Great Win. Live Up To It

 

By Dino Cesta - 5 April 2011

THE NEWCASTLE HERALD - Letter To The Editor

 

FORMER Prime Minister Paul Keating said Labor’s victory at the 1993 federal election was “the sweetest victory of all”.

 

In 2011, the Newcastle region can similarly claim the sweetest of victories. March 2011 will go down as the time when the Newcastle region came of age.

 

Novocastrians finally stood up and announced to political parties of all persuasions that no longer will they be taken for granted.

 

Political parties, as well as independents, will now truly need to understand Newcastle’s needs, earn our vote, represent us and deliver on those needs.

 

In her only term, amidst the branch infighting and graceless decline of the NSW Labor empire, Jodi McKay genuinely strove to bring change to the region.

 

Unfortunately, she was associated with the poisoned chalice known as NSW Labor.

 

As for our new representative, Tim Owen, a great opportunity awaits him. But time is ticking. Within a blink of an eye, four years will pass, and the voters of Newcastle will judge him on his record.

 

For Newcastle’s sake, we hope he succeeds. Otherwise, in 2015 his sweetest victory will resonate in hollowness and leave a sour taste in the mouths of Novocastrians.