I met Mr Brooks during the week, nice guy, maybe too nice for politics, but a nice guy who cares.

Now I know, I still have to find out a bit more about our independents and then I’ll be able to make a decision based on my research for my electorate.

Not going to talk about the election other than that.

What I really want to talk about is the Dubbo Regional Theatre and Convention Centre, (hold on Macca) moreover, the grand opening last Friday night.

I was lucky enough to get an invite for the night, and to be honest really didn’t know what to expect.

There were MPs, councillors past and present, councillors from neighbouring LGAs, people who have been involved from inception, people from the ‘arts’, people who never thought they’d see the day, right through to blow-ins and freeloaders like myself.

There were a couple of dignitaries missing, and there was no special guest to open the building, but do you know what?

There really shouldn’t have been one... why? Because in this case all the work was done by the local council, Dubbo City Council.

Yep our EELs and the ones before them, made it happen, so it was right for a number of them to be in the limelight and the two mayors mostly responsible to officially open the building.

You know what else? There was no special guest stars dropping in to do a dog and pony show and get paid a squillion bucks just to show up at the opening of an envelope, no just mostly good quality local talent to highlight our new theatre.

Good local talent; let me tell you just how much good local talent there was on display.

Bruce Carr and Pete Reilly opened the show, Dubbo Ballet School, one of three that we have here in town and I’m told are all equally good, Harmony Singers, DATS with Joseph, Western Plains Big Band, Oscar Del Bao and on and on.

I couldn’t believe just how good our local kids and adults were, I sat there amazed at the level of professionalism they showed and the joy in performing. It was great.