Orange Heritage Study Needs You

Yes, we need you! The last Heritage Study was completed in 1986 and listed more than 700 items of importance. However, the definition of what constitutes heritage and attitudes towards development have changed substantially over the past 25 years. Some buildings thought to have had little to no heritage significance at the time of the 1986 study are now considered highly valuable. Items not listed in the current register but which have significant heritage value include the former Cabonne Council headquarters in Kite Street and the Lone Pine on Bathurst Road, the duration cottages in Glenroi,the P&O or boat houses and the Springside School. As people who live and work in our city we're sure that you will have some places to add and we would love to hear from you.
So what's the Library's role in this? We'll be supporting the project by undertaking research on the various sites. We're also hosting a huge map which will show all those places in the current study and inviting the community (which includes you!) to suggest other additions. We look forward to seeing you here to check it out and make your suggestions.

Cafe Poet to Share Poems at Poetry Reading

Our Cafe Poet Diana Bell Brooks has just returned for a short break in NZ and has penned this poem to share with you. You can hear more of her poetry at the Cafe Poet Poetry Reading on Friday 3 December at 5.30pm for a 6pm start at Cafe Latte, 173 Summer Street, Orange. Please RSVP to the Cafe or Orange City Library on 6393 8132. Cost is $5 payable on the night and includes a glass of champagne and nibbles. And here is the poem to enjoy:

Mission Bay, Auckland

Triangles of sail slice

pale zircon waves,

a sand carpet unravels

rectangles of light

to the toes of Mt Rangitoto,

a lizard sleeping in the afternoon.

Waves curl and slip, clouds edge

this small clear world

constructed out of memories

where I once flew with my brother

on his bicycle down to the sea

proudly sheltered by his arms

to paddle in the nursling waves.

The sea covers his ashes now

and speaks of him.

My granddaughter is four,

and I am half a century more

another sea and another country away

We build a sandcastle

in Mission Bay and adorn it

with pippies, limpets and tower shells

A rampart with windows

overlooking a moat

watches the brimming tide.

I watch the sea slip back and know

only this sea

speaks the truth to me.

Diana Bell Brooks
Caf

National Library's Forgotten Australians and Former Child Migrants Oral History Project

To mark the first anniversary of the Government's apology to the Forgotten Australians and Former Child Migrants on 16 November 2009, the first collection of many of their stories, recorded by the National Library of Australia, have been made public. This project features interviews with some of the adults, who as children were placed in care in Australia or were sent here from the United Kingdom and Malta under sponsored child migration schemes.
Listen to the oral histories online on the National Library Website go to digital collection, oral history. Here is the link to copy into your web browser:
http://www.nla.gov.au/digicoll/ListentotheForgottenAustralians.html

If you're happy and you know it.....

Clap your hands. That's right! At Orange City Library we're happy and we know it so what do we do? We spend quite a bit of time clapping hands, amongst other things.
Recent research has shown that clapping hands is a really good developmental activity for children and young adults. Dr Idit Sulkin (pictured) found that children who played hand clapping singing games at recess have neater hand writing and make fewer spelling mistakes. As parents and educators wouldn't that be a great outcome for some regular hand clapping!
If you have young children why not bring them along to our pre-school story reading and craft activity sessions at 11am Tuesday  Thursday during school term time. (No bookings required).
Our other programs are 'Music for Little Ears' and 'Baby Rhyme and Read' which are interactive sessions for young children and their parents. During these sessions children will have the opportunity to play percussion instruments, sing and also clap hands.
To participate in either of these programs ring the library staff on 6393 8120 as bookings are essential.
If you would like to read more Dr Dulkin's work go to this link:
http://www.israel21c.org/201008108010/culture/applause-for-clapping-your-hands

Operation Art on Show at Cowra Library

Operation Art Exhibition was launched at Cowra Library yesterday and runs until 26 February 2011. Guests included Art Gallery director Brian Langer, 30 teachers from around the region attending a workshop and other visitors. Councillor Ian Brown and one of the young artists called Lachlan (named after the Lachlan River) handed over art works to Cowra Hospitals' Pauline Rowston. Lachlan is pictured with his artwork titled Fergus (the dog). Operation Art is an annual exhibition of children's art from schools throughout NSW created for the Childrens Hospital, Westmead. Children create their artworks knowing that they will be appreciated by sick children in hospital and their families. It is an initiative of The Childrens Hospital at Westmead, the NSW Department of Education and Training and the Art Gallery of New South Wales, in partnership with The Nelson Meers Foundation. So come along and see 50 fantastic works of art.