Dear Editor,
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Your front page article concerning an 11-year-old Cowra lad, in Wednesday's Guardian (February 18, 2015), almost brought me to tears.
What an indictment on this town, on the so called children's services.
I am disgusted, a wayward child, caught up in crime at 11 years of age, was totally abandoned in his hour of need, by everyone.
The judge voiced his anger and disgust, but still the child was locked in adult cells, and taken to a juvenile detention centre.
This town should be ashamed, I know I feel ashamed of Cowra.
My heartfelt prayers are for this youngster.
Drug dealers invoke huge sympathy, while a child is cast aside.
You can dress up the main street, but a town is judged on its actions, by its citizens.
John Stewart
Thomas Street, Cowra
Dear Editor,
I write to thank those interested citizens who attended the public education forum held at Cowra Services Club after the NSW Department of Education and Communities (DEC) refused, at very short notice, to allow the meeting to go ahead at the previously advertised venue, Mulyan Public School.
Thank you to the staff at Cowra Services Club who did a fantastic job, with even less notice to provide a first class setup in the Falcon Room.
Thanks also to the two candidates, Katrina Hodgkinson and Charlie Sheahan, who both travelled considerable distance to speak with voters, an important part of the democratic process.
No thanks to the Education Department, which seems more intent on stifling balanced public debate on education.
Readers would probably think that it makes sense to have a public meeting on the future of public education in the hall at a public school.
This has happened previously, 1999, at Cowra Public School. The community was able to engage with the candidates in a state election to tell them what they wanted.
Today, education in NSW is being tightly stage managed by faceless bureaucrats in distant offices, who are a little bit out of touch with this community. So much for the Government's policy of "Local Schools, Local Decisions".
The message here from the DEC seems to be to make your own decision, as long as it's what we want.
Still, a lesson learned; you can rely on your local club.
Yours sincerely,
Glenn Johnson
President, Cowra Teachers Association
Dear Editor,
Notification has reached most households in the Cowra Shire of Thursday March 12, finalised list of candidates we will have in the forthcoming elections.
The people of Cowra have again found themselves in the familiar position as part of a changed electoral district (over the years it has seen both State and Federal changes) but this time we have an opportunity to learn just how the Cowra residents rate.
One of the better outcomes in the new boundaries is that we are able to stop the dominance of Goulburn in the electorate in which we are included.
The two largest towns in the new "Cootamundra" electorate are Cowra and Young and I believe this offers us a fresh chance of ALL the candidates.
1. Do you reside within the new "Cootamundra" electorate boundaries and are therefore of one with the residents you would like to represent?
2. If you are not a resident would you be prepared to move and reside within the electorate if you are elected?
3. Where do you intend to open your offices within the electorate?
4. If you do not reside within the electorate, have no plans to move into the electorate or open a "full week" office in Cowra; what would be the frequency of being available in Cowra for interviews during any week State Parliament is not sitting?
It is my opinion that we have had some successes when part of the old "Burrinjuck" electorate however I also believe that representatives are in much better tune with local and regional likes (and dislikes) if they are now or become an electorate resident themselves.
Thank you for reading and considering my letter.
Yours sincerely,
Graham O'Neill,
Amaroo Avenue, COWRA