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.

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. 

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

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. 

FRIDAY FLICKS

This 2022 rom-com follows the blossoming romance between two writers brought together in Mexico. With its beautiful scenery, this fish-out-of-water story where opposites attract, makes for a mini romantic getaway.

Friday 25 August, 6pm. Bookings essential.

JUNIOR BUILDERS

Bookings are now open for the Junior Builders workshop on Tuesday August 22 from 4-5pm. Students in Years 3-6 are invited tocome any enjoy a free after-school activitycreating and contributing to a communityart project. Spaces are strictly limited – call6861 2309 to book.

CURL UP THIS WINTER WITH ONLINE WINTER-READS

This winter join libraries throughout the state to read the gripping, fast-paced crime thriller The Other Side of Her by B.M. Carroll. Login to indyreads to start now! Need help accessing our online collections? Our staff are happy to help! Winter-Reads runs from Tuesday 1 August – Thursday 31 August

GET INVOLVED IN THE CARDBOARD SHOW

Got an empty box at your house? Across the month of September the Coventry Room will be hosting an ever-changing and expanding community exhibition of art work made from CARDBOARD. Get involved and enter a piece – build with it, paint on it, create a sculpture or piece of furniture from carboard. All entries to be delivered to the Coventry Room on 4th or 5th September.

Need some inspiration? Join one of the FREE cardboard workshops in the Marramarra Makerspace & Coventry Room:

• Friday 8th September @ 6pm: Workshopand wine (especially for adults)

• Saturday 9th September @ 10am: Cordialand cardboard (especially for kids andparents welcome)

• Saturday 16th September @ 10am: Continue with cardboard (everyone welcome)

Friday 29th September @ 6pm will be the celebration and grand finale event (a free event where artworks will be sold by donation). To book into any of the workshops or events contact Parkes Library 6861 2309.

Local residents and businesses will be able to find out all they need to know about the Inland Rail project by catching up with the Inland Rail teams attending any of the five upcoming agricultural shows and market days in southern New South Wales.

In the coming months Inland Rail staff will be out and about from Henty to Forbes and will be available to answer any queries about upcoming projects in local communities on the Albury to Parkes sections of the project. Inland Rail Information stands will be at the following locations:

• Forbes Rotary Market Day, 12th August

• Grenfell Show, 1st – 2nd September

• Forbes Show, 8th – 9th September

The Australian Government is taking a staged approach to delivering Inland Rail, with construction between Beveridge in Victoria and Parkes in New South Wales prioritised for completion by 2027.

Martinus Rail was awarded a $403.5 million contract to design and construct enhancement works on the Stockinbingal to Parkes (S2P) and Albury to Illabo (A2I) sections of Inland Rail. 

Melvyn Maylin, Inland Rail Director of Program Delivery for Albury to Parkes, said: “Show day stands are a chance for local community members to meet members of our Stakeholder Engagement teams and other Inland Rail staff to talk about the project and upcoming opportunities to be involved with Inland Rail.

“We encourage community members to drop by and ask any questions they have about the project. Many of our staff on these stalls also live in these communities and would love to have a chat.”

This season, join us for the hottest winter celebration of the year – the Winter Fire Festival. Running across two weekends from the 4th – 13th August, the Winter Fire Festival showcases Orange and the villages of Blayney and Cabonne at their winter best! The festival program comprises a range of events in our region’s cellar doors, restaurants, villages, and other venues that celebrate the magic of winter. 

The chill of winter is no match for the warmth of Orange’s hospitality. The region’s charming cafes, pubs, cellar doors, and restaurants offer cosy retreats complete with crackling fireplaces, comfortable armchairs, and friendly locals eager to share stories. Sample freshly roasted coffee, savour house-made specialties, or enjoy a warming glass of local award-winning red wine. 

Close to home, is WoodFired Eugowra which is happening on Saturday, 5th August. Nothing ignites the soul like an afternoon with friends and family along the Mandagery Creek. Be warmed by the crackling fire as you take in local artisan food including woodfired pizza and low and slow meat. Sample regional wine, cider, and beer whilst you sit back and enjoy live music from local musicians. The kids will be entertained with a jumping castle, face painting and their own food options. Bring the family and venture to Eugowra for a cosy Saturday afternoon! This is a free event but registration is required to secure entry. 

Orange360 General Manager, Ned Sweetapple commented, “We’re proud to showcase what we love about this region in winter. The Winter Fire Festival is our regions antidote to the cold and is the opportunity to celebrate all the good things about our Winter season and the fun to be had! Hearty, warming meals, sipping cold climate wine and artisan drinks around the bonfire, sharing stories, music, dance and laughter with friends and strangers under starry crystal-clear skies.

Bookings for all events during the festival can be made by visiting Orange360’s website, www.orange360.com.au