THE new year has commenced with quite a flurry of activity in our city. Summer storms have freshened the parks and gardens up, and certainly helped in some areas with pasture growth for our livestock producers, but the string of extremely hot days and evenings are undoing the relief.
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Lake Canobolas and the Orange Aquatic Centre pools have been very busy, as has been the library.
It was sad to lose three wonderful citizens over the last two weeks: Tom Moody, Tom Sloane, and Kathy Mills. To all family and friends my commiserations, and Orange City Council’s gratitude for their contribution to our community. Gone but not forgotten.
Australia Day is fast approaching and it is great to have the fabulous Catriona Rowntree as our city’s ambassador. When here in 2009 she was so popular with the crowds that it was inevitable we would try and get her again. A great program of events is planned for January 26 for all to acknowledge our great multicultural country. Again, we have a big number of new citizens proud to be making their commitment to becoming Australians. (I am sure Orange will always celebrate Australia Day on January 26, and we will continue to have a citizenship ceremony.)
It is encouraging to see the police ramp up their ‘dob in a dealer’ program, and I will certainly be on their doorstep. It may take some time for police to gather all evidence required for a successful prosecution, so be patient, but I encourage anyone who has ongoing concerns to let them know.
I also encourage anyone who see any form of vandalism to contact the police and council, where all complaints are registered. If an act goes unreported it impossible to do anything about it. This is our city, and we do not want undesirables destroying our assets or peddling misfortune to our young and vulnerable. Surely someone has seen something about the low lives stealing and burning out cars?
Council is making representations to get Orange back on the stopping points for the Indian Pacific train. It’s interesting how without any consultation decisions such as these are made, but we certainly will not take it without a fight.
With the summer storms there has been a deal of damage to trees. If you notice any displaced limbs please report it to council.
Next week we have the three-day golf tournament at Duntryleague sponsored by that great local business West Orange Motors.
We also have a new Australian junior cycling champion, which just shows the strength of cycling as a sport and past-time in Orange. Well done, Ben Anderson, you have done our city proud.
In the next two months we have numerous cultural, sporting and tourism events on in our city. Please, let’s all encourage the ‘tossers’ to put their rubbish in the bin and not all over our parks, reserves and roads so that our guests leave here with memories of our city’s beauty and cleanliness.
It was fun to catch up to so many Orange people in Sydney enjoying the Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground. I took in the game against India with friends, and a Big bash double header – men’s and women’s matches – with my grandchildren.
Now it’s back into pestering government for grants and other forms of support, and seeing further work on our infrastructure, particularly roads and footpaths.
See you in Cook Park for our fantastic Australia Day celebrations.
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