LOCAL council elections are being held on September 8.
In recent days I have had a number of requests either privately, or through the media, to either meet with delegations from Orange City Council or individual councillors about a range of state issues.
While the timing of these requests and some of the new-found passion for these issues so close to the election is no doubt coincidental, the council itself is now in caretaker mode and any meetings to be held should rightly be with the new council, when it’s elected, in just over two weeks.
That’s the approach I’m taking with all such requests from across the electorate. Until then I’m sure eager councillors can find any number of local council issues to stoke political passion.
Vietnam Veterans’ Day
I ENJOYED catching up with our Diggers at Vietnam Veterans’ Day in Orange on the weekend.
There was a strong turnout despite the bitterly cold weather. Those in attendance soon warmed up afterwards at the Orange Ex-Services’ Club.
One story that was recounted to me which I particularly liked concerned an ice making machine bound for the office of the supreme allied commander, General Westmoreland.
Apparently, the intrepid Australians heard about the machine and then set about a plan for its liberation.
They arrived at the place where it was being held pending further transport and indicated to the Americans there that they had been instructed to pick it up.
When asked where their paperwork was they replied that they thought the Americans had it. They were nevertheless made to sign for it, and history records that an Australian solider by the name of Harold Holt duly signed the requisite forms and took delivery of the General’s machine.
Subsequently, the ice machine not only supplied ice to the Australian liberators, but also the local hospital where the Australians were based.
When it came time for the Australians to depart, General Westmoreland’s ice machine was donated to the hospital.
May I thank all of our Vietnam veterans and nurses for their service to our country during that conflict. Your service is not forgotten and we will always remember those who did not return.
