Forbes North Public School is located on the lands of the Galari river people within the Wiradjuri nation on an expansive eleven-acre site, naturally decorated with stands of established endemic trees hosting a variety of native birds and animals, coupled with a large orchard and commercial kitchen which is part of one of Australia’s first schools to pilot the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program. Since 2009, our expansive ornamental gardens have been maintained and harvested by our students and staff. 

Since 1957, the school has offered quality education in a safe and engaging learning environment from Kindergarten to Year 6. This is inclusive of our best practice Link Up to School program, enabling young children to prepare for school on the same site. Our playground is spacious containing an all-weather undercover court for multiple sports and games, a common playground leading to our Wiradjuri room and Yarning circle shaded by the Aboriginal flag at the heart of the school representing a focus on first nations’ people and culture and supporting the cultural traditions of our 118 Aboriginal students. 

Our new library now contains hundreds of titles in children’s literature and our multi-purpose hall is home to Forbes Learning Ladder after school care and is used four days per week hosting a variety of community engagement events and gatherings. Each day, we offer after school care and school holiday vacation is present all year round. Playground equipment on a large scale has been added in 2023 including a tractor, boat and kitchen café in the infants’ playgrounds next to our canteen preparing nutritious meals five days per week and the Cove where a large indoor play-based area was opened in June. 

Forbes North is a School as Community Centre site offering supported playgroup, transition programs, parenting programs and adult learning courses for our diverse and growing community. Forbes North is consistently praised for its welcoming and inclusive teaching and learning environment with dedicated staff, community volunteers organising programs such as Brekky Club 5 days per week and an energetic Parents and Citizens Association. In 2023, we partnered with Forbes Bus Lines to initiate a first in the Central West with a daily attendance bus which has boosted overall school attendance to above average levels. 

Trailblazing autistic pilot Hayden McDonald has completed his inspiring solo circumnavigation of Australia, proving his flying competence and that he should be judged on his ability, not disability. 

Hayden, 22, touched down at Myrup Airstrip in Esperance at 3pm (WA time) 11th Dec, rounding out a three-month mission, in which he has travelled more than 8000 nautical miles in over 80 hours of flying around the country. 

The unaccompanied flight is believed to be the first of its kind attempted by an autistic pilot. 

“Finishing this flight is a dream come true,” Hayden said. 

Over the past three months, Hayden has visited Whyalla, Port Augusta, Orroroo, Broken Hill, Mildura, Charleston, Parkes, Warnervale, Dalby, Bundaberg, Longreach, Mount Isa, Tennant Creek, Kununurra, Broome, Port Hedland, Karratha, Carnarvon, Bunbury and Albany. 

The trip has covered more than 8000 nautical miles in around 80 hours of flying. 

“Not only have I proven my capability as an autistic pilot, but most importantly, I have been welcomed into towns and communities across Australia in my efforts to build greater acceptance and understanding of autism and neurodiversity.” 

Hayden embarked on the ambitious flight, leaving Esperance on September 8 in his small Jabiru J120 light aircraft he affectionately calls ‘7315’. 

He traversed South Australia, New South Wales, Queensland and the Northern Territory, but was forced to pause the trip in Kununurra on October 30 due to widespread bushfires and smoke making visibility poor and too dangerous to fly.

He returned to the skies two weeks ago, leaving Kununurra on November 29 before travelling down the west coast, completing his final leg from Albany to Esperance yesterday. 

Landing in Esperance, Hayden was welcomed by local community members including his mother, acclaimed fiction author Fleur McDonald, and flying mentor Jonathon Emmanuel. 

Hayden’s love of aviation started as a young child when he would fly with this grandfather. 

That fondness grew and at the age of 15 he took to the cockpit himself, obtaining a recreational pilot’s certificate at 19. 

But his dream of flying with the Royal Flying Doctor Service was crushed when the Civil Aviation Safety Authority denied him the opportunity of a medical because he is autistic. 

Hayden said he had been disheartened after his medical was refused on the grounds his “autism spectrum disorder represents unacceptable risk to aeronautical navigation”. 

So, he founded Wings Without Barriers to help lobby for change. 

“I would like to thank everyone for all of the incredible support I have received over the past three months,” Hayden said. 

“From my sponsors to all the towns that welcomed me, and the schools, Rotary groups and community organisations who invited me to speak about my journey to help achieve greater acceptance and understanding for autistic and neurodiverse Australians – thank you. 

“I would also like to thank my family and in particular, Jonathon Emanuel, who has offered endless guidance and words of wisdom during this journey. The support is greatly appreciated. 

“This journey may now be over, but my passion and drive to promote true inclusion is not. 

“I will continue to campaign loudly so that autism is not regarded as a medical issue. We need to foster real understanding to stop autistic and neurodiverse Australians being stigmatised and discriminated against. Things need to change.” 

Follow Hayden on his Instagram page, Facebook or YouTube channel.