Why did it have to come to this
That’s the question I keep circling back to.
Why was it necessary to write a blog post in the first place?
Why did councillors feel they couldn’t speak freely?
Why was silence the safest option for so many, when the real damage was being done out in the open?
If local democracy was working as it should, none of this would’ve been needed. There would have been transparency from the beginning. There would have been open dialogue between council and community. And there would have been clear lines between power and accountability—not blurred ones.
But the moment I stepped into a role that involved naming what I saw and asking questions about how power operates, it became clear what kind of culture I was stepping into.
I’m not brave. I’m persistent.
And I’m someone who understands the value of truth, even when it’s inconvenient.
Anyone stepping into a civic reporting role, especially in a small town, should expect to be met with pushback. But what they shouldn’t expect is silence from those with the power to make things better.
I wrote because I believe in democratic process.
Because I believe a community has a right to know how decisions are made, who is making them, and whether the process is fair.
This shouldn’t require courage. It should be normal.
It should be part of how our systems work.
Instead, we have a system where saying something out loud feels like an act of defiance.
I spoke up because I care too much to pretend nothing is wrong.
And here’s the thing: if someone is willing to put in the hours, do the reading, follow the trail of decisions and connect the dots – why would anyone think they’re going to give up now?
#Kiama #RegionalMedia #CivicVoice #CommunityAdvocacy #LocalDemocracy #IndependentJournalism #GrassrootsLeadership #DoDemocracyDifferently
Like many organisations, the staff or in this case councillors, are not permitted to speak to the press or in open forums without the approval of those in control.
It would be good to get “an unnamed source” to “leak” or speak what is happening that is not being told.
I imagine the pressure put on you would be immense though, even legal threats.
I believe that good shall triumph
There’s certainly no shortage of leaks. My aim is for them not to be necessary.
In a healthy organisation, people should be able to speak openly, without fear or gatekeeping. When councillors or staff feel silenced or surveilled, it’s a sign the system is protecting itself rather than serving the public.
Leaks happen when trust breaks down. I’d much rather see a culture where transparency is the default and no one needs to hide behind anonymity to be heard.
You’re right that the pressure can be immense. But I agree with you, truth has staying power. And good will always have more endurance than spin.