Everyone sat silent waiting for the hands on the clock to reach 4.30pm and the meeting to start.

It was not such an eerie moment when it was announced Councillor Owen Hasler had been returned as mayor. The boos could be heard from the back of the chamber and across the walkway where the people who could not fit in the chamber were listening to the results from a separate room.

It is more than apparent that people are not happy with the recent decisions of council. There have been hundreds and hundreds of letters of discontent sent to the local member Kevin Anderson, big attendances at protests, and many, many posts on social media.

But it has also become clear at both the early morning protest and the one at the council chambers that people are unsure what to do with their anger. People have, in a way, united in their hurt over the Visitor Information Centre, Chandos Street changes, the Mary’s Mount canola mill and the planned changes to sporting fields, but no one has a clear idea where to go next.

One group called for 500 letters to be sent to Mr Anderson and that has happened. But it cannot secure the result they are looking for.

Others are calling for regular “town meetings”, or are already looking ahead for new faces to stand at the next local government elections.

Unfortunately, some have turned their discontent into something that is beginning to make the argument really nasty. Facebook posts have been appearing vilifying members of council and we have begun to hear stories of family members of staff being abused and shunned. The “us and them” mentality is getting ugly.

Councillors are not “highly paid” by anyone’s standards. In NSW, they get considerably less than the pension for what is a 24-hour a day, seven day a week job.

These are people chosen by the community. They might not always be the right people for the job, but sometimes, they are legitimately doing their best. Conspiracies in real life are fairly few and far between.

Gunnedah Shire Council made a very unpopular decision in moving the VIC. This was compounded by what appeared to be rapid changes to Chandos Street and a number of other decisions.

If you feel that our local government is just not working the way it is supposed to – and it is obvious that many people do – then voice your opinion as loudly as you see fit. But fight clean. 

Targeting individuals as “public enemy number one” or attacking their families won’t get you anywhere. It is unfair and un-Australian.

After all, who wants to live in the type of community where people have become afraid to put up their hands to represent their shire?