There was some welcome news this week with confirmation that repairs to the Great Western Highway at Victoria Pass finally have a timeline. While it’s certainly not the news many were hoping for, knowing there is now a path forward is important.
Twelve to fifteen months is still a long time to navigate the detour, and there will undoubtedly continue to be challenges for residents, businesses and visitors alike. But if there’s one thing our region has proven time and again, it’s that we are incredibly resilient.
As we settle into this next chapter, perhaps it’s also an opportunity to look after one another a little more. If you know someone who finds the extra travel difficult, offer them a lift to a medical appointment. Carpool with neighbours for the school run. Pick up a few groceries for an elderly friend while you’re already in town. Check in on someone who lives alone. Small gestures might seem insignificant to you, but they can make an enormous difference to someone else’s day.
It’s often during challenging times that the true character of a community shines through. We’ve seen it before during bushfires, floods and COVID, and we’ll see it again over the coming months. Kindness has a ripple effect. One thoughtful act encourages another, and before long, an entire community is lifting each other up. We may not be able to change the circumstances overnight, but we can certainly make the journey a little easier for those around us.
Winter has well and truly arrived, but rather than hibernating, I think this is one of the best times of year to enjoy everything our region has to offer.
The Bathurst Showgrounds Winter Festival kicks off this weekend and will keep families entertained throughout the school holidays. Looking ahead, there’s plenty more to fill the calendar, including Beatlesfest in Bathurst and the Burraga Agricultural & Sheep Show in August. Add in live music at our local clubs and pubs, fantastic cafés and restaurants, country pubs, community events and winter markets, and there’s certainly no shortage of reasons to get out and about.
Winter is also the perfect excuse to slow the pace a little. Settle in beside an open fire with a great meal, explore a country village you’ve never visited before, browse a local boutique or enjoy a lazy afternoon discovering somewhere new. Supporting local doesn’t always have to mean spending big—it can be as simple as buying your morning coffee from an independent café or enjoying lunch at a family-owned restaurant.
While many people head to the Hunter Valley during winter, don’t overlook what’s right here on our doorstep. Our local wineries, along with the outstanding cellar doors, distilleries and artisan producers throughout Orange and Mudgee, offer world-class experiences without the crowds. Spend ten minutes searching online and you could easily plan a week’s worth of day trips.
Speaking of local gems, I recently enjoyed lunch at Church Bar in Bathurst and can highly recommend it. The wood-fired sandwiches were absolutely delicious, paired perfectly with a cheeky glass of wine while soaking up the winter sunshine in their beautiful courtyard. Sometimes it’s the simple things—a relaxed lunch, good company and supporting a local business—that remind you just how lucky we are to call this region home.
Until next edition, stay warm, support local, lend a hand where you can, and let’s keep looking after each other.
