Leave Museum Alone

Illawarra Mercury

Tuesday March 25, 2008

I KNEW about the plight of the historical museum last week and I am glad the Mercury has decided to expose this travesty of justice.

This museum has been part of the city's landscape for decades and has been run by a dedicated group of volunteers. But the council, in its cost-cutting exercise, is looking at adding the costs of this part of Wollongong's heritage to the museum's organisers and volunteers.

What an unbelievable gesture by the council that they now want to charge the people who have kept the history of the city alive.

In light of what has been said about charging users and groups across the city, will the council now charge itself so that the historic bathers' pavilion at North Beach can be repaired and upgraded?

In the same vein, will council now look up the DAs and other projects that have occurred in this city during the past 10 years and seek to get the real amounts of Section 94 contributions that should have been paid, but for some strange reason may not have been.

I asked this same question in 2004, but I did not get a response.

Perhaps now the administrators are here, the council may chase this money.

Len Fares, convener,

Wollongong City LAM.

Community spirit on show at Union of Soul

I'm a resident of Keiraville and live very close to the botanic garden and I'm absolutely dumbfounded that people could object to the noise from the recent Union of Soul concert.

Yes, there was loud music for most of the day and cars were parked up and down my street, but I still felt the community spirit from the crowds.

The reason being that so many people walked past my house and said "g'day". People of all age groups were filing past for most of the day, from young concertgoers to families with picnics. Everyone seemed in such a good mood, as the photos in last Thursday's Out and About showed. As a ratepayer and resident I'm glad that an area such as the botanic garden is being better utilised for the benefit of the community and bringing together talented artists, even our own Penny Hartgerink.

Well done Wollongong!

Tricia Hamilton, Keiraville.

© 2008 Illawarra Mercury

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