Hundreds of people attended the public open day at Forbes Hospital’s new facility on the weekend, allowing them to preview the structure which is part of a $40.9 million redevelopment. Before the open day community tours began, a traditional Indigenous smoking ceremony was conducted by Ralph Naden, followed by a Welcome to Country performance led by Aileen Allen.

“The community tours provided a unique opportunity to look inside the contemporary and spacious new building before staff and patients move in,” said Member for Orange Andrew Gee.

“It’s great that so many locals took the opportunity to look through our fabulous new facility. Feedback has been incredibly positive.” The new building at Forbes Hospital features an emergency department, an inpatient unit,
birthing suites for maternity services and clinical support services, including medical imaging. The $113.7 million Lachlan Health Service Project is funded by the NSW Government and includes both the planning and capital
components for the Forbes and Parkes hospital redevelopments.

The Lachlan Health Service project is scheduled for completion in early 2016.

Caterina and her husband Vittorio Murda have opened their new restaurant/café next door to Spotlight and they are ready for business! Both Caterina and Vittorio were born in the south of Italy and it is this cuisine which features heavily in their meals.

Café Aglio and Olio, (garlic and oil) features food containing garlic, oil, basil, chillies and the staple red sauce Napoletana. The Murdas moved to Forbes from Western Sydney where they ran two Italian restaurants to be closer to their family this year. They saw the opportunity to return to Forbes as there was an opening in the market and all
the family could help out.

Opening at 7:30 during the week for great coffee, sandwiches, focaccias, and homemade cakes. In the evenings it is a true restaurant with traditional pastas and pizzas cooked in a wood-fired oven. The pizza menu has traditional favourites with gourmet pizzas in the mix like Contadina, a “farmers pizza” with vegetables including eggplant, zucchini, mushrooms and roasted pumpkin.

There is also Marinara and Calzone which has ricotta, mushrooms, ham and olives. For the sweet tooth, there is a Nutella pizza on the menu with strawberries and bananas. If you don’t have plans for dinner tonight, drop into Café Aglio and Olio and give Caterina and Vittorio a warm Forbes welcome!

October is Mental Health Month and it is a time when everyone is encouraged to put their mental health first. It is a national mental health campaign co-ordinated every October by Mental Health Association NSW to promote good mental health and wellbeing in our local communities.

According to Mental Health Association NSW, each year mental health issues affect one in five Australians with anxiety disorders and depression the most common mental health challenges. Mental Health Month creates an opportunity for people to look at their own mental health and focus on ways to enhance social and emotional wellbeing while building personal resilience and support networks.

Senior Team Leader of Mental Health and Drug & Alcohol (MHDA) Service Terry Buckerfield said Western NSW Local Health District is working in partnership with various nongovernment organisations to host activities
during Mental Health Month with the theme ‘Value Your Mind’. “This year’s theme aims to encourage everyone to think about their own mental health while promoting the need for everyone to make mental health a priority in their daily life,” Terry said.

A number of activities will be held throughout October to highlight the importance of good mental health and wellbeing. “We will be holding training days in Youth and Adult Mental Health First Aid, a Mental Health Forum, walks to raise postnatal depression awareness and suicide awareness, and also a number of fun events including a scavenger hunt, drumming workshops and lip sync battles,” Health Promotion and Prevention Officer Yvonne Muyambi said. “These events are a useful reminder for us all to think about our own mental health and the mental health of those around us – it is also a good excuse to get out there and have fun!”

Anyone with concerns about their mental health or that of a loved one should call the Mental Health Line on 1800 011 511.

VANFEST has become one of the most highly anticipated events in the region and will see thousands of music and festival lovers swarming to Forbes Showground on Saturday 5 December. Coming to Forbes on Saturday 5 September, this year there is another stellar line-up, including Aussie electronic duo Peking Duk, stage veterans John Butler Trio and drum and bass giants Rudimental.

“We couldn’t resist the opportunity to bring two of the best live acts to Forbes, the inclusion of Rudimental and Peking Duk fulfils our dedication to bringing exceptional live entertainment to regional NSW,” said VANFEST organiser Matt Clifton. VANFEST is a family run festival created by father and son team Matt and Grant Clifton,
who you might know from the Vandenberg Hotel.

After growing up in Tullamore NSW, Matt saw the need for quality entertainment in the regional area. With the help of his father they are bringing high profile international and local acts to Central West NSW.

Their combined efforts have been a success and have resulted in a strategic partnership with the NSW Government’s tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW and Southern Cross Austereo’s Hit Network, to ensure the continued growth of VANFEST. “We are looking forward to continuing to grow the VANFEST brand for many years to come as it provides an experience that would not normally be found in regional areas.” “VANFEST is a unique platform for major Australian and international artists to experience a different style of music festival in a diverse
location supported by the local community.”

In addition to an amazing line-up of live music and entertainment, VANFEST will offer an array of food and beverage outlets, VIP bars, meet and greet opportunities, extreme activations with partnering sponsors and a multitude of camping facilities including glamping, tent city, phone charging stations, communal common areas with bean bags and much more. Visit www.vanfest.com.au for ticketing information.

The National BBQ Championships are only a week away and it is looking to be a fantastic event with some famous faces and a lot of good fun to be had. The 2015 BBQ Championships will offer everything you would associate with the traditional Aussie BBQ including tasting plates, cheese and wine sampling as well as appearances from Better Homes and Gardens chef Ed Halmagyi and The Voice contestant from Eugowra Cath Adams.

There are four categories of meat to be judged such as chicken, beef, pork and lamb. This year the National BBQ Championships have teamed up with Relay for Life so both events will be held at the same venue. “It just works,” said Forbes BBQ Society Committee President Chris Roylance. “Two major events coming together provides the
community and the region the opportunity to come together to celebrate, raise funds for a good cause and just have a really good time.”

“The BBQ Championships are about bringing people together, having a bit of fun and putting Forbes on the map,” said Chris. Both events will be held at South Circle Forbes on Saturday 17 October and both committees are encouraging everyone in the community to come along and get involved. To register a team visit www.forbesbbqsociety.com.au or phone 0412 523 344.

Over 150 people went through the doors of the Forbes Services Memorial Club on Friday night to help local band House of Tribes celebrate the launch of their debut album, Paint It Red at an all-ages event.

After nine-months plugging away with lyrics, chords and falsettos, the group’s hard work finally accumulated in excitement and accomplishment with the sale of many copies of the album. “There were heaps of people there we didn’t know,” said Jake. “We were really happy with the support from the town. It was excellent.” “Some friends who I haven’t seen in a long time hit me up on Facebook and told me the CD is really good. I don’t think they were expecting it to be.”

After performances from two local artists, House of Tribes took to the stage and it wasn’t long before the crowd was moving and everyone was having a good time. “It was cool, like an actual big live concert,” Jake said. “I wanted to keep going! I was so hyped up I couldn’t sleep afterwards.” “I was feeling so happy that we had just done this,” said Paige. “The turn-out was definitely not expected.”

Teenage siblings Paige and Jake Ellison formed House of Tribes nearly three years ago when Paige wanted to perform at the River Arts Festival, and since then their sound has taken off with performances across the region including Forbes, Young, Orange, Grenfell and Condobolin. “It was weird – we’d been recording this album for 9 months and we’d never seen a hard copy. When you actually have it in your hands, it’s unreal,” said Jake.

House of Tribes would like to thank the community for the support shown. The band will keep performing around the region and will continue working on their second album scheduled for 2016 with a similar but more polished sound.

When a paint group of twenty years decided to get some like-minded people together and form the Forbes Arts Society, they didn’t know what the outcome would look like. It started out as a way to get artists around the area together in one place to share their creative passions and discuss issues that affect the local art world.

A few years ago, art space was very limited in Forbes, and the Forbes Arts Society decided to act. Since securing the empty shop on the corner of Lachlan and Templar Streets as the Platypus Gallery two years ago, this not-for profit group have held many successful exhibitions. Members’ works are exhibited in the Platypus Gallery and from time to time there are exhibitions from visiting artists, particularly during October.

Artists from all over the Central West have exhibited their art in the Platypus Gallery, including towns like Grenfell, Orange, Parkes and of course Forbes, as well as artworks from the Blue Mountains. A wide range of mediums are on display such as oil, acrylic and watercolour paintings, drawings, photography, pastel works, basket weaving and woodwork.

The subjects and themes are relatable to country life with landscapes of regional areas, native birds, Forbes inspired pieces and miniatures. “It’s been very successful in the sense that a lot of tourists come through the middle of town and travellers call in to the gallery,” said Klara Ward, Secretary of the Forbes Arts Society. “It’s very important to bring other artists into the area.”

“The Forbes Shire Council have played a big part in helping keep the gallery alive, as well as the generosity of Mrs Kennard who owns the building.” “The gallery brings the community together. They can use it as a hobby, but emerging artists and professional artists can use it too,” said Kathryn Lewis.

A public open day will be held on Saturday 10 October to allow the community to preview the new Forbes Hospital building, with scheduled tours to be carried out from 10am to 2pm. The new hospital building is part of a $40.9
million redevelopment and an open day will give the community a unique opportunity to look inside the contemporary and spacious new building before the staff and patients move in.

Member for Orange Andrew Gee is looking forward to sharing the experience with the people of Forbes. “I can’t wait for our new hospital to be inspected by the Lachlan community,” Mr Gee said. “I think there will be a lot of people in the community wanting to see this new facility.” “I’d like to thank everyone involved during the planning and construction period – it’s because of their hard work we’re at this stage of the project.”

Scheduled for completion in early 2016, the new building at Forbes Hospital will include an emergency department, an inpatient unit, birthing suites for maternity services and clinical support services, including medical imaging. When the hospital moves to its new building, refurbishment of the existing areas will commence to deliver an increased renal service and an upgraded ambulatory care unit.

The Forbes Spring Races are back on Saturday 10 October and it’s looking to be a sensational family day out. This year get into the spirit and get out your best outfits for Fashions on the Field! Categories include Most Elegant, Cutting Edge, Tiny Tots, Junior and Best Dressed Gent. Full TAB and Tote facilities will be available on course as well as plenty of entertainment to enjoy. There will also be food and a full bar in operation.

The gates will open at 11am with a huge prize pool of cash and prizes to be won on the day. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for pensioners. Kids under 12 can get in for free. Marquee and tent sites will be available so why not get a group of friends together and bring your own food to enjoy? There is no BYO alcohol allowed, but a bar will be in close proximity.

For the latest information on everything happening at this year’s Forbes Spring Races, follow the event’s Facebook Page.