Hundreds of Forbes residents packed South Circle Oval on Tuesday night for the finale and to watch Brother Kenneth Preston be honoured as Forbes’ Citizen of the Year.

Brother Kenneth was awarded the town’s top honour after decades of tireless service to Forbes and the region.

Brother Kenneth has been a member of the Forbes Marist community since 1960. He has been the principal of St Laurence’s and Parkes’ Holy Family Primary Schools, as well as the Marist Bros College (now Red Bend), touching the lives and providing guidance to hundreds of the region’s ­children.

Upon retirement in 1987, Brother Kenneth chose to make Forbes his home but far from slowing down, Brother Kenneth has kept up a frenetic pace.

His plant stall is one of the most eagerly anticipated attractions at the Jemalong Retirement Village and other fetes. Brother Kenneth has poured countless hours propagating, tending and watering and his efforts have seen tens of thousands of dollars raised to improve the lives of village residents.

He has been involved with the St Vincent de Paul Society for more than 20 years and has held the position of treasurer of the Central West region and spiritual advisor.

He has been a driving force behind the establishment of Red Bend Catholic College’s own St Vincent de Paul Society branch, raising money for the less fortunate and installing a sense of social justice and empathy in the school’s students.

Forbes Jazz Festival president Luke Mulligan was announced as the Forbes Junior Citizen of the Year with a list of community involvement which would be impressive for a man twice his age.

The 19-year-old has been a member of the Town Band since 2002 and took on the role of president in 2009. Last year was also the year Mr Mulligan took on the presidency of the Forbes Jazz Festival Committee, bringing numbers of visitors and enhancing the cultural life of our town.