Our Forbes Showgirl representative has done it again after taking a podium finish at The Sydney Royal Easter Show for the second consecutive year! Sally Downie was named second runner-up last Sunday at the state-wide Showgirl competition.

Sally impressed judges by founding the not-for-profit organisation, Grassroots Blueprint. This initiative has the aim of engaging with and empowering farmers, while also promoting agriculture and the real story of farming to the wider community.

She is also employed as Forbes Shire’s Drought Co-ordinator.

Sally is currently studying a Bachelor of Agriculture at CSU. She is passionate about agriculture and helping local farmers through tough times. Her aim is to see the industry prosper and continue to develop.

Stephanie Clancy from Walbundrie Show Society was sashed this year’s winner.

While Dunedoo Showgirl, Effie Fergusson was named first runner-up.

A will is a testamentary document. This means it takes effect upon your death. It appoints an executor (a person who administers and distributes your assets) and makes bequests (distributes your assets among beneficiaries).

A will remains valid until it is cancelled by you or if you marry after the will was made.

Nothing is ever set in concrete, and, thus, your will should be a living document. It should be changed or updated as circumstances change. The rules are slightly different from state to state, so you should get legal advice if you want to make such a will.

You can cancel your will at any time provided you are of sound mind. This can be done in many ways, some of the main ones are:

• You make a valid new will. By law this revokes prior wills when the new terms contradict the old.

• You make a valid new will and expressly revoke the old one.

• You destroy your will with the intention of revoking it.

Estate planning is an area of the law of great family importance. We at Matthews Williams are able to give you competent professional advice on all estate planning matters. If we can assist you on any legal issue, feel free to contact me or one of our

solicitors or call into our office for an appointment.

If we at MATTHEWS WILLIAMS can help you on any legal matter, feel free to call us.

By Mark Olson

The closed Seven Sisters Bridge will be replaced due to a Bridges Renewal Program grant delivered to Forbes last Thursday by The Nationals’ Riverina MP and Deputy Prime Minister, Michael McCormack.

The steel truss, single lane bridge located on the Bedgerabong Road over the Goobang Creek near Forbes has been closed for months due to structural defects. A dirt road detour on the dry creek bed below is currently being used as an alternative road for vehicles.

The Prime Minister said they were committed to delivering infrastructure to important regional roads in regional and rural Australia.

“We are making sure ageing bridges, such as the Seven Sisters Bridge, are replaced so that road users can get to where they are heading sooner and safer,” said Michael.

“I am pleased to deliver this important investment for the community which will improve safety and productivity for the local agricultural industry,” he said.

The Federal Government has committed $550,000 towards the bridge replacement.

Michael said they have committed $640 million for vital bridgeworks between 2015– 16 to 2022–23, with an ongoing commitment of $85 million each year following.

“The Bridges Renewal Program provides up to 50 percent of the cost of repairing or replacing old and unsafe local bridges, which is a fantastic win for local communities,” continued Michael.

“Under Round 4, the Government has committed $57 million to help fund vital local bridgeworks following the completion of an open, merit-based selection process,” said Michael.

Under Round 4 of the program, the Government will contribute up to a maximum of $700,000 for one bridge or $1.4 million for two bridges in the same local government area.

area.

Sandra Büchler and Danny Demosthenous welcomed beautiful Baby Adelaide into the world one month ago.

(Photo Credit: Essjay Photography).

Jenny and Andrew Gunn congratulated their son, Dale and daughter in-law Sarah Andrew, on the safe arrival of their beautiful baby, Alexander Raymond Lester Gunn.

The Parkes Musical & Dramatic Society’s production of Anne of Green Gables The musical has Forbes local and rising star, Krystal-Lee McMurray starring in the lead role as Anne.

First time director, Lisa Ramsay said 17-year-old Krystal-Lee had really stepped up in her role, as did the rest of the cast.

With a cast of 31 amateur actors with half of them teens and children, a lot of energy went into the production and managing everyone.

Although it’s been a very popular story for many people growing up, the musical has rarely been done in Australia.

Lisa wanted to do something different and said she had found her first directing experience very fulfilling. “It’s been an amazing learning process to take what I’ve learned at university, the experience from watching Lyn Townsend as director and adapting it into my own process.”

Lisa is also grateful for musical director James Walan for putting together a great band, for Jenny Kingham taking on the costumes and Ray Brown for the set construction.

The heart-warming tale of Anne is suitable for all ages and told with lots of humour and tongue-in-cheek lines about small country towns.

Tickets are available at www.parkesmandd.com.au or Regional Business Supplies. The remaining show dates are 12th, 13th, 14th, 24th, 26th and 28th April with afternoon and evening shows.

By Maggi Barnard

The Forbes Diggers Harness Racing Club is getting set for another big year of racing!

First up, will be the Anzac Day Race Meeting held on Thursday, 25th April. This will feature the Forbes RSL Subbranch Diggers Cup as well as the Les Findley Memorial Pace, the Clarrie and Val Robb Memorial Pace, the Pud Woods Memorial Pace, the Neville Pellow Memorial Pace and the Colin Ware Memorial.

On the day, Forbes Harness will hold an Anzac Day Ceremony on course to honour those that served or died in the war. It is a great day out for the family and perfect for kids with a free jumping castle and oncourse facilities available.

Forbes Harness will also host the Tab Carnival of Cups on Sunday, 5th May. This will be done with the Forbes Services Memorial Club, who continually supports the Forbes Diggers Harness Racing Club, on board as major sponsors again this year.

The Forbes Services Memorial Club Final will be the feature race on the day, with the heats to be held on Anzac Day. Forbes Harness are extremely grateful for their sponsors and the support they receive to host both of these race meetings each year.

After months of planning, fundraising and dance lessons five gorgeous young ladies and their equally handsome partners impressed and delighted their invited guests at a Charity Deb Ball held last weekend.

The group consisting of Ebony O’Malley and Billie Dukes, Abbey and Jack Hodges- Lockwood, Whitney Duffy and Tom McEwen, Kaitlin Turner and Ben Quigley and Amy Gallagher and Connor Greenhalgh were presented to Kimberley Jackson, Year 11 Advisor and English teacher of Forbes High School.

Charlie Acheson and Jake Duffy led the nervous duos out before they performed their feature dance to ‘You are the Reason’ by Callum Scott, which was choreographed by Kate Ralph. The young ladies looked spectacular in their exquisite gowns and the young gents wore smart singlebreasted black suits, crisp white shirts and light blue accessories which matched the colour theme for the evening.

The tireless efforts of each and every one of the debutantes and their partners through cooking barbeques and selling raffle tickets was awarded with a profit of over $1,300 being raised which will directly benefit Beyond Blue.

Beyond Blue provides information and support to help everyone in Australia achieve their best possible mental health, whatever their age and wherever they live.

Beyond Blue has been doing as much work as possible to encourage people to learn about the symptoms and types of stress, anxiety and depression, which they could face or may already be experiencing. In Australia, it’s estimated that 45 percent of people will experience a mental health condition in their lifetime.

The Easter raffle was drawn on the night, with first prize being won by Emma Gardiner and second place by John Crone.

Event coordinator, Anita Morrison commends the group on their efforts and congratulates their family and friends for their influences in molding these young people who are the future of our great community.

This April, Forbes will celebrate what’s great about our young people with a series of events planned to bring the whole community together to celebrate Youth Week. This will be Australia’s largest celebration of young people.

The festival begins on Thursday, 11th April with an all inclusive mural being painted at the Youth and Community Centre. The painting will take place between 11am and 2pm. With the young artists completing the mural to represent the inclusive environment Forbes possess, as designed by local creatives, Made of Fridays.

This year’s Youth Week celebrations will also see Red Bend hosting a “Colour Run” at their school. These have been incredibly popular in the past and this year will be no exception.

On Friday, 12th April between 6pm to 8pm the outdoor movie screening of “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” will be held at Nelson Park. A barbeque, popcorn and drinks will be available, bring your friends and a picnic blanket or chair to celebrate the start of the school holidays.

To complete the celebrations a Youth Concert will be held at Lions Park on Saturday, 13th April from 2pm to 7pm. The park will be filled with entertainment such as rock climbing walls, paddleboats, giant games and food vans. The announcement of the official Youth Week Awards will also take place during the day. Bring along the whole family, a chair or blanket and sit back and enjoy the amazing line up of artists performing.

“Our youth are the future of this community and it is important we interact with them to provide fun events such as these,” said Mayor, Phyllis Miller. “Celebrating Youth Week with great events like we have planned is a great way we can all come together. The free Youth Concert at Lions Park will be amazing, and who doesn’t love a Colour Run?”

For further information email sarah.williams@forbes.nsw.gov.au.

Trundle will come alive on 4th May to the only ABBA music festival in Australia. The festival is one of the most iconic events in NSW with ABBA fans arriving by car, bus and the famous ABBA train to enjoy the music of ABBA, performed by the world famous ABBA tribute band Bjorn Again.

There will be plenty of entertainment throughout the day with Australian artists including Ben Ransom, Ingrid Mae, Amitie and MRQ. The festival also features a range of fun activities including market stalls, fashion competitions and activities for kids.

It’s a great opportunity for ABBA fans, old and new, some wearing their best ABBA outfits from the 1970’s and singing along to the music that has captivated the world for many years.

Special guests, Alana Prentice and Tristan MacManus, known from Dancing with the Stars will be there teaching a few moves and judging the Fashion of the Festival.

If you are looking for a fun day nearby and searching for a memorable experience, then the 2019 Trundle ABBA festival is it!