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Wednesday, July 30, 2014
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Trailblazers!
The beauty of the Kokoda Track still lingers in the minds of a group of travellers, who have walked in the footsteps of Australian soldiers. Victor Brignolo was part of the group of six and tackled the track as part of ticking off his bucket list. He developed a passion for the Kokoda Track after researching its history. In preparation for the tough eight-day trail, his training involved regular walks and hiking once a week. “It was a slow build-up because I wasn’t fit and it meant training with my daughter,” he said. “Our guide was very passionate about the war and the history of the trail. He was very knowledgeable and a good story teller. It was a lot better than reading about it in a book.” Mr Brignolo said there was still time for fun and the group had a lot of laughs during the trip. He did have one piece of advice for those planning to go: “Train so you can enjoy it”.
TRC under fire Photo PNG Trekking Adventures
By Katherine Kokkonen
The Tablelands Regional Council is in the spotlight as allegations of corruption and misconduct surface. The complaints include allegations of misappropriation of public funds, dishonesty/lack of impartiality and misuse of officially obtained information. Mayor Rosa Lee Long said she was unaware of the complaints lodged with the Crime and Corruption Commission and the Department of Local Government, Community Recovery and Resilience. After hearing a summary of the complaints, she described them as “extremely defamatory”. “It just baffles me, really, what their own agendas are to do this – it’s just ridiculous. I am
absolutely gobsmacked that people have gone to the paper and posed rubbish and claims. It just boggles the mind as to who they think they are.” Mayor Lee Long said the people who have made the complaints do not talk to her and the councillors who have been complaining refuse to engage in discussion. “They will not take up the offer,” she said. “Most of the councillors just want to get on with the day-to-day business of council. Everything runs quite smoothly, until we get to a meeting and then we have grandstanding at their best.” Deputy CEO Matthew Hyde said seven people lodged complaints against the TRC in May and June, while he was Acting CEO. When the complaints were lodged, the subjects of the complaints were notified that a complaint had been
lodged against them. Mr Hyde conducted preliminary assessments, which involved checking if the complaint was vexatious or frivolous, if the complaint had sufficient information, and if the complaint were proven to be correct what type of conduct it would be (for example, inappropriate conduct or misconduct). “They aren’t frivolous and they aren’t vexatious and they aren’t without some substantiation,” Mr Hyde said of the complaints. “In the past, in previous councils and the TRC, we haven’t had complaints but just because someone lodges a complaint, it doesn’t mean to say the complaint is valid and that’s why the department will go and do an assessment.” Mr Hyde said a conclusion could not be drawn between the number of complaints lodged and
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whether there was actually an issue. “It’s the same as someone going to court— you can’t assume they are guilty because they are going to court,” he said. Following preliminary assessments the complaints were referred to the Department of Local Government, Community Recovery and Resilience. A Department of Local Government, Community Recovery and Resilience spokesperson said there were nine complaints involving the TRC with the department, but declined to comment further. Lyn O’Connor, who is the principal petitioner asking for the TRC to be dismissed, has complaints lodged with the department. CONT. P5
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