Parkes Phoenix Editor

Forbes Preschool Kindergarten has been established for 58 years with a community based philosophy meaning that parents and families of the children can visit and get involved in the organisation. While the memories and legacy of this preschool are held close to the hearts of generations of Forbes residents, the waiting list is long and the staff are keen to move on to their new facility. “It’s been 58 long years here, but it isn’t quite big enough,” said Amy Shine, who has been the Director of this centre for the past five years, and has been working in childcare for far longer.

“The new pre-school is our dream come true; a purpose built centre for lots of children,” Amy said. “We are really happy with the design.” The new Preschool will be energy efficient, cost effective, flushed with natural light and
will increase their capacity from 39 kids per day to 75 kids per day. Children at the new Preschool will have access to speech and occupational therapists as well as other specialists who work closely with children.

There will be a community play and learn space for the children where children can explore socially and educationally. “We have a strong link with schools rated as exceeding in all areas of the Australian National Qualifications Framework,” Amy said. The Preschool children go on excursions to local schools and other schools visit the Preschool giving the kids a broad social experience. “It’s very exciting,” said Amy, “it’s going to be huge. We visit the new centre regularly with the kids. We’re hoping to move in early next year.”

“The local Council have been super supportive of us and without them, the vision of this new Preschool would not have come to fruition,” Amy said. “Mayor Phyllis Miller has been integral at every step of the way.”

Ian Simpson of Ray White Rural said he always wanted to get involved in the town and help the community further and he is doing just that. “Our aim is to support the needs of kids, families and the community,” Ian said.

“We are volunteering to help out with everything, from reading to kids, to helping out with major fundraising projects. The company will be contributing to programs, being a part of them instead of just writing a cheque,” Ian said. This week the team from Ray White Rural helped put on a BBQ for Education Week at Forbes North Public School. The boys cooked five hundred sausages and the women buttered hundreds of bread slices. The school is currently working on a beautification project which includes creating an all new front yard for the school. A new disabled ramp has also been installed, an important feature the school never had before.

Ray White Rural has acquired two vintage bicycles; one will be raffled to raise funds for Forbes North and the other will be first prize in a colouring competition for Kinder to Year 2 children in the wider communities.

Woolworth’s popular Earn & Learn campaign is back, giving everybody the chance to contribute some amazing new educational equipment to schools and early learning centres across Australia.

Country towns like Forbes really benefit from these kinds of programs and they give locals the chance to think about education in the community and contribute to the skill growth of children. The last program reached 14,500 schools
and early learning centres, enabling them access to a whole new range of educational equipment.

Anybody who shops with Woolworths can take part because every $10 you spend there will earn you 1 Earn & Learn Sticker. Instead of throwing them in the bin or simply not accepting them at the checkout, stick them to a Woolworths Earn & Learn Sticker Sheet. These are available at any Woolworths store and at your local schools as well as online at www.woolworths.com.au.

Once your Sticker Sheet is full, simply put it into a collection box at your local school or at Woolworths. That’s all it takes to contribute, so start collecting today and support your local schools!

The Forbes Country Bakehouse formed in June 1990 as a family business, starting out with a single baker and four day staff. In less than two years Kerrie had taken over, raising three girls – Amity, Giselle and Olivia – and running a successful business. You might call her a modern-day super woman.

25 years on, the team has grown to 4 bakers and 17 day staff. They now do large deliveries to other stores and businesses in the region showing how popular their menu has grown.

“I have watched so many different generations of families grow into the people they are today,” says Kerrie. “Different travellers that pass through the same time every year; you know you’re doing it right if you have people always coming back.” “We love to support the local community. We have pie drive fundraisers, savoury and
sweet, for clubs, committees, schools and sporting groups. Pie drives go from Forbes to Canowindra to Tullamore and everywhere in between.”

Over the years The Bakehouse has grown and expanded with Xtension, serving hot and cold drinks, pies, cakes and breads baked fresh daily. There is a full salad bar for your sandwiches and rolls, cooked meals like melts, delicious spuds, hotdogs, gourmet burgers, schnitzels and more. “All ingredients and products are sourced locally or handmade by us,” says Giselle, “support locals to feed locals.”

Their space caters for everyone, including a kids corner and their “read and relax” section where a gold donation is all it costs to borrow a book. Alternatively, customers are welcome to simply stop in for a coffee and a little bit of reading. Open from 6am to 5:30pm weekdays, and 6am to 12:30pm on Saturdays, don’t forget to pre-order your Friday sushi by Thursday. The Bakehouse is one of the fantastic nooks in Forbes to check out.