WELL, what a summer that was.
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Perhaps it's because it was a full day longer than most, but Orange - and NSW - is not likely to forget the summer of 2019-20 in a hurry.
Of course, the defining memory of the summer just gone will be the ferocious fires that tore up and down most of the Australian east coast, spreading as far west as Lithgow and the Blue Mountains.
Despite weeks of smoke (and, regularly, dust) that clogged our air, Orange was fortunate to be spared any blazes, but we could not escape the terrible images coming in from the firegrounds.
The city also sent scores of volunteer firefighters to help battle the flames, part of an army numbering in the thousands from all corners of Australia and even across the globe that covered themselves in glory and earned the undying respect and admiration of our community.
Unluckily, the smoke has affected this year's wine crop, but to what extent, winegrowers are still unsure.
Then there was the heat.
The Bureau of Meteorology's official records show the temperature in Orange regularly maxed out in the high 30s during all three summer months, toppling the hottest December temperature on record.
At least we finally got some rain in January with 132 millimetres and February with 60 millimetres, but it was just a start and we end summer right where we began - in drought, with a falling dam and water security still the biggest challenge facing our community.
But the news was not all bad, and was not only about the weather.
January marked the first A Day on the Green event, with Cold Chisel packing out Heifer Station Wines and crowds proving themselves well-behaved while waiting for the buses and later once they arrived back in town.
Luckily, we have a few more of these events to come, with another planned later this year.
The Banjo Paterson Australian Poetry Festival again delivered, celebrating the legend as well as up-and-coming wordsmiths with a story to tell.
Gnoo Blas also attracted the crowds once again for its 60th anniversary celebrations.
It was a lot to pack in - the good, the bad and the wonderful. Who knows what autumn will bring, but we are already looking at a full calendar.
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