The Forbes College for Seniors Inc.

The college for Seniors was established in December 1987 by Mr Bob Lytton (pictured), to provide educational and social activities for district residents aged 60 years and over. Being in fact a university of the third age, the group became a foundation member of the NSW State Council of U3A.                                         From a beginning enrolment of just over one hundred in 1987 the group has grown to just over two hundred active senior citizens who pay a nominal annual membership fee to attend classes and other activities.

From the outset the College was strongly supported by the then Principal of Forbes Public School, Mr Allan Ruskin, and this has continued since Mr John Willing became Principal. Through the courtesy of these gentlemen, together with the support of both teaching and ancillary staff, the College has been provided with accommodation for its classes while on the organisational side access has been readily granted to office facilities. For this an annual donation is made to the school from college funds while, in its 20th anniversary year of 2007, a special scholarship was provided for a child entering secondary studies.

At the school, the College has provided courses in Music Appreciation, Current Affairs, Australian History, Economics, Geology, Astronomy and English Literature using our own members as tutors while, with the assistance of the Principal and his staff, courses have been offered in Computer Studies, Collectables and Changes in the Educational Scene to name just three.

While the advantages of this arrangement for the college members are obvious, there is positive value for the school too, since the children can see for themselves that education does not necessarily end when formal schooldays are over. In many cases they can see their own grandparents enjoying the experience of learning something new and in the case of computer studies, they, the children, have reinforced this concept by acting as junior tutors. In terms of social development, the thoughtfulness and genuine assistance offered to our members from time to time by the children, has been quite outstanding.