The Mates4Harness Flood Relief Anzac Day Race meet will bring the community together to celebrate the Anzac spirit while supporting local flood victims.

A family focused event, the race day will have something for everyone from live music, auctions, free kids amusements, mobile rides, mini trots, ice-cream, free facepainting and of course harness racing action and a drivers invitational race.

Anzac day will also be commemorated with a parade at the course and 2 Up, where punters can try their luck off the track as well.

The day will kick off at 12.15pm at the Eugowra Showground Paceway.

It is great to see the Eugowra community bounce back after the 2022 floods. The huge community and Council effort to get the infrastructure of Eugowra back in shape to host such events is commendable.

If you are looking for something different to do with the family this Anzac Day, head on over to Eugowra to support the community In their recovery efforts.

For more information on the Mates4Harness Flood Relief Harness Race Day, head on over to www.eugowraharnessracing.com or check out Eugowra Harness Racing Club Facebook Page.

5.15am Dawn Service 

Lights out in Templar Street, Lachlan St, Harold St and Victoria Park, organised for 5am – 6am. Assemble at 5.15am in front of Club Forbes. March to Cenotaph Harold Street 5.20am. Club Forbes open approximately 6am for breakfast. 

10.30am Mid-Morning March 

Assemble at 10am in Cross Street: Flag party, Forbes High School, Red Bend Catholic College, Forbes Public School, Forbes North Public School, St Laurence’s Primary School, local Preschool’s, St Johns First Aid Service, Forbes Town Band, Returned Service men and women and relatives of Returned Service men and women, vintage cars, Ambulance Service, Rural Fire Services, SES Members and safety vehicle. 

The Service at the Cenotaph starts at 10.30am with wreath laying and concludes approximately 11am. 

Luncheon at Club Forbes available in the club Bistro. 

2pm Two-up at Club Forbes in the club auditorium. 

5pm Lowering of flag at cenotaph 

It is official – Sneaky Sound System is the headline act for this year’s Frost and Fire at Forbes Ski Dam, along with a swag of local and regional performing talent. 

“Frost and Fire has very quickly embedded itself into the Forbes calendar, selling out quickly each year and drawing visitors from around NSW and interstate,” said Forbes Mayor, Phyllis Miller, as she officially announced the events 2023 launch. 

“It embodies everything that is great about winter – the old-fashioned country bonfire, mates, great food and drink. Frost and Fire is about celebrating the winter solstice – the shortest day and longest night of the year, and what better way to do this than under the canopy of perfect, starry skies at Forbes,” Mayor Miller said. 

“Organise your friends and family to come along, share warm and hearty food and boutique brews next to cosy fire buckets as winter temperatures knock.” 

Joining Aussie pop sensation Sneaky Sound System on the line-up is a mix of local and regional support acts. Grenfell’s Belinda Day kicks off the evening, followed by Forbes locals Cler, Em and Jo, back by popular demand, and indee-pop newcomer Birdee, originally from Parkes and now making waves on the international music scene. 

Sydney Fire Dancers will also add to the evening’s entertainment, along with the lighting of the grand effigy. 

“Mark Saturday June 17 in your calendar, book your tickets, pack your chair and picnic rug, and bring your fun along to Frost and Fire,” Mayor Miller said. 

Tickets cost $15 for adults, 18 years and under are free but must register and are available through 123tix.com.au. 

Free shuttle buses will run every 20 minutes from Forbes Town Hall and Renfree Street to the Ski Dam. Onsite parking is limited, and costs $10 per vehicle. 

The Golden Plough will be held in Wongarbon on Saturday, 22nd and Sunday, 23rd April. This competition was first held in 1976 and has been fiercely contested ever since. This is the first year it will be hosted in the Dubbo region. 

The Western Branch of the Australian Draught Horse Stud Book Society hosts the two-day annual event which includes, horse working classes, obstacle courses, wagon rides, horse-driven chaff cutter demonstrations along with ladies, junior, novice and veteran ploughing competitions and culminates with the fiercely contested Golden Plough.

Horse drawn ploughing involves skilfully guiding one or two draught horses, pulling a single furrow plough, to create a straight plot of eight runs (minimum) which are judged on linear accuracy, depth, sharpness of cut, total width and how the soil is turned. 

Watch the ploughmen and women battle it out for the Golden Plough trophy, see horsemanship at its best. Bring your family and friends for a great weekend of horsemanship, demonstration events,food stalls and stay longer for fire-side stories, poetry and a camp oven dinner. Day, dinner and weekendpasses available.

For further details go to: www.facebook.com/thegoldenplough or get your and tickets at www.123tix.com.au/events/38544/the-golden-plough

WHAT’S ON MONTHLY CALENDAR

We have a new handy calendar to keep you up to date with all the events and activities at the Parkes Library and Cultural Centre. Hard copies are now available from the library or on our Facebook page.

FRIDAY FLICKS

This 2022 fantasy romantic drama film is described as Aladdin for adults. What would you wish for if you were granted 3 wishes? For lovers of fairy tales this visually marvellous movie will ignite your imagination. Friday 28 April at 6pm. Bookings essential.

SCHOOL HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES

During April school holidays we have some fun activities for all ages. In-person bookings essential. 

Holiday Kids Flick (rated PG for students in K-6) – Friday 14 April 10:30am – 12:15pm – FREE

Knight for a Day (for students in K-6) – Tuesday 18 April 10:30am – 12:00pm – $2

Youth Online Book Club starts 20 April. To read the book, The Theory of Hummingbirds, download the indyreads app on your device. Join our book club online discussion at parkeslibrary.freeforums.net

PAINTING GROUP EXHIBITION

Visit the Coventry Room to be inspired by this years Annual Parkes Painting Group Exhibition and vote for the People’s Choice. Artwork is available to purchase on opening night or throughout the 2 weeks of the exhibition. Open during library hours from Saturday 22 April to Saturday 6 May. Opening night: Friday 21 April 6:30-8:30pm ($20 payable at the door)

LEARN SOMETHING NEW IN APRIL 

Social AUSLAN – Saturday 15 and 29 April from 10am (FREE). Join us fortnightly in the Makerspace to learn social AUSLAN with Rose and Annette Jones. 

Resin Pouring Workshops – Sunday 30 April at multiple times (Fee required). Learn to resin pour and make a decorative board to take home. Bookings through ‘Lil’ Bluebird Resin Art on Facebook.

Hop along to Lions Park on Easter Saturday, 8th April from 8am to 12.30pm for the eagerly anticipated Rotary Ipomoea’s Easter market. Why not pack up the car and your Easter visitors for a great morning relaxing and checking out the wide range of goods on display.

This market is shaping up to be great fun for everyone with a coffee van on site to provide a morning cuppa while market visitors wander through the stalls. The much loved Rotary breakfast van will be providing a hot breakfast for all to enjoy in the beautiful park setting.

Stalls will provide a great variety of items including earrings and necklaces, home cooking, olive oil and dlicious olives, jams and relishes, health products, creative arts exhibits, quality bric a brac, books, plants, knitting and much more.

Rotary Ipomoea members will be running an Easter raffle on the day. The Rotary Ipomoea stall will feature a new supply of books, DVD’s and puzzles. If you are interested in having a stall at the markets, please contact Helen on 0427 201 445.

Inspired by the National Incognito Art Show, the upcoming Unknown Art Exhibition is an

inclusive, community art show – with a twist.

Hosted by the Forbes Arts Society, the exhibition will bring together the work of over 30 local artists. All artworks are the same size and will go on sale for $100, regardless of artist – beginner, emerging or professional. 

All artworks are exhibited anonymously. Only once an artwork is purchased, only then will the artist’s name be revealed to the buyer.

“Our region is home to some amazing creatives, and this curated group exhibition is designed to uncover and showcase some of that talent,” said Dr Karen Ritchie, Forbes Arts Society.

The Unknown Art Exhibition aims to increase the profile of regional arts and local creatives, provide beginner and emerging artists with an opportunity to exhibit their work, increase regional access and exposure to the arts, as well as inspire a new generation of art collectors and supporters through affordable art.

An exhibition opening will be held tonight, Friday, 31st March, from 6pm until 8pm at the Forbes Town Hall. Tickets are $10 for Forbes Arts Society (FAS) members and $15 for non-members and can be purchased at the door.

The exhibition will then be on public display at Forbes Town Hall until Monday, 3rd April from 10am until 2pm daily.

For more information about the Unknown Art Exhibition and to purchase tickets to the

exhibition opening, head to www.forbesartssociety.com or follow the Forbes Arts Society on Facebook and Instagram.

This exhibition is proudly supported by ArtsWeb volunteers, a committee of the Forbes Arts Society.

Following a successful innaugural event last year, the Rotary Club of Forbes Ipomoea will again host the Forbes Vintage & Collectables Fair on Saturday, 6th May at the Forbes Town Hall.

Head along to view displays and collections from eras past. Travel through time looking at items for display and for sale and remember things from your childhood or your grandparent’s lives.

There will be a large selection of items for viewing and as well for sale, ranging from dolls to bears, crockery to kitchen containers, glassware to bottles, vintage giftware and a mystery item competition where festival goers have to guess and vote on the origin or use of a mystery item. Fair goers will also be treated with tea and scones all day. Entry is by gold coin donation.

For more information or to express your interest in adding to the displays or trading tables ph 0413 274 735 or 0439 708 456.

Forbes Heritage Celebrations is a beloved event on the Forbes calendar each year. Held during the National Trust’s Australian Heritage Festival: 10th April – 14th May. Forbes Heritage is an opportunity for the community to come together to celebrate all the wonderful aspects of heritage and history that colour our community. 

ABBA fans get excited as Björn Again bring ABBA’s timeless hits back to the stage in a sing-along, dance-along extravaganza. Heading to Cowra for the very first time, the show will be absolute not to be missed!

Björn Again are “One of the most entertaining rock shows in the world today” (Time Out, New York) and will play all the biggest ABBA hits from Waterloo, Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! and Fernando to Take a Chance, Mamma Mia, Dancing Queen, and more!! With all the glitzy 70s costumes, Swenglish banter and hilarious stage antics, you will have the ‘time of your life’.

Their critically acclaimed shows have been attended by Tom Jones, Dave Grohl, Paul Kelly, Metallica, Robert Plant, Bill Gates and Nirvana just to name a few.

“Björn Again are Phonomenal in every sense of the word!” – The Stage UK

“I like Björn Againbecause they are the ABBA for this generation. Why should we miss out?” – David Lawrence UK.

Björn Again have performed over 7,000 shows in more than 120 countries worldwide, are endorsed by the members of ABBA and are regarded as the most successful tribute show of all time.

So what are you waiting for? Dust off those flares, platform shoes and satins and send out an SOS and Ring Rin and come along to Björn Again’s Thank ABBA For The Music 2023 Tour.

The concert will be held on Friday, 14th April at Sid Kallas Oval, Cowra. Gates open at 5:30pm. Tickets will be on sale soon via www.123tix.com.au.