What was so good about Forbes in the 1960s?

The very successful reunion of Forbes folk last week got me thinking about community and the warmth of reuniting with old friends, telling stories, reminiscing and of course remembering the music of ‘the day’.   

As a cultural historian the event was interesting in several ways.

This particular get together evolved through a Facebook page  ‘We Grew up in Forbes and are proud of it’ that started just over a year ago with a few subscribers but now has over 4000. 

This and the thoughts of some ex-pats who had the concept of getting a couple of local bands, who had not played together for about 40 years, to unite and have a reunion, mainly focussing on ‘60’s and 70’s era. And what a great night it was. 

When I spoke with the lads who helped put it together it was obvious that they were not doing it for themselves but rather to give something back to the town that gave so much to them. 

Gatherings in a community have always been important but I find it interesting how technology has made it so much easier to make contact – is Facebook the modern ‘Bush Telegraph’ ?

Terry Green and Grant Fitzpatrick formerly local now from Qld and Dubbo were two of the main organisers – but why did they do it? Giving back to the town that gave so much to them was the answer.  A good answer I thought.

Forbes had a strong musical culture in the 60’s and 70’s – and maybe still does.  

The music scene and live bands were the main source of entertainment – and courting. 

We were the first of the rock n roll generation with new found freedom and thoughts.   

It was good to see the old bands unite and do well and bring the crowd together.  The nostalgia button is a wondrous thing.

Fred Spalding ex Vietnam veteran, actor, teacher and now at nearly 70 an apprentice motor mechanic was a promoter and manager for some of the early Forbes bands and we shared many (true of course) stories about our misspent youth. 

My particular memories centred around  Saturday night at the ‘Golfy’ and its legendary manager, Jack Shine. 

Memories of the live bands and what must have been one of the first disco concepts in Australia, reel to reel tapes played through a brilliant amplifier by local businessman, Michael Meagher.  

Hot days at the river with a cantankerous battery powered record player rocking to the surf music of the band The Atlantics and Bombora. 

This was the surf era and we were all surfies. I even had a conduit ‘surfboard rack’ on the roof of my Morris Minor (1000) to put the tractor tube that we used to surf Cottons Weir.  

My then girl friend and I won a stomp competition at a surf night at Apex Park and the band introduced a couple of songs from “an up and coming band from England, The Beatles”.  

My life changed forever that night.

I have been so fortunate over the years in being able to interview for the National Library Collection people from these early bands, including the Atlantics and some who worked closely with the Beatles.  

Did I organise these interviews because of my memories of the early days in Forbes? 

What do you think? 

What is it that brings people back to their home town and what is it about your home town that draws you back?  

Is it the memories of the way things were?  Your childhood? Friends? 

All of the above?  Is that sense of wanting to return still there? I believe so.

Do country towns still have that sense of community – getting together at a local dance/function  – fund raisers – spontaneous theatre events?  

In a bygone era the dances, music, concerts and getting out were a vital part of a community.  

Has technology changed that? Are we still as ‘communal’ as we were. 

Fred Spalding believes it is still there and I agree, perhaps it is in a different way and indeed facilitated and encouraged by technology, but still there.  

I grew up in Forbes and I am proud of it.

Rob Willis is a Forbes local and oral historian with the National Library of Australia. 

See our gallery from the Back to Forbes weekend.