In particular, I was delighted to congratulate the Orange 2017 Local Woman of the Year, Karlene Irwin, for her outstanding contribution to the Orange community.

Nominated by those who have seen firsthand how her important work has enabled people needing assistance to flourish, Karlene’s award recognises her hard work, dedication and leadership.

Along with being a mother to four children of her own, Karlene’s contributions include over 15 years of fostering children, more than 20 years working in community services and, more recently, establishing the charitable organisation ‘Pay It Forward Orange’.

This generous organisation initially began in Karlene’s garage, providing practical and dignified support through donations. With strong support and a growing number of requests, ‘Pay It Forward Orange’ has moved to much larger premises where five staff are employed along with many volunteers.

Karlene is a wonderfully deserving recipient of this award.

THE NSW’s government’s recent decision to back down on amalgamating Orange City Council with Cabonne Shire and Blayney Shire Council is a welcome ruling; however, this fight is not yet over. For without full and unwavering reversal of the plan to amalgamate, uncertainty still exists.

The byelection result was built on the fact that those in power had failed to genuinely listen to the people they represented. I have heard your concerns about forced mergers and the loss of jobs and local identity that comes with that and I intend to ensure current commitments are kept. Stay tuned.

DURING recent weeks, I, along with the Shooter Fishers and Farmers Party, have called on Emergency Services Minister Troy Grant to ensure that the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) headquarters is relocated to a rural area.

With a successful track record of relocating government departments to rural areas, including the NSW Department of Primary Industries and the NSW Firearms Registry, it is time this government did the same with the RFS.

Given the vast majority of volunteers are from rural areas and the fires are rural, it is long overdue for the RFS to move its headquarters to a country area. 

IT was fantastic to be part of the Western NSW Local Health District’s welcome for over 40 nurses and midwives about to embark on careers across the region.

Our electorate is fortunate to have so many capable and passionate health professional choose Orange as home.

We look forward to benefiting from this cohort’s contributions to our health services in the future.

I WAS humbled and honoured to be sworn in as Member for Orange on the first sitting day of Parliament for 2017 last week. I want to sincerely thank everyone who made this possible.

On February 22 I will present my Inaugural Speech in the NSW Legislative Assembly. It will be a great privilege to speak for our electorate.