Australians know when they are getting "a fair go" and in this instance the Cootamundra ratepayers know that this simply doesn't feel right.  We are not happy.  We have been "hung out to dry" by our state government.  

I have worked through a few "restructures" in the Health System. Consultation seemed to mean nothing but a means of ticking the box. It seems to me that a similar methodology was used for consultations with rate payers re the proposed council mergers. Amazingly a predetermined outcome was the result!

I have close ties with Gundagai. I have grandchildren at school in Gundagai and I barrack for their team against Cootamundra. I go to the dentist in Gundagai. I used to work in conjunction with Gundagai Community Health Centre. I have close friends in the town and in no way wish to denigrate the Gundagai community. I spend more time in Gundagai than in any town, other than Cootamundra. Therefore I would like to put forward a name for the newly merged councils of Cootamundra and Gundagai that both communities might feel happy with.

The common shortened form of Cootamundra is "Coota" and the common shortened form of Gundagai is "Gundy". I therefore think that any one of "the Cootagundy Council", "the Gundycoota Council" ,"the Gundacoota Council" or "the Cootagunda Council" would represent both communities and the geographical area that the newly merged council covers.

"The Gundagai Regional Council" is an improvement on "the Gundagai Council" but still excludes Cootamundra.  "The South West Slopes Council" isn't specific to to the area." "The Muttama Valley Council"  is all well and good but again it is just a mid-point and a small geographical area.  

Maybe someone out there has a better name but "the Gundagai Council" just doesn't cut it with more than half the ratepayers.

Judy Emery, Cootamundra

I am writing like many other people having questions re council mergers.

Like other shires in this state, the rates and tax-paying workers of Murrumburrah-Harden and Cootamundra and have memorials to our fallen men and women who fought and died in the First and Second World Wars for our freedom, liberty and rights.

I hear around us, shires not having to amalgamate. We must all wish them well in their mergers.

When the people of the Murrumburrah-Harden and Cootamundra shires are willing to a unified merger, where is our well-wishes and support? Why are we singled out to be denied?

Now we are looking forward to the merger of Murrumburrah-Harden, proposal with Cootamundra and Gundagai shires.

Perhaps all shires involved in mergers’ financial status be put on the table and how the people’s monies are managed.

John Sparkes, Cootamundra

Our Cootamundra friends tell us about considerable consternation regarding the name of our new council. Perhaps a competition involving all communities in the new council area to find an alternative name could help bind the communities together.

Some of the following examples are names of Aboriginal origin that might be suitable: ‘Alkira’, meaning bright, sunny; ‘Allawah’, meaning stay here, rest, sit down; ‘Eumeralla’, meaning valley of plenty.

Martin and Sue Allen, Gundagai

The topographical name of "Muttama Valley Shire" for the newly combined shire seems to me to be most unsuitable.

Muttama valley certainly does not connect the towns of Cootamundra and Gundagai.

Cootamundra is situated in the Muttama valley while Gundagai is situated in or straddles the Murrumbidgee valley, and there is a range of hills separating Gundagai from the Muttama valley.

Certainly the old shires border one another in the Muttama valley, but when amalgamation is complete this border will no longer exist.

Previously the two shires were identified by the names of the towns from which they were administered, so why not combine the town names?

"Cootagai Shire" doesn't sound right, but "Gundamundra Shire" might flow well right down the valley ---and beyond!

"Wiradjuri Council" as the new shire name? I think not.

The old Wiradjuri tribal tract of land of whose borders I and most others would be unfamiliar, would cover a far greater area than the "Gundamundra Shire".  It would be like using the name N.S.W. for the   A.C.T. which is within New South Wales!

Norm Roberts, Cootamundra

Recently my Siberian was taken to the dog shows at Cootamundra on May 7 to 9.  

He did very well at three shows, he won three Best of Breed awards, 1 best In Group and 2 Runner-Up In Group.

At one of the shows he was awarded a lovely handmade ribbon decorated with gems. It was made by Andy Coss and donated to the show by JOH P/L Chamberlians Tyre Centre.  

I would like to say thank you to those people for such a lovely and different ribbon to get for Breed.

Jenny Boase, Victoria