I’ve observed many folk in and around Orange taking photos of blossoming trees and shrubs.

On that note, a small gathering occurred on Friday evening as Orange City Council acknowledged 30 years since the official opening of the botanic gardens as our bicentenary project in 1988. How time flies.

The Friends of the Botanic Gardens donated a beautiful seat built around a tree, set on a pavement that incorporates a compass.

This is in front of the main building and is the ideal spot to begin a discovery of the gardens.

Thanks to former mayor and long-term supporter of the gardens Dick Niven for cutting the ribbon.

Last week also saw the announcement of the winners of this year’s Orange Wine Show.

Over 15 categories and several hundred entries highlighted how the wine industry has become an integral part of Orange’s economic mix.

Of course this event heralds the beginning of the Orange Wine Festival. I believe most events are fully booked, and I am looking forward to catching up to a large group of visiting friends for one of the events next Saturday.

The festival will then lead us into the Australian National Field Days, a premier event that has been staged every year since the 1950s. Australia’s longest continually-running field days is very much a key event on the region’s calendar.

It again highlights the mixture of events which bring visitors: sport, food and wine, heritage/history, gardens, and yes, snow.

We recently also had a citizenship ceremony that saw a number of residents become proud Australians. Thank you councillors McRae, Turner and Previtera for attending, as this means much to the participants, their family and friends.

Congratulations to those who have made Orange their home and build on our proud place of multiculturalism.

Orange also welcomed the latest cohort of young trainee doctors last week through the University of Sydney’s rural program.

We welcome them and hope they enjoy the experience so much that on graduating they may return to practicing in rural areas .

Headspace launched further murals in Peisley Street and last Friday councillor Jason Hamling, in conjunction with the Orange cricket fraternity, accepted state funding and the handover over of the reversible site screens at Wade Park.

The Rural Investment Corporation has settled on accommodation for its 30-odd staff, and recruitment is under way. I met with the acting CEO last week and have been told the board will meet in Orange next week.

To all the students in Orange starting Higher School Certificate exams – my best wishes and thoughts.