bell for the last lap.

Revel in this warmer weather, as winter will soon be upon us.

Question of the Week?

March 10, 2016 by Maggi Barnard

What are your plans for Easter?

Verdel Maclean – I haven’t even thought about Easter yet! I’ve been way too busy!

Michele Morley – I am looking forward to having all of my family home, my two boys will be home from Uni and we will probably go fishing and do some quiet activities around the home.

What’s Hot?

March 10, 2016 by Maggi Barnard

Roylance’s Auto One has the big “Get ready for Easter sale” on now
The catalogue runs until Monday March 28 and packed with some great specials!

Motorcycle ramps with 340kg load capacity $89.95, go glamping with the portable shower for only $349, and the 120w solar panel $100 off! There are great deals on Rhino Rack awnings, kayak carriers and luggage boxes. Going 4wd driving? Recovery kits from $149 and Tred recovery tracks from $149.00.

Get into Auto One Forbes 6852 2411.

Parkes Phoenix Editor

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