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Music lovers are in for a treat this Saturday, with the 2025 Orange Chamber Music Festival’s free community event, Cultured, returning to Civic Southcourt. Cultured begins 10am on Saturday, March 8, at the Orange City Library with an interactive performance for all ages by harpist Paul Nicolaou. Then at 11am, the Cultured Youth Orchestra and the Wula Gurray Children’s Choir will perform an Australian-themed program at the Orange Civic Theatre. Cultured wraps up at 2pm, with the Australian Chamber Orchestra presenting a specially curated performance at Orange Regional Gallery. It’s a rare chance to experience world-class classical musicians in an informal setting as well as our own up-and-coming musical talent.
Were you the lucky winner of our February ‘Let’s Feast’ giveaway? No? Well, you still have another chance as we will be awarding another reader a $75 voucher in March to spend at your ‘Let’s Feast’ venue of choice. This week ‘Let’s Feast’ showcases a personal favourite of mine, PFC Orange, who makes some truly delicious fried chicken! Take a look for yourself at what they have to offer on pages 22–23.
Speaking of food, have you been enjoying the recipes and stories from Emily Thompson’s ‘Tales from my Mother’s Kitchen’? We all love Emily’s written contributions here at OC Life and lately, we have been lucky enough to be the beneficiaries of her baking too! So as I write this on Tuesday afternoon, I’m enjoying a little tasty nostalgia in the form of fresh-baked Honey Jumbles. You will find Emily’s recipe on page 10 and know that it has the stamp of approval from the OC Life team!
The United Nations International Women’s Year in 1975 saw the start of significant change in the lives of women throughout the world. Half a century on, Helen Haynes and Marlene Farrell OAM reflect on the legacy of that year in Orange, the gains made in the fight for gender equality and how much is still to be done.
The United Nations had designated 1975 as International Women’s Year and in support, the Australian Government under Gough Whitlam had appointed Elizabeth Reid to distribute some $3 million in funding to events and projects to appropriately mark the year.
On March 4, 1975, representatives of more than a dozen Orange-based women’s groups, organisations and other individuals attended a meeting called by Orange Mayor Ronald Thomas to discuss the objectives and needs of local women.
“We were overwhelmed, weren’t we? We just weren’t expecting it. The hall was full,” recalls Marlene Farrell OAM, of the meeting held in the Holy Trinity Church Hall that evening.
“It was the atmosphere,” adds Helen Haynes. “Everyone was excited. There was a real buzz, to put it colloquially, people thought something was going to happen. People were inspired, you could feel it.”
This optimism, Marlene said, was fuelled by the many changes that had been brought in by the Whitlam Government in 1974, especially extending the adult minimum wage to include women workers for the first time.
“It was equal pay for equal work,” says Marlene. “We had an orchard, and the thing that bugged me was that the women, our pickers and packers only got a percentage of the male wage and every
International Women’s Year – 50 years on
time you wanted to put it up, the world would fall in.
“And then [Whitlam] legislated for a single parents pension, but only for women. He provided funding for health services, for women’s crisis centres… he removed the restrictions on the oral contraception pill, which gave women a lot of freedom and there was free education, again a big thing for women.
“The things he did sort of encouraged us in International Women’s Year here… lots of women today really don’t know how much better off they are compared to 1975.”
Out of that initial meeting at the Holy Trinity Church Hall a committee was formed to pursue a number of projects, including the need for better child care, establishing a women’s and children’s shelter and the appointment of a female police officer.
“There was no child care at all available in Orange in 1975,” says Marlene, adding that the establishment of an occasional childcare centre was one of the big wins for Orange to come out of International Women’s Year.
“It only came about because the Methodist Church provided us with their hall in Anson Street, and the two Lions clubs did all the renovations, they were very generous,” she says. “And believe it or not, it was staffed by volunteers! That grew and then Council gave us premises in Kite Street, which is still there… So that’s still going 50 years later.”
By the end of 1975, Helen and Marlene say they all realised that the work of the International Women’s Year committee was far from done.
“We’d sort of opened a Pandora’s box and you couldn’t put the lid back on,” says Marlene. “So then we formed the
Women’s Liaison and Action Group and pursued all these issues that have come up until 1979. By then we felt that the women’s movement had grown enough and women had enough confidence and had found their voice and they didn’t need us anymore.”
Although the group disbanded, Marlene and Helen continued their advocacy for women, both going into local government along with serving on various other committees over the years.
Looking back ahead of the 50 year anniversary, Helen admits she did feel somewhat disheartened to realise women are still impacted by so many of the same issues as in 1975
“There’s still the same problems, the same issues — domestic violence, housing shortages, still child care needs, there’s not always equal opportunity in employment,” Helen says.
“There is still a glass ceiling, it’s a bit lower, but it’s still there,” adds Marlene, who says it can be easy to overlook what has improved over the past five decades.
“There is more equal opportunity – it’s not there yet — but women certainly have a lot more opportunity for education and employment opportunities for women have exploded,” she says.
“I’m so happy when you see a woman astronaut, or you see the governor of the reserve bank is a woman. All the women now in the medical professions and legal professions, and all the trades; who would have thought you would have women carpenters, electricians and plumbers… so many doors have been opened for women.
“And I think the big thing with the kids now growing up is they accept equality much more.”
“Perhaps,” says Helen, “we should be a little more optimistic.”
A day in the life of: MUSICIAN Megan W ds
7:00 am (roughly)- I get up with my tiny humans. I spend about 90 minutes doing the mum prep- breakfast, lunches, bags, uniforms, teeth and hair, but there’s actually been no yelling in the mornings since we took technology off the kids. We have happier, calmer little people and everyone’s doing better.
8:30 am- Everyone gets out the door and I drop the the kids off at school and transition.
9:00 am- I get back into town. I try and start each morning with a coffee, and some form of mind-clearing exercise, which is a fairly new routine for me. So, whether it’s going to the gym and walking on the treadmill or a stroll around Duntryleague with a friend. It keeps my mental health in check and it just helps, so I try not to skip any days.
10:00 am- Honestly, at this point I’ll try and grab another coffee before I start work. At the moment I’m loving Academy Coffee or The Agrestic Grocer, and both are nice and close. Coffee is another fairly new habit for me, but with two kids and a job where I work late, it’s become necessary.
10:15 am- For the last few years I’ve been teaching guitar in schools, and it was an incredibly fun privilege. However, this year I’m focusing more on my songwriting and performing, and so I’ve cut back on teaching. But I still get to volunteer at my children’s school! So other parents might go in for reading or cooking lessons, but I get to go in and do music with them which is a whole load of fun.
11:30 am- I start my morning work. This can involve a quick check/update of social media, because I love engaging with the people who love my music and support me. It’s a great way to keep everyone up to date with performances and also, it’s important to try and stay on
people’s radars while I battle this week’s new algorithm.
Another important aspect of my day is songwriting. There are so many incredibly talented musos out there, but the difference between making a career out of it and doing it as a side hobby is creating new, original music and just putting in the hours needed to make sure it’s great.
During the day I’ll pop in and out of household chores as well, with two young children there’s always washing to do and a house to maintain. Unlike most creatives who thrive in chaos, I work better in a calm organised environment so I try to stay on top of it!
3:00 pm- It’s the crazy afternoon school pick up, and I’ll often stay for a while as the kids play and I get to chat with the other parents. It’s nice to have an amazing school community like ours and I love being connected to the other families.
4:30 pm- Time for a soundcheck for tonight’s performance! I fiddle with a few things, but walk away feeling ready and full of anticipation for a great night. I’ll also try and eat at some point- it can be hard keeping a healthy schedule when you’re busy performing.
7:30 pm- Arrive at the venue, try and stay hydrated, and warm up my vocal cords!
8:30pm- It’s time to hit the stage. I’m in my element, and I feel alive when I sing. I’m so grateful to live in this incredible community where I’m lucky to have not only a great fan base, but just so many people who enjoy the live music scene and will come out to hear me play.
11:30 pm- Pack up, try and come down from the most incredible performance high and head home to sleep, ready to do it all over again tomorrow!
words by EMILY THOMPSON | photo by Angus Mckern Photography
Clifton Grove Ophir RFS Clean Up Australia Day
— BY EMILY THOMPSON —
On Sunday 23rd of February the dedicated volunteers of the Clifton Grove/Ophir RFS gathered together to clean up their local area. Armed with bags, gloves and community spirit they removed excess rubbish from Banjo Patterson Park, the Ophir picnic area and the fire shed.
It was a successful day, with 6 trailer/Ute loads of rubbish collected over the morning. Among the clean up were items such as old chairs, car tyres and a large amount of old wire and steel as well as over 20 bags of general rubbish.
This community centric branch of the RFS participates in Clean Up Australia Day annually, as cleaning up the area not only assists in fire prevention, but acts as a tremendously useful community service. It also helps provide visibility to the local community; event organiser John Eyles explains.
The brigade has 30 members, out of 80 homesteads within the area, which is a fantastic effort. Training is held on the last Sunday of each month at the shed located at The Billabong, and new members are always welcome. You can contact them via their Facebook page.
ORANGE PRODUCE MARKETS
Orange’s Caitlin Mackenzie among first King’s Scouts in 73 years
Orange’s Caitlin Mackenzie has made scouting history, being among the state’s first 21 King’s Scouts in more than seven decades.
Caitlin was presented with the prestigious award by Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC KC, Governor of New South Wales and Chief Scout of NSW at a recent ceremony at Government House in Sydney.
Formerly the Queen’s Scout Award, the honour was renamed in September after His Majesty, King Charles III, confirmed his Patronage of the Scout Association of Australia.
The King’s Scout Award is the peak award for Venturer Scouts. To achieve it, a Venturer Scout must complete achievements across a broad range of disciplines, including Outdoor Adventure Skills (such as camping, hiking, paddling or abseiling), Special Interest
Area projects (such as environment, STEM, arts and literature, community), leadership courses, as well as plan a significant, multi-day Adventurous Journey.
For 18-year-old Caitlin, from 3rd Orange Scout Group, this involved completing a four-day canoe trip from Wellington to Dubbo.
“I chose to do a canoe trip because I had done a hike for my Grey Wolf Award (Cub Scout peak award) and a bike journey for my Australian Scout Award (Scout peak award), and I wanted to do something different and challenging,” she said.
Joining Caitlin on her canoe adventure were Claire, Jasmine, Georgia, Flynn, Balian and Kaleb from the 3rd Orange Scout Group and Seb from the 2nd Orange Scout Group.
“We were all surprised at how physically challenging it was, but also how boring it could be at times. We
were also shocked about the amount of rubbish in the river – one of the items we found was an inflatable turtle, which we adopted as our mascot for the remainder of the journey,” Caitlin said.
“We collected as much rubbish as possible and put it in the bins at our overnight stops.”
From Wellington, the team camped the first night at Ponto Falls, the second just downstream from Brilbral Reserve, and the third at Butlers Falls before finishing in Dubbo.
“We had some memorable stops, including afternoon tea at a slide someone had put on the riverbank, and several rope swings throughout the second and third days,” Caitlin said.
The King’s Scout Award is a significant achievement for a young person within Scouting, often taking three to four years to complete, Scouts NSW Deputy Chief Commissioner Niamh Hitchman said.
Designed to be challenging and
encouraging, the award broadens the interests and knowledge of participating Venturer Scouts in leadership, resilience, goal setting and planning.
“For our Scouts, a peak award is representative of so much more than just earning a uniform badge and a special certificate – they are a reflection of countless hours of personal development and contributions to the community,” Ms Hitchman said.
“It’s incredible to watch these teenagers challenge themselves beyond stereotypical limitations. They are hiking unaccompanied by adults in our national parks, stepping up into major leadership roles, learning how to conduct in-depth risk assessments – the list of their achievements is endless!
“My sincere congratulations to the recipients on their awards, and my thanks to those families, friends and Scouting members, who helped support them along the way.”
Caitlin Mackenzie with her patrol
Caitlin Mackenzie being presented with her award by Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC KC, Governor of New South Wales
Cadia Community Partnerships Program Drives Mental Health Support with $250,000 for Lifeline Central West Orange Fit-Out
– Join Us to Tee O for a Cause at the Charity Golf Day!
Lifeline Central West (LLCW) is thrilled to announce a generous $250,000 funding contribution from Newmont Cadia towards the highly anticipated Orange LLCW Office Fit-Out at 27 Sale St, Orange—a $1.1M expansion that will enhance crisis support, counselling, and training services across the region.
With construction significantly closer to commencement, LLCW is calling on the entire Central West community to join the effort and help bridge the final funding gap by participating in the upcoming LLCW Charity Golf Day on Friday, 14 March 2025, at The Wentworth Orange.
A Community-Driven Fundraiser: Tee Off to Save Lives!
The LLCW Charity Golf Day is an exciting opportunity for businesses, community members, and corporate teams to enjoy a fun day of golf while supporting a life-changing cause.
Funds raised will directly contribute to completing the Orange Fit-Out, allowing LLCW to provide expanded mental health support for individuals and families in crisis while strengthening community resilience.
EVENT DETAILS:
WHERE: The Wentworth Orange
WHEN: Friday, 14 March 2025
12PM Lunch | 1PM Shotgun Start
FORMAT: Four-Person Ambrose Team Event
EXTRAS: Prizes, raffles, networking, and post-game finger food
How You Can Get Involved
Register a team – Gather your colleagues, clients, or friends for a fun and competitive day on the green.
Sponsor a hole – Showcase your business with premium branding opportunities while backing a vital mental health initiative.
Make a donation – Can’t attend? You can still make a difference by contributing to this essential community project.
Join Us in Making a Difference!
With just one month to go, this is a rare and exciting opportunity to play a part in expanding lifesaving mental health services in Orange.
Sign up now: https://events.humanitix.com/lifelinecentral-west-charity-golf-day
For sponsorship inquiries, contact: Dayle Lummis at dlummis@lifelinecentralwest.org.au or call 0475 569 660. Together, we can ensure that no one has to face their darkest moments alone.
Purpose of the Code Sec 15Addresses power imbalances between parties
No early execution Sec 23Prohibition from execution within initial 14 days
Opt out of disclosure Sec 23/24Franchisees can opt out where already held
Record keeping Sec 37 Franchisors must keep for 6 years
Legal costs Sec 38Reasonable, genuine and documented
Restraint of trade Sec 42Exclusions to effectiveness have been broadend
Compensation early terminationSec 43 Some stock etc in certain circumstances
Right to reasonable returnSec 44Franchisees must have reasonable prospects or return
Simplified termination Sec 57 Easier termination for certain issues such as bankruptcies etc
Disclosure former franchisee details Sec 63 Some details require consent
Disclosure documents
for
A Winning Partnership for Mental Health
The support from Newmont marks a major milestone in LLCW’s mission to expand and enhance essential mental health services, ensuring that no one in the Central West faces their darkest moments alone.
QUOTE FROM LLCW CEO
STEPHANIE ROBINSON
“We are incredibly grateful to Newmont Cadia for their commitment to our community by investing in this project. Their funding ensures long-term, sustainable support for those who need it most and strengthens overall well-being and resilience from within. This expansion will allow us to create more crisis support rooms, training spaces, and private counselling areas. However, we still need additional support to reach our final funding goal—and that’s where the Charity Golf Day comes in!”
QUOTE FROM NEWMONT CADIA GENERAL MANAGER, LORI DOUGLAS
“Lifeline Central West provides critical services across the region with demand for these services continuing to grow over the past few years. Through Newmont’s Cadia Legacy Fund, we are pleased to support the expansion of Lifeline’s facilities, which will enhance access to mental health services for the Central West community.”
Orange City Council is inviting owners of heritage buildings within the local government area to apply for the Local Heritage Assistance Fund 2025/2026.
The Local Heritage Assistance Fund is a joint program of Orange City Council and the NSW Office of Environment & Heritage. Projects should involve the repair, conservation or re-instatement of missing items on heritage buildings. This may include fences, verandas and decorative detail.
Copies of the Local Heritage Assistance Fund Guidelines and Application Form can be obtained by telephoning 6393 8120 or via email arussell@orange.nsw.gov.au or from Council’s website www.orange.nsw.gov.au/ heritage-support.
Completed application forms should be received by the General Manager, Orange City Council, PO Box 35, Orange NSW 2800 no later than 4pm on Friday 14 March 2025.
www.orange.nsw.gov.au
Find us on social media @ Orange City Council
TALES FROM MY MOTHER’S KITCHEN with EMILY THOMPSON
Honey Jumbles.
I, like everybody else, developed some strange hobbies during COVID. One of my amazing friends still bakes sourdough, another one became obsessed with indoor plants and now her loungeroom looks like Thomson’s Garden Centre. My husband and I became beekeepers. There is something so incredible about watching bees create honeycomb and fill it with honey, and our hive have a very symbiotic relationship with our fruit trees and veggie patch. The only question is of course, what to do with all that honey? For me there was only ever one use for it.
Because there’s absolutely nothing like the smell of freshly baked honey jumbles wafting through the house. They almost smell like gingerbread, but with a softer spice. I remember years of coming home after school to a tray of these beautiful biscuits, half iced with glossy white, the other half in the softest baby pink. This is still my favourite colour and is a direct result of these afternoons!
This recipe is di erent to any I’ve ever found online, and that’s the whole point of passing down recipes to the next generation- these aren’t googled and untested AI garbage, these have been baked over and over again so the recipe itself is trustworthy and delightful.
My ability to bake these came in handy when Arnott’s discontinued theirs a few years ago, as they were my husband’s absolute favourite. Now, whenever I turn up with a box of these, most people gasp and dive straight into nostalgia. Even my mother-in-law begrudgingly admits they are divine!
These are pretty easy to make, but there’s a couple of tricks to perfect honey jumbles. Adjust the milk amount in the dough to make it a firm dough- you don’t want it too runny! And chill the dough until it’s cold and firm, so it rolls out properly. The last tip is don’t overbeat the egg whites- you’re making royal icing, not meringue.
Ingredients: BISCUIT INGREDIENTS:
75g salted butter, cubed
1/2 cup of honey
1/2 cup of treacle
1 1/2 cups of plain flour
1/2 tsp bicarb soda
2 1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1 tbsp milk
ICING
1 large egg white
1 to 1 1/2 cups icing sugar
1 tsp fresh lemon juice
Red food colouring
METHOD:
1) preheat oven to 160° C. Line 2 baking trays with baking paper
2) melt butter, honey and treacle together, allow to cool for 5 minutes
3) sift together flour, bicarb, ginger, cinnamon and nutmeg, pour in butter/ honey mixture.
4) mix gently, add milk. Stir until it forms a tacky dough.
5) place into a plastic bag, place into refrigerator to cool for an hour to firm up.
6) roll sections of cooled dough into 1.5 cm thick logs, cut into 7cm lengths. Place lengths onto baking tray, flatten slightly and round the edges into an oval shape.
7) bake in oven for 9 mins, allow to cool completely on trays.
Icing:
1) mix egg whites until frothy and white
2) slowly sift in icing sugar, and lemon juice until smooth, shiny and slightly runny
3) dip half the biscuits in the icing, then add 2 drops of red food colouring to the remaining icing and mix to a soft pink. Dip the remaining biscuits in. Set aside to set for an hour.
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The Orange Art Society Society has added a twist to its annual figurative art competition, encouraging artists to step out of their comfort zones.
The Orange Art Society Prize competition offers a $1,000 first prize for works of figurative art. Work can be in any medium, but the rules of the prize dictate that it must be a depiction of the human form.
But this year’s competition has an added twist with
the 2025 theme being “Movement”.
The idea is to encourage artists to move away from static portraits, which they may be more comfortable with, says Orange Art Society president David Mason.
“In previous years, people were doing portraits that were actually figurative, but it wasn’t really what we were after,” David said.
“This is a way of inspiring people to try something different. It can be abstract or quite realistic and in any medium, it doesn’t matter really.”
The 2025 Orange Art Society Prize offers a $1,000 first prize and $500 second prize. Judging will be done by Sarah Randall of the Orange Regional Gallery.
Entries are due at the Orange Art Society, 22 Sale Street, between March 24–28 2025.
The exhibition will be open for visitors from March 31 to April 25, with the official opening and presentation taking place on Sunday, April 6.
For more information and entry forms, visit: orangeartsociety.com.au
For a fully interactive digital experience go to www.orangecitylife.com.au
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K sty Ev s named finalist for NSW Regional Woman of the Year
Local lawyer Kirsty Evans, who led efforts to provide pro bono legal advice to the Molong community in the wake of the devastating floods of 2022, has been named a finalist at the NSW Women of the Year Awards.
Kirsty, who is a director of the law firm Cheney Suthers, is finalist in the NSW Regional Woman of the Year category. She is being recognised for her phenomenal effort and advocacy following the terrible flooding in Molong in November 2022. Kirsty dedicated over 250 hours helping 12 business owners, delivering over $100,000 in legal services pro bono.
Her advocacy resulted in claims that were originally denied by insurers being overturned, with insurers partially accepting liability. Through her leadership,
approximately $1 million has been returned to the community.
In 2024, Kirsty presented evidence at the Parliamentary Inquiry into insurers’ responses to 2022 major flood claims, exposing systemic failures and advocating for better practices. The inquiry adopted several of Kirsty’s findings in its recommendations.
The Women of the Year Awards ceremony is the centrepiece event of NSW Women’s Week 2025, a week-long celebration from March 2–8. The Awards are the NSW Government’s way of shining the light on the incredible talent and extraordinary women and girls from across our state.
Kirsty is one of thirty finalists for this year’s awards from over 500 nominations. The winners will be revealed at an award ceremony at the International Convention Centre in Sydney today (Thursday, March 6).
Nopartyties,nopartylines.
Just community-led consultation, participationandsolutions.Unlikethe majorparties,myapproachistodo things with thecommunity—notto them.
Ibelievepoliticsshouldworkfor people,notparties.
Areyoureadyto makeyourvoice heard?
Nashdale CWA celebrates International Women’s Day with a Focus on Women’s Health
In celebration of International Women’s Day, the Nashdale Country Women’s Association (CWA) is again hosting a free event dedicated to empowering locals with knowledge about their health. This year’s theme, Accelerate Action for Gender Equality, will set the stage for an evening of insightful discussions led by local specialists, shining a light on two critical aspects of women’s wellbeing: skin health and menopause.
Attendees will hear from two local doctors who will share their valuable insights into key health topics.
The Skin: Our Largest Organ –Presented by Dr Michelle McRae
Dermatologist Dr Michelle McRae will delve into the importance of skincare, the natural aging process, and the impact of ‘dermatoporosis’—a condition that leads to chronic skin fragility. She will discuss how skin health extends beyond aesthetics, plays a crucial role in immune defence, temperature regulation, and overall well-being.
Menopause Uncovered: Navigating Change with Confidence – Presented by Dr Gabrielle Staniforth
Dr Gabrielle Staniforth will provide guidance on understanding
for all women and girls
EmpowerHer: A Celebration of Strength and Style for International Women’s Day
Orange, NSW – February 2025In celebration of International Women’s Day, Orange CultureHub will host EmpowerHer, a two-part event designed to inspire, educate, and uplift women. Taking place on March 1 and March 8, this dynamic initiative will feature empowering workshops and a stunning fashion show, blending education, confidence, and style in a powerful tribute to women everywhere.
MARCH 1: TRAINING & SEMINAR DAY
The first part of EmpowerHer will bring together guest speakers, industry professionals, and local businesswomen in make-up, fashion and the arts for a series of empowering workshops. Attendees will engage in sessions focused on personal growth, self-esteem development, and strategies for managing stress, anxiety, and depression. This immersive training day will provide women with valuable tools to build resilience and thrive in their personal and professional lives.
MARCH 8: EMPOWERHER FASHION SHOW
The event will culminate in a captivating fashion show that goes beyond the runway.
Models will showcase the confidence-building techniques they have developed during their training, demonstrating self-assurance and empowerment in every step.
THE EVENING WILL ALSO FEATURE TWO DISTINGUISHED GUEST SPEAKERS:
Marie Woods, Director of Community Services, Community Plus, who will discuss key issues in women’s health and safety.
Dr. Christine Purcell, Psychiatry Registrar at Dudley Hospital, offering insights into mental health and well-being.
“International Women’s Day is about recognizing the strength, achievements, and potential of women. With this event, we aim to inspire, educate, and uplift women while celebrating their unique voices and contributions,” said Lioba Besgrove, President of Orange CultureHub.
JOIN US
The March 8 event is open to the public. Join us in celebrating the resilience, ambition, and beauty of women through knowledge, empowerment, and fashion starting at 6.30 to 9.30pm at The Function Centre, Orange NSW.
and managing menopause. From hormonal changes to symptoms and long-term health effects, such as bone and heart health, her talk will offer practical advice on maintaining strength and vitality through midlife and beyond.
A Night of Learning, Connection, and Community
The event will take place at Nashdale Hall, where guests can enjoy a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. The Nashdale Sports and Social Club will have the bar open from 6:30 pm, allowing attendees to enjoy a drink while learning about their health. Light refreshments will also be available.
A raffle featuring locally sourced goodies will be held to raise funds for the CWA. Tickets are $5 each, and you can pay via cash or card. Proceeds will support continuing community initiatives by the CWA.
This event is open to women and men, and the Nashdale CWA warmly invites the community to join in this celebration of women’s health and empowerment. You can confirm attendance by RSVPing via their Facebook event, or simply turn up on the night.
— BY EMILY THOMPSON —
Alex
Pilcher from The White Place
celebrates
International Women’s Day
How long have you been in business/profession?
Our store, The White Place, was established in 2009 by my mother Fran. I moved back to Orange from Sydney and took it over in 2015. We also have boutique accommodation on Byng St.
Could you name a woman who’s inspired you the most?
This changes frequently as I’m surrounded by inspirational women in my professional and personal life but right now the one that currently inspires me would be my Nan who recently turned 90. She is fiercely independent and still runs our footy tipping competition across 2 football codes and 15 people.
What’s the best work-related advice you’ve ever received?
This changes all the time, but the one that
The White Place
Be inspired by their curated range of products across fashion, interiors and lifestyle.
The White Place also offers luxe accommodation for families and groups with their Byng Street house which is tastefully decorated in the signature White Place style.
Also stay up to date with their social pages as there is regularly an event being held in the courtyard including hosting, and showcasing local wineries.
I think about the most at the moment is… “your brand is what people say about you when you’re not in the room” With where I am in my business this is really important to me.
What
energises you about work?
Our customer base energises me, they are incredibly loyal and supportive and are widespread. Many of our customers have become beautiful friends of myself and my family. Our customers are why I love what I do and why I get up in the morning - actually that and because I have 2 small kids to feed!!!
What is your biggest indulgence at home?
Fresh Fodder hummous… I love it and ALWAYS have a 500ml jar in my fridge. I’ve tried so many different brands but FF is by far the absolute best.
Nicole Alexander launches The Limestone Road at Orange City Library, March 13
icole Alexander launches The Limestone Road at Orange City Library, March 13
Known for her captivating depictions of historical rural Australian life, Bestselling author Nicole Alexander returns to Orange on March 13 with her twelfth novel, The Limestone Road
A stirring narrative about one young soldier’s courageous journey ‘home’, The Limestone Road is a poignant exploration of memory, trauma, and the quest for redemption. It is a story of resilience, love, and the enduring power of dreams, masterfully weaving together historical detail and emotional depth to create a novel that will resonate long after reading.
A fourth-generation grazier, it was when Nicole left her corporate job in Singapore
to return to the family farm that she found her inspiration in the rich history of rural Australia. Nicole is now the author of eleven historical novels: The Bark Cutters, A Changing Land, Absolution Creek, Sunset Ridge, The Great Plains, Wild Lands, River Run, An Uncommon Woman, Stone Country, The Cedar Tree and The Last Station
She has a Master of Letters in Creative Writing and her novels, poetry, travel, writing and genealogy articles have been published in Australia, America, Singapore, New Zealand, Germany, Russia, Ukraine and Canada.
Nicole Alexander will be celebrating the launch of her latest book The Limestone Road at Orange City Library on Thursday 13 March at 12.30pm. To reserve your spot, visit tinyurl.com/NicoleOrange2025 or contact the Orange City Library.
Did you know the NSW Government offers energy rebates to help families pay their electricity and gas bills? You could be eligible if you receive the Family Tax Benefit or hold a Health Care Card, Low Income Health Care Card or Veteran Gold Card.
Bestselling author Nicole Alexander will be celebrating the launch of her latest book The Limestone Road at Orange City Library on Thursday 13 March at 12.30pm. Photo: Lucy Alcorn
The people of the Cook Islands are the recipients of this year’s World Day of Prayer on Friday, March 7 in Millthorpe and Blayney.
The special ecumenical service at Millthorpe for followers of all Christian faiths, is being hosted this year by Forest Reefs Uniting Church at the Millthorpe CWA Hall at 21 Pym Street, from about 10am. The Blayney event, is at the Anglican Christ
Cook Islands this year’s subject of World Day of Prayer at Blayney and Millthorpe
Everyone is welcome to attend this special event, which each year offers prayers for a nation or people from around the world.
The symbol of this year’s Day — by artists Tarani and Tevairangi Napa — highlights the cultural and spiritual significance of the coconut tree to many Polynesian peoples.
“On each island, the mighty coconut tree stands
tall, a symbol of strength and goodness; the coconut tree provides for our health and wellbeing. We have discovered how to use every part, from the fronds to the very deep roots,” the artists explained.
“For food, drink, medicine, shelter and much more. The coconut tree is essential to our survival, and is the tree of life for our people,” they added.
A morning tea will follow both services. For more information, call 0456 733 437.
Monday, 10 March 2025 7:00pm in Mercy Hall.
Monday, 10 March 2025
Catherine McAuley
Tuesday, 11 March 2025
are available from the Administration Office from Wednesday 12 March 2025, or at the information evening
APPLICATIONS
will be open from Wednesday, 12 March 2025 and will close Friday, 4 April 2025.
Late applications may be subject to a waiting list.
St Mary’s, St
Students from other schools may book into either day, subject to numbers. Bookings open Monday, 24 February 2025. Please call the school on 6362 1422 to book.
We are taking applications for all other year groups.
Church on Adelaide St, also from 10am.
The Blayney World Day of Prayer on Friday, March 7, is at the Anglican Christ Church on Adelaide St from 10am. Photo: Churches Australia
Women’s social cricket comp a
hopes for future intertown competition
Women’s cricket is on the rise in Orange, and with the second summer social competition approaching an end, there’s hopes for even bigger things in the 2025/26 season.
Orange’s women’s social cricket competition got off to an enthusiastic start at the end of 2023 with eight teams signing up for the Friday afternoon, eight-a-side competition.
Due to the overwhelming demand, the competition was reinstated in January 2024 and this summer there have been 13 teams taking to the cricket field on Friday afternoons.
“It’s great, it’s very much a social competition,” Orange CYMS Green Captain Jo Ferguson said at Max Stewart Oval on Friday afternoon.
“It’s giving people an opportunity to come out and spend some time on themselves and have some fun with friends and teammates and enjoy the sport.”
Alongside the social competition, this summer has seen a three-game T20 hard-ball series played between Orange City and Orange CYMS. CYMS claimed victory this year, but there is a push to grow the hard-ball game next summer and plans to hold 40-over matches.
“The T20 competition has really stepped it up a gear as well,” Jo said. “And since the social competition has started, we have quite a few females in the men’s league as well, in the mixed competition.
“Hopefully we’ll see a rep team as well. I think the talent’s there. So let’s go for it!”
Orange District Cricket Association (ODCA) president Mark Frecklington said the growing interest in women’s cricket is a great step forward for the sport in Orange.
“It’s fantastic,” he said. “It’s good for women to have that opportunity and now we hope to work on making it bigger…“ We’re keen to keep it going.”
And Frecklington said there is no better time to be pushing the women’s game locally with Australian opener, Orange’s own Phoebe Litchfield performing well in the national side.
“It certainly doesn’t hurt. It’s a great time to be trying to get women’s cricket going in Orange with Phoebe going and doing what she is doing,” Frecklington said.
“I’m sure it’s inspiring some of the young girls and young boys … it’s put women’s cricket back on the radar in Orange.”
The women’s competition is due to wrap up in a couple of weeks, but there is hope that it will continue to grow in Orange and its success might inspire neighbouring towns to follow suit.
“We’d like to add more teams next summer,” Jo said. “But one thing we’d like to see is other towns like Dubbo and Bathurst to get a league going, so we can play some inter-town games with them as well.”
Orange CYMS Green played against clubmates CYMS Red in Round 10 of the women’s Friday social cricket competition.
Orange Volkswagen
30 Forbes Rd, Orange NSW 2800 6363 9955
±For approved applicants ofVolkswagen Financial Services (VFS) ABN 20 097 071 460, Australian Credit Licence 389344 for newand demonstrator MY23 & MY24 Volkswagen Amarok PanAmericana, Amarok AventuraTSI and TDI. 36 month term. Excludes used vehicles, othermodels and offers. Finance applications must be received by31/03/25. While stocklasts. Alump sum at the end ofthe loan may also apply. Otherfees, charges, T&C’s apply. Comparison rate based on 5 yearsecured consumerfixed rate $30,000 loan. WARNING: This comparison rate is true onlyfor the examples given and maynot include all fees and charges. Different terms, fees or otherloan amounts might result in adifferent comparison rate. VFS mayextend, withdraw or change offerat anytime. To see ifthis product is right for you, please see ourTarget Market Determination on ourwebsite.
www.orange.nsw.gov.au
Find us on social media @ Orange City Council
YOUR LOCAL COUNCIL AT WORK
KEEP WATCH: Parents reminded to stay alert and supervise children at the pool
Lifeguards at the Orange Aquatic Centre are increasingly having to help children struggling in the water, as parents are distracted sitting on the sidelines.
Orange Aquatic Centre Pool Manager, Rachael Stevens, says lifeguards have to remind parents to keep an eye on their kids every day.
"Some parents are fantastic. They're actively engaged. They're in the water with their little ones, playing with them and helping them learn," Ms Stevens said.
"But we're also seeing a lot of disengagement from some parents, where they're sitting
on the side and they might be distracted by their phone or their conversation, or they're wandering away to a different part of the centre and leaving their child unsupervised."
This lack of active supervision is a major safety concern, as young children can quickly get into trouble in the water.
"So those little ones, we really need parents within arm's reach and always actively engaged."
For older children, the recommendation is still for parents to be "actively engaged" - maintaining eye contact and staying within speaking distance.
Council tackles high number of stray cats with desexing initiative
"No lifeguard knows your child as well as you do and understands the way they normally interact with the world. So you're going to see any problems first," Ms Stevens said.
Sport and Recreation Committee Chair Cr Tammy Greenhalgh said making sure children have a positive experience at the pool is crucial.
“The memories kids make at the local pool will often stay with them for life. We want to make sure that every encounter with the water is a happy and safe one. Parents have an undeniable role to play in making sure that happens.”
While the Orange Aquatic Centre has more than the recommended lifeguard-to-swimmer ratios, they are still meant to be a last resort and are there to offer emergency medical assistance.
Cr Greenhalgh said hopping in the water together is the best option.
"Bring your swimmers, jump in the water, have some fun. It's great for the children. It's great for you. It's great for your bond," Cr Greenhalgh said.
Cat owners with concession cards will be able to access low-cost desexing for their furry friends courtesy of a council-subsidised service.
Orange City Council is running its annual desexing program in a bid to target growing numbers of stray cats and unwanted kittens in Orange.
The program offers desexing for $68, which also includes microchipping and lifetime registration.
Orange City Council’s Environmental
Sustainability Committee Chair Cr David Mallard said cat owners should have their pet desexed.
“Cats can start to breed from as young as four months old, and if cats are allowed to roam free at night, an unwanted litter of kittens is very likely,” Cr Mallard said.
“The tragedy of dealing with these unwanted kittens is left to our pound, the RSPCA or a voluntary cat rescue agency. It’s not fair that these groups are left to pick up the pieces to deal with a problem that could
be prevented in the first place.
“Taking up this opportunity is as simple as bringing your concession card into the Customer Service counter at the Council office to make a booking. The desexing and microchipping will be done by professional staff at the Canobolas Vet Clinic.”
Bookings have opened and there is a limit on one booking per household.
The desexing program is funded by Orange City Council and is an activity of the Companion Animals Community Committee.
Dad Keiran Duncan having a play in the water with Sophia (2) and Isabella (5). s
Two years ago, Orange East Public School took a significant step towards environmental stewardship by launching the Eco Warrior program. This dedicated team of students and staff works tirelessly throughout the year to raise awareness about sustainability and encourage environmentally friendly practices within the school and the wider community.
Upon its establishment, the Eco Warrior team conducted audits across the school and quickly identified the need to reinstate vital waste reduction initiatives. As a result, the school successfully reintroduced composting, recycling, and their participation in the Return and Earn program. Every classroom, office area, kitchen, and the school canteen now
have designated composting buckets, Return and Earn collection bins, and areas for paper and cardboard recycling.
The impact of these initiatives has been profound. Organic waste collected in composting buckets is transferred to large compost bins in the school’s garden, breaking down into nutrient-rich soil that helps grow fresh fruits, herbs, and vegetables. These homegrown ingredients are then used in cooking classes, reinforcing the value of sustainable food practices.
Additionally, the school’s participation in the Return and Earn program has yielded financial benefits. Last year, the initiative generated over $100, which was used to purchase six apple slinky machines for K-2 students. This not only supports sustainability but also promotes healthy eating habits.
Beyond waste management, the Eco Warrior program extends to maintaining a thriving school garden. Students cultivate flowers to support pollination, as well as a variety of fruits and vegetables used in cooking classes and the school’s breakfast program. The breakfast program, which runs every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday morning, is free for all students and provides nutritious meals to start the day right.
The gardening initiative has received generous community support. A recent donation from Bunnings Orange provided a gift voucher to help fund winter plants for the children to grow, while Nile St Café continues to offer support by bringing the children into the kitchen to try their hand at cooking, and then enjoying yummy milkshakes as a
participation reward.
Teacher Irene Iskric, a passionate advocate for the Eco Warrior program and the kitchen garden initiative, emphasises the importance of educating young minds about sustainability. “It’s wonderful to see the children learn about where their food comes from, how to make healthy choices, and feel a sense of pride from what they harvest and make,” she says. “If you want to change the world, teach your children how to garden.”
With the continued success of the Eco Warrior program, Orange East Public School stands as a shining example of how schools can integrate sustainability into education, fostering a generation that values and actively contributes to environmental conservation.
— BY EMILY THOMPSON —
Let’s Feast @ PFC Orange
Fried chicken combos, schnitzel burgers and Korean food truck favourite – What’s new at PFC Orange!
Not content with bringing you the very best fried chicken you’ve ever tasted, PFC Orange is adding a whole new range of Korean favourites and value-for-money lunch specials to their menu!
PFC Orange founder Peter Son is dedicated to creating the very best for his customers and his new menu and value-for-money specials will have you coming back for more.
Look out for the new additions joining PFC Orange’s range of traditional Korean dishes, including Jjajangmyeon (noodles topped with a thick black bean sauce made with pork, cabbage, cucumber and peas), Loaded Jjampong (mild spicy noodle soup loaded with seafood and pork) and vegetarian Japchae (stir-fired sweet potato noodles served with a sweet and savoury mixed mushroom
and vegetable sauce.)
Looking for a snack that won’t break the bank? Stop by PFC Orange’s spacious North Orange premises between 11am and 4pm and grab some delicious Korean fried chicken and chips for just $10!
Or try Peter’s tasty take on the classic schnitzel burger —chicken breast schnitzel, fried to perfection and served with lettuce, tomato, cheese, cheese sauce and a house-made burger sauce in a milk bun — all for just $14.50!
New to the PFC menu is the Korean food truck favourite CupBap. Your choice of protein served with sweet potato noodles and rice. Choose between PFC’s Smoky chicken, Garlic Soy chicken, Schnitzel, Bulgogi beef or tofu.
Have a few more mouths to feed? PFC’s Couple’s
Combo offers you a choice of any two flavours of PFC Chicken and a box of premium crispy chips for just $37.Or grab the popular Family Meal deal, which includes three flavours of PFC Chicken, two boxes of premium crispy chips, a dipping sauce and two cans of soft drinks for $68.
PFC Orange is located at the North Orange Shopping Centre, Shop 15/9 Telopea Way, and is open from 11am to 8pm, seven days a week.
Their spacious premises is licensed and carries a range of Australian, international and Korean beers, as well as Makkoli (lightly sparkling rice wine), and flavoured and traditional Soju.
Make a booking or order takeaway online at www.pfcorange.com. Home delivery is also available every day from 5.30pm-7.30pm.
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RAINBOW FESTIVAL QUEER SCREEN 2025
Charles Sturt University is proud to support the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, and queer community and its allies (LGBTIQA+) by returning as a regional partner for the Queer Screen Film Festival – Free to Be. Don’t miss your chance to experience this eclectic collection of some of the best short films from this year’s Mardi Gras Film Festival! Get ready for a night of celebration, connection, and creativity! This year’s Queer Screen Festival is turning up the energy with 8 incredible short films that honor and celebrate the diverse voices of the LGBTQI+ community. From heart-warming tales to powerful narratives, our curated selection of short films promises to captivate and inspire. Explore a variety of genres, including drama, comedy, romance, and more, all while celebrating the vibrant and diverse LGBTQ+ community.
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Disney’s Snow White
Cast: Rachel Zegler, Gal Gadot, Andrew Burnap, Martin Klebba, Ansu Kabia
A live-action musical reimagining of the classic 1937 film. The magical music adventure journeys back to the timeless story with beloved characters Bashful, Doc, Dopey, Grumpy, Happy, Sleepy, and Sneezy.
Cast: Bill Skarsgård, Anthony Hopkins, Ashley Cartwright, Michael Eklund, Navid Charkhi
Consumer Advice: Genre: Horror, Thriller
A thief breaks into a luxury SUV, only to realise that he has stumbled into a complex and deadly trap set by a mysterious figure.
what’s happening in orange Orange Chamber Music Festival presents Cultured this Saturday
The 2025 Orange Chamber Music Festival (March 6–9) gets underway today with a diverse program of events to delight music lovers.
A key feature of the Festival is the community event, Cultured, a full day of music in the cultural precinct on Saturday, March 8, which will be followed by a very special Festival Gala celebrating International Women’s Day.
Now in its fourth year, Cultured is all about taking classical music out of the concert hall and making it more accessible to people with more informal performances in locations throughout the cultural precinct.
“Part of the mission of Cultured is to show that classical music isn’t scary and it isn’t elitist; it can be for everybody,” Orange Chamber Music Festival producer, Jay Byrne, said.
“We know that classical music has a little bit of a stigma about it, and we’re trying to break that barrier… And the exciting thing for
me is that everything is free, so it’s open to absolutely anybody that wants to come along and experience these performances in unique settings.”
Cultured begins 10am Saturday, March 8, in Orange City Library with Elemental Resonance, an interactive performance for all ages by harpist Paul Nicolaou, using sensorial elements to enhance the audience’s perceptions of sound, music and colour.
This experience is recommended for children, young families, seniors and neurodivergent people.
Cultured continues at 11am with the newly established Cultured Youth Orchestra and the Wula Gurray Children’s Choir performing a program titled ‘Australiana’ at the Orange Civic Theatre, a celebration of Australian themes by Australian living composers.
At 2pm, the final event sees alumni of the acclaimed Australian Chamber Orchestra present a specially curated performance in the Anne
Thomson survey exhibition at Orange Regional Gallery (North Gallery).
The climax of the 2025 Orange Chamber Music Festival is a very special Festival Gala celebrating International Women’s Day on Saturday, March 8.
Opus.Her, curated by Festival Director Carmen Nieves, weaves together archival footage, narrative and melody, in a tribute to women composers, singers and leaders from a diverse range of eras and backgrounds.
“It will be an all-women performance and mostly women composers as well,” Carmen said. “It’s an evening of high-calibre performances telling the story of women throughout time and it will be an audiovisual sort of show, so a little bit different from what we normally do – it’s a really interesting show!”
The Orange Chamber Music Festival takes place March 6–9. For the full program of events and links to tickets visit www.ocmf.com.au
Cultured, the flagship community event of the festival on Saturday, March 8, is completely free.
A word from the artist:
I have been drawing since I was 6 and attended art classes in the Netherlands. I completed my carpenters certificate at technical college and completed 2 years education at a specialised college in store display and marketing. After arriving in Australia in 1973 I worked in the display department at Myers in various locations. I am part of a local drawing group. We meet monthly and draw at different locations in the area. I’m also a member of Colour City Creatives. My style has changed over the years as I have experimented with various mediums. I have included some of my earlier work in this exhibition for interest. My older works are largely pencil and watercolour, now i Favour pastel, pencil and oil paint. People and portraits have always been a favourite subject of mine..
MRainbow Festival Comedy Night:
Rhys Nicholson and Kirsty Webeck bring the laughs to Orange Function Centre, March 21
ulti-award-winning stand-up Rhys Nicholson and festival-favourite Kirsty Webeck are bringing the laughs to the 2025 Rainbow Festival with a huge night of top-tier comedy at the Orange Function Centre on Friday, March 21.
Rhys Nicholson is a stand-up, writer, and actor, with an enormous passion for live performing. Their work continues to receive awards and accolades around the world, with televised stand-up performances in Australia, the UK, and Canada. Alongside a booming standup career, Rhys has also become a favourite across our small screens, as a series regular in the Sci-Fi comedy The Imperfects (Netflix), a recurring role in Fisk (Netflix) and on all four seasons of Drag Race Down Under (Stan), as well as featuring as a contestant on Network 10’s Taskmaster Australia, and the reboot of Thank God You’re Here.
We are especially proud to be part of the 2025 Orange Rainbow Festival celebrations to bring you two of the countries biggest comedians
Joining Rhys in Orange is Kirsty Webeck, well-known for her upbeat and relatable comedy often described as playful, light-hearted, and fun. A gifted storyteller, Kirsty has a natural ability for turning the mundane into the hilarious and has quickly become one of the most popular Australian comedians in the industry.
“We’re super excited to be part of the Rainbow Festival,” promoter Nick Gleeson of Central West Comedy said.
“Rhys has been here before with Joel Creasy, and we had two sold-out shows which were fantastic! Rhys is phenomenal. They are just a very sharp, witty stand-up, and they’ll be headlining the show.
“Kirsty Webeck — both her shows for the Canberra Comedy Festival have sold out I’m told, and so we are excited to see what she brings to Orange!”
Bringing a night of stand-up to the
Orange Function Centre will be a first for Central West Comedy, which has grown from monthly gigs at local cafe Factory Espresso to bringing comedy shows to Bathurst, Molong, Dubbo, Tamworth, Inverell and Armidale.
But with big plans for the future, Nick said it won’t be the last time they use the large-capacity function centre.
“We thought this is a good opportunity to see how that space works for us because in the future… Central West Comedy, we want to attract larger artists, and some won’t always do a 150-seater like at Factory,” Nick said.
“We’ve got other larger acts coming later in the year, which will be in that space, so it’s actually very exciting!”
While Nick wasn’t ready to spill the beans on all the big names coming to town this year, he did reveal that Orange favourites Tom Gleeson and Justin Hamilton will be back to perform
Rhys Nicholson is a multi-award-winning Australian stand-up, writer, actor and collager.
Kirsty Webeck is well known for her upbeat and relatable comedy that is often described as playful, light-hearted and fun.
Friday 21 March 2025 6:30 PM
together in June.
“Justin’s been up at least four or five times, and every time he brings a new set and he just kills!” Nick said.
“And Tom’s working on a new show, so Orange will actually see brand-new material before anybody else, which is exciting!”
And those attending the Rainbow Festival Comedy Show will get the first chance to buy tickets for Tom Gleeson and Justin Hamilton in June.
“We’re going to release a small portion of those tickets for the audience at the Rainbow Festival,” Nick said, adding that tickets will also be available soon via the Central West Comedy website.
For tickets to the Rainbow Festival comedy night featuring Rhys Nicholson and Kirsty Webeck on Friday, March 21, simply scan the QR code or visit centralwestcomedy.com.au
LET’S TALK MONEY with DANIEL MCGREGOR
Would you recognise a
millionaire?
When many of us were growing up, a million dollars could set you up for life. While a million dollars doesn’t quite go as far as it used to, being a millionaire is still the exception rather than the rule.
There are lots of millionaires in Australia, so chances are there are a few living near you.
The question is, would you recognise one?
The reality is that most millionaires don’t look like what you’ve been led to believe a millionaire looks like.
It’s usually the case that the people you might think are millionaires are up to their eyeballs in debt and spending every cent they earn to look like a millionaire, while the actual millionaires go about their lives quietly accumulating the wealth that will see them never run out of money.
How do they do it? The key traits of a REAL millionaire are:
1. They spend less than they earn. The key to wealth creation.
2. They pay themselves first! Paying
yourself first is a down payment on being able to pay yourself in the future when you decide you’d like to stop working.
NOTE: If we take the longer-term view, the whole point of working is one day be able to afford to stop working.
3. They use their savings to invest in good quality assets for the long term. Investing is so much easier than most people think.
4. They live in a modest house.
5. They pay off their credit card every month.
6. They pay attention to where their money goes.
7. They plan! Failing to plan is planning to fail.
8. They insure against what might go wrong. Stuff happens! They don’t fail to insure their most valuable asset… themselves.
9. They understand that time does all the work when it comes to investing. Taking maximum advantage of compounding returns makes wealth creation accelerate over time.
10. They make investing automatic. Investing doesn’t need to be difficult as it’s easy to invest in the right assets every month and make it automatic.
NOTE: Beware of any financial adviser who tells you that you need a more ‘sophisticated’ super fund or investment platform. It’s all smoke and mirrors! Paying higher fees for something fancier will almost certainly reduce the return you could have achieved.
11. They drive an average looking car. They understand that an expensive car is like a nail in the wealth creation coffin (looking great in a fancy car won’t help pay any bills 20 years down the track).
12.They continually learn. Knowledge is power and the more you know, the more you can make the system work to your advantage.
There are lots of wealthy people in the world, why shouldn’t you be one of them?
Perhaps you just don’t know where to start or who to trust. If you would like financial advice, Wealth Train can help. We don’t sell any financial products and we are one of the few truly independent financial businesses in the country.
Take control of your financial future ASAP so that you can make time and money work for you.
Cheers, Daniel
CROSS purposes
KNOWING YOU’RE KNOWN IS ENOUGH WITH JILL BRODIE
Do you ever think, “I’m not good enough, smart enough, fit enough…?” You have a moment of inspiration and then you talk yourself out of it.
As a little kid I wanted to be a Vet but at school I struggled with Maths and Science. Next, I wanted to go to the Olympics and play for Australia in Hockey but by age 16 I realised I couldn’t run fast enough. When I was 18, I wanted to be an international businesswoman and manage hotels all over the world but I only lasted 4 weeks at Uni.
In Deuteronomy 34 it talks about a guy called Moses. He was the guy who led the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt and parted the Red Sea and he is described as the G.O.A.T, due to his “awesome deeds” and “mighty power”. But here’s the thing, read Exodus 2 and you will discover that Moses was a runaway and murderer.
God doesn’t ask us to be “enough” before we can do great things, he asks us to “know him”.
“Since then, no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face.” Deut 34:10.
NORTH ORANGE
March Program
March 6th Dr Gareth Thomas - Knee Arthritis
March 8th Farmers Markets - Plant Sales
March 13th Morning Coffee
March 20th David Shaw - Orange Conservatorium
March 27th Mini Golf - Orange City Bowling Club
Coming in April
Science & Engineering Challenge
Come and join us at our March meetings
We meet on the 1st, 3rd and 5th Thursdays of each month 6:00pm for 6:30pm Alderton Room - Duntryleague Golf Club
Contact Ian on 0407 940 561
all about The School of St Jude, Tanzania Featuring St Jude’s Founding Director, Gemma Sisia and graduate, John Stanley
Thursday 13 March from approx 1.15pm to 3.00pm At Waratah Sports Club, 34 Telopea Way, Orange
Lunch is available at Waratah’s if you would like to arrive earlier There will be merchandise available and a continuous raffle
Entry is free but donations would be welcome The School of St Jude (www.schoolofstjude.org)
For more information and RSVP, 0414961390 or email: susimoffatt@gmail.com
reception@oclife.com.au Have something of interest to share?
Orange City Christian MEN’S BREAKFAST
SATURDAY 15TH MARCH, 6.50AM FOR 7AM START, FINISH 8.25AM
$25 Pay on Entry Cash or Card
Breakfast is Bacon, Scrambled
or
Duntryleague Orange - ROWAN ST
Please only enter via main Club (Office) doors
Guest Speaker: Mark Hansen OPTOMETRIST
at this month’s Orange City Christian Men’s Breakfast on Saturday, March 15, at the Duntryleague Golf Club.
The monthly event is about enabling men to connect around some fun, fellowship and sharing of life and faith over a very tasty breakfast, in a wonderful setting.
RSVP by phone or SMS with your name and any other blokes coming with you by Wednesday 7pm, March 12 to:
Mike Seccombe Mb. 0439 568 508 or Mal Rankin Mb. 0427 200 453
Inform us of any dietary requirements or if no food required. Entry is via the clubhouse and Breakfast is in the Dalton Room. Park in the main car park area.
Eggs, Sour Dough Bread, Tomato and Onion
Baked Beans with Tea or Brewed Coffee.
Andrew GEE MP
DESPERATE CRIMINALS PICK THE WRONG MAN TO ASSAULT
NSW
ABORIGINAL ADULT LITERACY FOR LIFE LAUNCH
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Overthe past few weeks we’ve had a number of instances of people trespassing onto private property and stealing our election posters.
Trespass and theft are both crimes.
Last Tuesday night solicitor Toby Tancred was working back late when he heard people ripping my posters from the front fence of his office in Orange.
He went outside and caught three young men who’d pulled up in a dark coloured ute stealing signs. When he asked them what they were doing one of them threatened Toby by shaping up to attack him. This is as shocking as it is disgraceful. They picked the wrong man to assault. Toby defended himself and the three spineless criminals fled the scene.
Toby got a good look at all of them and said the whole operation was clearly well organised.
I hope the law catches up with these low-lifes soon so that assault can be added to theft and trespass. When it does it will be very interesting to see who may be behind it all.
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Central West
a$1.9 million for The Orchard crisis accommodation centre
a$3.8 million for the raising of Suma Park dam wall at Orange aFederal Regional Investment Corporation established and based in Orange a$12 million for the Southern Feeder Road project aDept of Infrastructure branch moved to Orange
a$2 million for the Forest Road Bridge duplication
a$14.7 million for Mission Australia’s Benjamin Short Grove
Aged Care facility
a$100,000 for new stadium seating at Wade Park
a$3 million for a second radiotherapy unit at Orange Health Service
a$10 million for the Orange Conservatorium & Planetarium
a24 hour rescue helicopter service for Orange and region
a$14 million for highway upgrades between Lithgow and Orange
aBat/hail netting funding for local orchardists
a$1.2 million for CCTV in Orange, Bathurst and Wellington
a50 mobile phone towers, base stations and wi-fi across Calare
people are to silence our campaign.
Posters were also stolen from properties in Lucknow, Molong, Wellington, Orange and Bathurst as well as from trailers.
They are clearly trying to steal every poster in the region.
Those responsible should turn themselves in to police.
The theft and vandalism hasn’t stopped at campaign posters. Here’s a photo of one of our trailers that has been stripped of its wheels.
It shows you how desperate some
FIGHTING TO LIFT BAN ON LIVE EXPORTS
Last year in parliament I spoke out against and voted against the government's move to ban live sheep exports by sea starting in 2028.
The Australian livestock export sector has done a huge amount of work to implement the world's best practice in animal welfare standards.
I don't believe this proposed ban is in
the interests of our farmers, regional communities, or our nation.
Our farmers feed and clothe the nation and the world and we need to value them, support them and listen to them.
I can assure you that alongside Bob Katter and Senator Jacqui Lambie I am fighting to support the farmers of Calare and Australia.
CONGRATUALTIONS, JASON!
Last Saturday (USA local time), Tenpin Bowling legend and Orange local Jason Belmonte teamed up with longtime doubles team mate Bill O’Neill to claim a decisive victory in the 2025 PBA Roth/Holman Doubles Championship!
The win earned the champion Aussie bowler, his 32nd career title. Well done, Jason. An incredible achievement!
Literacy is a basic human right, and you are never too old to learn.
It was an honour to attend the launch of the NSW Aboriginal Adult Literacy for Life Campaign at the Orange Youth HUB last Tuesday evening and to stand alongside so many community members and leaders.
The Literacy for Life campaign is a powerful step forward in empowering Aboriginal adults in our community with the tools they need to thrive, particularly through reading, writing, and educational opportunities.
From the Welcome to Country by Senior Wiradjuri Elder, Uncle Neil, to the Smoking Ceremony and Dancing, we certainly saw the strength of the community.
I had the privilege of addressing the gathering along with:
• Rex Cochrane, Chair of Aboriginal Adult Literacy Community Governance Group;
• Tony Mileto, Mayor Orange City Council;
• Donna Stanley from Western NSW Primary Health Network;
• Inspiring elders Mary Parker, Daphne Monaghan and Robin Smith;
• The Literacy Campaign
• Aboriginal musicians and community legends, Ricky Ah-See and Brian Ah-See
A huge thank you to Jamie Pomfrett, Rex Cochrane and everyone involved in the literacy launch. I can’t wait to return to Glenroi to hear all the updates from the adult classroom and to shoot a few more hoops with the kids!
ORANGE HOSTS RACING NSW CENTRAL DISTRICTS QUALIFIER!
Racing NSW Country ChampionshipsWhat a Day!
The Country Championships feature a series of seven races, each held at a club representing a different racing region in NSW. Orange hosted the Central Districts qualifier, with $150,000 in prize money.
A huge thank you to the team at Racing Orange lead by Bree McMinn and her team for hosting such a successful event for our region. Thank you to Espen Harbitz and his staff for the brilliant hospitality!
And of course what a vibe was created by the fabulous live music and colourful fashions on the field!
My campaign will not be silenced.
Team: Johanna Parker, Lillian Lucas, Salote Lucas, Jayde Anderson, and Kyle Lewis;
Andrew with Jacqui Lambie and Bob Katter at the National Farmer Rally at Parliament House September 2024
Marie Fox t. 0412 166 132
5 23 $845,000
SPACIOUS FAMILY HOME WITH ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES
Welcome to 24 Woodward Street, Orange – a beautifully designed 5-bedroom home offering comfort, space, and versatility in a peaceful location.
All bedrooms are good sized and feature built-in robes. The home boasts two bathrooms, including one with a relaxing spa bath, perfect for unwinding after a long day.
With both formal and casual living areas, there’s plenty of room for the whole family to spread out. The well-appointed kitchen features extensive bench space, a dishwasher, and an adjoining dining area with a skylight, creating a bright and inviting atmosphere.
Stay comfortable year-round with ducted gas heating and reverse-cycle air conditioning. The laundry provides plenty of storage, and a large hallway storage area adds to the home’s practicality.
A true standout of this property is the large shed, complete with a sink and toilet—ideal for hobbies, additional storage, or even a home business.
The undercover entertaining area, seamlessly connects the house to the shed—perfect for gatherings. Low-maintenance, peaceful backyard, offering a private retreat
Nestled in the quiet southern end of Woodward Street, this home is just moments from parks, schools, and offers easy access to the CBD.
Don’t miss this fantastic opportunity—contact us today to arrange an inspection!
Orange Property MARKET Trade and Service of the Week
Safety and care the cornerstones of Ear 2 Ear
Safety and care for patients is paramount for micro-suction ear cleaning specialist Heather Grainger and her twin-state business Ear 2 Ear.
The Ear 2 Ear Micro-Suction Ear Cleaning (Ear 2 Ear) website describes the process of microsuction as removing: “Ear wax and anything else that shouldn’t be in the ear quickly and safely using an ultrathin, glass suction tube similar to a tiny vacuum.”
Heather removes ear wax by use of a very gentle suction, a small sucker and some very fine glass tubes.
“It’s a very safe and gentle way of removing wax,” she said.
A registered nurse who completes regular updates, Heather has also completed a nationally-recognised course in micro-suction and aural hygiene.
Heather began started seeing patients in Orange in October, 2022.
It’s an amazing story of how she first came to the colour city.
Heather was running an audiologist and micro-suction clinic business for a business owner at Devonport, Tasmania, where she lives.
She once had a man from Cowra
visit her for treatment after he had blocked ears that needed urgent treatment upon his arrival in Devonport.
Upon Heather’s safe execution of service, the man mentioned he wished he could access such a service closer to home.
He then assisted Heather with some background research about Orange and potential clients.
With a former career in community health and palliative care where she often travelled in the car to see patients, the thought of combining travel and work appealed.
So, Heather decided to utilise her skills to start her own business.
She makes trips to Orange once every five or six weeks, working for three days, and in the last five months has added the Dubbo leg of visits to her service.
Heather can see children aged five and anyone older.
Her main clientele are the elderly with hearing aids.
This is because hearing aids do not work to their highest extent when the ear canal is full of ear wax.
“When you remove that ear wax, hearing aids work so much better. It’s lovely to see the look on peoples faces that they can hear so much
better,” Heather said.
“It’s a dry procedure, I can see exactly what I’m doing, and I suck the wax out from the entrance in. I’m not pushing it in with water. I am sucking it out.”
An example of her quality service and client-based solutions, she once had to treat a young boy who had used pencils to scratch his ears.
He ended up having a chronic infection which was not responding to antibiotics.
“So when I got I there and started to suck out all the discharge in his ear … I found the tips of two lead pencils,” she said.
She has also sucked moths and beetles out of the ear canal and can also detect potential problems and refer clients to specialist doctors.
Last July, she went fully out on her own, starting Ear 2 Ear.
Ear 2 Ear now has a NSW branch and a Tasmanian branch.
“You have to believe in yourself,” she said.
“I felt when people in Orange and Dubbo heard about me, they would come to me. That realisation has been fulfilled.”
Heather can be contacted via her website ear2ear.com.au to book online or call 0455 629 905.
Heather Grainger operates the business Ear 2 Ear, which has branches in NSW and Tasmania.
Orange Property MARKET
The home that just keeps giving!
9 Girrahween Place Orange
Buyer’s Guide
$1,500,000 to $1,600,000
Beds 5 | Bath 2 | Cars 3
CONTACT: SCOTT MUNRO 0428 650 675
Situated in a leafy cul de sac, and set on 1*acre (4387m), this spacious and well-designed home is perfect for family and for entertaining. Its split level design offers an extra large main bedroom with generous ensuite and walk in robe. Three further bedrooms all with BIRS and a fifth room that can be used as another bedroom, study area or office are catered for by the stylish main bathroom that has separate WC and like the ensuite, features digital thermostat control, underfloor heating and heated towel rails. Filled with light and lovely views of the established gardens, the main living area offers formal dining
room, sunken loungeroom with extra study area and fireplace while the open plan kitchen and family room will amaze you with their possibilities. The Ilve double oven and 6 burner stove with Teppanaki burner along with the Miele dishwasher and pull out pantry will make catering effortless, while there is a large walk in pantry/wine cellar for extra storage. The extra WC in the well-designed laundry also offers convenience. The sliding glass doors open from the family space onto a further L shaped games/entertaining area, screened and glassed in and enhanced by a covered verandah, stepping out onto a terraced alfresco area.
Located on the edge of Cumnock, ‘Barters Block’ offers the perfect canvas for building your dream rural lifestyle home. This undulating 50-acre property is ideal for those seeking space, privacy, and the ability to create a rural lifestyle.
• Zoned R5 Large Lot Residential allows for a variety of residential developments, subject to council approval
• Town water is connected and services the block
• A small set of steel cattle yards is located for ease of transport
• Three bay shed, workshop with concrete floor.
Auction Wed 26th March, 10:30am Venue 152 William Street, Bathurst
Ben Redfern 0457 770 062
Marty Lyden 0404 070 391 eldersem.com.au
* Approx.
2187 Euchareena Road, Orange
12.9 HA (32 AC)* A Rural Lifestyle Block
With the 32 acres of land, the north-easterly views, and the potential to run livestock like horses, sheep, or cattle, it seems like the perfect rural lifestyle setting. The location, 20km from the centre of Molong, offers a balance of privacy and accessibility.
• Near complete three-bedroom shed house
• Large spring fed dam, registered shared bore and two large rainwater tanks
• Fencing is stock proof
For Sale $820,000
Ben Redfern 0457 770 062
Marty Lyden 0404 070 391 eldersem.com.au
* Approx.
‘Belgravia North’ 942 Belgravia Road, Orange NSW 3 A 2 B Spectacular Scenery from Every Angle
Welcome to Belgravia North, beautifully nestled into the hillside, surrounded by an established country garden and trees.
• 122 Ac (49 Ha) with excellent water, previously used for horticulture production with an 18 meg irrigation licence
• 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and an office, the weatherboard home oozes charm and character
• Galley style kitchen, with dishwasher and generous storage, leads to a formal dining room, then on to the large sitting room with picture windows, “that view” and an open fire.
For Sale $1,680,000
Ben Redfern 0457 770 062
Kurt Waterford 0439 642 390 eldersem.com.au
* Approx.
23a Hughes Street, Orange
A Perfect Investment Opportunity!
• Two spacious bedrooms with built-in wardrobes
• Contemporary bathroom with stylish fittings including bath
• Low-maintenance yards - perfect for easy living
• Clean, modern finishes throughout
Marty Lyden 0404 070 391
Katie Christoperson 0400 637 559 eldersem.com.au
• Potential rental return $500-$550 per week For Sale $550,000 - $580,000 View Thurs 6th March 5:30-6:00pm Sat 8th March 10:00-10:30am
PETER FISHER
ORANGE REAL ESTATE
ELDERS EMMS MOONEY
Properties
PRD REAL ESTATE
AWN REAL ESTATE
RAY WHITE TOWNSEND
Agents...
PUZZLES…. PUZZLES…. PUZZLES….
PUZZLES
QUICK QUIZ
KI D S ZON E Kids Talk
Name and age: Callum, 9
Who is your favourite teacher? Miss Redmond, because she gives us fun work to do
What do you think the best thing about being a grown-up is? Being a police person- I want to be one when I grow up.
What’s your favourite thing to do on the weekend? Go to Sydney, I like going to Bondi beach.
What is something your parents always say to you? Hi!
If you were principal for a day, what’s the first thing you’d do? Say hi to all the people at school.
What is your favourite food? Pizza- I like cheese pizza.
If you could open a shop, what would it sell? Books, I love the book shop.
If you could have a superpower, what would it be? A black hole, I could make it bigger and then make things disappear.
Write your name and phone number on the back of an envelope, along with your answer, and send in....
LastWeek’sAnswer: TheLastJourney
SPORTSNEWS
COLOUR CITY DRAGONS
monthly wrap-up
This month saw all local and regional dragon boating scheduled for our beautiful Lake Canobolas moved to Carcoar Dam as Lake Canobolas was unavailable due to the blue/green algae bloom. Thank you to Carcoar Sailing Club for generously welcoming us to use their picturesque dam and club facilities. And as enjoyable as it is to paddle under the watchful eye of many curious cows along the shoreline and admire the sprawling landscape and homesteads, the dam has offered up another timely benefit, its length. Great long stretches of straight paddling are perfect for tailored training in the lead-up to the 8km Bei Loon Challenge and 2025 Australian Dragon Boat Championships.
Colour City Dragons are well represented in the NSW State Western Region team for the Aus Champs having 9 of our intrepid paddlers who stepped up for the trials being selected, and 8 in total taking up the acceptances. Congratulations to each of you and we know you will do yourselves, Orange, and NSW proud. The Aus Champs will be held in NSW this year at the Sydney International Regatta Centre (SIRC), Penrith from 26th April to 1st May.
Training for the NSW State Western Region team is well underway and the team have been coming together in Orange to train, bond, develop, and forge themselves, their strength, and their skills as a thunder of dragons big in might and spirit. Their unity is magnificent to watch as they limber up on the banks of the water, before boarding their boats to perform what could best be described by an onlooker as an eye-pleasing Olympic-quality synchronised paddling routine, honing their techniques and endurance for competition.
Coming Up:
Bei Loon 8km Challenge Race, Saturday 8th March Forbes Invitational Training/ Fun Day! Sunday, 6th April
JUNIOR MONDAY NIGHT BASKETBALL
Photos by CEC TILBURG
The girls U12s development team v the by Redbacks On a Monday night in the junior Basketball competition ate the PCYC
The full squad pushing out to commence a rigorous three-hour training session
Colour City Dragons members selected for the State Western Region team (absent is Sharon, the masterful Sweep)
BACK TO BACK GOLDEN EAGLE WINS for Lee Schraner and Dylan Essex
Lee Schraner and Dylan Essex have claimed back-toback Golden Eagle victories after defeating a tough field of bowlers at the Orange City Bowling Club’s long-running pairs tournament last week.
The four-day Orange Motor Group City Of Orange Golden Eagle Pairs Tournament concluded on Thursday, February 27 with Schraner and Essex facing last year’s runners-up, the father and son duo Andrew and Matthew Swan of Charleston.
Schraner, the current world singles champion, and bowls partner Essex maintained a decisive lead throughout the final match to once again snatch victory from the Swans and claim the $6,000 first prize.
Below are the placings for the 2025 Orange Motor Group City Of Orange Golden Eagle Pairs Tournament:
1st Lee Schraner, Dylan Essex
2nd Matthew Swan, Andrew Swan
3rd Ash Beadel, John Bugdon
4th Warren Towney, Allan Tighe
5th Haydon Bojkowski, Joshua Walker
6th Mark Fitzalan, Ray Fitzalan
7th Anthony Fisher, Marty Rickards
8th Trevor Ferguson, Dave Brown
Consolation winners:
1st Jacob Homer, Kane Nawrervis
2nd Micheal McDonald, Jeffery McDonald
3rd Nick Darius, Dave Hearns
4th Martin Gray, Lachlan Price
5th Peter Mead, Warren Keep
6th Paul Gonzales, Bernie Diduszku
Lee Schraner
Matthew Swan
Andrew Swan
Dylan Essex
Tenpin Bowling HEAD PIN
with Bob Taylor
Let’s start with a look at the Monday 7.30pm league where there were two Stars, these being Tyrone Howarth with 129 over average and Jayden Christoff with 122 over average, and they were followed Tyler Hannon from the Tuesday 5.00pm league with 129 over average, then there was Matthew Woodham from the Monday 6.30pm league with 125 over average, and he was followed by Denise Eslick from the Golden Oldies with 116 over average and finally there as Connor Peate from the Wednesday 6.20pm league with 101 over average for the series.
Star Bowler of the week and winner of the Auto Wash compliments of Race Track Car wash was Tyrone Howarth who scored that wonderful 129 over average for the series.
The High Roller champion was Tyler Hannon and winner of the three free practice games was Tyler Hannon who scored a great 245 (PB). As this score was 107 over average and part of his 129 over average for the series Tyler was Junior of the Week and the fourth Man of the Match for February. As Junior of the week Tyler won a free game, compliments of the tenpin bowl.
Others determined to beat Tyler included Kiel Bugden 200, Andrew Johnson 200, Mason Southwell 215, Gail Perry 232, Joe Gallagher 221 (PB), Josh Johnstone 202, Connor Muir 235, Travis McMahon 243, Matthew Woodham 245, Jayden Christoff 264, Joshua Harmon 214, Hugo Belmonte 270 (PB), Jason Brown 238, Jacinda Wood 211, Steve McConnell 206, Steve Eslick a pair of 215s, Taylor Clark 209, Tash Brett 223, Geoffrey Thomas 200, Tony Williamson 211, Ben Lees 222, Ben Howard 222, Ben Berry 221, Milo Lees 211, Josh Thornton 246 and Brock Gallagher 212.
I was unable to locate an Almost Made
it Hero so the open order from Kings Takeaway remains in the drawer, but there were several feeling the pangs of hunger, among them being Chelsea McLennan 113, Madeline Gouge 127, Kruz Carnie 123, Lucas Fisher 174, Bradley Johnson 133, Steph Ward 134, Lisa Everett 149, Sheree Ryan 148, Damien Barrett 177, Ricky Davis 134, Carmel Bouffler 132, Steven Blackburn 135, Sue Pagett 187, Warren Taylor 182 and John Smith 195.
Next up was Julia Christian 148, Dianne Parsons 177, Kerrie Stent 132, Julie Hoogenboom 171, Helen Newling 171, Ian Middleton 162, David Jameson 169, Verona Gavin 179, Mason Reddel 123, Alex Coleman 162, Taz Brown 148, Janine Formby 154 and Oscar Christofferson 197.
Not to be ignored there was Braxton Losanno 191, Katrina Brennan 131, Ashlee Moon 144, Tyrone Howarth 191, Michelle Carroll 171, Charlie Thorley 174, Connor Peate 117, Jordan Trenholm 195, Gee Gray 156, Kevin Heng 179, Kerry McCarthy 167, Lucas Grabham 129, Corey Harmer 112 and Karen Anderson 154.
The fourth Female of Note was Helen Newling. But (drum Roll please) The Female of Note for February and winner of the gift certificate from MJ’s All Hair-all Occasions was Rhonda Boardman who earlier scored 209 (PB), 86 over average and part of her 103 over average for the series.
The fourth Man of the Moment was Tyler Hannon. And the Man of the Moment for February and winner of the voucher from Guys Cuts was the man whose name you just read. Tyler Hannon who scored 145 (PB), 107over average and part of his 129 over average for the series.
Country Club BOWLS NOTES
Hello Bowlers,
Tuesday socials, there were 40 bowlers.
Raffle winners were Bob Ridgewell, Gary Pearce & Jim Duffy.
Lucky rink winners, Gary Pearce, Peter Brooking & S. McCarthy. Unfortunates’ rink winners B. O’Donnell, Bob Ridgewell & Ian Davidson. Consolation winners Darryl West, Kev Kelly & Neil Higgins.
Saturday socials 32 bowlers raffle winners were Phil McGarity & Al Gregory.
Lucky rink winners, Bernie King, Peter Brooking, Phil McGarity & Roger Annis-Brown. Unfortunates’ rink P.A. Baker, Doug Nonnemacher, Gary Pearce & Bill Keogh. Nominations for the handicap singles are in alcove on the board.
Expression of interest regarding Markers & Umpires Courses please see Phil McGarity.
There will be Coaching, every Friday, 4pm – 6pm.
Saturday 8th & Tuesday 11th March, please call, Jim Finn 0418 651 382, Peter Wright 0427 813 220, or the club on 63613210. Names in by 11:30 for a 12:30 start.
Bowls Etiquette tips
Avoid disturbing players on other rinks by not walking onto their rink or making excessive noise.
The weather was warm on Thursday for our social bowls with time being called a little earlier on a couple of the rinks. There was another great turnout with another new bowler, Louise joining us. A big thankyou to Elaine who has been doing a great job with our new bowlers on Tuesday. A close game of pairs was had between Donna and Veronica playing Carol and Denise L. Denise’s team got the win by 1 shot. Two games of triples were also contested with very competitive scores.
Please contact Trish - 0400379294, or Phoebe0408223843 for further information.
Follow us on Instagram oesc_womensbowls or Facebook Orange Ex-Services’ Country Club Womens Bowls
Orange City Bowling Club BOWLS NOTES
Open Trophy Day was held last Tuesday, along with round three of the Major Singles Championships. Thanks to those markers who volunteered and our umpire for the day Virginia Dunn. Results for the Singles were Sue Clinghan def Marianne Boers, Michele Tredinnick def Helen Lord, Robyn Doyle def Jan Fenwick, and Mary Carr def Cathy Wright. Overall winners of Trophy Day on 16 points were Sue Clinghan and marker Sue Moloney. Lucky loser’s on the day drawn from the cards were, Jan Fenwick and Marker Maria Crawford.
Runners Club news
Kay and Sheryl in the shoot out at the Golden Eagle.
A huge thank you to all ladies on our social committee for their tireless work preparing our lunches and morning tea each Tuesday.
Twilight bowls are a great evening of bowls, and 6pm is a pleasant time to enjoy bowls in the warmer weather. Names in by 5pm please.
If you’re thinking of taking up lawn bowls, we hold free coaching sessions by an accredited coach on Wednesday mornings at 10am. Please contact Sue on 0409 522 099 or contact Orange City Bowling Club.
— CATHY GUTTERSON
A pre-run at Gosling Creek before the Orange Running Festival on Sunday, March 9, had runners out in numbers testing the track ahead of the big event.
RESULTS SUNDAY – March 2, 2025
Congratulations to the 90 members who tested out the track at Gosling Creek on Sunday, March 2.
Achievement medals: Peter Mueller - 300 runs
SUNDAY RESULTS
2.3 km:
Women – Amber Rich 09:32, Sophie Charge 11:02, Kinga Diemar 11:37
Men – Nathan Sutherland 07:44, John Ward 13:54, Tony Fitzpatrick 14:01
Men – Nick Irwin 19:58, Nicholas Thomas 22:06, Gareth Thomas 23:22
8 km:
Women – Jessica Curran 48:54, Kelly Jurd 51:23, Kim Jarvis 54:40
Wentworth
Ladies
Golf Results 26th February 2025 Event 4BBB Stableford
A nice casual 4BBB Stableford was played today where the ladies enjoyed their day on the course in brilliant sunshine and there were some great scores across the grades.
A Grade was won by Katrina Ferris & Rachel Kelly with a very well-played 43 points. Both have been playing well of late, well played.
Runners up were Judy Brewer & Helen White who have been very consistent players of late with a very good score of 42 points and third place went to Trish Harvey & Di Selwood who played well to finish with 40 points.
Nearest the Pins were won by Lee Pickett (3rd) &(5th), Di Rodgers (6th), Katrina Ferris (13th) Drive and Pitch were won by Lee Pickett (9th), Julie Roweth (17th)
Next week is an 18 Hole Stableford. It is also the Vets week of golf. Good luck to everyone playing in this event.
The following week is the first round of the Club Championships. The first-round booking sheet is now open. The second round booking sheet will open next Monday. The third round of the Championships is seeded, so the booking sheet for this will not open until the second round has been completed.
The third round of the Championships is the Individual Match Play Qualifier.
We will be hitting of the 1st tee for all of our golf rounds going forward.
The Regency Cup was played at Duntryleague last Friday. The teams who represented Wentworth were Lorraine Swain & Shirley Hyde, Lee Pickett & Leone Dalton, Roslyn Fuller & Leslie Wright, Tayla Harvey & Rachel Kelly, Di Selwood & Trish Harvey, Di Rodgers & Jan Moad. There were some close matches, but on the day Duntryleague came out the winners with some sensational golf from some of their players. Congratulations Duntryleague on a great win and well done to all our players on some wonderful golf, just not good enough on that day.
Have a great week.
Men – Mark Thomas 39:26, Maxwell Horne 41:55, Anthony Daintith 45:16
Men’s – Peter Finlay 11:25, Hugh Daintith 12:01, Oscar Blacklow 12:23
UPCOMING RUNNING EVENTS:
Orange Running Festival
The Orange Running Festival will be held on Sunday, March 9, featuring Marathon, Half Marathon, 10Km, 5Km and five 2Km Dash events. For more information and registrations, visit: orangerunningfestival.com.au/event
Great Volcanic Mountain Challenge
The annual Great Volcanic Mountain Challenge will be held on the 30th March with an 11km race and a Family Tail Run of 5.5km
For more information and registrations, visit: www.greatvolcanic.org
Together we achieve individual goals.
Regency Cup Team
Fond Memories
Colin John Wade
06.03.1938 - 04.03.2023
A golden heart stopped beating Hard working hands at rest
It broke our hearts to see you go God only takes the best
Forever inour memories and Forever inour hearts
Sadly, missed by his wife Dorothy, his children and his grandchildren
Loma Lewis
26.8.1930 ~ 6.3.2019
You always had a smile to share Time to give and time to care
A loving nature, kind and true Is the way we’ll remember you. Cherished forever, a loving mother, mother-in-law, grandma and great gran.
Cheryl Christine Mumford
14.11.1953 ~ 12.3.2023
Our hearts are filled with memories which we gather through the years You always had a smile to share time to give and time to care
A loving nature kind and true is the way we will remember you.
Although we’re not together we will never be apart because you have that special place right within our hearts.
Stephen Gregory
ESLICK
21.8.1961 ~ 10.3.2003
As we loved you, so we miss you.
In our memory you are near. Always loved and never forgotten. From Mum and Dad and your family
To my beautiful wife very sadly missed from Tony, Laura, Josh, Caleb and Celia Loving daughter of the late Trevor and Patricia
Everything wonderful in my life Everything special in my world Is there because of you.
Barry, Lori, Glen, Amelia, Jack, Gabee, Melissa, Rob and Maxwell
Loma Lewis
26.8.1930 ~ 6.3.2019
Those we love don’t go away they walk beside us everyday
Unseen, unheard but always near so loved, so missed, so dear.
Love you and miss you Mum Sheryl
In loving memory of Monica Eyles, devoted wife of Keith, beloved mother of Diane, Denise, Richard, David, and Jason. Treasured sister of Eileen, and cherished grandma and great-grandma to a large and loving family. Monica moved from Orange in 2005 following the loss of her beloved Keith but now returns to rest beside him once more.
Family and friends are warmly invited to attend Monica’s funeral service, to be held at St Joseph’s Church, Byng Street, Orange, on Thursday, 13 March 2025, at 11:00 am.
to our February 27 winners:
THUMBS UP Thank you to the Door Store for their prompt service. A special thank you to Mick and Jake for their efficiency and professionalism. Terrific service; one happy customer.
THUMBS UP to Amanda at Orange City Council. She organises seniors’ monthly activities. In February we played walking netball — 10 out of 10 for our coach Brooke for her patience in training us seniors. A great time and fun was had by all.
THUMBS DOWN to Orange City Council for putting ‘No Stopping’ signs on Dalton Street outside the old hospital site, so cars can no longer park in the middle of the split road under the big shady trees. A disgrace!
THUMBS UP for the bulky goods clean-up crew. Clean-up is divided into recoverable or disposable lots, and quickly and efficiently collected. Well done in the hot weather.
THUMBS DOWN to the person who picked the sunflowers I grew in my own front garden on Edward Street. It wasn’t even over the pathway, it was in the middle of the garden bed! If you wanted some, you could have left a note in the letterbox and I would have given you some seeds. Our garden is very special and we take a lot of pride and care to grow it for our own well-being and to brighten up the street. Keep your light fingers to yourself and learn some manners.
THUMBS UP to Di at the NRMA Orange office. Following a very unsatisfactory connection with the NRMA overseas call centre this young lady restored my faith in this company and even rang me back several days later to confirm all was well with my account. All the staff at the Orange office are great. It’s just a shame that these big companies use overseas call centres using people whose local knowledge is limited!
THUMBS UP to Canobolas High. All the teachers and SLSOs are amazingly supportive and it’s a breath of fresh air to have the support that is needed.
THUMBS UP to one of the most supportive schools in Orange and Toni from Orange East Public School. Nothing is an issue. Toni always has a smile on her face. The kids love her and she’s just an all-round wonderful person!
THUMBS UP to Lucinda at Canobolas High for always having the best interest of the kids at heart. She is always going above and beyond for all her students.
THUMBS UP to Phil Donato for arranging for me to receive a retirement medal and a beautiful certificate recognising over forty years of service to the Department of Education as a teacher and a high school principal.
THUMBS UP to Harry of Anything Plumbing. Amazing worker, very reliable, and great workmanship skills. Job well done.
THUMBS UP to the amazing team from Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD) Central West who attended our house on three separate occasions to assess and speak to my terminally-ill husband. The three doctors were compassionate, caring, and very professional. They gave back my husband’s control and decision-making over his life, allowing him to pass peacefully at home surrounded by loved ones. They are truly wonderful people doing hard work.
THUMBS UP to Lifestyle team Jodie and Zoe at Gosling Creek Aged Care. On walking in there on Thursday morning I was blown away how the piano room was presented for the day’s activities. It was a credit to them. Also shout out to Zoe who stepped up and organised Friday’s activities on her own. They are an asset to the team and it’s great to work with such dedicated people.
THUMBS UP to Brian Meyers from Ole Skool Mowing and Gardening for his go-ahead attitude.
THUMBS DOWN to all the car manufacturers for building cheap model cars with no indicators… it would appear the majority of motorists in Orange are purchasing these vehicles.
THUMBS DOWN to drivers at roundabouts who only look to their right and never to their left. The road rule is simple: give way to ALL traffic already in the roundabout. You need to give way to cars, trucks, and buses that might already be in the roundabout to your left. Try that!
THUMBS UP to Daruma. Best Japanese food and unbelievably warm, respectful, customer service. Daruma is a gem to be treasured!
THUMBS DOWN to Menulog. Ordered some food from Suli Sushi, only to notice Menulog had automatically filled in an old address, with nowhere to override this. The restaurant was brilliant trying to divert the driver to the new address, or at least get a refund or voucher issued. But, no: Menulog’s office insisted that unless it was delivered to the old address, neither driver nor restaurant would be paid. So food was left on a pitch-dark porch outside a vacated house. Really? I have deleted the Menulog app, and suggest you might do the same.
THUMBS UP to Con at August Jewellers who recently resized and repaired my rings to ‘brand new’ amazing and sparkling condition. Your skill and professional expertise is exceptional and I am thrilled beyond words at the result. Thank you so very much for such an outstanding job.
THUMBS UP to the gentleman who – as I was walking home – pulled over with his two young children in the car and offered me a lift, because it was too hot to be walking. Luckily I was only 50 metres from home, but still appreciated the kind offer.
The Thumbs represent thoughts and opinions of readers and do not necessarily reflect those of Orange City Life. Every care is taken not to publish thumbs that are considered derogatory or defamatory in nature . Please note that thumbs may be edited for clarity, space or legal reasons.
ORANGE SOFTBALL FINALS SERIES IN FULL SWING
(image credits: Chasing Tigers)
Orange and District Softball Association has wrapped up its round games, with teams now battling it out in the finals series. Congratulations to all teams competing for top honours over the next two weekends. B-Grade kicked off semi-finals last week, with Demons taking the major semi-final win and Butterfingers securing victory in the minor semi. This sets up a must-win clash between Butterfingers and Hurricanes in the finals. More exciting matchups across all grades are set for this weekend. Thanks to Chasing Tigers for capturing the action throughout the season!
