DEAR News Of The Area,
THE incessant return of heavy rains may trigger fresh memories of the devastating floods experienced around the north of the MidCoast Local Government Area (LGA).
It has come to my attention, however, that there are people who have been suffering in silence with their own flood-related issues right here in our own Myall Coast region.
Having spoken to several in the past weeks, I understand that these are hardy individuals who have seen a lifetime’s worth of hardships, and happiness, making them the kind of people who will put up with almost anything if they feel that attention and resources are going where they are needed most.
They do not, however, need to suffer in silence.
The emergency services (SES, RFS, Fire & Rescue, Police, etc) may be stretched thin at times, but a large function of each organisation is triage – determining where resources ought to go at any given time.
This means that citizens who are in trouble should really make their problems known through the best available means, and allow the services to incorporate their plights into the bigger picture.
The simple reality is: if we do not know, we cannot do anything to help.
The converse is also true: if we know you have a problem, we can try to do something about it.
Lately, I have witnessed some very serious situations that have gone unchecked for way too long, mainly because no-one was made aware of them, and time only made things worse.
I simply ask that all locals in emergency need to please make use of the systems and services that our various levels of government fund with all of our taxes and rates, and please: stop suffering in silence.
Sincerely,
Councillor Thomas O’KEEFE,
MidCoast Council.
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