School work hung for judging and display. Come have a look.

It’s one of the most exciting times of the year, the Forbes Show. Come along and enjoy the fireworks, sideshow alley, pavilions, dog high jump, ring events, shearing, young woman, rural ambassadors, dog trials and so much more. 

The CMOC Northparkes Mines firework display will be at 8pm on Friday 8th September. Head to the Forbes Show to get the best view in town. A big thank you to Northparkes Mines for their continued support of the Forbes Show. 

Remember pre-purchase your tickets and save yourself time at the gate. https://www.123tix.com.au/events/39629/forbes-show 

We continue to see the evolution of world class wines from the Orange Wine Region.

Get ready to savour the essence of the finest wines of the season as the 2023 Orange Wine Festival returns to the Orange region with a month-long program, from 29th September to 29th October. This year’s highly anticipated event promises an extraordinary celebration of our region’s cool-climate wine and wine culture, attracting connoisseurs, enthusiasts, and travellers from near and far.

An opportunity to immerse yourself in the enchanting allure of Orange, where lush vineyards meet rolling hills, and the art of winemaking comes alive. The 2023 Orange Wine Festival showcases the diverse array of vineyards, each boasting their own unique terroir and distinctive varietals. From seasoned wine aficionados to those discovering their palate, there’s something to delight every taste bud.

Ned Sweetapple, Orange360 General Manager added; “Wines of the Orange region get noticed and Spring is such a beautiful and colourful time to visit. This year’s Orange Wine Festival is all about colour and taste and we’re thrilled to offer such a diverse program to entice visitors to the region. There are so many good things to enjoy in spring, our region’s latest wine offerings, paired together with fresh local produce and great dining, art, culture, and music.”

Events include: 

• Orange Wine Show Tasting: 14th October

• Food & Wine @ Altitude: 28th October

• Boree Lane Ramble: 7th October

• NRL Grand Final at Mortimers: 7th October

However, if these big-ticket items aren’t for you, there are plenty of low-cost events that allow everyone to get involved in celebrating the 2023 Orange Wine Festival, including the popular Night Markets on Friday, September 29th. Further low-cost events include:

• Orange Wine Festival Night Market: 29th September

• Wine and Cheese, Yes Please!: 12th and 26th October

• Yoga in the Vines: 15th October

For information and tickets, visit orange360.com.au/Events/Orange-Wine-Festival

Walk in solidarity with the 1 in 5 Australians experiencing mental illness each year.

The Black Dog Institute is calling on Australians to take a stand in solidarity for the 1 in 5 Australians experiencing symptoms of mental illness each year by participating in One Foot Forward – a national virtual challenge taking place in October – Mental Health Month.

The challenge is to walk, run, or roll 40km, 60km, 100km, 150km, or a distance that suits them throughout October, to show people experiencing symptoms of mental illness that they are not alone and to raise funds for Black Dog Institute’s crucial mental health research and support services in Australia. One in five Australians experience a mental illness each year which means around 5 million people are personally affected.

One Foot Forward can be a great way to take a positive step forward for your own mental health and show Australians impacted by mental illness that they’re not alone. You can take part solo, with a team or with your colleagues.

With mental illness costing Australian businesses $39 billion in lost revenue each year, Black Dog Institute is calling on corporate groups and businesses to join in.

This national virtual event is a great team building exercise for colleagues, can increase staff morale and help promote mental wellbeing in the workplace.

In 2022, over 28,000 participants walked, ran and rolled over 2,286,105km during Mental Health Month and joined in on the fun, got active, and raised funds to help Black Dog Institute. 

Funds raised by One Foot Forward participants this year can assist in the research and development of digital mental health tools and apps for adults and children, support novel and innovative suicide prevention programs, and help community presenters reach school students to talk about mental health in schools and how to get support.

Register online today at www.onefootforward.org.au 

NAIDOC Week Celebration will be held at the Wiradjuri Dreaming Centre, Forbes.

Each year the Forbes Community marks NAIDOC Week and 2023 is gearing up to be an amazing celebration and display of culture. 

The NAIDOC Committee and Forbes Shire Council has organised a day of workshops, demonstrations, activities and more, all aimed at celebrating the local culture to be held on Thursday 7th September. 

The day will kick off with an official ceremony at 10am during which the 2023 NAIDOC Award winners will be announced, along with the winner of the NAIDOC design competition. 

Forbes Preschool will be performing, whilst Dinawan’s Connection will complete the smoking ceremony and opening dance. 

“Come and see the completion of the Yarning Circle mural, join in weaving, cultural dance and language workshops, make damper, see demonstrations for making clapsticks and hand carving,” Forbes Mayor Phyllis Miller said. 

There will also be tools and weapons, and reptile displays, amusement rides, and girri girri grown at Forbes High School, just to name a few. 

“Everyone is welcome to come and learn more about the Indigenous culture of this region. Forbes Shire Council would like to thank the NAIDOC Committee and the Wiradjuri Dreaming Centre for their organisation and support,” Mayor Miller said. 

NAIDOC Week is a time to reflect and celebrate the histories, cultures and achievements of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and recognising them as ongoing custodians of the land. The theme for this year’s event is ‘For Our Elders’. 

It is an opportunity for all Australians to learn about First Nation cultures and histories and participate in celebrations of the oldest, continuous living cultures in the world. 

NAIDOC Celebrations will be held at Wiradjuri Dreaming Centre from 10am until 2pm. So save the date, 7th September in your calendar and make sure to come along and enjoy NAIDOC.

Sir Henry Parkes made four visits to Parkes, the first in Au-gust 1873, then July 1887, June 1894 and October 1894.

Henry Parkes Museum will be holding an exhibition this Saturday, 19th August, to celebrate 150 years since Sir Henry Parkes first visited Bushmans, later to be rename Parkes. 

The Henry Parkes Museum is located next to the Parkes Visitors Centre. The display depicts the life of Sir Henry Parkes including his four visits to the Central West. 

Souvenirs for sale include local history books, mugs, can holders, key rings, fridge magnets, car stickers, hat pins and tea towels. Admission is free for members, adults $10, concession $7.50 and children $3. 

Bradley Benjamin from Lightning Ridge was Community Sport Dad of the Year 2022.

Nominations are now open for the tenth annual Philips Community Sports Dad of the Year award, acknowledging the contributions and positive impact that Australian dads have made both on and off the sporting field. 

Celebrating ten years of this prestigious award, dads across Australia have been acknowledged for their commitment to community sport – from coaching duties, painting lines on the pitch to raising funds for new equipment. 

Damien Cook, Rabbitohs and NSW origin star who won the 2022 Celebrity Sports Dad of the Year award, knows first-hand the support he received from his own dad growing up and aspires to do the same with his kids, Willow and Jagger. 

“Speaking from experience with my own dad when I was younger, community dads are so important with the roles they cover – from being a coach, setting up fields, refereeing and driving us to and from training and on game days. 

“My dad did this all while working full time and then worked overtime just to earn the extra time off to be able to get me to and from my commitments and be there to support me.” 

Every athlete, no matter grassroots or professional, has their story of who has supported them over the years. 

Nominations are now open and close midnight AEST on 22 August 2023. To nominate a community sports dad, submit 100 words on why they should win via www.sportsdads.com.au/community. The winner will be notified prior to Father’s Day, Sunday, 3 September, with the prize pack including a Philips male grooming pack valued at over $1,000 RRP, as well as a $5,000 Rebel Sports voucher to purchase clothing or sporting equipment for the community sports club of choice. 

To submit a dad who deserves to be recognised, visit www.sportsdads.com.au

Amy Millerd, Jenny Watts, Mark Watts (President), Pastor Julie Virtue, Alistair Lunn (Chief Steward), Judy Kerr and Paul Bennett (Secretary).

Each year, the NSW Small Winemakers Wine Show donates $500 to Havannah House to assist with their Christmas Lunch, which they provide for the less fortunate people in our community. Last year, they provided 290 Christmas lunches.

Pastor Julie Virtue received the cheque this year and thanked the committee members in attendance for the continued support of this important event.

Organisers have received a great response to entries for the 31st Wine Show, with 589 wines entered from 103 wineries, which is the largest number of wineries exhibiting at the event in more than 10 years.

Judging will be taking place at the Forbes Town Hall from Monday 21st to Wednesday 23rd August. This year will see three judging panels, and 13 judges representing most of the major wine regions in New South Wales. Of the 13 Judges, nine are first time judges at the NSW Small Winemakers Wine Show and organisers look forward to their input.

The Wine Show week culminates at the Public Tasting being held on Friday 25th August from 6.30pm at The Forbes Town Hall. All the wines entered will be available for patrons to taste and finger food will be provided. Tickets are $30 per person.

The annual Gourmet Wine Dinner will be held on Saturday 9th September from 7pm at the Forbes Town Hall. Eat Your Greens will be preparing a four-course meal and 10 trophy winning wines will be served to complement the meal. Tickets are $130 per person.

The NSW Small Winemakers Wine Show organisers are offering a ticket bundle with a ticket to the Public Tasting and a ticket to the Gourmet Wine Dinner for $150 per person. Tickets are available online at www.123tix.com.au/events/39343/nsw-small-winemakers-wine-show. Get in quick as tickets are limited.