Parkes Phoenix Editor

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

Big drives and accuracy win it for mother-daughter team

July 16, 2015 by Maggi Barnard

On Tuesday 7 July we had the first round of play for the Billabong 4BBB match play, when Barbara Drabsch and I went up against the mother-daughter team of Enid Baker and Julie Hurkett. Barb and I thought we might be able to make a game of it but knew that, with the big drives of Julie and the accuracy of Enid around the greens, we would really have to be at our best.

We can only say that we tried our best but on the day the mother-daughter team were too good, winning 6 and 5. Great game ladies, congratulations and all the best for your following rounds.

The event on Wednesday 8 July was a stableford sponsored by Margaret Bentick and Deborah Dingwall. Division 1 winner was Fran Smith with a very good score of 41. Runner-up was Ev Uphill with a 40. Division 2 winner was Fae Grogan with another great score of 40. Runner-up was Doreen Barnes with a 39. Congratulations to all. There were some very hot scores, and some may lose a stroke off their handicaps.

Nearest the pin on the 9th was Kerry Stirling and on the 18th Fran Smith. Ball sweep went to 38 on a countback —
Fran Smith, Fae Grogan, Ev Uphill, Doreen Barnes and Helen Duff. We also played the Western Districts Spoon
Qualifying Round. Division 1 winners were Fran Smith (41), Heather Davidson (36). Division 2 winners were Ev Uphill (40), Fae Grogan (40). Division 3 winners were Helen Duff (38), Julie Woods (38). Saturday’s results can be seen in the men’s notes as this was a four-ball aggregate stableford medley.

I would like to say thank you to Shirley Redfern, who was playing her first 18 holes in a long time. She played with me in this event, and we enjoyed the golf and our playing partners, but I must alert everyone it pays to read the whiteboard for changes of rules, as it is not very good if you happen to hit the ball better than you think you might and it lands near the very bright yellow cart. Is it Scotty? You might find that the ants have built a rather large nest on your ball.

Just a reminder to all still playing their matches for the Dot Cody match play that your fourth-round games are to be played by 26 July. Also, we have started the Billabong four-ball match play and your first round should be completed by 2 August.

Next Saturday is the 27-hole Ladies Foursomes Championships, sponsored by Forbes Auto Wreckers. Ladies, make sure you read the whiteboard on the pro-shop wall, as some rules have changed. I think this news will please most — there will be preferred lies through the greens. I thought I might remind some of you about some rules that often get forgotten, One that bobbed up on Wednesday is that if you play off the wrong tee marker, there is a two-stroke penalty and you must play your ball from the correct tee, not play three from where the ball lands. I hope that discussing these rules helps and I will try to introduce at least one rule each week.

Until next week, good golfing.
By Kerry Stirling

Rugby League

July 16, 2015 by Maggi Barnard

FORBES Magpies have continued their strong run in the Group 11 Rugby League competition with convincing wins on the road last Saturday in all three grades against Narromine.

The Firsts won 40-16, with second-rower Ben McGuire scoring three tries. The side remains in third place on the competition ladder, behind Parkes and Dubbo CYMS. The Reserves won 30-6, while the Under 18s toppled Narromine 48-8. Both teams remain on top of their respective ladders.

But there are some tough days ahead for the Magpies. Next weekend they’re at home against Cobar, who shouldn’t provide too many obstacles in any of the three grades. But after that there are road trips to Wellington and then to Dubbo to face Macquarie and those will be much tougher asks.

Rugby Union

July 16, 2015 by Maggi Barnard

The Forbes Platypi had a rough time against Orange City last weekend, with losses in all three divisions that they contest for the Blowes Clothing Cup in the Central Western Rugby Union competition.

The Firsts were defeated 31-5, the Seconds 33-10 and the Colts 32-14. The loss left the Firsts on 15 competition points well adrift of a chance of making the top five and a place in the finals.

The Colts, too, are out of the finals running, but the Reserves sit in sixth place on 28 competition points, just three away from that all-important fifth spot.

Next weekend it’s another tough road trip, this time to face the Bathurst Bulldogs.

Forbes Sheep Sale

July 16, 2015 by Maggi Barnard

Forbes Sheep Sale

Conducted 14/07/2015

Yarded 24272 including 20041 lambs. Quality of the lambs on offer was good with prime grades well supplied. With such a huge drop in numbers buyer competition was extreme and prices more than recovered last week’s drop in values. Light lambs were $3 to $5 better, trade weights lifted $6 to $8 and heavies $14 to $16. New season lambs increased to 4000 head and sold $7 to $10 dearer and merino lambs improved by $7 to $8 compared to last week’s sale:

Heavy new season lambs
$154.00 to $166.00

Trade weight new season lambs(20 to 22Kgs)
$128.00 to $152.00

Extra Heavy Lambs
$170.00 to $192.00

Lambs 23-26kgs
$150.00 to $169.00

Trade weight Lambs
$115.00 to $154.00

Store Lambs
$84.00 to $120.00

Heavy Merino Lambs
$00 to $140.00

Trade weight Merino Lambs
$102.00 to $138.00

Hoggets
$94.00 to $133.00

There were only 4231 grown sheep yarded and prices were mostly unchanged. However light sheep were just a little easier compared to last week’s sale:

Merino Wethers
$94.00 to $118.00

Merino Ewes
$82.00 to $128.00

XB Ewes
$96.00 to $134.00

Light Sheep
$36.00 to $70.00

Merino Rams
$.00 o to $70.00

The friendly eisteddfod draws the competitors to Forbes

July 9, 2015 by Maggi Barnard

eisteddfod

Kristin Barrass, vice-president of the Forbes Eisteddfod Committee, and Kristin Woods, the competition’s dance coordinator, certainly have something in common apart from first names. They’re both convinced that the event’s reputation as the “friendly eisteddfod” has much to do with it being able to attract more than 1500 entrants to its dance, music, speech and drama sections.

The contestants’ joy and the ease with which they’re approaching the dance section, which is currently on at the Forbes High School assembly hall, is testament to that. “Our eisteddfod is definitely seen as welcoming, comfortable, and great for building confidence and performance skills,” said Kristin Barrass. “That’s why we get so many first time competitors. They don’t feel as intimidated here as they do in some of larger, more formal eisteddfods.” And the entrants do come from far and wide — obviously many from Forbes itself, but also from Parkes, Eugowra, Grenfell, Orange, Bathurst, Leeton and Griffith, some indeed from as afar afield as southern Queensland.

“We’re all volunteers here,” said Kristin Woods. “Though we also get enormous support from the Forbes Shire Council and from sponsors such as the Northparkes Mine, the Forbes Services Club and McDonalds.” And both Kristins also have special words of praise and thanks for the guest adjudicators, Andrew Mortimer (Melbourne) and
Pamela Herring (Sydney).

9yo Tom Terrific Brings Home Two National Dirt-Track Titles

July 9, 2015 by Maggi Barnard

tom

Tom Drane might be just nine years old, but last weekend the keen member of Forbes Auto Sports Club carried away two national titles at the Australian Dirt Track Championships in Kempsey, winning the 65cc two-stroke class

and the 80cc modified-four-stroke class in the seven-to-nine-years division. Mum and Dad — Matt and Lisa Drane, who own MD Steel Fabrication in Forbes — were obviously proud of the achievement, but Tom was “absolutely over the moon” after a weekend that saw him win all 10 of his races and completely dominate his events.

“Even when he fell behind in a race, he just revved it up and fought his way back to the front,” said Matt. “There was just no stopping him.” Last year, Tom scored a second and third in the national titles, which were held in
Cowra, and earlier this year rode to first and second places in the state championships. Tom has been riding dirt bikes since he was four and started competing as soon as he reached seven and became eligible.

Also representing Forbes at Kempsey were Tom’s younger siblings, Georgia and Sam, and Beau Bailey. They all rode in the non-competitive demonstration classes but are keen as mustard to start competing as soon as they’re old enough.

Forbes leads the Central West with three tourism gongs

July 9, 2015 by Maggi Barnard

images

In an outstanding performance for a town of its size, Forbes has scored three nominations from a total of 51 in the final countdown for the 2015 Travel In NSW Inland Tourism Awards — Forbes’ Council’s Apex Riverside Caravan Park, the Council’s Forbes in the Heart of Country promotional campaign, and independently owned Girragirra Retreat. This placed Forbes ahead of much bigger Central NSW centres such as Bathurst, with one nomination, and Orange, with two.

The Council’s General Manager, Brian Steffan, was ecstatic about the achievement, especially the nomination of the Heart of Country campaign which is very much at the centre of the town’s tourism promotional activity. “It very much takes an integrated approach which combines a strong online presence with other things such as billboards, stationery and successful ideas from previous campaigns,” he said. “The central message encourages visitors to take some time out and embrace the rural agricultural experience.”

“And then, of course, the Apex Riverside Caravan Park starts with such a glorious location on the banks of the Lachlan as its principal natural asset, but also has such efficient and friendly hands-on management from Lance and Amanda Young.” Brian and Cr Grant Clifton, Chairman of the Council’s Tourism Committee, will travel to Broken Hill on July 25 for a gala award dinner at which the overall winners will be announced and regional tourism celebrated.

Seasonal Hair and Skin Care

July 9, 2015 by Maggi Barnard

At Hair with Style, they believe all their clients deserve the best. They are passionate about the most current styles to suit each client’s needs. Due to this passion for hair, Hair with Style owner Cindy Herbert was one of five hair stylists from across Australia to be invited by hair products company TIGI to be part of their global promotional video and travel to the United States for the TIGI World Release 2015. Over the past six months Hair with Style staff travelled across the country to achieve this goal.

Apprentice Blake Weekes was invited to work at this year’s Sydney Fashion Week, a huge honour for anyone working in the industry. The staff also attended numerous cutting, colouring and up styling courses throughout the year which allows them to give their clients the best styles and service available.

At Blush Organic Beauty, the new moto “your skin, your body, our passion” is a testimony to their philosophies of customer service and beauty practises. They are extremely passionate about reducing the chemical load on your skin and want to help everybody learn about the importance of chemical free products and reducing your chemical environment and in turn, the stress it takes on your body. “Research has shown that what we put on our skin, our hair and our bodies, the food we choose to eat, our toothpaste and many other products have a direct impact on our health and quality of life.” The staff at Blush will provide you with advice, guidance and quality treatments from knowledgeable beauty therapists using certified natural products for your skin and body, inside and out. They do a range of body and skin treatments as well as eye care, spray tans, make-up and hair removal. Call in and see Melissa or Bianca at Blush on Rankin Street today for advice on all your beauty needs.

Home Decor Heaven

July 9, 2015 by Maggi Barnard

Funky art prints, chic and stylish furniture, earthy candles and unique home décor so stunning you have to see it to believe it. Painted Daisies Gift Shoppe is the place to go in Forbes for that perfect present or unique knick-knack for your home. “I have put my own stamp on the business as you have to go with the trend and what the customers want so I keep the basic lines and a variety of other beautiful things in store to keep all my customers happy,” said
Janet from Painted Daises. Janet has recently gone into framing, an asset to the business as quality framing like this isn’t on offer anywhere else in Forbes. Janet offers custom made framing with plenty of different coloured mats to choose from. Janet does framing for any occasion and can offer any name in a frame. “We can do what you like with many different styles of framing for everybody.”

Staying Warm Doesn’t Mean Losing Your Style

July 9, 2015 by Maggi Barnard

The cold season is dragging its’ feet but that doesn’t mean that style has to fall by the wayside in favour of warm track-pants and bulky jackets. This year every colour is in season with fashionistas pulling out all the
stops and going for “brights” this winter. Textured pieces are all the rage right now with fur, wool, leather and prints becoming a more popular style. Long chunky cardigans are also in fashion for the chilly months with merino knits, scarves and big accessories all a part of the layering trends. Layering jewellery is also a popular fashion statement
in 2015.

Forbes has a wide range of fantastic fashion outlets where you can fulfill all your winter wardrobe desires. At Little Extras Lifestyle you will find everything you need to keep your look fresh and funky through winter. Leigh took over the store 3 years ago and has been a dedicated fashion retailer to the Forbes community ever since. “There was not much to change in the store but I have started to incorporate a few new brands and did a little restructuring as I like to keep things new and exciting,” said Leigh. “At Little Extras, we like to keep things affordable as our best interest is our customers. Customer service is my number 1 priority.” Little Extras have everything when it comes to fashion, including stylish footwear, jewellery, handbags and accessories in all the latest trends. When you walk into the store you will be greeted with a smile and a helping hand from the girls, which is what people in Forbes love about stopping in at Little Extras.

Get down to 1 Templar St to find something you love to add to your wardrobe. Ladybird Boutique is a one stop shop for all 3 generations ranging from teenager through to her grandmother, located at 61 Rankin Street stocking all the latest fashions for women. Ladybird is a country boutique with a 42 year business reputation. Here you will find beautiful items to finish off your winter wardrobe.

Parkes Phoenix Editor

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