Dianne Decker has entered the race for the Orange byelection that will take place on November 12, after the former Forbes Shire councillor received confirmation of her endorsement as the candidate for the Christian Democratic Party.

Mrs Decker’s nomination takes the byelection field to seven after Orange City councillor Kevin Duffy launched his Independent campaign last Monday.

Mrs Decker said personal experience had led her to throw her hat into the ring.

She said a reform of disability services – the industry she has worked in since 1994 – will be one of her policy pillars.

“I will always be interested in people with disabilities getting a fair go,” Mrs Decker said.

Mrs Decker established an annual regional sports day for people with disabilities 35 years ago.

In the past two years Mrs Decker underwent open heart surgery and had a tumour removed from her pituitary gland, procedures which cemented her belief in the importance of world-class health facilities in the electorate.

“I am a very fine example of how important our health services are in regional areas,” Mrs Decker said. 

“I had to travel for treatment but I have a wonderful doctor here.”

The married mother-of-two would also like to shine the campaign spotlight on education and employment.

“So many people are underemployed where they could work more and that affects their income and ability to obtain loans,” Mrs Decker said.

“It is vital that country people can have their children educated in our communities.”

Mrs Decker and Mr Duffy will be joined on the ballot paper, fighting for the state seat of Orange, by Phil Donato (Shooters, Fishers, Farmers Party), Bernard Fitzsimon (Labor), Janelle Bicknell (Greens), Scott Barrett (Nationals) and Scott Munro (Independent).