Roxane Manley

Mayoral Notes

February 15, 2024 by Roxane Manley

In collaboration with Parkes and Lachlan Shire Mayors, Neil Westcott and Paul Phillips, I am proud to say Rex Airlines has recently announced changes to their regional flight network, which will come into effect at the beginning of April. The airline has been under continued pressure due to supply chain issues and staff

shortages brought on by COVID-19.

The network changes will see a new flight schedule for services coming in and out of Parkes Airport, with two return services each weekday. These flights will depart from Parkes in the morning and middle of the day and depart Sydney in the middle of the day and evening.

Rex Airlines has been servicing the region since the commencement of the airline and we are very appreciative of their continued support as it is so important to our residents.

Isn’t the former Pitt Stop site looking fresh and enticing now that the turf and gardens are in? The temporary fencing will be coming down very soon; with the grass growing nicely it won’t be long before everyone can enjoy this bright new space. The new seating is being built as we speak and will be installed over the next couple of weeks.

You may also have noticed the new sculpture which has taken up residence in this space. Waiting for Rain was created by Jimmy Rix in 2019 and went on display at the Sculptures by the Sea exhibition in Bondi where Jimmy won the Waverley Council’s Mayor Award for the piece.

Waverley Mayor, Paula Masselos, described the piece as “an uplifting depiction of the strength of the Australian bush against the backdrop of a land ravaged by drought.” I am so happy to see yet another beautiful art piece placed on display – what wonderful work is undertaken by the Forbes Arts Society for the

Somewhere Down the Lachlan Sculpture Trail!

Our Welcome to Forbes event took place on Thursday 15 February at the Forbes Inn and I am glad to announce that it was once again a wonderful success. It would have to be one of my favourite events as it really brings our community together and makes newcomers feel so welcome.

This event takes place twice a year, so keep your eye out for the next one and make sure you join in on the festivities.

Until next week, God bless
Phyllis Miller, OAM – Forbes Mayor

Snippets

February 15, 2024 by Roxane Manley

All have a connection to Bogan Gate. Don McKeowen, Robert McIntyre, John Caldbeck, Daniel McKeowen, Gabriel Rossi, Stephen Butler, Janelle Watts, Ros Caldbeck, Lynne Rossi, Jenny Butler, Marion McIntyre, Lyn Watts

Bogan Gate Reunion 71 Years

On 1st Sunday in February we met in the Botanical Gardens in Sydney.

We have been meeting for 71 years. This Reunion was started by 3 Ex Residents Sandy McKeowen, Jack McKeowen and Ted Naughton in 1953. We had a good turn out this year.

Parkes Shire Libraries

Bookings are open now for the first Youth Library Lock In of 2024! Youth in year 7-12, it’s time to wave goodbye to the long hot summer! Join in free games, dinner and fun challenges in the air conditioned comfort of the Library. Book now at events.humanitix.com/feb24youthlockin

Forbes Rugby Union Club

MERCH STORE NOW OPEN https://au.paladin.sport/collections/forbes-rufc

Pre-orders are now open for off field kit for players and supporters. The shop will close on the 11th of March and orders will arrive 6-8 weeks after this. Get in quick to avoid missing out!

Parkes Shire Council

Parkes Shire Council is calling on not-for-profit organisations and groups serving the Parkes Shire community to apply for funding in Round 2 of the 2023/2024 Community Financial Assistance Program. The two types of funding available include:

Leasing and Licencing – Funding to reduce leasing and licensing fees on Council owned properties.

General – A ‘helping hand’ through the provision of funds for a specific purpose or event up to an amount of $1,000.

Applications will close Sunday 10 March 2024. To find out more visit: bit.ly/ParkesShireGrants

Forbes Veterinary Clinic

Due to high demand of veterinary care and staffing shortages, we will now be charging a $75 fee for walk-ins effective immediately.

This is to ensure that the people who make an appointment get seen in a timely manner and will help encourage our non-emergent cases to make an appointment.

Genuine emergencies are also strongly encouraged to call ahead so our team can be prepared for your arrival and be able to care for your pet as fast as possible. Taking care of our clients and staff is of the utmost importance. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

If you have any additional questions, please call our clinic and ask to speak to Elle.

PCYC Parkes

Join us for the PCYC Parkes Safer Driver Course on March the 15th.

Equip your child with life-saving tools and add 20 hours to their log book. Plus, we’ll provide afternoon tea and water bottles for all attendees.

What’s more, your contribution to the course goes towards supporting our local community.

Reserve your spot now: pcycdrivereducation.org.au/book-a-course

Michael McCormack MP

Met with fruit and vegetable industry representatives to discuss the impact Labor’s changes to the PALM Scheme are having on our horticulture industry.

It is clear these changes are hurting productivity, affecting farmers and disincentivising the use of PALM Scheme workers, weakening our ties in the Pacific.

The Government must listen to those on the ground who know this industry back-to-front to make sure the concerns of farmers in regional Australia are satisfied.

Michael McCormack Mp met with industry representatives.

A Special Plea For Executive

February 15, 2024 by Roxane Manley

A beautiful trumpet tree adorns 111 Flint Street garden; a magnolia tree in bloom; Crepe Myrtle at 4 Grenfell Street.

Our Forbes Garden Club has been active for 70 years with Open Gardens giving members, friends and visitors so much pleasure and raising much needed funds for various charities in need. October 2023 Open Gardens raised almost $6000 for the garden owners chosen charities.

A very big thank you goes to members and non-members who have opened their gardens to host a meeting thereby inspiring others.

Sadly this is all going to come to a close shortly if some other members don’t step up to the plate to take on the Executive positions being vacated. Many of the Executive have served in these positions and worked tirelessly for a very long time and it is time now to close that era, move on and have time for themselves.

I am asking , step up, share a position if needs be just to keep the Club afloat. I know from many conversations of late that there are many who do so enjoy the monthly outing, listening to the varied speakers, gathering hints for the garden , enjoying a cuppa and in particular socialising.

To my mind it will be sad to see a closure on something that is so worthwhile with so many charities benefiting to the tune of thousands of dollars over the years.

Our Annual General meeting is scheduled for February 22nd , 2pm at the Forbes Mens shed. Please bring a mug and Flower of the month.

All suggestions are greatly appreciated. See you there. Happy Gardening.

Elvy Quirk/President

Funding For Dry Times

February 15, 2024 by Roxane Manley

The Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal or FRRR is encouraging community organisations in agriculture-dependent parts of Australia to apply for the latest round of Small Network Grants for initiatives that build community preparedness and resilience to future drought. $20,000 and $50,000 grants to strengthen networks and capabilities.

The Small Network Grants program is supported by the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund through the Helping Regional Communities Prepare for Drought Initiative.

Grants are available through two Streams of funding for simple, one-off, or seed-type initiatives designed to strengthen local networks and capabilities of remote, rural or regional communities.

Nina O’Brien, FRRR’s Disaster Resilience and Recovery Lead, said preparing for the inevitable dry times ahead is critical for Australia.

“Our Small Network Grants program empowers local organisations to strengthen the social fabric of their town or locality by identifying and acting on their region’s drought preparedness priorities, at a grassroots level, in ways that best suit their communities.

“We look forward to seeing projects that will help community groups be better connected, informed, and resourced in the next drought,” Ms O’Brien said.

The Small Network Grants program can fund projects that fit into one of these five categories: Networks, Community Events, Training, Community Infrastructure, Development and Learning. Applications are open now, closing 26 March https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdeVdcjSwro

Forbes Netball News

February 9, 2024 by Roxane Manley

Hope everyone had a great break over the Christmas New Year period and school holidays.

It’s time to get your joggers out and get ready for another jam packed year of fun, exercise and lots of netball for all ages.

First of all. Congratulations to Gundamain Mixed and Ladies teams who took out the Finals of the Spring competitions.

The Ladies competition was played between Gundamain and Chunky Pies.

Unfortunately, Chunkies were a bit short of players, with harvest and work commitments taking out a number of their team.

Although Chunkies were under strength, all players kept the pressure on the Gundamain ladies.

Gundamain took the lead in the first quarter, and never looked back, with a full team effort, and Madeline Swan awarded Best & Fairest player for her team.

Best and Fairest for Chunky Pies was awarded to Steph Johnston.

Final score 47-13 to Gundamain.

The Mixed Final was also a dominate result for the Gundamain team, who played Swoop There It Is.

This was Swoop’s first appearance in a Final, and all players worked extremely hard against the experience of the Gundamain team.

Both teams were positioned to play in the Final in 2022, but floods got in the way, and games had to be abandoned.

So a fitting result that both these teams were again in the 2023 Spring Final, with all players obviously enjoying their Final game.

Best and Fairest for Gundamain was awarded to Shannon Nash, Charlie Goodsell and Alice Lind.

Best and Fairest for Swoop was awarded to Toby Hurford, Brodie Acret and Janssen Mores.

Final score 36-15 to Gundamain.

The Spring Competition also had the season Best and Fairest Awards.

These awards are judged by the umpires each week, and added for the full competition.

Congratulations to Nikky Anderson (Chunky Pies) and Jessie Tyack (Shooting Stars), who were awarded the Ladies Best and Fairest awards.

Congratulations to Kaze Read (Bridies) who was awarded the Mixed Best and Fairest award.

Registrations

Registrations are now open on PlayHQ for everyone ready for the Autumn Mixed and Ladies competitions.

This year, all non-players are not charged to register on PlayHQ.

Representative News

Netball NSW Regional League is going to be played over a full weekend on March 23/24 in Orange.

There is still room for more players to join the open team.

Enquiries can be sent to the secretary email secretary.forbesnetball@gmail.com and coach email tnrkenny@exemail.com.au or phone 0407235326

Dates to remember-coming up.

– The Primary Schools Gala Day will be held on Wednesday February 28.

This day is a fun day for all the primary schools in Forbes and district to play together, allowing for all the new players to try netball for the first time.

Volunteers will be needed on the day from anyone who would like to help with umpiring/coaching duties.

Please email tnkenny@exemail.com.au if you are available for the morning, or just even one hour of volunteering would be very much appreciated, to help make the morning a success.

– Netball NSW Schools Cup will be held on Monday March 4, for all primary and secondary school teams.

This competition is being held in Forbes for 2024, and all schools are encouraged to enter the fun day.

There are boys and girls divisions, in competitive and non-competitive divisions.

Help will be needed from anyone who would like to umpire, as each team must have an umpire.

If you can help, please contact your school or association on 0407235326 to register your interest.

Schools have contact details from Brooke Berg NNSW West/Central West Regional Manager.

Golf Scores Match The Weather

February 8, 2024 by Short Putt

Steve Uphill follows through on his tee shot.

Last Saturday the Mens competition was the February Monthly Medal, sponsored by Terry bros Carpets. The field of 77 played in sunny and hot conditions, which was reflected in the hot scoring.

A-Grade was won by Todd Callaghan with 65 nett. A par front-9 was matched by a string of 4’s on the back to give him a 1-over scratch score. Runner-up was Marcus Inder with 67 nett. This was a follow up result from his win last month. He fired on the front-9 but had a couple of double-bogeys on the back-9.

B-Grade was won by Terry Griffiths with 68 nett, on count back from Brendan

Hayes. Both played well, with some minor hiccups, but it was Terry’s par on the last that proved the difference.

The C-Grade went to Bruce Chandler with a 65 nett. He was steady on both halves, with only one double-bogey on the card. The Runner-up was Nick Morrison with 69 who dropped a few on the back-9.

The NTP’s were: 9 th – Bob Borger; 18 th – Doug Churchill. The Pro Shop Super-pin, on the 3 rd green, went to Les Little with a shot to 305 cms. The ball sweep went to 73 nett on c/b. Check in the Pro Shop if you are keen to find out.

Brief results for the Stableford Medley comps held through the break are: 24 Dec: Div 1 – D Earl (40 pts), T Morgan (39); Div 2 – P Grayson (36), M Simmonds (36).

30 Dec; Div 1 – L Grierson (40 pts), J Dobell (38); Div 2 – J Wright (38), F Hanns (36).

Contributed by Short Putt.

Snippets

February 8, 2024 by Roxane Manley

Woodbine Pastoral of Parkes had a very successful sale with a pen of heavy 1st X shorn lambs fetching $208.

AWN Parkes

Tuesday 7th Feb sheep and lamb market saw most of the usual buyers present and competing. A larger yarding of 28,000 was recorded with mixed quality presented. In comparison to last weeks sale trade weight lambs eased slightly alongside heavy lambs and extra heavies held firm. The mutton job held firm with the light mutton job showing strong competition once again .

For full details contact one of our experienced livestock agents.

Cooper Byrnes: 0427 417 480

Greg Miller: 0448 433 317

Clint Hooper: 0456 797 307

Visit Eugowra

See you in Eugowra at our beautiful showground for the Tom Curtain & Katherine Outback Experience show from 4pm – 6pm this Sunday 11th Feb.

Bar and BBQ will be available.

Make sure you’ve got your tickets!

https://events.humanitix.com/tom-curtain-tour…/tickets

Georgie’s Hub – Anglican Parish of Parkes partnering with Anglicare

Our first Meeting for 2024.

We are trialling new hours at the Pantry until Easter due to the hot weather & customer demand – 9.30am – 1pm

Georgies Pantry is an invaluable asset to Parkes providing fresh food & fresh produce to in excess of 200+ people per week. The demand is growing larger due to the economy of rising food prices & high costs of living pressures contribute to higher demand. For your generous donation of $25, you receive a good supply of foodstuffs. Our Pantry is self-sustaining as of 2023. See the poster on our page for days open & check the new times til Easter.

Local Land Services NSW

Following the floods last year, we responded to over 1,200 calls for assistance, animal welfare assessments, support for at-risk livestock and emergency fodder.

This, along with many of our on-ground activities, was made possible with the help of your rates. They contribute to helping us provide vital emergency management, biosecurity and animal health work.

Your rates play a crucial role in keeping your community safe and your land productive and healthy. Keep an eye out for your postie! Rates notices will be hitting mailboxes soon.

Find out more about where your rates go at www.lls.nsw.gov.au/rates

Visit Parkes Region

Put your hands up if you loved Sounds of the Decades: 70’s, 80’s and 90’s?

Take a moment to fill out our survey and share your thoughts via: bit.ly/4bvZKla

Keep your eyes peeled for photos and a highlight video showcasing the incredible talent on stage as well as the crowd livin’ it up and enjoying the night.

Forbes North Public School

Link Up To Forbes North begins in Week 3- Tuesday 13 February!

Link Up is a year-long transition program aimed at students beginning school at Forbes North Public School in 2025.

Your child is exposed to teaching and learning activities that prepare them for Kindergarten in a safe and caring environment.

If you are interested or would like to enrol your child, please pop into our Office or call on 68 522187. We can’t wait to see your child at Link Up at Forbes North.

We run two sessions every week, both Tuesday and Thursday mornings.

Be Seen – St Laurence’s

February 8, 2024 by Roxane Manley

It is with immense pride and excitement that we introduce the St Laurence’s Sports Captains and Vice Captains for the 2024 season.

They shoulder additional responsibilities, including mentorship, team coordination, and fostering a culture of collaboration.

These captains bring a spirit of responsibility and care .

Let’s rally behind our captains, recognising the weight of their responsibilities, and support them in making the 2024 year a fantastic experience .

Labor Too Slow To Act On Supermarkets: Report

February 8, 2024 by Roxane Manley

Leader of The Nationals David Littleproud pictured engaging with growers.

An inquiry into Price Gouging and Unfair Pricing Practices reinforces that the Federal Labor Government was too slow to act on supermarkets.

Leader of The Nationals David Littleproud said Professor Allan Fels’ recommendations, indicating supermarkets are taking advantage of shoppers, come after The Nationals called for the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) to be directed to investigate the clear evidence of meat and fresh produce price disparity between the farmgate and the checkout prices since November 2023.

The Nationals also offered the government support to introduce big stick legislation as early as December 2022.

The inquiry recommends Labor uses its powers to require the ACCC to conduct more price and market investigations, require the ACCC to undertake market studies and that the ACCC should have the power of its own to initiate price and market studies. Mr Littleproud said it was obvious for some time that an ACCC inquiry has been needed.

“The latest report into supermarket price gouging confirms what we already know government policy, or Labor, is not paying sufficient attention to high prices and it needs to,” Mr Littleproud said.

“Labor could have started the ACCC investigation before Christmas but didn’t understand the scale nor severity of their cost-of-living crisis.

“While Labor spent last year distracted on a $450 million failed Voice Referendum, price disparity between the farmgate and the supermarket checkout was allowed to escalate out of control.

“The Nationals wanted this investigation urgently before Christmas but Labor was simply too slow to take action and in fact said that the Grocery Code of Conduct Review was their solution, which took 100 days to appoint someone since its announcement. It’s unfortunate it took Labor so long to realise that these powers exist, after previously promising Australians that two other inquiries they announced would yield results.”

Rally On Renewables Rollout

February 8, 2024 by Roxane Manley

Leader of The Nationals David Littleproud is pictured with protestors.

Farmers from around Australia gathered outside Parliament House alongside small businesses and residents of impacted communities, to warn about the inevitable rising food and energy prices under Labor’s race towards renewables.

The National Rally Against Reckless Renewables is calling for the suspension of Labor’s plans to rip up agricultural land, which will destroy farming communities and reduce the supply of food.

Leader of The Nationals David Littleproud said regional Australia was being forced to bear the brunt of inner-city ideology “Labor is pursuing a reckless 82 per cent renewables target by 2030, which is driving up costs and threatening agricultural land, regional communities and native flora and fauna,” Mr Littleproud said.

“How much agricultural land is earmarked, where is it earmarked and when will the projects be forced onto local communities? We also need to know how much these projects will cost taxpayers and what are the protection rights of property owners?

“We have time to pause, to plan and to use common sense.

For Labor to meet its targets, 40 7-megawatt wind turbines will need to be installed every month until 2030, while 22,000 five hundred-watt panels need to be installed every day, or 60 million by 2030

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