The Orange Ex-Services Club was the scene of one of the all-time best musical concerts held in Orange since the 1960s.

The club was sold out for over 29 band members from various Orange bands in the golden era of rock bands. The idea was started by John Kich (Orange), and Billy Eyles (formerly Orange).

They were instrumental in getting the likes of Jeff Cartwright, Albert Calvo, Robert Bartlett (just to name a few) together and they have spent months organising what become a sell-out concert 'The Old Rockers of Orange'.

It was fantastic to see many of the faces I have not seen for nearly 45 years, with band members reuniting for the first time (in some cases) in that period - they brought the house down.

I am sure there were many tired, sore, but extremely happy older rockers on Sunday. A big thank you to the organisers, all the musos and everyone who attended the sold out concert. I am sure everyone will be hoping they do it again, please!

At the recent tidy town awards Orange was successful in five areas, which highlights the diversity of activities that volunteers are involved in Orange.

The Ploughmans Wetlands Group, Orange Rotary, The Banjo Paterson Festival, The Hospital Auxillary, re-development of the old Carrington Hotel and the winner of the city with a population over 20,000. Many thanks to our hard working tidy towns committee.

Congratulations to Mardi Alpin for winning the prestigious Margaret Corbett award at the recent NSW State Natball awards, truly well deserved. Also our Youth of the Month was Atahlia Sutherland, a very talented young lady who has sung on top of the Harbour Bridge for Australia Day - a great ambassador for our city.

The Orange Mountain Biking Club held the State Championships at the Lake Canobolas-Mount Canobolas area over the weekend and it was a huge success with riders from all over the state in Orange with family and friends.

I witnessed the closest of results on Sunday with two young men only separated by a quarter of a wheel after riding many kilometres for approximately an hour-and-a-half.

This family sport is certainly growing at a rapid rate, and the club is attracting a number of events which, of course, stimulates the local economy in many ways.

Friday night at Duntryleague there was the launch of Elisabeth Edwards book 'Wearing the Green, the Daltons and the Irish Cause'.

This is a must read to fully appreciate just how significant the Daltons were in the development of Orange, and the legacy we still enjoy; Duntryleague mansion, several of Orange's signature homes (Mena, Galbally, Emily, Knocklong, to name but a few).

To finish up, I must say how honoured I was to open the new-look Dalton Brothers Store on Saturday.

The store commenced back in the 1960s and has been the iconic shopping mecca of Orange for well over 150 years (through several owners and name changes).

When it closed there was certainly a great deal of concern to the residents of Orange. But then came along a willing developer, who could see the potential in Orange retail, and who have invested to refurbish the store maintaining some of the original front and features of heritage significance inside what is now a modern centre.