A serious question for every adult member of the Gympie community.
Are you consulting now, or are you likely at some future time, to consult any member of the Gympie Regional Council on your or your children’s physical, mental or dental health?
If the answer is ‘No’, you must make your voice heard with urgency.
Five unqualified Councillors have made a decision with the potential to jeopardise the dental health of your children and that of generations to come.
Part of their argument, put mainly by anti-fluoridation flag-bearer, Allona Lahn, is that people should have a choice.
I couldn’t agree more.
But the choice is not hers or that of her four fellow-travellers.
The choice belongs rightly to the community – not to five totally unqualified, and likely prejudiced, individuals with the arrogance to assume that they know what is best for everyone.
And the confidence that they can get away with deciding it.
It is no exaggeration to say that this is a dangerous time in our local governance.
Every community organisation, especially those concerned with the welfare of children, needs to become involved in strongly resisting this potentially devastating community health decision.
Every school P&C, all childcare staff, welfare groups supporting the poor and most vulnerable and, indeed, every parent, has a vested interest, indeed an obligation, to insist on being heard.
It would no doubt be helpful if the local dental professionals made a joint contribution to the public protest at this draconian decision.
They must surely be alarmed at its potential harm to dental health in the community.
So why remain silent?
People, make your voices heard!
There is obviously confusion in the minds of some councillors about their status and function.
To clarify the situation for them, we employ you.
You don’t rule us.
It doesn’t matter whether one is pro-fluoridation or not.
There is a basic principle of democracy being flouted by this decision.
There is surely an obligation to consult the community on a matter that is of crucial importance to its well-being.
And that responsibility has been brushed aside.
Not merely overlooked, but formally ruled out.
That is disgraceful!
Ring your Council representative, or in the strong probability that you’ve forgotten who it is, ring, text or write to the Council.
Sign a petition if an opportunity presents.
Demand your legitimate right to be heard.
But you must act quickly!
Authoritarian regimes usually act ‘with unseemly haste’ to execute dubious or politically fraught decisions.
Speak up now!
Insist on your rightful say—before it is too late.
– Merv Welch,
The Palms.
