As the votes began to be counted it soon became clear just unhappy many of them were about being forced to amalgamate, and having their beloved greyhound racing demonised to the point of it being banned.

Despite the ban having been repealed, the resentment over the Baird Government's perceived arrogance obviously left a sour taste in the mouth of many voters.

Of course it wasn't only voters in the Orange byelection who wanted to make a point, voters in Wollongong and Canterbury also showed the Baird Government just what they thought of its decision to override the public's misgivings over key issues.

Orange's National Party candidate Scott Barrett took a catastrophic hit, with a primary vote swing away from his party jeopardising a seat that had long been thought of as being as safe as houses.

Even on election day the Nationals knew they had a battle ahead of them. They attempted to keep the media at arms length by not taking questions about their underwhelming performance, even shunning some photo requests and attempting to limit journalists from entering their election night gathering.

However Mr Barrett acknowledged his many supporters and their efforts to do what he knew was never going to be easy.

With final counting still underway Shooter, Fishes and Farmers' party candidate Phil Donato may be the first non-Nationals or Country Party member to hold the seat since 1947. However, Mr Donato was in no doubt about what helped him secure votes particularly in areas such as Molong.

He acknowledged there “was a deep-seated resentment and anger towards the Nationals, the people out there just felt like their community was going to be torn apart and destroyed and that these small towns are going to end up being ghost towns”.

While Mr Donato may have proved a popular candidate in his own right, constitutes may wonder what the future holds because of course it wasn't only anti-amalgamation lobbyists and greyhound racers and breeders who voted him in.

People who hunt and fish have also voted in a leader who they hope will represent their best interests. However what that means for Orange is yet to be seen.

Exciting times ahead.