A Long Overdue Update

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It’s time for me to actually add something to alancrawford.com.au not just learn about and fiddle with, Squirrly SEO settings. I’ve spent at least 4 days re-configuring everything. Allocating focus pages and screaming at my screen while trying to improve their reach / rank criteria – in addition to the home page they are:

The Body in the Basement (Police, Lovers tiff and testimony)
Gloryville Murders (Gruesome Murders now combined into one long post)
Tale of an EHO (Environmental Health Officer, Lincoln Point)
Hillsdale Hamburgers (a lonely town and a lone driver dying)
Very Naughty Frank (He’s all over the place)
Inside Apartment 2204 (Alice is trapped inside)

Very latest and sadly it seems to be the end.

I received a reply from the Mayor’s office:

Dear Alan

Thank you for your email to the Mayor.

We note your correspondence in relation to these matters.

There is currently no plans to change the current format in relation to the reading of the prayer. However, the Mayor notes your comments in relation to this.

I will say however, that the Mayor has reached out to local Indigenous groups about a meaningful Welcome to Country being performed prior to the first Full Council Meeting in May.
Email received 19th April 17.11 Their previous email reply can be found at here.

Other news is the incredibly delayed conclusion of the recent City of Gold Coast (Council) election. The results are online at CoGC although while displaying some outrageous slackness the new Councillor’s photos aren’t even published yet. Sadly I witnessed the signing / swearing in and declaration of all newly elected Councillors on Youtube

My post on Mastodon April 6 sums up my reaction : So the 2024 term of the new Gold Coast Council starts with what can only be described as a ridiculous embarrassment. No lighting on the featured inductees and the podium microphone not picked up at all. Can’t anyone test and set these things up properly? Not a good beginning as we endure the mumbling speech offered by: #TomTateMayor #CoGC #GoldCoast #Council #Youtube #Hopeless

In keeping with my wish to adjust the Council meeting agenda see here, I sent the new City of Gold Coast Council an email:

mayor@goldcoast.qld.gov.au,
ceo@goldcoast.qld.gov.au,
division1@goldcoast.qld.gov.au,
division2@goldcoast.qld.gov.au,
division3@goldcoast.qld.gov.au,
division4@goldcoast.qld.gov.au,
division5@goldcoast.qld.gov.au,
division6@goldcoast.qld.gov.au,
division7@goldcoast.qld.gov.au,
division8@goldcoast.qld.gov.au,
division9@goldcoast.qld.gov.au,
division10@goldcoast.qld.gov.au,
division11@goldcoast.qld.gov.au,
division12@goldcoast.qld.gov.au,
division13@goldcoast.qld.gov.au,
division14@goldcoast.qld.gov.au

Attention Mayor, CEO and Councillors,

Can I please offer one last request as we start the new Council term, an adjustment to the Full Council meeting agenda. Namely the reading of a Christian Prayer and the omission of the Acknowledgment of Country. The Meeting Chair’s personal belief and offering of this particular prayer excludes other faiths (if any) represented in the City, while no Acknowledgement of Country was offered.

Please create a statement that will include all citizens within the City, without excluding any types or level of belief.

A search will reveal many Councils altering their agenda e.g. https://www.indaily.com.au/news/2023/08/14/god-of-many-names-councils-multifaith-prayer-amid-christian-row

Indeed, the blending of a “pledge or statement of commitment that is meaningful to all people”, with or without faith and the Acknowledgement of Country will be appreciated by all. Providing no exclusion or a misunderstanding of Council’s standing in the community.

City of Gold Coast’s own web page dealing with the Welcome and Acknowledgment Statements.

Thank you for your time and consideration and I look forward to a productive term for the new City of Gold Coast (Council).

Alan Crawford

PS: I provided a copy of the email from ******* for reference.

Not heard yet but that’s to be expected, I still don’t know if King Charles is represented in the Chambers either. But I’ll now go and learn some more and apply the outcome.