Lions Camp was no drain on council
When I retired as Mayor of our City I made a promise that I would not engage in writing letters to the North West Star or indeed involve myself in the affairs of the newly elected Council, however I did stipulate that if there was any unjust or inaccurate public criticism of my council then I would defend it.
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Naturally I was disappointed when the incoming Council closed down the Lions Youth Camp, I remained silent but when I heard the reason and the claim that the camp was a financial drain on the resources of the council I could not allow that statement to go unchallenged.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
The re-opened Camp was run by a committee of dedicated citizens who gave time and energy to re-establishing it.
The caretakers, who did a magnificent job in transforming the grounds and the camp area were not paid but did receive a rent free cottage at the camp.
There were many local businesses, groups and service clubs in our City together with the Federal Government who donated cash, goods and services and simply wanted to help establish the camp and there were numerous commitments for further assistance forthcoming from many quarters.
The Mount Isa City Council assisted in kind e.g repairing the fridge, providing a re-conditioned Pump for the air conditioning but the Camp was certainly not "an endless money pit” for the Council as described in the North West Star editorial July 26.
When we established the committee to re-open the camp our aim was not of receiving “big cheques” but in securing the support of the Mount isa Community to establish THEIR camp for OUR youth in OUR community and also to attract young people from other parts of Queensland to get the taste of life in the North West.
That’s how our pioneers established Mount Isa by raising funds and doing the job. That is what we wanted to do, make the camp part of the community.
I hear people in elected positions talk about attracting tourists and allocating scarce Council resources to promote our city.
The Camp would have done just that.
I also hear the never ending debate about "Theres nothing in Mount Isa for the Youth of our City to Do".
We had the re-birth of a camp which would have certainly provided an excellent facility for our young people but the Council’s decision has aborted it.
Naturally I, like many others are very disappointed at the decision.
Tony McGrady
Mount Isa
Blackhawks say thank you, Mount Isa
On behalf of the Townsville and District Mendi Blackhawks I want to thank Mount Isa Rugby League and in particular president Shaun Wilde and publicity officer Scott Kyle for putting on a fantastic weekend.
Many of the players had never been out to Mount Isa and knowing I grew up there and had only left a couple of years ago I had plenty of them ask “what is the Isa like”?
My answer was “you’ll have a ball”.
I can tell you they all came away very impressed and had a great couple of days, especially their last night when they got to let their hair down at the Buffs Club after finding their mojo again and putting together one of their best all round performances to date.
We see Mount Isa and North West Queensland as a very important part of our footprint and were proud to wear our specially designed Isa jerseys for the country round.
The support we received on the day definitely made the players feel like the home team, not only by the cheering from the crowd, but also the number of people getting around in Blackhawks gear.
Justin Wilkins
CEO Brothers Leagues Club
Derek Barry
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
