Owner Ash Lyons welcomed the opportunity to open a second premises, after operating his flagship cafe in Bathurst for several years. 

“For a long time we’re had people wanting us to move to Orange and we’ve got a lot of regular customers from Orange who have been coming to Bathurst to enjoy our product,” he said.

“We thought maybe it’s time to get outside of Bathurst and see what’s going on.”

The cafe is licensed in order to allow people to enjoy a beverage when they eat.

“What makes us unique is that our food is a little bit special and a little bit different,” Mr Lyons said.

He described the menu as a mix of healthy food with some comfort food and some “naughty” selections too.

“There’s not many cafes in Orange that tick all the boxes,” he said.

Mr Lyons says Venue also welcomes children.

“It’s been two years in the making and people have been pretty wowed by it,” he said.

G.J. Gardner Homes has chipped in to help basketballer Kobe Mansell take his career to the next level.

Kobe is the only central west player selected for the under 14s Australian country basketball team, which will compete in the Pacific Rim Championship in New Zealand in April. 

G.J. Gardner Homes managing director Mark Stoffels said he was excited to support such a talented young sportsperson by helping to fund his fee to play in the tournament, flights, accommodation and a training camp while he was in New Zealand. 

“Kobe is a real inspiration, representing Orange nationally and now internationally, and it feels great to be able to help him realise even more success,” Mr Stoffels said. 

“As a local business we are always looking for ways to help the community and we are proud to support a rising star who has so much potential. 

“Playing basketball competitively since he was eight, Kobe now studies at Orange High School under a sports scholarship and spends more than two hours training every day.”

G.J. Gardner Homes’ employee and Kobe’s uncle Grant Mansell said it was inspiring to see a young man dedicate himself to pursuing his dream. 

“Naturally, with a name like Kobe he was born to excel in basketball and it is astounding to see how much he has already achieved at 13,” he said. 

“He dreams about playing in the NBA and we would love to see him reach that goal. I’m so pleased the company I work for is with me in backing my family’s dreams.

COMPUTER repairs and advice store Need A Nerd has moved to bigger premises, across the road from its previous location in Lords Place between Kite and Summer streets.

Michelle Leabeater, who owns the business with her husband John, says the company does “anything nerdy” including computer upgrades, virus removal, custom-building computers and gaming rigs, technical support, screen repairs and data recovery.

Need A Nerd also repairs mobile phones, organises networking for the home and business and repairs PlayStations and Xboxes.

INFRASTRUCTURE upgrades to the Orange area mean residents and businesses should have faster internet speeds on their ADSL service.

Telstra Country Wide western NSW general manager Scott Curtin says residents and businesses will be able to access services previously unavailable to them, such as digital television through Telstra’s T-Box and Telstra’s new Digital Office Technology (DOT).

Mr Curtin said Telstra was investing in communities across the country to bring faster speeds and improved access to technology.

“”We’ve listened to local residents who want more consistent access to higher internet speeds and the opportunity to use some of our premium products,” he said.

“The existing infrastructure in the local exchange was struggling to meet the demand in Orange for fast internet at certain times. 

“From ready-made entertainment through our entertainer bundles, including high-speed broadband, home phone and 11 Foxtel on T-Box channels to business solutions through DOT, many residents in Orange can expect to see some important benefits from the upgrade.”

However, Mr Curtin said there may be some customers who still do not get the internet speeds they expect. 

“These include a customer’s distance from the exchange, their own equipment and whether or not they are served by the specific parts of the exchange that have received an upgrade,” he said.

For information on their service residents can contact Telstra BigPond on 13POND or visit the Telstra store in Orange Central shopping centre.

ROSEBANK guesthouse and art gallery opened in Millthorpe this month.

Once the historic Bank of NSW, built around 1902, the venue will combine accommodation with an art gallery.

Guests will be able to enjoy the banking chamber and residence of the old Bank of NSW or the contemporary atmosphere of the gallery and art space. 

Owners Richard and Jenny Beach purchased the building late in 2013 and have undertaken renovations.