In what can only be described as a resounding success, a fantastic crowd travelled from across the Central West and beyond for the Trundle ABBA Festival.
From young families to the young at heart, festivalgoers embraced the spirit of the occasion, stepping out in dazzling disco outfits they wouldn’t dare wear anywhere else.
The Trundle ABBA Festival will return on Saturday, 1 May 2027 – so mark your calendars, start planning your outfits and get ready to do it all again.
Wayne O’Neill President, Daisy the dog, Lily Boyd – Secretary and women’s senior coach, State MP Phil Donato, Siobhan O’Malley – media manager and Sam Parish – Vice President football management.
Congratulations to Forbes Rugby Club on being awarded $300,000 for new lighting at Grinstead Oval, courtesy of NSW Club Grants. This is the fourth time the club has applied for the grant, finally being successful in securing the funding needed to install new lighting on Grinstead Oval.
Forbes Rugby Union Club President Wayne O’Neil said, “The grant applications were done by a number of different committees over the years. It has been a committee venture to continue to put in the grants.”
The club thank Phil Donato for his support and also to the Forbes Shire Council who had been supportive each time the club submitted a grant application, providing letters of support and backing the club the whole way.
Wayne said, “The lighting upgrade will be significant due to our increased numbers in the club, the club has grown from having two grades to seven grades, with wall and additional girls teams. On a Thursday night we can have 150-160 people here, this will give us two grounds now to train on, it’s a gamechanger for us.”
Local State Member for Orange Phil Donato said, “I was happy to support the
ggproject to help secure this funding that will see new high lux LED lights being erected around the ground, and it was great to join with them all, and Daisy the groodle, for this exciting announcement.”
The FRUC also recently upgraded the lighting on the south circle oval. Funds for this upgrade were raised by the club throughout the year, but majority of the funding came from the well supported annual FRUC Presidents Luncheon.
Are you tired of the usual blokey banter? Hungry for real connected conversation with trustworthy men? The Men’s Table is a safe place to share and be heard in a confidential and non-judgemental environment, creating a greater sense of belonging, camaraderie and connection.
The first Men’s Table (MT1) began in 2011 with twelve men who have met once a month for dinner ever since. Our vision is healthy men, healthy masculinities, healthy communities. We help men build meaningful male friendships and connection by creating safe places to share, overcoming the stigma that “men don’t talk”.It’s healthy to show emotion and share feelings, yet for many men in their relationships with other blokes, the talk is mostly about ‘footy and sh*t’. There has never been a better time to be in a community. 84% of men who attend a Men’s Table felt a stronger sense of community belonging, 95% of men who attend a Men’s Table felt it was a safe place to share and 80% of men who attend a Men’s Table reported a benefit to their mental health and wellbeing.
There is an upcoming Men’s Table event being run at the Vandenberg Hotel on Tuesday 12 May, arrive at 6:30pm for a 7pm start and the event will run till 9pm. Cost of your ticket covers your meal for the night.
If you want to attend or find out more, just visit themenstable.org or email hello@themenstable.org or for phone enquiries call Al Stratton 0401 863 367 or 1800 636 782.
Royal Far West’s Ride for Country Kids – a three-day ride across regional NSW – is coming to Parkes, starting at 7am on Sunday, 17 May at Cooke Park Pavilion. All are welcome to cheer on the riders.
The Ride will travel through Molong, Manildra, Trundle, and Eugowra, before finishing in Forbes, raising funds to improve the health and wellbeing of children in rural and remote areas. Children with developmental, behavioural, and mental health needs can wait up to six years for diagnoses because care is too far away, too fragmented, or impossible to access. Royal Far West is aiming to bridge that gap.
Michael Gibbons, father of five and a local Parkes resident, has seen first-hand the benefits of Royal Far West’s speech pathology services. His nine-year-old son, Finley, is now flourishing due to his once weekly telehealth speech pathology sessions that were held over two years. Finley has gone on to win two inter-town public speaking competitions.
“Accessing paediatric support was extremely difficult in Parkes. There were long waitlists. And when we did manage to see a paediatrician, it was very sporadic. There was also limited staff to assist us. Royal Far West was introduced to us through our school. We jumped on board when an availability came up for Finley to see a speech pathologist,” Michael Gibbons said.
The support from Royal Far West has had a dramatic positive impact on Finley’s life. “His literacy and reading have taken off. His confidence and social skills have improved, and he now experiences the joy of communicating with other people and being understood – something that we take for granted.” said Michael Gibbons.
Royal Far West is aiming to raise $500,000. They need your help to give these children the best start in life. To support the riders go to: www.rideforcountrykids.com.au
Guy Webb (cofounder and agronomist), Guy Hudson (cofounder & Loam CEO), Steve Nicholson (Garema carbon farmer), Mick Wettenhall (cofounder and Trangie farmer). Photo credit: Rachel Lenehan
A celebration breakfast was held at Garema Hall south of Forbes on Tuesday 5 May to celebrate the issuance of the world’s first Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCU’s or soil carbon credits) to the Nicholson family.
The ACCU’s were grown in his soil using a specialised extensively researched fungal inoculum called CarbonBuilder, an Australian technology developed right here in Central NSW by Loam Bio, cofounded by local agronomist Guy Webb.
Loam Bio to date have raised $155 million to develop the technology for Australian, US and Brazilian growers. Steve Nicholson and his family signed up for the Australian Government soil carbon project in 2024 with the help of Loam Bio through their ‘SecondCrop’ soil carbon program.
This marks one of the largest broadacre cropping projects that has met the strict requirements of Australia’s Clean Energy Regulator, demonstrating that carbon farming has moved from concept to a commercial and scalable reality.
“We knew we couldn’t keep farming the same way,” owner Steve Nicholson said. “If we didn’t adapt, the future of the farm wasn’t sustainable.”
“From year one we saw a measurable increase in soil carbon. It was a seamless integration and offered something the industry doesn’t often get – a new income stream. In effect we are now growing a second crop from the same paddock,” said Steve.
The Nicholson Carbon Project, part of a 4,000ha grazing and cropping operation, has successfully generated an issuance of 4,867 tradeable ACCU across 881 hectares. Becoming the first broadacre cropping operation in NSW to successfully
generate Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCU) using an innovative carbon-sequestering fungal seed treatment, a breakthrough that unlocks a game-changing win for farmers to get paid for capturing carbon, while building healthier, more productive soils for their existing cropping operations.
Steve Nicholson and his family have been farming at Garema for 27 years, Steve said that he judged the technology on three simple metrics. “Does it work, is it simple, does it make money? The answer is yes to all three.”
After extensive research they rolled out a suite of farm management changes, including modified crop rotations across wheat, barley and canola, pasture and pulse rotations, reduced tillage, and improved residue management. In 2024 the Nicholsons added Loam Bio’s CarbonBuilder™ to their program, a world-first fungal seed treatment that integrates into existing farm operations to boost productivity.
In Steve’s case, an initial investment of $40,000 for treatment and seed related equipment has seen him turn that into $200,000 worth of ACCU’s.
The fungal based technology also increases soil structure allowing greater rainfall infiltration and storage, and also stores nitrogen in the soil profile more effectively, allowing a grower to improve his soil health whilst literally growing two crops in the one paddock, a grain crop above the ground and a soil carbon crop below the ground.
For information on the projector to explore similar benefits through soil carbon projects, visit www.loambio.com.
The Charlie O’Connor Jumping event is a showjumping day held by Forbes Pony Club, where riders compete over jumps at different heights based on their skill level.
16 riders competed all spread across different grades. A clean round means no poles and knocked down, a rider takes the correct line of course and doesn’t take too long to complete the course.
It’s one of the club’s main competitive events of the year .
Henry pictured at the Australian Open held in Melbourne in April. Photo Credit: Rogue Gun Photography.
At the recent Australian Open and Oceania Championships Henry Kross, who is the Australian #1 Under 17 boy, played up an age group in the Under 19’s to compete against the older boys and not only put himself in contention for selection but earned a spot to represent Australia for the World Junior Championships. Each country selects four males and four females to compete at the WJC.
At the World Juniors (WJC) players don’t compete in age groups. Henry said, “In squash you are considered a junior until you turn 19, so it is just the best four juniors selected to compete from each country.”
The Championships are being held in Ontario, Canada. “I have created an 11 week schedule that involves training with my dad who is my coach, lots of solo sessions on court and quite a bit of strength and conditioning at Parkes Athletic.
“I will also have a team camp in Sydney, and some time at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra. I’m also working with school to make sure I complete everything there before I go,” said Henry.
To fundraise for his trip to Canada Henry will again be collecting cans and bottles. “In 2024 I cashed in 40,000 (cans and bottles) to get to England, and am hoping to help with the costs by doing that again.
“We are hoping to do another lamington drive soon, and also have a sponsor page through the Australian Sports Foundation if anyone wants to donate at https://asf.org.au/campaigns/henry-kross/henrykrosssquashopportunities.
“I really appreciate all the support I get from the community to chase my dreams,” concluded Henry.
MAJOR FUNDING WINS
Two organisations in the Orange electorate have secured a combined $599,757 through the Clubgrants Category 3 Fund! Bogan Gate Recreation Reserve Land Manager has been awarded $299,757 to redevelop the Bogan Gate Sportsground. Forbes Rugby Union Club will receive $300,000 to install new lighting. Congratulations to both organisations on this fantastic achievement. These upgrades will support local sport, strengthen community connections, and deliver lasting benefits for years to come. Well done to all involved.
SIGN THE E-PETITION – FIX THE GREAT WESTERN HIGHWAY
The ongoing closure at Victoria Pass is hitting our region hard – disrupting freight, hurting local businesses, increasing safety risks, and adding pressure on families and volunteers. I’ve taken this directly to the NSW Government. This isn’t just an inconvenience, it’s exposed a major failure. A critical corridor carrying over 12,000 vehicles a day should never be this vulnerable.
I’m pushing for immediate support, proper transport alternatives beyond Bathurst, action on fuel costs, and a long-term solution, not a temporary fix.
Regional communities are tired of being an afterthought. We deserve safe, reliable infrastructure, and I will continue holding the Government to account. Sign the ePetition. Share it with others. Visit https://shorturl.at/GKly8
MEN’S HEALTH WEEK EVENT: GETTIN’ ·A·GRIP
Men’s health remains an issue that doesn’t get the attention it deserves and that needs to change. That’s why I’m launching Gettin’ a Grip, a major event to kick off Men’s Health Week in June, in Orange.
This isn’t just an event, it’s about starting conversations and saving lives. With highprofile participants, health professionals, and strong community engagement, the goal is simple:
Get men talking
Get men checked
Get men connected
This builds on years of work supporting mental health initiatives across our region, and I’m proud to continue that advocacy. For more details visit:
https://www.facebook.com/Gettinagrip
Winner of the 2026 John Stewart Memorial Barrel Race Abi Bembrick – pictured with Kathy Welsh, Lois Stewart and Forbes Pony Club President Luke White. Photo Credit: Steve Krak’d Lens.
The Forbes Pony Club (FPC) has been running since 1965, with many successful riders starting their riding days at the club, Forbes has always been known as a competitive club that produces quality riders.
Last weekend was a huge weekend for the club. The Charlie O’Connor Showjumping event was held on Saturday 2 May and the FPC Gymkhana was held on 3 May.
The Charlie O’Connor Jumping event is a showjumping day held by Forbes Pony Club, where riders compete over jumps at different heights based on their skill level. It’s one of the club’s main competitive events of the year.
A gymkhana is a fun equestrian event, run by local clubs, with each Club hosting one annual gymkhana in their hometown. Riders of ages 3 – 25 take part in show events such as best rider, skilled based races, barrel races and games for beginners. Riders from clubs all over the central west came to Forbes to represent their club.
The Forbes Pony Club gymkhana features a very special event called the “John Stewart Memorial Barrel Race”. The riders with the five fastest barrel race times on the day compete in the finals for the title. Up for grabs was an embroidered prize rug sponsored by Flemings Property Services. The 2026 winner was reigning champ Abi Bembrick with a time of 19.748 seconds.
It was highly contested with the top three riders coming in just one point second apart, Mercadez Cartwright from Young Pony Club came in second with a time of 19.898 seconds closely followed by Forbes rider Jack White with a time of 20.637. The presentation was supported by John Stewart’s Family, mother Lois Stewart and sister Kathy Welsh.
Caitlin Lewis of the FPC said, “Overall the weekend was a huge success with many thanks to our hard working committee, it takes a huge amount of behind the scenes work to get an event like this running. We are grateful for anyone who gets in and helps out prior to or on the day. We had amazing Canteen ladies Jodi Bilsbrough and Leeanne Lewis who kept us fed all weekend.
“We also had three senior students from Red Bend Catholic College who came to help out, they were put to work helping score events, hand out ribbons and take orders in the canteen, they were an amazing help on the day.
“Our beginners ring was a hit which was evident by the many smiles from our little riders, this was made possible by Jenna Krakouer who organised and ran the beginners ring on the day, Jenna had 15 tiny riders and ponies to entertain, not an easy feat.”
If you want to be part of the FPC, they offer ‘Come Try’ memberships where a rider can attend a rally day with their horse to see if it is the right fit for them. See Forbes Pony Club on Facebook for more information.
Abi Benbrick on Manny. Photo Credit: Steve Krak’d Lens.
Haven’t organised your outfit yet? Think full disco glamour – sequins, glitter, flares, big hair, and heeled boots. Take inspiration from the ‘70s and ‘80s and don’t hold back. Dressing up is part of the fun – if you’re not in costume, you’ll definitely stand out.
The Trundle ABBA Festival is back, on Saturday May 2nd, and the buzz has been building in Trundle, the program is locked in, final details are being ticked off, and preparations are in full swing. Today (Friday May 1st), the main street will be closed and transformed into a glittering festival space.
Locals and organisers alike are pitching in – decorating, coordinating logistics, and getting their best flared outfits ready. It’s a mix of excitement, last-minute hustle, and plenty of sparkle.
Expect a sea of smiles and a whole lot of sparkle. The entire festival takes over Trundle’s main street, complete with a big stage, food vans, and a lively, welcoming atmosphere. This year’s lineup is exceptional, featuring a blend of local favourites, emerging talent, and the international ABBA tribute band ABBASBACK performing their full show with choir. It’s energetic, colourful, and a joyful escape from the everyday.
The festival is held along Forbes Street, from the hotel corner on Parkes Street through to Hutton Street. Parking is available on surrounding streets, but to make things easier, consider catching a bus from Parkes or Forbes via Western Roadliners.
A few tips: bring a chair, wear comfortable shoes and get involved.
Yes, tickets are available at the gate, but it’s best to buy online if you can – prices increase from $65 online to $80 at the gate and pre-purchased tickets mean faster entry. Grab your tickets https://trundleabbafestival.123tix.com.au/events