From there, it took a life of its own.”[4] They took the name for their service from the Alexi Murdoch song "Orange Sky", which is about lending a hand to those in need.
[3] In February 2015, five months after they started with the first van in Brisbane in October 2014,[6] and two weeks after their expansion into Cairns, Cyclone Marcia hit the central Queensland coast and the then 20-year-olds headed to the area to offer their free service to affected communities.
[7] Similarly, in January 2016, they travelled to Victoria to provide laundry services to people affected by the Great Ocean Road bushfires.
[23] By July 2016, Orange Sky had 10 vans and 600 volunteers, and were estimated to be washing nearly six tonnes of laundry each week.
[28] On 23 August 2016, Orange Sky launched a new mobile service: free hot showers for the homeless.
[31] In their acceptance speeches after being announced as winners by the Australian prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, Patchett said "we can restore respect, raise health standards and be a catalyst for conversation".
[33] In October 2018, Orange Sky was given the People's Choice Award in the Google Impact Challenge Australia.