The seventh Forbes Rugby Union Club President’s Lunch has yet again proven its immense growing popularity with a record number of 885 guests attending the event this year. The shindig was held last Saturday at the South Circle Oval under a marquee with 86 sold out tables.

The major annual fundraiser for the Club has become a popular social gathering, with people from as far as Sydney and throughout the Central West freeing up their calendar for the occasion.

“It has been the most successful and biggest function ever,” said Chris Sweeney, member of the organising committee.

Chris also remarked that one of the most outstanding features of the lunch was the behaviour of the huge crowd and the respect shown for each speech.

Author, poet and sports commentator, Mick Colliss was this year’s guest speaker and captivated the audience with his master storytelling. Whilst growing up, Mick desperately wanted to represent Australia.

He tried everything from rugby union to lawn balls, but wasn’t good enough at any of them. Then, when all hope seemed lost, he discovered Sudoku, and so finally got his chance to represent his country at the World Sudoku Championships.

Club President, Tracey Prior gave a very moving speech wherein she spoke of the success in winning the premiership and acknowledged everyone that contributed to the club.

Another significant moment was the launch of the Peter Murphy Foundation. The purpose of the foundation is to support people living in Forbes and the district that need a hand up. The Peter Murphy Foundation managed to raise an incredible $12,000 through donations on the day. Over $30,000 was raised through auction items.

As part of the auction a 2017 Forbes Rugby Premiership tie was auctioned for $1,700 of which the proceeds went to the Peter Murphy Foundation. Other items auctioned was a framed signed Forbes Rugby forty year anniversary jumper “The Best So Far” which was auctioned off for $4,500, a framed signed 2017 Wallabies jersey for $3,600, a Rosie Johnston painting “Kerry and Caviar” for $5,500, a gourmet dinner for 10 at award-winning Ester Restaurant and Bar for $7,500 and a gourmet dinner for 10 courtesy of Eat Your Greens Function Centre for $8,200.

“The function ran very well from the food that was catered by Eat Your Greens, to the bar service.”

“Not only can we put on a good party, we can also play really good footy,” said Chris.

By Gizell van Wyk

This Friday afternoon when most of us have finished work for the day and are perhaps feeling a bit drained from challenges possibly presented, Kerry Dunstan would have almost completed a 100km walk and that on his seventieth birthday!

Kerry’s milestone birthday was part of the inspiration for his ‘Seventy for 70 Thousand WALK’ fundraising initiative for the Can Assist Forbes branch, of which Kerry was the president for about 13 years and the Forbes Breast Cancer Support Group.

“Many of the Breast Cancer Support Group ladies were very good to my late wife Wendy, when she was sick. Sadly some of those same ladies are going through the same thing now,” said Kerry.

It all started when Kerry’s blood sugar levels were a bit high and he started walking to lower it. “While I was walking around in circles, I thought I should be raising money while I’m doing this. Then I thought about the walk and my seventieth birthday coming up,” explained Kerry.

Kerry has eight other people walking beside him, each one with their own heart rendering story to share and one walker which he is particularly proud of, his son Michael. Ranging between mid 30’s to 72 years of age, the group started their journey from Condobolin on Thursday evening at 10pm and walked throughout the night and the whole of today. Their aim is to reach Forbes at 6pm just in time to get their breath back and celebrate Kerry’s 70th birthday.

Walking beside Kerry and Michael from Condobolin to Forbes is Ray Sanderson, Anita Morrison, Jimmy Carpenter, Mick Spry, Tracy Reid, Cameron Greenhalgh and Janet Norton-Knight.

Kerry’s walk has been meticulously planned to take him on a trip down memory lane. They started in Condobolin where Kerry was born. Thereafter, it was Moonbi, where Kerry played a lot of cricket and tennis. Then Warroo, where he went to school and had a family farm. Next up Jemalong, where Wendy went to school and also had a family farm. Lastly it will be Forbes, where the couple eventually settled and their children finished school.

“I’m re-living my life from birth to seventy in this walk. That’s what it’s all about and also the $70,000 that I hope to raise by doing it.” A celebration event will await Kerry and the walkers upon their return at Victoria Park, where there will be a few speeches and the ‘Pink Pig’. The ‘Pink Pig’ was made out of scrap metal as a money box for people wanting to donate to the cause. Then they will be heading over the road to the Vanden berg Hotel, where the celebrations will continue.

The entire community is invited to welcome Kerry and the walkers back at Victoria Park and to be part of the birthday celebrations. To help make Kerry’s 70th birthday more memorable, you can make a donation. For further information contact Kerry on 0428 116 586, Murray Field 0409 892 725, John Schrader 0404 155 247 or Lee Marsh 0414 682 754.

By Gizell van Wyk

The Red Bend Catholic College cattle team will be representing their school at the Sydney Royal Easter Show on Friday, 23rd March at the Sydney Olympic Park. The team of 10 students will be attending the Sydney Royal, one of the most prominent and prestigious cattle shows in Australia, for a week and have been preparing their steers for the show since last year. It will be the 15th Sydney Show that the school attends.

With just over two weeks to go, Cattle Team Coordinator Susan Earl said the students continue to handle, groom and wash the animals in the lead up to the show where they will be presenting steers for the Hoof and Hook competition.

The students feed the animals, keep the water troughs clean and perform other jobs during most lunches, after school and sometimes even during sport time. “They have also been teaching them how to walk around the ring and how to stand with their feet. A cattle cane is used to help the steer stand square to enable the judge to see the animal from the side, back and front.

“What we are producing is the best steer that has the most amount of meat on it withthe right amount of fat in the right places,” Susan said. According to the Royal Agricultural Society (RAS) of NSW, up to 30 breeds of Beef cattle will compete in the Sydney Royal Cattle
Show, with up to 1,200 nominations.

“Sydney Royal Competitions set the benchmark for agricultural excellence that underpins Australia’s agricultural performance
ensuring a viable and prosperous future for our rural communities. “For Sydney Royal competitors, a win is testament of achievement at the highest level,” the RAS website states.

“It is recognition of dedication, ability, uncompromising diligence and sheer hard work.”

Last year the Red Bend cattle team had one of their biggest years when they took home two gold medals, two silvers and a bronze and were named Reserve Champion Heavyweight Carcass. Susan believes the students benefit from the agricultural activity in many ways.
“They get the opportunity to experience a bigger world out there. “I’ve been doing it for a long time and just love it! Not only is it a pretty special competition to be a part of but it also gives the students a chance to learn more about the cattle industry and to see Sydney.”

By Gizell van Wyk

 

When Marg Stirling of Forbes started frequenting the gym as part of a rehab program for her back and knees, the thought never crossed her mind that she would be so inspired to help women diagnosed with breast cancer that she would shave off all her hair.

During Marg’s physio treatments she became aware of a group of ladies also visiting the gym that were there for breast cancer exercises. She already knew quite a few of them and got to know some of the others during this time.

“Once I got involved with the ladies after seeing them as well as hearing of the others, I thought it would be nice to do something to give back to them and others that might go through the same thing.”

In that came her motivation to raise funds for women living in Forbes and surrounding areas that are going through breast cancer and who are in the care of Lachlan Health Services McGrath Breast Care Nurse, Dianne Green.

The intention of raising money is to buy material headwear (which can be quite expensive) and stock, replace and maintain wigs at the local Wig Library, run by Janice Cassidy of Cassidy’s Hair Salon in Parkes.

Dianne explains that when women go through chemotherapy, losing their hair is one of the most daunting realities. “Looking in the mirror and realising that it’s not the person down the road with breast cancer, ‘I’ve got breast cancer’, can be overwhelming. For these women being able to wear a wig or headwear is crucial.”

The Wig Library services all people living around the Central West that is losing their hair because of cancer treatment. “People come to us to find a wig that suits them.

We style it to suit their face and we also shampoo wigs that are worn very often. It’s all free of charge and they can have the wig as long as they need it,” said Janice. “It gives the majority of people more confidence. If you look good, you feel better and it also protects their tender scalp from the sun.”

Marg will be hosting her first fundraising event at the Forbes Inn on Sunday, 8th April. To purchase tickets for the event or to donate to her cause contact Marg on 0412 023 043.

 

On Saturday, 16th June at the Forbes Rugby Union Club, Marg will finally be shaving her hair, which she will then donate to make a wig from.

By Gizell van Wyk

 

Forbes Showgirl Grace Allen and Eugowra Showgirl Caitlin Herbert were selected to represent our zone at the state finals of the Land Royal Showgirl competition in Sydney at the Easter Show on Sunday, 25th March.

The two girls were selected from 17 entrants at the Zone 6 Regional Showgirl Finals held in Blayney on Saturday.

The entrants were interviewed by three judges in the morning and attended a lunch with all the other entrants and judges. Finally, a formal presentation dinner was held in the evening which completed the judging process. All the girls were interviewed on stage in front of attendees and the judges. At the conclusion of the evening, the three finalists were announced.

The Showgirls were judged on rural knowledge, presentation and speech, personality, general knowledge, confidence and ambition and life goals. Knowledge of their local community and current affairs and their involvement in and experience of rural affairs were taken into account.

Grace is a registered nurse completing her studies at Sydney University. She is now employed in the emergency department at the Orange Health Service.

Caitlin is a oral health therapist and runs a dental education program providing presentations to rural schools.

According to an excerpt from the Rules and Regulations of Showgirl Competitions, “The aim is to find a person most suited to represent young rural women of NSW. She should be able to converse intelligently about Australia in general and in particular her own district.”

The missing 110km/h link on the Newell Highway has been completed and was officially opened by the Roads, Maritime and Freight Minister last week.

The $36 million upgrade at Trewilga (just north of Alectown) means the speed limit on the Newell Highway will be 110km/h all the way from Forbes to Gilgandra.

Minister Melinda Pavey said the roads budget in the Central West had tripled since 2011. The work at Trewilga involved the widening and realigning of 6.5km to improve safety. In addition a 1.3km northbound overtaking lane was built, as well as a bus turning area at Baldry-Peak Hill Road and a truck parking area on the eastern side of the highway.

The Minister mentioned the importance of the addition of the centre space in the middle of the road to give motorists extra time for correction.

A special guest at the event was 90-yearold Laurie Narris who grew up in Trewilga and remembers when the Newell Highway was first built in 1935.

“I was seven years old and used to ride five miles to school on my bike opening seven gates along the way.” He clearly remembers how he saw a steam engine for the very first time working on the road, as well as the two teams of ten horses each driven by a man helping to build the road.

“We all laughed when our teacher said there would come a day when it would be a job trying to cross the highway…”

By Maggi Barnard

Christmas is a wonderful time of year to gather as a family and to give to those in need. That is exactly what the Toole family did.

Neil and Jenelle Toole along with their three teenage boys, Nicholas, Cameron and Harrison travelled to Kenya last year for Christmas.

Throughout their lives, Neil and Jenelle had always been involved with multiple volunteer organisations including sponsoring children in Africa.

“After travelling to Africa 20 years ago and loving it, we had always planned on returning and knew we wanted to volunteer as a family. So the next challenge was to find an appropriate project and volunteer organisation,” said Jenelle.

After some research Neil and Jenelle decided on a not for profit, non-government organisation called Marafiki (which in Swahili means ‘many friends’). Marafiki is based and operates in Kenya and drives projects for orphanages, health clinics, drug rehabilitation centres, schools and so forth.

“Our motivation for volunteering was twofold. Firstly, to be able to give back. Australiareally is ‘the lucky country’ with excellent education, stability, access to support, healthcare, services and opportunity. Our second motivation was to expose our teenage boys to how life is in a developing country. Including to impress on them how important it is to always extend a hand, no matter how small, to those less fortunate and not to take anything for granted.”

During the three weeks of volunteering, the family spent their time doing food drop offs at Rumuruti Village and assisting at an orphanage. However, the majority of their time was spent at a primary school in the village of Ripoi.

The Toole family provided 80 chairs and 20 desks, which they constructed, painted and repaired. They also supplied all curriculum requirements, educational posters and supplies such as chalk, rulers, books, pencils, pens, etc. for the whole school.

They were able to provide the Maasai kids with toothbrushes and toothpaste and treated a range of minor wounds and infections. Harrison gave some basic music lessons with 30 recorders.

“Harrison celebrated his 13th birthday at Ripoi, which was an experience for all. The Maasai don’t celebrate birthdays. So sorry Harry, no presents!

“We were also fortunate to celebrate Christmas and New Year at Ripoi. As life is very hard for these people, extravagances such as decorations, presents and timeoff are luxuries they can’t afford. However, they are happy and genuine people that celebrate the life and freedoms they do have in being with each other, talking and telling stories.”

The village itself was very remote, which meant no electricity, running water or tarred road within 200km. For the duration of their stay, the Toole’s lived in a hut constructed from sticks covered in cow manure and mud with sticks for a door.

“It didn’t smell at all and there wasn’t a fly in sight. The door’s construction raised some questions though when the hyenas and lions walked past in the night.

“On behalf of those at Ripoi, thank you to all those individuals and organisations who donated supplies or money towards this project. All donations went directly to equipment.”

By Gizell van Wyk

The Queen’s baton was warmly welcomed in Forbes on Monday, marking 35 days since arriving in Australia and its epic journey to arrive at the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast in April 2018.

Mixing things up from traditional relay mode, the baton travelled by unique modes of transport in Forbes.

Of 40 countries, Forbes was the only place that had the Queen’s baton set off on a dragon boat. It glided down Lake Forbes with baton bearer Wendy Green on board.

The unique modes of transport continued with Ethan Markwort holding the baton whilst doing a skateboard demonstration at the Forbes Skate Park.

Australian Commonwealth Games sporting royalty Phil Adams OAM, who shares the record for the most medals collected by an athlete at the Commonwealth Games with 18 medals, was one of the 14 people nominated to carry the baton in Forbes.

Lauren Neilsen from Forbes, also carried the Queen’s baton in Parkes.

By pressing his handprint into a dedicated footpath, Forbes-born musician Nev Molloy will seal his legacy as one of the most influential music artists at the Tamworth Country Music Festival. He will be inducted into the Australian Country Music Hall of Fame and Hands of Fame Park this Saturday.

“I had my first band in Forbes at about 16 years of age. The band line-up in those days was my younger brother Bill on rhythm and vocals, Greg Cook on bass, Glenn Bentic on drums and I played lead guitar. We made the princely sum of $6 a night,” said Nev.

Today, to list the people Nev hasn’t appeared, played or toured with would be easier than listing the ones he has. Over the years Nev has been involved with most of Australia’s greats.

In the early eighties, Nev went to Tamworth and did his first show with Slim Newton, and appeared with Barry Thornton on Barry’s shows at the Oasis. He was also house guitarist for Rick (Ford) Aitchison’s Cavelcade of country, backing almost every artist that appeared.

Nev spent a lot of time on the road with music over the years. He toured Queensland with Buddy Thompson and Lyne Bennett and toured with the Brian Letton show for about 23 years on and off, to date.

He also had his own recording studio in Broken Hill, recording many award winning albums for other artists.

By Gizell van Wyk

Forbes’ first ever Amazing Elvis Breakfast held on Saturday marks a series of very successful firsts for the event.

There was a fantastic Elvis buzz around Forbes when around 300 people attended and enjoyed breakfast at the very long red checked tables in Templar Street. While indulging in Elvis pancakes, rocking rolls and coffee, visitors and locals also enjoyed listening to Elvis artist Anthony Pertrucci from Melbourne.

There was plenty of praise for Anthony who was later announced the 2018 Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist at the Parkes Elvis Festival.

Anthony said the Amazing Elvis Breakfast in Forbes was a fantastic experience and he loved singing and performing live.

Anthony will now go on to Memphis in August to compete at the next level of the competition during the Elvis Week.

As well as live entertainment and impromptu dancing in the street, there was a quiz, sharing fun details and facts about Forbes and Elvis.

Mayor Graeme Miller said the breakfast was highly successful and it was a privilege to welcome so many visitors to our town to enjoy the breakfast and shopping event. “Forbes Shire Council staff are to be congratulated for organising the morning.

Thank you also to the many local businesses who supported the event,” said Graeme. “I can’t wait to see what we have next year. It will only be bigger and better,” he added.

Following the breakfast, a shuttle bus transported visitors to the Elvis Festival.