Remember when people had courage? As a nation we drape ourselves in the glory of sacrifice by the pioneers and explorers, Anzacs at Gallipoli and countless other examples.
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We romanticise this idea of men who stood up for Australia - despite only being a far flung colony of England, or a minor ally of the United States.
We look back to the men who turned our district from mere lifeless scrub to a fertile irrigation area.
If these people were here now, what would they think?
They'd see a water management plan which is compromised but which people have since accepted.
They'd see water bandits up north drawing more water than they're entitled to, putting more strain on the Murrumbidgee and Murray rivers.
How would they consider the voters of this electorate?
Perhaps they'd wonder where all the conviction of the MIA in 2012 went, when people stood up against the Basin Plan which they saw as something they didn't want.
They'd probably also wonder whether people in this area who agree with the aims and objectives, though not necessarily the execution of the plan went.
Perhaps it's the renowned Australian apathy, of 'she'll be right' or 'they'll do what they want anyway' which is letting us down.
When have Australians actually rebelled and taken up arms against a government's actions?
By our count - once - at the Eureka Stockade and it was led by an Irishman, Peter Lalor.
People having courage of conviction is something that seems thin on the ground, it's been taken advantage of by the major parties who are more often than not, separated only by degrees.
While The Irrigator don't endorse any candidate, Kevin Mack appears to have the conviction of someone with beliefs.
Anyone who stands to be judged by the community, such as Sussan Ley, Kieran Drabsch and Dean Moss (or Austin Evans, Helen Dalton, Thomas Weyrich at the state level) deserves respect for putting themselves forward.
This year it's not just the 'usual suspects' putting forward their candidacies, we've got a genuine choice - it's now up to you, the voters, to make the best choice for our electorate.