Charles Sturt Pharmacy Foundation Dinner

Charles Sturt University (CSU) established its pharmacy program in 1997 with the primary aid of addressing the shortage of pharmacists working in inland Australia. The first CSU pharmacy cohort graduated in 2001 showing the ability of CSU to train students in the country, for the country.

As the first non-metropolitan course of its type, the CSU pharmacy program has also been an active contributor to research and the development of professionals in inland Australia.

The Charles Sturt Pharmacy Foundation was established to support the pharmacy program as CSU by contributing to the development of suitable facilities for staff and students, funding research and development programs and providing scholarships to talented students.

The Mayor John Davis and myself attended the dinner and met with the Chair Peter Gissing who presented our very own Malcom Rosoborough from McCarthy's Pharmacy a framed acknowledgement of his service and commitment to the Foundation.

The evening continued on with a journey through Vice President of the Pharmacy Guild (VIC) Ms Toni Riley's life and what journey it was. We had a very enjoyable evening and felt proud to know we have such a learning facility with another important health teaching service.

Foster Care Week Celebrations

THROUGH THE EYES OF A CHILD!

Getting involved in Foster Care was something my husband Paul and I thought we would never be able to do. Part of the reason is because we are a tad selfish and would have liked to keep the children we were given to care for permanently. I cant quite remember what the turning point was but we have now become Foster Parents.

Eight months ago we did our course, Paul was able to do a weekend one and I did the long distance course which took up several months. Then we had the police check and the house inspection and then the moment came. A letter in the post to tell us we were now official Foster Care Parents with the Department of Community Services (DOCS).

Not long after the letter arrived we received our first phone call seeking a short term home for a child. We have since had 7 Foster children stay with us and wonder why we didn't do it sooner. While there can be some ups and downs with the initial settling in it doesn't take long for the children to develop new friendships and learn the house routine. Spending your time with these children helps give you a real reality check on how beneficial a stable home environment can be for children.

We were delighted to be invited to the Foster Care Week celebrations held at the West room near the Art Gallery. We met the staff of DOCS other carers and people thinking of becoming carers. There was even a suggestion of setting up a support group for the carers here in Orange so you guessed it Paul and I put our names down for that because we are firm believers that bringing up a family needs community support.

Visit a new web-site which supports the Family Unit http://www.australianfamilymatters.com.au/

Orange and District Early Education opening of extension

My son Tristan, daughter Kayla and I visited the Orange and District Early Education opening of the extensions and renovations. The early education program centre shares a building with the Council's Yarrawong Childcare Centre. It was started by a small group of parents who were searching for local therapy and educational services for their children with disabilities and developmental delays.

Council committed $50,000 for this project with further funding coming from the Federal Government. This organisation is run by volunteers as a not for profit organisation. This is a truly committed group of people who want the best for their children and rightly so.

The extension is quite significant in size and has a varied amount of uses from a gymnasium, consulting rooms, meeting areas and toilets. It was a very proud moment for the children's parents I would imagine when they cut the ribbon into the extension.

A valuable facility further increased by and better utilised due to the hard work and commitment of the ODEEP committee and the support of a community who got behind this project.

Launch of John Cobb's Federal Campaign

How nice it was as a mother to be invited to a launch knowing that children were welcome. I think this shows and supports something very important, what is it? well that family, children and of course the noise and muddle that goes with it is okay to have at an official launch.

My friend Rachel, two of my children and myself called in to hear several announcements both from John Cobb and the Deputy Prime Minister Mark Vaile. It was a delight to have the Deputy Prime Minister here in Orange and hear his encouraging words about Rural NSW.

We met some lovely people and the children enjoyed the laughter and conversations from the onlookers when they decided to sample the chocolate treats and play with the balloons.

All we are waiting for now is the announcement of the election!

Living Books @ Orange City Library

At the last annual Australian Local Government Women's Association held in Lismore I learnt about the living book scheme that they organise at their local Library. They spoke about the value of this service to locals who wanted to learn more about other peoples lifestyle and interests. They invite a variety of people to speak as the living book and then locals come in to meet them and chat.
Orange City Council Library organised a living book day just recently with the opportunity of 9 local people to meet. I couldn't miss the chance to learn more about at least one of our locals so called in to say hello to Tony Leahey- Former car dealer and avid golfer. We were given questions if you needed prompts but Tony and I made our own conversation and I enjoyed hearing the story of Tony and his family. He is quite a character!
I do recommend the living library and maybe if you get a chance next time you could call in and meet some of our prominent locals.
Well done to Orange Library staff for organising this event which aloud us the opportunity to learn more about our local people.

Northern Development- Shopping Centre

During my time as a Councillor I have been required to make important decisions along with 11 other fellow Councillors. On the 17th September we were faced with a decision to choose one of the 3 remaining sites as a preferred shopping centre located in the north of Orange. Remembering when this was first put to us some time back I stated along with Cr Stevenson that I would only support a Green Gate type complex because I believed if it was any bigger then it would jeopardize the Central Business District.

I did not support the request for site 1 made to me by some of the people in the Orange community and these are my reasons why:

1. When the submission first went on display we received approximately 70 letters with most of those from concerned citizens about the close proximity of the Adventure Playground to the shopping complex. I took this information on board and noted after consultation with Council staff that site 3 (Coles) was 375m away as apposed to 320m to the site 1 (Woolworths). This is my first reason for supporting site 3.

2. I spoke with community people and some community groups who believed that site 3 shopping complex would be placed on the top side of the area closer to the Botanical Gardens near Hill st. After a site inspection which I have spoken about previously we found and saw with the flag placed in site, that the building was in fact on the lower side. It did not impact any more than the houses nearby on the view to Mount Canobolas. After gaining a better understanding from the site inspection I could find no reason to regress from the recommendation in the Ingham's report with site 3 as the preferred site.

3. Site 1 map that was given to us as Councillors had in clear print a 2.992 ha of land adjacent to the proposed concept plan listed as Community uses/Future Retail. Remembering that I said in the beginning that I would not support anything bigger than a Green Gate store I could not support this site as there will always be the opportunity in the future for someone to do just that and further develop this shopping area. I couldn't put my name to this as I feel in the future the South will be developed with the new Hospital and no doubt there will be some form of a Green Gate shopping area required. If these two shopping areas were to become to big then I believe it will impact the Central Business District which could become a ghost town.

4. Environmentally I had a concern about the green area with well established trees and plants that were located on site 1 and the fact that no-one has commented on what their future will hold given that they are not displayed in the concept plan. Will these be cut down and destroyed ? if so again I questioned at the Council meeting the consistency as a Council given that with other developments in town we have requested that the plants/trees remain. Site 3 did not require the removal of trees.

5. Council spent 30 to 40 thousand dollars of rate payers money for expert, independent, professional advice from people who specialise in this area of expertise. The consultants recommended site 3. I feel very uncomfortable that the recommendation advise was dismissed and literally that money has been thrown away.

6. Orange City Council have invested a considerable amount of money into the development of the Northern Distributor road so that there could be a main thorough fair for heavy vehicles to by pass Summer street. We will now (after site 1 being voted on by the majority) encourage a turning area on and off this road with increased traffic flow that comes with a shopping complex situated on site 1. My understanding was that the Northern Distributor was built also to produce a quicker route around Orange.

7. After visiting the site 1 area I was concerned to see how close the proximity to the Adventure Playground was. I now worry for the future and can only hope that people will not see fit to try and cross the Northern Distributor on foot to access the play ground and shops.

I feel it important to give my reasoning as to why I stayed with the recommendation as in the Leyshon report at the meeting of the 17th September. I will be keeping a close eye on the development and can only hope that with the possibility of new Councillors in the future that they will not see fit to support further shopping development in that area. My reasoning being that I would hate to jeopardise the locally owned businesses in the Central Business District.

Taste Orange - Bondi

What an event! My teenage daughter, myself and a friend called down to help out with the final days. We called in on the Saturday to see and help with the hustle and bustle of setting up, attended the formal evening in the Surf Life Saving Club and then joined in with the children’s activities the next day.
What shone out to us was the incredible amount of planning and work that this committee had done in preparedness, the sheer commitment of all involved and the passion to support and promote Orange as a destination and its superb food, wine, education, B&B’s and much more.
The talent in both music and cooking displays and the awesome buzz within the crowd at this event couldn't help but put a smile on your face. I am so proud to be a part of a community who can pull together in such a unique way. I highly commend the committee who came up with such a wonderful initiative and presented “Orange @ Bondi” in such a spectacular manner. I think Orange might see a few more tree changers in the future because of this event. Congratulations all!
Visit the Australian Family Matters web site to get your free template of the children's travel map

Works Inspection North Orange Shopping Development

This was a beneficial trip organised by Council staff. We had the opportunity to visit all three sites and see the impact of having a shopping centre placed on each one.
Site 1 or otherwise referred to as Woolworth's site is situated diagonally opposite the Children's Adventure Playground.
Site 2 was deleted at a recent Council meeting (otherwise known as Council's site)
Site 3 or otherwise referred to as Coles site was on a down hill slope off Hill street and at the side of the services entry to the Botanical Garden.
Site 4 was closer to the centre of Orange also off Hill street.
All these plans can be viewed at Council.
From this trip I learnt just how close the Children's Adventure Playground will be to the site 1 development and I will discuss this further in more up to date posts.
I also learnt that the view that was mentioned by some concerned citizens for Mount Canobolas had to be viewed from either the service entry point to the Botanical Gardens or the Botanical Gardens car park, neither really a safe option when you have children near by.
I also learnt that there is no view of the Botanical Gardens from the Ploughmans Lane as was suggested in a recent news article where people were stating this as the case. Our works inspection bus drove along Ploughmans lane and we were hard pushed seeing past the trees.
I have always been in support of works inspections as a valuable resource to better understand some of the issues we are faced with as Councillors when making decisions.
Thank you to Council staff who organise these trips.