I REFER to an article in the Age dated 7 November 2005, where it states:
“Andrew Higgs is facing expulsion from the Victorian Liberal movement over alleged branch stacking and fundraising breaches.
The move came after Mr Higgs was accused of using the Liberals to promote a fundraising dinner for his own election campaign for the Knox City Council.”
Is it correct that the so-called Reform Coalition Group is backing Mr Higgs, who claims himself to be an Independent candidate in the coming election in Knox.
But by his own admission Mr Higgs states he is a member of the Liberal Party.
How can this be?
Is Mr Higgs running for council election to benefit the residents of Knox or to help put in place a conservative council stacked with Liberals to attempt to combat the ‘Bracks factor’ in forthcoming state elections?
Certainly if Andrew Higgs is being questioned by members of his own Liberal Party with regard to his credibility and is being considered for expulsion, how could we as basic rate-paying voters even consider Mr Higgs as a representative on the council in the City of Knox?
J.R. Silcot
Ferntree Gully
I WOULD like to express sincere thanks to the many local people, businesses and organisations that made an event highlighting the Make Poverty History Campaign, the International Year of Microcredit and Anti-Poverty Week such a success.
Sunday afternoon 23 October was when the Cameo Cinemas, local representatives of RESULTS Australia, OXFAM Australia and TEAR Australia, hosted the feature film Yesterday plus a short film on microcredit to raise public awareness about world poverty.
The foyer of the Cameo became a bustling affair with ticket sales, and tables of information and resources offered by the three organisations.
So thanks to Senator Lyn Allison, who addressed more than 200 people in cinema one and told of her experience of a microcredit project (small loan scheme) in Thailand.
Thanks also to Eddie Tamir and staff of the Cameo who helped us with planning over many weeks and donated some of the ticket sales to the not-for-profit organisations.
Thanks to local members of the three organisations who joined together to provide the public with an interesting afternoon.
Oska Hunter and staff at Ruby’s Lounge welcomed us to their venue for post-screening wine and nibbles.
Upwey Cellars agreed to supply us with wine on consignment, and cheese donations were gratefully received from Fonterra Brand Foods.
Upwey Anglican Church provided a microphone, Tecoma Primary School a lectern and World Vision the Make Poverty History banner.
What a great team.
What a generous community.
Sue Packham
Hon. Secretary
RESULTS Australia
Belgrave
I WOULD like to respond to both Greg Parteger (Mail, 18 October) and Zach Worrell (1 October) in their criticism of the Prime Minister and our federal member (for La Trobe) Jason Woods.
Both writers to the Mail point out that industrial relations (IR) reforms and anti-terrorist laws were not mentioned in the election campaign but figured largely afterwards.
I’m asking, what about lies? Where are the weapons of mass destruction? Where is the proof that Iraq was responsible for 9/11 ? What about the children overboard?
When I was growing up you ran the risk of having your mouth washed out with Velvet soap if caught telling lies.
I don’t think you would get much support for a public mouth wash-out, but there is a lot of support for recalling an MP if he doesn’t do his job and is a liar to boot.
I say recall all liars and re-elect a new member who tells the truth.
Marjorie Broadbent
Upwey
GOOD on Karin Orpen!
She is an honest, hard-working and valuable member of our community.
Karin has always put the residents of Dobson Ward first.
As a resident like many others I appreciate the fact that she is not using her position as councillor to gain access to state or federal politics.
Karin is a local and has a deeply rooted community spirit having lived in Ferntree Gully for well over 20 years.
Karin has encouraged residents to participate in activities which bring the community together, such as the Ferntree Gully Community Fair and the Friends of Ferntree Gully Christmas in July.
She always voices residents’ concerns to council and where possible gets talk put into action.
In Dobson Ward we want a councillor who really gets involved with the residents, listens and works to improve conditions here, not somebody that is going to be a mouthpiece for a lobby group or political party.
In my opinion Karin Orpen has over the years shown herself to be the best candidate for Dobson Ward.
Edward Plenty
Ferntree Gully
YET another pool for Pakenham?
How strange that just prior to a council election ‘council officers’ have disclosed plans for another outdoor pool at Pakenham!
If the Save the Pool committee is successful in its commendable efforts to resurrect the old outdoor pool will we end up with three pools in Pakenham?
We are advised that councillors seeking re-election have included the new pool as a desired project in the new council term.
I would suggest that if councillors in outlying wards voted for this then their chances of being re-elected would not be enhanced.
As a resident of Emerald, Cardinia’s second-largest town and which has lobbied for a pool for decades, I am nauseated by the news that a feasibility study is already under way for this additional pool in Pakenham.
Yet another example of ward councillors not working in the interests of those who listened to and believed in their empty promises at the last election.
If we let it happen again we only have ourselves to blame.
The time for change is here now.
John Dudley
Emerald
I WOULD like to encourage all residents in the Shire of Yarra Ranges to participate in Getting Involved Program, a $4.5 million initiative by the Bracks Government involving more than 500 events statewide to celebrate the Commonwealth Games.
Included in this program is the Warming up for the Games day on 20 November, when the shire will host an event to run, cycle and walk along the Lilydale to Warburton Rail Trail.
The emphasis in the Getting Involved Program is to ensure that there is community participation at all levels.
All municipalities will be running a variety of events on this day thanks to State Government funding.
It is not all about sport – it is about people in all their diversity and array of cultures.
Other local activities to be held in the lead-up to the games next year include a touring exhibition of the sporting history of the area, which will gather input from across the shire.
Another project, the Avenue of Athletes, will involve the planting of trees along the rail trail.
The State Government is committed to supporting projects that will deliver long-term benefits for communities as a result of the Commonwealth Games.
So many people in the area have expressed their enthusiasm and excitement about what will be the biggest event ever hosted in Victoria.
None are more eager than schoolchildren, who have been overjoyed when I have delivered Commonwealth Games flags to their schools.
Students are keen to follow the progress of not only Australian athletes, but also those from the official second team for Yarra Ranges, New Zealand.
The shire has been putting in a tremendous amount of work to ensure every citizen has the opportunity to get involved.
Support your local athletes, your baton relay runners and your local community and take advantage of the special activities that are marking this once-in-a-lifetime event.
Tammy Lobato
Member for Gembrook
LAST week’s issue of the Mail highlighted how members of an outgoing council (Knox) have found a way to obstruct potential newcomers (Knox Reform Coalition) from winning seats.
Having served as a Knox councillor in the 1970s – unpaid, of course – some of the election brochures of candidates stand out for comment.
The main one being of course the question of council rates.
From those seen and from the coalition, the promise is for reasonable rates.
What is ‘reasonable’? I’m not sure and I beg to say I doubt if any of the candidates do either.
Rates have doubled over the past three years because of the adoption of the capital improved value (CIV) and discarded site value system; CIV being virtually the market value.
On page 3 of the same issue under the heading ‘Campaign caution’ the outgoing mayor Jenny Moore is credited, and I quote the following statement, “What’s pulled this council together has been the leadership to change from site value to capital improved value in the face of misinformed criticism”.
Were the objectors to the proposed change misinformed?
I had been hoping to find out where the latest adopted system emanated from. Now I know it was printed in your journal.
In 1965-66, 40 years ago, the exponents of the site rating system mounted a campaign to switch from NAV (net annual value) to site rating.
The council didn’t make the decision. It was put to a public poll, which is what the current councillors should have arranged.
That wisdom did not prevail, so they have to wear the consequences.
It is the real issue for this election – council rates are now a savage burden for many ratepayers.
J.K. Gill
Ferntree Gully
