The Orange Podcast

The community of Orange loves a good story, but this week in town there two examples of two very different stories told in two very different ways. This week street banners were erected which tell the story of wartime sacrifice. And, two new public artworks are launched , hinting at why local councils should do more than build roads and roundabouts.

Orange has a reputation for its festivals. Every year we celebrate our local food and wine culture with FOOD Week and a Wine Festival: times that bring us together to enjoy the best of what we’re good at. This week we’ve launched out latest festival. It’s the Orange Rainbow festival to celebrate local residents who can still feel excluded and on the edge. And, first up ten years of green-lidded bins and the latest tweak we’ve all got to learn to keep using them….

This week we find out more about the project that Orange City Council has decided to contribute $18.5 million towards. It’s biggest ever single contribution to a project in Orange. And on the eve of NAIDOC Week celebrations, the annual celebration comes at a time of sadness and uncertainty in the indigenous community.

The Orange Regional Gallery has just wound up on what could well be its biggest ever exhibition. A sculpture exhibition, by internationally renowned artist Laurence Edwards was shown at the gallery for a couple of months and during that time no less that 8,000 people came through the doors. The good news is that one of the bronze sculptures will stay as part of the permanent collection. And the awareness campaign around The Voice referendum is stepping up. When a parliamentary inquiry into the legislation made their first stop for a hearing outside Canberra, they chose Orange. In Orange they listened to evidence and questioned a number of witnesses on how The Voice could work and what difference it could make.

In this episode, a special look at what could be the biggest change to the future shape of housing in the city of Orange. This week Orange City Council signed an MOU with state-owned developer LandCom to build a new suburb on the eastern outskirts of Orange. With space for 200+ lots, the key differences will see around 25% of the lots to be targeted for affordable housing and with many different sizes and types of housing.

Only a couple of years after the state government helped out with $3.5 million to virtually double the size of the Orange Regional Gallery, that extra space continues to attract some of the best exhibitions to be found in regional Australia. And this week the gallery was a hive of activity unpacking a container just off the boat from England. Inside, 26 giant and tiny human bronze statues, the work of internationally-renowned artist Laurence Edwards.

Orange City Council takes a range of approaches to grow the local economy. At one end of the spectrum, its's exploring ways of building a new multi-level car park alongside the central business district. And, at the micro end, the Council is helping potential new businesses get a start by providing low-cost shop-fronts, positioned just off the main street.

This week: How a 1920s vintage stock and station agent premises selling stock feed in Lords Place was transformed into a contemporary sun-drenched office while still acknowledging the building’s history. And, how the Orange Aboriginal Lands Council took on the process of not only restoring a derelict former police station but also the community memories that came along with it.

Work gets under way soon to design Orange's new sports stadium, and Mayor Jason Hamling believes it means 'coming to the table' late will mean the best in contemporary design. Orange's Robertson Park is the latest location for art works in the FutureCity Public Art program. We talk to artist Kellie O'Dempsey about the ideas behind her work.

In this edition, we hear how the life of an internationally-known Australian has taken on a very new direction after a life-changing incident. Former Yellow Wiggle, Greg Page, wants to boost community awareness of AEDs, that can be the difference between life and death for some who experiences a cardiac arrest. Orange City Council plans to work with Greg Page's charity 'Heart of the Nation' to save lives in Orange.

This week, community discussion stepped up about proposals to upgrade Lords Place South. And for the first time, instead of waiting for the community to come to the Council, the Council is taking the message about Lords Place, out to Lords place by opening up a pop-up shop in Lords Place. And, we take a deep-dive into the biggest expansion ever in Orange when it comes to public transport. There are hundred of new bus routes all equipped with an app to make the journey even slicker, but will that all be enough to make Orange residents take their first bus trip since school?

The project to build Orange's new sports precinct is facing extra costs, but the mayor believes it's not the only big project to face the same problems. Also, new research shows Orange has more live music venues than any other central west centre. A new industry forum this week brought venues and performers together to find solutions to the obstacles that prevents more live music happening locally.

In this episode, we hear about the the ideas behind the proposed upgrade of Lords Place South. Council CEO David Waddell tells how governments use grants to get local Councils to deliver on their decisions. We find out how you can arrange a guest speaker for your next community group meeting. And we meet new Council member Mel McDonell, and find out about her hopes and dreams for this Council term.

If you’ve driven past Robertson Park in recent days and seen tents and enclosure being assembled, its the first signs of the Orange Winter Fire Festival in the park getting ready. In this program, we take Orange 360’s Caddie Marshall and Mayor Jason Hamling down to the park to find out why you should venture out this Winter. And, we’ll hear about some new attempts to revitalise our local live music industry. The Winter Fire Festival is on from the 6th to the 14th of August. For more, go to to the Orange City Council and Orange 360 websites.

In the spotlight this week, a government announcement of some more funding for a new conservatorium that will let music come out of from being hidden in the back streets, to a prime spot at the centre of our community’s civic life. In this episode of the Orange podcast, what difference the construction of a new building will make to the people of Orange? We hear from the NSW Arts Minister, the Mayor and two leaders of our music community.

Back in 2020, artist John Olsen visited the Orange Regional Gallery to view the construction site for the new five million dollar extension. He also took the opportunity to view the Gallery’s permanent collection. Mr Olsen was so impressed by what he saw, he spontaneously offered a major painting, a bronze sculpture and four works on paper to the Gallery, works worth hundreds of thousand of dollars. During a recent visit he spoke to reporters about why people from regional centres need to see their town represented by art. Also this week, local residents urged say what they want to happen with the Orange Function Centre. And we hear from a blacksmith who's working on repairs at the Orange cemetery. He was back recently

The director of the Gallery of NSW was in Orange this week for a big state government announcement: The Arts Minister had news of three quarters of a million of dollars to put more touring exhibitions on the road in regional areas. Where do they come for a big announcement? The recently-expanded Orange Regional Gallery that has a great track record of delivering big shows. And why a man who work in logistics in the mining industry, decided to stand for Orange City Council.

This week on the program, a wrap of key decision at this week's council meeting. We also meet a local pharmacist who decided to run for council. And find out about the Orange-born mountain climber who held a altitude record for 30 years before Mt Everest was topped.

One of the new faces on Orange City Council is a doctor and a quadriplegic. This week we meet Cr Steve Peterson. And we also catch up with Council CEO David Waddell to find out more about the latest list of what the Orange community wants the Council to be working on.

Heritage architect David Scobie helps local residents who want to restore their house, navigate the minefield of design, finding suppliers and grants. This week on the Orange Podcast, how some early advice can head off a major kerfuffle. And, Orange City Council's youngest new member reveals how much he's enjoying his new role.