The most consistent message I currently have from the community is they want change.
Many have told me that they haven’t even seen their Aldermen/women for the last 5 years. Issue that were the forefront of their minds 5 years ago are still the same and haven’t been addressed. Some have become tragically worse and I have been told constantly about neighbors, friends, ex spouses, and family leaving Darwin.
Everyone I have spoken to has a story and a lesson, some of triumph, some of survival, some of tragedy. In some way or other they feel betrayed by their local council. I have heard beautiful stories about a council member who took up a fight, lost, but brought up the agenda, then left them feeling disillusioned. Of some Council members, I have spent the last 3 weeks attempting to educate the community, "in my opinion the most important choice for this election, electing the Progressives."
"We the people require 7 progressive votes on the Council in order to create change. Change is a constant and to be honest it is also fought against consistently."
Many of the people I speak to, feel that too much emphasis has been placed on Darwin’s CBD and on building and buildings instead of people.
The reality is that it is the people that pay rates, not buildings. It is the people that will come and go, that vote and who will ultimately make their voice heard on the 26th of August. It is the people that have consistently told me that there is a lack of Communication, Consultation and Creativity.
It is for the people, by the people and of the people that a democratic Council exists and it is about time the people feel that way again!
The platform I have is not my own, it is the feedback from the community. Even now on the 24th of July the results of my online poll run since the 19th of June have the following responses;
108 votes
Issues – Most popular
Safety and Security 94/108
Free Parking 62/108
Fiscal Responsibility 26/108
Planning and development 8/108
Rate rises 6/108
Homelessness 5/108
Events and attractions 4/108
The in-person Poll has 308 respondents so far the issues raised have been
Safety and Security
Homelessness
Recreation Centre
Free Parking
Events and Attractions
Asset maintenance and upgrades
Mens Shelter
Fiscal responsibility
Planning and development
(I have placed some issues raised into others, for instance, public drunkenness is a Safety and Security issue.)
The community is and has spoken, I also have very strong views on the topics raised by the public and will admit that on some issues, I have been swayed, educated and influenced by the stories and lessons that the community is teaching me.
I am highly educated, technologically proficient, economically successful and culturally aware. But I have been ignorant, stubborn and conservative instead of progressive, connected and consultative. I was changed by the place I live, influenced by the mentors some alive and some who have passed, and the people of Darwin that I love.
I have worked since I was a small child from the building Industry, to the fitness industry, to the gaming and entertainment industry, the real estate and development industry, the mining industry, the security industry and now I have interests in several of them as well as coaching and consulting. I have contracted to the NT government yet never been an employee.
I am lucky enough to have never been on unemployment benefits, yet I strongly advocate for them. It isn’t pride that has even in my darkest hours led me to avoid the help, but a belief instilled that I am resourceful and I will create abundance where there was none before.
I am the character of Darwin, one of many and I am deeply in love and thankful for what we have been through and what I know WE can achieve together.
The value of our City is it’s people and yes some of those people require more help, education, attention and resources than others. But just as each fibre of a muscle increases its strength, each string of the rope increases its pull, so does each of many hands increase the benefit for all.
The people don’t want to be divided, they want to be inspired.
This poem below was inspired by the love and encouragement I have been shown by the community.
Our Home,
For We are the people,
we are the many and they are the few,
we are the voice, we are the change,
we the people shall see it through.
We have lived, we have survived,
we’ve been through wars, we have strived.
We have lost our roofs, we built mistakes,
we have burdened our children and created manmade lakes.
We have mastered the ocean, plundered the sea
for we are the people, you and me.
If anyone asks where’s the best place to be, then let them know its in Darwin NT!
Love you Darwin,
Note :
Written and Authorized by Sam Wilks. The views included may not be those of others mentioned in the article but are those of Sam Wilks. If you have other idea’s feel free to comment below. Idea’s and differing opinion is recognition of a free and just democratic society. A Society I am happy to live in. Please however try not to be abusive or discriminative, you may be. But if I feel that your opinion may be harmful or is reported as being harmful, I will delete it.