31/10/2026
🏆 2026 GYMPIE BUSINESS AWARDS FINALIST! 🏆
🔥 ForgeAhead – Forging Stronger Futures for Gympie Youth! 🔥
We are incredibly proud to be recognised as a finalist in the 2026 Gympie Business Awards!
At ForgeAhead, delivered by Chatsworth Park Ranch Inc, our work is about so much more than teaching young people the art of blacksmithing.
❤️ It's about changing lives, strengthening families and building a better future for our Gympie community.
Every young person deserves an opportunity to succeed, regardless of their background, personal challenges or experiences.
Through hands-on training, positive mentoring and genuine connection, we help young people who may be struggling with traditional education, disengagement, trauma or challenging circumstances to:
🔨 Build confidence, resilience and self-worth.
🔨 Develop practical skills, discipline and responsibility.
🔨 Re-engage with education, training and employment.
🔨 Build positive relationships with trusted adults.
🔨 Discover their strengths and recognise their potential.
And the impact doesn't stop with the young person.
We hear from families who are seeing positive changes at home — improved attitudes, greater confidence, better communication and renewed motivation.
For some, it's returning to school. For others, it's securing employment or an apprenticeship. And sometimes, the greatest achievement is simply seeing a young person believe in themselves again.
Led by two-time World Champion Blacksmith Dan Davie, our dedicated team combines exceptional trade expertise, professional qualifications, trauma-informed practice and lived experience to create an environment where young people feel respected, supported and capable.
🏆 As a 2026 Queensland Training Awards Regional Winner, and now a Gympie Business Awards finalist, we are proud that this important work is receiving recognition.
But our greatest reward will always be the young people who walk through our doors unsure of themselves and leave standing a little taller.
When we invest in our youth, we invest in stronger families, safer communities and a brighter future for Gympie.
A heartfelt thank you to our schools, families, community partners, supporters and Queensland Youth Justice for believing in the value of ForgeAhead.
And most importantly, to our young people — YOU are the reason we do what we do! ❤️
🔥 We're not just forging steel. We're forging futures.
