Serving Mosman fought to maintain Mosman's independence
ABOVE: Carolyn Corrigan addressing the Save Our Councils Media Rally, Domain Park Sydney, July 2015.
What has Serving Mosman done to maintain Mosman's independence?
The Serving Mosman team members now on Council, plus Serving Mosman President and twice past Mosman Mayor Peter Abelson, were all key players in the fight against forced mergers. And not just in Mosman, but right across NSW. Carolyn and Tom, in particular, recognised that all NSW councils and communities needed to join together to fight this attack on local democracy. And so SOCC - Save Our Councils Coalition - was born. The fight for independence was the fifth such fight that Mosman has had since 1962. It was fought on multiple fronts – in the courts, in the media, at by-elections, in the cities, and the regions. And through SOCC and MAFA (Mosman Against Forced Amalgamations). Under Serving Mosman leadership Mosman Council maintained a united stance for all the many twists, turns and challenges of the three-year battle.
It is now a bit over five years ago since the announcement of forced mergers on 12 May 2016. And almost four years since it was announced by the NSW Government that the remaining metro mergers were to be abandoned. Eternal vigilance does seem to be the price of community democracy in Mosman.
