A beautiful morning spent in Lions Park for the 2026 Australia Day Community Breakfast.
Thank you to members of Rotary for their support of this event.
Forbes local Australia Day events were proudly funded by the National Australia Day Council.
Frank Hanns, Mike Prior and Andrew Moon preparing for golf in the sun.
Scorching hot conditions meant many of the Forbes golfers were smart and got onto the course early for their competition game and then welcomed a cold refreshment at the ‘Golfie’ Hotel.
The men’s competition was an Individual Stableford event sponsored by Rob Allen Livestock Transport. The field of 57 players included two visitors while quite a few locals were away on long weekend activities.
The Div-1 winner was newcomer Dean Fairley with 41 points. He excelled on the back-9 with his big hitting. Runner-up was Jono Roylance in one of his rare appearances that netted him 38 points. His luck held to get past Brad Ashton on count back. Jono needed the front-9 to warm up before blitzing the back-9.
The Div-2 winner was Steven Rogers with 42 points, the best score of the day.
He is enjoying the run on the fairways.
The runner-up was Alister Carlisle with 38 points. He started well but had a topsy-turvy back-9.
The ball sweep went to 34 points. NTPs went to: 9th P Duke, 18th A Carlisle, with both converting for 2’s. The Super Pin went to Peter Barnes (206 cm) whose shot easily slipped inside that of Steve Betland.
The comp on Sat 31 Jan is a 4BBB Stableford sponsored by Knight’s Fabrications.
Sunday has a Stableford Medley.
As some of you may or may not be aware, our Head Professional William Gunn is leaving at the beginning of March.
Member accounts including ball comp prizes and vouchers must be spent. Gunn Golf Gift Vouchers will also need to be used.
All stock must be sold! Clothing, footwear, demo clubs all on sale at unbeatable prices. If you’re in the market for a new driver, don’t miss this opportunity. Come on down and grab yourself a bargain!
By Short Putt
On Saturday 24 January, Aussie Croquet was played with 25 in attendance. It was a little cooler this morning whilst Croquet was played and the 8.30am start is proving to be rewarding as far as the heat goes.
On the day all three games were won by John Allegri, John Farah, David West, Noel Jolliffe, Neil Riley and Neville Spry. Congratulations to all these players.
Some good scores were recorded on the day and runaway scores of 14/9 were as follows: Geoff Coles and Russell Anderson trailed Cheryl Toohey and Noel Jolliffe, Bruce and Greg Toole were defeated by John Allegri and Neville Spry, John Browne and Rex Toole were also defeated by David and Peter West (father/son combination).A close score of 14/13 saw Cheryl Toohey and Colleen Liebich narrowly beaten by Geoff Coles and John Farah.
Various 14/12 scores were also recorded on the day as follows: Bill Scott and Irene Riley defeated Elvy Quirk and Kevin Wenning, John Allegri and Neville Spry defeated Harley Stewart and Allan Jones, Elvy Quirk and May Jones defeated Colleen Liebich and Cheryl Toohey, Neil Riley and John Farah defeated Geoff Coles and Kevin Wenning, John Allegri (playing solo) defeated Peter West (also playing solo), David West and Elvy Quirk defeated Rex Toole and May Jones.
A number of players went down 14/11; Greg and Bruce Toole were defeated by Rex Toole and John Farah, Bill Scott and Peter West were also defeated by John Browne and Irene Riley, Bruce and Greg Toole were defeated by Neil Riley and Noel Jolliffe, John Browne and Tony Bernardi were defeated by Bill Scott and Russell Ander.
Many scores of 14/10 were also recorded on the day as follows: Allan Jones (solo) was defeated by Colleen Liebich (solo), Frank Donohoe and Harley Stewart were also defeated by Kevin Rubie and John Farah, May Jones and Tony Bernardi were defeated by Neil Riley (playing solo), Tony Bernardi (solo) defeated by Noel Jolliffe (solo), Kevin Rubie (solo) was defeated by Russell Anderson and David West, Kevin Wenning and Allan Jones were defeated by Harley Stewart and Neville Spry.
The 8.30am start is proving popular with many of our players, as its an opportunity to try and beat the hotter part of the day.
As mentioned previously, Seniors week is again being celebrated with an Open Day at Croquet on 3 March, arrive by 8.15am to get your names in the draw.
Stay Cool, Stay Safe.
By Elvy Quirk
Talk2MeBro is a grassroots NSW-based organisation dedicated to ending suicide in Australia through genuine conversa-tions about mental health, creating safe spaces where people can connect, heal, and support one another.
Mental health and suicide prevention charity Talk2MeBro will host another of its regular Community Catchups in Forbes at the scenic Ski Dam, this Sunday 25 January, from 7:30am.
The Community Catchups are casual gatherings specifically designed to bring people together to reconnect with themselves, share, and build meaningful connections. These events are dispersed between gender-specific Guys and Ladies Catch ups across the region, and have proven incredibly impactful in creating supportive networks among participants.
This Sunday’s Community Catchup will provide residents with mental health support through relaxed conversation, breathwork exercises, ice bath experiences, and connection in a safe, non-judgmental environment. The combination allows participants to find solace in knowing they are not alone in their journey while experiencing proven wellness practices that support both physical and mental wellbeing.
Community members from all walks of life are welcome, whether attending alone or with family members. No prior experience with breathwork or ice baths is necessary.
The Forbes Catchups represents the organisation’s ongoing commitment to making mental health support easily accessible to everyone in regional communities.
For those seeking stress relief, wanting to try new wellness practices, or simply looking to connect with other women in Forbes, this gathering offers a valuable opportunity to invest in wellbeing while building community connections.
Registration is essential: www.talk2mebrocatchups.org.au/forbescommunity/
The Forbes Museum is open on Australia Day.
Forbes Museum: The Forbes Museum will be open extended hours on Australia Day, Monday 26 January 2026 from 10am to 5pm. Visit after breakfast or before the party in the Park. ‘The Streets of Forbes’ by Shane Wode is available for purchase. Visit the heart of Forbes this Australia Day.
Summer Water Safety Reminder: After a series of drownings this summer holiday, the Shadow Minister for Police Paul Toole and Shadow Minister for Water Steph Cooke are reminding everyone to take extra care around our waterways. Whether it be a trip to the beach, dam or river, the community is encouraged to always wear a lifejacket, don’t drink and drive, adhere to speed limits and passenger limits, and check all equipment and vessels before departing.
Planning a clean out this summer? It’s great to donate but to make sure your preloved goods have a second life, only donate good quality items to charity stores during opening hours. If they’re closed or their donation bins are full, please don’t leave them outside. Instead, try rehoming or selling goods via local community platforms and online marketplaces. Otherwise, check with council about their annual bulky waste collection service.
Calling All Young Artists: Parkes Shire Council is creating new signs for the Parkes Wetlands – and they want your artwork to help bring them to life! Children and teens are invited to draw their favourite native wetland animals, from birds and frogs to turtles and reptiles. Some drawings may be featured on the new signage. A drawing station available at Parkes Shire Library. Open until the end of summer.
Resilient Kids Presentation: CatholicCare Wilcannia-Forbes presents Resilient Kids – Building Stronger Kids Through Life’s Challenges delivered by Dr Justin Coulson. Don’t miss this free community event on Tuesday 3 March at Parkes High School, 5.30pm – 7pm or on Wednesday 4 March, Forbes North Public School, 5.30pm – 7pm. For more information and to RSVP please contact 1800 067 067 or go to ccwf.org.au.
Sticker Off! Fruit scraps and peelings get the tick of approval when it comes to disposing of correctly into our FOGO green bin. But the tiny little stickers that come on some fruits is a big no no. Before placing your food scraps into your FOGO green bin, take a second to peel off the sticker and dispose of into your general waste red bin to prevent contamination of the compost.
Small stickers on produce are made up of plastic and don’t belong in the FOGO green bin.
Each year, visitors to the Amazing Forbes Street Breakfast embrace the festive atmosphere.
These visitors had an ‘Amazing’ time at the Forbes Street Breakfast.
Elvis Festival visitors flock to Forbes each year to enjoy the festive atmosphere of the annual breakfast event.
Forbes Shire Council is proud to announce the nominees for the 2026 Forbes Shire Australia Day Awards, celebrating outstanding contributions and achievements across the region. These awards recognise individuals who have gone above and beyond to make a positive impact in our community. Congratulations to the following nominees:
2026 Citizen Of The Year Nominees
• Paul Findley
• Sam Parish
• Greg Ridge
• John Schrader
• Shane Wode
• Kristen Woods
2026 Senior Citizen Of The Year Nominees
• Maureen Field
• Michael and Denise Jelbart
• Sue-Anne Nixon
• Susan Stewart
• Rex Toole
• Elvy Quirk
2026 Young Citizen Of The Year Nominees
• Chloe Little
• Elly Mackinnon
Forbes Shire Mayor, Phyllis Miller OAM said, “Australia Day is a time to celebrate the incredible people who make our community stronger, kinder and more vibrant. These nominees represent the very best of Forbes, and we look forward to honouring their contributions and achievements at the Gala Event.”
The winners will be revealed at the Citizen of the Year Gala Dinner on Sunday 25 January 2026 at Forbes Town Hall commencing at 6pm. This special evening will feature presentations, entertainment and an opportunity to honour the incredible efforts of our nominees.
Tickets are free but essential and can be booked via 123tix or by phoning Council on 02 6850 2300 by Wednesday 21 January 2026. For those unable to attend the Gala Dinner in person, the award ceremony will be live streamed to Council’s Facebook page.
For more information about the 2026 Australia Day program of events, visit www.forbes.nsw.gov.au or follow @ForbesShireCouncil for updates.
P Kay, S Kirkman, T Griffiths and A Rees ready for the day of golf.
Blustery conditions once again greeted the Forbes golfers last weekend. Most scores were affected but the winners showed prowess in the conditions.
The mens competition last weekend was an 18-hole Stroke event sponsored by Steele Technology. The field of 71 players included five visitors and quite a few locals returning from family time away.
The Div-1 Winner, on count back, was Pat Murphy with 69 nett. He managed to put all of his practice work together and have no blunders. Runner-up was Glen Hooper. His front-9 was good but a couple of missed opportunities on the back-9 was his undoing.
The Div-2 Winner was Dan Harveyson (Grenfell) with 71 nett. His game was steady throughout. The Runner-Up was Greg Hanns with 72 nett. He was pleased to start the year on a good note.
The ball sweep went to 77 nett on count back. NTPs went to: 9th B Abbott (Grenfell), 18th A Rees. But only Ben converted for a ‘2’. The Super Pin went to Harry Callaghan (420cm) whose shot reflected the difficulty of the conditions.
The competition on Saturday 24 January is an Individual Stableford sponsored by Rob Allen Livestock Transport. Sunday has a Stableford Medley.
By Short Putt
Did you have flooding in and around your home in the 2022 floods? Your home may be eligible for flood-resilient upgrades.
NSW Reconstruction Authority are holding free expos for Resilient Homes Program participants and community members to learn how to make their homes safer and more resilient with a Resilient Measures grant. The Expos will be held on the following dates:
• Parkes 28 January: Parkes Services Club, 9-17 Short St, 4pm to 7pm.
• Forbes 25 February: Club Forbes, 4145 Templar St, 4pm to 7pm.
• Eugowra 25 March: Eugowra Multipurpose Centre, Eugowra Showground, 63 Oberon St, 4pm to 7pm.
The Resilient Homes Program is also providing funding to support homeowners to raise, rebuild, relocate or retrofit homes damaged in the 2022 floods.
Homeowners looking for construction work need access to builders, building certifiers, engineers, designers, house removalists, architects, planners and project managers.
NSW Reconstruction Authority Free construction information sessions for building trades will be held on the following dates:
• Parkes 27 January: Railway Hotel & Hart Bar, 1-3 Caledonia St, 4pm to 5.30pm
• Forbes 28 January: Sylo Cafe, 23 Rankin St, 7am to 8.30am
• Orange 29 January: The Greenhouse of Orange, 231-243 Anson St, 5pm to 6.30pm.
Read more about the Resilient Homes Program at nsw.gov.au/resilienthomesprogram
Farmers spraying weeds this summer are reminded of the golden rules to prevent drift and avoid damage to neighbouring properties.
NSW Farmers’ Agricultural Science Committee Chair Justin Everitt said taking several key precautions remained essential when planning to spray.
“We’ve always got to monitor weather conditions closely when we’re spraying, and while we’re all on a time crunch, it’s important to stop spraying as soon as conditions change and are no longer suitable for spraying.
“Spraying as close to the target as possible and ensuring you’re using the appropriate spray nozzle also helps enormously in preventing spray drift.
“It never hurts as well to consult your agronomist on your spray mix and its impact, so you have all the information you need to spray safely this summer.”
Off-target spray drift can occur when agricultural chemicals or vapour become airborne and drift outside the intended area when sprayed. This can happen if chemicals are applied at the wrong time of day, or during the wrong weather conditions.
“We’ve seen significant damage to crops in the past as a result of off-target spray drift, so it’s critical we keep prevention top of mind this season,” Mr Everitt said.
“Our neighbours will thank us for it, and wouldn’t it be brilliant if 2026 was a stellar production year for us all.”