Like all other festivals and events, Forbes VanFest has had its fair share of challenges. From its first edition that was marred by lightning and hail five years ago through to the most recent installment which was called off after the Friday night session – the event has had its share of disappointments.

Now the regional musical festival that includes the best of indie rock, pop, folk, house classics and local talent, is back, with organiser Matt Clifton gearing up for a December date after launching a new Facebook promotion last week.

Partnering up with national sponsors as well as local businesses, this festival is already shaping up to be the best on record.

With previous acts such as Birds of Tokyo, John Butler, local Vera Blue (Celia Pavey) Sheppard, Illy, Sticky Fingers, Angus and Julia Stone as well as many more to grace the stage at Forbes Showground over the years, punters should expect another spectacular line up of artists.

There’ll also be plenty of other forms of entertainment and amusements for festival goers as well.

Under COVID-safe measures, the Central West’s premier music fest will no doubt be one to mark on the calendar for 2022!

For more information, how to get involved or go in the draw to win a promo pack please go to the VanFest Facebook page for more!

See you there!

Penrith Panthers’ favourite son Royce Simmons has revealed he has been diagnosed as suffering Alzheimer’s disease at age 61. Typical of the man known as ‘Simmo’, the footy legend wants to use news of his dilemma to enhance the lives of others rather than his own, with a fundraising walk from his hometown of Gooloogong to Penrith in May, coinciding with the Panthers’ home clash with North Queensland.

What matters most to Simmons is shining a light on the impact of the insidious disease, particularly on the loved ones of those who are diagnosed.

He wants to use his plight to bring dementia into the public consciousness and raise much-needed funds for important research into the disease.

And that’s why he and Liane, with the support of Panthers, Dementia Australia and other partners, have organised the inaugural Royce’s Big Walk fundraising event.

Simmons plans to walk almost 300 kilometres from his hometown of Gooloogong to the place in Penrith where his footy dreams were realised, now called BlueBet Stadium.

The walk will depart Gooloogong on Tuesday May 17 and Simmons will cross the finish line ahead of kick-off in the Panthers NRL game against the Cowboys on Friday May 27. The Panthers legend and several high-profile supporters (who will walk with him) will conduct fundraising initiatives and hold events to support junior rugby league along the route.

“I want to help raise money for research as a mark of respect for the medical people who have worked so hard to find a cure,” Royce said.

You can support one of rugby league’s favourite characters and toughest competitors by donating now to Royce’s Big Walk, with more details about the event to be confirmed over the coming weeks.

Courtesy of Neil Cadigan and Penrith Panthers

The popular and important International Day of People with Disability Pool Party celebration will take place at Forbes Olympic Pool on Monday February 7th from 10am-2pm. Entry to the pool is free and includes a BBQ lunch, games, music, workshops and a chance to catch up and socialise! The day also consists of info for carers and families from a raft of providers. More information can be obtained at community@forbes.nsw.gov.au

After a trying few years for everyone, it is great to see that the Hazell & Field Accountants and Advisors Taste On Templar event is going ahead on Saturday October 30 with funds raised to go to Can Assist Forbes Branch and the Ovarian Research Foundation.

Gates open at 6.30pm for a 7pm start and tickets are available through 123TIX. They can be purchased individually or as a group of 10 with a new layout and menu on the cards for the 2021 edition of the popular event.

Naming rights sponsor for this year is Hazell and Field Accountants and Advisors with Gold sponsors Hughes and Co Conveyancers and Forbes Shire Council.

Forbes Business Chamber also welcomed BWR Accountants, Forbes Pre-School, Mark Willis and Fiona Ferguson – 2021 Silver sponsors.

The Book Dispensary, Michael Robinson and Co, McMillian Industries, the Forbes Branch of the CWA and Central West Credit Union are 2021 Bronze supporters.

Undercover Sleepwear and Lingerie, HelloWorld, Terry Bros Carpet Court, ChapterTwo and Forbes Livestock Agency are table sponsors with WIN News media sponsor of the event.

So get your tastebuds ready for one of Forbes best events on the calendar!

Parkes, Forbes and Lachlan Shire Councils will be hosting two more online workshops for parents and other supervisors of local learner drivers, full of practical advice and information about completing the 120 hours of supervised driving.

The free ‘Helping Learner Drivers Become Safer Drivers’ work-shops are scheduled for Wednesday 13 October and Wednesday 27 October from 5.30pm.

Parkes, Forbes and Lachlan Shire Council’s Road Safety and Injury Prevention Officer, Melanie Suitor, said due to COVID-19 restrictions, four of these online workshops have been held in the second half of 2020 and first half of 2021.

“Parents and supervisors of learner drivers have a crucial role to play in making our roads safer. That is why we have teamed up with Transport for NSW and other councils across the Western Region to hold another one of these workshops via Zoom,” Ms Suitor said.

Participants can attend from the safety and comfort of their own home. The estimated run time is around 1 hour and 15 minutes. The workshop covers the licencing system, how to use the Learner Driver Logbook including the use of digital logbooks, licence conditions for learner and P-plate drivers, the benefits of on-road driving sessions, tips on supervising a learner driver and more.

“Parents and supervisors who have attended this workshop in the past have found that it boosted their confidence, helped them better plan driving sessions and allowed them to share their experiences with other parents and supervisors,” Ms Suitor said.

Bookings are essential and can be made online via Eventbrite, through the Councils’ Facebook pages or by calling Ms Suitor on (02) 6861 2364.

It surely must be one of the saddest announcements we’ve heard in 2021 and will disappoint flanny-wearing Ford drivers everywhere – Australia’s Biggest Bogan Festival is cancelled.

After initially scheduling a June 13 date, a COVID scare on June 2 after a Victorian couple drove through on their way to the Sunshine Coast, forced Forbes and surrounds into a spin. That forced organisers to postpone the festival and by June 10, the decision turned out to be the right one as Forbes entered a difficult eight weeks along with the rest of NSW.

“By then the event had been postponed to November 13 and we thought we may have a chance,” said organiser Luke Acheson.

“The way things are and the time everything is taking, we feel it is the best move to cancel the event,” he said. “It isn’t what we wanted but we have been left with little choice.”

With acts coming from across Australia and plenty of organising to do for the committee, Acheson was disappointed but realistic.

“Who knows what the future holds but for now we are cancelling the event and sorting out everything so please be patient with us,” he said.

“I would like to thank everyone that has supported us and given it a go,” Luke said. “Keep an eye on the Australia’s Biggest Bogan Festival Facebook page for announcements”.

The Agribusiness Today Forum will return in 2021 with the Forbes Golf and Sportsman’s Hotel set to host the major event on Wednesday, 4 August. The theme for the 2021 forum is ‘Mixed Farming Enterprises – Adapting to a Changing Climate’.

The forum will be followed by a local field visit on Thursday, 5 August in collaboration with HE Silos, Austasia Animal Products, Advanced Animal Nutrition and AusWest Seeds. For more than 25 years the Agribusiness Today Forum has brought together expert speakers to give an insight into domestic and international market trends.

The forum is expected to attract 200 delegates to Forbes who will be addressed by a number of high calibre speakers including representatives from Rabobank, Department of Primary Industries, Endeavour Meats, HE Silos, Lachlan Commodities, University of the Sunshine Coast, Charles Sturt University, Central West Local Land Services, AWI Sheep Connect NSW, Meat and Livestock Australia and NBN.

To learn more about the two-day event and to purchase tickets, visit the Agribusiness Today Forum website at www.agribusinesstodayforum.com COVID-19 restrictions apply and measures will be put in place to ensure the safety of all participants

Embark on an adventure behind the Forbes Shire art scene into the creative lives of six of our most outstanding artists Coralie Crouch, Melody Ruhrmund, Klara Ward, Sue Dingwall, Sampa Bhakta and Sharon Degeling.

In this eclectic multimedia showcase of local talent, these six creatives will open the doors of their private studios on Sun-day, 6 June 2021 as part of the Forbes Open Studio Trail.

Forbes Arts Society Chair, Dr Karen Ritchie said, “the Forbes Shire is home to some amazing emerging and established artists working in diverse artistic practices including textiles, graphic design, wood turning, painting, illustrating, ceramics and many more.”

“This is a rare opportunity to go behind-the-scenes inside their creative spaces, learn about different art forms and see how they are made.”

The event runs from 10am until 3pm. Ticket holders will check-in at the Platypus Gallery, collect their trail map, and are then free to explore each of the open studios at their leisure. Tickets are $10 for Forbes Arts Society (FAS) members and $15 for non-members and can be pre-purchased through the Eventbrite website or on-the-day from the Platypus Gallery.

For more information about the Forbes Open Studio Trail, visit www.forbesartssociety.com or follow the Platypus Gallery on Facebook and Instagram. The Forbes Open Studio Trail is proudly supported by Forbes Arts Society and Arts OutWest. The Platypus Gallery is run by ArtsWeb volunteers, a committee of the Forbes Arts Society.

Featured six artists as part of the event include Coralie Crouch, Melody Ruhrmund, Klara Ward, Sue Dingwall, Sampa Bhakta and Sharon Degeling.