General Interest Archives - Page 73 of 311

The Legacy Centenary Torch Relay Set To Light Up Forbes

July 13, 2023 by Roxane Manley

The Legacy Centenary Torch Relay 2023 set off on it six month journey from France on 23rd April and set to pass through Forbes on 31st July.

The Legacy Centenary Torch Relay 2023 began its journey in Pozières France on 23rd April, then travelled to Menin Gate, Belgium and onto London before arriving in Australia where it is undertaking a six-month journey visiting all Legacy Club locations around the country, before culminating in Melbourne.

The first NSW relays will be in the Far North Coast towns of Casino, Lismore and Ballina on Friday 23rd June. The flame will then travel throughout the state, with further relays in Grafton, Inverell, Coffs Harbour, Armidale, Tamworth, Port Macquarie, Taree, Forster, Maitland, Newcastle, Gosford, Sydney, Penrith, Wollongong, Goulburn, Orange, Forbes, Cowra, Wagga Wagga, Albury and Queanbeyan.

The Legacy Centenary Torch will be in Forbes on Monday 31st July at 12pm in the park on corner of Bridge and Hill Streets.

During the Centenary tour, the torch will travel 50,000 kilometres, with 100 stops over 75 days, and be carried by over 1,300 Torch Bearers, all with a personal connection to Legacy Australia.Torch bearers of note include Blue Wiggle Anthony Field, Former Governor General Sir Peter Cosgrove, former Olympian Jana Pittman and Victoria Cross recipient Mark Donaldson.

Legacy Australia has been supporting Veteran’s families since 1923 and was founded on a Promise made from one digger to another. Today, Legacy supports over 40,000 partners and children of veterans’ who put their health and lives on the line for our country.

Eric Easterbrook OAM, Chairman of Legacy Australia, says “The torch relay is a fitting commemoration of a century of service.

To date, torch bearers have raised over $180,000 for Legacy. Donations allow Legacy to keep the promise to veterans’ families. To donate visit https://legacy.com.au/donate.

Sounds Of Country On Lake Forbes At Sundown

July 13, 2023 by Roxane Manley

Rising stars of Australian country music, and the new backing band for Lee Kernaghan, Hurricane Fall will headline Sundown Sounds.

Rising stars of Austraslian country music, Hurricane Fall will be the headlining act at Forbes’ inaugural Sundown Sounds on Lake Forbes. The event will take place at Lions Park on 5th August, with music starting at 5:45pm.

This high energy country rock band will be joined by Katie Jayne and band, and our very own Gracey Denham-Jones.

Forbes Mayor Phyllis Miller OAM said the inaugural Sundown Sounds event is a definite nod to our country roots.

“I am looking forward to pulling on the boots for an evening of good food, good music and great times with old and new friends” Mayor Miller said.

You can check out Council’s Facebook event to listen to the Sundown Sounds Spotify Playlist. Sundown Sounds is a free event funded by the NSW Government.

“Grab your mates, grab your esky and join us by the lake for what is sure to be an epic evening of live music.”

Sundown Sounds is a BYO event. Food vans and a bucking mechanical bull will be available. All ages are welcome.

Tickets are free, but essential and are available to online at www.123tix.com.au/events/37984/forbes-sundown-sounds

Students Leading The Way For Their Local Communities

July 13, 2023 by Roxane Manley

The Royal Agricultural Society (RAS) Foundation has announced a record 73 scholarships across its RASF Rural Scholarship program this week, with eleven ambitious students from the Central West region named among the deserving scholars.

The RAS Foundation Rural Scholarship program provides financial assistance to rural and regional students who are passionate about the future success of regional NSW and intend to work within a rural community at the completion of their studies.

The students from the Central West region are studying a range of courses, from psychology to education to medical radiation science, and are eager to take their knowledge and skills back to their communities.

The RAS Foundation awards up to $6000 to Rural Scholarship recipients undertaking full-time study, or up to $3000 for those studying part-time.

Since its inception in 2007, the RAS Foundation has invested over $8.2 million into country NSW through its education and community grant programs.

Over 750 scholarships have been provided to students across Australia, including targeted scholarships for careers in both regional journalism and the Australian wine industry.

Applications for the 2024 RASF Rural Scholarship are now open and will close 17 September 2023. For further information, please visit www.rasf.org.au.

Luke Mcdean, Bogan Gate

Bachelor Of Education (Secondary)

Luke McDean is currently enrolled at the University of Newcastle studying a Bachelor of Secondary Education (Health and Physical Education). Luke comes from the small town of Bogan Gate and grew up on a hobby farm, enjoying the lifestyle. Luke has always known that he will go back once he has completed his studies and plans to teach in rural areas. PDHPE teaching is a career in which Luke sees himself giving back to the community and educating students about the importance and benefits of their personal health.

Emily Gartner – Forbes

Bachelor of Veterinary Technology

Emily Gartner has grown up in a small country town in Central West NSW. Growing up on a sheep farm and participating in her school show team, preparing and showing both sheep and cattle, has contributed to Emily’s love for animals. This inspired Emily to study a Bachelor of Animal Science through Charles Sturt University. Emily wants to be able to give back to small rural communities like her own and to further immerse herself within the agricultural industry.

Scholarship donated by: The Agricultural Societies Council of NSW

Katie Townsend, Eugowra

Bachelor of Medical Science/ Bachelor of Science

Katie Townsend comes from a hobby farm just outside of Eugowra. For Kate, growing up in a rural setting ingrained an interest in agriculture and through high school biology -medicine. This led Katie to study a double degree Bachelor of Science/Bachelor ofMedical Science at the Australian NationalUniversity. These degrees have allowed anincreased understanding of aspects of themedical sphere and engagement with keystakeholders within agricultural innovation.Completion of her studies will provide a basis for postgraduate study and the opportunity to work in and for regional areas.

Scholarship donated by: The SnowFoundation

Monique Morgan, Trundle

Bachelor of Nursing

Monique Morgan grew up in Trundle, a small farming community in NSW. In 2022 Monique moved to Bathurst to study a Bachelor of Nursing and is now in her second year of study. As she grew up in a small rural area, Monique understands the health inequities faced, especially that in the field of mental health. When Monique graduates, she wishes to return to rural NSW and help address the mental health issues experienced by those in the bush and provide a positive impact to those who struggle with their mental wellbeing.

Scholarship donated by: Quayclean

Kiara Harris, Condobolin

Bachelor of Science in Psychology

Kiara Harris is a proud descendant of the Barkindji people from the Darling River of Wilcannia. Born in Gunnedah (Gamilaroi country), Kiara has lived in Condobolin (Wiradjuri country) for the majority of her life. The middle child of a close extended family with six siblings, Kiara has been an active member of Condobolin for eight years through school, work and community service. Kiara enjoys living in a rural community and feel this will always be part of her identity. Kiara is in her first year of studying a Bachelor of Science in Psychology at the University of Canberra.

Scholarship donated by: The Snow Foundation

Putting The Heart In Your Business

July 13, 2023 by Roxane Manley

Actor Samuel Johnson with his sister Connie, who lost her battle with cancer.

The Forbes Business Chamber will be hosting special guest, actor Samuel Johnson, for breakfast on the 20th July at Club Forbes.

Samuel Johnson has long been advocating for Precision Medicine as a standard of care for all Australian cancer patients. Access to clinical trials and the latest technologies is currently not available outside major population centres. Love Your Sister has initiated a multi-partner, multi-million-dollar expansion to correct the inequity.

Love Your Sister has partnered with Macquarie University, and selected the Dubbo region to be the first trial.

Love Your Sister has committed $1.2M to a world-first, co-designed sustainable model for clinical trials that draws on local resources and expertise as well as those of the government, university and pharmaceutical sectors.

Most importantly, the patient wins. This impactful initiative will help patients stay close to home and their support networks rather than being required to travel long distances to receive the latest treatments.

Love Your Sister has already funded half and is relying on businesses and community leaders from Dubbo and other communities to help meet our commitment.

“This world-first model only works if everyone gets on board, including individuals, local community groups and businesses, not only from Dubbo but the surrounding towns as well,” said Samuel Johnson.

All eyes will be on Dubbo and surrounds as Love Your Sister, the Oncology Department at Dubbo Hospital, the Western NSW Clinical Trial Support Unit, NSW Health and Macquarie University initiate a model for bringing international standard clinical trials to regional, rural and remote locations.

Chamber members are entitled to one free ticket, please email the chamber to register your business delgate. Additional tickets are available at www.123tix.com.au/events/39534/putting-the-heart-in-your-business-breakfast-with-samuel-johnson

Bad Medicine For Regional Australia

July 13, 2023 by Roxane Manley

Sixty-day dispensing may sound good, but if you dig a little deeper, it is rural and regional Australia that will pay, writes Trent Twomey of the Pharmacy Guild.

“I fear patients won’t realise the true impact of 60-day dispensing until the pharmacy they’ve got, is gone. And by then it will be too late,” said Trent.

An independent report published recently by respected economist Henry Ergas AO, along with Tulipwood Advisory and the Relational Insights Data Lab at Griffith University has revealed the policy will lead to the loss of 20,818 community pharmacy jobs and the closure of 665 pharmacies nationwide.

Soon regional patients will feel the effect with cuts to free services such as blood pressure monitoring, diabetes management, websters packs for the aged and home delivery of medicines.

These are all services which the current dispensing arrangement helps pay for and keeps your local pharmacy‘s doors open for longer.

Unless the government delays the implementation of 60-day dispensing, as has been recommended, you will be seeing more of these cuts and closures from September when the policy is in place.

NAB: An Integral Part Of Parkes’ History And Future

July 13, 2023 by Roxane Manley

The local Parkes NAB team Jake Gordon Home Lending Specialist, Heilala Mill Parkes Branch Manager, Kylie Sharp Regional Customer Executive, Lisa Fisher Customer Advisor Sales, Jordie Oraha Customer Sales Advisor and Hanan Etri Future of Retail Coach. Insert: The original bank building in 1873.

With several of the big banks closing their regional branches, the newly refurbished Parkes National Australia Bank (NAB) offices are a strong indicator that NAB has no plans on leaving Parkes.

During the recent refurbishment works, NAB’s Historical Services Curator was looking through the archives and discovered some incredible photographs of the branch dating back as far as 1877.

“It’s pretty amazing thinking how far back the history of this building goes. It shows we’ve been a key part of Parkes’ history. Some of the old records even show our first Branch Manager was the grandfather of Banjo Paterson,” said Parkes NAB Branch Manager, Heilala Mill.

On 1st December 1873, the Commercial Banking Company of Sydney opened a branch in Parkes. The same year that Napoleon III of France died and a protective alliance was formed between Germany, Russia and Austria-Hungary. That year New South Wales also had its seventh Ministry under the Colonial Secretary, Sir Henry Parkes, after whom the town is named.

The original records reveal cash was supplied from Forbes and the safe came from Hill End where, the Commercial Banking Company of Sydney also had a branch at the time.

According to the records in the original bank general ledger, the first entries through the branch were: Current a/cs 2/12/1873, Fixed Deposits £50 on 9/12/1873 and the first lot of gold bought on 4th December 1873 being 52oz. 5 dwt, 23 gr. £3/15/’- 0zt 196/2/40.

Items of interest through bank expenditure were such charges as gold escort, candles and water; the latter a far cry from the town’s modern water supply today. In the early 1890s Mr. J.R.Dryhurst was second officer, later to be appointed General Manager. His salary was £50 p.a. plus £50 allowance and the Manager received £200 p.a.

Aside from the bank’s name, the only written sign outside the office was the legend, “Gold Bought”, painted across a front window. The first manager was C.H. Barton, the maternal grandfather of the poet Andrew Barton (Banjo) Paterson.

Gold bought from miners in the district had to be transported to Orange through Forbes, along the river and across the steep, rough ranges. Armed escorts were needed against attacks from bushrangers and, in 1876, a letter from Head Office warned the manager at Parkes to be on guard against the Kelly gang, known to be in the area. Fortunately for the Commercial Banking Company (CBC), Mr Kelly and his associates did not turn their attention to Parkes

Branch records also revealed a branch opened at Tichbourne, six miles south of Parkes on 22nd June 1878 when they were debited £2955 for cash supplied. At that time Tichbourne was a very large mining center with a population between 30,000 and 40,000 people. This land has since reverted to wheat and sheep grazing country.

Among the local mines doing business with the CBC in those early days were such names as “No Mistake”, “The Bushman’s”, “Welcome”, “Victoria Gully”, “Line”, “Flat”, “Racecourse”, “Possum Gully”, “Frenchman’s”, “Richardson” and “Sparling’s”.

With the expansion of business in 1877, the bank moved to a slightly larger premises, later to be occupied by Tattersalls Hotel and now the site of the Coachman Hotel Motel.

In 1901, what must have been a former pub was purchased in Taylor Square fronting onto Clarinda Street, the bank used the existing building until 1925 when the building was demolished, to be replaced by the bank’s current offices.

Parkes Commercial Banking Company (CBC) of Sydney Branch, circa 1930.

Parkes CBC Branch on 1st June 1980.

Parkes NAB Branch on 10th July 2023

This Is One Production Not To Be Missed

July 13, 2023 by Roxane Manley

Cast and crew are excited for the opening night, Saturday the 15th. Get your tickets and come along and support local theatre.

Not Now Darling is a British farcical comedy featuring minks, mistresses, mobsters and mistaken identities, including scantily clad women hiding in cupboards! This production is the directorial debut for Parkes M&D member Hannah Symonds, who has over 20 years of theatrical experience and graced the Parkes M&D stage as Elphaba in the 2021 production of Wicked.

Not Now Darling follows the flamboyant Gilbert Bodley (Aaron Kingham) as he schemes to seduce the beautiful stripper Janie McMichael (Lisa Ramsay) by offering her an exquisite £5,000 mink coat.

Unfortunately, Janie’s husband, Harry McMichael (Benson O’Donnell), mustn’t know about the affair so the coat is offered to Harry at an excellent price of £500, with Gilbert paying the remainder.

Harry realises the bargain and instead buys the coat for his curvaceous secretary Sue Lawson (Hannah Symonds). Gilbert is shocked by this turn in events and both he and his nervous assistant Arnold Crouch (Russell Tanswell) are further embarrassed when Janie refuses to leave the salon by stripping down. Their frenzied attempts to retrieve the coat from Sue and hide the naked Janie are further complicated by the unexpected arrival of Gilbert’s wife Maude Bodley (Lyn Townsend).

Meanwhile, Arnold’s method of hiding any discarded ladies underwear is to throw them out the window, leaving the salon’s spinster secretary Miss Tipdale (Jessica Morgan) to retrieve the garments and any other items tossed from the window. The hilarious events at the salon are interrupted by the elderly couple Mr. and Mrs. Frencham (Steve McGrath and Ruth Barnes) as they navigate the law, as well as the beautiful fur model Miss Whittington (Gyhaan Edwards).

Opening 15th July to the 30 th July 2023. A group ticket discount of buy five get one free will apply. Head to the website for more details. www.parkesmandd.com.au

It’s The Little Things That Make A Big Difference

July 6, 2023 by Roxane Manley

Grant Acheson from Kitson solutions is pictured with Aruma Disability clients after the installation of the new guardrail.

As a free communtiy newspaper, the team at The Forbes & Parkes Phoenix, love nothing more that bringing our readers good-news stories about locals doing their bit to make our community a better place to live.

Every weekday from 9:30am – 3:30pm, Aruma Disability Servivces in Forbes run a local day program assisting a range of disability supported customers to reach their short and long term goals. These goals may include cooking skills, community access, dancing, money, and budgeting skills, food preparation, cleaning, shopping, fishing, gardening and sensory skills.

The outdoor area at the centre is used for most of these activities and provides an alternate space for all-purpose needs as the indoor activities often get very noisy and crowded.

Amy Mongan from Aruma Disability Services identified the need for a permanent guardrail to be installed around the outdoor space to make the area safer for customers and clients.

She reached out to Kitson Solutions to see if they would be willing to donate any time or materials to assist in the completion of this project.

“I explained that our outdoor area is very unsafe due to the lack of railing around the concrete slab, which poses a fall risk to both staff and customers,” said Amy.

Grant Acheson of Kitson Solutions didn’t hesitate to offer their assistace in any way needed to get the job done. After generously donating their free time and materials, the guard rails were completed.

“Our outdoor area looks amazing andcustomers and staff could not be happier. We are now able to use this space as required on a regular basis safely. Thank you Kitson Solutions,” said Amy.

Colour Wheel Art Exhibition

July 6, 2023 by Roxane Manley

An original Karen Ritchie artwork will be raffled off, raising funds for FAS. Raffle tickets are $2 each and can be purchased at the door throughout the weekend.

From bright and bold tones to moody and muted hues, colour is key in the latest art exhibition by the Forbes Arts Society (FAS).

The Colour Wheel exhibition will showcase a collection of mixed media work by Forbes Arts Society members that celebrates the history of colour and explores colour psychology.

“Like art, colour is undeniably emotive. This exhibition will highlight how different colours can evoke different emotional and behavioural responses,” said Dr Karen Ritchie, Forbes Arts Society.

“We are delighted to exhibit such a diverse offering of local artwork that will uplift, inspire, surprise and comfort, as well as stimulate a range of other thoughts and feelings,” Karen added.

An exhibition opening will be held on Friday 7th July, from 6pm until 8pm at St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, 11 Harold Street in Forbes. Tickets are $10 for Forbes Arts Society members and $20 for non-members and can be pre-purchased through the Forbes Arts Society website or at the door.

The exhibition will then be on public display St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church on Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th July, from 10am until 2pm both days.

For more information about the Colour Wheel exhibition and to purchase tickets to the exhibition opening, head to www.forbesartssociety.com or follow the Forbes Arts Society on Facebook and Instagram. This exhibition is supported by ArtsWeb volunteers, a committee of the Forbes Arts Society.

CMOC-Northparkes Mines – Sports Grants Recipients

July 6, 2023 by Roxane Manley

A total of $31,683.94 was distributed in grants this round. The next round, which opens in September, will see a total of $32,460.36 available for sports related projects within the Parkes Shire.

CMOC-Northparkes Mines and Parkes Shire Council have announced the successful applicants from the latest round of the Sports Grants Funding Program.

Parkes Sports Council Chairperson, Alan Gersbach said it was fantastic to see a broad range of projects during this round for selection.

“Parkes Shire has a strong sporting culture and programs such as this promote and increase participation within the community,” said Mr Gersbach.

This round, which closed in March 2023, included a grant to the Peak Hill Swimming Club to purchase equipment for training including lane ropes, pool noodles, long blade fins, handle paddles and a learn to swim platform.

Cr Louise O’Leary thanked Northparkes for its continuing support of not only this program but also the many other community programs throughout Parkes and Forbes.

“Thank you to the community groups who applied for this round of sporting grants. We encourage any local groups considering applying to make use of the resources of the Parkes Shire Grants Team in helping you with your application,” Cr O’Leary said.

Northparkes Managing Director Jianjun Tian said, “At Northparkes, we are committed to a number of long-term community partnerships, including the Sports Grants Program, which not only benefits our people, but the community in which we live and work.”

Luke Mcdean, Bogan Gate

Emily Gartner – Forbes

Katie Townsend, Eugowra

Monique Morgan, Trundle

Kiara Harris, Condobolin

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