Letters To The Editor

A whiff of hypocrisy

There was a nice irony in timing when the furore over Japan's plan to extend whale killing blew up during 'Beef Week'.

Unaware that we were celebrating the wholesale mass-slaughter of another mammal, a Japanese reader of the Sydney Morning Herald hit the ethical nail on the head (SMH 27/05) and wrote: "For the most part, Japanese people find it difficult to understand why eating a whale is ethically any different to eating sheep, pigs, horses or cattle."

Maybe it's worth asking how we justify the slaughter of one mammal for food but protest the slaughter of another (vegetarians needn't answer that question)?

It can't be because a whale's bigger than a cow - we obviously condemn the killing of a small human being as strongly as that of a big person. Size is ethically irrelevant.

Nor can it be that a whale's more beautiful or majestic. Nobody would agree that ugly people can be killed but pretty ones spared. Appearance is ethically irrelevant.

Maybe it's sympathy, because whales were almost hunted to extinction. But if a whale species can now survive and not be threatened by culling, does any good reason remain for it not to be responsibly harvested for food if people want to eat its meat?

Now, before all those whale lovers start calling for me to be culled, let me make my point. I'm implacably against commercial whaling and I'll fight to have it stopped.

But I smell hypocrisy when people campaign to stop whales being harvested for food, if that can be done without endangering the species, and then go away to munch on beefsteak, lamb loin or pork chops.

I may of course be wrong. Perhaps someone can teach me the difference? If against the one, why aren't you logically compelled to be against the other?

Lee Andresen
Ballina

Labor pains

Re: Margo Kingston's Political Comment (Echo, May 26).

I was moved by your column this week. Mungo's articles indicate that he is in survival mode. Yours is a real "fire-in-the-belly" statement. I sense a great deal of frustration about the fact that "Howard's Way" goes unchallenged. You call on the public to take a more active role in the political life of this country. You say the vast majority are just spectators. I don't think you have a chance in hell of changing that but surely we should expect our Federal Labor representatives to get out of the stalls and start fighting. I no longer have my radio in my face all day hoping to hear some semblance of opposition to the continual "aren't we great" diatribe that the Government is able to get media coverage for. Even so, just this week, I heard Johnny Boy get away with two unchallenged "advertisements" for the next elections. First, he said that the Immigration Department is only doing what the Australian people expect it to do, and, secondly, when being queried about his new Industrial Relations Bill and his unwillingness to guarantee that no one would be worse off, he said, "I stand by my record" including an 11 per cent wage rise in real terms since coming to office.

I have not heard one word from the Labor Party to discredit these statements. I don't have the resources that I'm sure the Labor Party must have but I could certainly muster a few arguments that would blow these assertions out of the water. When are they going to get off their bums?

Paul Pratt
East Ballina

Shameful 1

Re: Shame on you (Echo, May 26).

And shame on you Allan O'Neill for your cruel and ignorant comments on the unemployed.

Perhaps you would like to tell them where the jobs are supposed to be.

The few jobs that do come up have up to 60 people applying for them.

I can assure you the unemployed don't live in the lap of luxury on the pittance they are given.

Darcy McKee
Alstonville

Shameful 2

Re: Shame on you (Echo, May 26).

So, the sight of young people meeting in public whose appearance doesn't meet your approval should be thrown off the dole and left to live on the streets, according to you Mr O'Neill.

Over the years I have never observed such gullibility towards Howard's propaganda campaign against the unemployed. For example, the unemployed are a tax burden on working Australians, and you Mr O'Neill are one of the many naïve and misguided that have fallen for it.

Don't you realise that the majority of unemployed can't afford to live in Ballina. Here's a reality check! The fortnightly benefit would be lucky to cover one week's rent in some places, and to think young unemployed could afford a car or motorbike on top of living expenses is ludicrous. I would be surprised if there are any unemployed left in Ballina at all.

Don't you know that in recent years there has been a property boom in your area? Many wealthy people have bought homes and businesses here, bringing their belongings and teenagers with them. Maybe they don't need the dole! However you Mr O'Neill assume "young males and females who hang around shopping centers and arcades don't work and are all on the dole". How do you know they are not working? Have you asked them? Furthermore, these young people (or anyone for that matter) should be able to put an earring, nose ring, or whatever ring, in any ring, where ever they like without your criticism!

If there is any shame to be handed out it should be towards your attitude!

Shame, shame, shame on you Mr O'Neill.

P Robotham
Goonellabah

The politics of reform

We live in such uncertain times. War, global poverty, environmental catastrophe and increasing political and social change. John Howard's proposals for workplace reforms and award condition changes will only further destabilise the Australian community. According to a survey done for the unions, 64 per cent of those polled believed the changes will reduce job security and 82 per cent are worried about a decline in collective bargaining. Howard responded by denying that the poll had "much veracity." Of course, this is typical Howard speak, just as he said he would not be swayed by public opinion before invading Iraq. Australians have good reason to be worried. The whole balance of worker employer relations has already moved massively in favour of the employer over the last two decades. People are working much longer hours than ever before, taking up, in overtime alone, about 500,000 full time jobs. Youth unemployment has crept back up to 25 per cent. Many rural regions in Australia have high unemployment. Those on the dole are labelled as "bludgers" and are now to be subject to more intensive work tests. The evidence speaks for itself. Before the elections, the Government gave no tax cuts to income earners below $50,000 and after the Budget a lousy $6 a week to lower income earners, which hardly covers rising petrol prices. The Government treats Australians with absolute contempt, and lies upon lies to achieve its political ends. Recently, the respected social researcher Hugh Mackay addressed the federal Labor's backbench social welfare committee (reported in the SMH, May 28, p 39).

Some interesting observations he had made were that there was increasing talk about "the need to restore balance." People are concerned and are seeking answers. His most telling point: "...they (the people showing leadership on change) have become our most tribal generation having realised our most precious resource for coping with an uncertain world is each other." My conclusions: All Australians need to work together to build a better, safer society. These industrial reforms will destroy trust in the workplace and cannot possibly be in the interests of either employer or employee. After this coming July, the Government will control both houses of Parliament. Australia, be more than just alert and be very, very alarmed.

John Jessup
Lismore

Where is the justice?

There has been a huge public outrage about Schapelle Corby¹s imprisonment and sentencing in Bali recently.

Not surprising, as it seems highly unlikely anyone would actually try and smuggle marijuana into Bali - rather reminiscent of an ultra optimistic salesman, setting off to sell refrigerators in Antarctica! As if!

Marijuana was found in Schapelle¹s luggage, she was charged, went to court and is now hoping to appeal against her sentence. Support for her is pouring in from all over Australia.

But what about the 200+ refugees imprisoned in Australian detention centres? What is their crime? Why are some of them still being 'detained' more than five years after their arrival on our shores?

They came seeking sanctuary. They have not been charged with any crimes. They have no idea if they will ever be released. Where is the justice or humanity in these long-term imprisonments?

Why is there is so little public outcry for this kind of injustice?

The only real reason so far given for the long detentions is as a deterrent to stop other refugees from landing here. Have we so little compassion we can't offer sanctuary?

Wishing you all the luck in the world Schapelle! At least the Australian public cares enough for you to have some hope.

Lina Eve
Cawongla

Nimbin history lost

About a week ago there was a fire that destroyed a house on the outskirts of Nimbin. One person lost his life, another lost all her worldly possessions, and Nimbin lost a bit of history. For it was in that house years ago that the Aquarius Festival was planned and executed. For it was in that house the organising committee of the AUS (Aust Union of Students) rented and lived while organising the logistics of the festival that was going to change the North Coast forever. There were hippies already living around Mullumbimby at the time, but the festival provided youth throughout Australia with a toehold in the Rainbow Region. A large contingent of students, hippies and wanderers came to the festival and many stayed, creating a magnet for others to come. These new settlers quickly established themselves in houses and communes and then worked with the bureaucrats of Sydney to amend the laws so that multiple occupancy could take place. They started experimenting with alternative energy (that's how Rainbow Power Co was born), vegetarianism and whole foods, self-sufficiency, organic farming, natural birth, food co-ops, natural healing, yoga, tai chi, and environmental activism (where the first successful blockade to save the rainforest of Australia took place). All things that today seem mainstream but back 30 years ago were weird and foreign.

Tlaloc Tokuda
Rosebank (currently in India)

Guilty as charged

Did you see the cute little pink-clad figure of Naomi Leong as she played in the park on her first day of freedom from Villawood? Did you see how radiant her mother looked? Did you not feel just a little guilty and ashamed that our elected government had kept them behind razorwire for the past three years?

Didn't it make you feel proud of our mandatory detention policy? Introduced by Labor and enforced without compassion by the Coalition. Both Howard and Beazley have to wear this one.

Departmental officials will be blamed. These wrongful detentions will be their fault. Vanstone won't be guilty (and why isn't Ruddock copping some of this flack?) and it won't surprise if that miserable little Howard announces that, like Manuel in Fawlty Towers, he 'knew nothing'. At least some of his MPs are displaying the guts to let him know that the race card he's been playing since Tampa is losing its appeal and changes must be made.

The stains left behind by the White Australia Policy are still visible in the way this Government treats people. God help you if you're coloured or look Asian or speak with an accent. Even a passport mightn't save you. The original inhabitants off this land are still battling discrimination and having to negotiate for basic human rights.

I'd like to feel confident that little Naomi will get the opportunity to grow up in this country as a fully-fledged Australian citizen without the threat of deportation hanging over her head. But with the Howard Government you could never be sure, could you?

Barry Walsh
Lismore

Definitive justice

Definition of fairness and justice: Schapelle 20 years (and innocent), Bali bomber mastermind four years.

Drug trafficking effecting tourism: worth 20 years in prison.

Killing 188 people, injuring many more, effecting tourism: worth four years in prison.

One billion dollars accepted from Australia in aid. Millions from the Australian people for the tsunami appeal. Australian medical and military and volunteer assistance post tsunami and earthquake.

John Howard asking Australians to accept international law in regards to an innocent women being jailed for 20 years. John Howard breaking international law to invade another country.

Australia does have a right to decide, persuade, boycott and be angry.

Nathan Tremain
Lismore

Victims of greed

Schapelle Corby is a victim of prohibition and greed.

Whether she did or did not bring the marijuana to Indonesia is not important. The fact is, when anything is prohibited, the supply is restricted and demand dictates price. The more demand, the higher the price, the more greed. Someone put the marijuana in the bag for purposes of greed and Schapelle is going to jail for it.

If Schapelle had been arrested for possession of 4.1 kilos of marijuana in NSW she would have gone to jail for a very long time. No prison is managed by humanitarians nor are the residents humanitarians. All prisons are terrible places to be and rehabilitation is certainly not a priority. Why don't our politicians offer QC's to represent the people arrested for marijuana in our own country instead of building new prisons to house the marijuana drug offenders?

While this very emotive incident is vivid in your minds, please consider, do you want your children or grandchildren to go to jail for possession of marijuana? If not, write to your newspaper editors, politicians and anyone else that will listen, and start the changes to draconian laws so your own loved ones don't become victims as well.

Michael Wright
Mt Nardi

How annoying

I'm wearing my 'Cranky Old Bugger' hat today, so here goes for a bit of whinging.

Not in any order of annoyance, the following things discomfort me.

More and more presenters on "My ABC" are using the word "time" far too often. Instead of "we will bring you such and such in a few minutes", they add the word "time". One afternoon presenter frequently says "in a few moments time" three or four times over one minutes "time" or less.

Another thing that annoys me is describing a certain number of people as an "amount of people". To me the word amount describes how much dirt, rubbish, rain, flour, sugar or salt, for instance. By the way, I was very pleased to see, once again, the large number of school children marching in Lismore, (and I hear in other places) on Anzac Day.

I went to school (but often had to work) during the depression, so I can't claim to know much about the construction of phrases or paragraphs, but I noticed many speakers, including those on the ABC, quite often use the singular, followed by the plural, like "there is many instances of this."

Doug Myler
Lismore Heights

Home for Evans

The Heritage listing of the Evans Head Memorial Aerodrome is a very worthwhile project; however, it should not be at the cost of losing the proposed Evans Head Aged Care Home.

What is the point in honouring the past when we neglect and forget our aged men and women who were part of this past? Our aged ex-service men and women, war widows and our aged civilians deserve the best we can provide for them.

I agree and still support the Heritage listing of the Evans Head Memorial Aerodrome, but I do not support it as the expense of the Aged Care Home.

There is tremendous support for the home in Evans Head and most residents are confident both can co-exist.

Some of the most important needs for Evans Head are health, aged care and jobs. The home will provide all of these.

It is proposed the home be built on the south side of the Aerodrome facing Currajong Street. This area has been fenced off from the main body of the Aerodrome for years. It was to be developed for housing. It does not impinge on any of the existing runways or any proposed use in the future.

The opposition is being driven by a small hard-core of members of the Aerodrome committee, most of whom do not live in Evans Head. It should also be mentioned that a very few have been in the services.

The airport has been derelict for many years. Reviving it would be a bit like raising Lazarus from the dead. Finding money for the grand plans of the Aerodrome committee would be a bit like turning water into wine.

I just wonder who on the committee is going to perform these miracles.

Let us all be positive for the future use of the Aerodrome and move forward together.

Francis JM McKey
Evans Head

Councillor challenge

I have always had the desire to be a councillor on Lismore City Council. Now that I have retired I now announce publicly that I will be a candidate in the next Lismore City elections.

I ask all councillors now that they are considering next year's budget to seriously consider waiving all fees and charges for ground hire in the Lismore district for all junior sport. The cost in fees reduction would be in the order of approx. $120-$130 thousand dollars a year, and this Council is in a good financial position to wear this.

Reason:

• Lismore City Council is owned by the community and people already pay their rates both direct and indirect;
• Assists single income families to all be able to play sport;
• Assists one parent families;
• Gives opportunity for all the family, parents and children, to be able to play sport;
• Playing sport helps to reduce boredom;
• Helps to create friends and mateship and can also lead to future employment; and
• Assists sporting clubs with financial burdens and allows them to expand and upgrade their facilities, which will benefit Lismore City Council anyway.

In saying all that, Lismore Council has a surplus of approx $319,000 in this financial year, and it would be nice to see Council put back the money, approx $107,000, that was re-directed out of the LDSA (Lismore & District Sports Association) reserves for work that was not related to sports activities in the 03-04 budget year and complete the projects that were to be undertaken in the 03-04 year.

At the last LDSA meeting the committee was asked to put in a priority order the four projects to be completed, which they have done.

1. Irrigation at Hepburn Park.
2. Lights and drainage at Riverview Park.
3. Upgrade canteen at Oakes Oval.
4. Complete the traffic barriers at Nesbitt Park.

At the moment there are not enough funds to commence No 1 and No 2, but with the 03-04 money No 1 and No 2 can be completed immediately if Council were to put back the re-directed money.

Laurie Cooper
Tregeagle

Forestry agreement farce

As an ex long-term resident of the Northern Rivers, now temporarily residing in Tasmania, I just wanted to let readers know how farcical the new Tasmanian Forestry Agreement is.

Forestry Tasmania managing director Evan Rolley has challenged the Greens to produce scientific evidence to back up their claims that clump harvesting would cause more damage than clear-felling. It won't. It is exactly the same process with a new name which results in just as many trees being cut down and turned into woodchips.

Also, my mainlander friends, do not be deceived by Tasmania's "green image".

Wildlife here is being decimated by the use of 1080 poison and Atrazine, which is a known carcinogen and is regularly sprayed on new areas of plantation forest. Despite this no one has started testing Tasmanian Devils for chemical residues, when quite clearly the facial tumour disease could be linked to any or all of the above poisons. I was astonished to discover the 1080 poison is used to kill any wildlife that wanders into areas recently replanted. Haven't they heard of fences?

Richard Eaves
Tasmania

A principled approach

While I am not in favour of personal fluoride use, others are free to use fluoride when they brush their teeth, drink Coke or wherever they choose to get their supply. But I am against putting fluoride in our public water supply, because public water systems are supposed to supply pure drinkable water to the public.

There is a big difference between chlorinating water, which is now being done, and fluoridating water, which is being proposed. We put chlorine in the water to purify the water. It is a chemical that treats the water. We put fluoride in the water to carry it into our bodies. Fluoride does not treat the water, but instead uses water as a carrier. Artificially adding fluoride sets a new legal precedent on the use of public water systems. We will be drugged unwillingly.

What is the harm if we start to use water to carry drugs? If water is used as a carrier for fluoride, what other non-purifying drugs could water carry in the future? Who will determine what is put in the water in the future? Fluoride today, what tomorrow?

Adding fluoride to water is not the same as adding iodine to salt, Vitamin D to milk or vitamins to enriched bread. I can get salt without iodine, make my own bread and eliminate milk from my diet. But this is water, a daily universal requirement for life.

We need to be cautious in this area of mass fluoridation. It is difficult to know what future liabilities will exist for present decisions. Will government agencies take any responsibility for future problems? I think not!

I have not raised any of the specific health arguments against fluoridation because my point doesn't involve health issues, though they do exist - en masse! This is subject for another letter.

If all the health claims against fluoridation were false, my point would still stand: mass fluoridation changes the purpose of public water systems and the principle of supplying pure water to the public. Public fluoridation sets a dangerous new legal precedent.

The reduction of cavities is a worthwhile goal, but with safer, more effective and cost-efficient ways to accomplish this, why use mass fluoridation and bring on the negative consequences? The rejection of mass fluoridation is not a rejection of good dental health. It is just saying we don't want mass "medication" (or poisoning).

We need to take more personal responsibility for our actions. The healthy foundation of society requires it. And, we need to say "no way" to mass fluoridation - it's a matter of principle.

Angela Martello
East Lismore

Re: a form letter received by Senator Sandy MacDonald in my post box.

Your letter concerning tax cuts for working families is an insult to me, a single mother, and therefore one who has been discriminated against in the proposed Budget. In fact, this recent Budget has made me feel that I am not considered to be part of a family but am being punished for having brought a child into the world without a father. The proposed Budget neither acknowledges nor rewards the efforts of single parents to bring up their child(ren). Data from a recent ABS study shows that a woman works 56 hours per week after the birth of her first child, but this is not even considered in this Budget, which demands that single parents (but not married women) ###must go looking for 15 hours per week paid work or they will be penalised. Do you think this is an appropriate way for the Government to reward parenting? To me it looks as if the only parents being rewarded are those who already have enough money without Government support.

As for the working families: in this area many of the working families will receive the grand sum of $6 per week extra - big deal. However, those who are already earning big money will receive substantial tax cuts. For once, forget politics and look to your conscience and you too will find that you cannot support the proposed Budget.

Maureen McDermott
Alstonville

PS: I am not a Labor supporter but prefer to follow my conscience, which at this point in time has me voting for the Greens.

Spread a little joy

I'm just writing this because I am thoroughly disgusted with some of the nursing staff at Lismore Base Hospital.

My grandson was recently born, and when I went to visit, there just seemed to be so much tension in the whole building. It was almost as though the nursing staff were the actual mothers and didn't want any strangers near the babies.

I always thought the birth of a new baby was a happy event, but as I walked into that place, there wasn't a smile anywhere, no, not even from the real parents. What's wrong in that place? I can understand that everyone there can get really busy and stressed, but surely the finished result of the birth deserves at least a smile. My son and daughter-in-law had that much abuse and derogatory remarks directed at them it wasn't funny. I didn't take that much notice, thinking it may be because of the stress of the place, but then I looked around at the other mothers and fathers. That's when I noticed there was not a happy face anywhere.

What I don't understand is that if the job is so unpleasant for them, why are they working there, bringing everyone else down with them? Surely they can find something else to do that they like and that will give them pleasure. I'm happy having a grandson, surely you all can be pleased with yourselves knowing that you actually helped bring him (such a bundle of joy) into the world. Or are you all jealous that he's not yours? Try smiling sometimes, or will your face crack?

Nurses, get a grip on yourselves and your job and come back to reality and stop just chasing that proverbial dollar! Start taking pride in the good work you normally do because we know and have seen this in past experiences! Smile and pass on your cheerfulness! It does spread, you know!

Name and address supplied
Lismore

Cross cultural Dunoon

It seems that fine food and community cooperation have long been associated with the Public Hall in Dunoon. I am told that when the original hall burnt down the main thrust in the raising of funds to replace it came from a dedicated group of local women who were constantly involved with catering at the Lismore Show and other occasions. I have no personal experience of that period but it was brought home to me when another member of the band of valiant women was being buried recently. I am told that there are still some of that group still living in our community, but that whole chapter is a story that has yet to be told.

In more recent times the hall was the venue of some remarkable activity to raise funds for the Sports and Recreation Club. Since the clubhouse was opened more than 10 years ago I have not attended a social function in the hall till Saturday last, and that was an experience from a different culture.

We have had a Sikh family in the village for years but they have always been quite unobtrusive and retiring. I remember the two boys at the local primary school, one of whom had never had his hair cut, in the Sikh tradition. Their older sisters were always elegant and demure when seen in public, but they have grown up and left the village. There is a new generation of little ones to come through the school. We see them with their grandmother in her traditional dress.

It was only recently that I discovered that the mother of the schoolboys I remember is called Suwaryn (Swanni) Singh, and she has an acquaintance in the Punjab in dire straits, recently widowed with two young children and very little support.

The word went out that Swanni was to run a curry night in the hall to raise funds for her unfortunate friend. What a wonderful night it was. The hall was comfortably crowded. People sat at trestle tables. The food was excellent. The service was gracious, but more importantly this extended family had invited us to share something of their ancient culture.

Denis Matthews
Dunoon

In the ####Sydney Morning Heralds' News Review section last week the NSW Premier, Bob Carr, was profiled as a part of his becoming the longest serving Premier in the State's history. Ra Ra and wowie!

Carr was quoted as saying: "If I force myself to reflect on it (his record Premiership) there is the satisfaction that I delivered for the party and didn't let it down."

The journalist then goes on to say: "but his (Carrs') first thought was not for the NSW and its people, but what his long term at the top meant for his party."

Well isn't that grand! And I always thought our governments were supposed to be responsible to the ###people of the NSW electorate, not just a bunch of party flunkies in suits shuffling around bits of paper while "the party" gets merrier.

No wonder our trains, buses, roads, hospitals, schools, forests and rivers are in such a dire mess. While NSW burns, erodes and socially crumbles Carr and Co have been having a party! Pity we weren't all invited. But then why would you go?

M Mizzi
Tabulam

Double drug standard

Wednesday night we sat down to watch the Origin. Even before the game started we decided to play a little game called "Spot the XXXX". We decided that whoever saw the XXXX sign would yell out, but after the neighbours complained because of the constant noise, we decided to play "Yell out when you don't spot the XXXX sign". As you can imagine, we were very quiet during that game.

Mind you, we did have something to say when the kids came onto the field with the players and the heroes of 'yesterday's Origin'....

"What the XXXX!"... Children (pre-teens and just teens) proudly sporting the Queensland shirts, complete with drug ad paraphernalia on them... kids under 18 years old, unable to drink for themselves (whoops... sorry, that should have been 'think' for themselves. Someone else had the bright idea to adorn them with something that is illegal for them to have!). Then we decided to play the game of "See how many times the camera pans around the child to zoom in on the drug sign on his shirt". That started to get a bit noisy too, so it was good when they stopped exploiting the children and put the camera elsewhere....

But, what the XXXX? By this time the field in front of the children was adorned with maroon jerseys all sporting big drug logos!

Then we had the 'pleasure' of the camera panning all the way round the spectator part of the stadium once again with thousands of kids wearing ethanol drug logo shirts that are supposed to be about football, not advertising drugs.

Boy, would we have liked a dollar for every XXXX sign we saw in the first 30 minutes before the match!

This may be written 'tongue in cheek', but we were not impressed... ###especially when there are so many children watching the game. They all know what XXXX (and other alcohol) logos are. But the thing we were most unimpressed with was the fact that the children were allowed to wear the shirts with the XXXX logos on them!

Now, if a child wears an ethanol drug shirt, it's cute and funny, but woe betide them if they put on a shirt that has their drug's competition logo on it... the cannabis leaf.

It's no longer cute and funny, but people are horrified that they would dare put it on. People tend to forget that alcohol is also a drug and seem to think it is just a beverage no more dangerous than drinking water or a cup of tea, and not that this drug killed 4300 in one year and hospitalised 70,000, not to mention all the other horrific things people on this drug often do!

(Not that we are condoning children under 18 wearing cannabis leaves on their shirts, nor do we condone children wearing ###any drug logo on their shirt - alcohol, caffeine, cigarettes, cannabis or other drugs).

However, it really is so sad that the ethanol drug manufacturers have to resort to plastering (no pun intended) their drugs all over the field, the players and the spectators. And it's really sad that the Government allows it. What's the matter? Aren't the alcohol manufacturers selling enough drugs these days that they have to resort to so much advertising? Do they think that people don't know what alcohol is or where to get it? People still know what cigarettes are, and how to get them, even though they are not advertised these days. So sad that we have a double standard.

Jean Nentwig
Coffs Harbour

Henry family reunion

It is 200 years since the birth of John Henry in Ayrshire, Scotland, in 1805. A family reunion is being held at the Jamberoo Bowling Club on November 5-6 this year to celebrate his birth and arrival in Australia.

John and Margaret (McSeveny) Henry arrived on board the ###William Rodger on September 26, 1838, with seven children. The family settled on 'Riversdale' Jamberoo and went on to raise 13 children: Agnes 1 (Spinks), Thomas (Endeser), Ademina (Bradney), John Nelson (Graham), Bryce Nelson (Batchelor), James (McClelland), William (Batchelor), Isaac (Hewitts), Hugh (Whelan), Margaret (Sinclair), David (Hollands), Jacob (Hibel), and Agnes 2 (Rolfe). The children of John and Margaret went on to have 111 children. If you can trace your ancestry back to one of these families or would like to find out if you might, please contact brian.henry@optusnet.com.au or write to Brian N Henry, 2/7 Wandoo Place, Wagga Wagga, NSW, 2650 or call 0408 844 482. A book, Kirkoswald to Jamberoo, will be launched by the author Shirley Jurmann. Your extended family would like to meet you at Jamberoo and share information, photographs and other memorabilia.

Brian N Henry
Wagga Wagga