As the temperatures soar and the air begins to shimmer in the heat, there are some who are battling sleepless nights without air conditioning.
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Although the NSW government has starting rolling out air conditioning for public housing across the state, some Griffith residents are being left to sweat it out.
For years the public housing residents of Pioneer have been petitioning politicians for air conditioning, but so far all they’ve got back is a load of hot air.
It’s enough to make one’s blood boil, according to public housing resident Jenny Grogan, who has been worn down by the oppressive heat.
“I tossed and turned most of the night and just after 5am I finally got to sleep,” Ms Grogan said.
She’s not the only one; many of her neighbours have been sleeping on the kitchen floor or sleeping outside to keep cool.
Those families who can afford a small window air conditioner have been piling into the same room and sleeping in a cramped heap.
It’s something the whole neighbourhood is fed up with, and they will highlight their concerns when they gather at the Alma Bamblett Pioneer Community Centre at 9.30am on January 8.
One of the people who will be there is Combined Pensioners and Superannuants Association Griffith branch president Peter Knox, who has been championing the cause for year without success.
He has made several trips to Sydney and spoke to state politicians in their air conditioned offices, offering to bring them down to Griffith for a night at his house without the air conditioning.
None of them have taken them up on his offer so far.
It hasn’t discouraged him; he is pleased that there is at least some progress being made with the NSW government fitting another 600 public houses with air conditioning by the end of 2019.
However, the only place in the seat of Murray to receive any air conditioning is Hay, and Mr Knox believes the government is “cherry-picking” places for political reasons.
But now that the seat of Murray is a marginal seat he thinks it’s time to strike while the iron is hot.
With the upcoming general election in March he hopes to lobby politicians in their air-conditioned offices until they start paying attention to Griffith.
“We just need to keep trying and eventually we’ll get there,” Mr Knox said.
Kenji Sato
Kenji Sato is a handsome journalist at The Daily Advertiser who enjoys writing flattering bios about himself in the third person. He can be contacted by email at kenji.sato@dailyadvertiser.com.au or by mobile on 0448 927 612.
Kenji Sato is a handsome journalist at The Daily Advertiser who enjoys writing flattering bios about himself in the third person. He can be contacted by email at kenji.sato@dailyadvertiser.com.au or by mobile on 0448 927 612.
