SIXTY-five paintings in the car, city weary and wounded, nearly no rear vision, I headed west from Sydney.
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I arrived in summer for FOOD Week, left in winter nine days later.
I had been asked to exhibit, teach and give a talk at Orange Botanic Gardens.
The generosity, hospitality and intelligent lateral-thinking Friends of the Botanic Gardens who enticed me up there was wonderful.
They had organised a vegetable orchestra for the opening.
Fifty children from the local schools, encouraged and co-ordinated by Chris Mickle, pulled out their carrot and sweet potato instruments to play 'Vegetable Jam’.
I soon found so much could be done in a short amount of time in Orange.
The information centre is so efficient, the staff at Officeworks were so helpful, the night market, produce market, the kindness at the art gallery. Everyone was helpful, wanting your experience to be good.
I swam many times in the pool and saw how wonderfully it was organised, accommodating all ages and abilities.
I even love the roundabouts.
I watched the ducks in Cook Park, like Walden's pond, and thought how wonderful someone had the foresight to preserve this Victorian gem.
Why did I feel comfortable?
Orange is the sister city to Timaru in New Zealand where I grew up. Glenn, Mr tourism, told me.
Probably similar weather and population.
I will make the pilgrimage every year and spread the word.
I’ll have to keep those autumn leaves and kindnesses in a small box and return to Sydney to weather the storm.
A small town reminds us we’re human.
Charlotte Thodey, Sydney