Special note should also be taken of his comment: “Farmers know better than most how to balance land and environment.”

He was specifically referring to native vegetation legislation, but whether it’s this or vital water policy implementation, the issue is the same –  we have city-centric politicians and bureaucrats who lack rural understanding and, more importantly, refuse to make the effort to improve their knowledge.

Mike Baird thinks a rural tour is a day trip to Penrith and appears to have little or no interest in the part of his state which exists outside what he considers NSW – Newcastle, Sydney, Wollongong. (Or does NSW now stand for North Sydney, Sydney, West Sydney?) His Agriculture and Water Minister Niall Blair seems to think the most southern town in the state is Griffith and shows little interest in the productive communities beyond the Murrumbidgee.

And their advisers spend virtually all their time in their Sydney offices, unprepared to venture out and learn about the real world.

If Mr Baird and his colleagues don’t want a massive bush backlash at the next election, I’d suggest it’s time to get out of their comfort zone.

The question of changing our country’s flag is a similar situation to what we have just faced over our local school uniform. Should its history and allegiances be more important than modern, more appealing and affordable uniforms? 

It’s a sad day and the end of an era for Lavington Public School, as a vote by teachers, parents and of course some children to change our school colours from the traditional gold and brown to navy, white and teal. When the original colours gold and brown were decided on, it represented our past of our gold mining history of Black Range.

These colours were selected since the gold represented the gold found in our area and the brown for the ground it was taken from.

This history of the Black Range before it became Lavington is a lasting memory which could be seen in our school colours.

The loss of this local identity is a very sad time for our community. Our relieving principal and many current teachers felt the original colours are unattractive and old-fashioned.

The fact that our school colours were easily recognisable and a great identifying factor in our Lavington community were considered of little importance.

So Lavington Public has lost its individuality and become just another school wearing the popular Navy blue - how sad for one of the oldest schools here.

For many past and present students, and parents who still live in our community, we will mourn the loss of something considered unimportant by the majority, which is the identity of our past depicted in our local school colours.

I am a past student and mother of a current student.

Today at the Commercial Club at 10am, the Australian Shareholders Association will have a discussion group with Peter Rae, Victorian state education convenor for the ASA.

His topic will be “Different approaches to small cap investing”, and should be very helpful to those interested in the sharemarket. If you are not a member of the ASA, come along as a guest. You will be made very welcome.