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Forbes Phoenix

Our Gal – Umima Austral

November 8, 2019 by Maggi Barnard

How long have you lived in or around Forbes and what do you like about living here? I have lived in Forbes for just over a year, I moved in September last year. I’m originally from Darwin in the Northern Territory. I love the Lake and old architecture in Forbes as well as the feel of the country.

Where do you work and what do you enjoy most about your work? Currently I’m a stay at home mum on leave from my job with the Department of Education in Dar- win.

What do you do to unwind after work on weekends? Looking after a toddler I rarely have time to unwind but I do enjoy eating ice cream and watching tv once he is in bed.

What are you really good at? Talking. I can talk my way through a wet paper bag. I am also athletic and competitive which makes me a good netball player.

What is your pet hate? Definitely unclean kitchen benches and dirty feet.

If you could have a super power what would it be and why? To be invisible so that I could play pranks on people and get away with it.

Tell us about your best holiday ever? My first trip to Bali, it was amazing to enjoy a drink on the beach and watch the action around you. I loved the food and relaxed culture of the place.

What makes your day? Picking up my son from daycare, playing with him and having fun.

Tell us an interesting fact about yourself? Not many people know that I have really long and curly hair that reaches down to my legs.

Our Gal – Chloe Boyd

November 1, 2019 by Maggi Barnard

How long have you lived in or around Forbes and what do you like about living here? I have lived in Forbes for 3 years. I like the friendly people, laidback atmosphere and the stunning lake around the town.

Where do you work and what do you enjoy most about your work? I work as a veterinary nurse for Lachlan Valley Vets. I enjoy caring for animals daily, regardless of the fact it’s not at all glamorous. I particularly enjoy all aspects of surgery and learning something new every day.

What do you do to unwind after work or on weekends? I enjoy spending time with family and my other half and love the quality time with my dogs and alpacas. I like to unwind by playing my guitar, cooking and playing music a little too loud.

What are you really good at? I’m awesome at halter training animals and making a pretty decent pork roast.

What is your pet hate? The many negative stigmas attached to mental health.

If you could have a super power what would it be and why? I would love super strength so shearing alpacas and moving heavy animals at work would be a lot easier.

Tell us about your best holiday ever? When I was 16, we snorkelled and spent a day on the water around Magnetic Island. It was so beautiful.

What makes your day? Coming home to my better half, playing with the dogs, listening to Post Malone and a cold beverage in my hand.

Tell us an interesting fact about yourself? Although we are having a break from it at the moment, I have an alpaca stud with my father. We show, breed, train and shear alpacas in our spare time and I love it.

Our Bloke – Eric Johnson

October 25, 2019 by Maggi Barnard

How long have you lived in or around Forbes and what do you like about living here? I grew up on my family’s property at Murga and I had visited Forbes frequently before moving here at the start of this year.

Where do you work and what do you enjoy most about your work? I work at JR Richards in Parkes and I enjoy every day being an adventure, being non-routine and getting to spend it in a truck and meeting other people.

What do you do to unwind after work or on weekends? I work 6 days a week, so my day off on Sunday is usually spent catching up on sleep, spending time with my girlfriend and the dogs. I also enjoy fishing and being outdoors.

What are you really good at? I enjoy fixing things and getting things running again as I’m pretty mechanically minded.

What is your pet hate? Tomatoes and bad drivers.

If you could have a super power what would it be and why? Time travel so I can get through the few long days at work.

Tell us about your best holiday ever? When I was young, I went to Tangalooma in Queensland and fed wild dolphins. I’m going on holidays next month so I hope it will be memorable as it’s my first holiday in years.

What makes your day? Coming home to a killer dinner from the missus, especially her spag bol and cold beer.

Tell us an interesting fact about yourself? I can do 3 out of 4 skills a country bloke shouldn’t own up to because he’s more than likely to get stuck doing it, which is: shear a sheep, milk a cow and put up a fence. I’m still to learn how to shoe a horse.

Our Gal – Chloe Jayne Withers

October 18, 2019 by Maggi Barnard

Chloe Jayne Withers

How long have you lived in or around Forbes and what do you like about living here? I moved to Forbes when I was 5 and am now 22. I love that there isn’t heaps of traffic around because I’m always running late.

Where do you work and what do you enjoy most about your work? I work at the BP petrol station and also as a mobile makeup artist. I love helping people feel beautiful!

What do you do to unwind after work or on the weekends? I really love read- ing lately. Usually personal development books or financial books. I find it really relaxing.

What are you really good at? I’m pretty good at making people laugh. Sometimes with me and sometimes just at me.

What is your pet hate? I hate rude/sour people. It drives me crazy that some people find it so difficult to manage simple words like please and thank you.

If you could have a super power, what would it be and why? My super power would be to fly because I could travel anywhere I want at anytime and save heaps on flights.

Tell us about your best holiday ever? I really love going to the Gold Coast, even though I struggle with the heat. I love going to the theme parks, the beaches and seeing all the other cool attractions they have up there.

What makes your day? Unexpected kindness and my animals. It makes me so happy watching my dogs happily play around or seeing my cats enjoying a nap in the sun.

Tell us an interesting fact about yourself? I’m a bit of an adrenaline junkie, I love doing things that get the blood rushing and heart pumping. Heights, speedways or screaming matches with my brother Matthew all do the trick.

Our Bloke – Melvin Barry Smith

October 11, 2019 by Maggi Barnard

 

How long have you lived in or around Forbes and what do you like about living here? I have lived in Forbes since 2008. I like Forbes as there are a lot more work opportunities than I’ve had before and a lot better social life.

Where do you work and what do you enjoy most about your work? Central West Water Services. I enjoy working with the Forbes Council and being able to work locally.

What do you do to unwind after work or on weekends? After work I enjoy watching a bit of telly with some good snacks. If I’m not working on the weekend, I like to see my best mate Jeffrey Turner for some beers.

What are you really good at? I’ve been told I’m good at having a good old chin wag and helping out family moving furniture, mowing lawns or with naughty dogs.

What is your pet hate? People who sleep in all the time, because I can’t do it.

If you could have a super power what would it be and why? My super power would be to be able to eat as much as I want of whatever I want and not get fat or sick.

Tell us about your best holiday ever? North Queensland holiday. Went to Cook- town and came back down through the Daintree rainforest. It was so beautiful and nice to take time off work.

What makes your day? Having a good dinner at the end of the day, seeing my wonderful girlfriend Jan and my 4 dogs.

Tell us an interesting fact about your- self? I love dogs, especially my favourite ‘cupcake’.

Our Gal – Nina Hooper

October 4, 2019 by Maggi Barnard

Nina Hooper

How long have you lived in or around Forbes and what is the best thing about living here? About 7 years. Forbes is an amazing community with a beautiful natural landscape and rich heritage.

Where do you work or what do you do currently and what do you enjoy about it? I work at Forbes Shire Council and look after the Community and Tourism team. My favourite thing about work is my fantastic team and that we get to work with the community to do some great projects and events!

What is your favourite thing to do when you have free time? I love to read, garden and spend time with my family. I watch a lot of sport, dancing and horse riding and its great fun.

What makes you proud? My kids! For so many reasons. Not just because of their achievements but because of the wonderful humans they are becoming.

If you could be an animal which one would you choose and why? A bird would be pretty cool – imagine being able to fly!

What is your all-time favourite movie, song and/or book, and why? For books – Anything by Tim Winton. I like all kinds of music from Sting to the Grigoryan Brothers to Tim McGraw and the Hilltop Hoods.

What is on your bucket list? To travel more with the family. To find the time to be creative and it would be good to be fitter!

What are you really good at? Op shopping for clothes. I can pull some pretty good outfits together from the Vinnies racks. I’m a keen environmentalist so this appeals to me on both a fashion and a “looking after the planet” level.

Tell us about your best holiday ever? Summer holidays on the South Coast are always the best. It’s a time to swim every day, eat too much, watch the cricket, read all those books that have piled up and get to know everyone again.

What makes your day? A clever one liner. It’s always good to have a laugh.

Our Bloke -Josh Hodge

September 26, 2019 by Maggi Barnard

How long have you lived in or around Forbes and what do you like about living here? I have lived in Forbes all my life. It is a very nice place to live and very friendly.

Where do you work and what do you enjoy most about your work? I work at the Forbes Inn. I enjoy working with the team we have.

What do you do to unwind after work or on weekends? I like to spend time with family especially my niece Emmi.

What is your pet hate? My pet hate is when people are late. I always like to be on time.

If you could have a super power what would it be and why? If I had a super power I would like to be invisible just so I can hide from people.

Tell us about your best holiday ever? Any holiday with family are the best ones!

What makes your day? Being able to see my family and my niece Emmi.

Our Gal -Molly Fuge (FORBES SHOWGIRL 2019)

September 19, 2019 by Maggi Barnard

How long have you lived in or around Forbes and what is the best thing about living here? I was born and bred in the Forbes district. The best thing about living in Forbes, is the supportive community and the diverse agricultural industry that the district has to offer.

Where do you work or what do you do currently and what do you enjoy about it? I’m a Farm Hand for Lawson Grains. They provide me with opportunities to work with the latest technology allowing me to develop my skills. The training and support from across the company has provided me with the confidence to work in a male dominated industry and to enjoy my work.

What is your favourite thing to do when you have free time? Travelling to Ranch Sorting competitions, catching up with family and friends, being the occasional green thumb and going for the odd fishing trip.

What makes you proud? Watching my family and friends reach their goals. Seeing them all happy and healthy.

If you could be an animal which one would you choose and why? I would be a horse. Because I compete on them, I’ve always been interested in what it would be like to be behind the horses eye.

What is your all-time favourite movie, song and/or book, and why? I love a good Aussie movie! Like Australia, Crocodile Dundee or The Man from Snowy River. Any song that is country, is always good.

What is on your bucket list? I would love to travel around Australia! We have a beautiful country.

What are you really good at? Ranch Sorting. I’m currently in the Top 7 for the Rookie.

Tell us about your best holiday ever? Travelling to Narooma and going for a fish out to Montague Island is always a good holiday for me. Especially when there is copious amounts of seafood involved.

What makes your day? Knowing that I’m one step closer to reaching my goals. Knowing that I’ve done the best I could.

Tell us an interesting fact about yourself? I was bitten by a brown snake when I was 2!

Our Bloke -Dave Hodge

September 12, 2019 by Maggi Barnard

How long have you lived in or around Forbes and what do you like about living here? I have lived here my whole life. It’s a great place to live and people are very friendly.

Where do you work and what do you enjoy most about your work? I work at Forbes Shire Council in the Water/Sewer Department. I enjoy working with the blokes in our team and we are always up for a laugh.

What do you do to unwind after work or on weekends? I like to spend time with my family and I like exercising and playing sport.

What are you really good at? I’m really good at soccer and love exercising.

What is your pet hate? I hate when stuff isn’t organised, I’m a very organised person.

If you could have a super power what would it be and why? I wish I could fly so I can get to a place quickly.

Tell us about your best holiday ever? Best holiday was to south island of NZ about 3 years ago. Went on a helicopter for the first time and enjoyed my time away before having kids.

What makes your day? Waking up and seeing my beautiful daughter Emmi every morning.

Tell us an interesting fact about yourself? That I only started eating strawberries 2 years ago and now I eat them all the time.

Our Gal -Elise Sell

September 5, 2019 by Maggi Barnard

How long have you lived in or around Forbes and what is the best thing about living here? I have lived here for about a year and a half now. I love the community, everyone is so helpful and friendly, I also enjoy the Ski Dam too!

Where do you work or what do you do currently and what do you enjoy about it? I am a Personal Trainer at Anytime Fitness. I enjoy teaching people about health and fitness, and helping them reach their goals. Seeing them achieve their goals is so rewarding.

What is your favourite thing to do when you have free time? Anything outdoors really, but Horse Riding and Water Skiing would have to be my favourites.

What makes you proud? Seeing my clients transform so much mentally and physically throughout their training, and their reaction when their hard work and persistence pays off.

If you could be an animal which one would you choose and why? I would have to choose a lion, they have just always been my favourite animal.

What is your all-time favourite movie, song and/or book, and why? The Lion King! It’s just a classic, I don’t think I’ll ever be too old to watch it!

What is on your bucket list? I’d like to give Plane Aerobatics or Bungee Jumping a go!

What are you really good at? Sports or anything adventurous, and if I’m not good at it I’ll still give it a go.

Tell us about your best holiday ever? Batemans Bay, it’s no ‘wow’ holiday destination but the company was good and I got to go Sky Diving, it was a pretty great experience!

What makes your day? My pets, they are such characters! And Coffee.

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