Orange naming audit prompts contested push for more women commemorated in public places Councillors voted 7-4 to ask staff to address an identified gender imbalance in future names for parks, reserves, sporting facilities and other council assets. Council: Orange City Council Meeting: 6 October 2026, 6:00 PM Recorded status: mixed BRIEF Orange City Council voted 7-4 to ask staff to address an identified gender imbalance in future commemorative naming of parks, reserves, sporting facilities, buildings and other public places. Staff will review and expand the names register and report a proposed approach back to Council. No specific place was renamed, and the minutes do not set a target or timetable. KEY FACTS - Council noted an audit of names within the Orange Local Government Area on 6 October 2026. - Staff were asked to address the identified gender imbalance in future commemorative naming and review and expand the names register. - The request for further work passed 7-4, with Cr S Peterson absent. - No particular place was renamed, and no timetable for the proposed approach was recorded in the minutes supplied. - The Manager Engineering Services said duplicate entries represented different park entrances and would not skew the data. ANALYSIS OF THE RECORD - The resolution concerns future naming and asks for a proposed approach to be reported back, so it does not approve the renaming of any particular public place. - The vote shows the request was contested, but the minutes do not record the reasons for the four opposing votes. - The public minutes supplied do not state the audit's target, timetable, full results or methodology. QUESTIONS FOR FOLLOW-UP REPORTING - What gender breakdown and methodology did the audit use? - What criteria and timetable will staff propose for the expanded names register and future commemorative naming? - Will the proposed approach apply only to new names, or also consider existing council place names? RECORDED NEXT STEPS - Staff are to progress work addressing the identified gender imbalance in future commemorative naming. - Staff are to review and expand the existing names register. - The proposed approach is to be reported back to Council. SOURCE PASSAGES Council noted the audit of names within the Orange Local Government Area. "THE MOTION ON BEING PUT WAS CARRIED. RESOLVED - 26/558 Cr K Duffy/Cr G Judge 1 That Council determine that this item be heard and voted on in seriatim. For: Cr T Mileto (Mayor), Cr K Duffy, Cr T Greenhalgh, Cr G Judge, Cr F Kinghorne, Cr D Mallard, Cr J Whitton Against: Cr J Stedman (Deputy Mayor), Cr M McDonell, Cr G Power, Cr M Ruddy Absent: Cr S Peterson RESOLVED - 26/559 Cr M Ruddy/Cr J Stedman 2 That Council note the report on the Audit of Names within the Orange Local Government Area." (Item 5.4, resolution 26/559) Council requested work addressing the identified gender imbalance in future commemorative naming and expansion of the names register, with a proposed approach to return to Council. "For: Cr T Mileto (Mayor), Cr J Stedman (Deputy Mayor), Cr K Duffy, Cr T Greenhalgh, Cr G Judge, Cr F Kinghorne, Cr D Mallard, Cr M McDonell, Cr G Power, Cr M Ruddy, Cr J Whitton Against: Nil Absent: Cr S Peterson RESOLVED - 26/560 Cr M Ruddy/Cr M McDonell 3 That Council request that staff progress work to address the identified gender imbalance in future commemorative naming of Council places and assets, including parks, reserves, sporting facilities, buildings and other appropriate public places, and review and expand the existing names register to support this work, with the proposed approach to be reported back to Council." (Item 5.4, resolution 26/560) The request for further work passed 7-4, with Cr S Peterson absent. "For: Cr T Mileto (Mayor), Cr J Stedman (Deputy Mayor), Cr D Mallard, Cr M McDonell, Cr G Power, Cr M Ruddy, Cr J Whitton Against: Cr K Duffy, Cr T Greenhalgh, Cr G Judge, Cr F Kinghorne Absent: Cr S Peterson Cr McDonell asked why there are duplicate names in the table." (Item 5.4, resolution 26/560 vote) The Manager Engineering Services said repeated names represented different entrances into parks and would not skew the data. "The Manager Engineering Services advised that the multiple names are from different entryways into parks and that the repeated listings would not skew the data. 5.5 COMMUNITY AED REPLACEMENTS TRIM REFERENCE: 2026/1930 MOTION Cr T Greenhalgh/Cr D Mallard That Council resolves : 1 To approve replacement of five AEDs back into the community at a cost of approximately $9,100 plus $240 per year for tracking 2 That the additional cost be included in the quarterly budget review process;" (Item 5.4 discussion) SOURCES https://orange.infocouncil.biz/RedirectToDoc.aspx?URL=Open/2026/10/CCL_06102026_MIN_16030.PDF https://minutesradar.com/news/orange-infocouncil-council-6-oct-2026-6-00-pm-6-oct-2026-6-00-pm-minutes-orange-naming-audit-prompts-contested-push-for-more-women-commemor-831ff5bf51/ Prepared from public council minutes using automated drafting and checks. No meeting attendance or interviews are implied. Check the original record and seek comment before republishing claims or analysis. 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