The council has done a wonderful job building the Taste Tamworth Festival to what it is today, by enhancing the existing events and adding new ones. But, please don't forget that the origins of the festival were as a volunteer-run event, not an initiative of council.

As recently as 2012 the festival was managed by a volunteer committee and from 2009-2012 it raised $30,000 for local charities.

Furthermore, the origins stretch even further back with the first Taste Festival held at the Racecourse in the early 1980s thanks to the likes of Robbie Collins, Katie Bourke, Sandy Brooks and more.

The first Long Lunch in Peel Street then followed. It wasn't until 2013 that Council took over running the festival, after the committee at the time decided that would be the best way to allow the festival to reach its full potential.

So yes, we should all support the festival so council can continue to build it from strength-to-strength, but let's not forget our town's history and pay homage to those who have, and still do, work so hard for our community.

Alison Treloar

Tamworth