Out of the swamp
ON Wednesday morning, May 18, having only been notified on the previous evening, and no consultation with those directly affected, a team supported by recent government legislation arrived on the western bank of Kow Swamp with equipment to begin erecting a fence planned to encircle the whole swamp, with no gates, to prevent access by all those who own property around it.
While we cannot change history, over the past 200 years we have learnt to respect the culture and history of the Indigenous people and accept their rights as traditional owners for some areas to be returned to them.
It is also acceptable that the swamp environment should be protected from damage by stock with minor impact upon the farming community.
However, this fence is being built 50 metres from the high water mark on property legally owned by those around the swamp, for the whole length of each farm boundary.
This plan has been implemented with blatant disregard for the consequences of the loss of such a significant amount of land by farmers already struggling to survive the stringent water restrictions imposed upon them.
All avenues of possible assistance have been explored in a desperate attempt to retrieve this injustice, only to be advised that these farmers have no rights to recover this land taken from them without consultation or any form of compensation.
To deprive these farmers, and in turn the wider community of the benefits of the swamp for whatever social or economic benefits they require will effectively destroy the fragile state of tolerance and inter-racial respect for each other which has gradually developed in recent years and make a complete travesty of reconciliation.
Kow Swamp is only a dot on the map, but if this plan is a roadmap for the future of Australia, dominated by discrimination in its many forms it is a grim prospect that will inevitably bring about the destruction of our nation from within.
Julie Smith
Wee Wee Rup
Stood up for my people
I WOULD like to thank everyone in the electorate of Mallee who voted for me in the recent federal election.
I was honoured to be able to represent you as a true standalone community independent candidate in the months during the lead up to the election.
Even if you didn’t vote for me, I was still honoured to have represented you. Although I was not successful this time, I still call this the greatest achievement of my lifetime.
I stepped up and stood up for my people and communities across the electorate of Mallee on the platform of making us future ready on integrity, healthcare, renewables and connecting our rural and regional centres on road, rail, runways, and digital infrastructure.
Special thanks to all who supported me in every way they could from coffee and food drop offs to time and pep talks.
The nostalgic conversations with community who knew my family and me as a child growing up in Horsham. The new conversations and friendships I have forged around the electorate.
Also, the random acts of kindness from strangers, like Laurie phoning to make sure I got to Piangil safely in case I ran out of fuel, or just allowing me to put up a sign. You know who you are. I thank you all. I am a so grateful and proud for the experience that you have given me.
I will continue my advocacy of excellence in leadership through aspirational and sustainable innovation, delivered ethically and transparently in my local government councillor role and look forward to the opportunity to represent you again, at a future election.
Claudia Haenel
Horsham
