WELL, I've certainly upset at least two leftie readers (“How about you just say it in each column?”, “I’ve put my money where my mouth is, Whisperer”, Letters to the editor, July 28).
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- READ MORE: I’ve put my money where my mouth is, Whisperer
- READ MORE: How about the Whisperer declares it?
They continue to bleat about a lack of transparency in this column, but I believe both correspondents have successfully gotten up the noses of many more readers by assuming they are too stupid to know my allegiances outside of this column.
Thankfully, they now know thanks to these self-proclaimed luminaries.
So why, after 14 years, is my weekly musing a threat to the lefties?
I'm flattered to think that my column may influence readers. I doubt it, though.
I hope, too, these correspondents are demanding the likes of Barrie Cassidy, host of ABC’s Insiders and a former chief of staff to former prime minister Bob Hawke, or Dennis Shanahan, political editor of The Australian, disclose their allegiances – as well as dozens of other columnists and commentators.
I note, too, one of the protagonists has ruled out a tilt at state politics, but failed to mention not running in the federal arena.
So I'm sure we can look forward to more glib policy announcements like toilet tourism to keep his populist flame flickering.
Lithgow looks east
LAST week’s announcement that Lithgow City Council will join the Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (WSROC) was very interesting.
It came after Lithgow did not rejoin CENTROC, which represents the Central West.
I agree the Blue Mountains is now essentially a western Sydney suburb and Lithgow is just over the sandstone curtain to the west, so Lithgow is now in a transition zone.
So maybe it's a sensible move or is it just politics - abdicating Lithgow from the state and federal electorates?
Amusingly, Lithgow would like to have a bet each way by remaining an observer on CENTROC, which I doubt will be permitted.
There’s a chair there
MUCH has been said about the Duke and Duchess of Sussex possibly visiting the Bathurst region this October.
I trust the royal planners don't include a visit to check out the Elizabeth Street Chair unveiled by the Duke’s grandmother in 1954.
I’ve often wondered why our forefathers chose such an austere memorial to commemorate the Queen’s visit to Bathurst and why Elizabeth Street was the location and not the more prominent Machattie Park or Kings Parade (other than the obvious reason of naming a street in her honour).
Early signs aren’t good
I THINK the supporters of the idea of adding "Bathurst" to the existing Mount Panorama signage are belting a dead horse as there is little or no support on council.
One councillor even suggests the signage should be tacky LED lighting - at great expense (I assume) to ratepayers. Really? I'm sure there are much better projects to be completed within the region.
Thumbs up
RUSSELL Street being reopened to through traffic after the Winter Festival. I see Orange has started a Winter Fire Festival, attempting to copy our winter success.
Thumbs down
CONTINUING dry winter which is setting up an ordinary spring and dire summer if it too is dry.