THE VOICE referendum is dividing people on all sides of the political spectrum.
I agree that changing the Constitution is a big deal but it has to be weighed against the long-term benefits.
I think changing the Constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia is a significant reason.
Not everyone is going to agree – the initial polling figures to gauge early opinion prove that – but that’s what a democracy is all about.
I am just glad that information is getting out there to assist people with their choice – see Federal Government advert on page 9 of this week’s Whitsunday News newspaper.
Meanwhile…
People do crazy things and our story on page 4 about a woman who has been charged with 32 offences relating to break-ins and attempted break-ins, in the Cannonvale and Cannon Valley area, demonstrates that.
Apparently, she was stealing property from businesses that could not be easily identified or traced, according to police.
She has appeared in Proserpine Magistrates Court, where the matter was adjourned to July 10.
Boardwalk reopens
On a happier note, the Airlie Beach Bicentennial Boardwalk has reopened after a section of the walkway – near Coral Sea Resort – was totally replaced and widened, to improve user safety.
Mayor Julie Hall reopened stage one of what is hoped to be a total upgrade of the whole boardwalk – subject to obtaining government funding – on Thursday, June 8. See story page 3.
And finally
This issue of the Whitsunday News newspaper is issue number 150.
That’s 150 editions put together by our small – but very dedicated and hardworking – team.
When we first started out, we could not predict what the future would hold.
We believed passionately in what we were doing – bringing a printed newspaper back for Whitsunday readers – and we knew we could do it.
But the future was a bit of a question mark.
So, to be here 150 issues later really is an incredible milestone for us.
Thank you to everyone who has supported us along the way.
Our readers, our advertisers, our distributors – none of this would have been possible without you.
As always, thanks for reading this newspaper.
Deborah.
