OCLife Scene

The OCLife scene of recent parties, concerts, celebrations and events

INTERNATIONAL NIGHT BRINGS CULTURES TOGETHER FOR ONE SPECIAL EVENT!

PHOTOS BY HENRY DEROOY

Food, fun, fellowship, music and dance! The International Night on Saturday, June 3, was a celebration of the many diverse cultures that enrich our Orange community. New residents from Ukraine, Nepal and Latin America prepared numerous delicious dishes, and told stories about their homelands in a night that was enjoyed by all! The International Night was organised by the Orange Culture Hub in conjunction with the Rotary Club of Orange Daybreak.

In the early 1960s, newly qualified registered nurse and midwife, Kaye Geach (now Partridge) set o on an adventure around Australia. Landing in Alice Springs, she heard over the ‘bush telegraph’ that nurses were desperately wanted at a community called Papunya, some 250 kilometres northwest of Alice. She swiftly landed a job and spent the next several years working at the hospital, surrounded by the red dirt in Papunya, right in the middle of a 15-year drought.

Eventually she returned to Sydney, settled down and started a family, but the red dirt stayed in her veins. Her kids grew up with stories of that wonderful place – the people, the scenery, and always ‘The Red Dirt’. Jodie attended Julian Ashton Art school in the Rocks for a few years during her 20s and dabbled in the world of cartooning, but life got in the way as it inevitably does.

About six years ago, Jodie rediscovered an interest in drawing and one Tuesday night she toddled along to the social painting group at the Orange Art Society with her mum, still a very active member. Painting wasn’t something Jodie had done before, but after spending more time with her artistic mother, it quickly became a hobby, and she has hardly missed a Tuesday night since. In fact, Jodie is now vice president of the society!

Kaye has actively sketched and painted for 50-odd years and sold more works than she can count. She’s constantly trying new things – as well as having a chronic addiction to sketchbooks (with several sketches usually in progress at any given time).

Sixty years after she first landed in the Alice – during the week of her 81st birthday – two of Kaye’s now-adult kids booked her a trip back there, and a private tour to visit Papunya. So much had changed, but the scenery was the same – so was ‘The Red Dirt’. Right then, Kaye and Jodie decided to do an exhibition of paintings inspired by their trip.

This exhibition captures the rugged vibrance of what the duo experienced in the Red Centre.

The Red Dirt – An exhibition by Kaye Partridge and Jodie Geach, will o cially open on Sunday, June 11, at 3pm. The exhibition, located in the Orange Art Society gallery (entry from the Woolworths carpark), will then run until July 8. If the flags are out, you’re welcome to walk right in.

Friday June 9

Mortimers Cellar Door

Robbie Mortimer @ Schoolhouse Cellar Door, 4pm

Winter Jazz Fest Heats Up!

Kent Eastwood, 7pm

Saturday June 10

Orange Ex-Services Club

Orange Brick Show 2023, 10am

Tamburlaine Orange Wines

Andy Nelson Live @ Sams Bar, 6pm

Northcourt

Orange Farmers Markets, 8.30am

The Greenhouse

Kent Eastwood, 7pm

Sunday June 11

Orange Ex-Services Club Orange Brick Show 2023, 10am

Monday June 12

Molong Molong Village Markets, 9am

The weather might be cool, but things are hotting up in Orange with the return of the Winter Jazz Festival this King’s Birthday Long Weekend.

The packed three-day program features some of Australia’s best-known jazz artists alongside leading local and emerging performers from Orange and the Central West.

Performances will be staged across several CBD venues including the Orange Regional Conservatorium, Holy Trinity Anglican Church, Uniting Church Hall, Lord Anson and Royal Hotel.

“Audiences will hear anything from prohibition blues to roots, neo-soul and Afro-beat,” Festival Director Amy Curl said.

In a change from last year’s arrangements, as well as the three-day festival pass, tickets are available for single performances.

You can also head down to the Royal Hotel, which is hosting a free ‘Live and Local’ stage featuring up-and-coming artists, local heroes and school bands all weekend.

The festival will wrap up on Sunday night with a big closing party at The Blind Pig. Head along and celebrate with popular local group The High Tone Pants before the band opens up the stage to visiting performers and local musicians for a huge end-of-festival jam session from 9pm. Head to owjf.com.au for tickets and further festival information.

Coming Events

June 17

Orange City Bowling Club Sydney Hotshots

Orange Civic Theatre Celtic Illusion – The Magic Returns

Orange Regional Conservatorium Choral Gala

June 18

Club Millthorpe Acoustic Sunday

Orange Regional Conservatorium

Orange Youth Orchestra Concerto Concert

June 24

Orange Civic Theatre Melbourne International Comedy Festival Roadshow

June 29 - July 1

Orange Civic Theatre Carl Barron | Skating Rink for Flies