By PHYLLIS MILLER OAM We really saw Forbes start the new year with a bang last week, with hundreds of people pulling on their blue suede shoes and showing their burning love for the King of Rock n Roll at our Amazing Forbes Breakfast on Templar Street last Friday during the Parkes Elvis Festival. The event gives our town and in fact the region a huge economic boost each year with all forms of accommodation booked out and I’d like to thank everyone who chose to stay in Forbes during the festival. The visitors continue post Elvis with the Forbes Flatland Hang-gliding Championships on this week – please make sure you say g’day to the pilots when you see them around town. They really do come from all around the world! And of course, keep an eye on the skies! We will be presenting our 2025 Australia Day Awards at the Citizen of the Year Gala Dinner at Forbes Town Hall on Saturday 25 January. Nominations for each award close at 5pm this Friday 17 January so it’s really important to get your nominations in now if you haven’t done so already. We have so many remarkable residents in Forbes Shire and by nominating them you will help them get the recognition they deserve. To nominate go to the Australia Day page on our website and download the nomination form. Tickets for the Gala Dinner are free, and I want as many people as possible to come out and support the achievements of each award winner. You do not have to be a relative or friend of a nominee to attend. To get your free tickets go to the 123tix website and search “Citizen of the Year Gala Dinner 2025”. Our Australia Day celebrations on Sunday 26 January will kick off with a breakfast at Lions Park from 8am – 10am, hosted by Forbes Rotary Club. We will then have food vans, buskers and fireworks at Lions Park from 6pm (fireworks at 9pm). If you’re a local musician I want you to express interest in busking at this event. The more we have the better it will be. Go to our website to find out how to apply. Don’t forget our Community Strategic Plan Survey is live and closing on Friday January 31. It’s really important we get as many residents as possible to complete this survey so we know what the community wants for the future of Forbes. The survey only takes 10 minutes. Go to www.yoursay.forbes.nsw.gov.au and look for “Forbes Community Strategic Plan Review”. God Bless, Phyllis Miller OAM
