It’s official! Twelve locals from Forbes will be part of 3,800 batonbearers who will carry the Queen’s Baton during the 100-day countdown to the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games next year.

The 12 locals are a good representation of the community. They are Wendy Green, Taylah Hemming, Denise Jelbart, Robyn Kenny, Robin Lyell, Ethan Markwort, Peter Moore, Christopher Roylance, Yvonne Shaw, Lester Sheather (living in Young), James Smart (living in Seaforth) and Rob Willis.

Forbes is one of eight overnight stops in NSW, and the baton will reach the town on Monday, 29th January 2018.

The batonbearers will take more than a million steps collectively across Australia to bring it to its final destination at the Opening Ceremony on 4th April 2018. Each batonbearer will carry the baton for approximately 200 metres.

The baton starts its Australian journey on 25th December. It will travel through every state and territory covering 40,000km.

Since its launch from Buckingham Palace on 13th March, the baton has gone across Africa, the Caribbean, the Americas and Europe. It is in Malaysia currently and will visit the remaining 15 Commonwealth nations in Asia and Oceania before arriving in Australia.

Members of the Forbes and District Lions Club are working on another project in Forbes. The local Lions Club have decided to update the small Lions Park area near

Jefferies Toyota.

The park is prominent on the entrance to town and the refurbishment will complement the beautification work Forbes Shire Council is doing at the moment.

Last Monday a start was made by planting two new roses and replacing one of the lion statues. Also planned, is the refurbishment of the map board with a new updated map and lighting, and a new sheltered table and seating to allow people a break from the summer heat or winter rains.

Residents of the Jemalong Residential Village (JRV) enjoyed a wonderful day out at the scenic Cowra Japanese Garden and Cultural Centre last Wednesday.

Transport was supplied to the 26 attendees courtesy of Forbes bus lines that generously provided a luxury coach for the occasion.

The residents were blessed with a perfect spring day allowing them to explore the beautiful gardens very conveniently in golf buggies. Residents also enjoyed wandering through the Cultural Centre and doing some sight-seeing in the gift shop.

Thanks to JRV fundraising volunteers who kindly sponsored lunch and the admission costs for the day, residents were able to take pleasure in dining at the cafe on site.

Volunteers including off-duty staff, assisted in various capacities to ensure that everyone had a fabulous time.

Merryl Morris, one of the lifestyle therapists at Jemalong Residential Village said: “Forbes is such a generous community and it is a pleasure to be able to offer special activities for our elderly.”

“Everyone thoroughly enjoyed all aspects of the day out. The buggies were really good for getting around the five hectares of gardens and admiring the spring blossoms on a perfectly sunny day.”

By Gizell van Wyk

Three Forbes residents form part of the cast and band of the latest Parkes M & D production, 9 to 5 Musical.

Matt Prow plays the junior accountant, Joe. He falls in love with Violet, one of the three leading ladies played by Angie Drooger. Krystle-Lee McMurray, who is in her very first musical, plays a nurse and is also in the ensemble. Helen Hurley plays in the band.

Featuring music and lyrics by Dolly Parton, 9 to 5 is set in the late 1970s and is a hilarious story of friendship and revenge that is thought-provoking, outrageous and even a little romantic.

“It is a relatable story and still relevant today,” said Angie Drooger. The co-stars are Brittani Carol as Judy and Erin O’Leary as Duralee. They work for Franklin Hart, played by Greg Ballantyne, who is a sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical bigot.

“Some of the scenes I felt right at home as it was so similar to my real life work situation,” said Angie. “But we do get up to some crazy antics like kidnapping our boss, which is probably very unusual.”

According to Angie this high-energy show with lots of fun is ideal for all ages. “My three-year-old son watched the whole show.” It is rated PG.

The cast of 19, with mostly females, is a good mix of adults and students. The cast includes some new faces while the lead roles are all played by local actors cast in previous shows.

“The audience will not only relate to the story, but there are lots of good songs by Dolly Parton, including the hit theme song,” said Angie.

The musical will run at the Little Theatre in Parkes from tonight until 28th October. Tickets are available online at www.parkesmandd.com.au.

By Maggi Barnard

The very first Australian National Field Days (ANFD) at Borenore were celebrated 66 years ago in 1952 – as a one-day event only.

“We are committed to advancing Australian agriculture and we’re always looking for new and innovative ways to do that, whether that be through utilising new technology and social media, or simply moving part of our event to a weekend so people who work off-farm can attend,” said Administration Manager Jayne West.

A big key to this year’s event is ensuring that there is something on offer for the whole family.

There will be entertainment for everyone with music playing throughout the day from Mickey Pye, Casey McFarlane and The Hewitt’s. There will also be a jumping castle, camel rides and a high adrenaline action show from Flair Action Riders.

This year’s feature exhibit is one to be enjoyed by all, the Australian Stock Horse Society. They will be conducting talks throughout the three-day field day about their importance to agriculture and will inform the public about products and services they may not have known about.

“Livestock and grazing are very important here, and we are on the fringe of a very large cropping area. There’s a lot of horticulture in the region with apples and cherries and viticulture is another area rapidly growing,” said Jayne.

The Australian National Field Days will be held from Thursday, 26th to Saturday, 28th October 2017, at 563 Borenore Road, Borenore. Gates will open at 8:30am and close at 5pm over the three days. A full program is available online.

To all our Phoenix readers, don’t forget to enter our competition to go into the draw to win a double pass to the ANFD.

Opportunities for improving water security for urban and rural water users were put on the table at last month’s meeting of mayors from Cowra, Forbes, Parkes and Lachlan

Shires with Lachlan Valley Water.

Lachlan Valley Water (LVW) chair Tom Green, said the prosperity of the whole region is closely tied to both healthy towns and a successful agricultural sector.

“Since the Millennium Drought it’s been apparent that water security is limiting economic development in the towns, industry, mining and agricultural sectors of the Lachlan Valley.”

“With irrigated agriculture worth $400- $530 million per year to the regional economy it’s critical that we work together as a region to ensure confidence in the industry and improve water security for all our communities.”

Recognising the vulnerability of the Lachlan catchment, the NSW Government is currently investigating a range of options to significantly improve water security and flood management in the Lachlan through its Lachlan Valley Water Security Investigations.

The meeting agreed that how water is managed in the valley is a key factor with the development of the Lachlan Water Resource Plan providing an opportunity to improve reliability of supply for irrigators.

The arrival of the nbn network in Forbes will deliver huge opportunities for local homes and businesses to transform the way they operate.

A total of 3,100 homes and businesses in Forbes will be able to access the speedy nbn network via Fibre to the Node (FTTN) technology.

Mike Marom, Telstra Area General Manager for Northern NSW, said the nbn network is one of the most talked about digital developments to hit Australia, and its arrival in Forbes will mark the beginning of a new digital era.

“Individuals, communities and businesses are becoming increasingly digital-dependent. We’re streaming more video content than ever, uploading huge amounts of data and, by 2021 households are expected to own an average of 30 connected smart devices.

“It means one of the kids will be able to stream Netflix on the tablet while another watches a movie on the Telstra TV, and the Buy back items made from recycled materials parents can be working online on the laptop, all at the same time with a reliable connection,” explains Mike.

Telstra is also reminding those living and working in Forbes that switching to the nbn network will not happen automatically. Customers will have 18 months to contact their network provider to arrange moving across to the new network, after which existing landline, data and internet services will be disconnected

“We want everybody in the Forbes area to be able to start benefitting from the nbn network as soon as possible. So, now is the time to speak to your network provider about starting the switch on process,” said Mike.

To find out how to switch to the nbn network visit telstra.com/nbn. Telstra’s NBN Experience Van will be in Forbes from Tuesday, 17th till Friday, 20th October from 9am- 5pm daily, Victoria Park, Harold St Forbes.

Canowindra is the place to be next weekend if you are a lover of baroque music.

There is a global revival of interest in this fabulous genre of European music from 17th and 18th century Europe and England, and five superb musician groups and songsters will be filling the cafes, Wallington and Rosnay wineries and All Saints Church of Canowindra with music by Bach, Handel, Vivaldi, Telemann, Monteverdi, Purcell, Byrd, Tavener, Mendelessohn, Pachelbel, Corelli and others.

The official opening by Baroquefest’s glamorous patron, former ABC Classic FM radio presenter Marian Arnold, coincides with the Canowindra Arts exhibition opening at Montrose House at 5pm on Friday 13th October. The opening concert at 7:30pm at All Saints will be by the Song Company from Sydney, Australia’s leading acapella group.

Saturday afternoon will see the Blue Mountains- based Academy Singers directed by Dr Paul Terracini with pianist Jane Andino playing All Saints’ historic concert grand piano, built in 1956 for Sydney Conservatorium of Music’s famous director Isador Goodman.

On Saturday evening virtuoso baroque violinist Rachael Beesley will play Inspirations of JS Bach, Invisible Dances, interspersed with solo works by Australian composers for the violin.

Sunday lunch at Wallington Winery will have the Canberra-based Limestone Consort. Violins, cello and harpsichord will explore the trio sonata. Sunday evening dinner at Rosnay has Sydney’s Muffat Collective with harpsichord and baroque violins playing baroque sonatas. Baroquefest’s artistic director violinist Andrew Baker from Orange will play with both of these wonderful ensembles on Sunday.

In addition 150 students from the region attend special education sessions at All Saints, conducted by Rachael Beesley, one of Australia’s most accomplished violinists.

Ticket packages with various inclusions and individual concert tickets can be purchased on-line at www.baroquefest.org. au. Email baroquefest@gmail.com or ring 0429 443 215 for further information.