In response to Harold Anders, letter to the editor last week, his claim that Georges River Residents and Ratepayers have essentially formed a "political party" and are no longer running as Independents is an interesting take.
Given the 18 months, we've just endured, a sense of community and belonging has never been more vital. It is shortsighted for Wards to operate in isolation; ideally, they should form part of a broader narrative that works together.
I imagine that the GRRRP Independents bring to their "team" the specific needs of their Ward and a fresh perspective on how communities can work together, be strongly represented at council and move forward positively.
Our elected Councillors must work together for us and our communities. Collaboration is always the answer.
Name and address supplied
Colossus Sticks Provan
Some of the many legends emerging from the St George rugby league team, especially in the 1950s and '60s, are on display in a series of individually mounted posters just outside the home ground at Kogarah Oval.
Occupying pride of place is the greatest leader of them all, the recently departed Norm Provan. A man with a giant frame and the pace of a back, he was rarely outrun but never outplayed, especially among his opposing forwards.
It was often joked among supporters that if you wanted to know what the word 'colossus' meant, look it up in the dictionary, now Google, of course, and there will be a photo 'Sticks' Provan, captain-coach.
He had a profound influence on the thinking and behaviour of those he met and often brought those players under control with 'youthful enthusiasm' on and off the field, especially Billy Smith, Johnny Raper, and Graeme Langlands.
The fact he didn't drink grog nor smoke cigarettes gave him a big start in dispensing his warnings about the spirit of the group and not so much the perceived importance of the individual.
Johnny Raper said to me at the wake after Norm's brother, Peter, had passed away that 'I love Norm.'
And so say all of us.
Paul Hunt,
Engadine
Cleaning up council
Reading your article about Code of Conduct costs at Georges River Council reminds me of the first report about this matter by the General Manager where it was alleged this would clean up the council.
We have had over $201,000 costs for Code of Conduct, an NCAT inquiry into a councillor about a matter where the original recommendation was for the councillor to have further training and finally a budget item for $3 million for an ICAC Inquiry into two councillors regarding matters from the previous Hurstville City Council. This has probably cost ratepayers millions of dollars and with little outcome in cleaning up the council.
Councillor Landsberry (Blakehurst Ward) has often advocated for a better way. Solving interpersonal issues with counselling would see better outcomes. Respecting ratepayers' opinions would help when recommendations are presented.
It seems Bayside, Canterbury Bankstown, and Sutherland Shire Councils have no Codes of Conduct nor ICAC Inquiries on the board, or is it that they deal with it in the closed council meetings?
Brian Shaw, President
St George District Residents Network Inc.
Compassion is a good answer
I was interested to read two articles in last week's paper with opposite solutions.
A mental health hub is being created with support by the minister for suicide prevention (p. 8). This is a wonderful expression of valuing one another. Another article promoted "assisted dying" and a bill that would legalise suicide under some situations (p. 18). (I note that promoters of assisted dying prefer to say "allowing people to end their own lives" than "suicide".) Our compassion is much better funnelled into suicide prevention and even palliative care. As a state, may we never say that suicide is a good answer.
Gavin Rosser,
Lugarno
Independents don't run as parties
As someone who has run as an independent and with minimal expense the latest party games of big dollar expensive and unrepresentative machinations is unwelcome.
The "pool party" has many aspects of an executive run administration where behind the scene officials decide what's being thought and done. We already have enough too that with the major parties.
I, despite years of set backs from the major parties and football clubs and former major party councillors all running as fake independents and spending tens of thousands of dollars on campaigns, as well as the impact of Electoral Commission maladministration, hope that enough of the electors can see past this fog and choose candidates with local government expertise and experience.
That's why I run as a candidate for discerning voters.
G J Briscoe-Hough
Mortdale
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Write to the editor craig.thomson@austcommunitymedia.com.au
