The joy of sports and music, all for the sake of keeping young people connected, was at the fore when Boys to the Bush hosted their community engagement day. Students from around the region's public schools participated in a fun-filled day hosted by the community based, not-for-profit charity. Students from Forbes Public, Forbes North, St Laurence's Parish School, Canowindra Public School, Eugowra Public, Bedgerabong Public, Condobolin Public and Trundle St Patrick's Parish School came together at the local rugby oval for the big event, designed to ease the transition to high school. Students were split into groups and rotated around to different activities. Local community groups coordinated the stations including Forbes Shire Council, Rise Physiotherapy, Western Region Academy of Sports, Cricket NSW, Doug McKenzie (soccer) and Rabobank Forbes cooked 900 sausages supplied by Forbes Central Butchery with bread kindly donated from Forbes Woolworths. Activity stations included totem tennis, soccer skills, cultural games, fitness and reflex testing and football activities. All activities promoted physical health and taught essential life skills such as teamwork and sportsmanship. Steve Bowen from Bowens Entertainment kept the high energy going throughout the day with fun dance breaks that everyone, even the teachers, enjoyed adding to the overall positivity and engagement of the event. "Steve played a pivotal role in making the day a success with his infectious energy which resonated with everyone," Boys to the Bush events administrator, Narelle Rodgers said. The community engagement day was a celebration of community, engagement, mental health awareness and the joy of sports and music. "We are thrilled to be hosting the Community Engagement Day, as it encapsulates the very essence of what Boys to the Bush stands for – engagement, respect, and community," location manager at Boys to the Bush Tim West said. "We believe that this event will empower students, instill a sense of belonging, and inspire them to actively participate in their communities." "These events wouldn’t happen without the invaluable contributions from the schools and community. Their presence, and enthusiasm played a crucial role in making the event a resounding success, even fighting off the rain," Narelle added.
