INTERVIEW WITH RICHARD SPENCE 1350 2LF YOUNG

Wednesday, 24 January 2025

Subjects: Wallendbeen Bridge, Cootamundra Health Petition, Investment in Mental Health Services, Australia Day

Richard Spence: Rich Spence with you on a Friday, getting you closer to the three day long weekend, as I welcome into the studio for the first time this year, Member for Cootamundra, Steph Cooke, good morning. Steph,

Steph Cooke: good morning, Rich it's great to be with you, and I do feel the need to advise your listeners this morning that I do have our eldest dog, Tilly, in the studio as well. That hasn't happened before, but Tilly is off to get some dental work done today, and I happen to be the responsible parent for that. So if you hear some barking or disruption in the background, my apologies in advance. That's Tilly being in an unfamiliar environment.

Richard Spence: and only if she knows what's going to happen to her later today.

Steph Cooke: Absolutely

Richard Spence: all right. So, we'll get another way, just briefly on the Wallendbeen Bridge. It's been an ongoing saga for so long. What's the latest on that?

Steph Cooke: Yes, thanks Rich, so Transport for New South Wales have mobilized a really good, strong leadership team now to get on top of this situation with the Wallendbeen Bridge. It's been a saga now for four years, and I'm very grateful to the community for their patience.

And the next steps now will be the removal of the damaged temporary bridge, and we spoke about that in the towards the end of last year, and they they're going to pull that bridge out on the 28th they will spend six days repairing it, and it will be put back in place and reopened.

Now I do have extensive detours in place at the moment, which are causing all manner of issues for both residents, the heavy vehicle industry and for motorists alike. So, this is a good temporary step while we really push hard on the new bridge that we so desperately need. I should say to the community, the new bridge is actually there. It is completed. It's the approaches that do require completion, and I am very hopeful that over the second and third quarters of this year that we will see some strong action on that front.

Richard Spence: All right? So, yeah, it's been a long time coming, but it's still got a way to go.

Steph Cooke: We still have a way to go. I can't deny that I continue to meet regularly. At the moment, I'm meeting fortnightly with the minister and her senior team from transport, so everybody understands and appreciates how challenging this is, of course, I've had a lot to do with Mayor Ab McAllister since his election in October, and we are united in our determination to see this project finished on behalf of the communities.

Richard Spence: All right, so watch this space, as they say. Now, New South Wales Health Services. There's a petition going around for the ambulance service. What's that one about?

Steph Cooke: That's right, Rich, so we are very concerned about the provision and the, really the reduction in health services across our Cootamundra electorate. There are two battlefronts in this space. The first one is in relation to the health pathology lab at the Cootamundra Hospital. We believe that health pathology very close to making an announcement around the future of that that facility and the staff that work there.

It's pretty unacceptable. In fact, it's entirely unacceptable that that laboratory would shut and that is the first part of the petition. The second part of the petition is to strengthen, not slash, our ambulance services. We know that, and what we want to see there is a strengthening of their services, particularly as it relates to intensive care Paramedics, the drugs and equipment that they need, to be permanently placed in both the vehicles and at the stations.

That's not the case at the moment, that's what this petition is about, and for everyone listening here in Young there are a number of businesses up and down the main street who have copies of that petition that you can sign. We need to get to 10,000 signatures. There is no time limit, which is great. It's the 10,000 that matters, and we are just a touch under 3000 already Rich. That's how angry people are about what's happening out there and I would encourage anyone, if you haven't already signed the petition, please do so. We need everyone to help out with this.

Richard Spence: And is this a statewide issue or is it mainly in regional New South Wales.

Steph Cooke: It's mainly affecting regional New South Wales, and in fact, when it comes to the issues facing pathology and Cootamundra hospital that relates to the Murrumbidgee Local Health district area, and when it comes to our ambulance services, and what's happening in that space, it's impacting the Murrumbidgee zone, which is predominantly the Cootamundra electorate. So this is our fight to take to the government, and this petition, when we reach 10,000 will be presented to the New South Wales parliament for a debate on the floor of the New South Wales parliament, and I think, unfortunately, this is what it's going to take to.

Make sure that our voice is heard. So we're asking everyone to join together as small communities. We have to fight for ourselves. We have to fight for each other. We must be united and the petition is the best way to demonstrate your support for what is happening in this space.

Richard Spence: Yeah, a lot of upheaval going on with New South Wales Health at the moment too, disruptions on the public mental health services from pretty much this week.

Steph Cooke: Oh, absolutely. I mean, this is just another, another angle which has emerged since the launch of our petition. We've had dozens and dozens of New South Wales psychiatrists walk off the point they've had enough, and as a result, the whole mental health system is coming under immense pressure.

We are assured by New South Wales Health that for those that do need mental health support during this time, that they have put back up provisions in place, but at the end of the day, it's just symptomatic of the chaos that we are seeing in our health system and in rural and regional areas, where it's already really hard to attract and retain good health professionals in our communities. This is the last thing really that we need right now. So, we have grave concerns about the future of rural and regional health.

There are some optimistic areas we we're seeing new worker accommodations stood up. That's happening in Narrandera and West Wyalong in the west of the electorate, where it is so desperately needed. But that's just one angle, and one aspect Rich. Our services are really under threat at the moment, and we really have to fight for them.

Richard Spence: and particularly in that mental health space. I mean, that's been concerned for quite a while now, but probably highlighted and emphasized doing during the COVID years, and we need more and more support not having less and having it taken away from us.

Steph Cooke: Oh, that's absolutely right, and what we need to see on that front is mental health services that are strong in each and every community. At the moment, we continue to rely on outreach services from the larger centres like Wagga, Griffith, Bathurst, Orange, those services based locally, so that our people can get the help that they need.

And we can only see that within with more investment in the mental health space and in preventative health more broadly, it's disappointing that we don't see enough investment by both the federal and the state government into preventative health because we seem to be so reactive all the time, it's not until someone that has got a significant problem that they even are on the radar.

If we could see greater investment into programs that help people live healthier lives along the way, then their reliance on those services into the future will be less and for those that so desperately need it, there will be an opportunity for them to receive the care that they need in a more timely fashion close to home.

Richard Spence: And mental health in particular, is so important, it should be available at minimal to no out of pocket cost as well to those who require that service.

Steph Cooke: Oh, absolutely, and that's why it's so important to have a strong public health system, and this is what we need to continue fighting for Rich absolutely.

Richard Spence: all right, and some news I heard or saw on the internet this morning is probably a long time coming. River stores across the country, 136 of them have set to close as from April, and that will affect some people here in Young.

Steph Cooke: I expect it will today, in reading the broader media of the day, my office will seek an update from the company today, and in terms of what that means for people here locally, and really like to acknowledge the staff at Rivers, they do a magnificent job. Many of them have worked there for a long period of time, and there's no doubt that this sort of disruption is very disappointing and disheartening for them. But it's early days. I don't want to pre-empt what that future might look like, but just to let you and your listeners know that, yes, now that I'm aware of it, I'll absolutely be making some inquiries and making sure that those staff are looked after all the way.

Richard Spence: And at this stage, maybe they can take a little bit of comfort in knowing that they've got some time to prepare. Stores aren't set to close until from April. They say, according to that announcement,

Steph Cooke: that's right, Rich, and as I said, we'll seek some further information and make sure that staff are given the due the due process that they deserve and see what next steps look like.

Richard Spence: It's 19 minutes past a two days time, 26th of January, Australia Day, a great day for many of us in the community.

Steph Cooke: Oh goodness. It's a wonderful time for us to celebrate what it means to be Australian, and to this end, Rich, I can, I guess, advise, or announce, if you like, to your listeners this morning that following last year, where I had Wilder's bakery make an enormous Lamington cake. I was really racking my brain as to what I could do this year that would even come close to matching that, and everyone knows how much I love lamingtons.

So, this year, I went to my friend and a wonderful local business operator in Morgan at Morgan's cakes, and she has made the most extraordinary cake. I've shown you a picture already. It's multi layered. It's got an essay lamb chops. It's got a cake Vegemite layer, a layer that's all about Cootamundra wattle. Because, of course, this is where we are, and it's got a Lamington on top.

So, what I'm going to be doing this morning Rich is hosting a free pop-up morning tea in Boorowa Street in Young. It'll be outside Merles, in that public space area where there's some tables and chairs. I'm going to pick the cake up from Morgan and cart it out into the street, and anyone who's passing by, please stop and have a free piece of cake on me.

And it's just my way of acknowledging just how wonderful and important this day is, and we're lucky this year, it's certainly going to be that long weekend celebration. My own diary is literally packed wall to wall with events, and I absolutely love it. I can't wait to get amongst it., and happy Australia. Day to everyone today.

Richard Spence: Yeah, and so when is that cake?

Steph Cooke: So that'll be around about 930 10 o'clock this morning, after I dropped Tilly off at the vet. I will be heading straight to Morgan's, and we'll get that cake sorted. I can't wait to share some photos on social media. This cake is absolutely next level extraordinary.

Richard Spence: I think Tilly is hiding under the Destiny my leg, afraid of what's to come for her today.

Steph Cooke: I know the poor little thing she is wearing her Australia Day banner. Rich, so everyone in our family really gets right into it.

Richard Spence: Yeah, a lot of events happening right across the region now Wombat, they do Australia Day really well. I was there two years ago for their events, the tractor pull and the vintage car display. Where are you attending Australia Day?

Steph Cooke: Oh, wow. Rich, yes, I have been to Wombat, and it is. Absolutely fantastic. If anyone's looking for some really great Aussie activities, please head to Wombat on Sunday, for myself. my day actually, well, it sort of starts today with a few activities around Young and tomorrow I'm out to the Bland Shire. We have a reception out there tomorrow night for all of the Australia Day Award nominees.

Then on Australia Day morning, I'll be in West Wyalong briefly for their ceremony, then heading to Ungarie for their ceremony and breakfast. Then we have their official proceedings at the pool. Then it'll be on to ‘Grongi”, down to Grong Grong where we're using the this as an opportunity to hand over a brand new RFS truck to the local brigade. So excited about that.

Then I'm heading back to tomorrow, to the swimming pool there, where there are a number of events. Then to Mirrool for the movies on the silo, and then I'll make my way back to Young at some ungodly hour. So, it's a huge day. It is for me. Every year I do Seven 800 kilometres on the day, but every one of them is worth it to visit our small communities where Australia Day is so important, and our communities are so proud of who they are and where they've come from.

Richard Spence: Yeah, and you mentioned Grong Grong and the RFS the presentation there, I remember there was one weekend last year or the year before, they had this big gathering of RFS trucks on the on the field there,

Steph Cooke: yeah, absolutely, very, very proud community, and they've got some activities at the pub, of course, apparently, it's my shout over the bar, so I may very well come back broke from that experience. So, we might see record crowds at the pub there if they know that I'm paying over the bar. But look, it's just what a great time of year, Love it.

Richard Spence: and a very hot weekend, make sure you remain hydrated, shaded, sunscreen, and the pools across the Hilltops, at least, and there's some other pools as well, will be free entry on Sunday as well for Australia Day.

Steph Cooke: Yeah, that's such great news, both here in the Hilltops and across most shires. The pools are free and just very quickly and not to end on a downer, but just a little reminder for everyone that double demerit points are in force over the long weekend period. So please have a plan B, if you're you know, if you're intending to attend a party, which I hope you are, or a barbecue, please look after yourself and those around you,

Richard Spence: all right. Thanks a lot. Steph, thanks for coming by.

Steph Cooke: Thanks for having us.