Working to bring a community together
I would like to respond to a letter by Katie Smith of Umina (23 Nov 2009).
In the letter, Katie Smith made a number of inaccurate claims which deserve comment.
Firstly, Sharon Martin of the Umina District Chamber of Commerce did not launch an attack on Cr Vicki Scott.
Sharon responded to an article from Cr Scott in another publication and that article was referenced in Sharon's response.
Cr Scott did not mention Sharon Martin but referred to the presidents of the Umina and Terrigal chambers being Liberals and present in the chamber gallery during the debate.
Sharon Martin responded as president on behalf of the Umina chamber.
Sharon Martin did not state that she was apolitical, as claimed by Katie Smith.
As president, she accurately stated that the Umina District Chamber of Commerce is apolitical.
The festival committee is made up of people with different political beliefs and the money from council and other generous sponsors will be used for the Umina Festival.
Council has asked for and will receive audited accounts from the festival committee.
Perhaps Katie Smith should put forward a balanced and more informed argument.
A good start would be to read the article from Cr Scott and the response from Sharon Martin before making inaccurate comment.
Would it not have been good form for Katie Smith to reveal her own political following in the same article?
Further, in the article, Katie refers to Sharon Martin's Chamber of Commerce.
A Chamber of Commerce belongs to its members and the president is put in place to manage that chamber on behalf of its members.
The president does not own a chamber.
Finally, support for a festival in Umina was also given by councillors Laurie Maher and Craig Doyle, not members of the Liberal party as far as we are aware.
As for Cr Holstein opening carols in the park, Cr Holstein is mayor of the City of Gosford and it is entirely appropriate that the mayor should open a community event.
This really is just local people working hard to bring a community together for a great family day out.
Email, 30 Nov 2009
Kevin Doidge, Umina