Twenty-four children from Orange came up with the name Rosie for the bright green rhino statue covered in bright flowers and now installed at the Adventure Playground in north Orange, but it was lucky Ethan Dawson, 6, who came out the winner.

Ethan and his family will now enjoy a free pass to the Taronga Western Plains Zoo after naming the newest addition to the playground.

“We had a fantastic response - 700 entries,” said Orange mayor John Davis, who congratulated the young winner and handed over his prize.

“We had 24 children who came up with the name Rosie so we decided to put them all in a hat and draw out the winner,” Orange City Council’s communication officer Allan Reeder said.

Ethan’s father Murray Dawson said his son was so excited when he heard he had won the competition.

“He rang me and he was so excited I couldn’t understand what he was saying at first,” he said.

“Then he found out the mayor was presenting him with his prize and he was excited all over again.”

The life-sized statue of Rosie is one of 125 rhino artworks placed on the Taronga Wild! Rhinos’ trail between Taronga Zoo in Sydney and the Taronga Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo.

Cr Davis said anyone who visits the Adventure Playground to see the new rhino couldn’t be anything but impressed by the fantastic asset Orange has for locals and visitors.

“The playground is right alongside the road where thousands of travellers are making the trip from Sydney to visit the Dubbo Zoo,” he said.

“This playground is a great place for visitors to stop off and stretch their legs.

Ethan and his family will now enjoy a trip to the Dubbo Zoo with bike hire included.