The party line
Speed Jones is a highly respected citizen in our town and a font of wisdom but he errs in suggesting that our local MLA should be metaphorically thrown into the Hastings (Hastings Gazette 29 Sep).
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Mrs Pavey is a relative newcomer to the dirty game of politics and doubtless she has been forced to follow the party line on issues where she has held a contrary view.
It is possible, for example, that if she crossed the floor on the greyhound issue, funding for local schools would be withheld.
She has obviously been forced to follow the party line on rail cuts made by NSW TrainLink in which the local manager has been displaced.
Over 9000 people signed a petition to maintain the status quo at Wauchope station but to no avail.
On this issue both Mrs Williams (the state member for Port Macquarie) and Mrs Pavey have been sympathetic but hard-nosed, like the boffins who devised the cuts, and tomorrow Joe Fraser loses his job as Booking Office Manager at Wauchope station.
We need to help our local member Mrs Pavey to stiffen her backbone to challenge her party and fight the just causes for her constituents.
What she might lose career-wise, she will gain infinitely in respect and admiration from her local electorate.
Geoff Richardson
Wauchope
The fourth estate
Being a member of the fourth estate requires The Gazette to do more than simply print puff pieces generated by the local State member.
Membership, in part, also requires the local paper demand accountability from our local member.
Melinda Pavey should be expected to account for the actions and performance of her government, in case you don’t know where to start here are a few suggestions:
Can we be told why millions were spent spruiking the Government’s greyhound policy, yet is turning around and closing the Wauchope train station, or, why there was no local content condition in the contract for train carriages that are now being built in South Korea, or, why it is necessary to close the Wauchope Greyhound racing track, or, could the community be informed why it was not a condition of council amalgamations that the populous be given a vote, and to round things off, after the debacle at Port Hospital, why is the government going to go down the path of privatising hospitals again?
Rick Sharp
Pappinbarra Road
Pappinbarra
Oxley Highway speed limits is just spin
I read with interest the article regarding the reduced speed limits on the Oxley Highway.
The spin in the safety review is overwhelming and quite ridiculous.
It says that 'almost half of the casualty crashes occurred on curves'. Of course they did, the road up the mountain is curve after curve after curve and it would be hard to crash anywhere else! It also states that 51% occurred in 90km/h or higher speed zones.
That means that 49% (almost the same amount) occurred in speed zones less than 90km/h.
We are not stupid, and this blatant misrepresentation of statistics is yet another attempt to push a frustrating agenda that totally misses the point.
Alan Deeks
Wauchope
Daffodil Day success
On behalf of Cancer Council NSW, I would like to thank the entire community for supporting someone they know affected by cancer by celebrating the 30th anniversary of Daffodil Day on Friday 26 August this year.You can view a short video we put together with help of the community by clicking here.
Across Northern NSW it is predicted that in 2016, 2551 people will be diagnosed with cancer[1]. Cancer Council NSW is committed to reducing this burden and events such as Daffodil Day are vital to this effort.
This year the Northern NSW Region has raised over $250,000 for Daffodil Day! An incredible feat for an incredibly generous community.
Northern NSW Daffodil Day Coordinator Sarah Royall says “Funds raised on the day support projects such as Transport to Treatment, as well as accommodation facilities like Inala House in Tamworth, Our House in Lismore & Shearwater Lodge in Port Macquarie which provide a home away from home for patients & their families accessing treatment remotely”.
“Daffodil Day also plays a critical role in supporting Cancer Council’s ongoing commitment to vital research projects, advocacy & prevention programs like Eat It to Beat it, SumSmart & Tackling Tobacco” says Ms Royall.
Cancer Council NSW’s Chief Executive Officer Jim L’Estrange said, “On the 30th anniversary of Daffodil Day this year it was great to see so many of our wonderful supporters out on the streets encouraging people to buy pins and fresh daffodils to support all people across NSW affected by cancer.
“Every donation, no matter how big or small, helps Cancer Council NSW in our mission to beat cancer. As an organisation that is 97 per cent community funded, we simply couldn’t do this without the Northern NSW community and their support of events such as Daffodil Day.”
Thank you once again to all local businesses, schools, volunteers and fundraisers for your ongoing support of Cancer Council and Daffodil Day.
Sarah Royall
Communication and
Events Coordinator
Cancer Council NSW