WE often hear about Mount Panorama as the jewel in the crown.
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The real jewel in the crown in Bathurst is Daffodil Cottage.
This wonderful facility funded, built and supported lovingly by the citizens of Bathurst to provide cancer services, treat cancer patients and support their families is a special place in the heart of this community.
We know governments like to keep their secrets, avoid public scrutiny and make plans by stealth as much as possible.
Recently, this paper stood shoulder to shoulder with other mastheads on our right to know and press freedom.
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We know this state government totally believes in privatisation.
The premier ruled out more privatisation just days before the March election, yet last week we saw the Sydney Metropolitan Bus contracts go out to tender. We are all customers now in their eyes.
On the drawing board in the recent past was a plan to privatise five regional hospitals, halted because of public backlash.
The new Northern Beaches Hospital is now privately run with all the associated issues in the public glare for all to see.
Our local hospital has had numerous issues highlighted by councillor Warren Aubin's action group, yet the hospital bureaucrats repeat "nothing to see here, operating to standard" over and over.
On the other hand, Paul Toole has always been a strong supporter of Daffodil Cottage and everything it stands for.
We know the bureaucrats made a move on Daffodil Cottage in the past to turn it into a library. That was stopped in its tracks by the citizens of Bathurst protesting on the lawns of the cottage.
The outcome was a memorandum of understanding that underpinned the independence of Daffodil Cottage to administer cancer services in an environment of a "home away from home" and not a cancer ward inside a hospital.
Democracy means we must always be vigilant. The cottage will never have customers; we are patients and not just economic units.
Thousands of patients have been welcomed lovingly through the cottage.
You, the citizens of Bathurst, are the number one stakeholders in Daffodil Cottage. You endlessly support this unique facility with time and funds.
May the status of Daffodil Cottage remain in community hands and never change.
