Articles Archives - Page 130 of 412

Time To Create A Christmas Tree

September 2, 2022 by Maggi Barnard

The options are endless to create a Christmas tree. This is a previous entry by Forbes North Public School.

Great news for the Christmas lovers is that the time has come to start making plans for this year’s celebrations and Rotary Ipomoea is leading the ‘charge’.

Rotary Ipomoea members are looking forward to holding its 10th Christmas Tree Festival after a two-year COVID break.

“We would like to involve as many families, groups, organisations and schools as possible in this year’s event,” said Sue-anne Nixon of the Rotary club.

She said it was a good time to start planning and making your masterpieces, adding that Jemalong Residential Village had already started working on theirs! The aim is to equal or better the 124 entries received in 2019 as it is a lovely way to celebrate the beginning of the Christmas season.

Exhibits need to be delivered to the Forbes Town Hall on Friday, 2nd December, and the exhibition will be open to the public on the same day from 1pm -5pm, all day on Saturday, 3rd December and from 9am to 2pm on Sunday, 4th December.

“We have no size restrictions or limits on materials used. We love all the amazing ideas people have when making a tree or nativity. Big or small we love them all.”

GP Surgical Clinic Re-Opens

September 2, 2022 by Maggi Barnard

A rural generalist surgical clinic has been re-established at Parkes Hospital and is run by Dr Angus Brown.

A rural generalist surgical clinic has been re-established at Parkes Hospital that will improve access to high quality surgical care for communities across the Lachlan Valley.

The reinvigorated clinic is being delivered by Dr Angus Brown, a rural generalist with advanced skills in general surgery, endoscopy and emergency medicine, and offers pre and post-operative care for a range of procedures.

“Through the rural generalist surgical clinic, Dr Brown provides public consultations throughout the surgical process to help patients understand their procedures and coordinate any care required afterward too,” said Professor Damien Limberger, Acting Clinical Director of Lachlan Health Service.

“Dr Brown has been providing services to the region for over a year. The reinvigorated clinic continues the work of local GP surgeon Dr Stephen Morris following his retirement.”

Rach Ellem, Health Service Manager of Lachlan Health Service, which includes Parkes and Forbes Hospitals, said the clinic currently operated only at Parkes Hospital on Tuesdays once per month, but there was scope to expand.

Contact the rural generalist surgical clinic on 68612455 or WNSWLHD-Admissions@health.nsw.gov.au

Snippets…

September 2, 2022 by Maggi Barnard

The wattles around Forbes and in the region have been in full bloom in time to celebrate the start of Spring yesterday.

Leads Please: Forbes Shire Council has received numerous complaints about dog owners not using leads around Lake Forbes. Remember that responsible dog ownership is important, and that dogs in public places must always be on a lead or leash unless they are in a specified off-leash area. Always keep your dog on a lead in public places.

Bust Your Energy Bills: Applications for the NSW Government’s Energy Bill Buster program to help households slash their power bills by up to $600 a year are now open. Eligible households include pensioners and Department of Veterans Affairs Gold Card holders receiving the Low Income Household Rebate. Households can check their Bill Buster eligibility and apply at www.energysaver.nsw.gov.au/rebate-swap.

Free RATs: Pensioners and other concession card holders can now get up to 10 free rapid antigen tests (RATs) from any Service NSW Service Centre, Mobile Service Centre or Disaster Recovery Centre until the end of October. Eligible Commonwealth Concession Card holders in NSW include: Pensioner Concession card; Commonwealth Seniors Health Care card; Health Care Card (including Low Income Health Care card); Department of Veterans’ Affairs Gold, White or Orange cards. For more information visit Free rapid antigen tests to support vulnerable communities | NSW Government or any Service NSW Service Centre.

Unclaimed Money: Older people are encouraged to check if they have money owing to them with more than half a billion dollars currently sitting with Revenue NSW. Anyone can use the free service on the Revenue NSW website to search for unclaimed money. The unclaimed funding includes share dividends, trust accounts, refunds, commissions, deceased estates and money from a range of other sources. Go to https://www.revenue.nsw.gov.au/ unclaimed-money

Free Food Organics Workshop: Parkes Shire Council is hosting a free food organics workshop on Tuesday, 27th September from 5:30pm – 7pm at the Marramarra Makerspace Studio. Food and garden waste accounts for almost half of waste materials, takes up limited landfill space and creates harmful greenhouse gases when it breaks down. Bookings are necessary for catering purposes. To reserve your spot, visit: https://bit.ly/3cjLqTd

Parkes Public School has received funding to install and make upgrades to safety fencing at the school. NSW Nationals Upper House MP Sam Farraway (right) said it was important that local schools had quality facilities to keep staff and students safe. He is with school principal Coral O’Neill. The NSW Government is investing $8.6 billion in school infrastructure over the next four years.

‘Avarice’ A Thrill For Forbes Scriptwriters

September 2, 2022 by Maggi Barnard

MOVIE MAKERS… Dane Millerd and Adam Enslow have collaborated before on other projects. Avarice has been described in the media as ‘smartly put together and entertaining, a rock-solid homegrown thriller’.

It took more than four years to see the fruits of their labour, but last week two Forbes locals celebrated when the world premiere of a new thriller was screened in Perth, Western Australia.

‘Avarice’ is an action-packed thriller about a home invasion and it all started when Adam Enslow and Dane Millerd met director John V Soto in 2018.

“Adam and I were introduced to John through a mutual film colleague from the US. John had read our horror home invasion script ‘Are You Scared Yet?’ and wanted to chat with us. From there the action thriller Avarice was born and Andrew Slattery was brought in to help us with the script,” said Dane.

Luckily ScreenWest and Epic Pictures believed in the movie and it was made for over $2 million and filmed in Perth.

“It was a great process that Dane and I went through and to see it being made into a movie is pretty awesome,” said Adam.

Dane is just as excited about the movie saying the long wait of four years made it all worthwhile. “There are not short cuts in this business.”

Starring Gillian Alexy and Luke Ford the story of Avarice follows a woman (Alexy), who is an Olympian lever archer, as she attempts to rescue her investment banker husband (Ford) after he is abducted during a vicious home invasion.

As a screenwriter you have to put up with a lot of changes and Dane and Adam were involved in the five rewrites for Avarice. As a point of reference, Dane said Star Wars: A new Hope had 27 rewrites.

“We created the plot and the initial storyline and was able to put our stamp on it,” said Adam.

The writing pair have another thriller on their slate that has been delayed due to COVID, called ‘Death’s Waiting Room’, plus some other projects in their infancy.

They have not seen the movie yet, but can’t wait for the Sydney premiere in mid-September. It will then be released in theatres, streamed online and available on DVD/Blu Ray and video on demand.

Gillian Alexy, who also starred in The Americans, with director John V Soto at the premiere of Avarice in WA last week.

Locally Made Is The New Souvenir

September 2, 2022 by Maggi Barnard

Forbes Visitor Information Centre is seeking expressions of interest from creatives to expand its range to more locally produced products when it moves to the new centre on the Newell Highway at the end of the year.

If you are creative and would like a wider audience for your products, the Forbes Shire Council is seeking expressions of interest for locally made goods.

The former Lachlan Vintage Village is being converted into the new Forbes Visitor Information Centre that will open towards the end of the year and will be an outlet and showcase for locally produced craft and goods.

Whether your interests are in baking, preserves, crafts, sewing, textiles, design, drawing, painting, woodwork, leather work, cosmetics, fragrances and the like, this might be the opportunity you’ve been waiting for.

Locally made is said to be the new souvenir, and with an average of 9,000 visitors per year before COVID, the new Visitor Information Centre’s prime location on the Newell Highway is set to attract loads more people. The new centre will also have a restaurant/coffee shop that will entice more people to make a stop.

The centre currently sells a variety of items with the Amazing brand, but would like to expand its range to include more locally made products from Forbes and the Central West.

Local suppliers must have capacity to provide and deliver adequate stock and hold appropriate insurances licences, certificates and ABN. Expression of Interest Forms are available at Council or at https://www.forbes.nsw.gov.au/council/tenders-public-exhibitions-and-expressions-of-interest/tenders-quotations-expressions-of-interest/tenders-and-eoi and must be submitted by 5pm on Friday, 16th September. For further information contact Council’s Governance Officer, Rebecca Kennedy by email forbes@forbes.nsw.gov.au or call 6850 2300.

Training Boost For Local Emergency Services

August 26, 2022 by Maggi Barnard

One of the scenarios volunteers worked on at the Careflight trauma care workshop in Parkes on Sunday. (Photo: CareFlight)

Emergency services in Parkes and Forbes received a boost on Sunday when CareFlight hosted a unique community education workshop for 14 SES and RFS volunteers.

CareFlight’s trauma care workshops are one of a kind and are provided at no cost to participants. Lifelike medical manikins, simulated accident scenarios and specially-designed simulation equipment aid in the recreation of a high-pressure, hands-on environment, ensuring the training is realistic, applicable and improves participants’ ability to connect learning to real-world situations.

In addition to lifesaving skills, personnel are armed with essential leadership, teamwork, situational awareness and communication skills that will help them respond to traumas.

Head of education and training at CareFlight, Colin Brown said it was the third time in 11 years that CareFlight had hosted the workshop in Parkes. “It is one of our favourite workshops and we love doing it in country towns like Parkes.”

He said the feedback from the participants was fantastic. “Talking to them afterwards they said it was really helpful, especially as they were often the first people to arrive at the scene of an accident or emergency.”

“Some of the practical aspects they learned were how to manage patients in a particular situation, how to triage patients and what to do when they have more patients than resources.”

CareFlight was able to bring the training to Parkes thanks to government grants, and is part of CareFlight’s grassroots initiative to create a resilient and healthier community. In collaboration with local groups and their members, CareFlight is building confidence in the emergency response abilities of locals in the community.

CareFlight’s Community Education workshops are coordinated by experienced doctors, paramedics and nurses who train first responders.

St Laurence’s Wins Prestigious Cup

August 26, 2022 by Maggi Barnard

The winning team are at the back (L-R) Team Manager Kathryn Sweeny, Darwin Nicholls, Billy Smith, Oscar Cronin, Charlie Howe, Mitchell Stocks and Coach Tony Wallace. In front are Lennox Hurford, Beau Wheeldon, Liam McCloud, Jaggar King, Archie Keane, Matthew Wallace and Hugh Hope-Hodgetts.

The prestigious Chris Gangemi Cup came home to Forbes for the very first time after St Laurence’s won the 2022 NSWCPS 10 a side rugby finals in Sydney last week.

The Forbes team went undefeated all day at the Catholic Schools NSW competition held at St Joseph’s College, Hunters Hill.

St Laurence’s was one of eight teams and represented the Wilcannia-Forbes Diocese. They played five games on the day beating Kempsey (31-14), Terrigal (25-0) and Inverell (31-5) in the pool games. In the semi-final they beat Lewisham 24-10 and played Kempsey again in the final, which they won 10-5.

The victory was very special for the Year5 and 6 boys and they were extremely proud to bring the prestigious shield back to Forbes. “They were elated,” said their team manager Catherine Sweeney.

“They played well all day and showed great sportsmanship. Their coach for the day Tony Wallace was full of praise for their team playing.”

Katherine said it was a wonderful day for all the parents, teachers and spectators witnessing some great rugby.

Upon their return the whole school rejoiced in their win that made everyone incredibly proud.

Darwin Nicholls runs with the ball in the first pool game against Kempsey at the 2022 NSWCPS 10 a side rugby finals in Sydney.

Thurlstone For Quality

August 26, 2022 by Maggi Barnard

Thurlstone Poll Dorset and White Suffolk Studs can stand up to its legitimate claim of one of the nation’s top breeders. It has behind it a swag of awards and prizes, including Most Successful Exhibitor at the Sydney and Melbourne Royal shows, and grand champion prizes from shows throughout the Central West.

The stock forms the base of the reputable studs, originally established as a Dorset stud at Cookamidgera over 75 years ago by Ron Hawken. Son, Richard, has expanded on the reputation of excellence with diversification to include Poll Dorset and White Suffolk rams. His strong interest in the industry started during his 1960s primary school years. “An indication of the success of the stud is the fact that it is free of diseases,” said Richard. “Accredited brucellosis free, Ovine Johnne’s MN3 status and footrot free.”

Poll Dorsets are one of the most popular prime lamb sires in Australia, with about 50% of lambs marketed as Dorset crossed. Another open-faced, clean legged meat sheep popular with buyers is the White Suffolk.

For more information, contact Richard Hawken on 6866 1214.

Tim’s Toy Story Continues After 50 Years

August 26, 2022 by Maggi Barnard

I’M SO EXCITED… Tim Goodwin from Peak Hill opens his birthday present to find the very first toy car he bought with his pocket money. It disappeared 50 years ago until he found it on eBay. (Photo: The Guardian)

When Tim Goodwin from Peak Hill opened a present for his 58th birthday recently he was shaking with anticipation.

When he finally got all the bubble wrapping off he exclaimed over and over: “It’s my toy, it’s my toy!”

Tim, who has been the mail contractor or postie in Peak Hill for 22 years, was scrolling on eBay one day when it was too wet to mow the lawn during winter.

“I typed in Ford Capri, not sure why, and started looking at all the toys, and on the third or fourth page I saw it.

“It was my toy car – the very first Matchbox car I ever bought with my pocket money when I was a kid in Wellington, Somerset in the UK in the early 1970s!”

Tim said he slept over it and a few days

later he looked at it again. “It was definitely mine.” He said after many years of playing with it on a homemade dirt track in the backyard with his two brothers, it was chipped and he painted it red over the original pink and turned it into a rally car. “I stuck a Castrol sticker on the bonnet and cut the tow hook off.

“I bought the car with the pocket money I earned washing the family car, which was about 25 pence.” He said Ford Capri was much loved in the UK. “It was the Englishman’s Ford Mustang. Some teachers at our school had them and we held them in high regard. It was a great car and I always wished I owned one. I even collect the workshop manuals.”

His favourite toy car went missing one day. “I remember seeing a boy in our shed one day taking something, but he denied it.” While the seller on eBay was in Doncaster, about 370km away from his home town, the car on eBay looked exactly like his with the modifications. “Nobody has changed it.” Tim sent a photo of the car to his brothers in England and they also recognised it.

When Tim’s wife Cathy asked what he wanted for his birthday he did not hesitate to show her the toy car on eBay for $34.62.

The seller has a toy shop and promised Tim to try and trace the whereabouts of how the Ford Capri came to him.

Tim is stoked to have his toy back and although he will become a grandfather for the first time later this year, he is not prepared to let the grandkids play with it. “This one has pride of place on the mantelpiece.” While Tim has a collection of over 300 Matchbox cars dating form the 60s to the 90s, he has now been inspired to look for more of his childhood toys.

“I am still gobsmacked that I found it back. I felt like a little boy again. It has brought back so many family memories and of playing in the dirt with our Matchbox toys.”

By Maggi Barnard

Enjoy Tea And Fashions Of A Century

August 26, 2022 by Sue Cunningham

Karen Wright (vice-president Forbes Evening CWA) and Robyn Miller (president of Oxley CWA Group) are part of the working party planning the CWA’s 100th birthday celebrations and fashion parade.

For those of you who don’t know, the Country Women’s Association (CWA) of NSW has been around for 100 years!

To assist in organising members over the vast distances of NSW the CWA is divided into 17 groups with a number of branches within each group. The branches in the Oxley Group include Forbes Evening, Forbes CWA (Day) Branch, Parkes, Peak Hill, Tottenham, Tullamore Trundle, Condobolin, Myamley, Kiacatoo, Burthong and Bogan Gate.

Why this information you ask? Well, if you read on you will find out and be given an amazing opportunity.

“Forbes CWA Evening Branch is joining forces with the Oxley CWA Group to bring an amazing birthday party to the Forbes Town Hall at 2pm on Sunday,30th October to celebrate 100 years of the CWA,” said Karen Wright, vice-president of Forbes CWA Evening Branch.

Oxley Group President Roby Miller said planning was underway with a working party representing all branches in the group. “Organisers are looking forward to presenting guests with an amazing experience.”

The entertainment will be a fabulous fashion parade with costumes through the decades from 1922 to 2022.

“There will be a special emphasis on wedding dresses over the century,” said Karen. “There will also be other outfits modelled by volunteers, plus a static display of fashion accessories. There will also be a delicious afternoon tea provided for guests.”

To help celebrate the commitment of volunteering and community work of CWA members over the last 100 years members of the public are invited to attend and enjoy an afternoon tea with friends and a cruise through the fashions of the last century. Tickets will be available through 123 tix shortly.

The CWA of NSW had its beginnings at the Bushwomen’s Conference held in conjunction with the Royal Agricultural Show in Sydney in April 1922.

By Sue Cunningham

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