Children enjoyed the rides and chance to squirt the fire hoses, there was music and the chance to hear from our inspirational Australia Day ambassador James Pittar.  

Mr Pittar, who is legally blind, has completed many international marathon swims but he spoke of his crossing of the English Channel in 1998.

“It’s 36km or 720 laps of the Forbes Olympic Swimming Pool,” he said. 

He was completely guided by whistles – from his escort boat and a kyack. 

The swim is gruelling both mentally and physically, and Pittar said he was the “most relieved man in the world” when his crossing was declared official standing on the beach in France just under 14 hours after he had left England. 

“I was so desperate I started doing tax calculations,” Mr Pittar said as he described how tough the swim was.

“I didn’t get either of the two calculations I set for myself right, but it wasted 30 minutes of mental time.” 

The exhausted swimmer’s mum was waiting to meet him, but she took one look at her son, covered in sunscreen and petroleum jelly for protection against the elements, and shook his hand rather than embraced him. 

Mr Pittar laughed about it, then paid tribute to family and friends as part of what he believes makes Australia great. 

“Family and friends, freedom and opportunity, acceptance of those who have come across the seas – as it states in the second verse of our national anthem,” Mr Pittar said. 

Friday night was also Forbes Shire Council’s opportunity to honour those who contribute to the local community.

State Member for Orange Phillip Donato and Federal Member for Riverina Michael McCormack were in attendance to present the awards.

Sue-anne Nixon, Rotary Ipomoea member, Forbes North teacher and Town Band member, was named 2018 Citizen of the Year. 

Kelsey Muller, who takes her miniature ponies to Jemalong Residential Village every month to spend time with the residents, was named our Young Citizen of the Year. 

“I challenge everyone to draw inspiration from the contribution these citizens make … which our community benefits so much from,” Mayor Miller said. 

The evening’s celebrations, in Lions Park for the first time, started with music from young local talent Cameron Sharp.

Cameron is taking off to Sydney this year to study songwriting and music performance with JMC Academy.

In the traditional Lions v CWA damper competition, Peter Bright claimed honours for the Lions.

It was an English woman, all the way from Yorkshire Dales, who took out the CWA’s prize for the overall best damper. 

Rachel Ramsden used the CWA’s recipe to make her winning loaf. 

Gabe Middleton Music provided the evening’s entertainment, keeping the kids dancing through to the fireworks at 9pm.