Gundagai Council administrator Christine Ferguson and interim general manager Ken Trethewey faced a baptism of fire at the first community forum held since the merger of Gundagai and Cootamundra Councils at the District Services Club on Tuesday night. There to discuss the process of the newly-formed Council over the next 16 months, they were met with a hostile and vocal crowd, where around 300 people turned their backs on the pair, singing loudly from a song sheet as the meeting got underway.
After being consistently interrupted and reminded by the crowd that they were not voted on to be community leaders, Gundagai Council interim general manager Ken Trethewey responded by saying that while the decision to merge councils was that of the state government, his role, along with Mrs Ferguson’s, is to make the new Council work for both communities. “On May 12, the proclamation effectively meant Gundagai (Shire) Council and Cootamundra Council ceased to exist. That’s the reality. Whether you like it or not, that’s the reality. What matters now is we have to make it work, we can’t have a Council that’s dysfunctional. Our responsibility is to make sure the Council works,” Mr Trethewey said. “We’re here to give some positives and talk about some of the differences, not why the government did this. It was a state government decision and we now need to make it work.” Mr Trethewey stood by his recommendation and Mrs Ferguson’s subsequent decision to rescind a motion from the previous council to fund a court case against the state government.
“David and I were there (to initiate legal action) on behalf of the community. I put my hand up, I chose to do it, and if I’ve got to pay I will because we were standing up for this community, something Baird and Toole wouldn’t do” said Former mayor Abb McAlister. “The money (from the state government) is a bribe. Let’s no sugarcoat it. It’s lovely to have money flowing into the community, but it’s just a bribe” said Steve Maynard. “I’ve always been a fair person and I will continue to do that. I can’t do this job without your support. If people are going to be negative, it’s going to be difficult. If you’ve got problems, issues, please talk to me” said Christine Ferguson, Gundagai Council Administrator. “There was no notification, no thanks from you or our so-called Minister. They found out through the media. It’s a disgrace” Gordon Lindley to Mrs Ferguson and Mr Trethewey regarding no formal notification to dismissed councillors. “It’s the undemocratic process that hasn’t been acknowledged and that’s the problem” said Jann New
