Tim Sullivan Car Park

On Wednesday the 30th of September an unveiling ceremony was held for the Tim Sullivan car park which is at the near of the Orange Civic Centre.

The dedication reads:

"This facility was named in honour of Tim Sullivan (OAM) in recognition of his commitment to civic duties and to the Orange community. Mr. Sullivan was an Orange City Councillor from 1978 to 1991 and from 1995 to 1999. He was mayor of the City of Orange from 1983 to 1991. Mr. Sullivan was born on the 22 November 1944 and was educated at De la Salle Orange. He was a former board member of the Central Tablelands County Council, Advance Energy, Country Energy, Orange Agricultural College and the Bathurst Orange Development Corporation. He is a former president of the Orange City Rugby Union Club and the Orange CYMS Rugby League Club. He was awarded a Rotary Paul Harris Fellowship in 1990. In 2003, Mr. Sullivan was also awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for service to local government and the Orange community."

This is a fitting and much deserved acknowledgment for a popular, fair and equitable mayor; a respectful recognition of his work and achievements.

Civic Reception for St. Petersburg Quartet

On Wednesday 23rd September Orange City Council held a civic reception for the St. Petersburg Quartet. This is the third visit to Orange for this group. They found Orange to be a delight and they thanked the community for the opportunity to perform.

The St. Petersburg Quartet is one of the world's most esteemed chamber ensembles and they did not disappoint. All in all, this was a very enjoyable evening.

NAIDOC Week 2009

This week is a celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and an opportunity to recognise the contributions of Indigenous Australians in various fields.

NAIDOC stands for the National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee. It is a movement that started with the recognition of Aboriginal groups in the 1920's and aims to increase awareness in the wider community of the status and treatment of Indigenous Australians.

Activities will take place across the region during NAIDOC Week (20th September - 26th September) and all Australians are encouraged to participate. The celebrations will culminate with a Family fun Day in the North Court near the council chambers (behind the Art Gallery and Library). There will be music, dance, jumping castles, food, local services, AMS, fire brigade, police, Bush Babies BBQ, bush tucker and games. There is something for everyone!

I am so proud that the Orange City Council as one of the major sponsors of this week of activities and that it strives to uphold its Statement of Commitment to the First People: to acknowledge and promote Aboriginal culture and heritage, to support Aboriginal people in the Orange community and to address issues specific to the local Aboriginal community.

Fusion’s 20th Anniversay in Orange

On Saturday the 19th September, Fusion held their 20th Anniversary and celebrated with a Variety Night Fundraiser! This was a very enjoyable evening with numerous performances, a silent auction, audio-visual presentations and supper.

Fusion is a youth and community organisation which emerged as a response to socially-at-risk young people in Australia. Today, Fusion has over 250 staff and thousands of volunteers in 45 teams and centres throughout the world.

Part of the work of Fusion includes seeking to build a sense of community and purpose for individuals. Fusion Centres are established in response to local need. In Australia Fusion supports: drop in centres and Youth Cafes, lunch time programs in schools, accommodation programs, craft and social activities for isolated women, parenting programs for young single mothers, mentoring and special programs for teenagers at risk, employment training schemes, outdoor education programs, and community festivals designed to build connection.

This is a worthwhile organisation that deserves greater recognition for the work they do.