Messalina

Following last year’s highly successful inaugural charity spectacular, Simon John Events are proud to present “Christmas Eve Eve” at the Canobolas Hotel, December 23, 2011.

Join us for a night of live music from some of Orange’s most respected musos, as well as raffles, auctions and giveaways.

All money raised will go to the Cerebral Palsy Alliance Orange branch.

Live music kicks off at 6pm with new Orange girl trio ‘Messalina’, followed by local legends ‘Kyle and Beno’ and party band ‘The Room Upstairs’.

Don’t miss an awesome night of entertainment that supports a very worthy cause.

With Canobolas Lions, Orange Lions and Rotary Daybreak already pitching into ensure the McCormack Barber party under the stars is the best New Year’s Eve event the Central West has ever seen, more volunteers are invited to help out.

The McCormack Barber party under the stars is set to go off with a bang, with Central West families planning to pull out the picnic rug and enjoy an evening of live entertainment, children’s activities including five jumping castles and a climbing wall, topped off with a massive fireworks display.

“We know the event will run smoothly,” says event coordinator Kyle Manning from Simon John Events, “but we would like to take the pressure off those who are already volunteering their time by giving them shorter shifts and spending some time with their families who are at the event.”

Running from 5pm to 9.30pm, McCormack Barber volunteers will collect gold coin donations at the gate, Orange Lions will assist with the parking of cars at the event, Canobolas Lions will be selling refreshments, and Rotary Daybreak will collect money at the amusements with proceeds going towards the purchase of new equipment for the Orange Base Hospital burns unit.

“Although there will be security patrolling the grounds, especially the boundary fences, to ensure children are kept at a safe distance from the fireworks display and nearby lake, we encourage others to put up their hand to volunteer with the help of patrolling these areas and also to help with the general event affairs,” Mr Manning says.

“It’s a good opportunity for anyone studying or passionate about event management to get some experience and also a good chance to get involved in what is hoped to become an annual community get-together.”

“Shifts could be as short as one hour, if we get a few more volunteers on board for the event,” he said.

For those interested in volunteering, contact Mr Peter McCormack on 6362 6966 or find McCormack Barber party under the stars on Facebook.

With the help of Rotary Daybreak, McCormack Barber party under the stars will donate takings from the event to purchase a Mobile Infant Warmer to be situated at the Orange Health Service for the treatment of young burn victims.

“McCormack Barber and Rotary Daybreak are keen to see the money raised from this event go back to the people of Orange,” Peter McCormack of McCormack Barber real estate said. “Hopefully there won’t be many people in the community who ever need to use this equipment, but for those who don’t have a choice, it will be good to know the Warmer is there if it’s needed.”

Orange Health Service Director of Nursing, Ms Susan Patterson said the Mobile Infant Warmer is used to assist victims in the initial stages of burn recovery.

“Every minute counts when the young patient arrives at Emergency,” Ms Patterson said. “Infants younger than six months are not able to shiver and unwell babies need a lot of help to regulate their temperature, especially burns victims.

“The Mobile Infant Warmer will generate a controlled level of heat to keep the baby’s temperature high enough during the crucial moments of treatment.”

With charity in mind, McCormack Barber are keen to provide the Orange and the surrounding community with a memorable family alcohol-free New Year’s Eve event that becomes a highlight of the Orange and district social calendar each year. Volunteers collecting money at event entry and at the jumping castles and rock climbing wall have been generously provided by Rotary Daybreak.

“We were thrilled to be approached by the event organisers to help out on the evening,” Rotary Daybreak President Mr Rick Cother said. “Rotary Daybreak’s vision is to improve the quality of life locally and globally and the event is a great example of this. By purchasing equipment for the Orange Health Service, there are people who will benefit in the long term as well.”

With support from Orange City Council and sponsorship from Bendigo Bank, Woolworths, Orange Ex-Services Club, John Davis Motors and Essential Energy, it is hoped to create an old-fashioned, country carnival with amusements and a climbing wall for children, live entertainment and fireworks.

NEW YEARS EVE

McCormack Barber’s party under the stars

Where: Waratah Sports Club grounds

When: Saturday 31 December 2011 from 5.00pm – 9.30pm

At 5.00pm on Saturday 31 December 2011 families and members of the community of all ages will

gather at the Waratah Sports Club grounds to enjoy quality live music, games, activities, face

painting, jumping castles, rock-climbing and giveaways.

It will be promoted as an old-fashioned, country event with the scouts, girl guides and SES giving

demonstrations and encouraging new members to join.

Although food vendors will be on site, families will be encouraged to bring a picnic dinner. The

alcohol-free event will climax with the McCormack Barber fireworks at 9.30pm.

The gold coin donation entry fee will go directly to raising funds for the Orange Health Service Emergency Department.

2011 Masterchef winner Kate Bracks

We are delighted to present Orange’s very own Kate Bracks, winner of Masterchef 2011 for the next instalment of “Michael Manners Presents”.

What a year this has been for Kate!  A full-time wife and mum who dabbled in a little primary school teaching has become Australia’s Masterchef 2011.

Born and raised in Sydney, Kate has always tried to live life to the full. She throws herself into sport, music, travel and church but at the age of eight, one long summer holiday’s boredom led her into the kitchen, and she began a life-long love of baking and cooking as well.  Fearful that a career as a chef would dampen her love of food, she trained as a primary school teacher and enjoyed six lovely years in that role, including a year teaching in Indonesia.

Upon the birth of her first child, Erin, she gave up teaching to devote her time to being a mum.  But that love of food was still there and the freedom of motherhood allowed her to study commercial cookery one day a week for a semester, until she became pregnant with her second child, Liam.  Shortly after he was born, she and her husband, Luke, made the decision to move to Orange where their third child, Maya, was born.

Orange opened up a new world of food and Kate revelled in this, taking every opportunity to cook with the beautiful produce grown virtually on her doorstep.  Luke continued as a teacher at a local school and Kate threw herself into the new friendships, church and community that she found there, often taking up leadership and public speaking roles.

In September 2010 Kate applied for Season 3 of Masterchef.  Having watched the previous two seasons she saw it as a wonderful opportunity to learn a lot about cooking in a short period of time and to step outside her comfort zone.  With her husband’s full support and encouragement she began filming as part of the Top 24 in January, 2011 and was crowned with the title on 7^th August.

Apart from her cherished role as wife and mother, Kate is taking on public speaking engagements, cooking demonstrations and appearances and is also working on her first cookbook.  The book will reflect the “Dessert Queen” title she was given on Masterchef and she plans to include both basic and creative recipes which will satisfy any sweet tooth.

Kate’s love of people is what drives her to create the best food she can and to throw herself whole-heartedly into any opportunity she is given – and she is enjoying every moment of it!

Kate Bracks will team up with renowned Orange chef Michael Manners on Sunday, November 27 at the glorious Mayfield Schoolhouse.

Tickets are $165 and are available from the Hardback Cafe, 172 Summer Street Orange – phone 6362 8699.

Luke Dickens and Luke Austin

OCTOBER 13 – The Ballroom, Canobolas Hotel, Orange.

Two of Australia’s most promising singers, Luke Austen & Luke Dickens

are joining forces this October, Crossing the Country from Tamworth to

Perth bringing their music to the outback, and Orange is on their schedule.

Luke Dickens and Luke Austen are the most recent recipients of the prestigious

Toyota Star Maker Award. Following in the footsteps of artists like Keith Urban &

Lee Kernaghan both Lukes’ are fast becoming the names on everybody’s lips.

The tour will leave Tamworth on October 7th 2011 heading west through NSW, SA

then the bottom WA to Esperance, Lake King and on to Ravenswood in Perth before

jetting of to Brisbane to perform for Brisbane Convoy for Kids on Saturday 29th

October. The Lukes will truly be crossing the country.

Not only will the boys be performing their very own tunes but they will also be

raising money for 2 important charities. Camp Quality and the Newborn Intensive

Care Foundation. Both charities are close the Lukes’ hearts with each having a

young child of their own.

Along the way the Lukes will be uploading daily blogs to facebook and You Tube of

their adventures through the Australian Outback. As old mates the Lukes have

decided to have a friendly competition to see who can get the most likes on

facebook. Whoever wins will get to watch the other Luke wash his Toyota at the end

of the trip!

After becoming good friends while touring together in 2011 with the Countrys’ New

Stars, it was only a matter of time before the Lukes’ decided to hit the road with

their Toyotas and their very own brand of music.

Luke Dickens has just released his brand new album, Devil in the Wind. Produced

by ARIA award winning producer Nash Chambers, the album features a rootsy

country rock mix of songs. With the lead single off the album, True Love Never Dies

at radio this week.

This past January, Luke Austen took home 2 Golden Guitars of the 4 he was

nominated for with Heritage Song of The Year with Sacred Bones, co-written by

Troy Cassar-Daley and Bush Ballad of The Year with Everytime He Travels Through

Cloncurry. Two Miles Down is the single at radio now.

Tickets on sale at Ash’s Books 6362 8699 or the Hotel Canobolas 6362 2444. $20 pre-paid or $25 on the door.

Burning of the vines

Enjoy the fiery spectacle of the bonfire of the 2011 vine cuttings at Orange’s beautiful Mayfield Vineyard.

Bring some friends and celebrate the changing of the seasons and another successful year of winemaking in our district.

Purchase superb wine from the Mayfield cellars to enjoy with a long table dinner of great food from the Orange region prepared by local chefs.

With live music from local band “Mary on a Shilling”, featuring some of Orange’s most respected musicians, the evening promises to be deliciously unique.

The event also supports the wonderful work of the Byng Bushfire Brigade.

BOOKINGS ARE ESSENTIAL. Click here to purchase online, or call 6365 9292

Mary on a Shilling

Simon John Events are proud to be hosting the local debut of Orange band ‘Mary on a Shilling’, October 1st at Mayfield Vineyard.

The band is a mix of some of the region’s most respected and experienced musicians and some of the new up and coming young stars, delivering a roosty folk rock sound (with a touch of pirate).

Although only new to the scene, they have already travelled to the Blue Mountains twice and received a rousing reception with their clever original tunes.

The band will be hitting several studios locally over the next 6 months and are looking to secure as much work as they can as well as release some material for its ever growing fan base.

Come and join Mary on a Shilling for a night of beautiful music at the Mayfield ‘Burning of the Vine Cuttings’, October 1, 2011.

Book your tickets here

1927, Coming to Orange in September

We are proud to be hosting iconic Aussie band 1927in Orange this September.

It’s been 20 years since they burst onto the scene with their debut album,…ISH, selling half a million copies in Australia. Following it’s reissue in September 2009, fans for the first time have been able to own a copy of …ISH, digitally. On it’s release on iTunes, the album peaked at #10. This confirms the band’s popularity remains strong today which is evident by the response from fans to the bands live shows and the reissue of ….ISH.

Featuring the hit singles“That’s When I Think Of You”, “If I Could”, You’ll Never Know” and “Compulsory Hero”, ..ISH, remains one of the highest selling debut albums ever by an Australian band. Produced by Charles Fisher, both the physical and digital versions include two previously unreleased LIVE tracks, recorded at The Enmore Theatre, Sydney, in 1989.

Now after a long hiatus, the band are back together, due mainly to the unbelievably positive response from fans after the 20^th Anniversary shows last year. With sell out shows around the country and soon to be released new long overdue material.

Simon John Events are proud to announce 1927′s one and only Orange show at The Ballroom, on Friday, September 30, 7.30pm

Supported by legendary Orange band THE CONVERTS, who are sure to draw a crowd as well.

Tickets are $28 and are on sale at ASH’S BOOKS 6362 8699 or the HOTEL CANOBOLAS 63622444.

Sarah McLeod

Sarah McLeod has been one busy-ass woman over the last few years, after touring extensively with The Superjesus for so long she decided she wanted to try some different projects. She has been all round the world five times over writing songs for lots of different artists but has now decided to come home and bring her acoustic guitar with her for some very intimate stripped back shows. She has not performed like this in many years and is very excited about showcasing her back catalogue in its rawest form. Performing songs from her early days with The Superjesus up until her latest solo work, it’s her voice that really shines in this environment, the tender side of a rock n roll powerhouse performer, a show not to be missed.

Sarah performs at the Hotel Canobolas, July 29, 2011. $25. Doors open 8pm.

Tickets available from Moshtix.com.au, Ash’s Books (phone 6362 8699) of the pub (phone 6362 2444)

Tony Bilson - Sunday 24th July

Mayfield Restaurant – Sunday lunch, July 24, 2011

Savour an intimate long lunch with Australia’s godfathers of cuisine in a

limited 60 seat event. Michael Manners presents a three-course Tony Bilson

lunch and matching wine with commentary from both chefs.

Where  |  Mayfield Schoolhouse, Icely Road, Orange     Time  |  12noon

Cost  |  $165 per person    Bookings Essential  |  02 6362 8699