A citizenship ceremony was held by the Forbes Shire Council last week for three new Aussies. Forbes Mayor Cr Phyllis Miller OAM welcomed Rohitha Patabendige, Kamani Nammuni and their daughter Vindi (7) to the community. The couple’s 15-month-old Australian-born daughter, Sindi was also at the ceremony. Member for Orange Phil Dona-to (left) and Member for Riverina Michael McCormack (right) were also at the ceremony with Forbes Shire Councillors.
Teachers at the Forbes Public School joined thousands of their colleagues in NSW on Wednesday to strike over pay and conditions. It was the second strike in six months by teachers.
The winner of the Forbes Phoenix Easter Colouring Competition 7 – 10 years is Lachie Dent. He was very excited about his prize.
Some call it a spider apocalypse. Many people have noticed a network of spiderwebs in their gardens over the past week as can be seen in Robyne Cowhan’s backyard. (Photo credit: Robyne Cowhan.)
Peter Giles, Project Manager & Sales, with his partner Nartayliah, who is the Director & Compliance Advisor of Giles
Land Development, and their two children Mila and River.
Old Pine Estate is a unique 105ha property located in the beautiful shallow rush area on the western limit of Parkes NSW that is being developed into a residential area for families looking for the beauty of country living. The locally owned and established subdivision is done by Giles Land Development and will comprise six lots of 1.3ha each and 23 lots of 4ha each.
Peter Giles, Project Manager, said the development was named ‘Old Pine’ after the original farm. The development is located adjacent to Moulden Street, Cookapie Street, Back Trundle Road and Gold Rush Road.
Peter said the large blocks were targeted at the family looking for the freedom and lifestyle of country living. “The joys of watching your kids grow up, riding horses or motorbikes, enjoying the outdoors or the older couple looking for a quiet community to retire into, with the added convenience of the town centre only minutes away.”
With the current shortage of property available across the Parkes region and the Central West, Peter and Nartayliah decided it was the perfect time to release this subdivision to the public. “There is currently no other affordable 4ha or 1,3 ha lots available in the area,” said Peter.
“We are very excited to present this affordable and desirable land to the Parkes community.”
All the blocks will have power, sealed road access, new fencing and estate style entryways. There will be no house design or style restrictions, but the standard council regulations for the R5 Zoning code will apply. The 1.3ha lots have town water and street lighting, and all the lots can have a bore installed.
Peter said the response had been great so far, and he and his family were also going to build and live on the estate.
To register your expression of interest and to receive an information brochure scan the QR code in the below image. For up-to-date news, like and share their Facebook page @gileslanddevelopment.
WONDERFUL HERITAGE… The winner of this year’s Forbes Heritage Medal was announced at a ceremony on Tuesday night and it went to the Forbes Historical Museum. At the event were (L-R) Deputy Mayor Chris Roylance, MC Cr Jenny Webb, Forbes Historical Museum representative Bruce Adams, Mayor Phyllis Miller, Cr Brian Mattiske and historical architect Graham Hall.
The Forbes Heritage Medal was awarded to the Forbes Historical Museum on Tuesday night in the newly renovated town hall.
Bruce Adams, who represented the Forbes Historical Museum, thanked the community for recognising the museum and its volunteers for their continuous hard work. “The Forbes Historical Museum continues to be one of the best volunteer run museums in NSW.”
Forbes Mayor Phyllis Miller said she was very proud of the local community. “I think it is important to remember the people and places every year so we do not lose sight of the wonderful heritage we do have in Forbes.”
The Forbes Heritage Medal has a long and proud history of recognising the people who are working hard to ensure the preservation of the town. The medal is presented to a person or organisation who has made an outstanding contribution to the community and its heritage.
The three nominees were presented by local heritage advisor and historical architect Graham Hall. The other two deserving nominations were for the Forbes Tennis club and the Forbes Bandstand Rotunda in Victoria Park.
Several guest speakers spoke at the occasion, including local MC Jenny Webb and Sheryl Barton from the Forbes Family Historical group.
The Heritage Festival, cancelled last week because of the rain, will continue tomorrow in Victoria Park. The day will include heritage displays, bush poetry, damper cooking display and competition, historical vehicles and more. Make it a family outing and be prepared to have your curiosity provoked.
By Brett Sale
A total of 250 cars worth less than $1,000 will take part in this year’s Shitbox Rally covering 3,600km and passing through Forbes tomorrow afternoon.
The Central West will see the 250 cars taking part in this year’s Shitbox Rally when the 500 participants will pass through Forbes tomorrow afternoon on their way to Trundle where they will overnight.
The teams of two will leave Wollongong on Saturday, 7th May in cars worth less than $1,000 (aka shitboxes) and travel 3,600km to cross the finish line seven days later in Mackay, Queensland. The rally is the largest independent fundraiser for the Cancer Council with over $30 million raised since the rallies began. The $2 million target for this rally is well in sight with current fundraising totals at over $1.7 million.
James Freeman who founded Box Rallies (Shitbox and Mystery Box Rally) after losing both of his parents to cancer within 12 months of each other said: “Shitbox Rally is not a race, but a reward for fundraising efforts. This is a chance to explore Australia, drawing teams from around the country to help achieve the extraordinary. This year will be another incredible rally starting for the first time in Wollongong and finishing in Mackay. As with all rallies though, the route will be on the roads less travelled as we make our way into the Outback.”
The impact of COVID in 2020 and 2021 has made it particularly difficult for teams to fundraise and Box Rallies has seen its expected fundraising total for the period cut by as much as $7.2 million. Rallies are the reward for raising vital funds for cancer research but when the reward is unable to take place, the fundraising slows considerably.
The rally cars are expected to go through Forbes from around 4pm and can be spread out over two to three hours. Arrival time in Trundle is from 5pm.
Judi Driscoll.
Forbes midwife Judi Driscoll has been announced as one of nine nominees for the Midwife of the Year Award by the Western NSW Local Health District (WNSWLHD).
Winners of the WNSWLHD Nurse, Midwife and Team of the Year Awards are nominated to represent the District in the NSW Excellence in Nursing and Midwifery Awards. The awards acknowledge the significant skill, passion, and contributions of nurses and midwives from across the District.
Judi is described as extremely caring and a deeply passionate midwife. Her team speaks very highly of Judi and thoroughly enjoy working with her. She goes above and beyond, not only for her patients but for colleagues as well.
People describe Judi as highly conscientious and diligent in her practice. Judi always follows policy and best practice methods. She provides an outstanding level of care, ensures patients are safe, and advocates for all patient needs.
Judi is the heart of the maternity unit. She is kind, and her calming nature centres the team during challenging and at times difficult cases, which truly makes her a delight to work with.
Congratulations to Judi on her nomination and good luck!
President CWA Oxley Group and Forbes CWA Evening Branch Robyn Miller with Governor of NSW Hon Margaret Bea-zley AC QC at the 100th anniversary morning tea of the NSW CWA.
It is a special year for NSW Country Women’s Association (CWA) celebrating its 100th anniversary.
A celebratory birthday morning tea was held at Government House in March and attended by President of CWA Oxley Group and Forbes CWA Evening Branch, Robyn Miller. She was invited by the Governor of NSW the Hon Margaret Beazley AC QC to join other dignitaries and representatives of the CWA from across the state for this momentous occasion.
“It was a beautiful event, and a perfect backdrop of a sparkling Sydney Harbour to celebrate our centenary,” said Robyn. “It was fantastic to catch up with other CWA members from across the state and discuss the history of the CWA in assisting in local communities and disaster relief fundraising.”
Robyn said she felt privileged to be representing not only Oxley CWA Group but also Forbes Evening Branch.” She also represented the Oxley Group and Forbes Evening Branch by volunteering at the Royal Easter Show Tea Rooms (with Karen Wright and Amanda Dunn) and attended the 100 Year Annual General Meeting and Conference held at Royal Randwick in Sydney last week.
There are other celebrations occurring across the state to celebrate 100 years of CWA and its work to support rural, regional and remote women, children, families and communities in NSW.
Little did the small group of women, who met in 1922 to do something about the plight of rural women isolated by distance and lack of services, know that one hundred years on members of their organisation would be celebrating a birthday at Government House.
The CWA was focused on fighting isolation and a lack of health facilities, members immediately started work on setting up baby health care centres, funding more bush nurses, and building and staffing the likes of maternity wards, hospitals, schools, rest homes, and holiday getaways for rural and remote families.
Wiradjuri Dreaming Centre received a $11,654 Stronger Communities grant to improve its outdoor space by laying down sand, the installation of turf, seating, a picnic table and new lawn mower. Member for Riverina Michael McCormack (second left) visited the centre last Thursday to make the announcement. He is with members of the centre and Aileen Allen (middle).
NEW ERA… Member for Riverina Michael McCormack (left) with Southern Cross Nutrients Operations Manager Ian Collier (right) and representatives of Southern Cross Nutrients Pty Ltd and Forbes Shire Council at the site of the new development in the industrial park in Forbes.
An organic fertiliser producer has received a $5 million Federal Government grant to become the first industry to set up business in the new industrial park in Forbes.
Southern Cross Nutrients Pty Ltd received the grant through the Securing Raw Materials Program, which is supporting businesses move to or expand into regional areas to research and develop innovative and locally sourced raw material supplies.
Southern Cross Nutrients will produce organic fertilisers for farmers from recycled natural nutrients at Forbes. The project will create 15 full-time and four part-time ongoing jobs and a further 25 jobs during two construction stages. It is expected production will start late this year.
Member for Riverina Michael McCormack welcomed the grant last Thursday in Forbes, saying it was another shot in the arm for the Forbes economy and an exciting development in the drive to make agriculture a $100 billion a year industry by 2030.
The Securing Raw Materials Program has a range of benefits, including establishing, securing and strengthening the supply of raw materials to Australian industry, and supporting partnerships between industry and regional universities. Michael said Southern Cross Nutrients Pty Ltd was collaborating with Southern Cross University at Lismore to use organic waste to produce quality compost.
Southern Cross Nutrients will use compost and microbes manufactured in Forbes to produce nutrient and microbe-rich fertiliser to improve soil health, water retention, pest resistance and support increases in crop yields.
More information on the Securing Raw Materials Program can be found at: https://business.gov.au/srmp2.
The 2021 Merino sheep judging winners are (L-R) first place Ben Hartwich (VIC), runner-up Campbell Rubie from Forbes (NSW), third place Sym Hood (TAS), and fourth place Will Hacker (QLD).
Campbell Rubie (18) from Forbes is the second best young judge in Australia after being named runner-up for 2021 in the prestigious Agricultural Shows Australia young judging championship. Campbell competed in the Merino Sheep judging category.
Ben Hartwich (22) from Bullygrogran (Ararat), Victoria and Patrick Davis (18) from Harden, New South Wales have taken out Australia’s top spot in the competition at the Sydney Royal Easter Show for 2021 and 2022 respectively.
Agricultural Shows Australia (ASA) staged the national championships of young judges and paraders competitions with finalists from each state of Australia and New Zealand.
Campbell have grown up on a family farm, which is a mixed farming enterprise, with the major focus on Merino and Poll Merino Stud. “I am actively involved in all farming activities, including sheep work, machinery work and many other activities.”
The Red Bend Catholic College student plans to work on the family farm after school, with a trade under his belt.
He competed for the first time in 2020 in the junior judging competition, when he qualified for the Royal Easter Show, and came first in the Merino sheep section in April 2021.
“My Dad (Glen Rubie) and my brother (Mitchell Rubie) have had a huge influence on my judging.”
Judging is objective, while there are characteristics about an animal to look for, what the judges will be paying close attention to is how clearly competitors express their decision and how they validate it. A competitor’s appearance is also important and judges can mark down for poor presentation.
The national championships are held in a different location each year. This year, the Sydney Royal Easter Show, celebrating its bicentenary, hosted the 2022 championships including the 2021 finalists who were unable to compete at Ekka due to COVID cancellations.
The National judges and paraders competition brings together the best young judges and paraders aged from 15 to 25 in each state to compete at the national finals. Qualification is via success in competitive regional and state competitions.
Overall there are nine categories for judging and parading each year under the Agricultural Shows Australia national competition program: beef cattle, dairy cattle, alpaca, poultry, Merino sheep, meat breed sheep and Merino fleece judging, as well as parading competitions in beef and dairy cattle.
Dr. Rob Wilson is chairman of ASA, the peak body overseeing 572 agricultural shows in Australia which attract six million visitors annually and contribute nearly $1billion to the national economy. Rob says the competition is designed to recognise the best new talent in livestock judging nationwide.
“It’s an extremely prestigious event and positions at the nationals are keenly contested,” he said.
“These young people are the future of agricultural show competitions which are crucial to the continual improvement of Australia’s food and fibre. The national competition is a coveted opportunity to grow personally and professionally by practising skills against the cream of the crop.”
The Merino sheep and fleece judging competitions are sponsored by Australian Wool Innovation.