Letters: Border Mail readers have their say on the issues of the day

The history of a community and of a nation is not just something interesting to look it; it is what shapes us and informs us into the future and it is an essential aspect of community responsibility. To suggest that these committee members are not serious when they slog away in less than ideal premises that not only does not have a toilet, but also no heating and no cooling, is such an insult to the very hard work they undertake.

A city's history should be the responsibility of every community member, which means it is a council responsibility. I know where I'd prefer to see my substantial council rates being directed and it isn't to the latest fanciful tourist hills ideas of a few council members, but to something concrete that we know brings tourists to towns; a museum.

It is disappointing that the role hard-working Australian food producers play in feeding our nation and others throughout the world continues to be hindered by those seeking political gain.

In the past week we have had full-page newspaper advertisements from the union-funded GetUp organisation that denigrate food producers as it tries to score a political “head” in the form of Water Minister Barnaby Joyce.

It is unfortunate that these environmental lobby groups ignore the full facts in their quest for ideological goals. They will not acknowledge our food producers are among the most efficient and environmentally responsible in the world, and have been forced to make significant financial and productive sacrifices to ensure water is available for environmental flows. It is also a bitter pill to swallow when we read GetUp advertisements attacking our food producers that are authorised from an office in Pitt Street, Sydney – arguably the most environmentally damaged area in Australia. Imagine if regional Australia demanded the city of Sydney be demolished and the land returned to its original “natural” state? That may sound ludicrous, but it is precisely what city-based environmentalists are demanding, despite having virtually no idea of the food producing environments they claim need “protection”.

What we need across the Murray-Darling Basin and other agricultural areas of Australia is common-sense policy that encourages food production in collaboration with environmental protection.

My late maternal and paternal grandparents and their families all lived in Wodonga. Both grandfathers worked on the railway; one a train driver and the other a linesman, so our connection is over many generations.

I am a great-grandmother, a resident and a ratepayer of this town, and have admired the work put in by many volunteers of the historical society. They have volunteered much time to preserve our history. Therefore I was appalled to hear our council say that to preserve this history, will be in the amount of $1 million (“Put up $1 million”, The Border Mail, August 14).

I believe it is time for the council to step in and help find a suitable place to display our heritage. What about the old railway station? After all, we were known as the railway town, so what better place to display all our heritage that has been willingly donated for this purpose.

The station would be an ideal place to bring in tourists and a great place for our students to visit to learn about the town they live in.

Wodonga Council, do something for our town before all this history is lost.