Forbes Shire residents who have made significant contributions or outstanding achievements to the community over the last 12 months have been recognised by being nominated for the Forbes Shire Council 2025 Australia Day Awards.
There are three award categories – Citizen of the Year, Young Citizen of the Year and Senior Citizen of the Year – with the winners to be announced at the Citizen of the Year Gala Dinner at Forbes Town Hall on Saturday January 25.
Eight nominations were received for Citizen of the Year, along with six for Young Citizen of the Year and five for Senior Citizen of the Year.
Forbes Shire Council Mayor, Phyllis Miller OAM, said each nominee should be proud of the contribution they have made to the community.
“We received so many great nominations for this year’s awards, and it’s always a very hard decision when deciding who should receive this recognition. We appreciate the efforts of all our nominees, and the people who nominated them. We encourage the community to keep nominating people they believe should be recognised for their great work,” she said.
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“It’s extremely impressive to see what so many residents of Forbes Shire have achieved over the last 12 months, and I can’t wait for them to be recognised at the Gala Dinner,” she said.
“From volunteer work to fundraising, and academic achievements to tourism initiatives, these members of our community have contributed to the growth of our shire, and I thank them for their hard work making it a better place.”
The official ceremony at the Gala Dinner will start at 7pm and include the speeches from Mayor Miller and Australia Day Ambassador, Ange Clarke, and the presentation of the awards.
2025 Australia Day Awards Nominees
Young Citizen of the Year
Sam Mackay
Sam is a 23-year-old local stock and station agent who is heavily involved in the Forbes community, winning the Young Citizen of the Year award in 2019. He spent countless hours planning and executing the Nedd Brockman Gala Ball, raising an incredible $30,000 in support of local, Nedd Brockman and “We are Mobilise”.
Freya Hooper
Freya is an 18-year-old local who achieved equal first place in NSW for Primary Industries in the Forbes Shire Council
Media Release HSC last year. She volunteers at many Council run events and played a part in reforming the Forbes Youth Action Team. She has represented Red Bend Catholic College in basketball and equestrian and in 2023 and 2024 was the Club Captain of the Forbes Pony Club.
Grace Barbary
Grace is an 18-year-old local girl who has achieved academic success at Forbes High School, Aurora College and the NSW School of Languages. Having a passion for the Korean language, she studied Korean Continuers in her HSC and achieved a Band 6. She is an active leader and was the Vice Captain of Forbes High School, being a role model for other students and inspiring them to
participate in school life. Grace also participated in community events and performing arts and is a true all-rounder.
Isabella Brown
Isabella is an 18-year-old student who was awarded Dux of Forbes High School in 2024, achieving an impressive ATAR score of 92.75 and finishing in the top 7.25% in NSW. She was School Captain in 2024 and has proved to be a fantastic community leader, supporting local events and being involved in the Forbes community. She has committed to staying in Forbes long term and has
already commenced her physiotherapy studies and work in a local business.
Annika Dukes
Annika, a 20-year-old local from Forbes has worked at Life Pharmacy over the last two years, studying in a Certificate IV in Community pharmacy Dispensing, showing exceptional customer service skills and a passion for healthcare. Annika volunteered on the Forbes Youth Action Team for four years, volunteering for Forbes Hockey Inc for eight years and serving as an assistant steward in the Photography category of the Forbes Show. She received a 2024 Forbes CWA evening group scholarship and a 2024 CWA NSW Irene Ashton Memorial Education Grant. She also has volunteered for three years at the Dubbo Taronga Zoo volunteer program where she has been recognised as a team leader and mentors younger volunteers.
Indrie O’Connell
Indrie, 12 years old, was elected as the first Youth Chairperson of the Forbes Youth Action Team, showing her leadership skills and commitment to the community. She was MC at the 2024 Teddy Bears’ Picnic and loves helping out at Youth and Community Events. She won the Outstanding Academic class award for Year 6 at St Laurence’s School, the Father Dalwood Citizen Award, and Most Improved in Netball. She is an enthusiastic member of our youth community.
Senior Citizen of the Year
Bob Drinkwater and Freda Drinkwater
Bob and Freda have cared for their son, Scott, who is totally blind and needs care and assistance from them 24 hours per day. They have taught Scott how to speak through singing. Bob and Freda also provide care and entertainment to clients of Aruma disability services. They have been heavily involved in the local country music scene through the Forbes Country Music Association and the Country Music Show in Bedgerabong. Bob goes above and beyond as a local bus driver, ensuring children get on and off safely, and Freda served the community as a registered nurse.
Peter Bright and Elaine Bright
Peter and Elaine are stalwarts of volunteer organisations in Forbes and are driving forces of the Forbes Lions Club. They volunteer in vision screening, flood recovery, organizing conferences, Youth of the Year, markets and barbecues as well as running the Driver Reviver van in Forbes. Elaine has been an active member of the CWA and previously volunteered at the Visitor Information Centre.
Kevin Dwyer
Kevin is best known for his many years volunteering and steering the ship for local community radio station Valley FM. He was a founding member of Lachlan Valley Community radio in 1979.. He has worked in many different roles at the station and is currently its program Coordinator, looking after 35 volunteers that keep the station on the airwaves 24 hours per day. He understands the need for important up-to-date emergency announcements and follows the Bureau of Meteorology and State
Emergency Service closely for local flood and storm warnings, keeping the community informed. He loves the technical side of radio broadcasting and is often seen at the station outside of rostered hours ensuring the equipment is performing as it should. He is a life member of Valley FM.
Lloyd Gerdes
Lloyd contributes significantly to the Forbes community by volunteering for a number of local organisations. He has volunteered with Forbes Probus for an incredible 40 years and currently works as Secretary and News Bulletin Editor. He also serves as the Vice President of the Forbes Hospital Auxiliary, which he has been a member of for the last six years. He frequently coordinates
fundraisers throughout the year and since joining the Auxiliary has helped raise over $20,000 for medical equipment at Forbes Hospital. He has been a member of the Forbes & District Historical Society for 20 years and played an integral role in renovations at the Forbes Museum. He is also the Treasurer of the Forbes Garden Club.
Helen Smith
Helen has volunteered with St Vincent de Paul in Forbes for the over 20 years, helping locals facing poverty and making herself available day and night to help people in need of food or a place to sleep. From completing administrative tasks to preparing Christmas hampers, Helen makes a significant contribution. Helen also makes home visits to give emotional support for people doing it tough. She also volunteers with the Catholic Church as a Holy Communion Minister, where she
takes holy communion to those who can no longer attend church.
Citizen of the Year
Tami Hanley (Stewart)
Tami is an integral part of the family business, Michael Hanley Funerals. She shows great compassion and care, assisting families during very emotional times while making arrangements for funerals, burials and cremations and goes above and beyond her professional responsibilities. Tami has had a huge influence on the village of Wirrinya in Forbes Shire through her work with the
Wirrinya Progress Association and Wirrinya Ski Dam, organising fundraisers and events, including Back to Wirrinya. Her efforts have given Wirrinya a great sense of community and boosted its profile within Forbes Shire.
Rosie Johnston
Rosie’s vision and enthusiasm have shaped the legacy of art and tourism in Forbes. She created the concept for Somewhere Down the Lachlan which has transformed into a sculpture trail that follows the Lachlan River between Forbes and Condobolin. She also created the Amazing concept – the iconic red sign that forms part of the sculpture trail. She is also a long-time volunteer art steward for the Bedgerabong Show and is an integral member of Jemalong/Forbes Polo.
Jack Buckley
Jack is the owner and pharmacist at Life Pharmacy and Flannery’s Pharmacy in Forbes. He was awarded Australian Pharmacist of the Year at the Independent Pharmacies of Australia Excellence Awards in 2024. During the floods Jack flew medical supplies to isolated residents along the Lachlan River, and he works with the Western NSW Primary Health Network to deliver vaccination clinics to remote communities in western NSW. Jack has been in Forbes for 10 years and is passionate about providing accessible healthcare to the community.
Donna Bliss
Donna has made a meaningful impact on the Aboriginal community of Forbes in her work at Yoorana Gunya Family Healing Centre and Binaal Billa Family Violence and Prevention Legal Service. Donna is the CEO of Yoorana Gunya and has helped grow the organisation over the last 18 years from employing just a few outreach workers into a multi-disciplinary Aboriginal medical service with various allied health services including a dietitian, podiatrist, optometrist, audiologist, cardiologist, psychology and counselling services. In her work at Binaal Billa she has helped victims of domestic violence and sexual assault access legal services to. She recently received the Staff member of the Year award from the Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council of NSW.
Tim West
Tim has played a pivotal role in developing programs for vulnerable and disconnected males in our community in his work as the Forbes Location Manager for Boys to the Bush. He has connected over 3500 young people to supportive community networks to build their confidence and self-esteem. Tim also volunteers for Talk to me Bro – a program that focuses on men’s health and suicide prevention. He has also started can collections for CanAssist, cooked barbecues for White Ribbon Day, set up charity golf days and mows lawns for the elderly and those in need.
Maree Yapp
Maree is passionate about young people in the Forbes community, working as the Schools as Community Facilitator at Forbes North Public School. She started the Birth to Kinder program at the school, which supports reading, talking, singing and listening for children from birth to early literacy learning. It provides a free book to all babies born in Forbes. She is also involved in the annual Reading Down Town day, Rhyme Time and Story Time at the library and has been a member of the Forbes North Public School P&C for over 20 years. She recently became an aqua fitness instructor and provides childcare at classes so young mothers can exercise. She also has a passion for the local environment, volunteering for Central West Lachlan Landcare. Last year she was involved in bringing back the Galari Lachlan River Festival after a five-year hiatus.
Kim Muffet
Kim is well known in the local arts scene through his volunteer work with the Forbes Arts society; something he is extremely passionate about and dedicates many hours of his life to. As a member of its board, he has brought many projects to life that have had a great impact on Forbes, including the world-class Sculpture Down the Lachlan trail, the reimagined Gum Swamp Bird Hides, and he is actively involved in the current redevelopment of the former Forbes Ambulance Station into the future Galley Forbes. Kim spent many years as a farmer in Wirrinya, volunteering for the NSW Farmers’ Association, Aquatic Club, Forbes Rugby Club and West Wirrinya Fire Brigade. He now coowns Girragirra Retreat and often offers visiting media complimentary stays as an incentive for them to promote Forbes and boost the local economy.
Keith Mullette
Keith has had a huge influence on the local art scene and the tourism economy in Forbes through his many years of dedication to the Forbes Arts Society, currently serving as its Vice President. He has been a driving force behind some of the biggest art and tourism projects in Forbes, including the Sculpture Down the Lachlan trail, Wiradjuri Sculpture Walk, various sculptures in Forbes CBD, the redevelopment of the former Forbes Ambulance Station into a new art gallery, and the redevelopment of Gum Swamp. He has spent tireless hours preparing grant applications and acquittals which have made these projects possible. He has also helped drive the success of Grazing Down the Lachlan – an award-winning tourism event. He is a big believer in arts-based tourism and has always used this to drive higher visitation to Forbes and boost the local economy, something he believes is particularly important in Forbes.
