Now a lot of the young ones have different ideas about where Camden is headed, where they want it to head and how long they want it to take to get there.

Not long ago I was chatting to a young guy and he had been admiring the bank building on Argyle Street. He reflected: ``How bad will it be if no one sees this building because it's just too overcrowded with angry traffic?''

He was referring to overgrown Argyle Street but I think he was alluding to something far deeper about our community.

We live in a place that is lucky enough to have the rich heritage of an old country town mixed in with flourishing innovations (I'm thinking of the wonderfully refurbished Camden library) and I don't think we young ones forget about this good fortune.

It's easy to generalise, as many do, about the new generation and their flagrant disregard for history and heritage, for hard work and ambition.

But if you were to look closely at the twentysomethings who live around here (yes, even the ones waiting for the taxis that never show at 3am on Argyle Street), you will see people who really care about the state of affairs in this town.

Tara Riley is one example of such a young person.

She has lived here all her life and has strong views on differing issues the area has faced.

I spoke to Tara during Youth Week about her views on planning and the general state of Camden and its community. She spoke with a fervent intelligence about the roads in and out Camden and how they were likely to fail beneath the fast growing population.

She cared so much about the minute details of Camden, like the boutiques and bakeries.

I had often run into her out and about after hours. She always seemed nice but to think she was such a passionate and proud citizen was very reassuring.

Tara left Camden this week to serve in the Australian Navy. That's pretty impressive.

She will be missed by many but her lovely father Jim is still in town and he is as proud a citizen as any.