September the 29th 2008 will be remembered as a black day for the residents of Warrnambool, Allansford and Koroit. This was the date that the State Government, through the Department of Human Services and Wannon Water, commenced adding fluoride to their water supplies despite the fact that most of the world has rejected this outdated science and it is now also being rejected by many communities in the US.

But the issue is not and never should be seen to be over until commonsense prevails and fluoridation ceases. Everyone who is opposed to it must continue to fight against it. The only thing that changed from the above date is that the fluoride is now in the water. The rights, wrongs or desirability of the situation are exactly the same.

We may have so far been denied our democratic entitlement to have a say in what happens in our community, but this is even more reason to persist with this fight. Continue to speak out. Contact your elected representatives. Encourage them to do their own research and not just rely on DHS information. Be a nuisance. Make some noise. And make them think!

This decision to add fluoride to our water WILL be reversed in time. The case against it is overwhelming. How long it takes depends entirely on how much political pressure can be brought to bear.

The tap has unfortunately been turned on and the fluoride is now with us. It can also be turned off. When this happens to a large extent depends upon us.