This year’s feature performer for Frost and Fire is Aussie rock legend DIESEL.

Winter in Central West is set to heat up when Frost and Fire returns to Forbes on Saturday 20 June 2026, lighting up the Forbes Ski Dam from 4pm to 10pm with live music, glowing bonfires and a vibrant winter atmosphere.

This year’s event will be fuelled by a red hot musical line‐up, led by Australian pop-rock-soul icon DIESEL, whose unmis­takable voice is sure to set the Frost and Fire stage alight. DIESEL (Mark Lizotte) re­mains one of Australia’s most enduring live performers. His career includes multiple number one albums, six ARIA Awards, mil­lions of streams worldwide and a fiercely loyal fan base.

Audiences can expect to hear iconic hits such as Tip of My Tongue, Don’t Need Love, Soul Revival and Cry in Shame.

Joining this year’s line-up are a band rec­ognised and loved by Aussies of all ages.

The Magnificent Seven will deliver feel‐good classics guaranteed to warm up the crowd. From The Cockroaches to The Wig­gles and now Frost and Fire.

Melbourne-based artist, Sandee Facy has been blazing a trail across the Austral­ian country music scene. Sandee’s authen­tic storytelling brings a fresh spark to the Frost and Fire lineup.

Adding even more fuel to the fire, Frost and Fire 2026 will proudly showcase local talent Amitié and Foxxy Cleopatra, cel­ebrating the region’s vibrant music scene.

Combined with roving entertainment, cul­tural performances and fireworks, the 2026 Frost and Fire artist lineup delivers the perfect soundtrack for unforgettable winter memories.

Forbes Shire Mayor, Phyllis Miller OAM said, “This year’s Frost and Fire line‐up is truly amazing”.For tickets and bus schedules, head to 123tix.com. Get in touch with the Forbes Visitor Information team on 02 6852 4155 to help you plan your Frost and Fire week­end. For more information about Frost and Fire 2026, visit www.amazingforbesnsw.com

Three time Australian bush poet champion Gregory North.

The Life and Rhymes of Banjo Patterson is a one off tour by Poet Gregory North to celebrate the 125th anniversary of Banjo Paterson doing a Central Western Tour in 1901.

Mr North approached Rotary Club of Forbes Ipomoea to see if they would like to host his Forbes leg of the 2026 tour and they happily accepted.

Gregory North is a three-times Australian champion bush poet and confirmed Banjo Paterson tragic. He has written two books on Banjo and recorded a double album of Banjo’s poetry. Since 2017 he’s been per­forming the “Life and Rhymes of Banjo Pat­erson” show at the North Gregory Hotel in Winton, Queensland. The Winton area is where Banjo wrote our unofficial national anthem, Waltzing Matilda. Greg is there for four months each year to entertain the tour­ists.

The Life and Rhymes of Banjo Paterson concert shows the great contribution Ban­jo made to Australian culture and History.

Banjo Paterson spoke at the Forbes Town Hall in 1901 and visited Forbes and the dis­trict a number of times.

When Banjo came to Forbes and spoke at the Forbes Town Hall he had not long re­turned to Australia from South Africa as a war journalist during the Boer War. Banjo’s life story is an amazing journey and well worth coming to the concert to learn more.

The Life and Rhymes of Banjo Patterson will be on 24 April at the Forbes Town Hall, a 2pm start with afternoon tea following the concert.

Any proceeds that are raised by Rotary Club of Forbes Ipomoea at this one-off event will be donated to the Forbes Mu­seum as they have a number of important restoration projects underway and all dona­tions are appreciated.

Catch Gregory North’s “Life and Rhymes of Banjo Paterson” show during the tour. www.gregorynorth.com.au

Pictured are a few of the Super Tag Gala Day participants from L-R Chris “Spicy” Spicer (Half back), Jono Morrison (Asst Coach), Blake “The Snake” Huntly (Fullback), Chris Mitchell (Asst Coach) and Dan “Bones” Jones (Second row).

The team from Currajong Disability Servic­es are inviting organisations, schools and community groups to join them for a fun and inclusive day of sport and community.

A Super Tag Gala Day has been organ­ised for Tuesday 14 April, and will be all about bringing people together through footy in a way that includes everyone.

The idea started when Andrew Thomas, President of the Parkes Spacemen, sent a video to Douglas Pout from Currajong Dis­ability Services and said, “We need this.”

From there, the team from Currajong, alongside Andrew and working with Brooke Mallison from NSWRL, quickly decided to make it happen.

Douglas Pout said, “We kept coming back to the same thing, there just aren’t many opportunities locally for people with disability to get involved in proper, struc­tured sport without having to travel.

“So instead of waiting for something to come here, we thought we would build it ourselves. It’s about people having a crack, being part of something, and enjoying it.” said Doug.

The Super Tag Gala Day is primarily tar­geted towards people living with disability, but is open to people of all abilities, with providers, schools and community groups from across the region encouraged to come along.

Douglas Pout said the event has drawn interest from places like Orange, Cowra and further afield, with one group travelling from Newcastle.

Most participants will come through their service provider, but if someone wants to be involved, they can just reach out to Cur­rajong and they will be pointed in the right direction.

“Days like this give people a reason to get out, be involved, and connect with others.

It’s not just about the sport. It’s about hav­ing something to be part of, seeing familiar faces, and building a bit of confidence over time.” said Douglas.

Currajong are seeking donations and sponsorship and are also applying for grants to help support the day. A lot of the cost sits around food and running the event, so that’s where support makes a big difference.

In return for sponsorship businesses will be recognised across the event and on the day itself. But more than that, they’ll back­ing something that genuinely benefits the local community.

A strong turnout of over 100 participants plus staff and supporters is expected on Tuesday 14 April at Pioneer Oval, with sup­port from NSWRL on the day. Spectators and supporters are welcome and a commu­nity BBQ will be running.

For more information, please call Doug­las Pout on 0409 264 394 or email doug­las.pout@currajong.org.au.

Parkes Shire Council is delighted to bring The Best of the Bald Archy Prize exhibition to the local community for free, offering a unique opportunity to experience Austral­ia’s most loved satirical portrait award.

The exhibition opened 28 February and will continue to 18 April 2026, with free en­try at the Coventry Room at Parkes Library and Cultural Centre.

The Best of the Bald Archy Prize cel­ebrates Australia’s most popular and in­ternationally recognised satirical portrait award, The Bald Archy Prize. The exhibi­tion offers visitors a chance to enjoy art with a cheeky twist and is widely regarded as Australia’s premier satirical art prize.

Cultural, Education & Library Services Manager, Kerryn Jones, said: “The Best of the Bald Archy Prize is a wonderful exam­ple of how art can be engaging, humorous and accessible for everyone. This exhibi­tion invites people of all ages to enjoy por­traiture in a completely different way. We’re thrilled to be able to share such a popular and entertaining exhibition with our com­munity.”

Celebrating the lighter side of art and the unmistakable Australian sense of humour, these works are guaranteed to make visi­tors think, talk – and most of all, laugh.

Mindy Woods rose to national prominence as a finalist in Season 4 of MasterChef Australia in 2012, and returned for Season 14, using the platform to spotlight native bush foods.

Central West Lachlan Landcare (CWLL) will welcome indigenous chef, Mindy Woods at the launch of Forbes’ first ever Crop Swap on Saturday, 21 February be­tween 8am and 9am at the Forbes River­side Community Gardens. Mindy Woods is an Ambassador for Landcare NSW and is a proud Bundjalung woman and owner of Karkalla On Country. Mindy advocates for indigenous Australian food culture. with Mindy and walk around the Garden.

Bring along your excess produce and homemade goods, or join to catch up. The Forbes Riverside Community Gardens are providing breakfast for attendees.

CWLL will then be heading on to Trun­dle to the From Country to Community – A Morning of Food, Stories and Connection event at the Trundle Children’s Centre.

This event will include a delicious morning tea, an update on the exciting plans for the Centre and a Recipe Swap. All proceeds go to support the new Trundle Children’s Centre Garden.

From there, they head to Peak Hill to launch their first Crop Swap Event and Community Garden Open Day. This is part of the Peak Hill Building Healthy Communi­ties Challenge, supporting the community with the Peak Hill HEART (Healthy Eating, Activity & Resilience Together) Pro­ject. The event will kick off at 12.30pm, with a BBQ lunch and a chance to catch up with Mindy, walk around the Garden and join up as a member. There will also be starter packs and giveaways for attendees.

That evening, CWLL will be celebrating Peak Hill and hosting a Landcare Dinner in the beautiful Carrington Hotel, with a three course meal, entertainment and an oppor­tunity to showcase the Peak Hill Building Healthy Communities Challenge and Land­care.

For further information, and to register for any or all of the above events which all take place on Saturday 21st February please go to www.centralwestlachlanlandcare.org,