Free Cuppa for the Driver campaign shifts up a gear
By Dominic Geiger
The success of the ‘Free Cuppa for the Driver’ campaign will see the initiative expand well beyond the borders of Forbes, Parkes and Lachlan Shires when it is reintroduced in Easter next year.
The campaign, which was first run last Christmas holidays, invites participating businesses to offer free cups of coffee or tea to drivers passing through town with the aim of combating driver fatigue in rural areas.
Speaking at the recent Lachlan Shire Council meeting, Road Safety Officer for the Forbes, Parkes and Lachlan Shires, Melanie Suitor, said businesses as far north as Moree would now be asked to participate.
“It was an interesting campaign and we learnt a lot from it,” she said.
“We had about 75 people who took part in the project fill out feedback forms and who also went into the draw to win various prizes.
“The feedback we received from businesses was that summer was too hot for people to want coffee or tea, so that’s why we’ve moved it to the Easter holidays this time.”
Melanie said the campaign also offered businesses a chance to promote themselves.
“We’ll be creating posters and stickers as well as erecting banners at the entrances to towns to help raise awareness about the scheme,” she said.
“We’ll also cross promote towns through tourism information centres and caravan parks.”
In Condobolin, approximately five businesses took part in the campaign last Christmas.
Angela Coceancic, from participating business Nolls Bakery, said she found very few people actually asked for the free cuppa, despite having promotional posters on the windows of the bakery.
“We found we offered the drinks more often than the customers asked for them,” she said.
“People were very appreciative, but it seems if people actually want coffee, they’re going to pay for it rather than be looking for something for free.”
Moogenilla bull sale
Condobolins “Moogenilla Angus Stud” will be offering 50 Bulls at auction in Forbes on Friday the 5th August.
“This will be our second auction in Forbes after 20 years of selling on farm north of Condobolin” Sarah Wrigley of Moogenilla said.
Last year’s auction saw a total clearance, partly due to a terrific season driving the demand for bulls.
“It gave our existing clients a chance to inspect all our best bulls at once, and introduced some new clients from further east.
“This year we will offer more bulls, and are expecting to have a higher number of affordable options for local breeders to choose from” she said.
The Moogenilla herd has recently been benchmarked in the top 5% of all Angus herds for the CAAB $Index in a TakeStock Report commissioned by Angus Australia.
“We use the TakeStock Report to check all our breeding objectives are being met, and to see how we’re travelling compared to other breeders. We’re really pleased with the recent report.
“Moogenilla is above average in all areas, with excellent results in Growth, Marbling and Eye Muscle Area.
“We will continue to focus on growth, to ensure maximum weight in all our client’s calves, and we are continuing to aim to supply the best genetics in the world at commercially viable prices to beef producers” she said.
Pictured right is Brett Stockman who has been weighing Moogenilla calves this week. Brett moved to Condobolin from Tarcutta in June to take up a position with the Moogenilla cattle and cropping program. Brett is already enjoying the wide open spaces Condobolin offers, and is looking forward to settling into our community.
Tackling speeding issues
Essential Energy crews from across the Parkes, Forbes, Lachlan, Orange and Cabonne local government areas are the first in the region to participate in a new road safety workshop tackling speed on the Henry Parkes and Escort Ways.
The workshops are one of the key strategies of the regional ‘Like the back of your hand’ project which was launched in Manildra in June.
Parkes, Forbes and Lachlan Shire Councils’ Road Safety and Injury Prevention Officer, Melanie Suitor, says the workshops were designed to provide important information about the dangers of speeding.
“We are really pleased that Essential Energy is the first business in the region to sign up their employees for these free road safety workshops.
“Workshops will be conducted with Essential Energy employees at Orange, Canowindra, Molong, Parkes, Forbes, Condobolin, Peak Hill, Tottenham, Trundle and Lake Cargelligo depots.
“In the past five years there have been nearly 150 crashes on the road between Condobolin, Parkes and Orange. Six people have been killed and 60 have been injured. The majority of drivers who crashed were local residents or lived in a neighbouring town. All of the crashes had speed listed as a contributing factor.
“These interactive workshops outline the various issues associated with speeding which impact on all drivers who use the Henry Parkes and Escort Ways. The workshop runs for about 30 minutes and participants are encouraged to complete a quiz which enters them into the draw for a $50 fuel voucher and gives us feedback on what they learnt.
“A copy of all workshop materials will be provided to participating business for use in future staff training and staff inductions.
“We have sent invitations to the larger businesses in the local community to also take part in the workshops. If you haven’t received an invitation but would like to host a workshop at your business please contact me on 6861 2364,” Ms Suitor said.
Essential Energy’s regional general manager, Central Western, Chas MacPhail said Essential Energy is a strong supporter of the Like the back of your hand program and was happy for the regions depot crews to participate in the road safety workshops.
“Essential Energy covers 95% of New South Wales and has over 4000 employees which results in quite a large fleet that last year alone travelled approximately 7 million kilometers, some of that on the Henry Parkes and Escort ways.
“Essential Energy’s number one priority is safety – safety of the public, our employees and the network – so involving our employees in these workshops enhances our already very strong safety culture,” Mr McPhail said.
Other project strategies include; the use of courtesy speed monitor trailers, radio advertising, a radio competition, the distribution of brochures/posters to doctor’s surgeries, roadside banners and regular media coverage.
The Like the back of your hand project is a collaboration between five regional councils along or bordering the Henry Parkes and Escort Ways, including Orange City Council, Cabonne Shire Council, Parkes Shire Council, Forbes Shire Council and Lachlan Shire Council.
Students set to benefit from CHS upgrades
A $1.19 million dollar project at Condobolin High School (CHS) will this term give students access to state of the art equipment in both metal works and horticulture.
The project is part of an initiative which, in conjunction with similar developments at Parkes and Forbes high schools, aims to give students throughout the region the opportunity to take part in various traineeships.
CHS principal, Bob Carline, said students from all three schools could travel to whichever campus offered the traineeship they happened to be interested in.
“Both Forbes and Parkes will also offer food tech,” he said.
“The metal works room has new lathes and welding equipment and for horticulture we have a shed which will be used as a tutorial room and a place for plant propagation.
“[The rooms and equipment] raise the standard of the school so we are now able to offer traineeships and expand the range of courses available to students.
“Part of this project was used in the F1 competition, with $100,000 worth of CAD software now being used in graphics classes.”
Metal works teacher, Darryl Porter, said the new trade centre would benefit the whole Condobolin community.
“Having a trade centre in the school will give students access to industry standard equipment,” he said.
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Condo primary schools compete at CWA Public Speaking Competition
Eight students from St Joseph’s Condobolin and Condobolin Public School recently travelled to Forbes to compete in the annual CWA Public Speaking Competition.
Destiny Nagle, Felicity Baxter, Eliza Packham and Kirby Snape represented the Public School, while Madeline Sinderberry, Bianca Smith, Lucy Kirk and Georgie McMillan represented St Joseph’s.
Topics presented included ‘It’s Magic’, ‘The Adventures of a Dollar’, ‘If I had Wings’ and ‘Morning’.
Both Madeline and Lucy achieved ‘Highly Commended’ results and will now go on to present new speeches at the final round of competition in Parkes on June 21.
Lucy will be presenting a speech on the topic ‘The Perfect Gift’ while Madeline will be presenting her interpretation of ‘What an Adventure’.
Lucy said she was incredibly excited about the upcoming event.
“I hope we go really well,” she said.
New cultural festival announced for Forbes
By Dominic Geiger
Former Condobolin resident and author, Merrill Findlay, has announced a brand new cultural festival will be held in Forbes this September.
The Kalari-Lachlan River Arts Festival will incorporate visual arts, multiple styles of music, theatre and literature to offer something for “every age and interest group.”
Merrill, who is the festival’s convenor, said the legend of Kate Kelly, the sister of the infamous Ned Kelly, had helped provide the genesis for the festival.
“I wanted to create an opera about Kate Kelly, whose body was found in Forbes Lagoon, and I met Ross Carey, who was a piano teacher with the Mitchell Conservatorium,” she said.
“From that meeting we developed a really good collaboration for this song cycle about Kate Kelly… and that song cycle will now headline the festival.
“The Song Cycle consists of forty minutes of very accessible new classical music for soprano voice, violin, cello, clarinet, piano accordion, community choirs and clap stick.”
Merrill said although classical music would be featured in the festival, there would also be many other genres on show.
“There’ll be jazz, country, hip hop…we’ll have lots of buskers as well; any musicians in the region are able to perform,” she said.
“We even have a minister for busking, Robert Hofwell, who is President of the Forbes Country Music Club, and will be drawing on his experience when planning the busking venues and program for the festival.
Rather than a traditional organising committee, Merrill said a cabinet of twelve ‘ministers’ would be responsible for the running of the event.
“Each (minister) will be responsible for a portfolio of festival events and activities, ranging from stage performances, busking and lantern making, to exhibitions, markets and creative sports,” she said.
The cabinet will also include one of Condobolin’s very own, with Rural Mental Health Consultant, Di Gill taking on the role of Minister for Mental Health.
“Ms Gill will co-host a Beyond Blue Bowls Tournament with the Forbes Sports and Recreation Club on Sunday morning, 4 September, as part of the festival,” Merrill said.
The inaugural Kalari-Lachlan River Arts Festival will be held on September 3-4 in Forbes and will open the NSW State Landcare and Catchment Management Forum which will be held in Parkes the following week.
For more information, visit the festival’s website at www.merrillfindlay.com
Arts out west meets
Arts OutWest held a network meeting with various arts and crafts community representatives from Lachlan, Parkes and Forbes shires earlier this week at the Condobolin Community Centre.
The meeting, called ‘Crafting the Lachlan’, was held in order to facilitate new ideas to help promote community arts programs around the three shires.
The meeting had a particular emphasis on encouraging tourism based on the “interesting and special” artwork of the people who live in the Central West.
Tracey Callinan, Executive Officer of Arts OutWest, said the meeting aimed to bring together people with similar interests in arts and crafts and to share ideas.
“We’re trying to make plans about how to develop various community arts initiatives,” she said.
“At the moment we’re putting together a brochure which will include a map of the different places people can visit in the region.
“The project is important because discovering the different arts and crafts projects in a region can really help to show people what makes a place special.”
Tracey said her place in the discussion forum was to help facilitate the business side of arts projects.
“Some of the places have really great venues but the community needs help finding ways to promote them,” she said.
“The ideas at this meeting are coming from the people; we’re just helping to facilitate them.”
Anyone interested in taking part in Arts OutWest meetings can contact the organisation on the web at www.artsoutwest.org.au or contact Heather Blackley at Western Plains Regional Development on 6895 3301.
Centroc challenges national water commission’s report
By Dominic Geiger
Central NSW Councils (Centroc) has condemned a recently developed report from the National Water Commission, calling it a “diatribe against Councils providing water services in NSW.”
The report, titled ‘Urban Water In Australia: future directions’, calls for extensive reform to the way Councils manage water use in their shire.
Chair of the National Water Commission, Chloe Munro, said it was time for Australia’s governments to step back from direct intervention in urban water and give the industry incentives and freedom to innovate.
“‘There is ample scope for the industry to move away from its traditional focus on assets towards providing genuine consumer choice through more flexible, efficient and customer-driven products and services,” she said.
Chair of Centroc and Mayor of Forbes, Phyllis Miller, said the report made nonsense claims about the quality and pricing of council supplied water.
“The fact is we are delivering very well against other water service providers around the nation,” she said.
“We all know what happens when control over our utilities gets handed away from our communities; just look what happened with electricity.”
Lachlan Shire Councillor, Les Saunders, said the National Water Commission’s push to limit council’s involvement in supplying water to its residents was a step in the wrong direction.
“Council has to maintain its own water supply; it’s more practical being locally run,” he said.
“When the ability to manage water has been taken away from council, it’s not long before we have private enterprise creating a monopoly.
“Since 1990 when control of the water system was handed over to Lachlan Shire Council from Central Tablelands County Council it’s become efficient.
“Prior to 1990 no one had any say in what happened.
“Lachlan shire Council has a well organised run of all the water supplies in each of its towns.”
River stakeholders meet with MDBA Chairmen
By Dominic Geiger
Stakeholders representing various communities along the Lachlan River met with the Murray Darling Basin Authority Chairman Craig Knowles as he toured the region on Monday March 28.
Mr Knowles and the various representatives, which included mayors, landowners and Aboriginal groups, boarded a bus in Forbes which took them to a dairy farm east of the town.
Mayor of the Lachlan Shire Des Manwaring said Mr Knowles listened closely to the concerns voiced during the bus trip and at the farm.
“He said it was a fact finding mission for him; he was trying to get his head around the issues of the Lachlan River,” he said.
“He told us he had no pre-conceived views on what should be done here.
“The main thing (the stakeholders) told him was that the Lachlan is a closed system; it very rarely flows into the Murrumbidgee at all.”
Mary Ewing, Executive Officer at Lachlan Valley Water, said the Lachlan River flowed into a large marshland area which was usually cut off from the Murray Darling system.
“The Lachlan ends in the Great Cumbung Swamp near Oxley,” she said.
“The only time the river joins the Murrumbidgee is during a major flood.”
Des said the consensus amongst the stakeholders was that too much water had already been ‘bought back’ from the Lachlan and the tougher water allocation allowances had placed social and economic burdens on Lachlan River communities.
“There has been almost no water for ten years with the drought and people are just starting to recover,” he said.
“The Mayor of (The Carrathool Shire) got the point across that growth had slowed in Hillston since the water allocations were reduced in the town.
“Towns are on a limited supply of water as it is and we’re trying to entice people from Sydney to move here; there’s no way we’ll be able to do that if our water allocation is cut.”
Senior’s week at the RSL
Renowned entertainer and musician Stephen R. Cheney put on an incredible performance of contemporary and traditional Irish songs at the Condobolin RSL last Thursday.
The performance, which was part of the RSL’s Senior’s Week celebrations, saw an impressive turnout with the entire dining room filled with Seniors from as far away as Canberra.
Presenting his ‘Irish Connection’ act, Stephen wooed the crowd with soothing numbers made popular by Daniel O’Donnel and Charlie Landsborough.
Stephen said it was important to support Seniors with music they liked because the entertainment industry often left them behind.
“The music that’s popular today isn’t usually what the older generation likes to listen to, in the same way as the music they once listened to wasn’t liked by their parents and grandparents,” he said.
“This is my 6th Senior’s Week show; I usually stick to a selection of easy listening, middle of the road Irish songs.”
Brian Prothero, President of Condobolin RSL, said the performance was all part of the RSL’s contribution to Senior’s Week.
“We decided to put on a free concert for people,” he said.
“We’ve got busloads that have come in from Lake Cargelligo and Forbes for this.”
Therese Stenhouse, Day Care Coordinator at Lake Cargelligo Multi Purpose Health Services (MPHS), said the busload of people who had come from the facility were incredibly excited for the event.
“Not a lot happens in Lake Cargelligo so this is a big thing,” she said.
“The Seniors often don’t get a chance to do very much.”
Grace Wilson, who came on the bus from the Lake Cargelligo MPHS, said so far the day had been lovely.
“Everyone’s done a wonderful job getting us here,” she said.
“It’s such a big job; they’re really here to help us.
“I’m looking forward to the rest of today.”
Lachlan irrigator calls for new dams to be built
By Dominic Geiger
Irrigator on the Lachlan River and former Forbes Shire President, Charlie Francis, has been causing a stir in recent weeks with a media campaign aimed at encouraging people to reconsider the need for new dams in the Central West.
Mr Francis had an opinion piece published in The Land Newspaper last fortnight and was featured on the front page of the Forbes Advocate last week.
Mr Francis said he believes new approaches to water conservation are ignoring what has been learned from people working on rivers in the region for over 100 years.
“We need to listen to the stories our grandfathers taught us about irrigation,” he said.
“The Lachlan is not fully conserved; we need to conduct a feasibility study on the river to determine what percentage of the river’s flow can be placed in dams to ensure water security.
“I’m not taking a view that the environment isn’t important; let us determine the allocation necessary for the environment and conserve what’s left in dams.”
Professor Stuart Bunn, Director of The Australian Rivers Institute, said all the signs in the Murray-Darling Basin pointed to a series of rivers under stress due to current over allocations of water.
“My understanding of the Lachlan is that it’s in a relatively poor condition,” he said.
“Proposals now to increase the level of consumptive use of water from the river would be inconsistent with returning river flows to healthy levels.
“We’re in the middle of a wet patch at the moment and the temptation is to believe it will stay that way but we’ll be back to dry conditions before we know it.”
Lachlan Shire Councillor, Les Saunders, said it made more sense to consider new regulation weirs on the Lachlan rather than new dams.
“The Condobolin West Weir was suggested back in 1986; if it had of been built it would have backed water for fourteen miles up the Goobang creek and ensured a water supply for the entire town,” he said.
“The environmental impact of a new regulation weir would be less than a dam because the water would stay within the banks of the river.
“If you were to put a regulation three gate weir in it wouldn’t have an impact on fish stocks either because fish could travel under it.
“The problem with a dam is there’s no place to put it.”
Reviving farming enterprise seminar in Forbes
By Pennie Scott
Farming has its ups and downs. Keeping the family farming enterprise thriving is a challenge when you don’t know what the next obstacle may be.
Reducing these variations at the most base level – the soil – takes the extremes out of managing a farming business.
Hosted by BioNEW, world-renowned biological farmer and author Gary Zimmer is the special guest accompanied by colleague, Bob Yanda. Between them they have accumulated more than 60 years experience and knowledge. Supporting them are Australian biological farmers, an animal nutritionist and biological agronomists, Guy Webb and Tom Redfern from Gaia Consultancy.
These two-day participatory seminars cater for all sectors of agriculture, especially for people who are unsure where and how to start their transition into biological farming systems; experienced biological practitioners will be updated on the latest advancements.
On the first night of each seminar there is a dinner with the presenters – an ideal chance to meet Gary and Bob. Limited seats are available and an extra payment is required.
With changes in the seasons, this is ideal timing to learn about and implement biological practices.
Biological Farming Seminar is on at Forbes on the 17th and 18th March featuring Gary Zimmer and Bob Yanda from America,
Visit www.bionew.com.au for seminar programs or call 1300 711 367 .
Forbes horse sale a big success
By Olivia McInnes
One of New South Wales’ western region’s biggest cattle yards hosted the first horse sale for Forbes on Saturday.
Buyers, sellers and spectators vehicles filled the car parks at the Forbes livestock exchange on Saturday for the first ever Forbes horse sale. The sale attracted people from all over NSW including Sydney, Orange, Lake Cargelligo and Boggabri.
A total of 182 horses were sold, with the top selling horse going for $2400 in the ridden section. In general, horses sold for an average of between $500 and $1200, with trade horses peaking at $650.
Luke Whitney of KMWL said the sale was of ‘massive’ proportion’s, and much bigger than expected with more people attending the venue than ever seen before. There was also a large amount of saddlery and gear sold in the morning.
Overall it was a very successful day, and one which KMWL intend to repeat with the aim being to hold a sale every quarter.
Gee’d-up for inaugural Forbes horse sale
By Olivia McInnes
A saddlery, tack and horse sale will be held on Saturday 5th March, at the Central West Livestock Exchange in Forbes. The sale is being run by Kevin Miller, Whitty, Lennon and Co. (KMWL) and will be the first one of its kind run in the area.
Livestock agent Tom Tyson of KMWL says the sale has so far had a popular response, with approximately 100 horses being entered. “There is a big array of ridden and led horses entered. There are also a big assortment, from thoroughbreds through to kids ponies” he said.
Scott says that pending the coming sale’s success and support, KMWL plan to make it an ongoing event and hope to hold a sale every quarter.
Entries are to be sent to KMWL Forbes ASAP, and it would be appreciated if they could be in by the middle of this week.
Hospital mergers set to downgrade Forbes facilities
By Dominic Geiger
The potential merger of basic services including maternity wards at Forbes and Parkes hospitals has prompted an angry outcry from politicians, medical service workers and members of the public over the past week.
This proposal will significantly impact on Lachlan Shire women preparing to give birth following the closure of the Condobolin Health Service’s maternity unit in 2004.
In the most recent development, a spokesperson from the Western Local Health Network said no decision would be made on which services would be moved until further consultations with local doctors took place.
“There are more meetings planned with local doctors to address the issue,” the spokesperson said.
Earlier this month the Western Local Health Network had released a statement which said there has been a “proposed model (of hospital integration) presented… which details a suite of different but complimentary services which would be provided at either X and Y facilities.”
Mayor of Forbes Shire Council Phyllis Miller said the Western Local Health Network was a “toothless tiger” and under no circumstances would the Forbes or Parkes maternity ward, emergency service or surgical service shut down.
“In planning the services that will be merged, the Western NSW Local Health Network is flagging maternity as a possible option,” she said.
“The chances of this happening are nil; strategically speaking, it’s crucial to maintain both Forbes and Parkes.
“We are more than happy to negotiate other services, but we refuse to negotiate on emergency, maternity and surgical services.”
On the 14th of this month, ABC online reported several doctors at Forbes Hospital were threatening to quit if the merger of any of the three above mentioned services went ahead.
The staff member who was interviewed, Doctor Greg Whittaker, said he and other doctors at Forbes Hospital would be likely to leave within the year if the merger went ahead.
Ms Miller said the reason facilities such as maternity wards couldn’t be shut down was because having just one hospital servicing the needs of such a heavily populated region was completely unsustainable.
“It’s about having a holistic health service,” she said.
“We are entitled to the sustainability of both towns and we need both Parkes and Forbes Hospitals fully operational.”
Concerns to be voiced at Basin Plan meeting
Hundreds are anticipated to converge on Forbes tomorrow 4 November for the Murray Darling Water Plan community consultation sessions. This is the only consultation meeting scheduled for the Lachlan Valley.
All residents are encouraged to attend the meeting and voice their views and concerns of the Murray Darling Water Plan in its current state.
The meeting is at the Forbes Services Memorial Centre at 41-43 Templar Street from 9am-12pm. The Lachlan Shire Council have organised a bus for people needing transport which will leave the Council Champbers at 7.30am. For more information contact Lachlan Shire Council on (02) 6895 1900.
Consolidated approach to Basin Plan meetings
By Sally Willoughby
The Lachlan Shire Council will attend a meeting early next month before the Murray Darling Basin Authority’s information session in Forbes on 4th November to ensure a consolidated approach from Lachlan Valley councils to the proposed water cuts.
Cowra, Parkes, Forbes and Carrathool will join the local Council with Lachlan Shire Council Mayor Des Manwaring saying the meetings will ensure all the Council’s along the Lachlan Valley are on the same wavelength.
“Rather than come at different angles, the initial meeting will ensure we approach the Basin consultation with a consolidated approach and in that way hopefully present a stronger argument against it,” Mr Manwaring said.
With the Plan proposing strict water cuts to the region, Mr Manwaring said the cuts to town water supply were of most concern.
“They will be cutting us back to something like 340 litres [a day] of town water supply which is equivalent to last year’s restriction of fifty per cent and we ended up having to buy water in last year as we couldn’t survive on the restricted levels,” Mr Manwaring said.
The average consumption levels in the Lachlan Shire are 650 litres per person per day.
“It seems ludicrous to me to enforce such a restriction when it’s just not necessary,” Mr Manwaring said.
“We’ve come through ten years of drought which people could recover from but now we’re going to have an enforced drought that we very well may not recover from if the plan comes into place.
“The loss of agricultural production is important but just as important is the flow on effects if this Plan were to go ahead and loss of jobs that will occur down the line,” he said.
The closest public consultation meeting on the Murray Darling Water Basin Plan will be held at Forbes on November 4th at Forbes Services Memorial Centre, 41-43 Templar Street from 9am-12pm.