The 2015 Forbes Show could just be the best one yet! This year is the 140th annual show and everybody is invited to go along and celebrate! This year has something for everyone, from the new event of full tilt jousting to the crowd
favourites of previous years like harness racing, the Showgirl competition, fireworks and so much more.

Saturday’s entertainment will include the dog high jump, the hay stacking competition, a pet show and a fun puppet show. Local talent includes Forbes Town Band, students from Forbes High School, Red Bend Catholic College and Forbes Primary School, the performers from Mitchell Conservatorium and local dance troupes.

Admire the skills and talents of our local cooks, crafters and artists, and don’t forget to check out the family Lego competition. Dairy, produce and livestock will be displayed and judged, showcasing the incredible things the region has to offer.

There is also a wide range of classes in the Growing Plants Section with everything from cut flowers, floral art and a class just for novices.

Don’t forget to stop at the photography exhibition with its massive range of classes including child study, nature study and human interest.

Find out who can grow the biggest pumpkin, who can decorate the best plate using vegetables, fruit or herbs, and who has the best barley, canola and wheat crops. The Showgirl judging will commence from 12pm on Saturday. Other classes include Miss Teenage Showgirl, Miss Junior Showgirl, Miss Tiny Tots and Master Stockman. This year there is over $1000 worth of incredible prizes up for grabs.

Tickets can be purchased from the Show Office and families can buy sheets of $1 ride coupons for $25 with the value of $30 which can be used anywhere in Show Alley. Show tickets are $15 for adults and $8 for pensioners with a concession card and children.

The Forbes Rotary Club held it’s Mount Kenya 2015 Sponsor’s Night on 21 August as a show of appreciation for the support shown to the Rotary Club for the project. Earlier this year, Chris Finkel and a group of Rotary friends climbed Mount Kenya hoping to raise $60,000 in aid of the Maasai People, a hunter-gatherer tribe in southern Kenya and northern Tanzania.

The Sponsors’ Night, held at the Vandenberg Hotel in Forbes was an opportunity for sponsors and special guests to celebrate the achievements of the team that climbed Mount Kenya. It was an evening of good food, good friends and Guinness; a fitting celebration for a fantastic achievement.

A presentation was made to Lachlan Legacy and Chris Finkel made a presentation of the climb, detailing the trials and tribulations of the hike, the cultural impact he experienced in Africa and how the expedition has impacted on the Maasai People. “So far we’ve raised in excess of $40,000 and donations will be open until the end of 2015,” Chris said, whose hard work has been a challenging but rewarding experience.

“It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life,” says Chris, “but we did it. It was a great challenge.”

Stacey Clarke is really looking forward to the Forbes Show this year. Stacey is one of  two entrants this year, with the other being Brooke Tattersall. Stacey said that one of the reasons for entering is due to the influence of Annabelle Green, who is the Co-ordinator of the Showgirl Competition, and who has been someone that Stacey really looks up to.

Stacey believes that it is important for young people to have a voice in the rural communities that they work in, and believes that the experience will assist her in her role as a water sales specialist at Ray White Rural. She has been in this role now for around 6 months and with Ray White Rural for just on two years. Stacey said, “I have learnt so
much about this side of the rural sector, as it involves dealing with local farmers, and the reselling of water allocation rights and entitlements.

It is a growing side of the rural sector for a lot of agents, and I have very good mentors at the agency.” Following on from the local Forbes Show, the next step for the local winner is to attend the district judging, and then onto the
Easter Show in Sydney in 2016. The judging has taken place over a period of time, with the main judging and interviews taking place at the Forbes Council Chambers with both girls being interviewed by a panel of three
judges. Then there was the Black Tie Show Ball on the Saturday night and the final sashing will take place later in the day on Friday afternoon. Stacey said, “It has been a great experience to be part of this and has given me a greater knowledge and understanding of the rural community and the ability to communicate with the Forbes Community.”

Best of luck to both entrants!

Ladies pop this date down as this is an unmissable event in the calendar, Little Extras Lifestyle’s Spring launch will be held on Thursday 24th September 5pm-6.30pm which includes a first look at the latest releases in Spring fashion styles. Come be a part of a wonderful evening and celebrate with the girl’s the unveiling of an exciting new product line. Drinks and nibbles will be provided and in store discounts from 5pm. All purchases will go into the draw for a chance to win a Samantha Wills piece.

Shop in a nice relaxed atmosphere and let the girl’s assist you to find those essential pieces perfect for the warmer weather. Everybody is invited to come along for an evening full of laughs, great company and fantastic
shopping.

With the Forbes Spring Races coming up this October, now is the perfect time to get your hands on all the essentials to make your outfit stand out on the day. Little Extras Lifestyle has got it all from head to toe, be sure to look your best and dress to impress! As part of the Girls Day Out promotion any purchase made during the month of September will go into the draw for a $200 gift voucher.

NSW Government-owned corporation Essential Energy have announced the first phase of proposed workforce reductions for employee and union consultation, starting off a period of transformation for the Government entity. This will include 3 positions with Essential Energy in Forbes.

The 700 positions that have been proposed in the first phase cover all Essential Energy regions and employee categories as well as a 20% reduction in senior management positions. Almost 300 of the reductions comprise
employees who have elected to take a voluntary redundancy.

“A period of consultation with the potentially impacted employees has begun and will continue over the coming weeks to explain processes and how they may affect individuals,” said Deputy Chief Executive Officer Gary Humphreys. According to Gary, the Australian Energy Regulator’s (AER) 30% cut in operating expenditure had left Essential Energy without funding for an estimated 1,395 positions, costing the business about $15 million per month.

“We’ve got to start operating our business within the AER’s funding constraints and with fewer employees while maintaining network safety and reliability and delivering a satisfactory level of service to our customers,” Gary said.

“Following an extensive review of business operations, Essential Energy has provided details to employees and the unions around the number of proposed unfunded positions in the first phase.” “These proposed workforce reductions are regrettable yet unavoidable. We appreciate this is a difficult time for all Essential Energy employees and are committed to treating them with the highest level of respect and support throughout this process.”

A second phase of reductions of another 695 positions will be assessed once the outcome of the Australian Energy Regulator’s determination is known, which is expected to be in late 2015.

Local rural sales agent Ainslie Toole has added another feather to her cap by being named Landmark Harcourts Top Rural Sales Consultant for NSW. With nearly 20 years of experience in the industry, Ainslie has specialised in selling
rural properties in Forbes, Parkes, Trundle and Grenfell districts, selling nearly 300 rural properties.

Some of those properties Ainslie has sold up to three times and she has well over 2000 clients on her database, a worthwhile achievement. With low interest rates and considerably improved livestock prices, demand for properties
is exceeding supply. “We have a shortage of listings and buyers are waiting for all types of property,” Ainslie said.

That includes broadacre properties, larger irrigation properties and rural properties with homes under $1 million.
For the best advice before you buy or sell your rural property, or to get a free, no obligation appraisal, contact Ainslie Toole on 0407 946 838 or email Ainslie.toole@landmarkharcourts.com.au

This year, the 24th NSW Small Winemakers Wine Show in Forbes received 580 entries from 91 wineries. During the three days of judging, about 480 litres of wine were poured and 3000 glasses used, which all have to be washed and dried.

Starting in 1992, the NSW Small Winemakers Wine Show is now the largest of its kind. The Hunter Valley’s de luliis Wines owner and winemaker Mike de luliis was again the Chairman of Judges for the 2015 Show, leading a team of six judges and three associate judges. The Show used a blind tasting process and there were two judging panels. Each judge scored the wine out of a total of 20 points; three for colour, seven for smell and ten for taste with a combined score of 60.

A gold medal was awarded to the wines that scored 55.5+ points, a silver medal for between 51-55 points and a bronze medal for wines that scored between 46.5-50.5 points. 40 wines were awarded with gold across 29 classes, with Silkman wines 2014 Reserve Chardonnay taking out the Clear Image Trophy for best white wine in show, and Lerida Estate 2014 Lake George Shiraz Viognier winning the Vintec Transtherm Trophy for best red wine in show.

Following the event, a public tasting evening was held at the Forbes Youth and Community Centre with community members invited to go and taste the range of wines entered into the show. A wine dinner with a five-course meal catered by Eat Your Greens and featuring trophy wines will be held at the Forbes Golf and Sportsman’s Hotel on Friday 19 September. Tickets can be purchased from Banderra Estate Cellar Door at McFeeters Motor Museum and BWR Accountants.

The Forbes High School Lachlan Engagement and Enrichment Program (LEEP) saw stage 2 and 3 students from across five public schools visit the senior school on Tuesday 25 August for an outstanding day of learning.

LEEP encourages students to work in groups and with mentors from the High School in two set subject disciplines – mathematics and science. The program enables students to experience interactive and challenging projects that inspires peers in a 21st century learning environment.

Glenn Stewart, Director of Public Schools NSW, and two visiting principals, Mr Thomas from Forbes Public and Mr McAlister from Forbes North were all very impressed with the success and engagement of the program. “It was fantastic to see students from the five schools working together and engaged in project based learning,” said Mr Thomas.

“This high level learning opportunity created by the Forbes High School teachers and mentors enables students to be immersed in an environment that facilitates the development of individuals to be extended through significant engagement and problem solving tasks.”

LEEP is held on one day each term and runs for an entire school day and delivers a shared approach to the education of younger students.