Letters To The Editor
The umpire strikes back
I write with reference to an article (Echo, Nov 4) written by your sporting columnist titled 'Umpire gets the finger from players', and on behalf of my members take umbrage at the report as published.
Any publicity, whether good or bad, is better than none at all and cricket photographs showing umpires at their work, albeit in the background, is always welcome.
Umpires are trained to be fair at all times and regardless of what happens on the field he, the umpire, will not please everyone all the time.
However, the headline and the report mentioned leaves a lot to be desired.
Your reporter only painted a picture from the Workers captain, Les McGuire, and gave his comments. What about the opposing captain from Norths-Goonellabah?
Les McGuire, as captain of Workers Club, does have the opportunity to report on umpires. If he was disgruntled, as he apparently was, in your reporter's words "ropeable", then he needed to only look at what and why things happened as they did. He did not need to blame the umpire for all that happened on that day. From enquiries made by the Lismore District Cricket Association secretary, I believe that he (the umpire) only had to adjudicate on four dismissals that afternoon. That leaves a lot of wickets to account for.
No! It just isn't on. Workers captain Les McGuire should look at the inept performance of his players; their inexperience at this level and their inability to apply themselves to the task at hand, ie bat out time, albeit less that two hours.
Team captains submit a report on all umpires at the conclusion of each match. So far no such report or complaint has been received from Les McGuire or the Workers Club. In many cases these reports can be misleading. Winning captains can give an umpire a glowing report while the losing captain can be just the opposite.
No mention was made that Workers Club still retained their first innings points despite being beaten outright.
Norths-Goonellabah did not send Workers "back in" as intimated. More than two hours of play remained and it was Workers' turn to bat again if the match was to continue.
No mention was made that Workers did not have the services of their best two batsmen thus far this season. Wes Koskela and Mat Legge both scored runs in the first innings but were absent on Representative duties on the second day. They were replaced by lower grade players on this day.
I refute your claim about the low score being a Club and Association record across all grades. A check of Association records could reveal some very interesting facts and figures. There are many other comments in your columnist's report that are not in the best interests of responsible reporting.
It would be better to leave out the comments and have them taken to the respective associations or councils who I believe are well aware of any problems that could arise. Regular meetings are held for this purpose.
If your columnist so desires, my Association conducts regular umpire training and examinations for Far North Coast and State Badges and for Australian Cricket Board Accreditation and he is welcome to attend and learn the finer points of this great game of ours.
It is so easy for players, ex-players and parents to sit on the fence and give the man in the middle the works when things do not suit them or their teams.
I trust that in future your columnist will not only sign his name to the published reports, but make it his business to seek out all sides of any story he wishes to write.
As for Workers Club, they need not worry, as your report has hastened another umpire to put his counter away and call time on a career that has spanned over 600 matches. He will fill in as a lower grade umpire when it suits.
Trusting such reports and headlines will not appear without more thought in future issues.
Charlie Stewart
President
FNC Cricket Umpires Association Inc
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The sports editor, Laurie Axtens, responds:
I was unaware that it was my responsibility to censor the opinions of captains and players, especially when the Umpire's Association president feels free to describe a team as "inept". As someone who also plays and umpires grade cricket, I am aware of the issues you raise, and have utmost respect for the efforts of umpires. However, as the opening paragraph indicates, both sides expressed their dissatisfaction to this writer. Decency and discretion limited the comments published.
With regards to your comment that "no mention was made that Workers Club still retained their first innings points", the second paragraph of my report ends "and Workers had snatched their first win of the season", which did exactly that.
You are right in your assertion that 13 all-out is not an Association record, although it is an all-grade Workers Club record. It seems Northern Districts fourth grade were bowled out for 5 in the 1962-3 season.
Arrested development
The re-arrest of Mordecai Vanunu by the Israeli Government for the crime of whistle blowing on Israel's secret nuclear weapons plant shows how eager the government is to eliminate its opposition.
The arrest follows immediately in the wake of Arafat's mysterious death, which many Palestinians believe was caused by poisoning.
Vanunu first revealed evidence in 1986 after realising that his work was part of a nuclear bombs program, and discovered that Israel had material for 200 advanced nuclear warheads. He was released in April 2004 after 18 years in prison and has now suddenly been re-arrested. With Arafat gone and Bush re-elected, one wonders what the Sharon-Bush duo has in store for the Arab world.
Jillian Watt
Mullumbimby
Mooney remains
At the close of the American Civil War, the war between the states, many veterans of that terrible conflict travelled to all parts of the globe. With the discovery of gold in Australia, some of these men came out here. They found work, married, raised families and were buried here. The graves of 214 American Civil War veterans have been located around Australia.
The reason I write this letter is because one of these veterans is buried in the old Church of England section of the Casino cemetery. His name is Charles Mooney, who lived on a farm at Mobil County, Alabama. He enlisted and served in Company C-4th Alabama reserves Confederate Forces. After the war he arrived in Australia and took up farming in the Casino district. He married a Margaret Mooney, most likely a cousin, and died in 1903. About 12 months ago Margaret Hendersen, in her weekly column in The Northern Star, wrote of the Mooney sisters in Casino. These two ladies arranged Charles Mooney's burial. The American Legion, Post No. 1 in Sydney (which I am a member of) wishes to upgrade his grave with a plaque inscribed with name, rank, service etc. However, before we can do this, Casino Council needs written permission from Charles Mooney's nearest relative. I know there is a great nephew living in Sydney. However, I would appreciate if there are any relations still around this district who can give me the information needed. My address is 45 Highfield Road, Kyogle, 2474. Phone 6632 1679.
Frank Finch
Kyogle
History repeats
Elaine and Geoff Smith's letter titled 'UnChristian' (Echo, Nov 11) is a perfect example of demonising those of another faith such as Islam. This is normally a Christian response by modern day Christians who think they are the only ones who have the "true faith," having no idea of their own faith's dark history, when one was tortured and burnt at the stake for blasphemy.
Jim Lee
Alstonville
Children's future
With the sadness, disillusionment and disbelief of the result of both the Australian and US elections comes a bright light of optimism for the future with the opening of the of the Natural Birth Education Centre at Lindendale.
Dedicated to producing the most loving, caring environment for our babies as they come into the world, the centre is doing its bit for the future of our planet. Certainly a lot more than our re-elected leaders who must have had traumatic births followed by violent upbringing, going on the way they try to solve world problems.
The 300 or so that came along to the opening were taken on a tour of the 20-acre haven for kids and parents. A highlight was the synchronised swimming display of mothers and babies. The centre has one of Australia's foremost experts on teaching babies to be water safe - floating before they can walk!
It was great to experience the loving atmosphere of the children, mothers, dads, grandparents and the centre itself. Particularly in a time when so much of our lives have become fear and dollar driven. The centre is a non-profit organisation dedicated to empowering women so they have options in the birth of their child.
Stuart Gibbons
Goonellabah
What a jester
Re: Playing Politics (Echo, Nov 11). John Barnes' letter really made me chuckle, though I personally would have preferred the Prime Ministership!
But he fell short of naming posts for the likes of G Wallace, who maybe could be Minister for Hate, and Tom Murdoch, Minister for Sycophancy. And of course last but not least Barnes himself, as Court Jester.
Have a nice day all you second class Americans.
Michael Mizzi
Tabulam
Cabinet makers
John Barnes proposal for a new government comprising members of our local elite is a splendid idea (Echo, Nov 11) and I believe a few additions could further strengthen this already impressive line-up.
Among this crowd, immigration would be far too important to be left solely to one person, even one as competent as Cloud. So Cherie Imlah, Lynda Smith, Christine McNamara, Elaine Smith and Bobbi Allan would all be joint Immigration Ministers.
Michael Mizzi is far too talented to be just the Minister for Agriculture so I propose a second super portfolio with him being referred to as the "Information Minister" as there is not one subject out there that he doesn't have an expert opinion on.
Byron activist Gareth Smith would be in charge of homeland security. We could then stop worrying about issues like terrorism, defence or even crime. Instead we could focus on the most pressing issue, ie making a citizens arrest of John Howard should he ever decide to visit this area.
As Anthony Mundine belongs to two minority groups, being both an Aborigine and a Muslim, he would be the ideal candidate for the Governor General.
All governments should have a jester, so Tom 'Kooky' Koo would head a new Anti-American portfolio; Margo Kingston would be Minister for Sour Grapes and Jenni Oliver would be the Anti-Everything Minister.
BP Carr as Finance Minister could develop new trade and strategic alliances with enlightened nations like Syria, Iran, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Cuba and the Palestinian government, and we could then unite in denouncing America. Our new friends could also share their views on human rights and how to avoid those unfortunate acts of democracy from happening ever again.
It is customary for new governments to blame all problems on the previous administration, and our experts have had years honing their skills blaming Howard for everything, so the transition to government shouldn't be too difficult.
In order to reduce greenhouse emissions, Parliament would be held at a local cafe, possibly Caddies, with an endless supply of lattes on hand for those all night sessions and Michael Balderstone could even bring along his magic weed. Won't it be wonderful?
Tom Murdoch
Lismore
Mouths of babes
Having just read Michael Qualmann's letter (Echo, Nov 11) I agree, entirely, with his sentiments.
I would like to add three pertinent quotations. The first is from Lord Acton (1834-1902) "Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely". The second and third are from Hitler (1889-1945) "The broad mass of a nation... will more easily fall victim to a big lie than a small one" and "I go the way that Providence dictates with the assurance of a sleepwalker".
It seems as if the first quotation was made for the other two and if that is so then as Michael infers the end of this decade will be interesting. We must have a strong, united opposition otherwise we will fall into a political vacuum caused by indifference.
Oscar Wilde (1854-1900) pointed out that "Democracy means simply the bludgeoning of the people by the people for the people".
How right he was!
Ian Gray
Ballina
Independent Speaker
The notion that an "Independent" Speaker can be appointed by either major party controlling Australia's two-party tyranny is simply ludicrous. In the much glorified but seriously flawed Westminster system that person must be an elected MP representing the government party. In reality this could be done much better. If Australians want an Independent Speaker that should be a person who is not a politician, has no party commitments, has demonstrated chairing skills and is acceptable to both major parties at least. Once Australians discover how well that works they could then commence finding Ministers who are not elected politicians, a practice common to all non-Westminster systems - the overwhelming majority of parliamentary systems. Wake up Australia!
Klaas Woldring
Pearl Beach
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