Induction for Councilor's Orange City Council

A Councillor Information Seminar Workshop was held in Orange and I believe this is an important part of being a Councillor. Keeping up to date with the role as Councillor is important and can provide you with much needed information when dealing with others.

The purpose of the workshop was to allow Councillors an understanding of the complexities of the Councillor role. Support high performance in the role. Identify key challenges. Understand the opportunity for interaction, ideas exchange and sharing of experience. Provision of reference guides.

I attended the afternoon event and always walk away from these things with the knowledge that I am on the mark in thinking, behaviour and work ethics.

I look forward to more of this type of learning and understand the importance to stay up to date with the code of conduct, meeting procedures and the Councillor role.

To learn more about the Department of Local Government and the Councillor Development Strategy visit http://www.dlg.nsw.gov.au/

Interview 2MCE- Women on Council

2MCE Radio Station Bathurst phoned me to speak about Women on Council.
This is a topic that I believe needs a lot more time spent on it and a concerted effort in lifting the profile of women so that they can take up this role.
I am one of 12 Councillors with Orange City Council. The break down is 1 female and 11 male and I wouldn't be lying when saying that there is a huge in balance in gender. In the previous term we had 3 female Councillors, one of which had been standing for 43 years. Quite a significant feet seeing as it can be quite a rugged terrain at times.
I know only to well after being set up by a fellow Councillor with a media story how damaging peoples intent can be. But lets not dwell on the misfortune of people who have no insight. Yes you need to be tough! and yes there are hurtful people, there are also people who have absolutely no emotional intelligence so I find it easier to put that aside and not to take on the faults of others.
On an extremely positive note I have to say that there is progress in encouraging more women into local government. The Australian Local Government Women's Association which I am the County Vice President to have been detrimental in this task. Our organisation ran several presentations prior to the last election educating women about their worth and what the role as Councillor involves. We were pleased with the attendance and the engagement was positive. I understand that there have been new faces brought to Council and with that some Mayors and Deputy Mayors.
I myself gain a lot of satisfaction when undertaking the role as Councillor. I enjoy working with people and know how even the most minor matter can be significant to people and their environment. I welcome the contact and try very hard to keep the communication open between the community and our Council. I believe I am a fair advocate and because of my nursing background have a true empathy to the needs of people, business, environment and special need groups.
My objectives are available on the Orange City Council web-site http://council.saucedesign.com.au/go/our-council/councillors/councillor-rossiter

If you would like to contact me please feel free to do so Ph 0409 662525.

I also enjoy public speaking and have the joy of newly becoming a business owner with my husband Paul. Family is a key to our success in life and we have founded Australian Family Matters http://www.australianfamilymatters.com.au/ which is a networking and support organisation and our Business is called Back 2 Family Basics http://www.back2familybasics.com.au/index.php We believe that family which has support can achieve so much but most importantly have a real connection and balance in life. Learn more by visiting our sites.

Our Children, Our Families, Our Future

Bike Week

On your bike!

22nd September was the start of bike week with the meeting of bike riders in Roberston Park for the launch by Mayor John Davis. He even brought his own bike. We had celebrity guest Prime newsreader Alison Reese who not only rode but is a keen walker as well. She was accompanied by her children who also rode to the park. There was a BBQ breakfast to be enjoyed while mixing with the company there.

This week proved to be a valuable opportunity to re-emphasise the benefits of riding, both for our health and to our environment. Seeing so many young people in the park gives you the feeling that there is hope to encourage more bike riders in the future.

Orange City Council has actively built more bike tracks to allow for safe riding and will be installing bike racks soon. In the future you will be able to ride along these tracks all over the town.

In the previous Council I organised for the first bike handover to schools linking in the police who owned the bikes to be used, organisation who supplied funding and Orange City Council who brought it all together. Bike riding has now become a part of the sports scene and so there is now another way in which we can link into and educate our future.

One of the Orange police officers (Ben) came to Bletchington school so that we could hand over bikes to the 3rd school that has expressed an interest in the pilot project with bike riding. Ben also gave the children the opportunity to learn how to ride correctly on the road and explained what was essential equipment when riding. Ben explained about hand signals, comfort and safety for each of the children.

Ben had a captivated audience who expressed an interest in not only the bike safety information but also him as a police officer. Myself and another teacher gave a demonstration of how the hand-cuffs work and the limited use of your arms. We heard the siren on Ben's bike and saw his baton extended. This was a great opportunity for the children to share what they knew and I believe they will have a better understanding of bike riding, safety and use of the road. There could also be some possible future police officers in the making after hearing about Ben's job.

Cr Fiona Rossiter

Multi-Cultural Men's Information Evening

Ni Sa Bula, Bienvenido, Mabuhay

Again Orange City Council's Multi-cultural worker Anni Gallagher has got her finger on the pulse. Because she is so connected with our community she felt there was a need to put on an evening event so that Multi-cultural men could come together and have the opportunity of meeting other people. At the same time they would be able to gain a better understanding of the services available. I hear how hard it is for newcomers coming from different countries to understand what services are available. For some there is the added problem initially that they are unable to speak much English.

There was food to share and plenty of conversation and all held at our Senior Citizens Centre. A location that is central and provides a comfortable area with catering and parking.

To learn more about the Multi-Cultural services we have available please contact Orange City Councils Migrant Support Worker at the Community Information Centre Ph 63938625

Well done Anni!

Cr Fiona Rossiter

*The Migrant Support Service is funded by the Australian Government Department of Immigration and Citizenship

Guest Speaker Orange Mountain Evening View Club

I had the great pleasure of speaking with the Orange Mountain Evening View Club about my recent adventures in the Kimberley's. I have to confess this is the first time I have put together my story of the adventure and so with it came many memories and mixed emotions. It was a wonderful experience that I would totally recommend. The Australian Rural Leadership Foundation is the organisation that provided the Leadership challenge. The course runs for 18 months with the most amazing opportunities and links to be tapped into.

I felt it important to tell a fair amount of the journey through the Kimberley's, how it happened and I could have told so much more.....

The pictures, scenery and people I met along the way will be engraved into my memory forever. I believe the whole experience made a significant impact on my life and has changed my way of thinking also, not to mention the extended friendships I now have around Australia.

The evenings event at the Orange Mountain Evening View Club focused on the Olympics. There were the games to be played, laughter to be enjoyed and the wonderful company of the ladies. I try to make it to as many of their events as possible and love all the creativity and themes they come up with for there events. Of course these wonderful ladies help with fundraising for the Smith Family and so you can be assured that you get the added benefit of supporting a worthy cause.

Watch out in the local paper CWD to find out when the next event will be on and I look forward to seeing you there on the odd occasion.

Fiona

Local Government Elections

Well what a lead up to this event. The dirty politics and smear campaigns didn't surprise me at all. Something I have become educated in since being in Local Government. Not that I condone it, in fact I had my share of it being on the receiving end earlier this year. What surprises me about all of it is how short memories are. I could go onto a whole lot more discussion on this matter but I don't feel like wasting my time.

For the most part of election day my family, friends and running candidates had a great day both pre-polling and enjoying the company of most other people who were handing out flyer's. The weather was lovely and there was a hive of activity. I was offended though with the two situations that occurred with my children and husband and after having them recorded have now moved on.

Of course election evening was a waiting game with the results looking good. We had my running candidate's at our house for a relaxing BBQ but we just couldn't help ourselves from sneaking into the computer when the chance arose.

For the remainder of the election results it was a slow long old wait. We were sure that I had been elected but were hoping that we could have drawn in some more of our candidates. We had hoped that the preferential system would have been a bonus and we were pleased that we had been open and honest with the community in showing what arrangements had been made.

As part of the smear campaign I acknowledged that there were people who had been quite vocal and making a distinction between true independent and independent and using MP Peter Andren's name when distinguishing the difference. I found that in poor taste especially given that our long serving Councillor Margaret Stevenson OAM had always given referential's and ran successfully for 34 years as an independent. I can only say again how short memories are!

Unfortunately the results came in without Gerald Powers name attached. I was disappointed to see that we could not get him over the line even though he had a significant amount of votes. I understand that he missed out by about 100 further votes. He would have been the first Aboriginal Councillor for Orange and he would have come with a great connection to children, youth and families, to this end I feel it has been a loss to our community.

Our team worked hard in promoting themselves below the line and this was evidenced by the results that appeared on line. I feel proud that Team H made a concerted effort to promote themselves. The Team H T-shirts certainly stood out at the polling booth and was a comment we all heard regularly. It was a pleasure working with such an enthusiastic team who had a heart felt want to become a Councillor.

I thank all of the people who gave our team and myself a vote and especially the number one votes. They all count in the scheme of things and I am thank full that we still have female representation in Orange. Although very limited and quite surprisingly given that there were quite a few women who were on the election ticket. I met a gentleman outside pre-polling who made a point of telling me that he had voted for all the women on the pre-polling ticket, to him I say well done! clearly one of our "new age men" who has a great outlook on life.

Well on with Council I guess it is. With a new Mayor and Deputy Mayor we will see what the future has in store. I was disappointed to miss out on the Deputy Mayoral position myself and was in absolute awe at the fact that a Councillor who was elected to vote on important Council decisions abstained from voting in this instance. I was thinking it may have been a draw and would have been comfortable with a draw out of a hat again but it was not to be the case.

From this time on I will be making a point of recording my opinion and account of future Council meetings on a bi-monthly basis. Remembering that we live in a Democracy and that I have freedom of speech and I will not be swayed by past events when having a say.

To be continued..........

Cr Fiona Rossiter

Orange City Council NSW

Civic Reception to Thank our Volunteers

It was a mad rush but I just had to be there! after finishing work my husband and I made our way out to the Botanical Gardens to be a part of the congratulatory service put on by Orange City Council. We have so many unsung heroes here in Orange and of such magnitude that if we didnt have them it would be detrimental to our community.
These people come from all walks of life and are in a mix of different roles within Council and community projects. Having the volunteers is yet another way of connecting with our community and benefiting from their expertise and skills. Not to mention the people on the receiving end such as meals on wheels. For some people this is the only form of human contact they can have and so providing something to look forward to.
There was quite a crowd at this event and the Mayor John Davis did a marvellous job in congratulating and acknowledging everyone. The venue at the Botanical gardens of course was picturesque both with the gardens and the birds singing.
Congratulations to our many volunteers!

Frost Fest Launch

Frost Fest (August 2009) is a combination of many things: part music, part community event, part fund raiser. There are a hundred possibilities.

Here is how it works:

Firstly, as part of Brand Orange's all year round schedule of events it's a chance to turn an otherwise dreary time of year into a celebration. Give ourselves a boost at a time of year when we all need something to look forward too.

In part it's also a reflection of the role music has played in past Foodweek and Wineweek celebrations. It's a chance to put on some great entertainment and get everyone out of the house, even only for a few hours.

It's also an opportunity for a large part of the local population to get involved. School kids, sports teams, local charities and community groups will all have an opportunity to participate.

This is the message I was given in the invitation to attend the Frost Fest launch. The event was held at the Hotel Orange and the presentation put on by Glenn Mickle certainly gave you something to think about. He is very passionate about the concept and I believe it is something we all should support for our community and our tourism.

For further information contact Glenn Mickle glenn.mickle@morsegroup.com.au

Golden West Centenary Camp Celebrations

I had the pleasure of calling out to the Orange Scout camp which is near lake Canobolas. It was a packed house with plenty of tents set up and people everywhere. Mixed in amongst all of this was lots of laughter and play.
Our Scout leaders had put on a show of activities including a flying fox/abseiling wall where the children could try out their talents. There was a mix of challenges, craft, physical games and a guided tour through the history of Scouts. Interesting enough were the poles which held different colour ribbons to show of activities each group had been involved in. There were even some of the previous scout and leaders from many years ago talking about their time. The memories came pouring in along with the laughter from reminiscing those times.
We are lucky to have such committed people who are willing to be our Scout leaders who support and help our young people learn about ethics and values. Then there are the skills and confidence building that's goes with being involved in activities and a part of a team. I recommend this organisation after what I have seen at different events and from having a young man in our family who has had the best adventures through Scouts.
Keep up the great work! we are very lucky to have you.
Fiona

Back 2 Family Basics- Budget Planner Book Launch

It has taken 6 months for this project to come to fruition. The idea we already had and had been using for many years but the time had come after speaking with Bruce at the Business Enterprise Centre to make it available to the public. One step at a time we put our hand written material together. Then came the insertion of pictures and templates and then the visit to the printers. Scared! yes we were, having never done anything like this before.

We held the evening event to inform the public and launch our first product with our newly named business Back 2 Family Basics. The evening was a huge success with guest speakers Mayor John Davis who welcomed everyone and spoke about our passion to support families. Then Bruce Buchanan Executive Officer for the Business Enterprise Centre spoke about how the product evolved from a prompting telephone conversation. Bruce gave us the push to get out there and promote what we had, it is a conversation we will long remember.

The budgeting planner pack is our first product that has come to fruition. It provides all the resources you need to get you on track with your financial commitments. Truly great value and so easy to use. There are plenty more fabulous products to follow which will help individuals and families to get on track.

Visit our web-site and check it all out, better still purchase the budget planner pack and get ahead financially. Register for the news letter and stay up to day with whats new on the market with Back 2 family basics.