Everyone was urged to get on board and get an Opal Card. It was the next best thing to sliced bread.

Now, we read that to “top up” your Opal Card you have to travel to Bathurst, where there are “selected supermarkets, newsagencies and convenience stores”.

Who, in their right mind, would travel to Bathurst to “top up” an Opal Card?

This is an outrageous bureaucratic decision, which has not seen one politician of any political party stand up and say how utterly ridiculous this is.

And this has occurred on the watch of the National Party – the former so-called champions of regional and rural Australia.

True it is that the Transport Minister is a Sydney-based member of the Liberal party.

But the Nationals are a coalition partner of the Liberals.

Someone recently described the modern-day National Party as the lapdog of the Liberals.

Where was Deputy Premier and Nationals’ leader, Troy Grant, when the decision was made for Bathurst to be the centre for Opal Card “top up” in this area of the state? Asleep at the wheel?

How many towns west of Orange must see their citizens travel to Bathurst to “top up” the Opal Card?

A spokesperson for Transport NSW is quoted as saying that “the NSW government is currently considering options for Opal retailers in target areas outside the current footprint”.

What a beautiful bureaucratic term – “the current footprint”. If Lotto can install machines in even the smallest of towns, surely NSW Transport can do likewise.

Recently I was fortunate enough to be named the Cowra Services Club Sporting Scholarship recipient for 2016 at the SOTY Awards and would like to express my thanks and gratitude to all involved in the SOTY Awards. 

Firstly, to the Cowra Services Club who sponsored the Scholarship, competition at elite levels in an expensive exercise, especially for country athletes, and this scholarship will be a great assistance in covering some of the costs associated with national and international competition. 

I would also like to thank the various business and individual sponsors of the SOTY Awards, especially the major sponsor Cowra Sportspower, for your continued support of Cowra sport and athletes. Your ongoing support and recognition of our achievements is a great encouragement, not only to the current crop of athletes but also those who aspire to represent their town, state and country in the future. 

I would also like to express my gratitude to the committee for selecting me to be the October Sportsperson of the Month and ultimately the recipient of the year’s Cowra Services Club Sports Scholarship. Your commitment to Cowra sport is much appreciated by all Cowra athletes, not just award winners. 

I would like to thank my personal sponsors; Ben Casey of Central Milling, Elders Rural Cowra and NC Bellamy & Co, your financial support has allowed me to pursue my Martial Arts dreams and is much appreciated. 

Finally, I would like to thank my local instructors, fellow students and Martial Arts family at the Cowra Kumiai Ryu Dojo, you are always supportive and are a great inspiration when the going gets tough.

The recognition of the sporting achievements of the local sporting talent of Cowra is a wonderful thing, and to be ranked among such outstanding sporting people is indeed an honour. 

Thank you all once again for your dedication to the sporting community of Cowra.