How are you keeping warm this winter?
“Going to Outback Qld for a fortnight, glorious weather and great fishing for yellowbelly in the Diamantina River” – Jean Hodges
“By my One Teaspoon Defender Jacket (as worn above)” – Kaitrin Lovell
“Playing footy, a wood fire and cuddling my girlfriend Jess” – Ben Robinson
With school going back, what are you packing for your kids for lunch?
Elisha Woods works at Flannery’s Pharmacy. Her 10-yearold son Kobe attends Forbes North Public and makes his own lunch, usually a nutella sandwich and a piece of fruit. His favourite is a mandarin.
Tabitha Blake is a dental assistant at Forbes Family Dentist. She insists that her daughters, 8-year-old Marnie and 6-year-old Matilda, who attend Forbes North Public, pack a healthy lunch, such as two pieces of fruit each (an apple and a mandarin are high on the list of favourites), plus a ham or corned-beef sandwich and a homemade cupcake.
Bronwyn Everson runs Bron’s Hair Design. Her 15-yearold daughter Stephanie, who attends Red Bend College, usually has something like a piece of fruit, a bread roll spread with vegemite, a biscuit and a small pack of chips.
Leigh Bartholomaeus Owner of Local Boutique Little Extras Lifestyle
How long have lived in or around Forbes? Since 1983
What do you love most about your work? Everything! I love the Fashion and Accessories Industry, to supply and serve a wonderful community with THE BEST staff.
How do you start your day? At 5.45 am with exercise and a hot lemon water, then it’s off to work.
What do you do in your spare time? Work haha. Learning new things for my business to grow. Catching up with family and friends, enjoy nice food and wine. Travel, ‘I wish there was more of it’.
How do you like your coffee? Skinny Cappuccino.
What makes your day? Nice people with a nice attitude.
Chris Roylance Forbes Shire Councillor and Managing Director of Roylance’s Automotive, Industrial, Earth-Moving & Mining.
How long have you lived in or around Forbes? All my life — since 1955.
What do you love most about your work? Every day is a challenge and there’s always a new problem to tackle, whether it’s working for Roylance’s or for the Forbes Shire.
How do you start your day? My day starts at 5am with the morning news and a mug or two of tea. Then it’s into the emails and off to work as quickly as I can.
What do you do in your spare time? Spare time is rare, but I spend as much as I can
with the grandkids and the rest of the family, or travelling with Deb. But a game of golf is rewarding, especially since the Forbes course has been revitalised.
How do you like your coffee? A mug of cappucinno is good, but mostly I drink tea all day.
What makes your day? When everything I have been trying to achieve comes to fruition. But if it doesn’t I’m content to try another day.
What is it that you like about living in Forbes?
Brian Clarke is Captain of the Forbes Fire Brigade. He’s lived in Forbes all his life and reckons that in a few years he’ll retire here. He likes the town and what it offers, and really can’t see any point in moving somewhere else. His family ties here are very strong and the town has been very solid in providing employment opportunities, firstly
with the Council and then with the fire brigade.
Brendon Allegri is a Property Sales and Marketing Executive with Ray White Forbes. He is born and bred in Forbes, and, for him too, closeness to family is a huge factor in keeping him there. It’s a small community and provides a nice place to live. The lake provides a great setting for picnics and general relaxation – something that most nearby towns don’t have.
Phyllis Miller is Mayor of Forbes Shire and has been here for just over 40 years. She loves the place because of the loyalty that the other residents have shown her in good times and bad, especially when her son John was killed in
a car accident. They obviously love her, too, since she’s never been run to preferences in a ballot for a position
on Council. She’s very proud of what she’s achieved for Forbes, especially in attracting business to the town.
Phyllis Miller, Mayor of Forbes Shire Council
How long have you lived in or around Forbes? Just over 40 years.
What do you love most about your work? I love giving back something to a community that has given just so much to me. How much they cared about me when I lost my son in a car accident was just so special.
How do you start your day? I start the day early, usually 5.30-6am, getting the reading done of all my official stuff. And have a pot of tea. I’m very much a morning person. I’ve written some of my best speeches at 3am.
What do you do in your spare time? I have six grandchildren and a seventh on the way, so I try to spend as much time with them as possible. I’m also a keen gardener and I love cooking. I also play squash and took it up again after a break of nearly 15 years.
How do you like your coffee? I usually have a skimmed-milk cappuccino, with no sugar, but I’m also partial to a piccolo when I need a pick-me-up. We have a coffee machine at home and when I go out I like to spread my business around as much as possible.
What makes your day? I reckon any day above ground is a good day, but the most rewarding time is time spent with my children and grandchildren.