Residents of Caragabal say no prime minister - sitting or former - has ever passed through their sleepy town. So when one finally trundled through on Wednesday, it was a good thing he came bearing gifts.

But the present Tony Abbott clasped in his hands wasn't exactly what the parched NSW township - which has literally run out of water - or 11-year-old locals Angus Troth and Polly Napier were looking for. 

"Well I can't give you water but Angus, Polly, would you like to accept this book?" the former PM asked, his upward inflection dripping with hope.

Former prime minister Tony Abbott holds up a copy of his book Battlelines in Forbes during the 2016 Pollie Pedal tour. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen

"I'm not sure whether it will be the most popular book in the library, but someone might take it out at some stage."

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The school captains of Caragabal Public weren't quite sure what to make of their signed copy of Battlelines, Mr Abbott's 2009 conservative manifesto on federation reform, the monarchy and climate change. Diplomats and straight-talkers develop early, it seems.

"It's probably gonna be a popular book for a few weeks," offered Polly.

Former prime minister Tony Abbott poses for a photo with students in Forbes during the 2016 Pollie Pedal tour. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen

"It'll probably be boring," argued Angus.

"Oh, I don't know about that," Polly countered. 

Mr Abbott and former defence minister Kevin Andrews arrive in Forbes during the 2016 Pollie Pedal tour. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen

But perhaps the pollies' mere presence was the greatest gift for the school's 26 pupils and their community of some 200. This year's Pollie Pedal is weaving its way through the hot, windy and dusty central-west of NSW, on a 1000 kilometre odyssey to raise money for the nation's carers.

An unkind observer might liken it to the famed convoy of no confidence - a band of middle aged men with various grievances against the government traversing the state's roads bound for Canberra.

Still, Margo Oliver, a teachers' aide who looks after the school's two special needs students, was glad to speak with the ex-PM one-on-one. Water is the topic du jour here - Caragabal runs on rain water, which they haven't seen much of, and they have to buy their own drinking water in bulk.

Mr Abbott signs a copy of his book. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen

"We've actually run out of tank water today, so you can't wash your hands," says Ms Oliver, 48. "We can flush the toilets because that's on a separate tank."

As for Mr Abbott, he was "awesome". He posed for a special photograph so the school could enter a competition to win an outdoor setting, and grilled the children on politics. "Who's the Governor-General?" he asked. "Barnaby Joyce," one boy suggested. 

Out the front, a staffer's car blocked a sign strapped to the school gate that declared: "Gonski: It's making a difference right here."

Mr Abbott orders a beer at the Vandenberg Hotel in Forbes during the 2016 Pollie Pedal tour. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen

From there, the pelotons headed north for Forbes, battling 70km/h headwinds and a lingering, stifling April heat. But those were difficulties Mr Abbott put into harsh perspective when he addressed the crowd that had gathered in that town's Victoria Park to cheer his arrival.

"The carers of our nation, they have a lot more tough days than we do," he said.

Another town, another band of admirers - and another mini book launch. Mayor of Forbes Phyllis Miller got her copy of Battlelines - as did the kids of Forbes North Public School. The budding pollies have even formed their own mock Parliament, with sixth-graders in the cabinet and fifth-graders forming the shadow ministry.

Illustration: Ron Tandberg

School co-captain Angus Turner is the minister for entertainment and fundraising. He was excited to see Mr Abbott - but does he worry he might lose the confidence of his peers and be turfed from his position, like the former prime minister?

Angus shakes his head. "That's only if we're bad at school."

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