Year four, five and six students at Gloucester’s St Joseph's Primary School have been writing letters to MidCoast Council.
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As part of their writing task, set by teacher Lee Sullivan, they needed to write persuasive letter to council's manager of community spaces, recreation and trades, Dan Aldridge asking for improvements at Billabong Park.
On Thursday, August 31, Mr Aldridge visited the class to talk about what his role is in council and how the community can contact him with ideas and concerns.
He told the class how he is in charge of the recreation spaces and buildings in the MidCoast local government area (LGA).
Before the class handed over the letters expressing their opinions about what they thought should happen to upgrade the play area at Billabong Park, Mr Aldridge explained the different between “want” and “need”.
“Council is a community service,” he explained.
He discussed how council is there to help the community have access to facilities that are needed in the area, using the example of Gloucester Swimming Pool Complex.
Mr Aldridge explained how the entry fee charged to residents isn’t enough to cover the cost of running the pool, but the need within the community is more important than the financial loss.
Letters or emails from the community help council understand what the community needs, he told the students.
“Community consultation is the key to an effective letter,” he said.
Community consultation is the key to an effective letter.
- Dan Aldridge
“A letter from the whole school is more powerful than one from just one student.”
Basically, the more people involved in the request shows there is more need in the community.
So why do the students think that council needs to replace the play area at Billabong Park?
All the equipment is designed for children aged five years and under, said one student.
Year six student, Chelsi Harrision said that council needs to replace the equipment “because it’s a bit old and rusty and a lot of people don’t go there.”
And there needs to be “more fun things,” she said.
When asked what she would build if she could build any type of park, she said, “A water park.”
Mr Aldridge collected the letters and took the ideas back to the office, where he could have a really good look at all the suggestions.
Anne Keen
Anne has been a journalist with the ACM (Australia Community Media) since 2016. She primarily works at the Gloucester Advocate but also contributes to the Manning River Times.
Anne has been a journalist with the ACM (Australia Community Media) since 2016. She primarily works at the Gloucester Advocate but also contributes to the Manning River Times.
