A group of elderly residents in Gundagai has written to the Queen imploring her to "restore democracy" and reverse the forced merger of their local council.
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Signed by six people, all aged over 90, the letter asks the Queen to flex her royal prerogative to have Gundagai's elected council reinstated, Fairfax Media reports.
"We respectfully seek your persuasion," the letter states, "to have the Government of New South Wales restore democracy to Gundagai and all other affected councils."
It says the merger "has had a serious impact on the morale and identity of Gundagai and its people," and was against "the expressed will of the community".
Gundagai Shire (3,700 residents) and Cootamundra Shire (7,700 residents) councils have been controlled by a government-appointed administrator, after a merger under the then Baird government's policy in May last year.
Gundagai locals fear that, after a new council is elected in September, the services, jobs, and local representatives would be concentrated in the larger Cootamundra township.
