DEAR YORK BLOGGERS

To all you Bloggophiles out there, both contributors and avid readers. One of the more interesting future conundrums is whether the much maligned Shire Of York President, Matthew Reid, decides to totally reject his character assassination in the Shire of York Show Cause Notice and come out legally swinging with an affidavit upper-cut and a attestation left-hook or two- or not.

Please remember Minister Simpleton has ‘Might’ on his side- your tax money. Mr Reid may have ‘Right’ on his side, but he has to use his own money to prove it.

I am not being facetious when I say it has been a pleasure to read the thoughts of the real people of York. Whether part of the massive Anonymous Family or a Nome De Plume.

There are plenty more of those to be used including Dan Gerous, Tom Orrow,  Con Flicted, Des Perado, Stu Pendous, plus one for the ladies-Dee Bacle. And a host of others, only limited by one’s imagination. Or you can just use your real name. It won’t hurt a bit.

One issue I have a personal problem with is why anyone should be afraid of Tony Boyle or Pat and Ray Hooper.

Tony Boyle is a farmer, (I cannot recall a sheep named either Hannibal or Einstein) an unsuccessful Halal abattoir entrepreneur and a once, habitual board of director’s member. I am led to believe, because of the recent adverse publicity he has received, his board of directorship sitting is no longer a major feature of his lifestyle.

Pat Hooper was an innocuous schoolteacher in Kalgoorlie at around the same time as Ray Hooper was causing trouble as a Local Government Official in the same town. Mr Hooper, or Sir as he was once called, rose to become a Principle of a small Junior High School. Despite enquiries, it appears he was never offered a top echelon position in any Senior High School, whether rural, regional, remote or metropolitan. (But he probably still loves being called Sir.)

Ray Hooper rose from being a grader driver (an honourable, hardworking position) to become the destroyer of several towns’ economies and their community spirit. A real doyen of the dystopian,
who turned the Shire of York Offices into his own Qantas Club Departure Lounge. But he is hardly frightening!

These three men should not be judged with fear and trepidation, but righteous indignation.

In combination they have overseen a decade long debacle in York, both commercial and social. Hotels and restaurants have gone, tourism events and tourists have left for healthier climes, while local rates have skyrocketed. If you think you have had enough and try and sell your home to leave- you will be lucky to get any real Real-Estate interest, let alone an offer near a bank valuation or even replacement value. But if you hurry, you may get a $50,000 pensioner discount at Balladong Retirement Village

So- when you see Tony, Pat or, heaven forbid, Ray in Avon Terrace say “Gooday” and “Thanks for nothing”! Otherwise you can probably catch Ray at Paddy Malone’s in Alexander Heights. Hopefully using his own personal credit card, paid for by him.

David Taylor- York Ratepayer.