Doug Luke, Byron Bay.
Congratulations, Byron Greens!
I was secretary of Byron Greens at the time when Rose Wanchap ceased to be a member.
Not long after her election to Byron Shire Council she started to deviate from even longstanding Greens policies. This led to lengthy discussions among our members on how to deal with this errant behaviour. We were divided: some attempted to bring her back into the fold and others wanted her gone.
By the time of the March 11, 2014, members-only meeting we had reached consensus that SHE MUST GO. She was asked to attend, having missed the previous monthly meetings. We were treated to a display of all her good work on laminated A3 sheets, mostly of wells drilled in lands far from Byron Shire. Even she could see that the consensus was for her to go. She said she would resign: (I quote her) ‘if that was what the consensus was’.
Let’s set the record straight; She did not defect from the Greens. She was booted out. Any defection was from Greens principles and the trust of Byron Shire voters. Their sweet revenge has seen her cast out at Saturday’s election. Her buddies have gone too.
The people have seen how the progressive minority never gave up the fight against the right wing dinosaurs.
It’s now time for the progressive majority to listen to the resurgent cries of the people.
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
