I believe a name change would be a big advantage for the new council.

I support Rick McDougall and Graeme Scheu for supporting the name change and suggest the other councillors should be more open minded.

If you lived at Weengallon, 135 kilometres to our west or Watsons Crossing 140 kilometres to our east, you would want a name like Border Rivers, which covers the whole area.

There is an old saying that justice, as well as being done, has to be seen to be done.

If we want everybody to pull together, and accept the new council, they need a name they can accept.

Goondiwindi is only a pin prick of 15 square kilometres in an overall area of 19,294 square kilometres in the new council and our councillors need to remember this.

Unlike councillor Lee, who wants to forget about it and move on, I believe you must do as much as possible to satisfy people so we can all pull together.

It is interesting that the Toowoomba Council is conducting a survey on a proposal to change their name to something more acceptable.

You don’t get rid of resentment by ignoring people. You have to try and give them something to look up to and believe in.

If they want this council to be supported the Councillors must try to include the whole are, not just their own little area.

Alastair Logan

Goondiwindi

Air and water are the two elements that sustain life, from our human and ecological existence.

Our water system throughout our BORDER REGION is one of the healthiest systems there is and one of which our community and region can be extremely proud.

Water will continue to be this nation’s biggest issue and our Border Rivers can be utilized to promote our commercial value and set a stage for the future to continue good water quality and efficiencies for many generations into the future as our Regional icon, and logo.

Thank you Cr McDougall for trying, and putting the name change issue on the table.

I also read we should be going forward during this extremely fast moving era of change.

Unchosen change is always extremely difficult to accept but ownership is the most positive tool of communication, acceptance and pride, we can use to advance forward in a proud and positive manner.

A reconsideration by the council would most definitely provide them with credibility and make their task of the many other issues and decisions to be made acceptable by the greater community,

Joan White

Texas.

I fully support most of the letters that have appeared in the paper in the last two weeks.

I also believe the new council should be called the Border Rivers Council. I think the name “Goondiwindi Regional Council” is causing unnecessary division in the community.

I’ve talked to quite a few people who agree that the Borders Rivers Council is the best name.

It includes everyone and doesn’t just focus on one town and I support Rick McDougall who at least tried to get the name changed.

Is it really too late to change the name?

Joan and John Elder,

Goondiwindi

I have been reading the Argus with dismay today.

To me it is a very great pity that of all the issues facing folk of today, it was a paramount importance to suggest a name change. Immediately the generally peaceable and agreeable community is at loggerheads.

Some passionately want a change while others just as passionately do not.

I ask, “Is it really necessary to throw the residents into controversy?”

As for a name change, from someone who was not born here, and is not passionate about it, I have this to say: “I have been around a bit, and I personally believe that most people in Australia would have some idea where the Goondiwindi Region is, “Border Rivers”, on the other had, could be at Tweed Heads, Mungindi, New South Wales areas, Victoria, in fact anywhere at all!”

Judy Hanna

Goondiwindi