Orange City Council resumes with meetings this week. Tuesday’s will be a big one, with some very important development applications to be considered. Remember, council meetings are open to members of the community, and if you wish to address council on an issue you need to register. Meetings are held on the first Tuesday of the month at 7pm upstairs at council chambers.

Last Friday we had the public launch of an epergne – an ornamental centrepiece for a dining table, typically used for holding fruit or flowers – at Orange Regional Museum. This a historically significant object because of its association with an incredible and brave woman, Amelia Campbell, who, along with her husband, repelled Ben Hall’s gangs’ attack on the ‘Goimbla’ homestead east of Forbes on November 19, 1863. Hall, Gilbert and O’Meally attacked the Campbells, and even though Amelia was shot during the attack, she reloaded rifles and held a light for her husband, who eventually shot and killed O’Meally. An extraordinary women whose bravery was acknowledged by the hierarchy of the colony.

Amelia Campbell was lauded a ‘daughter of Australia, a lady that did not flinch under gunfire’. This was the only epergne associated with bushranger attacks, and the only presentation made to a woman. Her heroism was emblematic of the otherwise little recognised dangers faced by many women living on lonely farms in regional Australia

The name epergne is derived from the French word meaning ‘save’, as in the sense of saving dinner guests the trouble of passing dishes. Epergnes were used to hold condiments, fruit, side dishes, spices or dessert, and were placed in the middle of the table to save table space.

This is one of the most significant acquisitions made by a regional museum in Australia. The funding support came from the Natural Cultural Heritage account and private donations, including from the Leahey family, Kylie Winkworth, Liz Edwards, Russell and Anne Tym, and The Orange Regional Museum Fund.

Orange Harness Racing Club started their Carnival of Cups program on Sunday, with this coming Sunday the carnival’s feature Day. It is one of very few club’s to hold meetings on turf, so get out to Towac Park if you can.

This week I am meeting with the Kristina Keneally to discuss agriculture, tourism and climate change in her role as a senator in the federal government.

The Banjo Paterson Poetry Festival is fast approaching, with over a week of activities in the works, including poetry in the pub, dinners and the Mayoral poetry challenge (hopefully I will go better than I did last year), tours of historic sites associated with Banjo, and of course the Banjo Breakfast on February 17 at Banjo Paterson Park on Ophir Road.

Council is working closely with Central West Police District officers and the community on a number of fronts to try to halt some of the disturbing behaviour that is happening regarding stolen and torched cars. I would encourage people to let council and the police know of any substantive leads you may have.