Today is Daffodil Day, the Cancer Council's long-running fundraiser for cancer research. In fact, this year actually marks 40 years since Daffodil Day began and it is interesting to look at the progress that has been made over the past four decades. We have better early screening and detection, and five-year survival rates, which were around 46 per cent, are now 72 per cent, which is a pretty impressive improvement. While we'd all love to see dying by cancer become a thing of the past, with a 'cure' found, it's not how these things usually work. But these incremental improvements in detection, treatment and care are really saving lives. This year, the Cancer Council is hoping to raise $5.5 million. You can lend a hand to their cause by donating online or visiting the stalls in Post Office Lane or at Orange Hospital today (Thursday, August 20).

The Winter Fire Festival has wrapped up for another year, but there is still plenty on in Orange. We've got the Travelling Film Festival this weekend, plus plenty of live music at various local venues, which you can read about in this week's edition. This week we also had a chat with Mark Shelley, who is returning to Orange on August 29, with The Roy Orbison Story. Mark has also offered our readers the chance to win a double pass to see the show, and you can find details inside our magazine.

Finally, we apologise to anyone who has had trouble getting in touch with us over the past week, or come by to find our office door locked. The staff have fallen victim to some seasonal illness doing the rounds; we have had to make do the best we can.

Until next week!