On Wednesday 28 April 2021, Forbes Shire Council held a Contractor Information Night to showcase the infrastructure projects commencing in the Forbes Shire and region over the coming 12 months. Event partners, Transport for NSW, Inland Rail, Sunrise Energy Metals and Evolution Mine were all on hand to present and outline the work they have occurring in the upcoming year.

“This is an exciting time for our Shire with so many projects on the go,” said Forbes Shire Mayor, Phyllis Miller OAM.

“Nights like this help ensure as many locals as we can are employed by this work.”

The information night covered all the projects coming up in the next 12 months, right down to the individual scope of works within larger projects that local contractors could benefit from.

“It was great to see everyone have the opportunity to talk to service providers from procurement, employment and Work Health and Safety to find out additional information,” said Phyllis.

“We know it sometimes sounds really daunting to work with government and these types of information evenings help dispel that.”

Regional Development Australia Central West (RDA Central West) is excited to partner with Rich Evans, CEO of Central West Media, to deliver a Social Media and Digital Marketing Workshop in Forbes.

RDA Central West CEO, Sam Harma said he is looking forward to bringing this workshop to Forbes next week.

“This workshop is designed to present the key information and tools local businesses need to help build their business narrative, tell their story and reach their audience,” said Mr Harma.

“Creating and delivering content has never been more accessible or competitive and Rich will discuss how you can ensure you and your business standout.”

“Rich is an engaging and fantastic speaker and will focus on storytelling in the modern world and dive into the ways you can create content that engages, build your community and develop a sustainable strategy to succeed with your online marketing.”

“I encourage anyone interested from Forbes, or surrounding communities, to register and I’m confident participants will walk away with new ideas and inspiration for their business and brand.”

Rich is the CEO and Editor in Chief of Central West Media, publishers of the Lithgow Village Voice and Bathurst City Life. CWM also operates a number of soon to be launched regional focussed portals such as Central West Jobs.

Rich is a businessman, author, speaker, consultant – but most of all he identifies as a designer.

The workshop will take place on Thursday, 13 May 2021 from 7:30am to 9:30am at Club Forbes, located on Templar Street. Tickets are $20 and include breakfast.

Register for the workshop at https://richevansforbesworkshop.eventbrite.com.au For more information, please contact Sophie at RDA Central West on (02) 6369 1600 or by emailing sophie@rdacentralwest.org.au

This workshop is delivered thanks to the support of Evolution Mining

Forbes Learning Ladder and Bedgerabong Public School will both be recipients of donations this year from Australia’s Biggest Bogan Festival according to organisers.

Learning Ladder will receive a charitable donation while Bedgerabong Public School will receive all proceeds from cans consumed at the event.

“We really want to mix it up each year and help different organisations, schools or charities where we can,” said organiser Luke Acheson.

“In 2019 the beneficiaries were Currajong Disability Services who were located in the Parkes Shire so this time it was Forbes’ turn,” he said. “We want to put back into our local communities that support us and sponsor us too.”

With just over a month to the festival on 11-13 June, everything is taking shape with sponsors Coates Hire, Western Tree Care, Queanbeyan Industrial, Forbes Pizza House, Constable Hay Supplies, Bogan Gate Beef Jerky, Coffee By Larz, Dale Scott, Adam Molloy Carpentry, Billy Spence’s Central Butchery Forbes, T&T Tyres, Parkes Hotel, Golden Duck Tipping, Local Legends Entertainment, Down Un-dies, Inkcredible, Loomzy’s, Acheson’s Mitre 10, Kevin Gunn, Blue Sky, Forbes Shell, Bernardi’s and Cahills all coming onboard along with the Bedgerabong Picnic Race Club, Forbes Shire Council and the Bedgerabong community.

“We are always looking for more sponsors and supporters,” said Luke.

“We have Pauly setting thong smacking records to go with our golden thong trophy from Cahills for Biggest Bogan, lawnmower racing, mullet haircuts, sausage sandwich eating comps and a bogan wedding – so watch this space!”

“Tickets are moving faster than COVID-19 at a footy game so don’t muck around and avoid disappointment – save that for your parents!”

Chris Franklin, Noll Brothers plus special guest, Hype Duo, Domenic O’Kiernan and Benny Bogan will also be back after appearing in 2019 as will Australia’s Biggest Bogan Ryan ‘Bogan’ Edwards.

Tickets can be purchased at www.eventbrite.com.au

The Forbes Arts Society invites avid, amateur and accomplished artists from across the region to enter this year’s Heritage Art Competition.

The theme ‘Our Heritage for the Future’ encourages artists to celebrate all aspects of heritage including the built and natural environment, sacred sites and artefacts.

Forbes Arts Society Chair, Dr Karen Ritchie said, “This year’s theme looks to the importance of all facets of heritage in honouring the stories of our past, celebrating lived heritage as it evolves in the present, and looking to the future to ensure the stories of our culture, significant historical and natural places and Indigenous heritage is protected for future generations.”

While artists do not have to be residents of Forbes, their entries do need to portray an aspect of Forbes Shire heritage.

The competition has no set categories and is open to all art mediums and styles, with the finalists exhibited at the Platypus Gallery from April 27 until May 15 as part of the Our Heritage for the Future exhibition.

Winners of the Forbes Shire Council Acquisition Prize ($750) and Non-acquisitive Prize ($250) will be announced at the Forbes Heritage Award Night on Tuesday May 4, commencing at 6pm.

For more information about the Forbes Heritage Art Competition or the Our Heritage for the Future exhibition, visit www.forbesartssociety.com or follow @PlatypusGallery on Facebook and Instagram.

The Platypus Gallery opening hours are Tuesday to Friday, 10am until 2pm and Saturdays, 9am until 1pm.

Author Rebecca Wilson recently launched her debut book, Kate Kelly, the true story about Ned Kelly’s little sister, in her hometown of Forbes. Locals have rejoiced at the launch of this book and having this incredible story be told.

“When I was a young person growing up in Forbes in the central west of New South Wales, my uncle told me that Kate Kelly, the younger sister to renowned bushrangers Ned and Dan Kelly, had lived in the town for a number of years. But it wasn’t until 2010 that I discovered that the teenaged Kate had ridden as a decoy for and delivered news and supplies to the Kelly gang when they were on the run in northeast Victoria from 1878 to 1880. I was instantly intrigued, and jumped down the rabbit hole of research, hot on Kate’s heels,” Rebecca said.

One aspect of Kate’s story that intrigued me was the mystery surrounding her death. Kate had arrived in the region in 1885 and was employed at Cadow Station, in Forbes, as a domestic servant under a false name. I was shocked to discover it had been my relatives who hired her.

After playing a significant role in the saga of her brothers and suffering relentless fame as a consequence, Kate was found dead in a waterhole in October 1898, leaving behind three young children and an infant. Perhaps her attempts to disappear from the public eye are the reason her story is not remembered very well in history’s pages.

“I congratulate Bec on the launch of this wonderful book,” said Forbes Shire Councillor, Michele Herbert who was at the launch.

“I think it is so important we tell the stories of the past and keep our history alive for future generations.”

According to Aussie Towns website, “Forbes is a remarkably elegant and substantial inland town. Famous for its connections with the bushranger, Ben Hall (he was killed and buried here), today it is an important rural service centre noted for its fine parks and gardens and its large and gracious public buildings. The rural economy in the district is based around a major cattle sale yards complex, beef and hay exports, wool, wheat, grain seed crops, oil seed crops, fruit and vegetables.”

The settlement was first named by Surveyor General John Oxley who called it simply Camp Hill. Oxley subsequently re-named the settlement Forbes after Francis Forbes, later Sir Francis Forbes, who became the first Chief Justice of New South Wales in the Supreme Court.

But Forbes is so much more than that. It’s the Vandenberg Hotel, Mayor Thomas’s Grecian Fountain, the Band Rotunda, St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church and the Post Office Hotel. Forbes is the Sweet Three Vintage Van, the Forbes Platypi and the Forbes Magpies. It’s the ski dam and VanFest and now Australia’s Biggest Bogan Festival too. It’s Katie Kelly, Phyllis Miller and Phil Duke. It’s the flat red horizon with endless blue skies, starry nights and camp fires. Forbes is many things to many people.

To me though it represents family, nature, lifestyle and friends. It’s a cold drink on the deck at the Bowling Club, a nice meal at Wan Wah or even a walk along the heritage trail. Forbes isn’t just a town – it’s amazing!

By Dane Millerd Editor

It was the first ANZAC Day since COVID broke and if crowds are any indicator, it was also one of the biggest ANZAC Days Forbes has seen in recent memory. The large numbers of participants had all come to recognise and acknowledge the 106th anniversary of ANZAC Day.

It began with the dawn service as the Last Post echoed across the still vespers light at Victoria Park culminating in the customary march from Cross Street to the Forbes Cenotaph.

Forbes Shire Council Mayor Phyllis Miller was “ecstatic” with the turn-out while Forbes Sub Branch President Michael Walker said “today proved ANZAC Day is alive in Forbes!”

There were families, some four generations deep, vintage cars, marching band and key speakers throughout the stirring ceremony to acknowledge our servicemen and women and the ANZAC spirit.

Observed on 25 April each year, ANZAC Day was originally devised to honour the members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) who served in the Gallipoli Campaign, their first engagement in the First World War (1914–1918). ANZAC Day marks the anniversary of that first campaign that led to major casualties for Australian and New Zealand forces during the First World War.

It was certainly a special way to bring in one of the most important days on the national calendar and confirmed that the ANZAC spirit is well and truly still alive in Forbes.