AMALGAMATION: 15 FEBRUARY 2017

A note of thank you from Marj Bollinger

As a member of the Cabonne community and representative of Cabonne Amalgamation No Thank You I would like to firstly congratulate Molong Advancement Group for taking the initiative back in March 2015 at their monthly meeting to take a stand against the NSW Government’s stance to amalgamate Orange, Blayney and Cabonne and the subsequent formation of the ANTY sub-committee.

Credit for this success must surely go to Woollahra Council for instigating court proceeding that in turn enticed other councils, including Cabonne to follow.

Most of all congratulations must go to all of the people in Cabonne, and elsewhere, who have supported ANTY throughout this ‘unwinnable’ David-and-Goliath fight by turning up at rallies, meetings, signing petitions and voting with their feet in November to make their voices heard.

Cabonne Mayor Ian Gosper and councillors, who have stood firm with their community throughout this entire battle, I am so proud to know I am represented by those who are so strongly committed to serving their constituents.

This has been a magnificent people-power team effort towards restoring democracy to the people.

There is still a long way to go before all of the wrong that has been done is set right and our thoughts must go out to all of the ‘soldiers’ still out there fighting in the trenches to save their councils.

My personal thanks to all for your ongoing support. Today I am feeling rather numb with a feeling of relief or maybe disbelief that I’m trusting will turn into a celebration that we can all share together.

The last thanks should go to the new Government representatives who have finally had the courage to start listening to us, the people, who pay their salaries, and urge them to take into consideration those communities who are out there hurting because of unwanted and unneeded forced Council Mergers.