Ange Clarke, left, with her son Will, second from the right, former Australian cricket captain Steve Waugh, right, and artist Ben Quilty, second from left.
Forbes Shire Council is excited to announce advocate for inclusion and Where There’s a Will Founder and CEO, Ms Ange Clarke, as its 2025 Australia Day Ambassador.
Ms Clarke will take part in Forbes Shire Council’s official Australia Day proceedings at the Citizen of the Year Gala Dinner on Saturday 25 January, and the Community Breakfast at Lions Park on Sunday 26 January.
Ms Clarke’s son, Will, lives with autism, and during his childhood he often struggled to be included in activities most children would fit into easily.
Determined to break the stigma around people with disabilities and be a champion for inclusion, Ms Clarke created Where There’s a Will in his name – a business that re-purposes donated cricket bats into works of art and symbols for inclusion and kindness. It has been so successful some bats now appear at celebrity’s homes in Hollywood and Australia House in London.
Ms Clarke is no stranger to Forbes, having grown up in nearby Orange. She said “I’m very keen to share my story and passions with the Forbes community and I can’t wait to get involved in the events over the weekend to celebrate Australia Day.”
“It’s an honour to be an Australia Day Ambassador. You get the privilege of meeting inspiring people who have achieved great things in their community and inspired others around them to be better.”
The Australia Day Community Breakfast will run from 8am – 10am at Lions Park.