A retired Anglican priest, who was Rector of the Boorowa Anglican parish from 1961 to 1967, has struck a blow for democracy by penning a letter of protest against council amalgamations to Her Majesty the Queen.
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Canon Bill Wright, 86, and six other elderly residents of Gundagai, are signatories of the letter, which seeks the support of the monarch in ‘restoring democracy’ and a reversal of the merger of the Gundagai Shire with Cootamundra.
According to Lisa Visentin, writing in Saturday’s Sydney Morning Herald, the letter will ‘seek the Queen’s persuasion to have the government of New South Wales restore democracy to Gundagai and all other affected councils.’
The letter also informs Her Majesty of the ‘serious impact’ the merger is having on the ‘morale and identity of Gundagai and its people.’
Canon Bill is quoted as admitting that he does not expect a response from the Queen, but hoped that the publicity might result in a reconsideration of council mergers by NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian.
When I spoke to Bill by telephone on Saturday morning he agreed that the move was a long shot.
‘But I was hoping that it might create some publicity,’ he said.
Bill said he had consulted some ‘elders’ of the Gundagai community, all over 90, who are highly respected as well as being wise and experienced.
Six of these people, three men and three women, had agreed to be signatories of the letter which was posted to Buckingham Palace last week.
He said he had also written to the Boorowa News recently, but the letter was returned, indicating ‘insufficient address.’
The retired Rector, who will be fondly remembered by his former Boorowa parishioners, has now lived in Gundagai for 45 years.
He still keeps himself informed on current affairs, although he admits that he is often frustrated by much of the political correctness of today’s society.