Focus on dollars is short-sighted

It was pleasing to read Katie Smith's sensible comments (Peninsula News, March 18) regarding the Oyster Festival.

I am a member of Inner Wheel which is a women's service organisation with approximately 3700 clubs in 100 countries.

Our ideals are to promote friendship within other Inner Wheel clubs, encourage personal service within our community, and foster international understanding.

As part of our community service, for nine of the past 12 years that the Oyster Festival has run, we have been privileged to man the information stand for the organisers of this vibrant family friendly annual event.

We witness firsthand just how much planning goes into the Oyster Festival, and how extremely hard volunteers work before, during and after to make it the happy, safe and successful festival that it is.

Aside from the many volunteers, without sponsorship such as that allocated by Gosford Council, and a commitment by Ettalong Beach Club, the organisers may have been in difficulty.

A fact that I am sure they acknowledged.

However, to now read that Council is looking at the final outcome in terms of actual dollars seems disappointing and short sighted.

Surely profits can also be measured in other terms - the outstanding showcasing of our Peninsula to the wider public, the promotion of local businesses including the iconic oyster industry, and the economic benefits to the Central Coast generally to list but a few.

Let us be pleased this festival continues, in light of others that have fallen by the wayside.

Letter, 22 Mar 2013

Ann Bubici, Umina