STILL AMAZING: While 2021 had some highlights including Forbes belated 150 year celebrations and visits from dignitaries, many have more reason to be optimistic about 2022. This photo of the Amazing sign west towards Condobolin by Emma Baxter is not only a reminder of how amazing Forbes is but also the hard reality of what we are facing. Like we have always done, we will do it all again tomorrow. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from everyone at the Forbes Phoenix!
In what can only be described as another ‘eventful’ year, 2021 still had plenty of local highlights from 151 year gala celebrations to Taste On Templar.
The beginning of the year saw many negotiate their way through COVID restrictions with home-school, flexible working arrangements, QR codes, masks and vaccinations all topics of the day. Most events were postponed or cancelled as local businesses came to grips with new ways to trade as the NSW Governor General Margaret Beazley visited our amazing Mensshed.
We had a change within the National Party after Barnaby Joyce won a spill over our federal member, Michael McCormack. Frost and Fire was a shining light in a long, wet winter as was Charlie Staines Penrith Panthers. KHub also came to town!
Local sports competitions were able to commence, albeit before more restrictions in Spring and then came the floods. Floods that destroyed a potential record winter harvest and put pay to summer returns. Many are still surrounded by water.
Staines and his Panther teammates won the NRL grand final 14-12 over South Syd-ney while our new Premier, Dominic Perrottet popped in not once but twice. So too did Prime Minister Scott Morrison to thank our SES volunteers and cook lunch.
We finally had our council elections, some five years after the last. With numbers still being counted at time of print, Phyllis Miller again is safe with Steve Karaitiana, Jenny Webb, Marg Duggan and Aiden Clarke also in strong positions. Chris Roylance and Maria Willis also look well-placed with only 88 votes separating 8th from 13th. See you in 2022!