Local business owner and Business Chamber president Marg Duggan will stand as a candidate at the local government elections on December 4.
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It's something she's been thinking about for a while, with decades of community involvement at many levels, and now's the time.
"I've always been on some committee, and most recently on the executive of the Business Chamber for some time," she said.
"It's about engaging further with the community and making some good, positive decisions."
Marg is Forbes born and educated, but also lived in Wagga Wagga where her three sons were born, and on the North Coast.
She still remembers the decision to move back to Forbes, and the physical sense of homecoming as the family came down the range from Grafton and saw the familiar landscape of Western NSW spread out before them.
"I've been here ever since," Marg said. "I've now been 20 years in my own business (Undercover Sleepwear and Lingerie in Rankin Street)."
She's been involved in community organisations ranging from the boys' junior sports to more recently and most heavily the Forbes Business Chamber of which she's currently president.
Standing for council, for Marg, is about stepping up to a broader, overall involvement both with the community and its direction.
"You have got to touch base on a few things: business is one of mine as a small business owner, and also that partnership with council to be able to be proactive in that," she said.
"It's about trying to make business sustainable: have the growth, but have it so it's stable and sustainable.
"In a small town businesses can work cooperatively at a lot of levels and that's really important.
"Your businesses are one of your main ambassadors for your town in general.
"Those businesses need to be proactive in that manner, to promote Forbes, to welcome visitors, to do good advertising for the town."
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Right now that's more important than ever.
"There's just so many exciting things happening, we can physically see things happening.around town so that's really encouraging," Marg said.
"I think post-COVID we will be on a roll."
Despite the hardships of COVID-19, Marg sees it's given us time to prioritise what's most important to us all.
"I think we've done a lot of assessment as to what we want within ourselves personally, within our families, and within our community and business," Marg said.
"We've been really lucky to have population growth and it's probably going to continue, particularly with young families, they're the future, they're the ones who will stay here."
Marg knows from her own experience there are many reasons people are drawn to Forbes with their young families, whether you have your family network here or just seek the ease and security of the country lifestyle.
For families to choose to stay, you need to offer a complete package.
"Housing, jobs, health services, great schools which we obviously have and all the community services to keep everyone engaged," Marg said.
The beautification of Lake Forbes is one good example of money well invested, she feels.
"It's a meeting place for people from out of town, and good for the general health of the community, people are getting a bit more engaged around that area," she said.
"In the CBD itself, Templar street's looking great, the next thing is Lachlan Street and Rankin Street."
