A message from the Mayor
I wanted to reach out to the community given the latest round of media focusing on our city. First of all – know that we have reassurances from the State Government that they remain committed to hydrogen and the long-term future of Whyalla, and none of the current commentary changes the fact they will be spending hundreds of millions of dollars on ensuring our city’s success.
I will personally be contacting The Advertiser regarding their sensationalist, city-centric headlines from the past two days. While the content of the articles may be accurate, these headlines – likely aimed purely at selling newspapers – do not have any consideration for our community. Rather, they may contribute to further fear and anxiety in our community, which can have untold repercussions for people that may already be struggling. Using our predicament to sell papers is unethical and those responsible must be held to account.
Despite the government’s reassurance, we realise it doesn’t change the fact that, right now, things continue to be challenging for our city as we try to come out the other side of what has been a very difficult 12 months. Above all else, I ask that we support each other and be mindful of how we treat our fellow Whyalla citizens. Lashing out at individuals / governments / businesses may feel good at the time, but it is counterproductive and won’t help any of us to get through this period.
One of the best things we can do to help each other out is to simply ask the person next to you ‘are you okay?’ These three simple words can help someone feel supported and give them an opening to talk about any struggles they may have. I’d also like to highlight the excellent services we have available in Whyalla that are here to help our community. If you are struggling and need support, I strongly encourage you to check out the list of local agencies available: https://whycc.au/support
So please, look after each other. Let’s get through this current challenge together while continuing to celebrate the wins, like last week’s major funding announcements that will bring the community much-needed facilities that you’ve long been waiting for.
– Mayor Phill Stone