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.

Show season is now in full swing with agricultural events taking off across the region. The Eugowra Show Society is seeking entrants between 18-24 years for their 2015 Showgirl Competition.

The general public are able to buy tickets to the Eugowra Show Dinner this year where the Showgirl entrants will take part in a brief Q&A with the competition judges. The Showgirl Competition helps young women make new friendships, build professional networks and confidence skills as well as enjoying a fun community experience.

The judges will make their decisions based on personality, appearance, confidence and knowledge in general, local and rural subjects. This year, the Eugowra Show Society will be celebrating 100 years of ANZAC history with
all the traditional aspects of a show, as well as a special ANZAC Presentation and military display.

South Australian Gallipoli expert Nick Smythe will be the guest speaker at the Show Dinner, talking about the story and legacy of the ANZACS. Anybody interested in entering the Eugowra Showgirl Competition can contact Janet Moxey on 0418 962 008. The Eugowra Show runs from 18-19 September with gates opening at 7am.

Young Appaloosa Western Breeds Association (YAWBA) held their first presentation Hi-Point Dinner for the year on 27 June at the Forbes Inn Hotel and those in attendance were noticeably excited to see who would win and who would be named runner-up. Amazing prizes included belt buckles, trophies, hats, medals, rugs and a great sponsored
stud service.

The certificate was presented to the overall halter horse owned and shown by locals Amber and Leah Helwig. Members from as far as Goulburn came for the evening; a worthy drive for the longtime showing mother/daughter team of Debbie and Nicole Polley, who picked up many awards.

The Hi-Point Tie for Appaloosa halter was with the only horse not to miss a show, owned and trained by our president Kathie Garner. The black appaloosa gelding was bred by a YAWBA sponsor and member, Tanya Thomas
of Windsong Stud. The Alternative Trophy, sponsored by Sammy C Design is now owned by Gerri Bennett.
Gerri travelled from Yass and two of her horses did her proud, taking home a total of four runner-up trophies.

The senior and overall amateur performance was well contested with only a few points between the leaders. Senior horse went to Leeann Staunton and Peter Gun which was an amazing effort as the pair only qualified at the last show.

Runner-up in the amateur class was Natasha Peasley and Yallawa Rockin The Stars. The YAWBA Rising Star Award went to Mel West and Players Lucky Dream. They had a great few shows at the end of the season and will be a great team in the future. YAWBA Committee Member of the Year went to Stevie Jackson and Her Newest Unborn Member Jelly Bean.

The Riverdowns Mega Mr Spring Spectacular will be held on Saturday 26 September and promises to be lots of fun for the family. With classes for nearly every age, ability and horse, get out there and give it a go!

Applications are now open for schools across the Central West region to access funding that will help to establish new out of school hour care services. “Primary schools from all sectors may apply for one-off grants of up to $20,000 to help with the cost of establishing these services in time for the start of the 2016 school year,” Mr Gee said.

“Principals of primary schools that do not presently have before and after school care are being asked to consult with their communities to determine the level of demand for an out of school hour care service at their schools.” “Schools that do not have the space to establish an OSHC service on site are also being asked to consult with their local councils or other community organisations to identify a site for potential OSHC,” Mr Gee said.

Grants for eligible schools will be awarded on the basis of a school’s capacity to establish and support an OSHC service. Applications are accessible from the NSW Department of Education, Catholic Education Commission
NSW and the Association of Independent Schools of NSW websites.

Ridgehaven Poll Dorset’s is now approaching its 50th Annual on Property Poll Dorset Sale. The sale will be held on Thursday, 10 September, 2015 with inspections from 11am and the Auctions Commencing at 1pm. There are 10 Stud Rams and 150 Flock Rams on offer at “Ridgehaven” in Cudal; the top end of this year’s drop. There are catalogues currently available and inspections are welcome prior to sale day.

As testimony to the past 50 years, Ridgehaven Poll Dorset’s measure their success by the results seen by their clients in the saleyards and abattoirs. Ridgehaven Poll Dorset’s started breeding rams with the aim to improve prime lamb quality and this still remains their focus. To breed rams for maximum prime lamb return.

The combined Devanah and Waroona Murray Grey on Property Production sale will be held on Friday, 18 September, 2015 with the sale commencing at 11am. Devanah & Waroona are offering 20 Stud Bulls and 17 Stud Females at this year’s sale at “Waroona”, Molong Their aim is to provide clients bulls that have good growth, muscling, marbling and adequate fat and for themselves, the studs believe it is the females who are most important and they focus especially on them. Devanah & Waroona aim to breed animals that are consistently fertile, quiet, structurally correct, frame 6 to 7 with good length and carcase characteristics.

Mount Pleasant Limousins Bull Sale is being held Thursday, 17 September, 2015 with 15 Stud bulls on offer.
The sale will be held at the Forbes Showground, viewings from 12 noon and Auction commencing at 1pm. All successful purchases receive a Mount Pleasant Breeders Pack containing 40 Allflex blank tags and buttons, marking texta and 500ml of Coopers Tasvax 8. All purchases will also go in the draw to win a Coopers Easy Dose 5lt valued at $400. The stud was established in 2010, after the purchase of females from the Donna Valley Limousins dispersal, and since then they have grown and expanded the stud. Mount Pleasant’s aim is to produce bulls that show balanced muscling and are easy doing cattle with a docile temperament. The main focus in the Mount Pleasant operation
is on carcass yield, weight for age and overall dollars returned on the progeny both steers and heifers.

More details can be obtained by calling Kevin Miller, Whitty, Lennon & Co on 02 6852 3355 or go to our website www.kmiller.com.au.

If you’ve always wanted to fly in suave, celebrity style, Helloworld have the deals for you. Etihad Airways offer new levels of comfort and luxury that will alter your perceptions of travelling by air.

Travellers will fly in comfort and luxury with Etihad Airways to over 100 destinations worldwide via the capital of the United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi. Etihad Airways are continuing to reimagine flying with a goal to transform how you see air travel. Their aim is to make each journey a remarkable, memorable and enjoyable one.

As one of the most prestigious airlines in the world, Etihad Airways have daily flights out of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth with domestic connections on partner airline Virgin Australia.

Features include 30kg baggage allowance in Coral Economy Class, full-flat beds in Pearl Business Class and on-board chefs and private suites in Diamond First Class. Pearl Business and Diamond First Class guests can also enjoy Etihad Chauffeur transfers at over 25 global destinations!

Helloworld also have an exclusive offer which gives you an Etihad Airways on board duty free voucher when you book. Call in and see Alison and her team at Helloworld in Forbes to find out more.

Australian rock legend 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.