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Forbes Phoenix

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.

Our Bloke -Dylan Johnson

August 29, 2019 by Maggi Barnard

How long have you lived in or around Forbes and what do you like about living here? I’ve lived in the area for around 8 years. It’s always a great place to come back to where everyone is friendly and up for a chat.

Where do you work and what do you enjoy most about your work? I manage Anytime Fitness and love the work because of the social aspect and the ability we have to transform people and change lives.

What do you do to unwind after work or on weekends? Mostly working on my own businesses or having a few drinks with friends or family.

What are you really good at? Making cocktails, weightlifting and procrastination.

What is your pet hate? People walking slow (not so much of an issue here rather than Sydney).

If you could have a super power what would it be and why? Super strength, so I wouldn’t need to lift as many weights.

Tell us about your best holiday ever? My best holiday ever would be an adventure holiday trying some of the most dangerous activities like base jumping, wing gliding, mountaineering and survival treks.

What makes your day? Good people, great vibes and smiles.

Tell us an interesting fact about yourself? I’ve done some acting for commercials previously in Hong Kong and Australia

Our Gal -Nadika Vidler-Mckeown

August 22, 2019 by Maggi Barnard

How long have you lived in or around Forbes and what is the best thing about living here? I’ve lived in between Forbes and Parkes my whole life. Forbes has great places to take kids, we especially love the park by the Pre-School.

Where do you work or what do you do currently and what do you enjoy about it? I’m a stay-at-home Mum at the moment. I don’t think anything could be as challenging yet rewarding at the same time. It really is the best job.

What is your favourite thing to do when you have free time? Get out and about with my son and partner! We love going to different community events.

What makes you proud? Watching my son learn new things! Every new word or gesture is something to celebrate.

What is your all-time favourite movie, song and/or book, and why? The Lion King, it reminds me of my childhood and it makes me smile and laugh and cry all at the same time!

What is on your bucket list? Snorkel at the Great Barrier Reef! Especially since it is quickly deteriorating.

What are you really good at? I can make a really good chicken carbonara!

What makes your day? When Jye gets home from work, my little boy is always so excited to see him and kick the footy together.

Tell us an interesting fact about yourself? I’m due to have a baby in the next few weeks!

Our Bloke -Blake Goodsell

August 15, 2019 by Maggi Barnard

How long have you lived in or around Forbes and what do you like about living here? I moved here when I was 9 – so I’ve lived here 24 years. Forbes is a great place to bring up the kids, we love it!

Where do you work and what do you enjoy most about your work? I work at Bernardi’s and have done for over 20 years. I work with great people and enjoy chatting with the customers.

What do you do to unwind after work or on weekends? There is no time to unwind with 4 kids! On weekends we take them to sport and after work I’m straight home to cook dinner for the family (Larissa doesn’t cook)!

What are you really good at? There’s not much I’m not good at! Look at me I am perfect!

What is your pet hate? When people don’t answer a call on a mobile phone. It’s called a mobile for a reason people – take it with you and answer it when people call!

If you could have a super power what would it be and why? I’d have dinner cooked for me every night because my partner doesn’t seem to know where the kitchen is.

Tell us about your best holiday ever? My best holiday was recently when I travelled with my eldest son to Port Hedland WA. We spent our time visiting family, touring national parks, fishing and relaxing. I loved spending one on one time with him because it doesn’t happen often enough.

What makes your day? When I come home to a cooked meal!

Tell us an interesting fact about yourself? I will not use a towel more than once!

Our Gal -Matilda Den

August 8, 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 in Eugowra for the past 11 years and recently moved to Forbes nine months ago. Living in Eugowra there was such a sense of community and family that was extremely comforting.

Where do you work or what do you do currently and what do you enjoy about it? I currently work at the Central Hotel Eugowra helping my family manage and run the pub. This has been a recent adventure for us something that has been extremely enjoyable and rewarding. I am also studying through Charles Sturt University to be a Technology and Applied Studies Teacher.

What is your favourite thing to do when you have free time? I love walking around the beautiful town of Forbes with my dog. We take full advantage of the beautiful lake on sunny days.

What makes you proud? My family. This adventure of us taking over the pub in Eugowra recently has been a major project for us all and I couldn’t be prouder of what we have achieved.

If you could be an animal which one would you choose and why? A whale, I wish I could travel and see as much as they do.

What is your all-time favourite movie, song and/or book, and why? Movie would have to be Tomorrow When The War Began. Book, anything by John Green and music, I love all of Ed Sheeran’s music.

What are you really good at? I’d like to say photography and cooking, they are major passions of mine.

Our Bloke -Daniel “Swanny” Swanston

August 1, 2019 by Maggi Barnard

How long have you lived in or around Forbes and what do you like about living here? I was born and raised in Forbes, so 23 years, I enjoy the friendly nature of everyone and how gorgeous a place Forbes is.

Where do you work and what do you enjoy most about your work? I work for Forbes Shire Council as a Sewer Plant Operator. The thing I enjoy most about work are the people I work with.

What do you do to unwind after work or on weekends? Footy of course both Union and League, Fishing, Camping, walking the dogs and don’t mind a bit of amateur photography too.

What are you really good at? I believe I’m really good at being a good bloke and helping others when they need a helping hand.

What is your pet hate? When there’s an empty car park and people still park right next to my Clubby.

If you could have a super power what would it be and why? Teleportation because then I could skip the long plane rides for holidays.

Tell us about your best holiday ever? Most difficult question that’s been asked but I’m going to say my first trip overseas where I ticked off a life long dream of visiting Egypt and more specifically seeing the Pyramids.

What makes your day? Coming home from work and seeing how excited the dogs are to see me.

Tell us an interesting fact about yourself? Swanston Street in Melbourne is named after a family ancestor.

Our Gal -Lucy Cole

July 25, 2019 by Maggi Barnard

How long have you lived in or around Forbes and what is the best thing about living here? I’ve lived in Forbes for 16 years! Particularly over the last few years I’ve noticed a major boost in the Forbes community, there are so many fantastic events and things to do and see.

Where do you work or what do you do currently and what do you enjoy about it? I’ve recently started as a Sales Executive for the Phoenix! I couldn’t ask for a better team to work with. I get to spend my working days doing what I love most; being out and about and talking to people!

What is your favourite thing to do when you have free time? Spending time with my little family. I also like going to the gym and drinking way too much coffee.

What makes you proud? Seeing my time and effort pay off! I love seeing results; whether it be my own results or my family’s.

If you could be an animal which one would you choose and why? A bird! Imagine never having to deal with traffic or potholes in the roads!

What is your all-time favourite movie, song and/or book, and why? I’m a sucker for the Harry Potter series. My dad introduced them to me when I was younger, so they’ve become almost sentimental to me.

What is on your bucket list? New Zealand is next on my bucket list! Renting a caravan and exploring for a few weeks with my other half, what could be better!

What are you really good at? Talking! And I love decorating cakes. I’m the least physically creative person you’ll meet but somehow I can whip up a pretty good cake!

Tell us about your best holiday ever? A month long trip to England! I have family around Brighton and it blew my mind how much the environment can change within such a short distance. And trying to pronounce town names in Wales was interesting!

What have you been doing during the school holidays?

July 18, 2019 by Maggi Barnard

Oliver, 11: I’ve been spending time with my grandma and helping her out.

 

Darcy, 7: We explored around Echuca and have spent lots of time with family.

 

Heidi Nicholson and Iris Walker, both 11: Hanging out and relaxing at home and Iris had a trip to Sydney!

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