Everything you need to know about Orange's Australia Day celebrations

19 January 2018

Australia Day in Orange has always been one of the highlights on the city's event calendar and the 2018 celebrations are no exception, according to Orange Mayor Reg Kidd.

Cr Kidd said he was looking forward to welcoming 24 new citizens from India, Britain, Nepal, Zimbabwe, South Africa and New Zealand.

"The Australia Day celebration in Cook Park has always been one of my favourite events in the Orange community," Cr Kidd said.

"It's wonderful we can welcome so many new people who want to make Orange their home, who want to be part of our community and who want to publicly do so.

"This year we had a large number of strong candidates for the NSW Citizen of the Year awards and I think that reflects the nature of our city.

"Our city is one of givers. Our city is built on the kind deeds of so many of our community members and it's great we can thank them for all their hard work in this way."

The celebrations will start at 8am with a breakfast barbecue cooked by Orange Canobolas Lions Club Catering Van, Rotary Club of Orange, Quota and CWA.

The breakfast includes a bacon and egg roll, a juice or coffee or tea as well as apples and will be served until about 9.30am.

Children's amusement rides, face painting, petting zoo and the Gold Seekers Orienteering maze begins at 8am and will continue until about 1pm. Rides cost $3 each or $10 for an unlimited pass for the day.

There will also be a competition for best dressed, a vintage car display, dozens of market stalls and a $1 monster raffle with a range of prizes donated by local businesses.

Cr Kidd said there had been some concern among the community regrading the Flying Foxes roosting in the Cook Park trees.

"I can assure everyone that concern is unwarranted," Cr Kidd said.

"The Australia Day celebrations will go ahead as normal, as they have every other year and we'll co-exist with the Flying Foxes.

"They're roosting in a couple of the trees towards the Kite Street side of the park and we'll be holding our celebrations towards the Summer Street side."

The program for the day is as follows:

8:20am PERFORMANCE BY ORANGE MALE VOICE CHOIR

8:40am PERFORMANCE BY CANOBOLAS HIGHLAND PIPE BAND

9:00am OFFICIAL CEREMONY

Mr Neil Gill, Master of Ceremonies

WELCOME TO COUNTRY

Mr Jamie Newman

FLAG RAISING CEREMONY

Conducted by 2nd Orange Scouts

AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL ANTHEM

Orange Male Voice Choir

PRESENTATION OF STUDENT PHOTOGRAPHY AND CWD COLOURING IN COMPETITION PRIZES

Proudly brought to you by the Central Western Daily and the Australia Day Community Committee

9.30am WELCOME TO AUSTRALIA DAY 2018

Mayor of Orange, Cr Reg Kidd

Member for Orange. Philip Donato, MP

Chair of Australia Day Committee, Ms Katherine Tollner

OFFICIAL ADDRESS BY AUSTRALIA DAY AMBASSADOR

Ms. Annabelle Williams OAM – Paralympic Gold medallist and Legal Counsel for the Australian Olympic Committee

10.00am CITIZENSHIP CEREMONY.

10.30am PRESENTATION OF THE NSW LOCAL CITIZEN OF THE YEAR AWARDS:

Community Group of the Year

Community Event of the Year

Local Legend

Business Philanthropy

Young Citizen of the Year

Citizen of the Year

11.00am COLOUR CITY DANCE WORKS PERFORMANCE

MEET THE AMBASSADOR

Ms. Annabelle Williams OAM

11:30am DESI AUSSIES OF ORANGE DANCE PERFORMANCE

BEST DRESSED COMPETITION

AUSTRALIA DAY RAFFLE

Drawn by Australia Day Ambassador, Ms. Annabelle Williams.

12:00pm PERFORMANCE BY CITY OF ORANGE BRASS BAND

PERFORMANCE BY EAST ORANGE PHYSICAL CULTURE CLUB