Did you see this?

It was the work of new Forrest resident David Digapony. He built the sculpture near the river on West Barwon Reservoir reserve from local sticks, which he wove on Christmas Day.

David is an artist who creates ephemeral art from natural materials. This piece was truly ephemeral as it was removed after only two weeks. Barwon Water Operations Manager Shaun Cumming said that the sculpture posed a risk to public safety.

David says he likes to use circles in his work: ‘The circle is a basic shape but you don’t see them much in nature, so when you do, it resonates. I’m not sure why. The circle is also about eternity, it’s never-ending. I like to have one in most of my pieces to offset the natural look.’

He has moved to Forrest from the Yarra Valley to have a ‘tree change’ and spend more time on his art, which he sells from his website: www.wildandwoven.com/

Neighbourhood Watch is almost a pastime in rural towns, so it comes as a surprise when thieves manage to get away with something that belongs to us.

‘We did have a couple of thefts reported locally in December, including a trailer that was taken, and a ride-on mower stolen from a different address,’ said Forrest’s Senior Constable Dale Menzies.

‘While I wouldn’t describe it as a crime spree it is worth reminding everyone to be aware and report any suspicious persons, vehicles or behaviour to the police,’ Dale said.

‘Thefts like these can be avoided by locking away or securing items around your property. If items are locked away and out of sight then opportunistic type thefts won’t occur,’ he said.

1

Wild and woven in Forrest

Simple precautions to keep safe

FEBRUARY 2015

February 2015

Welcome to the first edition of the Forrest Post for 2015. This year we will contiue to bring your favourite articles covering news, people, history and sport. Your input is so important to make sure we cover all that’s happening in our fabulous town.

All issues are available to revisit or discover at issuu.com - just search for Forrest Post. You are also welcome to register for an electronic copy. Send us a request (and story ideas) at theforrestpost@gmail.com.

Mary, Laura and Mandy wish you a happy and prosperous 2015!

February 20152

A friendly community and good food voted Forrest’s top qualities‘A friendly community’ and ‘good food, coffee, beer’ were rated the aspects of Forrest both visitors and residents liked the best, in the recent Forrest & District Community Group surveys.

For residents, other high rating aspects were ‘healthy lifestyle’ and ‘bushwalks’. (These were ticked as ‘things they liked the most’ by over 50%). The beautiful natural environment, peace and school also figured prominently. For visitors, ‘mountain bike tracks’, ‘bushwalks’ and ‘bush’ also rated highly.

A total of 113 visitors and 61 residents had returned surveys by the end of January. The surveys were open during late December and January, and distributed at local businesses and online. According to 2011 census data, nearly one-quarter of the resident population returned responses.

The surveys have provided a large amount of useful information about what people value about Forrest, and what they think would improve the town. For example, we now know:

• Many visitors and residents

think weed-free drains and attractive planting would improve the visual appeal of Forrest, although a number suggested that we should resist the temptation to ‘prettify’ or change Forrest too much: that it is a nice place as it is.

• Most visitors and residents think an independent website, containing both tourist and community information, is important. We also know the types of information that visitors need.

• While many residents will leave town on Code Red fire danger days, a similar proportion is likely to either stay and defend their properties, or only leave if a fire comes close. The West Barwon Dam is the most likely place people would flee to if they left it too late to leave Forrest.

• Most residents support a horse tie-up rail in Station Street (provided waste is managed properly)

A few of the more interesting ideas to come out of the surveys are:

• Why not use the Forrest Recreation Reserve for an ‘inflatable drive-in’?

• Why not investigate landscaping drains with rocks and native rushes, as

has been done successfully in another Victorian town?

The Forrest & District Community Group will bear these opinions and ideas in mind as we review strategic plans for Forrest and district, and work with other groups and organisations to help plan developments.

The residents’ survey also asked people to comment on the Forrest Neighbourhood House’s strategy plan. The Neighbourhood House management now has quite a number of interesting suggestions for services it could include in its program.

The complete (anonymous) survey data is available on request: email forrestcommunity@gmail.com. The Forrest & District Community Group will also prepare a summary of the data during February, which will also be available on request.

Mary Dracup

Secretary, Forrest & District Community Group

The Forrest Post is an initiative of the Forrest and District Community Group. Every effort is made to remain current, accurate and non-partisan. Feedback, submissions and advertising input are encouraged. Submissions may be edited. You may request an electronic version by email delivery.

Contact theforrestpost@gmail.com Editors Mandy Bishop, Mary Dracup Layout Laura McKinnon Printed by Geelong Printworks Pty Ltd, Grovedale© Forrest and District Community Group

February 2015 3

Forrest is increasingly popular with weekenders. Caravan living at the Wonky Stables caravan park is a cheaper option offering a social aspect that is quite attractive for some people.

Peter Bodger is one of almost two dozen ‘permanents’ at the caravan park. He and fiancée Sue try to get down from Geelong at least twice a month. Peter chose the park because he loves the Otways.

‘I’ve gotten to know a few people over my time in the park and I really love the relaxed and friendly atmosphere,’ he says.

New owners Ruth and Justin Mason purchased the caravan park in

November 2013 and have been really happy with the transition over the last 12 months. They also run outdoor activity centre Planet Mud and the Wonky Donkey Hotel.

‘To be able to offer a combination of food, drink, accommodation and activities is a real bonus and we are proud to be bringing new blood into Forrest to support the town,’ said Ruth.

Bec and Tony Luppino and their teenage daughters have just joined the permanent site holders

at Forrest.

‘It’s the best decision we ever made,’ says Bec. ‘Tea & Jess are getting to the pointy end of their schooling so our hope is to be able to spend quality family time with them at our Forrest retreat

before they head off into the big wide world.’

‘Ruth and the crew at the park have been awesome,’ said Bec. ‘You have a weekend away where there are no lawns to mow! Since purchasing our van we have had another couple of friends do the same.’

The park is set on approximately 8 hectares with access to tennis courts and a playground.

‘Some permanents have been with us for years, and we feel that we have a really lovely, positive and great bunch of people,’ said Ruth.

Who’s New

Caravan park

‘perman

ents’ The Luppino Family

Peter Bodger and fiancée Sue

DEPI moving to Barwon DownsThe Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (formerly DEPI) recently finalised the purchase of 2.5 hectares of land at Barwon Downs to develop a new office and depot base. As a result they are looking to relocate key operations from Forrest in 2016.

DELWP has purchased the existing Barwon Water depot at 1680 Birregrurra Forrest Road. The Barwon Downs office and depot will serve as a base for land management within the Otway Forest park and a strategic base for fire-fighting personnel and vehicles.

‘This project at Barwon Downs involves improving office and depot functionality by consolidating three smaller sites in Forrest where offices, parking and depot areas are currently

spread,’ said Otway District Fire and Land Manager David Rourke.

Construction of the new facility is expected to start later this year with the new facility providing DELWP with rapid bushfire and other emergency responses in the Otway ranges by mid 2016.

‘The new design at Barwon Downs will help ensure we meet modern workplace standards for staff and crew, which grows to almost 20 staff over summer months,’ said David. ‘The project is similar to current construction of new facilities in

Gellibrand, with the design to use sustainable principles and be built to withstand bushfire attack levels.’

At this stage there is no information about plans for the existing land and buildings occupied by DELWP in Forrest.

4 February 2015

How long have you lived in Forrest?

I was born here. I grew up in Frizon Street, where Norm and Jess Douglas live now. I went to the Forrest School when there were 120 kids there.

What has kept you here?

I’ve always had plenty of work here. When I left school I had $3. I did farm work, then worked with the Forrest Commission, then I went logging with Armisteads for 25 years. I always wanted to farm, so started leasing farms and milking while I was still logging. They were

long days! When the logging finished I was already full-time farming and contract fencing, and whatever else people wanted me to do. I’ve got 180 acres here now. I’ve finished milking, but I still do a lot of farm work around the district.

Forrest has been very good to me and it’s a good place to live. I’ve liked the people I’ve grown up with here.

What are some changes you’ve noticed?

When I was a kid there were three shops here, a bakery, a butcher shop and four sawmills. Everyone had a job, and all the houses had a nice neat front garden and a vegie garden at the back. There were more people living here full time and they looked after their properties. Every farm had a family on it and you wouldn’t see a weed on them.

There was always something going on at the old hall: cabarets or kitchen teas, and films. Everybody knew everybody—if someone left Forrest they had a send-off at the hall and people all chipped in for a present. Now people come and go and you don’t even know they’ve been! People say Forrest is going ahead now, but I remember when it was so much better. However, it’s great to see the improvements to the shop and the Guesthouse.

Plans for the future?

Keep going as is. I’m quite happy living in Blundy Street, walking to the pub on a Friday night and chatting with Wal and the others.

Who’s

Who

John M

arri

ner

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5February 2015

Susan Langridge spent six weeks during December-January in the mountains of East Timor, where she was doing community work. She gave away 40 pairs of donated reading glasses, medical supplies and books. She didn’t get a chance to do the health education work she had planned because the road to the village where it was to take place was flooded.

Pleased to be home to a constant, safe water supply, Susan sent us the following notes from her time in the village of Ainaro.

• The Timorese are incredibly polite. They will always shake hands on meeting and if they feel really glad to meet you will touch their heart after shaking your hand. The children will often kiss your hand and raise it to their forehead. On New Year’s Day my hand was kissed by adults as well. This happened so often I knew what it felt like to be the Pope.

• They are very hospitable. A drink is always offered when you visit a house and to refuse is very difficult, even if

you have already visited many other people.

• The Timorese are very religious. The Catholic Church dominates every town. Ainaro’s church, the size of an Australian cathedral, was packed to capacity every Sunday. Midnight mass on Christmas Eve drew over 2000 people dressed in their best clothes. They stood for three hours.

• They love parties and dancing. They do a formal two-step forward, three-step back stomp, but increasingly the young people prefer to dance the Carolina, which is a bit like a circular Zorba.

• They love their music loud. Most Timorese are under the age of 20 and they seem to be the ones who control the volume setting on the public sound systems. Every bus, angoona (truck with seats), and mikolet (tiny bus)

was driven with the volume at 11. The passengers fell against each other to a thumping back beat of hip hop or Indonesian electronica.

• Timor is only an hour from Darwin but in many ways it can feel like you have been transported back to the 1950s.

Gardeners can help protect Australia’s $1 billion softwood plantation industry from a new insect pest called giant pine scale.

Giant pine scale is a sap-feeding insect which can attack pine, fir and spruce trees. It grows to 12mm and can be found in bark cracks and the underside of branches often hidden under the white cotton-like wax it secretes. Over 500 infested trees have been detected so far in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs.

Gardeners can report any white, waxy secretions they see on their pine, fir and spruce trees via the toll-free Exotic Plant Pest Hotline 1800 084 881. Residents can also email photos of the suspected pest, together with a contact phone number and the location, to plant.protection@ecodev.vic.gov.au. The majority of infested trees will be safely treated using an insecticide stem injection.

Picture courtesy:www.thoughtplanters.com

Susan’s summer in East Timor

Pine pest

APPLIANCE

REPAIRSWAShINg MAChINESDRyERSDIShWAShERS

Darryl DiffeyPh 0424 054 914ddiffey75@gmail.com

The Cob Clinic in ForrestAcupuncture &

Massage TherapiesAndrew & Shizu

(03) 52366 493colacotwaychinesemedicine.com

Susan fits a talented but long-sighted dressmaker with pair of donated glasses

6 February 2015

ChurCh ServiCeSAnglican services

2nd & 4th Sundays, 11.15am

uniting services1st Sunday, 10.30am

St James Church, Grant St, Forrest

Brew Crew Social RidesDepart 6.15pm every Thursday

from Forrest Brewery

W h a t ’ s h a p p e n n i n g !More info: www.rapidascent.com.au/giantodyssey/

FORREST FOOTBALL N E T BA L L CLUB

NETBALL MEET THE COACH & REGISTRATION

SUNDAY 8th FEBRUARY 10.30am-12.00pm Forrest Netball Courts

CLUB FAMILY DAY LUNCHSATURDAY 21st FEBRUARY 12pm

Waurn Ponds Hotel for football & netball players, wives, husbands, partners, parents, children and supporters are all welcome.

10th ANNiverSArYFOrreST LiON’S CLuB

OTWAY SOuP FeSTSuNDAY 7th JuNe

homemade soup competition Plus categories for other homemade goodies,

the largest vegetable grown locally, home brewed beer and wines.

Market and craft stalls, soup for lunch, BBQ, Pizza, coffee and Devonshire Tea

7February 2015

Logs, rocks, drops, corners, berms, downhills, uphills, roots & ruts: if you ride a bike on a Forrest mountain bike trail, you will find one or all of the above.

Here’s the breaking news for you - these are not obstacles, rather they are

Trail Features!

Meant for fun, not fear. Meant to be solved, not avoided.

Trail builders put this stuff in for riding, so if a trail is too hard, choose easier ones and work your way up in good time.

How do you turn riding your mountain biking experience into a fun solution focused game?

Gain knowledge and learn how.

Fundamental Mountain Biking Technique No.1: Understanding how to use your body weight on the bike.

Imagine yourself being dynamic, shifting your body weight to ‘assist’ the bike along a trail.

See a root coming up? Move your weight off the front wheel to allow it to roll freely over it.

See a drop coming up, same deal.

We call this unweighting. There is a lot more to it than my couple of sentences, but if you can do this more often, you will enjoy the trails more.

World champion Jess Douglas runs skills classes from the

Forrest Corner Store

YOURRIDESTARTSHERE

CNR STATION ST & BLUNDY STBIKES - COFFEE - CULTURE

Jess’ MTB tips: ‘Single Track riding - Seeing the solution in the problems!’

phone 5236 6170forrestbrewing.com.au | Apollo Bay Road, Forrest

phone 5236 6170forrestbrewing.com.au | Apollo Bay Road, Forrest

Open 7 days a week - all year round

You’ve gotta try the ‘Bubba Gump’s’ Cajun Shrimp Po’ Boy

before the summer menu is over...

Monday - Wednesday - open 9 - 5pm, serving breakfast & lunch

Thursday - Saturday - open 9 - late, serving breakfast, lunch & dinner

PIZZA for dinner on Thursday night (eat-in or take-away)

Sunday - open 9 - 5pm, serving breakfast & lunch

February 20158

News briefs...Better broadbandMember for Corangamite, Sarah Henderson, has announced that community consultation will occur in 2015 for the construction of fixed wireless broadband facilities in the region, including one in Forrest. Construction timelines are dependent on the outcomes of the consultation process.

‘It will utilise state-of-the-art 4G technology to deliver speeds of up to 25 megabits per second, which is faster than speeds achieved over ADSL networks in major cities,’ according to Ms Henderson.

Dialysis donationsKidney dialysis patients in our region can rest in comfort due to the efforts of the region’s Lions clubs. Three new chairs replaced the damaged second- hand ones that added to the ordeal of lengthy dialysis procedures at Colac Area Health.

Forrest and District Lions Club donated over $2000, sharing the costs with Colac, Birregurra and Winchelsea clubs. Funds donated were matched by Lions International to ensure this fantastic outcome for kidney disease sufferers in our region.

Disabled toilet grantThe Forrest and District Community Group donated $1500 to the Men’s Shed building project to enable them to incorporate a disabled toilet in their new building. The new facilities will be available to the wider community as well as club members.

Planned burning aheadDELWP’s planned burn season commences soon with planned burns scheduled for autumn around Forrest.

Priority burns in this area within the Otway Fire District include: Forrest – Titch’s Track; Forrest - Turner Drive; Forrest - Neck track; Forrest - Ridge Road; Forrest - West Barwon.

The Otway Fire Operation Plan map outlines these areas. Visit http://www.depi.vic.gov.au/fire-and-emergencies/planned-burns/fire-operations-plans/current-approved-fop for more information.

For queries regarding planned burns, residents are advised to contact the Victorian Bushfire Information Line (VBIL) on freecall 1800 240 667.

If you see smoke and want to know if it is from a burn or a fire, go to www.emergency.vic.gov.au

Firewood areas open in MarchThe Autumn firewood collection season opens on 1 March and runs until 30 June 2015. This helps avoid firewood being taken during the highest fire hazard periods and during winter.

The Centre Road East ground firewood collection area is scheduled to open for the Autumn firewood collection season and will be clearly identified with signs.

Residents are reminded that permits are no longer required to collect firewood for domestic use from State forests and those parks where collection is allowed. However, strict rules do still apply.

Only collect fallen or felled trees and do not collect more than 2 cubic metres per person per day. Each household is limited to 16 cubic metres of domestic firewood per financial year.

For domestic firewood collection areas, maps and directions to a designated domestic firewood collection areas visit www.delwp.vic.gov.au/firewood. For further assistance call the DEPI Customer Service Centre on 136 186.

After a year exploring other cultures, lands and peoples, Jasmine Walsh returned to family and Forrest in mid-January.

Jasmine travelled to Finland on a 12

month Rotary Exchange. While she was away she had a side trip to St Petersburg and a 3 month tour of Europe taking in the rest of Scandinavia as well as Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Monaco, Italy and Austria.

The 17 year old says she has grown in confidence over the last year.

‘I’m more independent I think,’ she says. ‘It’s easier for me to go places and do things now.’

The most significant difference she noted between Forrest and Finland was in the people.

‘The people are reserved and shy,’ said Jasmine. ‘Everyone has their

own bubble (personal space) and it’s rude to enter that.’

‘I had to become more like a Finnish

person – no conversations. Even at the dinner table, even though it’s your family, no-one talks much,’ she said. ‘At school it was weird. You know though that when you make a friend, it’s a friend for life. I made some really close friends.’

While it was great to come home, Jasmine is conscious that she had to leave one family to come home to another. Whilst she stayed in three homes, she became particularly close to one family that she had two stints with and whom she left at the airport.

So what’s changed in a year? ‘There are a lot more families in Forrest, more little children,’ said Jasmine.

The year 11 student has developed a passion for travelling as a result of her adventures. ‘You can go and experience so much but come home and know it will always be here,’ she said.

Finland to Forrest

February 2015 9

Geotechnical RepoRtsRisk assessmentscomputeR DesiGnslope stabilityWateR supplyFaRm Damsbush FiRe assessmentsite classiFications

Consulting EnginEEr

MICHAEL DELAHUNTY beng mieaust

ph 0428 141 441Fax 03 5233 4608

mddelahunty@bigpond.com

www.2020es.com

In the past year, four Forrest district families have had to deal with cancer diagnoses.

They and their families not only manage concern for their health, but travel long distances for treatments that take a toll on their mental and physical reserves.

Survival and recovery rates have continued to improve thanks to early diagnosis, more targeted treatments and improved care for the patient and their family. Research plays a vital part in this success.

Four members of our Lions club are currently managing treatment and care for themselves or someone in their family. These are people who volunteer their time to raise funds for our community and they now need our support to show we care for them.

Forrest and District Lions Club are coordinating a Forrest Folk team for Relay for Life in Colac on February

28 and March 1. Relay for Life is a 24-hour communal walking fundraiser which gives us the opportunity to show our neighbours that we walk the journey with them.

The Lions Club has kicked off the fundraising by donating $1000. The call is now out for our community to come together by volunteering to walk for an hour or two with your

family, friends, club or group and donate just $20 each to the cause. Let’s wear red, blue and gold to show our Forrest colours and big hearts!

Email theforrestpost@gmail.com or ring Mandy on 0433 362 639 to register your interest and your preferred walking time (remember it’s midday to midday!) so we can put a team roster together.

Relaying that we care

Two unique, fully self-contained, 3 bedroom cottages

Centrally located in the township of Forrest

For bookings:www.ozbook.com.auPhone 5243 3579

5 Grant Street FORREST

February 201510

Five new preps started their school journey at Forrest Primary School this month. They were joined by two other new students entering grades 2 and 3, bringing enrolment to 36 for the start of the new year.

‘We had seven students graduate from primary school in 2014,’ Said Darryl Harty, Principal of the Forrest Learning Centre. ‘All 7 headed off to either Trinity College or Colac Secondary School.’

‘During the holidays we had a major renovation of the Junior Room,’ said Darryl. ‘It now provides a fantastic learning space for Ms Mac’s Grade P-2 students’

The school had some terrific achievements in 2014. An Education Department review in December identified very high academic achievement, including Naplan results. Student engagement and wellbeing measures were also high.

‘We are currently celebrating this pleasing result,’ said Darryl. ‘One future focus of the school will be in the writing domain, particularly in the area of spelling. We also plan to continue building on the community partnerships currently in place.’

The school won the Walk to School initiative in October and the children are looking forward to the prize of a soccer clinic with Melbourne City.

‘For such a small, rural school we are fortunate to have such a robust curriculum,’ said Kim Coulter, parent and School Council member. ‘We are (also) extremely humbled by the strong support of our parent community.’

Forrest is one of two centres in the state offering care and education from birth to grade 6. It incorporates maternal health for newborns, long day care, 3 and 4 year old kindergarten as well as all primary grades.

‘Preschool numbers are a little down on previous years, but long day care positions are filling up quickly,’ said Darryl. ‘Long day care is available from 9am on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays.’

Prepped and ready to go!

The Wonky Donkey is a newly renovated family friendly pub in Forrest Victoria

wonkeydonkey.com.au

• Good honest hearty pub food• Weekly changing specials• Beer garden

• Woodcutters Bar with pool and sports TV• Children’s playground• Take away menu• “Kick Ass” coffee

Enjoy a full cooked country-style breakfast

Relax in our large hydro-therapy spa pool

Soak up the Otway Valley views from your private suite

Your Hosts - Bob & Carol

www.forrestrivervalley.com.au

Couples ACCoMModAtion

February 2015 11

Life was tough, dramatic and often painful in the early 1900s in the Forrest district, according to a book published recently by Pam Jennings. Bush nursing at Forrest and district tells hair-raising tales of having to race on horseback or bicycle to serious accidents in the bush. The bush nurse would routinely set fractures, stitch wounds and deliver children.

The bush nursing service existed from 1915 to 1938. It had no government funding but was entirely supported by subscriptions from the community. The community even provided the nurse’s house.

It was the last nurse, Sister ‘Pollie’ Dowie, who is most fondly remembered. Her loyal husband Eric would sometimes drive her to a home visit, saving her using her bicycle.

Here are some extracts from the book:

• June 15 1927: Albert O’Neil, a Forrest supporter, was returning by train from the Birregurra–Forrest football game when he accidentally fell from the train between Yaugher and Forrest. There was no communication chord so his companions could do nothing until

the train arrived at Forrest. They rushed back to find him next to the track, semi-conscious, with a nasty cut, 3 inches long, on the back of his head. He was brought to Forrest on a tricycle and treated by the

bush nurse.

• June 24 1925: The coach from Apollo Bay, driven by proprietor John Kenneaddy, was passing the Terminus Hotel when one of the four horses became restive and bolted towards the railway station. After the driver safely negotiated the coach into the station yard it hit a fence and overturned. One of the four passengers, a Presbyterian clergyman, was badly injured around the shoulder. The Forrest bush nurse, Sister Amos, rendered first aid.

Bush nursing at Forrest and district can be obtained from the Forrest General Store and Forrest and District Historical Society.

Ken Widdowson

Forrest & District Historical Society

Forrest’s bush nursing history

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12

The Laughing Kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae) is one of the most familiar Australian birds, a patient hunter that sits still for long periods of time, scanning for any slight movement far below. The largest of the kingfishers, it is long-lived (to around 20 years) and doesn’t need drinking water so it thrives in the driest bush. Its flight may seem heavy compared to more ethereal predators such as hawks, yet a kookaburra can hover briefly to pick off a lizard high up on a tree trunk, or drop like a missile to seize a snake or even just a worm from the ground.

The two or three young are full sized, though not yet independent by late spring. They have to learn the laughing chorus, and it takes at least two adult birds to create the full sound. As patient as their parents, they sit on separate branches and fill in time between meals by practising various calls, ineptly at first though their performance becomes more polished over several weeks.

A typical session starts with one youngster deciding mum and dad may be a while yet before they bring the next skink, and starting a sequence in increasingly excited tones. This is likely to include such favourites as a throaty and drawn out ‘Waah-aah-aah’, followed by a higher-pitched ‘Ooh-ooh-ooh’. Its

sibling will often join in with brief comments such as ‘Aah-aah’ or a strangulated chuckle, but often it just listens pensively until the performance seems to be over, before adding a thoughtful ‘Oook’.

Nick Romanowski

Kookaburra

February 2015

Forrest has a new netball coach with Michelle Stewart to join the club this season as the A-grade playing coach. Michelle is an experienced netballer from Geelong who is looking to turn the club’s fortunes around.

Forrest has struggled on court in recent years but is looking to rebuild and the new appointment has already created some enthusiasm and optimism around the town.

Our local policeman Dale Menzies has also got involved taking up the role as the netball co-ordinator. Forrest has three senior teams while three junior teams compete in under 17, under 15 and under 13 grades. ‘The netball club is important to the town just as much as the football, cricket, tennis, mountain biking and other community groups’ Dale said.

The netball club is looking for players – both adult and junior along with sponsors, helpers or supporters. If you are able to help out please get in contact with Dale.

Dale Menzies - Mobile 0412 053 595

Optimism for season 2015 with new netball coach

New appointments, new enthusiasm: 2015’s A-grade coach Michelle Stewart and

netball co-ordinator Dale Menzies