Weekly wrap: We are here to advocate for you if needed

What do you do when local, state, or federal government makes a decision that you don't like?

Do you complain about the decision on Twitter or Facebook?

Do you investigate further and find out if there is a group of people who don't like the decision, then do you form a lobby group?

Or, do you write a letter to the editor of your local paper and ask if we could advocate for you?

This week I was contacted by two readers about this subject, but with different viewpoints.

One expressed utter hopelessness and anger at a decision made by the local council that directly affected her and people in her area. She wondered if us doing a story on it would make a difference.

I read her story, emailed her back and said yes we would look into things for her.

Our intrepid reporter Murray Trembath jumped on it and wrote about how a Council waived $110 fines after a parking blitz next to Miranda netball courts and soccer fields.

We've certainly done yarns like this before. Any community masthead that values its readers would.

Stories like this one from Jim Gainsford about how the new toll on an old road is making life a 'living hell" for locals.

Of course, this approach works in community, regional and metro mastheads across the country. A paper takes on a cause for its readers and often gets positive results for those readers and others in the community.

I love this type of campaign journalism, it is good old fashioned shoe leather on pavement advocating and it is rewarding for our readers and us.

The other was an email and then a phone call. The Leader reader talked about directly lobbying the local council about a complaint and the council's decision favourably went the way of the letter writer.

What the letter writer found was a large section of the community thought the decision was a poor one. She felt those opposed to the decision didn't adequately take into account the views of those who thought a local cafe was too noisy on a Sunday.

The reader took umbrage to being called a killjoy and all matter of things on our social media pages.

I gently explained to this reader that perhaps if she was upset with the commentary on Facebook directed at the anonymous people who complained than she'd probably be even more upset if she identified herself as one of the complainants and copped a further barrage.

Social media is nothing if not an effective method for lynch mobs to, well lynch!

I told her I was happy to do a yarn telling her point of view, after all, balance and telling both sides is important, but she asked for time to think about it after she had cooled down. I have not heard from her since.

I've have had many letters regarding whether or not the Georges River Council has decided to sell off the 24-space car park at the Carss Park Shopping Village. Jim Gainsford tells us what the latest development is, many won't be happy.

Jim also tells us when the results of technical investigations of Todd Park for aquatic centre can be expected to drop.

The member for Hughes Craig Kelly continues to confound many with his stand on hydroxychloroquine.

Merryn Porter brings us the latest in what is becoming a very Trump-like saga.

Surely, no matter the political consequences, the PM should show some leadership on this and ask Mr Kelly to pull his head in and follow the medical advice of our Chief Medical Officer who says the drug does not work as a treatment for COVID.

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Now, remember when I said I had some special things waiting for our valued newsletter subscribers.

Well, a promise is a promise, so I have two family passes (valued at $100 each) to give away to Van Gogh Alive.

Van Gogh Alive, the world's most acclaimed and visited multi-sensory COVID-aware experience, kicks off at the Royal Hall of Industries on September 18 for a strictly limited season.

Be the first two subscribers to reply to this email and CC me into the reply and I'll send you the passes. It is as simple as that. My email is craig.thomson@austcommunitymedia.com.au

I look forward to hearing from you.

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