A major new piece of public art has been unveiled in Orange's refurbished Civic Square precinct.

The work, entitled Duo, is by well-known local sculptor Senden Blackwood.

Orange City Council’s Services Policy Committee Chair Cr Ron Gander said the acquisition will mark the 30^th Anniversary of Orange Regional Gallery.

“Orange already has a fantastic collection of public sculpture and it will be very exciting to have a new piece of public art in Civic Square. This cultural precinct is becoming an increasingly popular hub for the community, and this piece will add to the area’s appeal,” Cr Ron Gander said.

Friends of Orange Regional Gallery (FORG), the Orange Regional Arts Foundation and individual donors have funded this acquisition.

President of FORG, Ms Ros Kemp, has welcomed the new sculpture.

“The FORG committee have been planning an acquisition of this scale for some time, to mark the Gallery’s 30 year anniversary, and we are absolutely delighted to have secured this work by local sculptor Senden Blackwood,” Ros Kemp said.

Emerging from an eight tonne block of black granite, sourced from Eugowra, Duo is seen by the artist as a reflection on and demonstration of the his experience of connection, relationship and duality.

“The final form the work has taken, both acknowledges and challenges the dualities of weight and weightlessness, movement and stasis, organic and industrial, self and other to create harmony through contrast,” Senden Blackwood said.

Gallery Director Brad Hammond said the new work will add to the gallery's collection of public art.

“Orange Regional Gallery is well known for its significant public art collection, with major works by Richard Goodwin, Bronwyn Oliver and Chris Fox in Civic Square,” Brad Hammond said.

“The acquisition of Duo will continue this tradition of public art in the precinct, and will also help to raise the profile of one of the region’s most talented and dedicated emerging sculptors.”

Born in Orange in 1979, Senden currently lives and works near Orange. His work is influenced by previous study in jewellery and object design at Enmore Design Centre and a family background of architecture, painting and illustration.

Blackwood is quickly establishing a reputation as a notable stone sculptor, and has been exhibiting since 2007. He has won several awards, grants and prizes for his work, notably the 2010 and 2011 sculpture prizes for Sculpture on the Edge (Bermagui) and the 2011 ANU residency prize for the Lakelight Sculpture Exhibition (Jindabyne).

Senden has exhibited in both Australia and Canada in over 35 shows, with two solo exhibitions in 2011 and 2013 at Brenda May Gallery (Sydney) and regular representation in prizes such as Sculpture by the Sea, Sculpture Inside, Sculpture in the Vineyards and Sawmillers Sculpture Prize.

Orange mayor John Davis believes today’s Land and Environment court decision signals the next step in the proposed merger process.

Justice Brian Preston, the chief judge of the Land and Environment court, today announced his decision on a legal action by Oberon, Cabonne and Gundagai councils.

The court dismissed the legal action and awarded the NSW Government’s costs against the objecting councils.

“The councils still have the option of appealing this decision, so the ball is now in the minister’s court to consider the timing of the next step,” Cr John Davis said.

“Orange City Council has consistently taken the approach of wanting to remain a stand-alone council, but if the government wanted to proceed with the proposed merger, we wanted to get the best result for all residents by being a constructive part of the process.”

“We’re at a stage now where some are still opposed to mergers and some just want to get on with it.

"All we can do now is wait to see what the government does next.”

Oberon Council said it had until Friday October 14 to decide on whether to appeal the decision.

There’s still time to place an entry in this year’s Cultural Heritage awards, run by Orange City Council to encourage local restoration projects.

Orange City Council’s Cultural Heritage Committee Chair Reg Kidd said the awards acknowledge the commitment that property owners have put into maintaining and conserving the city’s heritage buildings and places using heritage conservation principles.

“Orange has some fantastic examples of restored buildings that have won awards in recent years,” Reg Kidd said. “The Wilson-Piggot-Miller office in the old Dudley Hospital on the corner of Summer and Hill Streets is a good example of adaptive reuse of an existing building. The Orange Dermatology on the corner of Moulder Street and McNamara Lane is another good example.”

“There’s been a good response to nominations for the awards but there’s still time for more. Entries can come from family, friends and relatives who have watched a restoration project develop. It could also be a builder or tradesman who has worked on a project who can make the nomination.”

“There are many projects completed over the last few years that you drive past daily,” Cr Reg Kidd said. “Fancy Dish at 109 Moulder Street and Factory Expresso in Kite Street are good examples of conservation principles and were winners of awards in recent years. “

“The Awards not only acknowledge conservation work, but are about building community interest in the design and construction of sympathetic infill development, alterations and additions to buildings.

Categories for awards are :

• Restoration of a Residential Heritage Building,
• Streetscape Element Restoration,
• Best Infill Development,
• Best Heritage Treatment of a Commercial Building,
• Best Improvement to a Building under 50 years old,
• Best Landscape/garden Design which is appropriate to its environment, and
• Best Contribution to the Cultural Heritage Environment of Orange; Best interpretation of publication

Telling the stories

“The last category recognizes the importance of encouraging people to tell the story of their restoration they’ve done,” Cr Reg Kidd said. “It could be small sign on their building. It might be an extra page on a business’ web site. It’s about going the extra mile of telling the story of a building’s history or how a restoration pro0ject was done.”

Projects must have been completed within the last 5 years.

The Cultural Heritage Community Committee established the awards criteria that enables judging of the nominated properties. All sections of the form must be completed and should be accompanied by a before and after photo. Nominations need to be returned by 5.00pm, Friday 14 October 2016.

Judging will be held in October and the awards presentation will be held at the Orange Regional Museum on Friday, 11 November 2016 at 5.30pm.

Nomination forms are available from www.orange.nsw.gov.au/heritage or the Orange Visitor Information Centre. Completed forms can be emailed to Orange Regional Museum or for further information contact Museum & Heritage Coordinator A Russell – 6393 8170 museum@orange.nsw.gov.au or delivered to the at Orange City Council, Byng Street, Orange.

The Orange Women’s Shed is powering along with up to 50 members but it needs donations for it to continue to succeed.

The Orange Women’s Shed is a place for women to get together to socialise but also to learn trades-based skills so they can complete basic home maintenance improvements.

Orange City Council’s Services Policy Committee Chair Ron Gander said the initiative, started by Council staff, had made significant impacts on the lives of women across the region.

“It is aimed at women who haven’t had the opportunity to learn how to do basic home improvements, anything from fixing a hole in the wall, to building a set of shelves, filling gaps and basic construction,” Cr Gander said.

“It means they don’t have to rely on male partners or relatives or hiring professionals.

But for women who have lost a partner, it is a great opportunity to make sure they have a social outlet and they can speak with people in similar positions.”

The women need donations of power tools, hands tools, building supplies but also cash and in-kind labour donations so they can afford to put a door on the shed they use at Wangarang Industries.

Wangarang Industries allows the group to use its facility for free but more funding is needed to enclose the space and put in toilet facilities.

The Orange Women’s Shed concept was pushed along by Orange City Council’s Neighbour Aid and Support Worker, Paula Beattie, who was recently asked to spruik the success of the women’s shed at the Supporting and Linking Tradeswomen (SALT) Tradeswomen Australia Conference.

“It was a great honour to be given that opportunity,” Ms Beattie said.

Ms Beattie said the group were grateful for the support of Wangarang Industries and Bunnings Warehouse, which invites the group to attend workshops in the store.

The workshops had been invaluable recently because the wet weather meant the women were not able to meet in the open shed.

“As you can imagine with the amount of rain we’ve had it gets pretty wet out here. We really need to get that shed door,” she said.

Women’s Shed member Hawa Wright moved to Orange without knowing anyone and she quickly made friends after joining the women’s shed.

“It’s where I get to meet a lot of people and learn new things like how to fix things and where to buy the right tools to fix things,” Mrs Wright said.

“Also how to find the least expensive tool for the job.”

To donate tools or to join the group call 63938966 or to help with funding for the construction of a shed door and amenities please call Wangarang Industries on 63656500.

SKILLS: Orange Women's Shed Hawa Wright and Bernadette Felstead are learning trades-based skills.

Orange City Council has appointed the new staff member to oversee the Orange Regional Gallery as well as the new Orange Regional Museum.

Orange City Council’s Services Committee Chair Ron Gander today announced that the current Collections Manager at the gallery, Brad Hammond, will take on the new role of Gallery & Museum Director.

“While the gallery and the museum will continue to operate separately, there are opportunities for both institutions to assist and strengthen each other,” Cr Ron Gander said.

“For example, the gallery already attracts thousands of schools student every year to visit exhibitions and participate in art workshops. In the months ahead, this school engagement work is an area that the museum staff will be developing alongside the gallery’s programs.”

“These two institutions will be operating right alongside each other next to the Civic Square and there are opportunities too to share that space creatively.”

LEADERSHIP : Staff member Brad Hammond will oversee both the gallery and the new museum

New Gallery & Museum Director Brad Hammond, is excited about the new position.

“It’s a very exciting opportunity to be making a contribution to the cultural life of our city,” Brad Hammond said. “While the gallery and the museum will continue to have very distinct roles, there are also many similarities when it comes to telling our personal and collective stories through objects and art-works. Our experiences in galleries and museums should be both informative and aesthetically engaging.”

“Orange Regional Gallery will continue to present high quality exhibitions of modern and contemporary art and Museum staff have done a great job in laying the foundations of how the new Museum will operate and I’m looking forward to building on that. It’s a beautifully designed space in which to share the stories of the region.”

Brad Hammond has worked as the Collections Manager at the gallery since 2011, including developing a pioneering project of exhibiting art from the gallery collection at the new Orange Health Service.

EDUCATION: Public Engagement and Education Officer Jessica Dowdell is keen to work with teachers to make the museum an important learning tool.

SHOP LOCAL: Sheryl Lewis, owner of Classic Country Rose florist's store, believes the Shop Orange gift card is a positive idea to come from Orange City Council.

Residents might have noticed extra children on the roads in recent weeks and that’s the idea behind a road safety campaign designed to remind drivers to “Watch out, kids about”.

Child-like stickers have been appearing on Orange and Cabonne residents’ wheelie bins in an attempt to remind drivers that children were unpredictable and likely to be running around suburban streets.

City of Orange Traffic Committee chair Russell Turner said the stickers were a “colourful and positive” road safety reminder.

“There’s no way Orange City Council can put up road safety signs in every street so this is a great way for the community to help tell that story,” Cr Turner said.

“Every time residents put their bins out there’s a visual reminder to be aware there could be children running around.”

“I’d like to thank JR Richards for helping with this initiative.”

Orange and Cabonne Rad Safety Officer Andrea Hamilton-Vaughan said the stickers were designed to be “strong, emotive” reminders to slow down and pay attention.

“They’re so realistic. They’re pictures of actual children, they’re not stencils...it will have more of an impact on the driver to remind them that in local streets we have our local children and they are vulnerable,” she said.

“We the adults need to be aware and slow down and keep vigilant.”

The large stickers, produced by the Australian Road Safety Foundation, which feature photos of children stepping towards the road and speed limit signs, are designed to provide a strong visual road safety reminder to motorists.

According to the foundation more than 30 per cent of crashes occur on Australian streets with speed limits under 60km/hr.

Statistics also show that accidents are most likely to occur on weekdays, during daylight hours, when children are most likely to be crossing roads.

Cr Turner said it was important to note the stickers should not be placed over any bar code or serial numbers on the side of the bins.

The stickers can be ordered through the Orange and Community Information Centre for $10 or the Australian Road Safety Foundation website.

SAFETY FIRST: Courallie Park Children's Centre kids Neve, Cleo, Adelaide, Ella, Ingrid, Annie, Zac, Oliver and Ivy look left and right before crossing the road.