Orange has been recognised for its community spirit in the Keep Australia Beautiful NSW Sustainable Communities - Tidy Towns awards.
The city received one category win at the awards event in Murrurundi earlier this month, with Foodcare Orange picking up the Community Spirit and Inclusion Award for populations over 20,000.
FoodCare provides access to affordable fresh food, groceries and household items for individuals and families on low incomes.
AWARD: Foodcare coordinators receive a Tidy Towns award certificate (l.to r.) Pictured at the presentation are Foodcare's Wendy Fisher, MayornReg Kidd, Foodcare's Anne Hopwood and Tidy Towns Committee chair Cr Kevin Duffy.
A proud food relief organisation, it also helps individuals and the wider community reduce food waste by:
- Teaching people how to grow their own produce
- Providing healthy recipes
- Collecting surplus food from supermarkets
- Distributing excess produce from local growers
Mayor Reg Kidd congratulated the team at Foodcare Orange for the award and commended them for their dedication in helping people low incomes to put food on the table.
"The team at Foodcare provides such a vital service in the community and this award is recognition of their tireless efforts," he said.
Foodcare Orange Committee President Bev Williams paid tribute to the more than 50 volunteers who keep the service up and running each week.
"Foodcare is operated almost entirely by our dedicated volunteers," Ms Williams said.
"The award is fabulous recognition and lines up with our vision to provide anyone suffering from food insecurity or financial stress the opportunity to come and shop for a low cost and access free items."
Foodcare Orange was one of four local projects entered in their respective categories, along with Lighting Orange, Orange Sustainable Living Expo and Orange Nature Kids Program.
Keep Australia Beautiful NSW Assessor Doug McDonald visited Orange for two days in August to judge the Orange submissions.
Along with the one category win, the city was a finalist for the prized Sustainable Communities - Tidy Towns Award for its overall submission. Albury took out the top gong.
Orange City Councillor and Tidy Towns Committee Chair Kevin Duffy, Tidy Towns Committee members Chris Gryllis and Wendy Fisher, and Tidy Towns Coordinator Roger Smith attended the awards weekend.
Cr Duffy said the event was a celebration of many inspiring examples of sustainability, community spirit and ingenuity on display across the state.
"It was great to hear of the accomplishments of so many regional councils and their communities, with so many innovative projects making a real difference to the environment," he said.
