Date: Monday, 9 March 2026 at 11:33 pm
To: Ross Hart <ross.hart@rosshartlaw.com.au>
Cc: Pat Norman <pat725003@gmail.com>
Subject: The Garwood Matter.


THANK YOU FOR YOUR RESPONSE
click on the image ton enlarge

I submit that in respect to this correspondence, albeit based on flawed information, 
I was:

  1. Writing on my own behalf and also on behalf of 'concerned citizens’, concerned about City of Launceston’s council and council’s administrations propensity to bring on CODE OF CONDUCT actions among other legal actions that typically seem to require no significant disciplinary outcome but are nonetheless expensive; and

  3. I was concerned that in this case, and all such cases, the cost to ratepayers, yet again, would be significant if such action was taken; and

  5. On previous occasions it appears that the expense of these ‘actions’ are dealt with ‘operationally’ and somewhat in camera leaving ratepayers who provide the funds in the dark apropos costs, outcomes, etc.; and

  7. GMs/CEOs under SECTIOJN 62/2 of the Act are granted extraordinary and wide-ranging powers to act an expend money, and seemingly on ratepayer’s behalf without transparent accountability; and

  9. In this instance it seemed that yet again there appeared bro be a risk of ratepayers bearing the cost of an action without them by necessity being made aware in the spirit of transparency and accountability; and

  11. Consequently, I attempted to draw COUNCIL’S attention to all this in the hope that in both this case and more generally " the Mayor, Councillors, senior management, the Minister, and the member for Launceston” might address the issue in some way rather than handball it to management; and

  13. I did so in the public’s interest and in good faith albeit in this case I was totally unaware that the euphemism “Lord Mayor of The Mall” actually referred to the proprietor of the “ Coffee Republic” and civic activist; and

  15. The email was also addressed to “Contact Us” on the advice of the Council Secretary some time ago to ensure that “Records”  ensured that all the appropriate people receive the correspondence and address it despite any disinclination not to; and 

  17. I assumed that the correspondence would be handled professionally ‘in-house’ as I had experienced such correspondence being handled whilst I working as project officer in the Minister for the Arts office; and

  19. I did this in good faith to ensure that I was communicating with ’the Council' as effectively as I might; and

  21. I did not distribute the email beyond those to whom it was addressed given that once I’d received a response, and/or if I did not receive a response,  I’d be able to share that, as is my normal practice; however

  23. Life intervened, I was involved in a relatively serious accident, I was hospitalised as a result, and I was unaware of the Mayor’s correspondence re this intention to litigate, until quite very recently.

  25. Even so, as a consequence of his claim of defamation, I continue to manage my discomfort and pain via MINDFULNESS/GRAPHICS as an alternative to medication.

Reading the documentation from Matthew Garwood he apparently harbours a belief that email ’to councillors et al’ was a “newsletter”  to my network etc. which is NOT THE CASE. Yes, the graphic was expressed in the vernacular and reflective of the way I came to be aware of the incident in the mall. YES, that was aimed at winning the attention of the councillors et al given that typically this type of community response is made light of. I might have expressed all this differently, but I didn’t. The email was not signed by me and attributed to "OUTRAGED RATEPAYERS!” of which I was among others, and I can only assume the email was traced back to me via my IP address. And yes, there was a confidential conversation with someone in the i43 group but with no-one beyond that.

For context: I made the decision to post from Institute 43 to isolate this matter from my other research correspondence. I did this because my other alternative was to frame the issue in the context of a QUESTION ON NOTICE but those questions, from experience, are typically answered by ‘executive personnel’ and are not all that often drawn to Councillors’ attention if management deems that to be appropriate. It seemed to me to be a matter for Councillors rather than management.

At all times I have expressed my intention to apologise for the way I expressed myself and initially informally. AND via yourself I have attempted to apologise, and Matthew Garwood has rejected all my attempts so far as I am aware.

As best as I can recall this contextualises my addressing the email to ‘Contact Us’ along with all others, and the circumstances under which I sent the email. Moreover, for context, despite ‘Council’s and some Councillors’ displeasure’ I have used Launceston’s governance as a case study in ‘PLACEDNESS’  ,  albeit with my effort oftentimes being characterised as, "perverse, weird, a waste of time,  academic nonsense" and more still. Also, since the mid 1990s my 'art practice’ for the most part has shifted away from studio practice with financial support from various sources.

 This city/place has been my HOMEplace for more than half of my life and ’Town Hall’ is a convenient ‘case study’ at the bottom of the hill I live on.   I have never hidden this, and I put in the effort to assemble a body of information that MAY go some way at some time in developing new or expanded understandings of ‘placedness’ – and in a rhizomatic context. 

It is what it is, and I make no apologies. I admit to being antithetic to TOPdown administrative structures on the evidence that ultimately, they fail or falter and this REFERENCE may assist in contextualising this. 

I harbour no malice whatsoever toward Matthew Garwood personally as in a research, context or any indeed any other context,  there is no utility whatsoever in doing so. Rather, I see him along with 'all councillors' as players in the exercise of ‘placemaking’ in the ‘place’ where I live. Nonetheless, I am unashamedly antithetic towards opaque and unaccountable governance and administration, and here in Local Govt, no matter how it dresses itself. 

As a diabolical , protracted, and dystopic WW3 seems to be a real possibility, governance wherever will dress itself ideologically and that is the dystopia we live in , and it is what it is until there is change. Consistent with this I believe that I have consistently worked as member of ‘my place/s’ community, and transparently so – moreover as an engaged member of its Community of Ownership and Interest (COI) – not as stakeholder who invested in or who has ‘investors' the city/place. Indeed, attempting to test and interrogate understanding relative to COI – cognitive ownerships & interests relative to ‘place' – is a fundamental element of my research effort.

So, what evidence do I need offer now in order to make this case? How might I preset such evidence?  These are the questions I struggle with and consequently I seek your advice. Developing a chronology has been difficult to say the least.  This has taken me several days and it has been extraordinarily hard work under the circumstances albeit that I'm handling my health issues and living situation while better it is depleted … everything is relative.

I apologise for this somewhat long ‘missive’ but I find myself unable condense all this into a telegram. 

Regards,

Ray


From: Ross Hart <ross.hart@rosshartlaw.com.au>
Date: Friday, 6 March 2026 at 9:21 am
To: Ray Norman <raynorman7250@gmail.com>
Subject: Re: City of Launceston - Automated Response

Yes I understand. However your email was marked for attention of named persons. 

From: Ray Norman <raynorman7250@gmail.com>
Sent: Friday, March 6, 2026 9:15:08 AM
To: Ross Hart <ross.hart@rosshartlaw.com.au>
Subject: FW: City of Launceston - Automated Response
 

Good morning,

I’ve previously corresponded with Fintan.Langan-Clark on strategic planning and I am seeking his personal confidential response should he wish to offer one. Consequently, I have sought his response and I’ve emailed him accordingly. I respect his ‘personal’ understandings, and I see no good reason to go beyond that at this time.

Given all that, it has been said about the significance of my including “Contact Us” in my correspondence when I emailed Councillors et al in the deflation matter. Perhaps this MAY be an indication that it is just not possible to communicate in confidence with Councillors et al at Town Hall given that ‘Records’ routinely filters all Council email correspondence. 

This may or may not be of interest in regard to my matter with the Mayor but you will have formed an opinion no doubt.

Further to that I’m going through my records for relevant information in regard discovery. I think I need some advice on what I really need to be looking for as I’m not making much progress.

In addition I’ve set up a Facebook group – https://www.facebook.com/groups/4185231235021806 –  and  I’ve revived an old unused site upon which to provide references to people in the network/s I’ve been drawing on in arriving at various understandings relevant ‘placedness’. The URL for that is https://theagency7250.blogspot.com/ and I just think that you should know this and that for me it has utility.

Ray


From: Ray Norman <raynorman7250@gmail.com>
Date: Thursday, 5 March 2026 at 9:31 am
To: Ray Norman <raynorman7250@gmail.com>
Subject: FW: City of Launceston - Automated Response

FOR THE RECORD
From: Contact Us <contactus@launceston.tas.gov.au>
Date: Thursday, 5 March 2026 at 8:56 am
To: Ray Norman <raynorman7250@gmail.com>
Subject: City of Launceston - Automated Response

Thank you for making contact with the City of Launceston.

This automated response is to confirm that your email has been received.

Your correspondence will be allocated to the appropriate team or officer.

For any further queries in regard to your email, please email contactus@launceston.tas.gov.au or contact our Customer Service Team on 03 6323 3000.

 

For after-hours emergencies involving Council facilities call 03 6323 3333.

For after-hours emergency dog attacks call Tasmania Police on 131 444.For stray or lost dogs, please see our Stray Dogs page.

For emergency help in a flood or storm call the State Emergency Service on 132 500.

For emergency help during a fire please call 000 - for non-emergency enquiries please call 1800 000 699.

In a life-threatening emergency call Triple Zero (000).

 

City of Launceston

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FOR THE RECORD

From: Ray Norman <raynorman7250@gmail.com>
Date: Thursday, 5 March 2026 at 8:55 am
To: Fintan.Langan-Clark <fintan.langan-clarke@launceston.tas.gov.au>
Subject: Personal & Confidential ... Research Questions

Dear Mr Langan-Clark,

Apropos previous conversations relative to strategic planning issues may I draw your attention to posts that are being considered by myself and others looking towards making a submission to ‘government’. Here are the relevant links:


The question hanging is … what are the primary inhibitors preventing local governance from proactively planning for the incremental withdrawal from planning to rely upon THEgrid in housing development/s?

This a link to an online seminar ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sj20DWY87ks … given its date and subject might you have a comment relevant to Tasmania/Launceston?

Any response you may wish to make will be greatly appreciated and treated with absolute confidential respect!

Regards,

Ray Norman

Polemicist, Cultural Producer, 

Cultural Geographer, Researcher



The lifestyle design enterprise and research network 

 PH: 0488 011 376 

eMAIL: raynorman7250@gmail.com 

40 Delamere Cres Trevallyn TAS 7250

WEBsites: http://www.raynorman7250.blogspot.com

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Consultant


https://raynorman7250.blogspot.com/p/zingconsult.html

 

https://notrubbish.blogspot.com/

I​ acknowledge the First Peoples – the Traditional Owners of the lands where we live and work, and recognise their continuing connection to land, water and community. I pay respect to Elders – past, present and emerging – and acknowledge the important role Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people continue to play within the research zingHOUSEunlimited undertakes

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