This week councillors are officially back on deck after a break from meetings since just before Christmas. It’s not that councillors have been idle for that time, but it’s traditional in our council to hold no formal meetings during this time, returning on deck for Australia Day, and I think that’s a good thing.

The Australia Day gathering in Wauchope saw a great roll up again this year, although it was not hard to see a fall-off in numbers of younger people, which many attendees remarked about to me.

The comments were not just about Australia Day, but volunteering and involvement in group community activities generally.

I don’t think we should take this as a decrease in community involvement generally, because if activity on the internet and Facebook is anything to go by, these days there is, if anything, more community awareness and discussion about issues. 

It’s just that more people are choosing to be involved as individuals, and less likely to organise formally into groups.

It’s hard to know yet how this will play out in the state of our democracy and people’s actual contribution to the direction we take.

The local airwaves have certainly been busy this last week in Wauchope regarding the state of our local cemetery and parks and gardens generally, and I’ve fielded a lot of complaints.

The cemetery has now been attended to, which was a quick response by council and many thanks for that.

I’m not sure if there is a problem for parks and gardens maintenance of late, but I’ve made arrangements to discuss the issue with the relevant staff and I’m hoping to be able to update readers next week on the situation.

These are Cr Intemann’s opinions and not necessarily council’s.