FRESH from snubbing the Australian workforce by buying new trains off a Korean shelf — the fact that they won't fit past the Blue Mountains Line stations and tunnels is apparently just a minor irritation — the NSW Government is now planning to equip the NSW Police special squads with military rifles. And if weekend media reports are to be believed the weapon of choice for Gladys and Co will be an American made Colt carbine that's standard issue for US troops. Hello! If anyone in Macquarie Street is listening the Australian armed forces are equipped with rifles and machine guns made by Thales in Lithgow. And they're available off the shelf too.
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We're surprised the government isn't seeking to save on a package deal of rolling stock and rifles from Korea. We well remember when the police were to be re-equipped for pistols our SAF technicians came up with what was widely regarded as a more than competent prototype. Nope - Glocks off a German (or should that be Austrian?) shelf were chosen ahead of Australian initiative. In the meantime can someone please tell Gladys and her Police Minister there's a world class arms facility at Lithgow?
Idiots abroad
THE dopes that play silly games in Lithgow's QE Park all too often were out and about again at the weekend demonstrating their IQ (Idiot Quotient that is). Their party trick this time was to physically rip a garbage bin from its steel mounting at the southern end of the park then for some strange reason dumped it in the band rotunda. That should provide some informative footage on the CCTV coverage that these days blankets much of the park.
Landmark value
GOOD to see the historic landmark Wallerawang railway station back in use as a café.
The 19th Century station is one of the oldest and most picturesque on the Western Line - the oldest in fact west of Bowenfels.
There are now high hopes that under new management it will regain its rightful place as both a community asset and a preserved part of our history.
