Good times keep rolling

COUNTRY music and community radio are what gets Floreena Forbes out of bed in the morning.

The long-time singer, guitarist and presenter can add an Order of Australia Medal to her list of accolades.

“It’s a pretty big award and I’m so honoured to know I’ve received the award and to think people thought enough of me to nominate me and for me to accept the award,” she said.

In April, Forbes performed at the postponed Tamworth Country Music Festival, where she’s a regular guest.

Over the years, she plated in nursing homes and for a growing number of charity events, helping organise activities especially for the Australian Niemann Pick Foundation.

“I’ve not only enjoyed doing what I love to do but I can share that with other people and make their lives happier as well. I’m still going very strong and love what I do.”

Forbes formed her band Tumbleweed in the 1970s, which played up until the early 2000s.

In 1996, she ventured into the world of community radio, which accepted her with open arms.

She was a foundation member of 106.7 Phoenix FM in 2007, and still hosts a weekly country music program.

“Every week I love going in and playing bluegrass, blues and country music and interviewing artists out there trying to make their name heard,” she said.

“They’ve got careers to unfold as well. My life has unfolded and it’s still unfolding, and I still love what I do on the radio.”

In 2017, Forbes was inducted into the Australian Country Music Broadcaster Hall of Fame and in 2018 received a Toomer Memorial Award from Mal Norton Entertainment Services for services to country music.

She keeps track of everything she’s up to, as well as promoting events and other musicians, on her website floreena.com, having taught herself how to use computers in the 1980s.