Royal picnic day feedback

The Editor,

I have read the recent “Royal picnic day was a day of disappointments” [Letters & Feedback, Dubbo Photo News, October 25].

I agree with the comments in the article. It must have been a huge letdown for out of town visitors who assembled around the Cenotaph, along the barricaded areas in front of the Council building (in Church Street) and along the areas toward Victoria Park also barricaded.

I walked from Macquarie Street to the Cenotaph and talked to people along the way and also to crowd control workers. My questions were simply around whether they had a good spot and many people simply said, “We hope so as they must be coming along this way because of the barricades.”

I continued on towards the Cenotaph and crossed Darling Street which was also barricaded. I asked people again and received similar answers. Crowd controllers and workers just shrugged when asked if this was the route.

I was so terribly disappointed for these people who had waited hours and the excited children who would have seen nothing. The rain storm did not deter many people as they came prepared with umbrellas, rain gear and blankets.

However, the royal couple being late and the lack of information for many people who came from far and wide and who had waited for hours was very sad.

In hindsight maybe a cavalcade down the main street would have given many more Dubbo people and visitors to our city a better view (of the royal couple).

I walked back to my car with a young couple who came from north of Tamworth who had waited patiently for four hours. They gave up waiting. A huge disappointment for them. They waited near the Cenotaph.

Sadly, not a good look.

Carol Macalpine

Dubbo The Editor,

Just a quick email to say many thanks for the fantastic article Yvette Aubusson-foley wrote on Shallow Water Blackout following Judy and Tony’s talk the other night.

Your support for our push to tell more people is really appreciated. Barbara Norrie

Ed’s note: We have a follow-up story on Shallow Water Blackout on page 10 of today’s paper.