At this time of the year, people start to think about the year ahead, so for a little fun we asked several local people about their thoughts, hopes or wishes for 2019. Some you may know, others may not be so familiar to you. I included myself in the mix, for no other reason other than it seemed a good idea at the time. What would you like to see happen in 2019?

Bob Holland
Orange City Life

Over the last couple of years, OC Life has chosen a project and made it our Community Project for that year. In 2017 it was a Well of Hope where we were able to sink a well in a place called Hopely in Zimbabwe, where they had no clean water. Last year it was the Miracle School in Pakistan where we helped feed poor families who worked as slaves in brick kilns. In 2019, I want to do something closer to home. It’ll be called ‘Put Orange First’ and my wish is that by year’s end, more people will appreciate how valuable our small businesses are to our city and that support and loyalty for them will increase significantly.

Alison Bennett
Alive Health

“My wish is that everyone achieves what they hope for in 2019. For Orange I hope the businesses, small or big prosper and I hope my friends and family remain healthy and happy.”

Bruce Buchanan
St Vincent’s De Paul

“My wishes for 2019 are (my wife has been going through Cancer) so I am wishing her a speedy recovery but also everyone who is ill. My wishes for everybody is for everyone to be the best person they can be, I think if everybody shared that little bit of kindness to everybody and lent that helping hand to someone in need, the world would be a pretty good place.

For Orange, I hope people continue to support local businesses, we are only as strong as the support that we provide. Be able to support and buy local where you can, really embrace we live in such a regional area, extend a welcoming hand to our tourists and always on sell another business, make sure you let them know about a winery that is open, or a show that is on.”

Cass Taylor-Single
Chef - Café Latte

“I hope that our Council do more to help small businesses in Orange, by supporting and giving us the opportunity to grow.

I wish for health and happiness for my family and friends, for my kids to continue to do well with what they are doing and for me to complete my personal challenge of completing the Falls Creek 36km run.

For us, as a nation to stay secure, I think the Police and Security are doing a great job at keeping us safe. Within my job I hope to continue being happy and crazy.”

Chris Gryllis
Chris Gryllis Real Estate

“I’m looking forward to the new year because there are lots of activities underway, with the possible beautification of the CBD, the development of the Myer complex and with the selling of Electrolux which will create a lot of employment. Together with all of the health infrastructures, (I have been in Orange for 56 years), I have never seen the town to be so prosperous. In the meantime, I wish everyone a merry Christmas, and a healthy, happy and prosperous new year.”

John Davis
Former Orange Mayor

“I would hope that my family’s health would continue to be very positive.
In Orange I hope everyone genuinely has a good 2019 - not necessarily money or fortune, but lifestyle and positivity.

In NSW I think we should probably concentrate on the election, I think it would be a damn good thing to get back to stability and look at things positively.

I think if there’s any negativity in the community of any sort you can nearly rule it back to the management of government at the present time. Surely we can do better with the decisions and the way people act and treat each other, I think respect is key.”

Lisa Fowler
Bella Spazio

“I wish to be able to spend more time with my family in the new year, to have another successful year in business here in Orange, along with lots of other local businesses. I’m excited to see our new Myer centre open up, I think it will bring more people to Orange which is exciting, it will be nice to see everyone grow.”

Mel Gregory
Bobbies Clothing

“On a global/national level, in 2019 I would love to see the release of suppressed technologies, particularly in the areas of health and energy.

On a more personal level, I am really excited and looking forward to the launch of our Bobbies Clothing online store in 2019.”

Robert McKean
Orange Presbyterian Church

“My wish for Orange in 2019 is that we all might experience a deeper sense of peace and contentment. People are often hassled by the struggles of life, whether it is just day to day busyness or larger issues of life. If we had more peace and contentment, we would be better able to face these issues.

My wish, in the words of a traditional Celtic blessing, is:

“Deep peace of the quiet earth to you,

Deep peace of the shining stars to you,

Deep peace of the gentle night to you,

Deep peace of the Son of Peace to you.”

Scott Quirk
Orange Real Estate

“I wish that Parramatta don’t get the wooden spoon again next year. That all of my family and friends have a happy and healthy 2019 and most of all that we have plenty of rain in 2019 for our farmers so they can rebound from the drought conditions!”

Sim Madigan
LiveBetter

“Of course I hope that 2019 is a safe and happy year for all, but my main wish is for the weather to play nice for all our farmers. They’ve had it tough in 2018, what with drought and recent storms, and I sincerely hope 2019 will be a less stressful year all round for them.”

Val Myott
Curves

“My wish is for everybody to focus on their health in 2019, this encompasses my own family and myself, and everyone who comes to Curves. Good health equals longevity and we should all have a wonderful 2019.

Orange is a beautiful city I have lived here for 40 years now and my wish is that everybody lives harmoniously, and everybody is very successful in whatever they do because that will affect Orange in the long term.”