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“I can go fishing down at the creek ... I can walk to the Rec. and kick my footy around, there’s the skateboard park, the soccer fields and the hockey fields ... Vinnies to find ‘treasures’, caramel milkshakes at the cafe, and fish and chips at the pub ...that’s’ why Molong is my very favourite place!” by Russell 10 years old. (R)

“I love the creek and breaking the ice on the puddles (frost), and I like the bike track and the skate board park. I buy heaps of treasures at Vinnies. And, I like the people.” by Ben 8 years old (Far R)

Penrith and the Blue Mountains are the full-time homes for Russell and Ben who visited Molong recently with their Dad, Nick - who also has fond memories of visiting his Molong family over the 41 years of his life. Like his two sons - city living Nick (like many others) has always loved the simplicity, warmth and friendliness of Molong. His memories are not alone to the thousands of former locals and visiting city based kids who return to the Molong experience - time and time again. There is something worthwhile - a number of things in fact - that continue to bring visitors and tourists to Molong. Something that brings forward solitude, time to think, friendly locals who love to stop for a chat, locals who love to ask “where are you visiting from” - a place of natural adventures ... and affordable. Doesn’t happen very much in the city.

Decades of tourism brochures and promotion of Molong tried to sell this town as part of Cabonne’s/Australia’s “Food Basket” - an area for growing fine wines, good food, and other tourist attractions which we seemed to ‘lose the plot’ (so to speak) in becoming something we were not - or still ‘are not’! After all, due to our own fault ... and that of Cabonne Council’s limited tourism promotion $$$ budgets over the years - we soon found that the Cabonne claim to fame soon, and understandably, relocated their business images to become part of Orange. Well, who would have known the name of Cabonne badging - which many will still say should have been named Canobolas? Makes sense?

So, in not selling Molong short - or as an image we are not - we could start by listening to what visitors like about the town - why they come here - why they will come back again e.g. listening to the thoughts of kids who visit here - and what they love about the town. One can only imagine how many families in city based suburbs could afford a Molong holiday - kids and families who want to take time to catch their breath, have the time to sit quietly together by the creek, kick the footy around together at the Rec. eat real pub food, and breathe in fresh air - perhaps enhanced by a visit to the nearby Dubbo Zoo, the Age of Fishes Museum (fossils and dinosaurs) etc ... Maybe it’s time in Molong today to ‘hear’ what city based kids like Russ and Ben love about Molong? Simplicity? The promotion of which is timely and easy - and affordable. Readers ... we welcome photos of your visitors, the return of former ‘kid/residents and their thoughts to place in the Express.

Belinda and Arron Trapman (local residents with their three kids + one new baby on the way) set up their now thriving business two years ago in Bank Street (former Western Stores building and next door to Eden and Heba’s Gym).

Cabonne Carpets is the name chosen by the Trapman family for their main street business where a fabulous showroom stands behind a large window display of mats, quality floor rugs, and body warming sheepskin rugs. This is a one-stop shop for both floor coverings and installation advice - with free easy parking available.

Belinda, a former retail manager with fashion companies, looks after sales and orders for the family owned businesss. With her pleasant personality and excellent knowledge based on colour, style and quality she is able to help customer’s make their choices and to arrive at the best decision for their important $ long-term investment.

Arron is a brilliant installer of carpets and floor coverings. In fact, Arron is considered to be ‘the best’ from the time he starts working with customers in measuring up various rooms, discussing installation ideas, the best flooring materials for the individual customer’s lifestyle and building choices, and ideas for the final installation - all of which come together with Belinda’s skills and knowledge to help their customers achieve the best outcomes for their floor covering $investment.

With their new baby on the way - it is best for shoppers/customers to phone before travelling to Molong to make sure either or both Belinda and Arron will be at the Bank Street shop - date and time.

One thing is for sure - this very likeable and hard working couple will be able to provide the best in service - and in floor covering selections. Cabonne Carpets showroom is vast and includes every colour, style, quality and brand from their sample’s displays. Samples which are large in size for customers to envisage how the floor coverings will look in their home, business and/or commercial areas.

The Express would like to thank Belinda and Arron and their family on choosing Molong and Bank Street as their business location and for making a significant $ investment in the town, and for creating a destination business which provides more business opportunities for surrounding shops, cafes, retailers and business owners.

We look forward to welcoming new baby.

A trip to a medical specialist in Orange meant a shilling to spend at Coles in Sumer Street.

With long open displays set up and down the store - and clothes on racks hanging nearby - this store was a treasure trove of everything possible - wool, underwear, socks, giftware, home products, cards, wrapping paper , toys etc

As a kid with a silver shiny shilling ‘burning’ in my hand to be spent - it was like being on a magic carpet ride delighting in the excitement of something new, the opportunity to touch and feel displays, to marvel at the colour that brought a new meaning to the retailing talk of the 1950’s/60’s and the age old ‘point of difference’ that had finally arrived in country based shops.

Notice the perfectly handwritten pricing tickets on each stand - the work usually of talented instore signwriters - and the pounds, shillings and pence (prior to 1966 and the introduction of decimal currency). Do readers have memories of this Orange store - or the biggy in Sydney Central?

Rozzi’s Memory?...YAY!

I discovered the new treat of the 50’s/60’s ... Cheese Twisties.