Yoorana Gunya Family Healing Centre Aboriginal Corporation in Forbes will receive almost $1.6 million as a part of the Australian Government’s Indigenous Advancement Strategy (IAS). The grant is given to eligible organisations and groups to improve the developmental outcomes for Indigenous children in Forbes and surrounding areas. Yoorana Gunya will receive over $468,000 in funding for the next two and a half years, allowing them to provide various services to improve the social and emotional wellbeing of Indigenous families in Forbes, as well as helping families prepare their children for school. $1.1 million will also be utilised in the Binaal Billa Family Violence Prevention Legal Service offering support to victims of family violence or sexual assault, aiming to reach
towns within the Forbes, Parkes and Lachlan Shires.

“The project to be delivered by Yoorana Gunya will make a real difference to local Indigenous children,” Federal Member for Calare John Cobb said. “The additional support for Binaal Billa will ensure they can continue their great work so highly regarded by all the communities it services. “ “I’ve worked with many Indigenous communities
when my electorate was larger and extended into the far west so I understand their needs and this project will be of great value.” Nigel Scullion, Minister for Indigenous Affairs aid the Government’s investment through the IAS grant round had increased from $860 million to $1 billion and 996 organisations will receive funding over 1,350
projects across Australia.

“The increased investment through the grant round is the result of the Government honouring its commitment to provide longer funding agreements for important frontline services and ensure that any gaps that emerged as part of the round were filled as quickly as possible,” Minister Scullion said.

Daryl Braithwaite will be performing for fans at the Forbes Inn on Friday 16 October and his famous voice still sounds as fantastic as ever. Best known as the lead vocalist of Australian rock band Sherbert, Daryl is now in
his sixties but a lifetime addiction to surfing means he is as fit and strong as some men half his age.

Daryl and his live band have been selling out pubs and clubs in every corner of the country for years, with several members of the group having performed with him for decades. The last member joined the band 14 years ago meaning the current line-up have been together as long as Sherbet was. ‘Forever the Tourist’ is in a sense Daryl’s
personal gift to his most loyal fans and a thank you for their unrelenting support over time. Performing new emotion-filled, stateof- the-art songs, Daryl and his band will introduce a whole new generation of music lovers to one of the most famous and beloved voices in the history of Australian music.

Tickets are $30. Fans of Australian music cannot afford to miss out on this memorable performance.

Sandra Moran has made it her mission to help individuals struggling with depression and suicidal feelings by travelling around Australia on her motorbike, stopping at many towns and cities along the way to talk to people
about mental health.

Travelling with her is Jerry Farsoun, a person who has struggled with depression and feelings of suicide himself and flew around Australia using a Powerchute with a chopper on the back to prove there is a higher value to each and every person, and to show people what they can achieve through determination.

Stopping at Mezzanine on Monday 10 August at 10am, Jerry and Sandra will be handing out information and talking with locals who know someone with depression, have been affected by suicide or who have felt suicidal or depressed in the past.

Omega Ensemble performed on Saturday 25 July at Forbes Town Hall. The concert featured performances from David Rowden on clarinet, Maria Raspopova on piano and Lee Abrahmsen as soprana. Before the performance began, a Masterclass was run by David and Maria for some of the students of the Mitchell Conservatorium.
All of the students came away from the experience thrilled, saying they had each learned something new.

Coming up on the Mitchell Conservatorium schedule is a sensational performance from Bathurst Chamber Orchestra who regularly collaborate with professional woodwind, brass and percussion players. The Bathurst Chamber Orchestra is a community string orchestra comprising around 20 local string players made up of professionals,
tertiary music students and gifted amateur players.

With performances in Bathurst and Oberon, for fine music lovers this event should not be missed. The performance program includes Glass Company, Barber Adagio, Bartok Romanian Folk Dances and more. To purchase tickets or to find out more information, contact the Mitchell Conservatorium on 6331 6622.

The Rotary Club of Forbes held their changeover dinner on Saturday 11 July at the Forbes Sport and Recreation Club, and it was a very successful evening all round. The previous President of the club, Michael Jelbart and Co-President Leo Butler ceremoniously handed down the presidency to Pauline Allan.

Pauline was inducted and acknowledged as the President of the Rotary Club of Forbes for the 2015-2016 period by the District Governor Gary Roberts. Everybody who attended the event congratulated Pauline by way of
acclamation and wished her every success. Representatives of the Rotary Clubs of Parkes, Grenfell, Condobolin and Wagga Wagga travelled to attend the evening, along with Deputy Mayor Councillor Graham Miller and Maureen, Rotary members of Forbes and invited guests.

Michael Jelbart, on behalf of himself and the Co-President, highlighted some of the projects the Rotary Club of Forbes are involved in such as raising money for organisations in Forbes and internationally. The Sunshine Club of Forbes, Forbes North School Garden Project and the Forbes District Hospital were each presented with cheques to help them continue the great work they do for the community.

Certificates of appreciation were also presented to Dominique, Kate, Will and Sam Nixon as well as Duke Jelbart for their assistance at various Forbes Rotary functions. As the previous President of the Club, Michael was awarded with a “Paul Harris Fellow” in appreciation of the tangible and significant assistance he has given towards the furtherance of better understanding and friendly relations among the people of our world.

Special mention was made of Mitchell Ashcroft, a local Forbes High School student, on being selected for the Rotary Student Exchange to Thailand for a year, beginning in January 2016. By Denise Jelbart and Louise Dwyer

Forbes Preschool Kindergarten has been established for 58 years with a community based philosophy meaning that parents and families of the children can visit and get involved in the organisation. While the memories and legacy of this preschool are held close to the hearts of generations of Forbes residents, the waiting list is long and the staff are keen to move on to their new facility. “It’s been 58 long years here, but it isn’t quite big enough,” said Amy Shine, who has been the Director of this centre for the past five years, and has been working in childcare for far longer.

“The new pre-school is our dream come true; a purpose built centre for lots of children,” Amy said. “We are really happy with the design.” The new Preschool will be energy efficient, cost effective, flushed with natural light and
will increase their capacity from 39 kids per day to 75 kids per day. Children at the new Preschool will have access to speech and occupational therapists as well as other specialists who work closely with children.

There will be a community play and learn space for the children where children can explore socially and educationally. “We have a strong link with schools rated as exceeding in all areas of the Australian National Qualifications Framework,” Amy said. The Preschool children go on excursions to local schools and other schools visit the Preschool giving the kids a broad social experience. “It’s very exciting,” said Amy, “it’s going to be huge. We visit the new centre regularly with the kids. We’re hoping to move in early next year.”

“The local Council have been super supportive of us and without them, the vision of this new Preschool would not have come to fruition,” Amy said. “Mayor Phyllis Miller has been integral at every step of the way.”