On the other it is sad that, once again, the people of the region have had to fall back on their own resources to make the proposed improvements to this vital service possible.

Country people pay taxes – and a lot of them.

It is unfortunate that we seem to get less back for what we give than if we lived in the “real” NSW – Newcastle, Sydney and Wollongong.

Is that because governments are well aware that country communities, on a per capita basis, come up with a lot more community fundraising dollars than you would get in say a Bankstown, a Campbelltown, a Balmain, a Manly or a Double Bay?

Are we being suckered because of our willingness to pitch in and have a go?

Could a government be so cynical as to conclude that if a rural community really wants something then people will get off their behinds and raise the cash themselves?

There seems to be a lot of evidence supporting that possibility.

Witness, for example, the major works at the oncology unit that are due to come on stream, this month.

All of the work there has been done with community funds.

If the committee had waited for State Government cash – or even a decision on what the State Government was going to do with the overall hospital development – there would be no bricks and mortar in place, just a concept plan in some bureaucrat’s filing cabinet.

We think the oncology committee did a great job.

We also know that the people of Tamworth will get behind the Friends of Nioka to ensure the palliative care facility is the best that it can be.

We just hope the people of the region remember what it takes to get something done around here when it comes time to vote in 2011.