I would like to give a big shout out to the Bangalow Public School boy who showed courage and admirable moral fibre during afternoon breakup time on 23 May in Station Street, Bangalow.
I am the manager of the A&I Hall in Station Street and was just showing an interested visitor from Sydney around when a half golf ball sized rock came at rather good speed past us before hitting the wall of the hall.
I know I got a bit of a start, not sure about Sam from Sydney, and swung around to address the cause of this projectile’s sudden acceleration in our direction. There was only one possible cause and he was a dark-haired boy, of slim build in school uniform and aged around eight or nine years old. He was walking nonchalantly down the street away from us. I called out in a rather stentorian voice that surprised even myself, as to whether he was the originator of the launching of this missile, and to his credit he turned around and admitted it.
I said something to the effect of the hidden dangers of launching missiles at innocent bystanders with the potential of causing collateral damage. Even further to his credit, he came walking up the street towards us and twice apologised. I went walking down to meet him and congratulated him on his courage in owning up, and to good social manners in apologising. We had a high five and parted on good terms; and in my case anyhow, as friends.
Mate, I don’t know your name, but you and your parents can take a bow. You showed courage and a good social conscience. You have a good, responsible, sensible head on your shoulders and we need more like you.
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. 
