ON July 21 a good few years ago snow is falling in Orange and the Sydney Morning Herald that day reports: ‘Transport Minister Bruxner fixes taxi fares at sixpence a mile’, the monthly meeting of the District Lodges of Good Templars decides to vigorously oppose hotels being allowed to trade after 6pm, the King is driven in a military and police escorted motorcade to the Arc de Triomphe to place a wreath on the tomb of the Unknown Soldier and Don Bradman gets set for the fourth Test against England.
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But of more importance, yours truly was born in Mena private hospital in Kite Street, formerly an 1870s house originally named Killarney and built by city pioneer James Dalton for his son Thomas Garrett Dalton, who was Orange mayor from 1903 to 1905.
He also managed the family retail business in Summer Street that was sold in 1928 and since then has operated as Western Stores, Farmers, Grace Bros and now Myer.
When Thomas Garrett Dalton died, Killarney was sold, became a private hospital and renamed Mena but was sold again in the 1940s and turned into residential flats.
Commercial photographer Scott Gilbank bought Mena 12 years ago and began the long and meticulous restoration to bring it back to original condition, turning it into a showpiece and one of the best heritage homes in Orange.
He believes all his years of hard work have been worthwhile and says he’s really only a caretaker, a temporary custodian, of a house that belongs to the community.
Well, as another year flies by, it was time to have a closer look at my esteemed birthplace that’s nothing like it was when a private hospital.
Standing on the footpath and deciding whether to knock on the door I tell a young bloke walking by: “I was born in there…”
“Were ya,” he says in an unimpressed voice.
But, on second thoughts, it’s probably better never to go back. So, looking forward instead, it was off to the pub.
Maybe next year.
High-speed train a no-no
THIS week’s plan for a high-speed train is not new. One of the proposals put forward a few years ago was between Sydney and Canberra, through Goulburn.
But the then mayor of Mulwaree Shire Paul Stephenson warned against the train because he reckoned it would frighten sheep and cattle.
He said he could have a mob rounded up and ready to go through a gate and then if a train hurtled by at 350kmh, they’d take off so fast he wouldn’t see them again.
He reckoned people hadn’t thought through the smaller detail for a fast train because they were caught up in the euphoria without knowing what it was all going to mean.
Anyway, Orange doesn’t have to worry because we’re not on the latest proposed route through Albury and Wagga.
People here won’t even carry on the fight to ensure we keep our out-dated XPT, which is almost worn out and probably won’t be replaced unless someone bangs on a few government doors.
Want your receipt?
CAN anyone explain why we’re asked at checkouts whether we want the receipt? It’s not only in the supermarkets but petrol stations as well. Is it to save them paper or to stop you from checking the totals.
It’s just one of those screwy little things that happen in Orange.
