It is that time of the year when we all do a little spring cleaning. Clean out the shed or garage of all those unwanted toxic chemicals that aren’t being used or have passed their used by date. The safest way to dispose of potentially hazardous household chemicals is at a ‘Household Chemical CleanOut’ event. Forbes is taking part in this great free event again this year on 19th October.

You can take household quantities of the following household chemicals and items to Forbes Shire Council storage yard in Young Street between the hours of 10am to 1pm. A maximum of 20 litres or 20 kilograms of a single item including:

• Solvents and household cleaners

• Floor care products

• Ammonia-based cleaners

• Pesticides and herbicides

• Poisons

• Pool chemicals

• Hobby chemicals

• Motor fuels

• Fluorescent globes and tubes

• Acids and alkalis

• Smoke detectors

• Paint and paint-related products

• Gas bottles

• Fire extinguishers

• Car and household batteries

• Motor oils and cooking oils

Please make sure you handle and transport chemicals carefully.

It is advised never to mix chemicals as this may produce dangerous reactions so keep all chemicals in their original containers.

Ensure the containers are clearly labelled and well-sealed. If you don’t know the contents, label the container “unknown chemical”.

Keep toxic household chemicals away from passengers, for example, by placing them in the boot of your car.

Contact Council on 6850 2300 to find out more details.

Forbes Small Engine Specialists was established by Paul and Maree Westcott in October 1988.

The first two years were operated from a shed in Oxford Street before purchasing a push bike shop in Cross Street in 1991. Fast forward to 2001 when land was purchased and a new “state of the art” workshop and showroom was built.

Together with well known brands including Polaris, Masport, Kohler Engines (EPG) since the early 90’s and Husqvarna and YCF motorcycles more recently, Forbes Small Engines has continued to grow their business each year.

Today their showroom is packed with a range of Polaris ATV’s, Masport lawn mowers, Husqvarna power products, YCF twowheelers plus all the motorcycle accessories you could possibly need. Spares are well stocked for your lawn mowers, small engines and motorcycles.

The two qualified mechanics, Shane and Curt are valuable employees with over 15 years experience between them helping Paul run the workshop. Plus the office is in great hands with their daughter, Melissa joining the business in 2014.

Paul and Maree also sponsor local events as well as team sponsorship including junior and senior soccer, football, Shows, school fetes and the Forbes Auto Sports Club and many other local fundraisers.

Laybys are welcome, especially coming up to Christmas, plus “free” pickup and delivery offered to customers for repairs when they can’t start their ride-on or motorcycle – this has proven to be very popular with regular customers. Servicing quality products  together with their after sales service, Forbes Small Engines is here to stay!

To celebrate 30 years in business, you are invited to call in on Saturday, 13th October from 9am to 1pm at 25 Union Street and inspect the huge range of products, check out the specials, grab a coffee and enjoy a sausage sizzle. You could also win one of their lucky door prizes. The Polaris Ace will also be drawn on the day.

If you need a lawn mower, new motorcycle, chainsaw or any small engine call in to 25 Union Street and Forbes Small Engine Specialists will be happy to serve you.

Paul and Maree are very proud of their business. They look forward to many more years in business and saying thank you for supporting them over the last 30 years.

Forbes Shire Council has resolved to supply bulk portable water to rural residents of the shire free of charge. Residents are able to attend the Forbes Shire Depot between the hours of 9am to 3pm, Monday to Friday.

Residents are asked to clean their containers prior to pick up as Council accepts no responsibility for the quality of water once it has been discharged at the depot.

For safety reasons members of the public are not to drive into the depot area but must report to the office first. Loads should be secure and within load limits of the vehicles.

Registered bulk water carters will need to make contact with the depot to discuss a safe time to enter and use the high capacity hose.

Contact 6850 2370 for more information.

Caravans, mobile homes, travellers and countless visitors will once again converge at Bedgerabong this October for the 10th anniversary of the Bedgerabong Country Music Campout. The event will take place from the 9th to 16th October in what is said to be the biggest and best one yet!

The 10th anniversary welcomes a few changes to celebrate the momentous occasion and to showcase just how the event has grown over the past decade. One of the main changes being the introduction of purchasing tickets on the internet. This new feature has already proven to be a success with many getting in early to secure a discounted gate price.

Another change will be a selection of more artists featured on the Friday. This will consist of Paul Crowder, Tina Podger, Kate Daniel and Bob Gregory, Charmaine Pout, Melissa Robertson, Rick Llambias, Rustic Charm & Co. plus many more.

There will be more Sunday markets, food, coffee and even a display from the Historical Vintage Machinery Club. This year will also see the return of Country Keys & Strings.

Other professional guests appearing this year on the Saturday and Sunday are Amos Morris, Laura Downing, Bill Gray, Emma Jene, Sandi Dodd, Jo and Pamela Reeves, John Smith, Ged and Trudy Hintz and the Blazing Saddles Showband. There will also be the Sports Day, Poetry and Walk-Up competitions, Poets Session and Best of the Walk Up’s. The walk up’s are invited from Tuesday night till Thursday night.

Tickets at $70 for camping and $15 for day admission can be purchased online at https://www.123tix.com.au/events/1240/ bedgerabong-country-music-campout.

Gate prices will be $5 extra for both camping and day admission. Free for children 15 years and under. Dogs MUST be kept on a leash at all times. Gates open at 9.00am.

For more info find us on Facebook at Forbes Country Music Club Inc.

The Bogan Gate CWA recently held their International Day, with Poland being CWA’s country of study for this year. International Officer, Heather Veal hosted a delicious Polish lunch for members and her guest speaker was Mick Harris from Parkes.

The highlight of the day and a very big surprise for one of the members, Esther Moore, was when she was presented with Life Membership by another Life Member, Ida McIntyre.

Bogan Gate CWA President, Marion McIntyre said: “Esther has been a loyal member of Bogan Gate since the transfer of her membership when the Yarrabandi branch closed. She consistently attends meetings even though age and distance can be tiring.

She is our quiet and reliable worker. Always willing to help where necessary, always assists with caterings and can usually be found with a tea-towel in her hands.”

Esther first attended CWA as a child, accompanying her mother to meetings and joined as a full member at the age of 21.

She held the position of Yarrabandi treasurer for at least 21 years as well as being a vice-president and a councillor or delegate to group functions. She has also represented Bogan Gate as a councillor and delegate to group.

As part of Small Business Month, Forbes Shire Council is hosting a ‘Taking Care of Your Business’ seminar and Trade Night.

The seminar will be presented by Glen Leet from Inspired Trades Business Coaching who is also on the board of the HIA. Glen will offer advice that will be invaluable for the direction and success of trade businesses. The Trade Night will be a great networking opportunity and will showcase various government agencies and local businesses.

This free seminar will be held at Forbes Town Hall on Tuesday, 16th October from 5:30pm and it will provide helpful information on operating and working in your trade industry.

A follow-up workshop held on Wednesday, 17th October at the Forbes Town Hall from 8am to 2pm is also available. This will concentrate on optimising profit, workflow and cashflow for the trade industry. Workshop fee is $39.

To register go to www.takingcareofyourbusiness.floktu.com by 9th October.

Local Lions Club member and Vice-District Governor for the area, Peter Bright was awarded a Melvin Jones Fellow award at the District Changeover function held in Bathurst recently.

It is the highest award a Lion can achieve and is awarded for dedicated service to the Lions Club and the community.

Peter was stunned to receive the award and during his acceptance speech noted that it really belonged to the Forbes and District Lions Club, to Elaine, his long suffering wife and perhaps in there somewhere a little bit belonged to him.

Peter spoke about his time as a Lion and of the rewarding experience in meeting a young mother a few months after the Lions had a hearing loop installed in a classroom at a local primary school.

She had just come from the school and had seen her hearing impaired son participate in the classroom for the first time. This was a truly rewarding experience for him.

Peter is looking forward to next year when he will assume the role of Governor of District 201 N4, which covers about half of NSW.

The Forbes and District Lions Club is well represented on the District Cabinet this year with Gayle Williams as District Environment Chairperson and Neil Lambert as District Peace Poster Contest Chairperson.

With some planning and a bit of creative thinking, there are plenty of activities you can do with your kids. Here are some ideas to get you started.

Plant a vegetable garden: Even if you only have a small outdoor area you can create a simple vegetable patch with your kids. If you don’t have a yard, you could plant seeds in pots and even decorate the pots. It is a good idea to choose fast growing plants so the kids can see the results quickly.

Camp out: Why not set up a tent in the backyard and have a night out camping? If the weather is bad you could set up your tent inside the house instead.

Cooking: Plan a day of cooking or baking with your kids – you could even have a cooking competition with members of the family. This is usually a popular activity because you get to eat the results.

Movie night: Borrow some movies from your local library, pop some popcorn and you’ll have an authentic cinema experience in your home.

Arts and crafts: Try face painting, paper mache, building a collage, painting or making masks or beaded jewellery.

Build a cubby: Who doesn’t love a pillow fort? Try building a cubby out of boxes, sheets or other things around the house. Putting sheets or blankets over a washing line or kitchen table can be a quick, fun way to make a hideout for your kids.

Treasure hunt: Hide some things around the house or yard and write some clues or create a treasure map to lead your kids on an exhilarating adventure with a prize at the end.

Stay active

Enjoy a game of squash at the Forbes Squash & Sporting Club. It’s not only a sport for all seasons but also for all ages and levels. Or for a real treat visit the Pee Wees Play Centre in Orange. Your kids won’t believe their eyes when they see the large threelevel play structure, jumping castles and ball pits!

Get Tapping These School Holidays

Ever been interested in learning how to tap dance? Kristens Dance Studio will be running a one-day beginner tap workshop for juniors and seniors at their studio on Friday, 12th October! The very talented tapper, Savanna Guglielmino from Griffith, will be conducting the tap classes.

The junior workshop will run for an hour and a half in the morning and the senior workshop will run for two hours in the afternoon. An array of tap related topics will be covered.

Contact Kristen if you are interested in attending the workshop on 0437 181 519.

Twelve nervous young people took to the dance floor to the delight of their families and friends to raise valuable funds for the Forbes Breast Cancer Support Group last Saturday.

The debutantes and their partners along with their gorgeous flower girls, Evie Nikolic and Sienna Gibson, and page boys, Jarrod Thornton and Maison Campbell, were presented to Denise Jelbart, representative of the Forbes Breast Cancer Support Group. Denise expressed her extreme gratitude that the group had chosen to support this worthy organisation and raised in excess of $1,500.

Dance instructor, Kate Ralph choreographed a beautiful dance to Parallel Lines by Keith Urban and Maria Bullock performed the duties of Master of Ceremonies for the evening.

The debutant group consisted of Jodi Williams and Xander Williams, Tahlia Harpur and Jack Peters, Zoe Willis and Corey Williams, Brielle Thornton and Jack Cole, Georgia Palazzi and Kyle Bolam and Bree Schaefer and Joe Fisher. They conducted fundraising barbeques, 100 clubs and raffles to raise money for their chosen charity and looked absolutely amazing on the night according to the event coordinator, Anita Morrison.

“I could not be happier with how this group has conducted themselves in the lead up to and on the day of the event. Families and friends of these young people should be extremely proud of what they have achieved in such a short amount of time,” said Anita.