Michael and Catherine McCormack with Bruce Adams (middle).
Michael McCormack MP with Chairman of the Forbes National Party branch Max Swift, Margaret Swift and Catherine McCormack.
Yvonne Glasson, Michael McCormack MP and John Kennedy.
Parkes Shire Council General Manager Kent Boyd (middle) with Graeme and Maureen Miller.
Yellow ribbons have become synonymous with National Road Safety Week which starts on Sunday with Forbes Town Hall lit in yellow for the week.
Forbes, Parkes and Lachlan Shire Councils will be getting behind this initiative with a range of activities to help raise awareness of road safety as they’ve done since 2017. This includes honouring the memory of the 1,200 lives lost and more than 44,000 seriously injured on Australian roads each year.
During the Week, road users are encouraged to take the pledge to Drive So Others Survive, including not being distracted while driving, not speeding and to never drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
“During National Road Safety Week 2022, yellow ribbons will be displayed all across the country to remember those we have lost on the roads and to remind us to drive safely,” said Parkes, Forbes and Lachlan Shire Councils’ Road Safety and Injury Prevention Officer, Melanie Suitor.
“Our fleet vehicles and staff will proudly display yellow ribbons. Members of the public are encouraged to pick up a vehicle sticker and/or lapel ribbon for free from our administration offices in Parkes, Forbes, Condobolin and Lake Cargelligo.
“Our email signatures will display the National Road Safety Week artwork for the week. In Parkes the monument on Memorial Hill and the Sir Henry Parkes statue will also be lit in yellow.
“We are encouraging our staff and locals to sign the pledge to Drive So Others Survive www.roadsafetyweek.com.au,” Melanie said.
The Forbes Public School will be a hive of activity on Wednesday morning when they host the participants in the 30th Variety NSW Bash for breakfast before 100 cars will depart at 8am on the next leg of the rally to Ardlethan.
The Bash will visit rural and remote communities bringing much needed tourism revenue and equipment for schools. More than $45,000 worth of grants will be given to regional NSW schools, while more than $12,000 is spent at each lunch stop along the route and more than $70,000 at each overnight stop, including Forbes.
Variety Bash cars are renowned for bringing fun and excitement to the communities they visit with themed cars from Paw Patrol, Bob the Builder and Hot Wheels to Lightning McQueen, Scooby Doo and The Flintstones.
This year’s event starts on Sunday, 15th May at Foreshore Park Newcastle and will head to Spring Ridge, Dubbo, Ballimore, Quambone, Cobar, Condobolin, Forbes, Ardlethan, Wagga Wagga, Wyangala, Bathurst, Wattle Flat, Hunter Valley before finishing back for the Family Fun Day in Newcastle on Saturday, 21st May.
The breakfast at Forbes Public School will be open to the community who can come and view the cars.
The Swamp Tigers 14’s team.
Wet and muddy conditions could not stop Orange/Forbes take the win after the Swamp Tigers defeated Bathurst Bushrangers in the Under 12 and Under 14’s by 19 and 47 points respectively in Round 1 of the AFL Central West’s junior competition.
Max Ridge, in his first AFL game, shined, and Tyson McLennan, Romulus Milsom and Jackson Beaudin were not far behind as Orange/Forbes recovered from a half-time deficit to bank four premiership points.The Swamp Tigers took control in the third quarter and never looked back.
For the 14’s the day was a more straightforward affair as they were never really threatened cruising to a 10.14.(74) 4.3.(27) win.Zain Clark was the pick of the bunch in defence, while Cayden Metzeling played strongly.
In the other games the Orange Youth Girls won 3.3.(21) to 2.1.(13), while the Under 17’s easily beat Bushrangers 10.11.(71 to 3.4.(22).
Round 2
Bathurst Giants came from behind to overrun Forbes/Orange and win by 2 points on Sunday morning, with the Giants kicking the winning goal in the final minute of the match.
The Giants had hung in against the Swamp Tigers throughout the contest but trailed by 20 points at the last change.
But the Giants were massive in the frantic final term, kicking two goals ten as the Giants piled on the pressure and powered its way to the 6.10 (46) to 7.2 (44) victory.
The 14’s was equally as exciting with only one point separating the teams at the
match for three quarters, only for the Giants to turn up the pressure in the fourth quarter to get within one.
However, the Forbes/Orange showed the poise and the guys and girls were able to outlast the relentless Giants pressure and hang on for the win 5.8 (38) to 5.7 (37)
By Alex Milsom
Federation Boulevarde, the grand entrance to Goldridge Estate, has been sealed. This seal was the application of two coats with a final seal to be applied at the end of the project. It is the final civil works required before blocks can be registered with the Land Registry Services.
This week marks 185 years since Ben Hall was born on 11th May 1837, which was very timely for the last of the Heritage Festival events on Saturday.
Following the festival, almost 60 people came along to listen to Garema’s Karyn Tisdell, our very own opera singer. Karyn wowed the crowds singing a few favourites of Dame Nellie Melba who also sang at the Forbes Town Hall in 1909.
Guests at the event were the first to try our Heritage Digital Trail QR codes with stories about the heritage buildings and sites in our community. We are proudly using technology to keep the heritage sites alive. Keep an eye out for the QR codes around heritage sites in town.
Have you heard you can now use your NSW Services vouchers to buy your Frost and Fire tickets? Two tickets are normally $30, but we are offering two tickets for $25 to match the value of the vouchers.
The vouchers need to be used by the end of June, so we thought it was a perfect way to celebrate. This year’s talent include Thirsty Merc with other celebrated and local artists performing. A major attraction will be the Sydney Fire Dancers.
Until next week, God Bless.
Your Mayor
Phyllis Miller
We had 28 players for Aussie Croquet on Saturday. There was only one player who won 3 games, Kevin Rubie.
Big Winners: 14-7 Elvy Quirk and John Allegri; 14—9 John Browne and Barry White, Kevin Rubie and John Cole; 14—10 Peter West and Jill Rubie.
We had 35 players for Golf Croquet on Tuesday. There were three players that won three games: Colleen Liebich, Elvy Quirk and Kevin Rubie
Big Winners: and Bruce Field, Dorelle Scott and Sandy Hepburn; 9-4 Jeff Liebich and Geoff Coles, Kevin Rubie and Sandy Hepburn, Neville Spry and Barry White, Kevin Rubie and Alex Todd, John Cole and Peter West, Joan Littlejohn and Peter West.
By Pegging Out
Saturday May Monthly Medal stroke event at the Forbes Golf Club was contested by a reduced field of 53 players.
The A-Grade was won by Wade Ritchie with 72 nett, but the medal was awarded to runner-up Alf Davies on 74 nett.
The B-Grade win and medal went to Paul Kay (76 nett), who finished one shot ahead of runner-up Rob Webb (77 nett). In the C-Grade, Al Rees took all the honours with a 77 nett, also one ahead of runner-up Sam Redfern on 78 nett.
Last Friday the Forbes Pro-Am was played with 94 players, including 27 pros and amateurs from around the state.
The winning pro was Dylan Thompson from Dubbo with a 67 scratch. The amateurs played a stableford, with the winners being: Ladies – Ev Uphill 29 points; Men Div 1 – D Kennedy 40 pts; Men Div 2 – Harry Quirk 36 pts.
By Short Putt
The famous Goanna on the Sculptures by the Lachlan trail has been photographed from many different angles, but this one sure is eye catching! (Photo credit: Happy Campers Australia)
Prepare For Flu Season: Seniors and other vulnerable people across NSW are encouraged to get the flu vaccination, as COVID-19 is also still circulating. People aged 65 and over can book in a free flu shot at pharmacies and GPs, as well as pregnant women, children aged under five years, Aboriginal people and those with serious health conditions. Influenza cases have more than doubled in recent weeks. More people with flu are being admitted to hospital, including young children. This can be very serious especially for young children who have had little to no exposure to flu over the last two years. People are also encouraged to continue to keep up to date with their COVID-19 vaccinations. It is safe and convenient to get both the COVID-19 vaccine and the flu vaccine at the same time.
Routine Maintenance: Essential Energy will carry out vegetation management in Forbes this month as part of its routine maintenance. Everything is being done to preserve the natural environment, however some management of trees and other vegetation is required to maintain a safe and reliable network. Directional pruning techniques are used that remove branches growing towards a powerline and encourage re-growth away from the power network. Download Essential Energy’s Tree Planting Guide at essentialenergy.com.au/trees for helpful tips on species for planting near powerlines or contact 13 23 91 for more information.
Wyangala Dam Update: Water Infrastructure is back in the field undertaking more geotechnical investigations. This current work is being undertaken from the crest of the dam wall and will help to inform the design development of the proposed Wyangala Dam Wall Raising project. Public pedestrian access to Wyangala Dam Wall will be closed from 2 – 27 May (inclusive).
Arts OutWest in Canowindra: Arts OutWest invites creatives and community members to join them for their annual regional gathering and AGM on Sunday, 5th June in Canowindra. The day starts with coffee at 11am at Perennialle Plants. Then visits to local galleries: David Isbester Gallery, Canowindra Arts Gallery and Melissa Barder Galleries and Café. A light lunch at The Old Vic Inn and the AGM at The Age of Fishes Museum. The day ends around 3:30pm at the Canowindra Historical Museum. The event is free but places are limited to 50 people. RSVP via Eventbrite or artsoutwest.org.au or call on 6338 4657.
Aboriginal Ancestors Reburied In Wellington: The remains of four Aboriginal ancestors have finally been laid to rest in a traditional ceremony after being returned to the Wellington Aboriginal community at the Wellington caves. The burial ceremony last week completed the repatriation process for 13 Aboriginal ancestral remains that were taken from the area from the late 1800s to the 1970s. Local community members conducted a cultural ceremony for the remains after they were repatriated from the Australian Museum. The repatriation process was led by Heritage NSW, in line with the wishes of the Wellington Aboriginal community. Local elder Uncle Barry Smith welcomed the repatriation saying: “This is the greatest thing that’s ever happened to Wellington.”
Secret Translocation To Save Trees: A species of Gondwana era tree is being translocated for the first time, with 20 seedlings being planted across four secret sites in a NSW Government initiative to save the species. The endangered Nightcap Oak tree is only found in one region and was severely affected by the 2019/2020 bushfires. The plight of the Nightcap Oak tree is similar to that of the Wollemi Pine, but it’s the lesser known of the two. This species was only discovered in the year 2000, but its origins can be traced back 40 million years to the Gondwana era. The population of Nightcap Oaks north-east of Lismore is the only known population in the wild, and during the recent bushfires, about 20% of the existing trees were destroyed or impacted. More than 500 seeds were able to be collected for propagation in a specialist nursery, but they’re notoriously difficult and slow to grow. Fifty seedlings have been successfully grown of which 20 will be translocated to four secret sites.
Pick up a yellow ribbon vehicle sticker and/or lapel ribbon for free from Forbes Shire Council’s administration office for National Road Safety Week starting on Sunday.
How long have you lived in or around Forbes and what do you like about living here? I’ve lived in Forbes since 2016. I like that our community looks out for one another. I love living by the river and the beautiful natural environment.
Where do you work and what do you enjoy most about where you work? I work for the Forbes Arts Society. I enjoying working with a passionate group of volunteers who are dedicated to generating opportunities for locals and visitors to create, share and experience art and culture. We are currently working on a number of really exciting projects including building a new art gallery at 110 Lachlan Street (old ambulance station), the Sculpture Down the Lachlan trail expansion, and the Gum Swamp redevelopment project.
What do you do to unwind on weekends? Spend time with friends and family.
What are you really good at? I am good at finishing everything I start.
What makes you laugh the most? My husband and my seven-month-old son are quite entertaining.
What’s on your bucket list? Seeing more of Australia.
Tell us an interesting fact about yourself….I wanted to be an artist when I was little, so I guess I’ve come full circle working for the Forbes Arts Society.
If money was no object, what would you do with your time? Renovate our home and go on more travel adventures with my family.
What was your first job? I worked at a pharmacy during high school.
Robyn Miller busy making scones at the Royal Easter Show. Karen Wright irons the many CWA aprons for volunteers working in the tea rooms.
Two Forbes CWA members worked at the ever-popular Tea Rooms at the Royal Easter Show this year for their fourth time after a COVID break of two years.
It is a major fundraising activity for the CWA, and after two years of no show, the CWA members were excited to be baking scones and selling produce again.
Forbes CWA Evening Branch President Robyn Miller and Vice-President Karen Wright worked the morning shifts on Saturday, 9th April and Sunday, 10th April.
“It was terrific to be able to get back to the show for a milestone year as the Royal Easter Show celebrated their 200th anniversary and CWA its 100th,” said Karen. Robyn said: “Our jobs in the tea rooms this year included ironing the CWA aprons worn by each volunteer (about 60 members per day are needed to staff the Tea Rooms), packing items into the inaugural CWA show bags, cutting of scones and putting them onto oven trays for baking and working on the promotions table selling raffle tickets, merchandise and homemade goodies.”
“The shifts each day were only four and a half hours long but were ‘jam packed’ as the Tea Rooms are so popular with show goers,” said Robyn.
“There were often long lines of people patiently waiting for the next hot fresh batch of scones to come out of the oven,” said Karen.
They were both were very excited and privileged to attend the official opening of the show by Princess Anne. “This was full of pomp and ceremony with her arriving in a horse drawn carriage, having groups of the defence forces marching and a flyover by the Air Force Roulettes,” said Karen.
Support the local CWA’s Open Garden at Helen and Kingsley Green’s property Booklyn on Victory Rd on Saturday, 21st May from 2-4pm. Entry is $10 including afternoon tea.
By Sue Cunningham