The Cessnock Advertiser's Letters to the Editor: April 11, 2018

Cessnock City Council was extremely disappointed the Minister for Emergency Services Troy Grant refused to meet with Council to discuss our genuine concern about policing numbers in the Cessnock Local Government Area (LGA).

Earlier this week statistics were released by the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research showing that Cessnock is now ranked number two in NSW for motor vehicle theft offences.

Unfortunately our community knows too well the prevalence of this crime as we witness the aftermath in the form of abandoned vehicles littered across the LGA.

I am proud to be the Mayor of Cessnock. We are a community that is proud of our mining heritage and proud to be home to NSW premier tourist destination.

The dumping of vehicles on our roadsides and in our bushlands is not representative of this wonderful community.

The recent re-engineering of the Local Area Commands has not had a positive effect for the Cessnock LGA. It is a basic right and requirement that our community feel safe.

Our community demand a safe environment. As Premier of NSW I ask that you support the people of Cessnock and take action on the following matters:

- Devise a policing strategy for the Cessnock LGA to reduce the number of car thefts.

- Provide a Cessnock Police Station that enables all allocated Cessnock Police officers to perform their duties, as currently some allocated officers are based in different commands due to the lack of space at Cessnock Police Station.

I look forward to discussing this matter with you and working towards a solution for our community.

Yours faithfully,

Once again the Nostalgia Festival at Kurri Kurri was a carnival of colourful sights and wonderful sounds.

I read that over 20,000 people attended over the weekend and as an attendee on the Saturday I could easily believe that. I watched in awe at the talent of the martial artists, the amazing energetic singers and dancers and of course I took time to look over the beautifully kept cars.

There's also great food available and the volunteers from the Rotary Club of Kurri Kurri were in their usual spot serving the community. The club do a fantastic job and all profits go back into the community. It’s a shame they are charged for the site and literally have to sell over 150 rolls to cover the site cost. They also have the same costs and health inspector requirements as other food vendors.

However, it’s an event I would recommend for everyone to attend at least once. The vibe and atmosphere is light, friendly and a bit infectious. I always feel like dancing, even though I have two left feet! There's plenty to watch and be involved in if you choose. It’s a great weekend.

This week, as we celebrate the tremendous work undertaken by seniors, it is important to ensure they have the means and opportunities to remain active, healthy and social members of society.

Retirement is an exciting time for seniors as it opens the door to so many new and challenging opportunities that allow them to grow and develop.

However, we all know that loneliness can be a real problem for people once they retire. It can be difficult to remain in touch with work friends and the evaporation of social outings can mark the end of comfortable and familiar friendships.

As a society, we should be encouraging all retirees to somehow become involved in their community in a way that is socially stimulating.

Community and service groups are a great forum to achieve this. I must admit, Rotary is a perfect way for people to remain active, meet new friends and make an ongoing contribution to the area where they live and love.

By joining Rotary, you can be involved in team projects that promote a sense of pride in your community, including mentoring local young people, providing literacy and numeracy support in schools and offering scholarships that encourage academic achievement. This all happens in a fun, engaging and social environment.

Once you join Rotary, you become a member of a large family that encourages you to have a lasting influence on your community. It delivers the means for you to be an active and social member of society.

So, if you are involved in the festivities to celebrate seniors this week, and are inspired to get involved, please think about joining your local Rotary Club. It will be a decision that will make your retirement that little more exciting.

To connect with your local Rotary Club, please email publicrelations@rotary9670.org.au.