The Long Lunch by the Lake fundraiser on 13th November raised $24,999.25 for Physio Touch Machines for the Forbes and Parkes Hospitals. Thank you to the organising committee; the major sponsors: Forbes Shire Council,
Tooheys, Bernardi’s and the Globe Hotel; Pete Ashcroft for lunch; Forbes Rugby League for the bar; Kevin Miller the auctioneer; entertainer Adam Enslow; Anita Morrison, Kerry and Geoff Acheson, and Lachlan Valley Party Hire who made canapés.

Raffle and auction items were donated by: Acheson’s Home Timber and Hardware, Metro Hotels, Jake Lewis Car Detailing, Sportspower, Swinging Bridge Wines, Robert Oatley Wines, Head On In Eugowra, Amoena, Allure On Main, Woolworths, Terry Bros Carpet Court, Banksia Grove Florist, A Classy Touch Florist, Jan and John Martin,
Cafe Aglio e Olio, Thee Hair, Undercover Sleepwear and Lingerie, Robbs Jewellers, V-Air, Hair With Style, Verde Spa, Chapter Two, Forbes Bakehouse, Gunns Mensland, Ladybird Boutique, Little Extras, K&H Interior
Designs, Forbes Small Engines, T&M Tyres, Beaurepairs, Gottaluvit, Forbes Smash Repairs, Outback Soils, Jelbarts Tyrepower, Roylance’s Auto One, Leslie Spice, Esmes, Blush, Flannery’s Pharmacy, Painted Daisies, Woolerina, Cahills, The Brew, Target, News On Rankin, Glen Egan Building Supplies, Turners Furniture One, Kylie Spice (Mary Kay), Spotlight, Bernardi’s, Forbes Family Dentist, Lakeside Takeaway, Roylance’s Auto One, Anytime Fitness, Mitch Roylance, Hello World, and Mattiske Farming. Parkes: Maureen Kent, Eddy Mead, Furniture One, Hay’s Hardware, Griffins Leading Edge, Ron Dunfords Chemist, Parkes Decor Shoppe, Nangar Gems, The Red Chandelier, Parkes News and Gifts, Happy Home Traders, Ooshka, Colouby Creations, Parkes Stationary and Office Furniture, Kerin Physio Co, Parkes CRT, Parkes Farm Centre, Byrne Clothing, Parkes Pharmacy, 141 on Main, Tammy Frame, Swish Fashion Orange, AA Blatch, Little Black Dress, Buttabeef Butchers, EB Games, Cedar Cafe, We Know Travel,
Repco, Janice Cassidy Hair Salon, Bella’s Restaurant, La Bella Medispa and Dish Café.

The shocking statistics of domestic violence is a national emergency. This was the message of Nova Peris, the first Aboriginal Olympic gold medalist and former politician, at the fourth annual White Ribbon Day March last Friday.
Nova highlighted the shocking statistic that 90% of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women were victims of domestic violence, but said it was important to remember that not all men were guilty.

Another high profile speaker Peter Gibbs, who established Indigenous Police Recruiting Our Way Delivery (IPROWD) and a former Parkes Spacemen player, drew on sporting analogies for his message. “As a Spaceman we had many battles with the Forbes Magpies on the field, but off the field we always had respect for each other.” Peter said just as a sports team work hard to reach the number one spot, the Forbes community needed to work as a team to get out of the top 10 worst spot for domestic violence in NSW. Ethan Markwort, a Forbes High student who participated in a program called Love Bites, said many sporting role models did not set a good example as they would always blame alcohol and drugs for committing acts of violence. “This is not right.”

Todd Skinner of Northparkes Mines announced the mine had become the first White Ribbon accredited mine in Australia. “More than 80% of our workforce are men and the company felt it was important to train employees to enable them to help prevent and respond to violence against women.” The more than 200 people who took part in the White Ribbon March pledged an oath: I will stand up, speak out and act to prevent men’s violence against women. Charles Dwyer, White Ribbon Ambassador, said: “Today we become the drivers of change through our collective efforts to raise community awareness.”

By Maggi Barnard

Six Forbes High students returned from Sydney on a high after Saturday night’s final performance of Schools Spectacular ever that now holds the Guinness World Records title for Largest Amateur Variety Act. The Schools Spectacular cast, officially counted as 5322 for the Guinness World Records title, included a 2,700-strong choir; 2,300 dancers; an 80-piece symphony orchestra; a world-class stage band; and more than 40 featured artists. The show lived up to its theme: Dream Big.

At times the performers flooded the arena stage with vibrant intensity while in other intimate scenes performers captured the huge stadium audience with their mesmerising talent. From classical extravaganzas blending the symphony orchestra and choir to explosions of pulsating rock and pop, the Schools Spectacular colourfully unfolded
the broad spectrum of music and dance. Schools Spectacular Executive Producer Jane Simmons said everyone should be proud to share in the triumph of the 2016 show. “Schools Spectacular 2016 was amazing,” she said.

“Every single performer, the incredible teachers and staff who brought it all together at the arena and at school, the students’ parents and all who contributed deserve huge applause for the incredible efforts.”

Nominations are open for the Forbes Shire Citizen of the Year (26 years and over) and Forbes Shire Young Citizen of the Year (25 years and younger). The awards recognise and reward community members who have displayed a
consistent record of excellence and made a significant contribution to our community.

Nominations are open to all residents of the Forbes Shire and the awards will be presented at Australia Day celebrations on Thursday, 26th January next year. Australia Day celebrations will be held at Colin McKenzie Park.
Mayor Graeme Miller encouraged residents to put forward a community member who deserved to be recognised as the Forbes Shire Citizen of the Year and Young Citizen of the Year.

“If you know someone who has been the backbone of a community group or has shown an outstanding achievement in academic or sporting fields, make sure you nominate them for the prestigious awards,” the Mayor said. Nominations close at 5pm on 18th January. Forms can be collected from Council’s Administration Office or downloaded from the Council website. If you would like to be involved in the Australia Day planning contact Blake Nicholson on 6850 2355.

A 16-year-old Forbes High student won third place in a national songwriting competition. Paige Ellison came third in the Year 11/12 section of the Australian Children’s Music Foundation (ACMF) National Songwriting Competition with her song Ropes. “It is really amazing. I am so excited,” said Paige of her success after entering for the second time.

She started writing songs when she was 14. She is the lead vocalist for local band House Of Tribes and also writes most of the songs for the band. She fronts the band with her brother Jake, who received a highly commended in the same section of the competition in 2015 for his composition Underdog. Paige’s song will feature on the band’s new album, ‘We Still Have Hearts’, which is set for release in mid-January 2017. “I think with all the publicity my song is
getting, it will help our band a lot.” Paige, who also plays guitar, piano, ukulele and mandolin, said it would be lovely to turn her music into a career one day.

The band has been going for three and a half years and they play folk indie music. They perform mostly locally but have also played in Dubbo, Young, Orange and other towns in the Central West. You can hear Paige’s song and all the
other winning songs at http://acmf.com.au/

The National Songwriting Competition (NSC) is the longest running and most successful children’s songwriting competition in Australia. Don Spencer, Founder and CEO of the ACMF, launched the competition fourteen years ago to inspire creativity, imagination and self-expression in children. “I was thrilled by the quality of this year’s entries,” said Don. Entries were judged by music industry experts in Sydney. Since its inception, more than 26,000 songs have been written for the competition.

By Maggi Barnard

There’s so much to see at Flannery’s Pharmacy with new skin care ranges and new organic and gluten free health foods. Check out the Jojoba skincare range, which uses natural plant oils and extracts, is gentle on the skin and free from harmful detergents, chemicals and parabens. It’s great for people with sensitive skin and is Australian made!

Also instore now is the Honest to Goodness health foods range featuring organic nuts, spelt, quinoa, raw honey, tahini, nut spread and more! For those who need gluten free products, we have a new range from Orgran including pastas, crispbreads, pancake mixture, custard and gravy.

If you’re looking for Christmas gifts, Flannery’s has a fabulous range of beauty, bath and body products including Natio, MOR, Trilogy and InEssence gift packs and new body ranges such as Bronnley Rhubarb and Peony and White Grape, and a gorgeous range of candles and diffusers.

There’s a great range of fine and lifestyle fragrances including new fragrances from Hugo Boss, Gucci, Jimmy Choo and Chloe. There’s also a wide range of fragrance gift sets for both men and women. You’ll find everything you need for Christmas at Flannery’s Pharmacy. Call in and the friendly team will help you select your gifts and wrap them for free!