Cook Park was a picture on Sunday and it was great to have the fountain and duck ponds operational after both were filled with bore water.

A very large crowd turned out for the festivities and I thank again all the wonderful volunteers that give their time for so many to enjoy.

This year we had 39 folk undertake their Australian citizenship - representing over 10 different countries.

Whilst we have some who can always find fault with Orange and events put on by volunteers it is a breath of fresh air to speak to so many people who become Australian citizens and have chosen Orange as their home to work and raise their families.

They are full of praise for what Orange has to offer and grateful for the welcome and support they receive from various voluntary organisations.

Our Australian Day ambassador David Hall really encapsulated what Orange is as a community and what we have to offer.

In fact, David spent three days here in Orange experiencing our history, culture and sense of community.

Orange's Australian Day awards were attended by a very large crowd. Although there can only be one winner in each category, the number of nominations were high and all were worthy; a big thank you to all the nominees for your contribution to our community.

Citizen of the Year: Dr Bernie Huxtable; Young Citizen of the year: Ella Parry-Jones; Business Philanthropy: Tim and Elisha Leahey (Tony Leahey Ford); Community Event of the Year: Orange Old Rockers (John Kich, Robert Bartlett and Alan Brown); Community Group of the Year: Orange Push for Palliative; Local Legends: Dick and Marie Middleton.

Thank you to the Orange Male Choir, Canobolas Pipe Band, Orange City Brass Band ,our two wonderful dance schools and GnooBlas classic car club.

Also thank you to the other stall holders, and all groups that provided entertainment, food and drinks, and especially the mighty Lions Club who once again served hundreds of breakfasts.

The Aquatic Centre had a number of folk who took advantage of the free admission. The storm that hit early in the afternoon sent us all packing out of Cook Park, but fortunately all proceeding had finished and we had all but packed up and cleaned up; although I got home looking like a drowned water rat!

Later in the day I meet a number of visitors to Orange for the Australia Day weekend and they could not get over how fresh and green it looked (marvellous what a difference a few days and a bit of rain makes), let's hope the rain events continue and our creeks, dams and storages improve.

A Day On The Green is on this weekend at Heifer Station winery, and it'll be be spectacular with 10,000 patrons expected to enjoy Jimmy Barnes and Cold Chisel.

I visited the site over the weekend and the rain had really transformed the landscape compared to what it was a fortnight ago.

Let's hope we see a clean up of all the shopping trolleys that grace all parts of our city. The sooner we see all outlets having a use-deposit scheme the better.

I see it as the only solution, ongoing promises of outlets collecting up trolleys around Orange is farcical.

The last week alone I counted over 50 ranging from the railway station, Waratahs, Gardiner Road, Northern Distributor and all points in between. I will be calling for a meeting with the various outlets I can assure you; they are dangerous in many of the places where they are left and just make the place look shabby!

It just amazes me how some folk can be so unconcerning and lack in community pride.

Please take care around Orange driving this week (especially around schools) with the first school week for 2020 starting and increased activity on our streets and roads.

Water is still our number one priority at the moment and we believe some welcomed announcements will be made soon. I am also giving a paper at a Regional Development forum on community water reform later in the week at Dubbo.

It has been Australia's lost summer. Drought, hail, floods and, worst of all, bushfires have ravaged communities all over the nation. But the selfless actions of friends, family, neighbours, strangers, local groups and volunteer organisations have inspired us and strengthened the bonds of community. Please join us in saying thanks to the heroes of the home front by sharing your stories of gratitude. To salute a person or a group, please use the form below.