And in doing so they will help increase the level of multiculturalism in a traditionally mono-cultural Australian country city.

It is not that long ago the only international aspect of most Australian country areas was the local Chinese restaurant.

The capital cities changed dramatically with the flood of European people after the end of World War II but country areas have seen far less of the European, Asian and African people who have migrated to Australia.

The 2016 census, despite all the dramas of people contributing to it on census night when the website crashed, is one of the best methods of defining just how multicultural we have become.

It revealed that in Orange for the first time the number of people born in India [186] exceeded the number of people born in New Zealand.

People listing their religious affiliation showed that the number of Christians is declining but the number of Buddhists and Hindus is increasing.

Nationally Sikhism was the fastest-growing religion in Australia with a 74 per cent increase in Australia since 2011.

There were not enough Sikhs listed on the 2011 census results in Orange for it to be given its own listing. It was included in the ‘other religious groups’ category.

However by 2016 Orange now has 62 Sikhs.

Not surprisingly the religion where most affiliates live outside urban areas is categorised as Australian Aboriginal Traditional Religions.

And, while we don’t know much about the spread of these religions in Orange, the other least urbanised religions in Australia are Paganism and Wicca.

While the numbers are small the census results show Orange is gradually gaining more multicultural features.

Following on from trends in Sydney we will continue to see more places of worship and shops unique to particular cultures.

And we will see changes in our community leadership.

Orange City Council has had councillors of varying ethnicities in the past and that’s likely to increase.

Now is the time to embrace people of other cultures to live in harmony, something that will pay long-term dividends for the city’s future.