The couple of weeks or so has been relatively quiet with many folk taking a well deserved break after the Christmas-New Year helter smelter.
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I had some time in Tasmania and visited mountain biking facilities at Derby and Maydena.
The development of facilities is drawing national and international visitors for either biking, bushwalking or just camping.
They generate employment, economic benefit for surrounding communities, and much-needed funding for sustainable conservation of national park areas.
Another area of interest was the world-famous Beaconsfield. All mining operations have ceased, but the development of its mine and heritage centre has to be seen to be believed.
It’s probably one of the best educational mine and heritage centres I have visited and it’s generating incredible tourist dollars.
It is a must that we become more pro-active with our neighbouring councils in promoting our rich mining history, particularly gold.
AUSTRALIA DAY ACTIVITIES
AUSTRALIA Day planning is well under way with Orange’s activities in beautiful Cook Park.
The park is looking good at the moment and we are confident at this stage that the restoration work on the conservatory will be finished by Friday.
The flying foxes have returned, and certainly cause concern, but in reality there’s little that can be done to remove them. Hundreds of thousands have been spent where much larger colonies have roosted with little success.
They will move on and we really can only tell folk to avoid handling them, and staff will monitor the park.
FAREWELL TO BILL MARSHALL
A WONDERFUL citizen, a father, grandfather, a great grandfather and long-retired, long-serving Orange City Council executive.
A true statesman whose genial nature was appreciated by all that worked with him, knew him, and knew of him.
His legacy will long live on in Orange but I will personally miss that casual meeting at various places and his always kind words of support and encouragement.
To all of his family and friends our deepest sympathy and condolences on a life well lived and much admired.
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
THE revised plans for the Myer building are on display and we hope that the near future will see agreement to a development of this key site.
There are also still some vacancies on some of the council’s advisory committees so I would encourage all to give it some thought.
Fast approaching is our Banjo Paterson Festival in February and Food and Wine festival activities are being promoted and booked, and it’s only a week or so until school returns.
CITY FULL OF GOOD SPORTS
ORANGE has hosted visitors from all over for various sporting events including the under-15s boys cricket carnival which included a team from New Zealand, diving championships this week, and the Duntryleague Mercedes Benz Golf Classic last weekend. These events have brought hundreds of visitors to our beautiful city, which results in boosts for local businesses.