Defenders of democracy do not have to apologise
RE: “Time to Ask If Pollie Bashing’s Gone Too Far” (editorial, Western Advocate, Wednesday, August 17).
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I agree with both sides of the fence you appear to be sitting on.
No one in their right mind can accept malicious harassment and /or threats of violence against people in public office.
This should go without saying. As should your point about sacrifices made by those who offer themselves for those positions.
On the other hand, no apology should have to be made for being a fervent defender of democracy where robust debate is encouraged and the public interest is a priority.
You mentioned respect. This is something that must be earned, in my view, whether someone is in public office or not.
When dictatorial decisions are made, which fly in the face of the public interest, unfairly victimise certain communities, or unfairly advantage developer interests, respect will tend to disappear.
I think politicians refer to it as "political capital". This is where the curse of the safe seat can hamper decisions taken.
When a state MP walks out on his electorate to further his career in the national parliament, while leaving NSW taxpayers a bill of hundreds of thousands of dollars for a by-election, respect for this person is hard to defend.
I believe that the public wants to have trust in and respect for anyone elected to public office.
Such trust is pretty thin on the ground all over the world at this time, for good reason.
Is it too much to ask that they live up to the honour bestowed upon them by representing their electorate with courage, insight and integrity?
Just finally, I don't believe that legitimate concerns about a politician's performance or level of empty rhetoric should be automatically labelled as "pollie bashing".
Part of the honour of their position should require that their performance is equally open to praise or criticism where appropriate.
Elizabeth Chandler, Napoleon Reef
New name at Meadow Flat ignores district’s pioneers
THE residents of Meadow Flat, who are mostly descendants of the early settler families, are very disappointed, hurt and angry that a building they all contributed to has been renamed with very little consultation with them.
The Meadow Flat Community Hall was built in 1954-1955 by the hard-working men of those families. It was constructed from a hall which was previously used as a migrant camp in Bathurst and was cut up and transported to Meadow Flat in small sections where it was rebuilt.
The land for the building was donated by one of the pioneer families, not the Scott family.
The building is now 60 years old, but the names of the men who built it are still remembered: Walter Dowler, Jack Hall, Eric Gunning, Allister Case, Mac Scott, Lew Black, Abe Lawer, Merv Bennett, Alf and Don Berry and Stan McCusker.
Earlier this year, the Lithgow Council proposed to rename the hall the Mac Scott Memorial Hall.
Six letters from local residents were sent to the council opposing the renaming, with only one letter (from residents who had left the district) supporting the renaming.
Two weeks after the council held its meeting, the hall was renamed the Mac Scott Memorial Hall at a small ceremony which very few local residents attended.
The people of Meadow Flat feel a sense of shame that the hall is a memorial to one person and not a memorial to all the men and women who were inspired to build it.
Residents are hoping that the hall will return to its original name.