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Total destruction in a fire in 2019 of the original Wentworth Golf Club seemed likely a death-knell for "The Wenty"; but fate still had a hand to play. Having only just passed its half-century a few years before, it looked like this beloved local institution, might not meet the 60th anniversary which it celebrates this week. Fortuitous events, however, led to its amalgamation with Orange Ex-Services Club, and they haven’t looked back since, Services’ Chief Operating Officer, Mark "Fez" Fleidner believes. "It was a tragedy when the 50-year plus club house burnt to the ground however, at that time, the Orange Ex-Services Country Club - which had its own course - lost our lease out at Bloomfield," Fez explained. "So, we eventually formed an amalgamation between Orange Ex-Services Club and Wentworth, which has been beneficial for both parties," he added. Half-century member, Stan Streatfeild, said that the amalgamation with the Ex-Services Club, was a lifesaver after the devastating inferno of May 18, 2019. "In the end, it was probably the best thing to happen for all concerned," Stan said. "The Servies lost a country club, and got a first-rate golf course as a swap," he added. Bricks-and-mortar of the new clubhouse is one sign of the successful marriage between one of the top courses in the bush and Orange's biggest community organisation. "The cost was about $25 million to build, making it one of the most modern buildings and golf courses in NSW," Fez said proudly. "We've got a pro-shop, two golf simulators, a sports bar, a main restaurant, two cafes and function spaces, and a kids play area." With the fine and ancient game of golf now struggling for numbers in many towns across Australia, "The Wentworth", as it is now known, has only grown and thrived. "At the time of the re-opening, we had about 550 full members, now we have about 760 members, and that doesn’t include the 26,000 social members across the group," Fez revealed. He emphasised not just the good work in recent years, but also the hard labour of those who founded the club all those years ago. "The golf course, wouldn’t be where it is, if not for founders like John (Bankovic)" with the events of 2019 shattering for the members. "It’s been a home away from home for so many, and it was sad for everyone but, saying that, it gave us the opportunity to benefit the whole community," Fez said. He points to the long-standing commitment of so many at the club to its ultimate success now and into the future. "We have 48 juniors, an increase on previous years, which is great; Todd (Brakenridge, Club Pro), does everything. "We have a beautiful 18-hole, par 69 course in top condition, that is a testament to the work of so many people over the years," Fez said. For many members, he believes, the club is so much more than just another golf course. "I used to work out here since I was 16, Todd’s been here since he was 16, for all of us, it’s a special place," Fez said. "In the end, they’re not members, they’re friends." Early days of the club for everyone, only £5 a year! Drinks between a group of golf-loving friends way back in 1965 was the catalyst for the establishment of The Wentworth, now one of the best clubs in country NSW. Increasing popularity of golf in the post-war years - a sport until then traditionally associated with the wealthy upper middle class - had led to a crisis, where Orange’s established century-old course, simply could not cope with application numbers. "At Duntreyleague, you couldn’t join unless your father or grandfather had been a member, there was just too long a waiting list," Wentworth Golf Club founding member, John Bankovic recalled. "So, it was six local businessmen, over a beer at the old Orange Hotel, who decided to go ahead and build another golf course," he added. This led to a public meeting being called, where the unmet demand for the course, was starkly illustrated with a huge attendance. "We had a meeting at the Armaco Hall (Orange Function Centre) where more than 750 people turned up, at the end of the meeting, everyone paid ~$5 to become founding members," John said. Then the next year, it went up to $10, a 100 per cent increase," he joked (conversion to the new decimal currency in February 1966, was at one pound to two dollars). For John though, at the time a recent migrant from the Croatian province of communist Yugoslavia, the club has been a second home. "You couldn’t find a better place to play golf, the first golf ball I ever hit in my life, was there, the first game I ever played, was there" John said. "It is more than a club, it is a family." Foundation member, John Bankovic Wenty member, Stan Streatfeild, said the amalgamation with the Ex-Services Club, was a lifesaver after the devastating fire.

The Orange Ex-Services’ Club has unveiled a new name for its popular upstairs function space, now officially known as the Tarin Kowt Room. Tarin Kowt, the capital of Uruzgan Province in southern Afghanistan, was the central base of Australian military operations during the nation’s involvement in the Afghanistan conflict. Orange Ex-Services’ Club CEO Nathan Kelly said the name change not only aligns the venue with other club function rooms named after historic campaigns, including the Coral Sea, Tobruk, Borneo and Moresby Rooms, but also serves as a meaningful tribute to veterans of more recent conflicts. “The space was previously called the Greenhouse Function Room, and we saw an opportunity to rename it as a mark of respect for the veterans of Afghanistan, a new generation of local servicemen and women,” Mr Kelly said. “Most of our rooms are named after Australian battles or campaigns, but none yet reflected the experiences of our more contemporary veterans. The Tarin Kowt Room helps bridge that gap.” The new name was officially revealed on Wednesday, October 15, ahead of a special screening of the Australian war documentary Bravery and Betrayal , presented by veterans’ charity Wandering Warriors. Special guest “Horse”, a former SAS Patrol Commander who features in the film, helped unveil the Tarin Kowt name and accompanying information wall. “It’s actually my first time in Orange, which is ironic because I spent so much time in Tarin Kowt during deployments that we used to joke I’d end up getting citizenship there,” Horse said with a smile. “It’s an honour to be here and part of something that recognises the men and women who served there.” Director Simon J. Heath also attended the event and spoke about the importance of Bravery and Betrayal , which highlights the courage and dedication of Australian soldiers who served in Afghanistan. “Many Australians don’t realise the scale or impact of what our Defence Force, especially the SAS, achieved in Afghanistan,” Mr Heath said. “We made this film to share their story, to acknowledge their bravery and the sacrifices made not just by those on the front line, but by their families back home. These stories deserve to be told.” Heath said the film was also motivated by a desire to give SAS veterans a voice after years of negative media coverage and the heavy toll it has taken on many within the Defence community. “For a decade, only one narrative has been told, and it’s damaged reputations, families, and lives,” he said. “This film gives these soldiers, and their loved ones, the chance to tell their side of the story.” Funded entirely through community donations, Bravery and Betrayal has been touring Australia since June, with the Orange screening marking its 87th showing, most of which have been to sold-out audiences. “Our hope is that people walk away having heard directly from the SAS, their families, and those who paid the ultimate price,” Mr Heath said. “It’s vital that the ANZAC story continues to evolve, that we recognise the courage of those who served in Afghanistan as part of that proud tradition.”

At first glance, it’s just an ordinary t-shirt, but look closer and you’ll see the Supertee is so much more. “Our mission is to change the hospital attire for kids in hospitals,” says Operations Coordinator Terry Edgar, of the children’s charitable organisation Supertee. The Supertee, Terry explains, is a medical garment disguised as a fun costume. It was an idea brought to life by founder Jason Sotiris, whose one-year-old daughter Angela was diagnosed with a rare cancer that led to a three-year hospital battle. Feeling useless and helpless, Jason looked for ways to improve his daughter's level of comfort... and the Supertee was born. “It is essentially two pieces of material that come together by these plastic press studs,” says Terry. “Being plastic makes it MRI and PET scan safe, and all of the wires and tubes that the kids may be attached to can be stored neatly between these press studs down the sides.” A medical gown is an almost universal symbol of being sick, which can be demoralising for a child undergoing treatment for life-threatening illnesses. It’s like, ‘You feel sick, now you officially look sick'," says Terry. “With the Supertee, it is a garment whose aim is to give the kids in hospital that comfort, that dignity and also to inspire that imaginative play. We don't see them as medical garments; we see them as battle armour.” Supertees come in a number of different designs, including ‘Space Commander’, ‘Ballerina’ and Marvel superheroes Captain America, Captain Marvel and Spiderman. Marvel has allowed Supertee free use of their characters and logos for the garments. Supertees can now be found in 105 hospitals around Australia and, thanks to a grant from the Orange Ex-Services’ Club, 192 more Supertee packs have been donated to our hospital here in Orange. Last week, the club’s board members and staff spent a morning individually assembling Supertee care packs, which included handwritten notes to be given to children at the hospital. “We like to include our donors into the activity, to see where their money goes,” says Terry. “So we offer up an activity where they can pull together a team from the club – whether it be management, whether it be members, or the community – where these care packs actually get packed and then delivered to the local hospital to distribute the super tees where needed.” This is now the third year the Orange Ex-Services Club has supported Supertee, and they are proud to do so, says club president Graham Gentles. “The reason we're partnering with Supertee is because of our commitment to the community. Our club, our ethics, and our directions have always been to look after those within our area, and we support a lot of like-minded groups,” Mr Gentles said. “Supertee is a wonderful initiative and it's just grown into something now that I think has become very valuable in hospitals for those children that are suffering, in some cases, with life-ending disease or other issues they may have. And so it's a wonderful opportunity for us to be involved in something that's worthwhile for our community.”

APPLY TODAY & JOIN THE OESC TEAM Job Type Job Type Filter by Venue Select Venue Search Jobs Number of jobs found: 2 Apprentice Greenkeeper 130 Ploughmans Ln, Orange NSW 2800, Australia View Job Club Facility Cleaner 231 Anson St, Orange NSW 2800, Australia View Job

The Coral Sea Auditorium is our largest space that is used for corporate events, weddings and live entertainment in Orange NSW. l Sea Table 2 1/3 CORAL SEA Corporate Event Combining the Coral Sea, Tobruk, and Borneo rooms, this space is the largest plenary area, at 689m2. The entire area can be used for seating, or the additional areas can be utilised for trade sponsors or catering areas. With a built-in stage at the front of the room, perfect for discussion panels or guest speakers, with an additional option of a portable stage to extend this space. Three roof-mounted projectors with HDMI connection ensure optimal viewing for all delegates, with an internal PA system providing efficient sound quality for presentations and guest speakers utilising the microphone and lectern. The Coral Sea Auditorium is also the ultimate space for medium to larger Weddings. Featuring a large stage, wooden dancefloor, and private bar, the Coral Sea provides you the space to invite your entire guest list. Watch this space transform into a stunning wedding reception with your special touches making it your wedding day vision. Social Event The Coral Sea Auditorium is a large ballroom, ready for you to add your personal touches and exciting ideas. Featuring a large stage and parquetry dance floor, the Auditorium is perfect for live bands or DJs, as well as large projector screens to display any special memories or presentations. This space can be directly accessed from the Orange Ex-Services' Club front or back reception and is located on the first floor. We have various floor plans available to accomodate a dance floor, DJ or band, or you are welcome to bring a device to connect to our speaker system. Set Up Styles Room Classrooom Cabaret U-Shape Theatre Banquet Coral Sea Auditorium 120 150 40 240 368 Coral Sea/Tobruk/Borneo 144 180 40 390 432 DOWNLOAD OUR FUNCTION PACKAGES WEDDING CORPORATE SOCIAL CELEBRATION OF LIFE OUR OTHER SPACES THE CORAL SEA TARIN KOWT THE WENTWORTH OTHER SPACES BOOKING & ENQUIRES For more information on OESC Event and Function packages, please get in touch with our professional team today! ENQUIRE TODAY

Orange Ex-Services’ Club, is currently seeking a dedicated Cleaner to join our Facility Cleaning team. As Club Cleaner you will provide an effective and efficient cleaning service within a well-supported team environment. < Back Club Facility Cleaner Apply Now 231 Anson St, Orange NSW 2800, Australia Part Time About the Role Orange Ex-Services’ Club, is currently seeking a dedicated Cleaner to join our Facility Cleaning team. As Club Cleaner you will provide an effective and efficient cleaning service within a well-supported team environment. Requirements The successful applicant will demonstrate: Experience with cleaning methods in a commercial setting A good level of physical fitness is required to undertake manual handling duties. Flexibility and willingness to undertake a variety of duties within daily routine. A commitment to safe work practices. Must hold a current NSW driver's license. Be available to work weekends. In this position you will be required to perform a variety of duties to ensure a clean, safe, and hygienic environment is maintained to the highest level at all times. This is a permanent part-time position remunerated in accordance with the Registered and Licensed Clubs Award 2020 Permanent Level 2. As part of OESC Group Employee Screening the successful applicant will be required to undertake a National Coordinated Criminal History Check paid by the club. If you are ready for this opportunity , email david.carson@oesc.com.au .