Become the change
A bitter pill or a sweet opportunity? The residents of the southern Shoalhaven are the change we need to have in the future. The southern Shoalhaven depends on the attitude, effort and connection to community of the people living here. While it is essential to encourage, support and assist council and state MPs to advocate for more money from other tiers of government, it is also crucial to have your say and help the area become a better place to live.
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With the fierce competition for grant funding and the ever increasing list of priorities in mind, waiting for governments to solve the problems of individual communities, one could be in for a very long wait. Now is the time to act, to get involved; otherwise the majority of residents will have to live with the ideas of small, vocal, minority groups.
One can observe Nowra CBD once again becoming a vibrant regional centre and it is likely the Shoalhaven will be the next largest growth area on the South Coast. It is reasonable to foresee from the increasing number of investments, that growth and change in Nowra is occurring whether it is stimulated internally or not. Now is the time to focus on revitalising towns outside Nowra CBD so the whole of the Shoalhaven will prosper into the future.
Recently, this council decided to waive all fees as an incentive for Nowra business owners to take up a council financial assistance grant to improve shopfront access. Outlying towns would also be thriving if they received this incentive, a $500,000 annual budget, street scaping, painting, parks, banners, murals, lights, signage, or cleaning three times a day.
The southern Shoalhaven has many people with skills and expertise, investors, and residents involved in business chambers and community forums. In my opinion, to improve the precincts of the southern Shoalhaven these groups and individuals must collaborate and approach council for the purpose of forming revitalisation committees, with an annual budget, in the central and southern Shoalhaven or it will continue to be business as usual.
Rather than living on the edge of effectiveness, use your skills and talents to make a difference. Pick something to your liking, join a council committee, a service organisation or become an emergency services volunteer, you’ll be so glad you did.
Contact council and discover the many ways one can participate. Become the change and solution the southern Shoalhaven is seeking. Rather than talking about or stewing over community issues, take action and contribute to improving the local neighbourhood. Then, collectively, we the community can help shape the future direction of the Shoalhaven.
Cr M. Kitchener, deputy mayor
Talk about your pain
Chronic pain is a disabling and debilitating condition that can impact every aspect of a person’s existence - from their ability to work to their overall enjoyment of life. On top of the physical burden of living with constant pain, people with chronic pain also face significant financial and emotional burdens, and are particularly susceptible to mental health issues, like anxiety and depression.
We know that many people with chronic pain believe that the existing system is woefully inadequate when it comes to treating their pain, so we want to hear from your readers – what’s working, what isn’t working, and what do you think would be a better way to manage chronic pain in Australia?
National Pain Week (July 24-30) aims to de-stigmatise the experiences of people living with chronic pain, to reduce the isolation many feel, and to raise awareness within the wider community.
I strongly encourage your readers to share their stories, experiences and ideas on the www.nationalpainweek.org.au website, or on social media, using the hashtag #NPW2017.
