CARROLL COLLECTION: One of the images from the Carroll collection.

23 October 2017

Orange will again be a finalist the National Tidy Towns award.

At the NSW Regional awards, held at Maitland on the weekend, Orange was mentioned in four category awards and won the top award for regional centres in NSW. It’s the second time in three years that Orange has won the top regional NSW prize.

Orange mayor Reg Kidd has congratulated all involved in the awards.

“This is a fantastic effort, and it really goes to show how much members of the Orange community care for our environment,” Cr Reg Kidd said. “From heritage to wildlife and schools, Orange residents are ready to go the extra mile to create a great community.”

At the 2017 NSW awards on the weekend, Orange was mentioned in a number of categories :

• Finalist – Waste Less/Recycle More – Mullion Creek Primary School for Recycled Scrap Metal Sculptures
• Highly Commended – Young Environmental Achievement Award to Bailey Dickinson-Bubb
• Highly Commended – Habitat and Wildlife Guardianship Award for Enhancing and Protecting Biodiversity in the Orange Local Government Area
• Winner – Cultural Heritage Award for the Orange Regional Museum

Orange was then awarded the top award for regional communities in NSW.

That prize makes Orange a National Finalist in the Keep Australia Beautiful/Tidy Towns Awards to be assessed in February 2018.

UPDATE NOVEMBER 2:

William Maker Drive update:

William Maker Drive will be closed for an extra two weeks and will re-open on December 4.

The additional fortnight is for the contractor to complete some extra work in the area, at the same time.

William Maker Drive will be upgraded from the bypass to Stevenson way.

We appreciate there is in inconvenience for north Orange residents who have waited a long time for this upgrade.

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20 October 2017

A long-awaited upgrade to William Maker Drive is one of the highlights, as the annual road-building season steps up a gear in the coming week.

Drivers are being encouraged to find out where road-work will be happening and plan ahead to avoid delays.

Mayor Reg Kidd has welcomed the latest round of projects.

“The people who’ve lived at the northern end of William Maker Drive have been waiting for many years for this work to begin, and I know they’ll be delighted to see machinery on site this week,” Cr Reg Kidd said.

”Like Clergate Rd, this street began life as a narrow country lane. Now it’s the main thoroughfare to large new housing estates. It will get the upgrade it deserves.”

“Because it’s being built now, it can be paid for from financial contributions from the developers. Because it’s being built now, it won’t be damaged by the heavy trucks that have built subdivisions.”

From Monday, closures will affect traffic in both Williams Maker Drive and Burrendong Way.

William Maker Drive will be closed for one month from the northern bypass to Stevenson Way as the road receives a major upgrade. Detours will be in place diverting traffic via Romano Drive, Diamond Drive, Telopea Way and Clergate Road.

The upgrade work is being completed by contractors KLMR and is being paid for from contributions from developers of new housing estates.

Also on Monday, one lane of Burrendong Way will also be closed north from the bypass roundabout, for 400 metres.

The southbound lane will remain open, and both lanes will be open during the evenings after 4.30pm.

Council crews will be reconstructing the 400 metre section of road.

The limited closure will be in place for about 8 weeks from 7.30am to 4.30pm and detours will be through Clergate Road and Dawsons Gate Road.

Nearby residents have been sent a letter outlining the changes and there will be electronic signs detailing the detours.

Orange City Council’s Infrastructure Committee chair, Cr Sam Romano is asking local residents to be patient while work begins.

“Everyone in Orange would like better roads, and we’re getting on with the job in these locations,” Cr Romano said. “There will be some inconvenience but that’s some short-term pain for a long-term gain.”

Weather permitting, work will also begin on Monday on an upgrade of Hill St, from Moulder Street south to the Aquatic Centre.

18 October, 2017

The list of central west residents to carry the baton as part of the Queen’s Baton Relay when it journeys though Orange in January next year has been unveiled.

The eighteen baton bearers, who will each take a 200-metre leg of the relay, come from Orange, Bathurst, Blayney and other centres.

Community events will be held in Orange to mark the visit of the baton on the morning of Tuesday 30 January 2018. Visits are planned at the Civic Square/Museum forecourt and the Anzac Park sports precinct.

Orange Deputy Mayor Joanne McRae said she’s looking forward to seeing the baton making its trip through the streets of Orange.

“These eighteen people come from many different facets of the central west community,” Cr Joanne McRae said.

“Their diverse age-groups and backgrounds from sport to community service show the rich fabric of community we live in.”

The eighteen baton bearers are :

• Louise Best (Mudgee)
• Harry Betts (Ophir)
• Edwina Bone (East Victoria Park)
• Jenni Buckley (Mudgee)
• Pearl Butcher (Orange)
• John Collins (Orange)
• Desmond Crawford (Bathurst)
• Toireasa Gallagher (Perthville)
• Anthony Gorringe (Orange)
• Les Hopkins (Blayney)
• David Howe (Orange)
• LaToya James (Bronte)
• Kathleen Keech (White Rock)
• Anthony Rodd (Orange)
• Carolyn Sheehan (Mudgee)
• Mary Trainor (Orange
• Russell Tym (Orange)
• Anna Windsor (Orange)

Orange resident Anthony Gorringe, OAM has been profoundly deaf since the age of two.

He was born in 1942. He has made great contributions to the deaf community, particularly in lawn bowls. He has represented NSW and Australia in this sport and has served as president of both the state and national association of Deaf Lawn Bowls.

“I am honoured to be chosen as a baton bearer for the Commonwealth Games Queen’s Baton Relay,” Anthony Gorringe said. “I am looking forward to this event in January. I’d like to thank my grandson, Paul for nominating me.”

BEARERS : Orange residents who will carrying the Queen's Baton meet up with Deputy Mayor Joanne McRae at the Regional Museum (at rear l. to r.) Dr David Howe, John Collins, Cr Joanne McRae, Anthony Gorringe, Russell Tym and (at front l.to r.) Sr Mary Trainor, Pearl Butcher and Tony Rodd.

Qld Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk revealed the list of approximately 3,800 Australians who will carry the Queen’s Baton on its 100-day journey across the nation in the lead-up to the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games.

The Premier said the list of names, selected through a community nomination program, is a great reflection of Australia.

“The lists of names have been compiled by judging panels in each state and territory, allowing local knowledge to play the greatest possible role in the selection process,” the Premier said.

“There is a 90 year age range across the batonbearers, from 100 year old Bill Bruce from Nebo, to 10 year old Corbin Easton from Caloundra,” the Premier said.

The traditional relay begins in Canberra on 25 January 2018 and will be carried by great Australians through QBR celebration communities around the country.

The Baton’s activity during the school holidays and the street-level detail through celebration communities will be revealed on 17 November.

Since its launch from Buckingham Palace on 13 March 2017, the Baton has inspired athletes and fans across Africa, the Caribbean, the Americas and Europe. Currently it is in Malaysia and is set to visit the remaining 15 Commonwealth nations in Asia and Oceania before arriving in Australia on Christmas Eve.

October 17, 2017

The NSW Swifts are delighted to announce they will be heading to rural New South Wales as part of the teams’ preparations for their 2018 Suncorp Super Netball campaign.

As the most decorated pro-netball franchise in NSW, rural areas of the State are of huge importance to the team and that’s why it has partnered with Orange City Council for a road trip which will see the 2018 Swifts train, hold clinics and meet and greet young, aspiring netballers from the Orange area.

Some of the greatest players to have ever worn the Red Dress have come from rural NSW and Head Coach Briony Akle said keeping strong ties with the netball community outside of metropolitan areas was vital to the team’s success.

The Swifts will visit Orange on Thursday 9 November and will also do some pre-season training of their own alongside the public appearances.

“I am very happy that we are lucky enough to partner with Orange City Council for this visit to one of the most beautiful areas of NSW,” Akle said.

“While most of our games take place in Sydney each of our athletes knows the three letters that come before Swifts on our logo: N.S.W!

“We are the team that represents all of this great State and it is vital that we maintain our connection with rural areas.

“By getting the opportunity to visit and train in places like Orange we get to reach out and connect with other fantastic people in the netball community we mightn’t necessarily get to meet every day, and that’s very important.

“Rural sport is the lifeblood of all codes and, who knows, we may even come across some future Swifts on our travels.”

Orange City Mayor Reg Kidd said he was thrilled the NSW Swifts had chosen Orange as a destination for the regional tour.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for our young sportspeople,” Cr Kidd said.

“The fact the team has chosen to come to Orange, shows how important it is for Orange City Council to maintain strong connections with regional development officers.

“These opportunities don’t come by every day and we’ll do everything we can to make sure our young sportspeople have opportunities that metropolitan kids do. “

The NSW Swifts will start their 2018 Suncorp Super Netball campaign with a Round 1 clash against the Queensland Firebirds on Sunday 29 April – one game of a blockbuster NSW v QLD Double Header at Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena

Download Full NSW Swifts 2018 Fixture HERE

SWIFTS: NSW Swifts will be in Orange November 9. Photos: NSW Netball

Monday October 16, 2017.

Mayor Reg Kidd welcomed an announcement of funding from Western NSW parliamentary secretary Rick Colless to go towards restoring the Blowes Conservatory in Cook Park.

Mr Colless was in town on Monday to hand over a $100,000 novelty cheque, which Cr Kidd jokingly held on to tightly.

Cr Kidd said the money would go towards work on the buildings windows and woodwork, as well as necessary re-wiring to allow for a lighting upgrade.

“I can guarantee you we’ll spend [the money] because there’s a lot of work in there," Cr Kidd said.

“It’s nearly 80 years old and was donated at the time by a former mayor of Orange.”

Mr Colless said the funding was part of the state government's Heritage Near Me program.

“This grant money is being rolled out across NSW for buildings such as this that are in need of repair and have a great community benefit,” Mr Colless said.

Member for Orange Phil Donato was in Cook Park for the announcement and welcomed the funding, particularly given Cook Park's prominence within the city and its reputation.

“In my travels, a lot of people often say that Cook Park is one of the most beautiful parks in NSW,” he said.

“It’s an old building and old buildings need to be maintained and they are expensive to maintain. So it’s great to see this money being delivered for Orange.”

GIFT: Orange Mayor Reg Kidd, Western NSW parliamentary secretary Rick Colless and Member for Orange Phil Donato check out what needs to be improved on the 80-year-old Blowes Conservatory.

School is back for term four and Orange history students have a chance to win cash prizes just in time for Christmas.

Orange Regional Museum is calling on students from Orange to submit entries into two award categories this year, one for high school students and one for primary school students.

There’s $100 up for grabs as part of the annual Sir Neville Howse VC School Award.

The prize is awarded to a high school student from Orange who shows an exceptional understanding and appreciation of heritage.

Orange Mayor Reg Kidd said entries for the award may come in almost any format from short film, to a diorama, or a model, a debate, essay or report.

“It’s incredibly important our students know and appreciate our heritage,” Cr Kidd said.

“These awards are a way of recognising students who show an exceptional interest and understanding of the events that have shaped our nation, and our city.”

Secondly, students could win $150 for themselves and $250 for their school as part of the Isobel and Stuart Douglas History Award.

The prize for this annual award was bequeathed to Orange City Council by Jean Margaret Stuart Chambers.

Mrs Chambers wanted the purpose of the award to “foster clear speech, expression of thought and ideas encouraging original research in the study of local history relating to Orange”.

The Isobel and Stuart Douglas History Award is open to students attending NSW government and Catholic primary schools within the Orange local government area.

“This particular award focuses on local history and encourages students to talk with older Orange residents about their experiences in our region,” Cr Kidd.

“Young students then may develop an appreciation for what life was like growing up in Orange for people in their parents, or grandparents’ generation.”

For details and entry forms please go to www.orangemuseum.com.au/learn/awards

The closing date for these awards is November 29.