FUNDING BOOST: NSW National’s Sam Farraway with Aileen Allen from the Forbes Wiradjuri Dreaming Centre, Cr. Steve Karaitiana and Bruce Adams at the announcement of funding for a native bush garden last week.

BOOK PARADE: Children and staff from schools across Forbes participated in a COVID-safe Education Week and Book Week series of activities recently. Children across all schools had a blast.

GREAT DAY: Forbes North Public School celebrating a great day at the recent Lachlan PSSA Championships in Parkes.

OUT AND ABOUT: Forbes Shire Council’s Sarah Williams was out and about in the Forbes Shire last week assisting the community along with other FSC staff and providing info during Local Government Week.

FILLING UP: Matthew Corliss standing on the banks of Bundaburrah Creek outside Forbes. Water levels continue to rise in the region after heavy winter rains.

FJC ENGINE ROOM: Some of the amazing volunteers from Forbes Jockey Club that made the recent running of the Forbes Cup one of the best yet.

PARTY TIME: Forbes Magpies and Post Office Hotel connections enjoying the Forbes Cup last Sunday in cold and wet conditions.

DAY OUT: Dakota Doyle and Brad Hines enjoyed a day out at the Forbes Cup on the weekend.

ROUND TABLE: Forbes Shire Council Mayor Phyllis Miller with Shan Hodge, Jesse Newcombe and councillor Chris Roylance sharing race tips at Forbes racecourse last weekend at the Forbes Cup.

POSTPONED: The Agribusiness Today Forum Committee has announced the postponement of this year’s event due to the increased risk related to the latest COVID-19 outbreak in New South Wales. The forum will take place next year at the Forbes Golf and Sportsman’s Hotel on Thursday, 4 August and will be followed by a local field visit on Friday, 5 August 2022. Photo by Ebony Hewitt.

CW LLS UPDATE: A Local Land Services vet alert has seen increased mastitis in lambing ewes. If you have any questions about mastitis you can get in contact with us by calling the Central West Local Land Services Forbes Office on 6850 1600. Photo courtesy of Megan Rutherford.

NEW RDA COMMITTEE: RDA Central West Committee (L-R) Tracie Robertson, John Magill, Ian Sanders, Ruth Fagan, Peter Bishop, Christine Weston, Reg Kidd, Diana Fear and David Sherley.

RAINBOWS AT WAROO: With all the rain comes rainbows as Vince Kirk discovered at Waroo where he took this great pic of a rainbow. Rainfall for July 2021 is already past this time last year with more predicted.

GOTCHA: Forbes children enjoyed a revamped activities program last holidays but despite the restrictions had loads of fun!

QUICK STOPOVER: Forbes Mayor Phyllis Miller OAM with Member for Riverina Michael McCormack and Forbes Shire Councillor Jenny Webb inspecting a raft of works conducted via Forbes Shire Council.

QUICK VISIT: Member for Riverina and National’s MP Michael McCormack making a sweeping visit to Forbes this week to update Forbes Shire Council on a number of projects.

SCHOOL HOLIDAY FUN: Despite COVID coming back to parts of NSW, Forbes children were able to participate in a number of COVID safe events put on by the Forbes Youth Action Team.

LADDER TO LEARNING: National’s MP Michael McCormack with Learning Ladder Forbes, Aiden Clarke, on his whirlwind tour this week.

WINTERY CONDITIONS: Along with almost matching last year’s rainfall with two weeks to go, Forbes has also been cold with the lowest temp nearly -2 degrees back on July 8. Photo courtesy of Therese Faerie.

TAKING EUGOWRA BY STORM: The Fat Parcel Food van in Eugowra is fast becoming the best little eatery for those looking for a weekend bite to eat.

B AND B: Brushes and Bubbles was a massive hit among Forbes children during the July school holiday period.

CLAY KEY CHAIN FUN: Despite COVID restrictions in the school holidays, some activities still went ahead including Key Chain making.

OUTSTANDING ORG FINALIST: Forbes PreSchool has been nominated for a prestigious HESTA award for Outstanding Organisation.

FUNDING BOOST: Topsoil Organics has been announced as a major winner in the Regional Job Creation fund which is set to create future opportunities and industry in Forbes and turbo-charge their expansion and most importantly, jobs for our locals.

FUN AND GAMES: A watered down, COVID friendly school holiday program ran across Forbes through the winter break.

STORM AND WATER TRAINING: Last week units across the region joined with Forbes members to take part in four days of Storm & Water training. Members spent days 1-3 learning about what to expect during storm and water damage operations, tools and equipment, ropes and knots, temporary repairs and working at heights.

MORE RAIN: A week into July 2021 and rainfall (24mm) is already close to half that of July 2020 (58mm) with more rain expected. This comes after strong falls in June up to 117mm.

PROMOTION: Sam Farraway from NSW National’s was recently appointed to the role of Parliamentary Secretary in the NSW Parliament by Deputy Premier John Barilaro. Farraway will be assisting the Government in the portfolio areas of Regional NSW, Industry, Trade and Water Infrastructure.

HOLIDAY FUN: Children from across Forbes have been enjoying a number of holiday activities including Brushes and Bubbles.

UNITED IN MUSIC: Musicians from two town bands and several string players joined up last Tuesday to record a beautiful Indigenous song for this year’s AMEB Online Orchestra project. The song is called Morning Star, Even-ing Star and is a newly commissioned song that tells the story of two stars in the Australian sky.

EKKA FINALIST: NSW Forbes rep Clarissa Peasley will be representing NSW at EKKA in Queensland in August.

WELCOME TO COUNTRY: Yarangirri Holmes and other Wiradjuri peoples welcomed visitors to the 2021 Frost and Fire event.

WINNER: Maddie Foster from West Wyalong Pony Club was the winner of the John Stewart Memorial Barrel Race. She is pictured with John’s parents Loris and Bill and Forbes Pony Club’s Rachael Morgan.

HARD RAIN FALLING: Forbes has had 118mm this June, up 68mm on this time last year and one of the wetter June’s in recent memory.

FORBES ART SPACE: The new Forbes Cultural and Art Centre is taking shape with the latest designs made public this week.

NEEDED FUNDS: Hughie WIlson Oval received vital funds this week for amenities and to ensure groups within Forbes could continue to use it.

OPENING ACT: Local band The Fog Pilots opened the Forbes Frost and Fire event playing originals by lead singer and songwriter Adam Enslow to a sold out crowd.

MUSICO ARIOSO CHOIR: The Musico Arioso Choir recently performed at the Forbes Eisteddfod.

FORBES SHIRE REPRESENT: Nina Hooper and GM Steve Loane along with many others have worked tirelessly under the shadows of COVID to make Frost and Fire happen.

SUCCESSFUL INSTALLATION: Dennis Brady of Lachlan Shire with Chris Roylance of Forbes Shire Council marvelling at the new ‘Heart of Country’ installation on the Sculpture Down the Lachlan trail 24kms from Forbes towards Condobolin.

BIG LAUNCH: Representatives of both Lachlan and Forbes Shire were on hand including Lachlan Shire Mayor John Medcalf and Forbes Mayor Phyllis Miller along with National’s MP Sam Farraway to unveil the latest addition to the Sculpture Down the Lachlan trail ‘Heart of Country’ by Damian Vick.

NEW ART” Road Kill by Victorian sculptor Jimmy Rix was unveiled last week by NSW Nationals Sam Farraway and Forbes Mayor Phyllis Miller OAM.

GRANT SUCCESS: Boys To The Bush were successful recently in obtaining a $10,000 grant from the NSW State Government to help vulnerable youth.