However when it comes to nominating local citizens, organisations and events to be honoured on Australia Day, it seems Orange residents are apathetic.

The city has an Australia Day committee who works hard all year to co-ordinate the event, and would understandably be disappointed there is just one nomination to cover all the categories this year.

But this isn’t the first time there has been a plea to the people of Orange to put forward the name of an individual or organisation for nomination with limited responses over the last few years compared to other towns and cities.

Indeed last year the committee simplified the nomination process in an effort to make it easier and hopefully attract more nominations.

So what does this tell us about Orange’s attitude to Australia Day?

Is it simply that we want to have a day off work, to get together with family and friends in the park.

The sad thing about only one person being nominated for this year’s awards so far is that Orange has thousands of people who volunteer their time every week in this city to improve the quality of life for others.

From the people who work on the food vans during all kinds of weather, to the hundreds of hospital volunteers, to grandparents who contribute to school reading programs, or members of service clubs, there is a diverse range of people of all ages who make an enormous contribution to this community.

Perhaps it is that in their volunteer service, these people are humble and are perfectly happy to contribute to their community without the accolades.

Orange is a city which boasts several residents who have been acknowledged as outstanding Australians with national awards each year.

So why is it that at the grass roots level we are reluctant to put forward a nominee for our local awards.

Perhaps with just a short time frame left for people to nominate someone they believe would be a worthy recipient of a local Australia Day award, residents will spring into action.