Michael Thorn
Dear Minto RAG...

10 November 2004

Dear Minto Resident Action Group,

How are you all? I have been meaning to write this letter for some time. My dearest apologies that I did not write sooner, but I have been a bit busy in recent months.

For the past half-year or so I have been working as a community worker at the Riverwood Community Centre. The exact title of my position is the Housing Community Assistance Program worker, or HCAP worker for short. My job entails providing assistance and support toward the community issues that arise on the public housing estate next to the Centre. It is the same position that Deborah Hulk holds, just the Riverwood version!

As it is my first full time job out of uni, it has been a bit of a learning curve. But I am having fun and when I think of all my time spent with the Minto RAG, this has been more than enough to prepare me for the challenge to which I am now embarking upon.

Unfortunately my time at work means that I can no longer take part in Minto RAG meetings. It gets very busy at the Community Centre and it is very tough to get home at a respectable time, let alone find a weekday to spare away from Riverwood! This is a shame because I wanted to participate in the Minto RAG for some time after my studies. I will be looking to attend the upcoming launch of ’I Love Mino’ though. Hopefully at the launch I might be able to catch up with some of you guys and see how things are.

Despite not being able to attend RAG meetings I still get the minutes of previous meetings mailed to me. I read them eagerly to keep up to speed with what is going on with the Minto RAG, tenants on the Minto estate, and the Urban Renewal Project. What I have read in the RAG minutes over the past few months sounds promising - the visitation to RAG of a variety of high profile politicians and officials, the continued well attendance of RAG meetings, a series of street BBQs, and continued support of RAG by nearby groups like Animation, Burnside, and the University of Western Sydney.

Some things don’t change though, like the reluctance of the Department of Housing to release a master plan, and the failure of the Department to come up with something that doesn’t keep Minto tenants in the dark concerning the issue of relocation. Don’t let these things get you down though Minto RAG, as you have all fought for so long now and have made so many gains. When those Calico Bags are ready to go put me down for one! I will show it off proudly on the Riverwood estate and in the Community Centre!

I have become good friends with many of the tenants in the Riverwood estate, and I tell them about the Minto RAG and why the group formed. The Riverwood tenants express their sympathies over what has happened in Minto over the past few years, with some tenants telling me that some day they would like to meet members of the Minto RAG. I hope this could be a possibility some time in the near future.

I hope it hasn’t been too late in saying this but I would like to thank the Minto RAG for all the support you have given me during my studies, and the inspiration all the RAG members have given me toward my present engagement at Riverwood. I am very thankful that the Minto RAG has been a part of my life, and some day would like to work further with you all in some shape or form. Here’s hoping!

The Minto RAG will always have a special place in my heart, to you all with solidarity,

Michael Thorn
Friend of Minto RAG