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By Peter Holmes 4am Wednesday: Shift workers, night owls, insomniacs and people rising to spend a penny were among those most keenly affected as parts of Orange were plunged into darkness when power was cut for nearly three hours overnight. Fallen power lines were to blame for the blackout in North Orange shortly after midnight. Essential Energy advised that 1,663 "customers" were impacted. McDonald’s in North Orange was also affected, but didn’t lose all power. The incident occurred at 12:06am Wednesday. According to an early map published overnight by Essential Energy, roads that went dark included parts of Hill and Peisley streets and Roselawn Drive, and streets on the northern side of the Northern Distributor. However a map published a few hours later by Essential Energy had removed the northern side of the Northern Distributor from the areas that lost power. The 24-hour McDonald’s in North Orange didn’t suffer a full blackout, however some equipment was briefly affected. Residents who were still awake just after midnight headed to social media to try and establish what was going on. At about 1:30am today The Orange News Examiner phoned Essential Energy and was met with a recorded message saying the phone lines had been inundated with calls, and a request that only emergencies proceed to speak to an operator. At about 2:50am lights came back on, fridges started humming and ceiling fans resumed whirring. At the time of publication the exact location and cause of the fallen power lines were not known. Orange Fire Station was not called to assist with the fallen power lines. Electricity supplier Ausgrid states that power lines "can be damaged by fallen trees, lightning strikes, car accidents, vandalism, fires, birds or other animals, and flying debris during high winds".

By Peter Holmes Hospitalisations and people in intensive care units increased in the 24 hours to 8pm on Sunday night. There were 2,776 hospitalisations, up from 2,650. Intensive care units had 203 patients, up from 191. Seventeen people with Covid died in NSW. Positive test numbers across the state dropped from 34,660 to 29,504 in the 24-hour reporting period. Of the positive tests, 11,858 were rapid antigen tests (RAT) and 17,646 PCR. Of the 11,858 positive RAT results, 10,187 were from the previous seven days. More to come.

WELCOME TO The Great Parks of Orange. On this page we celebrate the momentous moments in motoring around our 'hood. It should be noted that a vehicle that appears to be parked by a blindfolded driver may only be in that position because the car next to it was parked so badly in the first place. Still, it always gives us a smile when we see 10/10 fails. We hope you enjoy The Great Parks of Orange. Check back in as we add more pictures. If you'd like to contribute to The Great Parks of Orange send your best pic to office@orangenewsexaminer.com.au with a bit of info about where and when. The Woolies car park takes centre stage in The Great Parks of Orange. Never a day goes by where you won't see some spectacular feats. On wet days the rulebook is shredded. We give this park a solid 8/10. This one below is a belter. Who's to blame? Who knows, but we give it 8/10. SUV drivers often have trouble parking within the lines because, well, their vehicles are YEWDGE. The car park at Officeworks/Odeon 5/Betta etc is the scene of many atrocities like this one below. A solid 8/10. More action from the Woolies car park. Admittedly, this "what's yours is mine" style of parking (below) didn't have an impact here, as it was impinging on a non-spot. Still, BIT GRABBY. We give it 3/10. It's almost as if the driver edged it in just so there was PLAUSIBLE DENIABILITY. "Still on my side, what's your problem?" If the other driver parked the same way, nobody could get out. A very solid 7.5/10 for this great park of Orange. More keen action from the Woolies car park. Did the white car pull in first and make life impossible for the red car? Or vice-versa? Or are other vehicles involved further down the line? Who's to know? What matters here is that this is a marvellous performance all round. A very well-deserved 8/10. The car park at North Orange shopping centre is the scene of many stellar feats in no-holds-barred "what's yours is mine" parking. This beauty below manages to keep one wheel on the right side of the marking line, which is the only thing keeping it from a perfect score. We salute you with 8.5/10. Big performance here at the Woolies car park. Just ease it in however. With a little more effort this great park of Orange (below) could've hit peak 10/10 territory, but not quite. 9/10. Bit hectic for the driver on the left - did they have to climb in - or out - through the passenger side? Good effort. 8.5/10. There is clear availability to the right of the Honda, but was it there when P-Plater parked? Maybe. Maybe not. 6/10. Superb stuff (below). If only the vehicle to the right had replicated this manouevre, the spot in the middle could have been repurposed as a walkway... 9/10. Don't forget to check back in, as we are adding new moments of greatness whenever we spot them.

By staff writer Twenty people with Covid died across NSW in the 24 hours to 8pm on Friday, January 14, 2022 - 11 men and nine women. Meanwhile, across the Western NSW Local Health District in the same time period 687 Covid cases were identified by PCR testing, including 76 in Orange and 197 in Bathurst. This total is up from 261 the day previous. MORE NEWS: "The size of a chicken": Huntsman almost ruins holiday The true number is expected to be significantly higher as NSW Health is not yet able to provide the location of people testing positive via rapid antigen tests (RATs). There were 34 people in hospital across the Western NSW Local Health District (up from 30), and one in intensive care (up from zero) in the 24-hour period. EVEN MORE NEWS: Can Stars of Orange proceed? MORE NEWS: "Desperate call" to the cats and doggos of Orange - your city needs you MORE NEWS: It sat empty for months, despite a prime location. Now new owners are set to launch There are currently 2,576 Covid cases admitted to hospital statewide (up from 2,525), including 193 people in intensive care (up from 184), 58 of whom require ventilation (down from 59). There were 48,768 positive cases notified to 8pm last night in NSW, including 21,748 positive RATs and 27,020 positive PCR tests. Of the 21,748 positive RAT results, 15,925 were from the previous seven days. NSW Health said it was possible that some people had reported positive RATs on multiple days and/or had a positive PCR test during the same reporting period. Of those who died, one person was aged in their 20s, three people were in their 50s, one person was in their 60s, four people were in their 70s, nine people were in their 80s, and two people were in their 90s. Sixteen people were vaccinated against Covid and four people were not vaccinated. "The man in his 20s died at Albury Base Hospital," NSW Health reported. "He had received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine and had serious underlying health conditions." The total number of cases detected by PCR tests in NSW since the beginning of the pandemic was 617,525.

By Peter Holmes Thirty people were in hospital with Covid in the Western NSW Local Health District in the 24 hours to 8pm on Thursday, up from 23 the day prior. None had been admitted to intensive care. Up to 8pm last night there were 261 new cases identified by PCR testing in the Western NSW Local Health District. MORE NEWS: "It must measure up or it won't go ahead": New mayor on bike track MORE NEWS: Orange chemist to move on, leaving large CBD site available at $150,000 a year MORE NEWS: REWIND 1995: Australia Sends Its Good Wishes To O.J. Simpson (Part 1) EVEN MORE NEWS: Can Stars of Orange proceed? Orange had 143 cases, however the official number is expected to be higher, as many people are now using rapid antigen tests (RATs) and, if positive, isolating at home. Although the NSW government is including RATs in its statewide figures, a breakdown of results for each district is not available. Twenty-nine people died across the state in the 24-hour period. The number of positive cases in NSW for the 24-hour period was 63,018. This was made up of 37,938 RATs and 25,080 PCR tests. However, of the 37,938 positive RAT results, 24,329 were from the previous seven days.

By Michelle Grattan Australia’s journey through Omicron is like the bus tour from hell. Steering awry, seat belts forgotten or not working, and the driver’s patter wearing thin with stressed passengers. Eventually we’ll see the back of the boggy ground on this outback track. But in worse shape and at higher cost than the Morrison government was suggesting only weeks ago. “Omicron is a gear change and we have to push through,” prime minister Scott Morrison said on Monday. “You have two choices here: you can push through or you can lock down. We’re for pushing through.” Surveying the present shambles, you’d have to conclude the gearbox is shot. Morrison’s “either-or” dichotomy is simplistic and misleading, trying to disguise the failure to have been better prepared with a more nuanced response. It wasn’t “either-or”. It was about managing to best effect a transition that must be made to the so-called “living with COVID” new world. The challenge was to find the right settings on a spectrum of choices. So what went wrong? Almost everything, it seems. Federal and state governments share blame, but as PM, Morrison has to shoulder prime responsibility. After being able to pride itself on (with some notable exceptions) coping with COVID well in the pandemic’s earlier stages, Australia has suddenly jumped from having minimal rates to widespread infection in the community (excluding Western Australia). Obviously this Omicron journey was going to be rough. But surely it did not have to be as bad as we’re experiencing on multiple fronts. Earlier lessons weren’t properly learned. Planning has been woeful. The relationship between health and the economy was misread. Morrison’s much vaunted “national plan” of last year (admittedly formulated when we were in the Delta stage) put near total faith in vaccination. Vaccination has been transformational, reducing the severity of illness and saving lives. But it doesn’t stop the transmission of the highly-infectious Omicron, which can still hobble the country. As Christmas approached, and on the back of a good economic bounce-back from the lockdowns, the federal government wanted people spending as much as possible of their stored-up savings as a further stimulus. In the biggest state, new NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet was particularly gung ho about achieving maximum freedom as quickly as possible. But soon the catch-22 emerged. If Omicron is ripping through, people might not be locked down but many will choose or be forced to behave as though they are – doing less, tightening their purse strings. The lack of preparation has been even more stunning than the miscalculation. The future need for rapid antigen tests (RATs) was anticipated months ago. Yet we’ve been hit with an acute shortage, just as delays lengthened in getting results from PCR tests. After the vaccination stuff-ups, you’d have thought federal and state governments would have pulled out all stops to get enough RATs. But no. Without denying the importance of RAT results being collected, there was some irony in NSW this week rushing to announce fines for people who fail to record these – when they can’t readily secure the tests. Now the NSW government concedes its policy won’t be enforceable – the policy was “a line-ball call”, said one NSW minister. It’s great that younger children are currently getting vaccinated. But who thought this would not put immense pressure on already overloaded GPs, with many parents preferring to take their kids to a doctor than elsewhere? That job won’t be finished by the end of the holidays. But Morrison is desperate for children to be in school. Treasury told Thursday’s national cabinet “current arrangements could see 10% of Australia’s workforce, including many workers in critical supply sectors, withdrawn from the workforce”. If schools didn’t open that could add another five percent. Queensland and South Australia have already put back their school start dates. Morrison late last year argued that with a very high vaccination rate we shouldn’t concentrate on case numbers but on hospitalisations rates, much lower than in earlier waves. But with skyrocketing infections, the absolute numbers in hospital are going to weigh down the system, as well as pushing aside other care, notably elective surgery. This is happening while the wildfire infection takes out large numbers of health care workers, directly through illness or indirectly through furlough. When the PM last week said he would “strongly encourage” people with Covid to contact their GP, doctors’ phones ran hot. The medicos weren’t impressed with the prime ministerial referral system. The narrative that most people wouldn’t be very ill so the health system and the economy should be fine was always problematic. It didn’t take enough account of how everything connects to everything else in this pandemic, and how the interconnections are multiplied a hundred fold when the numbers become so high. In just one example, lack of RATs weaken supply chains. Covid is hitting these chains in a way inconceivable in 2020. Morrison this week personally led talks on the supply aspect of the crisis. At the start of the pandemic, Australian governments prided themselves on following the health advice. Now the health considerations are following the economic and political ones. Isolation rules and close contact definitions are being continually changed to keep the wheels turning – whether they are the wheels of the health system (trying to keep enough workers on the job) or those of the transports taking goods to the supermarkets. But the more you dilute these rules – even for very good reasons – the more infections can be expected to increase, leading to fresh problems and constraints. Morrison acknowledged on Thursday, after the latest alterations: “The less restrictions you put on people to get them at work, the more pressure that can potentially put on your hospital system. And vice-versa. "The more you try to protect your hospital system, the more people you’re taking out of work, which disrupts supply chains. So this is a very delicate balance that needs to be constantly recalibrated.” The Omicron wave is expected to “peak” within weeks. But how much planning is underway for variants that might follow? Assuming there is not some new variant soon, the government is banking on things then calming down before the election. Work is underway on the late-March budget with its election sweeteners, although treasurer Josh Frydenberg presumably has been a little slowed this week by experiencing a bout of COVID himself. Morrison is hoping that in a May election he can escape or minimise the blame for the gross mismanagement of the Omicron wave. But “long Covid” is a nasty illness for those who get it, and it could have a harsh political variant. This article published with permission of The Conversation. Michelle Grattan is a professorial fellow, University of Canberra. Disclosure statement: Michelle Grattan does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

By Peter Holmes There were 23 people with Covid in hospital across the Western NSW Local Health District in the 24 hours up to 8pm on Wednesday night. There were no people in ICUs. Across the state 22 people with Covid died: 13 men and nine women. MORE NEWS: EXCLUSIVE: "I was shaking uncontrollably". Six people in one house in Orange have Covid One person was aged in their 60s, eight people were aged in their 70s, seven people were aged in their 80s, five people were aged in their 90s and one person was aged more than 100. Of the 22 people who died, 14 were vaccinated and eight were not vaccinated. There were 2,383 Covid cases in hospital in NSW (up from 901 on January 1), including 182 people in intensive care (up from 79 on January 1), 60 of whom require ventilation (26 on January 1). MORE NEWS: We rang every chemist to see if they had rapid antigen tests. Oh dear … From January 12 you have been able to report your positive rapid antigen test via the Service NSW app. If you don't have access to the app, you can report results on the Service NSW website or call Service NSW on 13 77 88. Do not attend a service centre. Up to 8pm last night there were 552 new cases identified by PCR testing in the Western NSW Local Health District. However this does not factor in positive test results from rapid antigen tests (RATs), meaning the true figures are potentially much higher. The latest PCR testing figures for the 24 hours to 8pm Wednesday night: Bathurst - 130 Blayney - 6 (2 Milthorpe) Bogan - 2 Bourke - 2 Brewarrina - 1 Cabonne - 11 (2 Molong, 2 Canowindra) Cobar - 9 Coonamble - 2 Cowra - 3 Dubbo - 155 (15 Wellington) Forbes - 15 Gilgandra - 1 Lachlan - 7 Mid-Western - 7 (3 Mudgee) Narromine - 12 Oberon - 10 Orange - 137 Parkes - 24 Walgett - 5 Warren - 2 Warrumbungle - 8 (3 Coonabarabran) Weddin - 3 (2 Grenfell)

By David Fitzsimons Students, staff and visitors to the Orange Christian School are set to gain a new-look entrance to the Cecil Road site under plans before Orange City Council. MORE NEWS: $3.7 million housing development in Orange open for comment Plans to change the entrance, including extra parking spaces, access changes and illuminated signage, are currently on exhibition for public comment before the council decides on the development application. The works, listed to cost $638,000, involve changes to the bus bay exit, developing a one-way car park entrance and providing new fencing. The DA states an extra five car spaces and two motorbike spaces would be provided. MORE NEWS: "The size of a chicken": Huntsman almost ruins holiday It says the proposal would not be likely to increase the number of students, staff or vehicles at the school site. “The changes to traffic flow from counter clockwise to clockwise result in an improved ease-of-use and safety outcome for school and passing traffic by allowing the former to turn left into the school (the vast majority of school traffic arrives from the north) at the northern-most driveway and exit the school from the southern-most driveway without interaction,” the DA says. Classes began at the southern Orange site in 1989. The DA is on exhibition until Tuesday January 25.

By Peter Holmes More than one in every 10 people lined up for testing at venues including Wade Park and Orange Showground has tested positive to Covid over the past four weeks, according to data from NSW Health. Over the four weeks to 8pm on Tuesday, January 11, there were 14,420 PCR tests conducted in Orange, with 1,462 people receiving a positive notification. That is a rate of 10.1 percent positive results. MORE NEWS: EXCLUSIVE: "I was shaking uncontrollably". Six people in one house in Orange have Covid Across the Western health area of NSW the rate was slightly lower over the same time period (9.1 percent), with 74,185 people being tested, and 6,747 returning positive. There has been a test rate of 340 per 1,000 people in Orange over the past four weeks. MORE NEWS: January 12, 2022: ICU in Orange steady at zero; three more in Western hospitals Across the state there were 442,637 positive Covid cases in the four-week period, from 2,756,931 tests, at a rate of 16.1 percent (all percentages rounded).

By staff writer There were 19 people in hospital with Covid across Western NSW Local Health District in the 24 hours to 8pm last night. The figure is up by three, however the number of people in ICUs has stayed at zero. There were 809 positive cases in the Western district, although the true figures are thought to be significantly higher. MORE NEWS: We celebrate Orange’s random parking style MORE NEWS: Little Quirks live review Bloomfield Hall MORE NEWS: Game review: Wingspan MORE NEWS: $3.7 million housing development in Orange open for comment Statewide, there are currently 2,242 Covid cases admitted to hospital (up from 2,186), with 175 people in intensive care (up from 170), 54 of whom require ventilation (up from 51). There were 134,411 Covid tests reported to 8pm last night, up from 71,325. NSW recorded 34,759 new cases of Covid detected by PCR testing in the 24 hours to 8pm last night. "As increasingly people follow NSW Health’s advice to use rapid antigen tests for diagnosing COVID-19, the number of PCR tests will underestimate the true number of people who have tested positive for COVID-19," NSW Health said. NSW Health is today reporting the deaths of 21 people with Covid: 17 men and four women. Seven of these deaths have been included following the conclusion of coronial investigations – four since 23 December 2021, one from September 2021 and two from October 2021. One person was aged in their 30s, one person was aged in their 40s, two people were aged in their 50s, four people were aged in their 60s, six people were aged in their 70s, four people were aged in their 80s, two people were aged in their 90s and one person was aged over 100. Of the 21 people who died; 12 were vaccinated, eight were not vaccinated and one person had received one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

By Peter Holmes Orange City Council has lodged paperwork seeking state government planning approval for a 100km network of mountain bike trails on Mt Canobolas. "After 12 months of investigation by a team of environmental consultants, archaeologists and track design experts, council has lodged the application with the Department of Industry Planning and Environment (DPIE) for the project to be considered as a State Significant Development (SSD)," said a statement from Orange City Council. MORE NEWS: EXCLUSIVE: "I was shaking uncontrollably". Six people in one house in Orange have Covid The DPIE will consider a Preliminary Environmental Impact Assessment (PEIA) compiled by environmental consultants The Environmental Factor. "The PEIA provides an overview of the project and considers the potential environmental impacts that may result from the proposed works," council stated. New Orange mayor Jason Hamling is backing the proposal, which has divided sections of the community. MORE NEWS: "The size of a chicken": Huntsman almost ruins holiday He described it as "one of the council’s generational projects that is going to make a huge difference to our local business economy by drawing enthusiasts from all over Australia”. “We’re not pretending that a project of this scale is going to happen overnight, but it’s great to see another milestone that could bring us one step closer." Hamling described the area on Mount Canobolas as a “very special, environmentally sensitive area". "For that reason, it must measure up or it won’t go ahead," he said. He said there had been some opposition to the project, including from members of the local Indigenous community. MORE NEWS: Heavyweights meeting to consider $25 million stadium “We want those voices to continue to be heard through the process," Hamling said. "We have had discussions on the proposal with the Orange Local Aboriginal Land Council and will continue to do so."

By Amy-louise Vella I just wanted to say a massive, massive thank you to the two good blokes who pulled over to help me on Saturday. I drove out of the car wash, with my two kids in the back, ready to start our much-anticipated holiday when a gigantic huntsman, the size of a chicken, galloped down the front of my windscreen and into my bonnet. I pulled over dramatically, cried, called my husband (who was 40 minutes away so couldn’t be there in the next 2.5 seconds … how rude) and stood on the side of the road with absolutely no clue what to do. I can deal with most things. But I have a phobia of huntsmans. So I did what anyone else facing their fear would do: I made someone else deal with it. I saw a ute and started flailing my arms around at it. Thankfully it pulled over. I’m pretty sure I did a lot of screaming and I don’t even know if whatever I said made sense, it’s all a blur as I was hyperventilating, trying to remember if I had life insurance, also trying to work out if I had wet my pants from fear, AND decide if I had time to also get my kids out or if I should throw them away with the car and wet pants. Anyway, they saved the day. I got back in my car, expecting my kids to be as traumatised as I was, only to find they didn’t even notice that I had pulled over to begin with. MORE FUN: Fash With Sash - Luxe Living In A Pandemic Portable DVD player for the win. I also didn’t wet myself. The end. Postscript Amy-louise tells us that the two heroes managed to squash "a leg or two" and injure the spider, however it was still able to run and drop into the engine. "They assured me that he would drop out," says Amy-louise. "Part of the spider was squished on [a] shoe. I’ve made three people check since then."

By Peter Holmes The future of February 19’s rescheduled Stars of Orange Dance for Cancer may be in the balance, but organisers remain hopeful the massive fundraiser can proceed, even if it means adapting the way the event is held. Last June’s Stars of Orange Dance for Cancer was put on hold due to Covid restrictions, and hundreds in the city and beyond have their hopes pinned on the bash going ahead next month. Staff at the NSW Cancer Council in Orange have been deep in discussion over the last two days, mulling various possibilities. Essentially, the hope is that the sold out show can proceed as normal, with 450 guests eating, singing and dancing. But there is no guarantee. More than $135,000 has already been raised for this event. The Orange News Examiner spoke with Ricky Puata from the Cancer Council. The question on everyone’s lips - can the event proceed? At this point we’re continuing as planned. In the next couple of weeks we’ll get more of an indication from NSW Health what any restrictions might look like. How important is this for the council? It’s really important. It raises vital funds. It is a really difficult time for charities and fundraising in general. But at the same time we have great stars in dance schools and they’re huge supporters, and we really want to make sure we host an event the community can get behind. Who makes the final call on whether you go ahead? The decision is with the management team at the Cancer Council. But we work with Orange City Council. MORE NEWS: "The size of a chicken": Huntsman almost ruins holiday MORE NEWS: Heavyweights meeting to consider $25 million stadium MORE NEWS: Summer Street madness as drivers forced to change lanes to avoid man on road The state government implemented new rules last Saturday regarding singing and dancing in hospitality venues, entertainment facilities and major recreation facilities. How will this affect you? It’s really tricky. This is one of the things we’ve been working on with Orange City Council. There has been [a ruling on] no singing and dancing, but it depends on how we are defined. That’s not a decision we make, it’s more at a venue level. At this point in time we’re trying to explore [options]. Do you think people are willing to adapt - no singing, no dancing, maybe smaller capacity - if it means the event can go ahead? I think there's a willingness among the people who come to Stars Of Orange to work with us as an organisation. Adapt is a great word. They appreciate that at the moment things are difficult. Are you getting many calls? We’ve had more recently about what our intentions are, and whether any tickets have become available. For the most part the team only returned to work this week, so we’ve been hurriedly working the last two days looking at what we can do, how we can make things work. Have you considered splitting the event across two sittings to reduce the crowd density? There are a lot of options on the table. We’ve done two or three nights elsewhere in the region, but we have a pretty successful formula here, it does well. Although the event is sold out, a small number of tickets may become available. What’s the best way for people to keep an eye out for them? There may be people who can’t make it, or have a preference not to attend. The best way is to look at our website page and our Facebook page. Stars of Orange Dance for Cancer is on Saturday, February 19 at Orange Function Centre, Eyles St, Orange. General Entry Open: 5.45pm. General Admission: $110. VIP Admission: $145. Dress Code: Formal.

By Peter Holmes The number of people across the state admitted to hospital, in intensive care, and requiring ventilation all climbed in the 24 hours to 8pm Monday. In the latest reporting period there were 2,186 Covid cases in hospital, up from 2,030. There were 170 people in ICUs, up from 159. There were 51 people requiring ventilation, up from 47. In the Western NSW Local Health District there were 16 people in hospital, and none in intensive care. Statewide, there were 71,325 Covid tests reported, down from 84,333, and there were 25,870 new positive cases. However the government has conceded it has no idea of the true number of positive cases. The Orange News Examiner has suspended publishing the data relating to each town, village and city, as it has become meaningless due to the lack of official reporting around rapid antigen tests. NSW Health reported the statewide deaths of 11 people with Covid; six women and five men. Seven people were aged in their 80s, three people were aged in their 90s, and one person was aged in their 70s. Of the 11 people who died; nine were vaccinated and two were not vaccinated. Booster doses of COVID-19 vaccine are now available for people aged 18 and over. People aged 18 years and over are eligible for a booster if they had their second dose at least four months ago. NSW Health stated: "We urge people to get their booster dose as soon as they are eligible, to best protect themselves, their loved ones and the community from the ongoing transmission of COVID-19. "We also strongly recommend that people aged 12 years and over who are severely immunocompromised have a third primary dose of vaccine from two months after their second dose." MORE NEWS: We celebrate Orange’s random parking style MORE NEWS: Little Quirks live review Bloomfield Hall MORE NEWS: Game review: Wingspan NSW Health vaccination clinics across the state are now administering the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to children aged five to 11 years old. The department is encouraging parents and caregivers to make a booking for vaccination at any NSW Health vaccination clinic, at a general practitioner, or a community pharmacy.

By Jennifer Y.J. Hsu The Beijing Winter Olympics are only weeks away and China has been forced on the defensive by a diplomatic boycott called by the US, UK, Australia and other western countries. There had been pressure for Western governments to announce a boycott for months over the Chinese party-state’s treatment of the Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities in Xinjiang, as well as human rights lawyers and individuals who dare to speak out against the government. MORE NEWS: Heavyweights meeting to consider $25 million stadium The push gained new momentum after the disappearance of Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai following her allegations of sexual assault against a former top Politburo official. The Women’s Tennis Association suspended all of its tournaments in China – the strongest stance yet against China by a sporting organisation that relies heavily on the Chinese market. China’s international image was already at its lowest level in years in many western countries following the outbreak of the COVID pandemic and Beijing’s initial handling of the crisis. So, given the increasingly negative views of the country in the west, how will Beijing respond with the Olympics only weeks away? Will it adopt a charm offensive? Or will it retaliate because it feels it has been treated unfairly? Businesses still need access to China Recent strategies adopted by the government suggest there are other avenues for Beijing to counter critics of its policies. Take economic pressure, for one. MORE NEWS: Summer Street madness as drivers forced to change lanes to avoid man on road In a virtual meeting between China’s vice foreign minister, Xie Feng, and US business lobby groups at the end of November, Xie asked US businesses to “speak up and speak out” for China with the US government. The message was clear – Beijing expects the business community to lobby on its behalf to continue to have access to China’s lucrative market. As Xie said, "If the relations between the two countries deteriorate, the business community cannot ‘make a fortune in silence". This has long been the price the business community has been forced to pay to have a foothold in China – compliance with the demands of the party-state. Remember 2019, when former Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey tweeted in support of pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong? The NBA initially issued a statement that was criticised by US politicians on both sides of the aisle for prioritising financial interests over human rights. (The league later clarified it stood for “freedom of expression”.) The NBA still lost hundreds of millions of dollars over the fallout. NBA games haven’t been on Chinese state television since the episode. Access to the lucrative Chinese market still matters hugely – this is leverage the Chinese government can still use against foreign interests. It says a lot that major Olympic sponsors have remained quiet over China’s human rights situation, while governments have announced diplomatic boycotts. China doesn’t care what the west thinks Then there is the question of whether China still needs the west or cares what the west thinks of it. China has framed the diplomatic boycott as “a blatant political provocation and a serious affront to the 1.4 billion Chinese people”. But it has also pointed to the 173 UN member nations that signed the UN Olympic truce to ensure conflicts do not disrupt the games. Yes, Beijing is angry about the snub from Washington and others, but it is emphasising it still has broad international support for the Winter Olympics. Russian President Vladimir Putin has accepted the invitation to attend the opening ceremonies “with joy”. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will also attend, and others will surely follow. China’s model of development has long attracted admiration from African countries, particularly its form of state-directed capitalism. By hosting its second Olympics in less than 20 years, China is reinforcing this message to developing nations – that its model of development works. By awarding China the games, the IOC is also showing the world it is unfazed by its close proximity to authoritarian regimes, further legitimising them. MORE NEWS: We celebrate Orange’s random parking style The European Union’s dithering over its response to the boycott has also strengthened Beijing’s position and allowed it to exploit the west’s inconsistent stance on the matter. The Olympics don’t bring dramatic change There was great hope the 2008 Beijing summer Olympics would change China for the better – the government would become more accountable and have greater respect for human rights. However, violent protests broke out in Tibet against the party-state’s repressive policies and then spread around the world in the run-up to the games. About 30 Tibetans were jailed, some for life. The 2008 Olympics revealed the naiveté of the international community: believing that sport can bring political change. In fact, China stage-managed those games so well, it was deemed a soft power victory, announcing China as a superpower on the global stage. Historian Zheng Wang called the games “a symbol of China’s rejuvenation”. Through the extravagant opening ceremony, the Chinese government showcased China’s historical glory and new achievements […] unassailable evidence that China had finally "made it". It would be mistake to think the current diplomatic boycott will lead to any substantial change in China’s domestic situation. Instead, the diplomatic boycott is a strategy of compromise – athletes are still able to compete, but western governments can be seen as taking a stand. However, the silence of major sponsors shows there is no unified voice when it comes to the China’s human rights situation. This gap between the west’s political and commercial response plays to China’s advantage. It’s yet another way for China to demonstrate the weakness of the west – that professed democratic values and respect for human rights can be compromised when profits are at stake. As such, China is unlikely to capitulate and make dramatic overtures to repair its international image. It’s more likely to go on the offensive. Nonetheless, this should be a moment when sports fans, athletes, sponsors, and the broader international civil society question sporting bodies like the IOC in awarding sporting events to authoritarian governments. The IOC didn’t learn its lesson in 2008. If it wants to be seen as upholding human rights, this starts with how it awards its biggest prizes – the right to play host to the rest of the world. This article printed with the permission of The Conversation. Jennifer Y.J. Hsu is a research fellow at UNSW. Disclosure: Jennifer Y.J. Hsu is affiliated with the Lowy Institute.

By Jane Sunderland Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, the first film in the eight-part series, has reached its 20th anniversary. Released in 2001, it became the highest-grossing film of that year and the second-highest-grossing ever at the time (it’s now number 76). The film follows Harry’s first year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry as he begins his formal wizarding education. The first film in the series came four years after the first book (of the same name) in JK Rowling’s Harry Potter series, which is 25 years old next year. Gone, of course, are the heady days when children grew up alongside Harry Potter, queuing outside bookshops the night before the one-minute-past-midnight release of the next volume in the series. But this enthusiasm gave rise to a very particular phenomenon, with suggestions that the Harry Potter series prompted previously reluctant readers - in particular boys - to read fiction. Indeed, massive book sales led to media declarations of dramatic changes in children’s attitudes to reading. While this claim does have some substance, the phenomenon was not quite as suggested. Parents and grandparents often bought Harry Potter books for their children, unasked. And while many children watched the films, they did not read the books. That said, of course, many children did read them. And while some young purists post-2001 refused to watch the first film until they had read the book, it’s likely the films prompted other children to then go on to read the books. In our own 2014 study of around 600 British primary and secondary school students, around half reported having read at least one of the books, and more of these readers were boys. The most likely number of books in the series to have been read was all seven – the second likeliest, just one. A substantial minority of children clearly engaged hugely with the series as readers – and it can only be assumed this benefited their reading more generally. This level of engagement was partly because it was a series, bringing with it a sense of continuity and achievement. Neither were enthusiasts put off by the sheer length of the later books. Indeed, this may have added to children’s enjoyment and sense of achievement. As Rowling herself has said, “When I was a child, if I was enjoying a book, I didn’t want to finish it.” While the films are frequently televised, and with news that Warner Bros is planning to develop a television series set in the wizarding world, the Harry Potter books no longer top the best-selling children’s book lists. After 24 years, Amazon however still ranks the Philosopher’s Stone at number 10 in their list of best-selling children’s books, with the others in the series not far behind. All this is not surprising. Harry Potter is both enduringly imaginative – the spells, the magic, the different creatures – and reassuringly familiar – basically, it’s a school story. It has memorable, appealing characters and the style is undemanding. And now, a new generation of young parents who grew up with Harry Potter may want their children to have their own Potter experience. Though it seems likely that more children will continue to watch the films than read the books. However, Harry Potter has come in for criticism in more recent years. Many readers today may be more aware of the elitism of Hogwarts. There is an imbalance between the number of male and female characters in the series, especially teachers. Its racial diversity has been accused of being tokenistic. And it lacks even hints of LGBTQ+ characters. Rowling’s claim in 2007 that she thought of Dumbledore as gay is not even suggested in the books. Rowling herself has also generated controversy through her comments about gender and sex in relation to the debate around transgender rights, first on Twitter and later in a 3,700-word essay in 2020. Yet Harry Potter is far from alone in the canon of consistently popular children’s literature when it comes to most of these issues. And none of them appear to have affected book sales so far. It remains to be seen whether such issues will discourage millennial parents from introducing Harry Potter to their own children or affect its popularity among future generations. And in this sense, only time will tell if the appeal of the books and the films will continue to endure. Jane Sunderland is an Honorary Reader in English, Lancaster University. This article republished with permission of The Conversation. Jane Sunderland received funding from the British Academy (small grant).

By staff writer Meet Hannah in her mixing bowl. She is approximately six weeks old and is a female Siamese x. Hannah will be available for adoption in February. If you can see Hannah in your home, send the team at the Orange branch of the Animal Welfare League a message via their Facebook page. Hannah costs $400 and comes desexed, microchipped, vaccinated and with flea and worm treatments up to date. Hannah's Animal Welfare League Rehoming Number is R251000222.

By Peter Holmes At Peter Smith TerryWhite Chemmart on Summer Street, about every second customer on Tuesday came in to ask if there were any rapid antigen tests (RATs) for sale. There were not. Like at every other chemist in the city (see full list below), the pharmacy staff were waiting on more stock. How long will they be waiting? Who knows. When contacted by The Orange News Examiner on Tuesday afternoon, pharmacists across Orange had exactly the same story - we have no tests; we are trying all our wholesalers to source tests; the tests are on order; we don't know when they'll arrive. Blooms the Chemist did have stock - tests in packets of 1, 2, 5 and 20, but it was long gone. The staff are expecting more. At some stage. A phone call to Chemist Warehouse was met with a recorded message advising people that "stock is being delivered into stores daily", but that no phone orders would be taken. "Please visit," it said. But no detail on when during the day stock might arrive. A lucky dip. Orange Compounding Pharmacy had similarly bad news. No tests available. On order. Don't know when they'll arrive. At the Priceline Pharmacy there were 140 boxes of five tests available on Tuesday morning, but they fast disappeared. There was a limit of two boxes per customer, at $59.99 each. "It's just luck of the draw, it's absolutely crazy and there is extremely high demand," said Tammy Irwin from Priceline. She said that while people could phone first thing Wednesday morning to see if stock had arrived and purchase over the phone, RATs could not be held without payment. "We've been trying to order from everywhere," she said. "We had single tests at first, then packets of seven, then five - we're trying to get whatever we can." At Hogans Pharmacy, where the phones haven't stopped ringing, an order was made before Christmas. They are still waiting on stock. The last shipment, before Christmas, disappeared off the shelves within a few hours. McCarthy's Pharmacy was also waiting on an order. Staff were hopeful it would arrive by the end of this week. Or early next. Starchem Pharmacy and North Orange Discount Drug Store were in the same boat. On order. Don't know when. A staffer at one of the pharmacies expressed frustration with the state and federal governments: "They tell people not to get a PCR test [at a clinic] and to get a rapid antigen test, and then you can’t get any.” At Molong Pharmacy a delivery of RATs was made on Tuesday morning, but staff told The Orange News Examiner at 2pm that they had almost gone, with the few remaining expected to be sold by 3pm Tuesday. One pharmacist said there was some gouging on wholesale prices. RAPID ANTIGEN TESTS 1. Peter Smith TerryWhite Chemmart Waiting on stock 2. Blooms the Chemist Waiting on stock 3. Chemist Warehouse Recorded phone message says stock being delivered daily, no phone orders available. 4. Orange Compounding Pharmacy Waiting on stock 5. Priceline Pharmacy Waiting on stock 6. Hogans Pharmacy Waiting on stock 7. McCarthy's Pharmacy Waiting on stock, possibly end of week or next week 8. Starchem Pharmacy Waiting on stock 9. North Orange Discount Drug Store Waiting on stock 10. Orange Medical Centre Pharmacy Phone rang out twice. 11. Molong Pharmacy A delivery on Tuesday morning was almost sold out by early Tuesday afternoon, with the few remaining tests expected to be sold by about 3pm.

By Peter Holmes State member for Orange Phil Donato says the federal government needs to make rapid antigen tests (RATs) freely available to everyone. However the federal member for Calare, Andrew Gee, has backed his government's position on restricting free access to RATs, directing people who aren't eligible for government-supplied tests instead to pharmacies. "They should be free," Donato told The Orange News Examiner. "This would help to also alleviate pressure from pathologist units conducting testing and reduce queuing times at testing locations, not to mention quicker results." MORE NEWS: Orange, we need to talk roundabouts … Gee said that about six million Australians will be able to receive free RATs. "Anyone in Orange, and across our region, who holds a Commonwealth seniors health card, a healthcare card, a low income card, a pension concession card, DVA Gold card or a DVA white card can access the tests for free," he told this organ. "They’re also free to anyone with COVID-19 or with symptoms." For the other 20 million Australians, Gee said millions of RATs were "set to hit our shores in coming days" and "there will be more stock available at our local pharmacies". "This, alongside new export and anti-hoarding restrictions, means finding a test will become easier," he said, also pointing to fines up to $66,000 or five years in prison for price gouging. Donato urged the people of Orange and surrounds to "remain calm and vigilant" and to "practice self-hygiene and social distancing". MORE NEWS: Oh No I’ve really upset Meat Loaf Gee said more than 95 percent of Orange is vaccinated. "Right now, with case numbers rising across the region, we’re reminded everyday about why we got vaccinated," he said. "While case numbers are shooting up, hospitalisations are remaining steady, meaning the vaccines are working."

By staff writer There have been 425,404 documented cases of Covid in NSW since the start of the pandemic, with more than 45,098 being added to the total over the last 24-hour reporting period. Nine people across the state have died, four women and five men aged in their 50s, 70s and 90s. Five people were from south-western Sydney, two were from south-eastern Sydney, one person was from Western Sydney and one person was from Newcastle. There are currently 1,795 Covid cases admitted to hospital (up from 1,738), with 145 people in intensive care (up from 134), 40 of whom require ventilation. There were 116,915 Covid tests (up from 112,725) statewide in the 24 hours to 8pm Friday night. Although the true numbers are potentially much higher, up to 8pm last night there were 1,059 new cases in the Western NSW Local Health District, up from 879. There are 16 people in the LGA in hospital (up from 11) and two in ICUs (up from one). The positive case breakdown for the 24 hours to 8pm on Friday: Bathurst - 272 (up from 257) Blayney - 28 (up from 9) Bogan - 3 Bourke - 1 Brewarrina - 4 Cabonne - 25 (including 10 Canowindra, 9 Molong), up from 16 Cobar - 16 Coonamble - 20 Cowra - 18 Dubbo - 238 (including 7 Wellington) Forbes - 24 (up from 16) Gilgandra - 5 Lachlan - 3 (including 3 Condobolin) Mid-Western - 111 (including 65 Mudgee), up from 18 Narromine - 8 Oberon - 4 Orange - 214 (up from 206) Parkes - 17 (including 4 Peak Hill), down from 20 Walgett - 14 (including 2 Collarenebri, 1 Lightning Ridge) Warren - 12 Warrumbungle - 20 (including 12 Coonabarabran) Weddin - 2 For a full list of COVID-19 testing clinics visit: https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/stay-safe/testing/clinics Per NSW Health: The NSW government has announced a range of precautionary measures to provide additional support for the health system and community ahead of an anticipated peak in COVID cases later this month. To alleviate pressure on the hospital system and staff, the usual holiday suspension of non-urgent elective surgery will be extended through to February. Private hospital capacity will be utilised where needed, as was the case during the Alpha and Delta outbreaks. Public health orders will also be updated next week to include a requirement that people report their positive rapid antigen test (RAT) results, to link people with COVID-19 to health support and advice. MORE NEWS: EXCLUSIVE: "I was shaking uncontrollably". Six people in one house in Orange have Covid From January 8-27, 2022, singing and dancing is prohibited in hospitality venues (including pubs, clubs, nightclubs, bars, and restaurants), entertainment facilities, and major recreation facilities. People are at risk of developing COVID-19 for 14 days after they were last in contact with a COVID-positive person, so it is important to take precautions during this time. While most people will become positive within the first week after exposure, around a quarter of people exposed to COVID-19 will develop their infection in the following seven days. If you have had a high-risk interaction with someone who has COVID-19, it is important to exercise caution and avoid high-risk settings and large indoor gatherings for 14 days after you last had contact with them. MORE NEWS: "The size of a chicken": Huntsman almost ruins holiday