Winner lives her country music fantasy
Gore woman Shanna Forbes is a big country music fan.
The bubbly 27-year-old, who ranks Tammy Nielsen and Donna Dean among her favourite artists, will soon be meeting and greeting some of New Zealand’s top country music stars in her role as the 2012 Gore Gold Guitar Young Ambassador.
‘‘I’m really honoured and excited to receive the award and I’m looking forward to getting involved in the country music events,’’ Shanna said.
Shanna, who was one of four women vying for the coveted award at the Heartland Hotel Croydon on Thursday night, works as retail manager at Quins Unichem Pharmacy in Gore.
Originally from Invercargill, she attended Dunstan High School in Alexandra and gained a Diploma in Beauty Therapy before moving to Gore with her partner, and now husband, Aidan Forbes in 2009.
She also worked at Cadbury’s in Dunedin where she could eat as much chocolate as she liked and once competed in a reality television programme which involved leaping the carriages of the Kingston Flyer.
She blitzed the competition and won $10,000, but spent it fairly quickly, she said.
While she said she loved her new home town, she only started listening to country music when she moved to Gore.
Last year she did country music star Donna Dean’s makeup at the Gold Guitar Awards, but this year she was looking forward to being Gore’s ambassador and carrying out official duties at the event, including hosting the Tamworth Country Music Queen, she said.
She was also looking forward to attending the Tamworth Country Music Festival in 2013, which was part of her prize package.
‘‘I’ve heard some fantastic stories about the place,’’ she said.
Mataura Licensing Trust board member Barbara Mackay, who was one of five judges, said all the contestants in the Gore Young Ambassador Awards were worthy winners. The four were asked to deliver a speech in a letter to a forefather who lived in Gore 150 years ago and tell them what the town was like today and what it would be like in 10 years.
‘‘The really nice bit that came through in all their speeches was their passion for Gore and the area.’’ Mrs Mackay said being the Young Ambassador was a ‘‘wonderful opportunity’’ and she encouraged more people to enter next year’s awards.