CAWB SENDS A MESSAGE TO MIKE BAIRD
Despite overnight storms, fine weather greeted the hundreds of people who streamed into Thompson Square, Windsor on Sunday. They filled the old Macquarie Arms verandahs overlooking the Square, stood on pavements and filled the park at the heart of the Square. Organiser, Pete Reynolds estimated well over 1000 people attended throughout the day. It was an event nearly three years in the making. For over 1,000 days and nights the local community have continuously occupied the Square in what they describe as a ‘protective vigil’: a minimum of two volunteers always present to watch over this historic precinct. To the great delight of the audience, many who had travelled from all over Sydney to be there, Shannon Noll performed "What about me", a loud swell of voices joining in the rousing chorus. Happily mingling with the crowds throughout the day, Shannon said, “I’m here because I believe in the cause”. |
Michael Caton was at his laconic best, channeling his famous character in The Castle, Darryl Kerrigan, “It’s not dreamin’. It’s a nightmare.” He said. Mr Caton also described the project as complete overkill. “...a hundred million dollars for a bridge nobody wants? ...give me a break” he said in a fiery speech, greeted enthusiastically by the packed audience.
Angry Anderson and Randall Waller beat out well-known anthems such as "We can't be beaten", echoing the community’s resolve to fight on.
Another speaker, Rebel Hanlon, also captured the mood of the crowd when he said of the government’s plans, “They want to spend a hundred million dollars building a bridge, they end up with exactly the same problem and they dig up an historic square to do it. What a disgrace.”
Windsor resident, Josephine Stolla said it was an amazing day, one where the community’s voice rang out in protest against the destruction of heritage and Christine from North Rocks said, “The day was awesome. We have had a blast.”
Raffles, auctions and cake cuttings were all part of the celebrations with delighted prizewinners going away with a range of fantastic goods and services thanks to unstinting support from the local business community.
The excitement generated during the auctioning of a guitar, signed by the historic line up of artists and speakers was intense and the bidding fierce. Ultimately a triumphant local resident made the winning $900 bid.
But the serious side of the event was certainly uppermost in Pete Reynold’s mind, “The Baird Government is dead wrong about this project,” he says.
Mr Reynolds is extremely disappointed that two years after committing to meet with locals the Premier is still making excuses. He says nine letters from CAWB, following up on Premier Baird’s promise to meet have all been met with refusals.
Speaking at the event and standing side by side with the State Shadow Minister for Roads, Jodie McKay, and the State Shadow Minister for Heritage, Penny Sharpe, Federal Labor candidate for the area, Susan Templeman asked “Who do the local representatives think they are, to ignore 1000 days and 1000 good reasons to build a bypass?”
Federal Liberal Member, Louise Markus did not reply to an invitation to attend and local Liberal MP, Dominic Perrottet declined his invitation.
CAWB says they have no plans to leave the Square until they achieve their objective of a third bridge across the Hawkesbury, one bypassing the historic township and the preservation of the iconic Windsor Bridge for locals to access this oldest country town in Australia.
Angry Anderson and Randall Waller beat out well-known anthems such as "We can't be beaten", echoing the community’s resolve to fight on.
Another speaker, Rebel Hanlon, also captured the mood of the crowd when he said of the government’s plans, “They want to spend a hundred million dollars building a bridge, they end up with exactly the same problem and they dig up an historic square to do it. What a disgrace.”
Windsor resident, Josephine Stolla said it was an amazing day, one where the community’s voice rang out in protest against the destruction of heritage and Christine from North Rocks said, “The day was awesome. We have had a blast.”
Raffles, auctions and cake cuttings were all part of the celebrations with delighted prizewinners going away with a range of fantastic goods and services thanks to unstinting support from the local business community.
The excitement generated during the auctioning of a guitar, signed by the historic line up of artists and speakers was intense and the bidding fierce. Ultimately a triumphant local resident made the winning $900 bid.
But the serious side of the event was certainly uppermost in Pete Reynold’s mind, “The Baird Government is dead wrong about this project,” he says.
Mr Reynolds is extremely disappointed that two years after committing to meet with locals the Premier is still making excuses. He says nine letters from CAWB, following up on Premier Baird’s promise to meet have all been met with refusals.
Speaking at the event and standing side by side with the State Shadow Minister for Roads, Jodie McKay, and the State Shadow Minister for Heritage, Penny Sharpe, Federal Labor candidate for the area, Susan Templeman asked “Who do the local representatives think they are, to ignore 1000 days and 1000 good reasons to build a bypass?”
Federal Liberal Member, Louise Markus did not reply to an invitation to attend and local Liberal MP, Dominic Perrottet declined his invitation.
CAWB says they have no plans to leave the Square until they achieve their objective of a third bridge across the Hawkesbury, one bypassing the historic township and the preservation of the iconic Windsor Bridge for locals to access this oldest country town in Australia.