Saturday saw South Circle/Grinsted Oval host hundreds of people for the seventh annual Forbes Rugby Club President’s Lunch.
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A total of 885 people came to celebrate with Forbes rugby and have a great afternoon out – one of the largest turn-outs in the history of the event.
This year was particularly special, as the club celebrates 50 years of rugby in Forbes for the Platypi and winning the 2017 Blowes Cup premiership.
Co-organiser Chris Sweeney said the event went “absolutely brilliantly” and the crowd was tremendous.
This year’s special guest was Mick Colliss, who grew up with a dream of representing Australia on the sporting field.
Mr Colliss entertained the crowd with the stories of how he ended up representing Australia not in rugby or swimming, but rather Sudoku.
Mr Sweeney said Mr Collis's presentation very entertaining and was delivered professionally.
The lunch saw the launch of the Peter Murphy Foundation which will support locals in need – whether that be for sporting, educational or other purposes.
One of the main features of the afternoon was the fundraiser auction, with the proceeds of the 2017 Premiership winning tie going to the Peter Murphy Foundation.
The tie was auctioned off for $1,100 bringing the total money raised for the Peter Murphy Foundation to more than $12,000.
Other major auction items, on offer to raise funds for the rugby club, included a 2017 Wallabies jumper framed by Justin Roylance and donated by Michael Cheika which raised $3,600.
A unique Forbes Platypi jumper, signed by those players selected as the best of the club’s first 40 years was also up for auction.
That honours list included Dennis McGroder, Steve Betland, Randall Grayson, Chris Francis, Andrew Norton-Knight and Dave Hodder.
This unique piece of local memorabilia fetched $4,500.
A dinner for 10 at Ester restaurant in Chippendale was auctioned off for $7,500.
Another dinner for 10 at Eugowra’s Eat Your Greens raised $8,200, to go into supporting junior rugby in Forbes.
Local artist Rosie Johnston’s painting “Kerry and Caviar” was offered for auction and raised $5,500.
Mr Sweeney described the 2018 President’s Lunch as a good community day, that didn’t have an ounce of trouble.
He added that the staff of Eat Your Greens - who catered the event – went to a tremendous effort to ensure a high standard of presentation and food.
“The whole thing was an outstanding social, community and rugby event,” Mr Sweeney said.
