ORANGE CITY
NEWSWATCH
LOCAL NEWS DELIVERED WITH — INTEGRITY — WISDOM — BALANCE Saturday 19 December, 2020
www.orangecitylife.com.au
Merry Christmas
…it’s been a “dog” of a year
ISSUE No. 31
FREE
Talking POINTS
with DAVID DIXON Depending on who you talk to, the local hospitality industry is either struggling or booming. Council believes its struggling and gave Orange 360 an extra $100,000 in assistance, at the same time we’re seeing news-reports about boom times for wineries, restaurants etc. Bit confusing isn’t it? On the same note, Newswatch hears that some retailers are expecting “best Christmas trading ever” despite COVID, all due to people spending their money differently following the lockdowns, etc. We’ll no doubt hear more but it will still be a case of winners and losers, as it always is.
Acts of human kindness have been the theme of this year of living dangerously. Droughts, fires, smoke, floods, and a once-in-a-hundred-year pandemic, have tested us all with our sense of community the key to handling this most unusual time.
Anyone who attended Council’s and the Orange Business Chamber’s latenight Shopping Fair may have felt a touch underwhelmed. Without wishing to appear uncharitable in this season of goodwill; it wasn’t exactly Times Square, A Christmas Carol, or Miracle on 34th Street in terms of atmosphere and festive spirit.
The Chaffe family of 33 Prince Street have again set-up their Christmas lights and decorations to raise money for the Central West Cancer Care Centre. “My wife died of cancer a few year’s ago, so we’re fundraising for them,” Colin said. Son Paul (pictured) does the honours with red cattle dog, “Mollo”, keeping an eye on everything.
Probably due to our more-relaxed lifestyle and greater shopping opportunities (plus our cooler nights), Thursday night late-night shopping never seems to have ever really taken-off in Orange.
Native Title claim on sports precinct site Native Title claim over the proposed sports precinct site in south Orange could complicate Council’s plans for the development. Also, Cyndi McGregor recently wrote a letter to the Mayor opposing plans to remove 513 trees from the site. Mayor, Councillor Reg Kidd responds with his own statement defending the Colour City’s environmental credentials.
• Turn to pages 6–7 for “How Green is my Orange?”
Lessons of 2020; hopes for 2021 • Turn to pages 4–5 for some surprising responses!
Not one to tittle-tattle, but Newswatch was rather surprised to receive a generally ill-tempered spray from one councillor unhappy, of all things, at our recent two-page feature encouraging more women to run for Council. With Joanne McRae our only female coucillor (and no guarantee to go around again next year) does he believe that we have too many women at the local government level? Residents of Ascott Gardens thanked Council for the “wonderful lights” in Summer Street and the arch-light in Robertson Park. “It was a lovely way to finish off our Christmas Lights Bus Tour,” one resident said. Merry Christmas to all our loyal (and occasional!) readers. See you all back in a better and brighter 2021!
We wish you a safe, happy and satisfying Holiday Season and thank you for your support throughout a crazy 2020
HE RTS FOR ORANGE
ORANGE CITY
NEWSWATCH
LOCAL NEWS DELIVERED WITH — INTEGRITY — WISDOM — BALANCE