Letters | Narromine mayor says thank you to outgoing Parkes mayor Ken Keith OAM

I can't let the retirement of former mayor Ken Keith go without acknowledging his incredible contribution to public life.

Having been at high school, although a year above Ken, I've known him for about 57 years.

The man has barely changed and is simply an older and wiser version of his youthful self.

I played in the same football team as Ken and his honesty and decency was obvious even then.

There is simply no one of whom I am aware who has so selflessly given of his time and energy as has Ken.

He has played so many vitally important roles outside the realm of mayor and has been a mentor from whom so many have benefited.

He is certainly owed a huge debt by so many.

His leadership of the Country Mayors Association may well have been a highlight of his career as he took it from being an average organisation to one that claimed the respect and attention of government.

His role in Inland Rail is rarely spoken of in the manner it should and while some politicians have been quick to claim the credit I have no doubt that Ken's influence and doggedness was largely responsible for the biggest and most beneficial infrastructure project Inland Australia may ever see.

We are both of an age where the enormity of the vision of Inland Rail will not be realised in our lifetimes but it's influence and benefit to rural and regional NSW will be immense and the greatest driver of growth ever.

I doubt that Ken will disappear although he deserves some time for family and friends.

I wish him well and thank him for the pleasure of having been involved with such a decent human being.

- Craig Davies, Mayor Narromine Shire

Dear Editor

I recently received an anonymous letter in the post in response to a letter I wrote to this newspaper (published October 12) regarding my support for the NO vote in the recent referendum.

The letter started out "Dear Boyd". That was the end of NICE.

It went on in a maniacal diatribe about my support for the NO vote and about my conservative political leanings.

The person suggested that Tony Abbott be deported back to England from whence he came as a two-year-old!

The person then derided Jacinta Price and Warren Mundine as political lightweights, calling Ms Price "a complete Uncle Tom".

I don't understand this hatred by people of the left, towards conservatives.

At the present moment we live with a Federal Labour Government and several Labour led state governments. I am OK with that. It's democracy at work.

My only beef is with extremists on both sides of the spectrum and with the loony left activists.

To you sir or madam, your letter has been dispatched to my toilet bowl.

- Boyd Chambers, Parkes