Begging outside the front of shopfronts is an uncommon occurrence in Harden-Murrumburrah and an all new low for the twin towns, with many witnessing a man engaging in it on Saturday night.
While not illegal in NSW the police can still issue move on notices and enforce them.
Us hyphenates are a fairly forgiving, faithful and compassionate bunch and this was witnessed as a number of people entering the supermarket stopped to see if the man was ok as he lay prostrate up against the wall. Don’t worry there was little wrong with him after he completed his charade.
However, not before locals shook his hand, offered money, which was accepted by the man, and spoke with him before moving on themselves, to allow him to continue to do what he was doing.
All unwittingly feeding the man’s desire to see us country folk as a ‘soft touch’ and a source of revenue.
Unfortunately for the man and more fortunately for the residents of the town, a Times staffer was on hand to observe the behaviour and take notes from a parked car just in front of him for a length of time.
It was basically begging by design and shift by shift was broken up with a smoke break and then finally a urination session.
The Times staffer, born and bred in the town hadn’t witnessed begging in Harden in his 38 years.
Yes, he has witnessed many people get off the XPT in varying states of disrepair over the years and only the night before when in Sydney saw more than 25 people begging at locations both close to and inside train stations, however, not here and not around children and families.
People can fall on hard times and homelessness is on the rise, however, there’s a percentage of the population that won’t live in a house even if it’s offered to them. What they do via their begging can become a lifestyle.
Unfortunately, it’s the antisocial behaviour that comes with begging which should not be tolerated.
The Times staffer watched the man receive money, and shake people’s hands, all while laying under a blanket and using a pack of napkins as a ‘pillow’.
When he had received enough money during his ‘shift’ he bounced to his feet, and his pants lowered and exposed his backside half way up his thighs where they remained while he had a cigarette, before he headed towards the silver bin out the front of the supermarket where he expelled the contents of both nostrils over the bin and his hands.
All this before further engaging with locals and shaking their hands as they proved to be curious as to the man’s state.
Soon after this, he entered the supermarket where he returned with a green plastic bag.
He then went to the Vinnies doorway where he urinated in the bag and tied it in a knot before putting it in the bin.
A ‘nice’ surprise for our outdoor Council staff to find. Urinating in front of small children is not acceptable in any way shape or form. It was at this point that the man was told to move on in no uncertain terms.
And, like a well rehearsed move, he didn’t look up to make eye contact, just gathered his things from next to the wall and walked east up Neill street.
There’s a lot of people in town who are upset by the current closure of the Supermarket internal toilet block, however, when a business continually suffers from vandalism and a lack of respect from a small element of the community, there is little that one can do.
Imagine having someone you don’t know, come into your home when you can’t see them, damage your bathroom by flooding it, smashing taps, defecating in your bins or on the floor or walls of your bathroom, before leaving needles behind for another family member to potentially get a stick injury.
How would you feel? Probably similar to the same way this local business feels.
It is now inherent on Hilltops Council to provide a toilet block in the Main Street at their cost, as was provided under the Council prior to the construction of the supermarket.
The previous arrangement was undertaken under the Harden Shire Council over 10 years ago.
It appears the climate has changed.
The twin towns has become some sort of Mecca for people who have fallen on hard times recently with some crisis accomodation available and Wagga based media focussing on the efforts of some locals.
This may have made Harden an attractive place and it looks like it may be attracting others now.
Some people need a second chance, some people a third and fourth and they can get on the straight and narrow. Others don’t want to be a part of society and no matter what help is offered they won’t accept it.
When behaviour becomes anti-social and in front of small children in our town it needs to be treated the way it was on Saturday night. Move on and don’t come back.
Short of indecent exposure and public urination, next time someone shakes your hand it might be worth having some hand sanitiser ready.
The thin blue line is rather thin in towns our size and if we are to get the attention we deserve from the Young Police Station, residents must report when laws are being broken.
