Take Orange Regional Museum exhibition home for Christmas with new book

Orange Regional Museum’s exhibition Child’s Play: Growing up in Orange in the 1950s and 1960s has been made into a book, just in time for Christmas.

The exhibition, a collaboration between the Orange Regional Museum and the Orange & District Historical Society, traces the lives of children in our region from birth, baptism and baby shows to school days, swimming and scouts, through photographs, objects, multimedia presentations and hands-on activities.

The 76-page publication includes many of the stunning images featured in the exhibition, which were sourced from the Central Western Daily’s photographic archive, as well as images of toys and games from the era, accompanied by comments from local historian and exhibition curator Elisabeth Edwards.

Orange Mayor Reg Kidd said the book would make an excellent Christmas gift and keepsake for those who grew up in Orange in the mid-twentieth century, or had an interest in the history of the region.

“It will certainly bring back memories for those who experienced growing up in Orange in the era and offer a glimpse of life in the city at the time,” Cr Kidd said.

“Compiling all this wonderful information into a book provides an excellent opportunity for people to share the stories of local families and the history of our community, and they can revisit those stories whenever they like.”

Supported by the Orange Regional Arts Foundation, the book costs $10 and will be available from the Visitor Information Centre and Collins Booksellers Orange from Friday, 10 December 2021.

The book will be launched at the Orange Regional Museum at 6pm, Thursday 9 December. Hear from exhibition curator Elisabeth Edwards, enjoy the exhibition and pick up a copy of the publication in time for Christmas.

Bookings are essential and tickets are available from Eventbrite.

Child’s Play: Growing up in Orange in the 1950s and 1960s will be on display at Orange Regional Museum until 20 March, 2022.