The breakfast was provided with funding from Orange City Council and  members of the Orange CWA branch were up very early to ensure everything was ready as the dawn service concluded.

Orange CWA Branch president Elizabeth Lynch said the ladies enthusiastically embraced the task of providing breakfast.

“I know we are often seen as providing the tea and scones, but today is absolutely appropriate, as it is an opportunity for us to play our part on a very important day, and to invite people in, as many have not been in this hall before,” she said.

“When council asked us to help out we were very happy to oblige.

“We wanted to make sure people felt as welcome as possible with a nice warm place and some breakfast.”

Mrs Lynch, who lives several kilometres out of Orange, had to have an early start to rally her CWA troops.

“I was up at 3am,” she said.

“But what was absolutely lovely on the drive in to Orange was to see all the lights of the cars coming out from the properties and joining in a line to come in to Orange in the dark.”

Cr Neil Jones, who put the proposal to council, said he was thrilled with the response.

“It is a wonderful turn-out and the ladies of the CWA are to be congratulated,” he said.

Cr Neil Jones who put the proposal to council to support a breakfast in the CWA Hall said he was very pleased with the response.

“It’s fantastic to see how many people have filled the hall. Its a day when people want to talk and share their stories,” he said.

“I think initially the ladies wondered whether they would get many, but they have had a great response.

“I would like to think it was possible to repeat this again next year.”

janice.harris@fairfaxmedia.com.au