Christmas 2008

Yet another Christmas has arrived with the joy of sharing time with family and those close to your life. Every Christmas we are able to share the time with family and our friends and it has become a time when we really take the time to give thanks for what we have and what we share with others.

We teach our children the importance of Christmas and the meaning behind giving. We also help them to understand the religious side of Christmas.

I do hope you have time to relax and enjoy the atmosphere along with those near and dear to you.

Take Care and I look forward to catching up in 2009

Merry Christmas

Fiona

Bush Babies Graduation TAFE

What a wonderful experience to be a part of. 12 students who trained in the early childhood Certificate III in children's services were graduating. These ladies were training specifically as Aboriginal childcare workers in a course specifically designed to meet the needs of the Aboriginal culture.
They are now able to work directly with children and their families and I understand some of the graduates will be going on to do further study with a Diploma.
I wish them well in their new endeavours.........

FORG Christmas Party

I wasn't really sure of who this group was when I first accepted the invitation. I soon learnt that they were a group called Friends of the Regional Gallery using the acronym FORG. The evenings event was held at the Orange Botanical Gardens function centre and the atmosphere was jovial with Christmas cheer.
There were some people dressed in fancy dress and prizes were given for the most creative. Our children enjoyed the event and the evening flew by. The generosity of people who attended shone though with gifts being brought along for the Salvation Army Christmas appeal.
Ho Ho Ho Merry Christmas......

Christmas Street Party 2008

A great deal of planning had gone into this years Orange Christmas Festival. The theme was to be the Twelve Days of Christmas and it was all set for a finally to the evening which would cause a great bang. Unfortunately there was a real dampness placed onto the event, and it was a dampness we couldn't complain about. It started raining and it was just what Orange had asked for.

The event was moved to the Orange Function centre and again a great deal of work was undertaken to do this. Orange City Council staff worked incredibly hard and pulled it off. The numbers of people attending dropped but the atmosphere was still there.

Santa arrived on a flash bike and said hello to all of the children. The most exciting part of the event was Santa's visit. There was a sing along some lollies and then he left to deliver his presents for Christmas. Even Mrs Clause was there.

Lots of activities, band music, games and face painting filled the evening with fun and family entertainment. Not to mention the last minute bit of shopping with stall holders showing off their wares.

Follow up workshop Mission Australia

Kirstin and I had undertaken our first workshop with Back 2 family basics and were now holding the follow up workshop. We needed to find out how our clients had gone with the new budgeting package which they received during the last workshop.

The Budgeting pack is a 3 part series that my husband and I had developed, used and then passed onto our children. The three eldest had purchased their own cars by the age of 15 and the 21 year old has just bought her first house and our 19 year old is in the process of purchasing his. Not a bad effort for young people.

Anyway back to the follow up workshop. We had less people attend the follow up which initially surprised us, this didnt last for long though when we found out that they were at their new jobs. We did receive feedback via the staff that their clients had been following their workbooks and had become very thrifty with their shopping and saving.

Good outcome and we are looking forward to many more. To learn more about our Budgeting Pack visit our website http://www.back2familybasics.com.au/

Midnight Basketball

Midnight Basketball has been held in Orange for the past few months bringing together young people who have the chance to engage in activities and learn new skills. My daughter and I had the opportunity to help out just recently and found the evenings events great for young people. The young people arrived via a bus which brought them to Play on Indoor. When they arrived they signed in and were delegated to different areas.

Some of them would start off with an educational workshop, others would do training to learn about basketball and the remainder played competition games. These groups rotated throughout the evening. Half way through the events a meal was put on by "Not Just Another Cafe" (NJAC) which gave us all a chance to hear one another stories. The kids really seemed to enjoy the evening and were keen to work out who was playing who on the next evening.

My daughter and I volunteered to help with the running of Midnight Basketball which gave young people a chance to socialise away from home. There were quite a few volunteers and they all made friends with the kids and learnt the different language that they used, along with a bit of rap, hip hop and what their general feelings were for their future.

It was a privilege to be involved and gave us some insight into how difficult life can be for some of these young people. Giving them a chance to show of their talents, have some fun and enjoy sharing a meal together proved to be a success for a great evening.

Learn and Lead Business Event- Westpac

Learn, lead and succeed was held at Turners Vineyard, Orange. We had spectacular views and a day full of great tips, ideas, opportunities to network, speakers and workshops. Westpac bank organised the event and there were about 100 women in attendance. It was a fabulous day with key learning's and the opportunity to learn about how other people have lived and succeeded.

To learn more about visit the Ruby connection

Mobility Challenge

Having a mobility challenge is certainly a wake up call. Myself and Mayor Reg Kidd became involved in the recent mobility challenge held here in Orange. We were told we would be blindfolded and need to make our way through a shopping centre, across the main street and then return back to the starting point. We were given a brief on how to use the vision stick to take note of changes underfoot and note noises that we heard.
After being blindfolded the challenge was on and it was not easy by any means. We had a person stay with us to help guide us when needed. When I had my eyes covered there was a real sense of fear when first starting to move. I hadn't realised how much we relied on our eyes.
Our other senses really came into play and touch and sound became the major senses we used. Getting out of the shopping centre had its challenges as the elevator was the mode of transport in getting to the next level. That in itself made you feel disorientated.
On arriving at the opening to Summer street the noise made it difficult to get orientated. Even though you could hear the traffic there was no real way of telling how close it was. When coming up to the traffic lights there were the markers on the footpath and the raised arrow and tone on the traffic signs which allowed you to know when it was clear to walk. The hard part here was hoping that the road users respected the signs themselves before you stepped out onto to the road.
Trying not to run into people and being guided by the walls along the footpath became tricky especially when business owners had signs along the walk way. It was quite a relief to return back to the starting point after having better understood the difficulties for blind people.
There were other disability challenges that other people who attended the day had to get through. For me it has been beneficial in gaining a greater understanding in my Councillor role when making decisions in our environment for our community.

Botanical Gardens Orange Food Service Luncheon

Orange Botanical Gardens is one of Orange City Councils spectacular places to visit. Wide open spaces, plenty of fauna, plants, artwork and history. It was an ideal place to thank the volunteers who give up their time to help community people in need to receive food services.

Meals on wheels is one such type of service where their are friendships made and important contact with people who are limited in their ability to move outside the home.

It was a pleasure to be a part of this luncheon and thank the many special people who make these services available to people in need.

Congratulations to our hard workers!

NSW Local Government Aboriginal Network Conference

This was a three day trip to Armidale where I attended the NSW Local Government Aboriginal Network (LGAN) conference.

The theme of the conference was "Community Strength, Sustainability and Resilience" This was the third time Armidale had hosted the LGAN conference and as said in the program there has been a strong relationship with their Aboriginal community and they value the contribution made by members of Council's Ngayinyaga Aboriginal Community Consultative committee over the years.

The conference program included topics such as
"Two Ways Together"
"Local Government- holding and nurturing Aboriginal strengths and solutions to enrich our capacity to govern locally"
"Community Resilience and Governance"
"Community Cultural Development- What's its value?"
"Link with traditional culture"
"Getting Down to Business"
"Black & White: stories behind the development of the Thomas Dick Exhibition"
"Gomeroi National Project: The People's Initiative"
"Koori Toastmasters- Strong Voices"
A documentary drama film- "Who is Frank Archibald?"
"The Australian Employment Covenant"
"The Importance of Leadership to Community Progress"
"Closing the Gap"
"Showcasing Armidale"
"Crime Prevention moving with the times"
"Where we came from to where we are today"
"Aboriginal Employment in the Local Government Industry"

"Using traditional concepts in today's environment"

"LGSA (Local Government and Shires Associations of NSW) and Aboriginal Affairs"

"Aboriginal employment strategies"

To learn more visit the Local Government site

The Conference Dinner was held on the last evening and it gave us great joy to be the winners of the Local Government Council and to receive the Major Award. The award now takes pride of place in at our Council Chambers in Orange NSW. We have undertaken with the initiation of our Aboriginal community a great variety of projects which support the needs and connectedness of our people. We feel very privileged to receive the award and look forward to work further with our community as a whole. We now have a statement of commitment to our Aboriginal community which can be view on our web-site.

Australian National Field Days Orange

It was a day out with my boys and a day which brought much intrigue and adventure. My eldest son had been asking me for quite some time if we could go to the Field Days and I had made a promise to go.

The day was delightful, the weather good to us and a pass to get in. We gained a map and we were off. So much to see and do they said lots of boy things and of course the fashion for women. We split into two groups and the older boys went to see the things they had planned to.

I of course wanted the visit the Country Women's Association stand, which let me tell you was very big and say hello to the women who do so much in our community.

Of course I couldn't miss the fashion so ventured down to the area which had the displays and fashion show.

We are very fortunate to have this annual event and I believe a means to bring our farming and country folk together. There is very much a social component to this which allows for networking and socialisation.

We are looking forward to the 2009 event to catch a bargain and bump into people we have met previously.

Launch of Cancer Care Western NSW Website

Cancer Care Western NSW is just over a year old now and was developed after our town was told we would be having a Radio-therapy unit in Orange NSW. There were real issues with people having to travel 4 and more hours to seek Radio Therapy treatment, while being away from family any thing up to 7 weeks.

After significant lobbying it was confirmed that Orange would be the home to a new Radio-Therapy unit. With this comes the need for accommodation for people in outlying regional, rural and remote areas. The accommodation will be located near the new hospital site which is at Bloomfield and will provide 14 rooms initially. I am one of the board members for Cancer Care West and I was one of the initial people who set up the alliance and lobbied government.

There was a lot of work that has been done and plenty more to come given that we need to raise 2 million dollars. We have most of the communities in the Central West on board now and so it seemed timely to set up a web-site and spread the word more. To learn more about our organisation visit our web-site and if possible make a donation so we can get closer to our dream of providing accommodation for people who need somewhere to lie their heads down and relax after treatment.

Looking forward to your support!

Mission Australia-B2fb Workshop

This is the beginning of great things!

My husband and I have set up a new business that focuses on teaching people basic skills in life. We ran our first work shop with Mission Australia Orange with great success and had these people share with us their real concerns when managing money. By the time the days events had finished we had a happy group of people who were ready to tackle the world.

They had the resources and skills that we had taught them to make their money work for them. We had a follow up workshop which you will read about later in these posts so make sure you check that out to learn more.

When our own children are able to purchase their own cars by the age of 15 years and a house by 21 years then you know you have taught them some amazing skills. They are our testament to a proven product. To learn more visit our website or to get on track with your finances purchase a Budgeting Pack. Coming soon we will be offering consulting time via the phone so you can work through the package with assistance. The pack is self explanatory but sometimes it is nice to have the support.

Make sure you get on track now with your Budgeting Pack!

Youth off the Streets- Father Chris Riley

I mentioned in my previous post that we had made a trip to Coolah after an invite from a friend I had met in my ARLP group. We took up her kind offer and joined in on a fun filled Family Fun Event held by the community. The organisers were very busy with detail and organising events. On the Saturday we had the absolute pleasure of meeting Father Chris Riley. He had his entourage along side him and of course his pet Great Danes.

We enjoyed the opportunity to share the space with him when promoting Australian Family Matters and Back 2 Family Basics. We learnt a lot from the interaction of Father Chris Riley and his team, when working with the younger generation. There was plenty to do and learn.

The evening was the grand finale with the children who had come to the fun day and learnt dancing and singing putting on a show for us in the evening. There were certainly some budding artists which I hope we see again in the future.

Father Chris Riley and his team do amazing work with their organisation "Youth off the streets" visit his website to find out more.

"You won't die laughing"

Our family went to Coolah in NSW for the weekend for a Family Fun event put on by the Health Service. We had quite a laugh during the evening of the 7th when we called at the local hall to hear a husband and wife team. The man was a former Doctor and his wife a nurse and they had a send up of a variety of things which sent the room into a barrel of laughter. This couple moved from working directly in the health service to working on the psychosocial component of health and encouraging laughter.

It was a memorable evening and my husband joined their newsletter which sends out a monthly letter of laughter. Needless to say he is never short of a joke!

SOFT Program for Women

Shaping Our Futures Together (SOFT) is designed to cover three themes. They are self-esteem and confidence building, goal setting and personal action planning and networking. I had the opportunity of attending a SOFT course in Young over a two day period and it was so uplifting.

We stayed in this magnificent building and shared the experience with several other women. There was the opportunity for an early morning walk before joining the group for the days activities.

Have you ever been to a course where you do lots of activities and have fun most of the time. There were deep and meaningful moments where we did some inner sharing but all for a meaningful ending. We learnt some new skills and how to involve the environment you live in while remembering the new techniques we can use to improve and value ourselves. We even sang!

If you ever get the opportunity to attend one of these events it comes highly recommended by myself. Visit the Rural Women's Network to learn more

Dragon Boat Launch- Lake Canobolas

After a busy morning at work I ventured out to Lake Canobolas after receiving an invitation to the Dragon Boat Launch. I had been contacted by the Dragon Boat committee for Orange after hearing about their need to house the Dragon Boat. After some discussion with Council we found a home.

The Dragon Boat committee have set up their organisation as a part of a wider circle for people who have been effected by or are supporting people who have had breast cancer. These are an amazing group of people who deserve to have the tranquility of the water to work with while improving their fitness and well being.

There is quite a routine to the Dragon Boat paddling and it is totally dependent on team work. I had the opportunity at the launch to board a boat and learn the technique. I wish this group of people well and I look forward to hearing the progress they have when doing there competition side of it all.

" relaxing while sailing"

Orange Mountain Evening View Dinner

The theme for this event was Halloween and the people who dressed up where very adventurist. There was a mixture of witches with crooked noses, long nails and colourful hair. The food was delicious and the guest speaker was good. They had Jason Hay who spoke about Health Promotion and Prevention Mental Health and Drug and Alcohol GWAHS. I enjoy attending these evenings with my eldest daughter as it is a club for younger women.

The evening is full of activity and games and you are always in the chance of winning a prize. I went home with a pumpkin. All of this while supporting the Smith Family.

These ladies do a wonderful job of bringing the monthly meetings together, I am looking forward to the next one.

Australian Rural Leadership Victoria/Melbourne

Australian Rural Leadership Foundation

The third trip we had away for the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation was a visit to Melbourne, Victoria. The session involved learning about futures thinking and strategy development, Australia and the global economy, multi-cultural ism- Australia's social reality, personal skills that further enhance leadership development and roles and responsibilities of Boards of Directors. As you can imagine it was full of information, networking, learning +

+ + +, social interaction and leadership building.

If you would like to learn more about the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation and Program visit their website

Coins for Cancer- Cancer Care Western NSW

Coins for Cancer

The clouds outside were dark and there was a real stillness in the air. It was a Saturday morning and we were ready to build a path of coins along the southern side of summer street.

The reason why is to do with the Carewest lodge soon to be built here in Orange. Orange Base Hospital is being rebuilt and supposed to be completed by 2011. With the new hospital comes a Radio-Therapy unit with two Linear Accelerators. The community has been so active in understanding the need for the Radio-Therapy service that it has now taken up the project of raising funds to provide accommodation to outlying areas when utilising the service.

Here in it lies the challenge to raise 2 million dollars. So the Coins for Cancer was one of those many fundraisers being held. I met up with other committee and Rotary members and proceeded to make up a line. We had buckets to collect the money and witches hats to guide the line. It didn't take long for the clouds to open up and down poured the rain. This was of course no problem to the event as we had the awnings for cover, if anything it opened up the conversations with people who were excited to see the rain.

So the rain poured down and the money flowed in along the money trail. It was a good day held by all and a true credit to the people of Orange who helped support yet another fundraising event.

If you would like to make a donation to Cancer Care West please visit the web-site

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.

Cr Fiona Rossiter RN BN JP -Profile

Fiona Rossiter JP RN BN- Profile

About Fiona

Hi, my name is Fiona, I am 43 years of age and was born in England. I came to Australia on the ten pound boat ride at the age of one with my brother and parents. I have become naturalised and have lived in Australia for a good part of my life. I am a member of several community committees and a Justice of the Peace. The photo attached was taken when I became Woman of the Year for the Orange Electorate.
I am married to a wonderful man called Paul who does a marvellous job in keeping us all so connected. We have 8 children between us, 6 of which live in Australia with us. Our children and family life gives us much joy and is a priority in our lives.
We have had a strong passion to see children have happiness and in giving them the best opportunities in life, so much so that we have opened the doors of our home for the past few years to be Foster Care Parents. This has been a deeply moving experience for our family and just emphasises the diversity in each and every person’s life. Being a mum is one of the best professions in the world I believe!
My employed profession is as a Registered Theatre Nurse at Orange Base Hospital. I completed my study in 2000 (a late bloomer, to busy having children) and then specialised in Theatre Nursing the following year. I enjoy my work place and I work with amazing people. Being in charge of shift, meeting the many challenges that face you in emergency situations and connecting with people make my job extremely rewarding.
I keep going back to the importance of family as it is a choice Paul and I have made in our lives to only work part-time. We are able to fulfil our other commitments and engage with our interests. Paul and I have recently set up a new business called “back 2 family basics” http://www.back2familybasics.com.au/ where we have developed and printed our first resource package with many more to come. This is exciting for us as we are able to work together from home.
Prior to that we Founded another organisation called Australian Family Matters (Not For Profit) http://www.australianfamilymatters.com.au/ which has been set up to provide support and networking for children, youth and families. This site is a great success and is now looked after by a Board of community members.

As a Councillor already serving the Orange Community

I have been elected as a Councillor for Orange since 2004 after being invited to run with long serving and well respected Cr Margaret Stevenson OAM. When elected there were 3 female Councillors and a variety of professions. At the next election I ask that you support and encourage further female representation.
I am not affiliated with any political party and believe there is no room for party politics in Local Government. We are meant to be here for the people of our community, not to follow party lines. I believe that our council needs some new blood and there needs to be some changes. I am standing again because I have enjoyed my previous years and feel there is more to achieve. I believe some of us have worked really well and our achievements have been resounding.
There has been unprecedented growth and we are keeping ahead of the game with the administration of Council. Orange City Council is in a sound position and the progress of Orange is unstoppable. We need people on Council who are forward thinkers, who have a broad vision for our community.
My Objectives are worth reading and can be seen on the Orange City Council website at http://council.saucedesign.com.au/go/our-council/councillors/councillor-rossiter

In my previous years on Council I have been a strong advocate for and worked with others on:

BMX Track- Glenroi and Anzac Park
After surveying students we learnt the requirements for a BMX track in Orange. Being the chairperson of the working party it didn’t take us long to develop a conceptual design for both tracks with the opportunity of being able to re-adjust at any time. A BMX club is being set up now with a possible Olympian in the future.
Ronald McDonald House Orange- Being a Board Member and fundraising for accommodation unit at the hospital for children and their families.
Cancer Care Western NSW- Being a Board Member and fundraising for an accommodation facility for patients and carers when undertaking cancer treatment. Assisted with the production of a DVD on cancer treatment emphasising the impact of long distances to travel for patients at this time.
Children’s Memorial Garden- Mt Lindsay/Rotary Park – actively worked with community members and council to lobby for and confirm the location of this garden. Plans have commenced on fundraising for and design of this garden.
Glenroi Park- actively sought funding from additional sources for play equipment at Glenroi Park. Worked with council staff to meet with children and identify what type of equipment they preferred.
Advocated for Bike racks in CBD
After I successfully moved a motion in Council, Orange Central Business District will become more accommodating for bike riders with several bike racks soon to be installed.
Bike Program for Schools
I initiated the development for a partnership with Orange Police, local schools, services clubs and Council to provide bicycles to schools. This project has enabled children to learn cycling skills, bike safety, maintenance and the opportunity for an alternative mode of transport.

In addition, I have:
Advocated for Anzac Park Sports Facility
Supported decision for Indoor Heated pool
Advocated for Affordable Housing Project in Eungella Place
Country Vice President Australian Local Government Women’s Association
Chairperson:
Services Policy Committee
Christmas Street Party
Youth Inter agency
Community Inter agency

I am also proud of the fact that I have been involved with some of my fellow Councillors in securing funding for The Northern Distributor Road, CCTV cameras, the William street lights, Anzac Recreational Facility and 4.5 million toward the water management program for Orange. As you can see I work hard on commitment and in providing the best possible outcomes for Orange and our satellite towns.


What I bring to the future Council

I bring to Council a well balanced person who has an independent mind with a particular interest in people and their lives (this is why I have chosen my profession as a nurse also). I have undertaken extra education in my own time to better understand the many areas of Council life so I am able to make informed decisions and keep up with the times. I also have an extensive network which allows me the opportunity to connect with other people along with sharing ideas and resources.
I have commenced “The Australian Rural Leadership Program” which runs for 18 months and only accepts 35 people annually from Australia. The programs to date have been life changing. I feel very privileged to be a part of this organisation and can already see the benefits for regional and rural Australia’s future.

My Policies for the upcoming election are:

Rate control
Investigate and encourage other forms of funding to prevent increased costs to Orange Council and Rate payers
Orange Base Hospital
Remain active and further progress the development of our new base hospital with further specialist services.
Improve Road Accessibility
Continue to speak out and make change on poor access to the South for the many new facilities and organisations. We are a growing city and so the Southern link should occur. Also progress Cr Ryan’s motion for the Spring Creek Bridge by providing a link and access over this route.
Increase Parking in the CBD
Continue to lobby for increased accessible parking in the CBD with an emphasis on particular parking zones for residents.
Greening Orange- Climate Change Action
Increase the awareness and impact of Climate Change via education whilst working with our Council on measures to reduce our Carbon Footprint.
Water Sustainability
Continue to be active in progressing Orange’s future water plans, whilst gaining funding from other resources to reduce impacts on rate payers.
Increase School Safety in the Community
Continue to examine and understand additional options that could provide safer and independent speed restrictions around schools and pedestrian crossings
Healthy Lifestyle
Continue to advocate for further bike and walking trails, sporting facilities and events and promote shared space concept.
Community Cohesion
Continue to support and attend community forums, engage further in community consultation and encourage and promote all means of communicating with Council and Councillors. Bang the Table at http://www.orange.nsw.gov.au/

I have been a committed and active Councillor for the past four years and would like to carry my work ethics on for a further four years. I would like to represent the community of Orange again and ask please could you give me your
No 1 Vote for Rossiter
I also encourage you to consider my team members when placing your below the line vote marking up 6 of your votes with us.
Additionally you can vote above the line by giving our TEAM H No 1

Thank you for this opportunity and I do hope I can represent Orange again in the future!

Meet our Team H online at You Tube-Orange Electorate- Fiona Rossiter

Rugby Union Players- Cancer Care Western NSW

What a huge fundraising event put on by several committed Orange people. It was a weekend jam packed with activity and it started on Friday evening with the arrival of Julian Huxley. Julian had rode with his brother from Canberra in an effort to raise funds for the Care West Lodge. The lodge will provide accommodation for people seeking Radio Therapy at the new unit in Orange. The amazing part of this story is that Julian had been diagnosed with a brain tumour and had already had surgery. On the Monday after this big weekend he was commencing Chemo-Therapy treatment. It was really quite a moving moment when Julian spoke to hear about how he wanted to help others and in particular country people. He had already been through quite an ordeal himself and he had been so selfless in his actions with this fundraiser.

It was wonderful to meet the other people involved including his mother and brother.

On Saturday evening Julian Huxley's Wallaby Union mates all came to the Hotel Canobolas to meet and greet the many guests for the fundraising dinner. There was the opportunity to bid for numerous sporting items and Julian's bike from the recent ride from Canberra. There was also question time, a fine meal which provided a social and friendly evening.

On Sunday Jan and I went to visit Endeavour oval where there were plenty of children ready to learn some union techniques. The team players took the time to really concentrate on coaching these future union players. The rain didn't deter anyone. Jan and I rattled the money boxes and gained further money for this weekend of talent and fundraising.

I understand the weekend helped raise a significant amount of money for our future Care West accommodation in Orange.

Calare/ Amerdown Community Meeting

It was a cold wet night but worth taking a visit to Duntry league Golf Club. Why?, well it was the opportunity for the people in the community to meet with Councillors and Council staff to speak about their needs and changes they would like to see made in the area of Clare and Amerdown.

There were about 40 people in attendance with plenty of information to share. I chaired the meeting this evening and explained what had been brought up previously to Council and what had been done.

There was plenty of discussion about the new sewerage cost for checking mains. The need to have a bus shed for children. A turning point near the ABC playgroup centre. The two Ploughmans lane sections of road not connecting up to the South requested by residents. A community group which has been dysfunctional for two years and much more. While it is pleasing to hear the interest and ideas of community people it can also be frustrating to know that there is not an endless bucket of wealth to remedy every thing.

There was some discussion about the water grid program for Orange with the opportunity to talk to the public not so much about raising the dam wall but the priority just now is to fill the 70% empty dam for the future. We will have by May next year the water harvesting scheme set up so this will have an automatic feed into Suma Park Dam with rain water run off. There will be filter systems in place and the extra capacity to hold further water in the water harvest catchment area once the dam is filled. Therefore giving not only the Suma Park Dam holding capacity but the Storm Water retention area as well.

The Directors present were informative with their answers and yes on occasions we did have to note items. There was plenty of discussion and lively debate with the opportunity after question time to mix with the public.

The Community Forums I have always enjoyed and make a point of getting to as many as possible. It is our way as Councillors to truly connect with the community in their space and gain a better understanding of their needs.

NSW Rape Crisis Centre-Working Against Sexual Violence

NSW Rape Crisis Centre responded to 6,695 requests for help in the 2006/07 financial year. This is a 55% increase when compared with two years ago.

When someone says they have been sexually assaulted, the first response is critical to their recovery and decisions about what to do next.

A response which is compassionate, non blaming and supportive will help the person feel better. It will give them confidence to make contact with sexual assault services and consider reporting to Police.

Where the response is disbelieving, judgemental or uncaring the person will often decide to not speak about 'it' again. For some this will result in developing chronic sexual assault trauma.

Myths and Realities

There are two reasons for sexual assault myths to exist. The first is to excuse the perpetrator for their actions, and the second is to blame the victim. While we continue to accept these myths, sexual assault will continue to happen.

It could never happen to me

Anyone can be raped

Rape is about uncontrolled lust.

Rape is a violent assault

Women ask for it by the way they dress and behave.

If you have money in your pocket does that mean you want to be robbed?

Rape is committed in dark alleys by strangers.

Most victims know their attackers

A rapist is easy to spot

Rapists look perfectly normal

If a person has had sex with the man before it's not rape if it happens again.

Forced sex is rape.

A husband cannot rape his wife.

'I do' is not consent forever. Rape in marriage is a crime.

Women lie about rape to get compensation.

Some lawyers will try anything to protect their clients.

Men don't get raped

Yes they do.

How NSW Rape Crisis Centre can help? You can refer any person who has been impacted by sexual violence to these people. Their contact phone number is 1800 424017 or visit the website at http://www.nswrapecrisis.com.au/

The Centre's website also has a number of fact sheets on sexual assault and other information about the Law and Criminal Justice Process, Prevention and the work of NSW Rape Crisis Centre.

All information provided for you in this post was obtained during a recent education session I attended in Orange recently. Statistical information came from the brochures provided.

If you need further information on the courses or in seeking help with a rape related issue then please do not hesitate to contact the NSW Rape Crisis Centre help line. It is manned 24/7 with a councillor the phone number is 1800 424017

Services in the Orange Area are

Orange Sexual Assault Service 02 6393 3300

Orange Police 02 6361 5499

Orange Base Hospital 02 6393 3000

Australian Rural Leadership- Adelaide Visit

Well I was off again for a week (16th-24th August), this time though I was not climbing through caves and sliding down waterfalls. Instead I was enjoying some time spent in Adelaide with fellow course 15 members from the Australian Rural Leadership Program (ARLP). There was plenty to keep us engaged and always more to learn. The general theme this time was media, Myers Briggs and presentations. We were also privy to learning more about our fellow members as they shared some stories of their lives post Kimberley's.

It seems like such a long time away from home and it is really in the great scheme of things but this time around we were able to phone home. The flight to and fro were good and there was plenty to see. My husband Paul joined me for the last few days which was kindly organised by the Australian Leadership team.

So what did we do? well lets start with an update on each of my fellow ARLP members in course 15 and where they are up to since returning from the Kimberley's. There were a variety of stories with a common theme coming through as to how incredibly changing the experience was to so many individuals.

We were given a book to read about Emotional Intelligence and to support this concept we had a workshop which again reiterated the importance for leaders to have such an important skill in life. With this we spoke about our values and linked them into our course 15 vision for our group.

Two days were spent working on media training and how timely this has been for me with the upcoming election. We learnt about presentations, media releases, what makes news and how to get your message across. We were able to see how the TV news room works and what story selections were chosen. There was a brief on dressing for the media, the role of the interview, the do's and don'ts of a media interview and lots more valuable information.

There was even the opportunity to perform on television with a mock crisis management press conference. This was an amazing experience and certainly kept us all on our toes. To follow on from that we visited the ABC studio and again conducted another interview with a media release we had previously developed. The feedback from this was valuable more so because we were dealing with real journalists who are exceptionally experienced in their field. There was the opportunity to witness Country Hour and we were also able to watch and participate in a live to air radio news bulletin.

The second last day focused on presentation skills with a mass of role playing and even some games to put a competitive edge on it. Some things to think about were how much of the true you do you share with your audience, where do you place yourself when speaking in front of an audience and how do you use your body when presenting.

Myers Briggs Type Indicator was given to us on Friday. Learning about your type proved to be an interesting adventure that we were all keen to engage in. Once our types were identified we could then hear how the various quadrants impacted on other people. This was especially significant for extroverts. All of our partners were then invited to a session also which they had without us present. They were also given some interesting home work. This area opened up a great deal of discussion and our names changed to extroverts or introverts at the evening dinner. On the last day we all came back together with our partners and learnt more about our relationships and those close to us.

Saturday afternoon was spent on a guided tour around Adelaide and visiting several Vineyards. We learnt about how they managed their water situations and how they promote their businesses. This networking opportunity was very relaxing and engaging. The vineyards visited were Paxton, Shingleback and Fox Creek based in the McLaren Vale area. It was very easy to bring into the conversations the Orange Vineyards and the progression of our industry as a food and wine basket for the central west.

I cant help but say how important it is for people to have support and information in order to grow. The Australian Rural Leadership excel with their program and again I am so glad and feel very privileged to be a part of course 15.

Official Opening- The Hon John Cobb MP Calare Electorate

It is with much disappointment that I missed the Official Opening of the Calare Electorate Office in Orange. I have known John Cobb for quite some time now and have found him very easy to engage with. I wish him well for the future as the Member of Parliament for the Calare Electorate and can only trust that he will be an advocate for a better future for all.
MP John Cobb can be contacted via email john.cobb.mp@aph.gov.au

Orange Visitors Guide- Launch

The Orange Region Visitors Guide was launched at the Hotel Canobolas by Mayor of Orange John Davis. Although I couldn't attend due to my commitment with the Australian Rural Leadership Program and being in Adelaide it was fortunate that my husband Paul could be present.

We were celebrating for two reasons. First because Orange now has a superb Guide which will be distributed far and wide and secondly because we have a paid advert in there for our new business which is supporting families. Back 2 Family Basics can be seen on page 33 with reference to our products and web-site.

So let me get back to the visitors guide. I understand there was extensive work done bringing together the first publication. The team behind the new guide for the Orange region wanted to make it safe to read a tourism publication again. Whilst not restraining the enthusiasm of contributors, the body of words accompanying what to do, see and enjoy in the Orange region is designed to be simply factual and informative.

The guide introduces a new concept of quarterly changing covers and event program inserts bringing together together four seasonal events.

The Taste Orange initiative supports existing events like Food Week and Orange Wine Week while also introducing Slow Summer and Frost Fest to provide a full calendar of events and activities.

The guides are available at the Tourist Information Centre and I understand that each household in Orange will receive one.

Well done to the guys at Taste Orange you have done some tremendous work and should be congratulated for making Orange look so good.

Bang the Table-opening up discussion for the community

Have you ever wanted to tell Council what you think? Have you got some ideas that you feel Council should know? How about items that need to be looked at!
Well our Council has become very trendy with the addition of a community forum link. I am a firm believer of open discussion that is amicable. No need to be rude, just be honest and share what you know or believe should be done to improve the community in which you live.
If time is against you and getting to Council meetings is a challenge then here is another opportunity to be heard.
Visit the Council's web site and bang the table with information you would like to share. You can either post your own questions or you can feedback to others who have topics you are interested in. Better still do the both and become very active in your own right.
I look forward to reading your posts and on the odd occasion will even engage in the discussion myself. So hop on now, have a look and become involved!
Orange City Council- Bang the Table forum

Socio-Cultural Development Through Music Programs

An exploration inspired by the current Bolivian experience had by Graham Sattler Director of Orange Regional Conservatorium. I attended this presentation which Graham held at Charles Sturt University Orange.

As described by Graham Sattler:

Imperatives such as social harmony and inclusion, community integration and self and group-esteem are increasingly being seen as achievable through music education and practice. One international example of ensemble music programs designed to encourage these outcomes, is the musical 'revolution' in Bolivia, South America.

This program aimed to create an environment of hope and purpose for at-risk youth by reconnecting with a 300 year old tradition of cross-cultural music education made possible by the discovery of several significant manuscripts found during restoration work on a series of mission churches during the 1980s. In 2006, Mr Graham Sattler- Director, Orange Regional Conservatorium- undertook a study tour where he observed and compared ensemble programs in Bolivia and North America in vastly different socio-economic and culturally varied communities.

Back in Australia, New South Wales Regional Conservatoriums provide comprehensive, non tertiary music education programs for students from early childhood to retirement. Ensemble programs underscore the thrust of these organisations, providing non-musical benefits to the community through involvement in vital, focused, group-music activities.

This lecture will explore the Bolivian experience, compare it with North American models and teas out the potential and the challenges of translating the principles behind these programs to the Australian condition.

I felt inspired by the journey in which Graham has had with the various people involved. We had the opportunity to watch his engagement with several youth groups and hear the talent from some children who were self taught. I look forward to seeing how Graham will progress this idea and strengthen links between the University and the region it serves.

Molong Players - Lost

I had just been at a fundraising event for the Premi-babes association group with my family, when I was approached by a lady called Catherine who informed me that she was playing my character in a play. Of course I was interested, felt a flattered to know that I had become a star in an indirect way. You see Catherine was a cast member in the Molong Players group and she played my character as a Councillor with Orange City Council.
But there was more, the story line linked into a facility that was being built in Molong. Both Mayor John Davis, Cr Dick Niven and myself were working with Cr Farr. Of course the names were changed slightly but it was pretty evident that it was about us as Councillors. The play progressed on with much humour and entertainment.
Mayor John Davis was called to the stage during intermission and was asked to sing a song from the sound of music and laughably well he did. Even though we seemed to be the underhanded stars of the show, you couldn't help but laugh with the commentary and the fantastic performance that the Molong Players put on. Not to mention the amazing talent and truly amazing sing along the audience was engaged in.
I couldn't help but think how lucky the Molong people were to have the talent of these people and the true engagement of their community to bring this event to fruition for several weekends on both Friday and Saturday nights.
Mayor John Davis, myself and our partners felt privileged to be a part of the entertainment as bizarre as it may seem. We were privy to and I must say once again to some extraordinary talent. The people where welcoming and the event was outstanding. I almost wish we could have them perform here in Orange also.
All monies raised from the event go towards supporting the community of Molong and that in itself is highly commendable. We had superb food which was if my memory serves me right was put on by a local playgroup plus the new Gelato company set up in Molong. You cant help but feel the true connection of this community and I cant help going back to the amazing talent!
Just as a reference we did laugh most of the trip back home to Orange while reflecting on the show we had just seen.
Cr Rozzeter also known as Cr Rossiter

Hopefully I may be able to get my hands on some photos from the Molong player soon to show you the resemblance to the actors at this event,
A wow of a night as far as entertainment was concerned!

Cancer Care Western NSW Event

Cancer Care Western NSW is a not for profit organisation that has been set up to raise money for Care West Lodge NSW. You might well be asking what this lodge is for, well it will have a direct link and be supportive to patients requiring Radio-Therapy treatment at our new base hospital for Orange.

The Government has agreed to provide two linear accelerators to Orange therefore allowing country people the chance to be treated in rural NSW. This will of course be beneficial in reducing the amount of time spent travelling to and from Sydney or Canberra. Care West Lodge will be located near the hospital and accommodate those patients who need long stay.

Cancer Care Western NSW has been running for the past two years. Prior to that an Alliance was set up with interested community members. Some of these people are identified in the picture attached to this post. We even went as far as visiting the Radio Therapy unit at Wagga Wagga thanks to MP Russel Turner. I was one of those people that had a real need to engage with the progression of this service for Orange and felt very passionate to evolve a fair and equitable choice for rural and regional people when it came to patient care. It will still be several years before our unit is complete, in the meantime we will continue to fund raise for the accommodation and look forward to the day when it can be utilised.

There was a recent event held at Duntryleague Golf Club which informed people further about the work Cancer Care Western NSW does. If you are reading this post and feel that you could help with a donation or possibly be inclined to run a fundraiser then please do not hesitate to contact me via this post. I would be very happy to speak with you further about this very much needed facility.

"Everybody deserves the right to make a choice about their health care"

The Mayor's Cup Debating Competition

What an interesting morning hearing teenagers debate what they believe would be the standing points in topics they had drawn. Each of our High Schools had the opportunity to enter and run teams who were keen to show how fast they can think on their feet. Not only that they had to find convincing information that would influence your way of thinking to support their topic.

The topics for discussion were:

That Local development is more important than community concerns.

That Council has the right to determine the location of major development

and for the finalists

That Council was right to support the racing industry with a half-day public holiday

Myself and Cr Hetherington chaired the first two teams. You couldn't help but get engaged in the debate as they put forward interesting points and you could see the other teams coming up with further points to bring in each time another speaker stood up to debate. The scribe and speakers couldn't work fast enough with their thought processes and throwing in the odd curly point.

It was definitely the highlight of my day and seeing the culmination of the final speakers showed Canobolas High School to be the clear winners of the day, removing the trophy from the previous years winner Kinross Wolaroi School.

If you ever get the opportunity I would recommend a visit to future Mayoral Cup Debating Competitions.

Australian Family Matters Inc

A must see...the new web-site Australian Family Matters. It's a place to visit which has lots of information for family members. There is so much to see and do you will be engrossed for hours and when you have finished reading why don't you look at adding your own information?

The address is http://www.australianfamilymatters.com.au/ It is really worth a visit.

The launch on Monday the 5th November of Australian Family Matters went off exceptionally well with Senator Fiona Nash launching the site and Mayor John Davis speaking about Parkes involvement. Both spoke about the importance of supporting family life and a real need to provide networking and to overcome the isolation that is being felt. They mentioned the value of the site in helping to alleviate these problems and to broaden friendships and ideas in life.