If wet weather intervenes tomorrow, the Cook Park Australia Day Celebration will be moved to the North Court and Forecourt areas near the Library and Gallery at the Civic Centre.

Where possible all ceremonies, activities, entertainment and stalls will be relocated to the Civic Centre.

A call on the location will be made at 6am tomorrow.
In the 31 years of the event in Orange it is yet to be washed out and it will be disappointing if the day can not proceed at Cook Park.

However, with more than 80 per cent chance of rain predicted (heavy) between 6am and noon tomorrow there is a need for a contingency plan.
Council and the Australia Day Committee is liaising with stakeholders providing advice on the contingency.

Be Quick! Amazing Insider Offer.. Last Days.. 

Thinking of attending the Festival but haven’t organised accommodation and transport? What if we told you that you can get from Sydney to Parkes from $99 each way… 

The good folk at Regional Express are offering super cheap $99 flights to the CountryLink Parkes Elvis Festival. The flight from Sydney to Parkes takes approximately one hour, making a day trip a real possibility! Leave the car at home!

Return flights are running everyday from Monday the 9th January to Sunday the 15th January, You’ll need to act fast! This special offer ends December 23rd, 2011.   Visit www.rex.com.au/ or phone 13 17 13 to book now.

Want more information about the Festival visit www.parkeselvisfestival.com.au or phone the Parkes Visitor Information Centre on 02 6862 6000.

To mark his outstanding achievements and to honour Jason’s role as ambassador for the city of Orange, Orange City Council hosted a civic reception for him on Monday evening, the 19th December 2011.

Jason an Orange sportsman and resident, won an unprecedented three consecutive titles on the PBA Tour in the United States last month, and crowned this achievement with his victory at the Qubica AMF Bowling World Cup in South Africa last week.

In doing so, Jason became the first Australian male bowler to win the coveted World Cup title.

Following on from the massive success with their last event, “Scream Scene” will again be presented as their final gig of the year.

The event takes place on the Friday, November 25 at St Barnabas Hall (across from Bills Beans in McLachlan Street) Orange.  This is an all age, drug and alcohol free event with supervision and security provided. 

Doors open at 6pm with the first band playing at 6.15pm.  Tickets are $10 at the door.  Numbers are limited so be there early.

The four hardcore metal bands performing on the night are locals:  Near Life Experience, Once Within Reach, Infested Entrails and head liners: Ascendance – who are releasing their debut EP.  So join the fun with your friends and help support these local bands.

Services Policy Committee Chair Cr Fiona Rossiter said Council supports the Rock Up Committee of young volunteers to learn event management and to give the opportunity for local bands to showcase their talent. 
“Formed in 2003, the Rock Up Committee continues to present professional events of local live performances in a safe, drug and alcohol free environment,” she said.

Further information may be obtained by contacting Council’s Community Development Coordinator, Karen Boyde on 6393 8607.

Saturday 7th January

Carrington Place,

Carrington Hotel, Katoomba NSW

This will be the social event of the Blue Mountains calendar, when the cream of Australia’s young Country music stars donate their time and talent to raise money for Jeans for Genes.  Jeans for Genes is one of our finest charity organisations, tirelessly raising much needed research funds for Childrens Medical Research Institute.

During the day from 12pm to 5pm join us for a free mega concert held in Carrington Place.
From 6.30pm until 10pm, the Gala event will include drinks and canapés followed by a concert featuring some of our biggest country stars.
The evening is being MC’d by Michael Carr with guest speaker Glenn A. Baker (a Jamm for Genes Patron).

Tickets for the Gala Evening are $55 per person and are strictly limited so it is advised that people book early.
Visit Jeans for Genes website for more information.

Featuring artists – Adam Harvey, McAlister Kemp, Mike Carr, Tamara Stewart, Amber Lawrence, Luke Dickens, Dan Conway, Peter McWhirter, Karl Broadie, Tori Darke, Kelly Hope, Victoria Baillee, Aleyce Simmonds, Nicki Gillis, Kaylens Rain.

In support of the Blue Mountains Anzac Memorial Hospital, the Katoomba/Leura/Wentworth Falls Hospital Auxiliary is proud to present the  -      6th Annual Variety Concert. 

A spectacular event featuring local artists – Orpheus Strings Orchestra, Mountains Opera Chorus, BMGS Bell Ringers, Katoomba High School Musicians and The Nineteen Fingers of Mills and Jewell.

Entry is $15 (primary school age and under are free). 

A generous afternoon tea, programme and a ticket in the draw for three lucky door prizes are included in the entry charge.  A Raffle is being held with four exceptional prizes, the First prize being Lunch or Dinner at Silk’s Brasserie Leura to the value of $300.  All money raised goes to purchase medical equipment for our hospital.

Enquiries – Joan Gahl 4784 3286 or Colin Semmler 4782 5765.

Blue Mountains City Council has produced a second edition of the popular Cycling in the Blue Mountains map with recommended bike rides around the Blue Mountains using on road and off road routes and shared paths.

The Cycling in the Blue Mountains map is included in the new smart phone ‘app’, Sydway Walker, which was recently launched by the NSW Premier. So whether on your phone or on paper, the Cycling in the Blue Mountains map comes in a handy pocket size to carry with you on your ride.
The Sydway Walker app was created by Sydway Publishing and details 17 walking and cycling maps around greater Sydney.

Mayor, Cr Daniel Myles, said, “The City of Blue Mountains has the most wonderful scenery and trails to explore by bike.”
From the urban cycle ways to the more adventurous off road routes, there is something for everyone and every bike.
“With the new edition of the map and the Sydway Walker app, cycling in the Blue Mountains couldn’t be any easier”, he said.

The Cycling in the Blue Mountains map provides a lot of useful information for bike riders such as contact details for bike shops, cycling clubs and bike lockers and weblinks for riders to check the weather, train times, NPWS and visitor information services. The rules and rights of cyclists and road sharing tips are also provided.

The map also includes an extensive number of mountain bike trails with useful references to the complementary Muddy Trails Maps, which are available for the lower and upper mountains. The Muddy Trails Maps are produced by a local mountain bike enthusiast.
“The positive health and environmental benefits of cycling are well known”, said the Mayor.
“I encourage residents to use their bikes for short trips instead of driving, where possible.”

The Cycling in the Blue Mountains map can also be purchased for $7 at Council’s Katoomba and Springwood offices, the Visitor Information Centres at Glenbrook and Echo Point, the NPWS Heritage Centre, Govett’s Leap Rd Blackheath and local bike shops. The map is also available to download on Council’s website http://www.bmcc.nsw.gov.au/sustainableliving/cyclinginthebluemountains .

The SydWay Walker app can be downloaded from your smart phone App store or via  iTunes at http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/sydway-walker .

For further information and to offer suggestions on how to improve the map, please contact Council on 4780 5000.

12-6PM  Sat 22nd October  Katoomba North Public School (Cnr Barton & Mistral Sts) Katoomba: Entry is FREE.

TALK & WORKSHOPS:
‘Climate Change: building social &  environmental resilience’
‘The Compact: buying nothing new’
‘A Good Home Forever: retrofitting your home’
Keeping backyard chooks, composting,  bicycle maintenance, worm farming, scything
Gardens Of  Stone NP
Growing fruit and nut trees, food preserving
‘Slow Food’
Wood turning
FOR KIDS:
‘Trash To Treasure’ Cottage, Arcade Circus, basketball workshop, play area
MUSIC:
Snez, Jacinta Tobin, King Parrot Samba, Crowd Around, The Fortunes, Thom Crawford, The Honey Stompers, Chris O, Delores & The Gypsy Vampirates
STALLS:
Locally made, eco-friendly, natural materials, recycled, pre-loved, fair trade, plants, food & GREAT COFFEE!

Wallnuts Weekend – Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd October.

In October 2001 Letterheads congregated in the historic town of Portland, for "Wallnuts Weekend," during which approximately 50 signmakers converged to reproduce vintage advertisements.

In 2001, Ron Bidwell, coined the event "Wallnuts" because walldogs from days of yore had to be a little crazy to paint while hanging off a swinging stage.

To celebrate 10 years the Letterheads are returning in 2011 to create another beautiful collection of ‘Signs of YesterYear’  around Portland.

Also on Wallnuts Weekend will be -

he Portland 3rd annual Photography Competition and Exhibition – in the Crystal Theatre in Portland – 10am-5pm both Saturday and Sunday.
The Portland Affordable Art Exhibition – in the School of Arts, Wolgan St., Portland – 11am-5pm both Saturday and Sunday.

Visit Portland Wallnuts Weekend on the web

From Animals on Bikes – Cumnock NSW.

ONE MONTH TO GO!

With school holidays almost finished, locals are preparing for the next ‘Animals on Bikes’ sculpture competition!
Have you started yours? or still thinking about it?
We knew about this 2 years ago and yet we leave it until the last minute! Human nature??

Dubbo Show society have done a ‘red back spider on a bike’ while Wellington show have done a ‘horse in wellington boots on a bike’!
There are 6 more show societies to reveal their masterpieces and the local schools will complete finishing touches over the next few weeks!

If you have a paddock please let us know, as we are aiming for another 40 sculptures to appear along Obley Road by the end of the year.
Remember to keep Saturday 26th November 6-9pm FREE as that is the next presentation night of the winners at Cumnock Crossroads building.

We distributed 2,500 flyers this week to get some more locals fired up about our paddock art sculpture competition.
Great to see Murray’s bridge finally finished, I am sure the extra tourist traffic along this road has contributed to this early completion!
Prime TV News, The Land and Central Western Daily have all been preparing articles this week!
Discover magazine, Dubbo Liberal and Wellington Times will feature us next month.

We look forward to your large creation and feedback on our next sculpture competition.

Check out the www.animalsonbikes.com.au new website.