The Forbes Town Band, under the baton of Mr William Acret Senior, was established in 1883. Acret was a bricklayer and acted as bandmaster from 1883 to 1913. In 1918, Mr Sandergren arrived in Forbes and led the Forbes Town Band in winning the championship shield for 1919-20. The shield and band photo are proudly on display in the current Forbes Town & District Band hall. Percy Pogson, with “oversea
s musical credentials”, conducted the band from the late 1920’s to early 1930’s. In 1949, a resurgence of band activity under the driving force of Alderman Ray Collett saw the arrival to Forbes of Cecil Brown and his son Les who later become the town’s bandmaster. A competition was inaugurated to raise funds for uniforms and to purchase the first band hall, which was adjacent to Forbes infants’ school in Sherriff St. The band then became known as the Forbes Town & District Band (FTDB). In 1963, the band hall was lost when land was resumed for the new Lake Forbes high-level bridge. The FTDB then took up residence in its present hall in Rankin Street in 1964, the rooms being gifted to the band by the golf club. The hall was named after Jim Patterson who devoted many years to banding and was the bandmaster from 1951 to 1963. The new band hall was officially opened in September 1973. In 1969 the bandmaster was Bruce Searle, and in 1970 learners classes were introduced and girls were admitted as members. Searle left Forbes in 1977, and Jack Cartasso; a former member of the Southern Command Band during WWII; conducted the band until Searle returned again in 1980. He finally retired as bandmaster at the Australia Day recital in Victoria Park, in 1983. In 1983, Bob Petrie became bandmaster and the FTDB celebrated it’s Centenary. Celebrations included visits from bands from Parramatta, Grenfell, Holroyd, Lithgow, Kapooka and the Forbes Pipe Band. Bandmasters since the 1983 centenary include: Jacki Coady, Ian Davies, Jacki Haines, Daryl Ward, Vincent Carr, Peter Poole, Matt Law, Catherine Arthurson, Justin Screen and James Whalan. Hannah Nixon is the current band master. The current FTDB still participates in many calendar events including Australia Day celebrations, ANZAC Day march, Heritage Week activities, Forbes, Eugowra and Bedgerebong Shows, and for over 50 years have conducted the annual Carols by Candlelight concert in December in Victoria Park, Forbes. The Forbes Town and District Band owes much to the many volunteers involved and the generosity of the general public in supporting money-raising events. A most satisfactory partnership has been with the Forbes Shire Council, with the band’s services to the community being recognised by the Council through its annual financial grant.
