Letters To The Editor

How hypocritical

I might not share Allan O'Neill's opinion about what's shameful and what's not, but I'll say one thing in his favour: at least he is not pretending to be ever so enlightened and humane, as many do out there.

They pretend, even to themselves perhaps, but their reactions to unexpected events are revelations into a shallow world of hypocrisy.

Take the time when Princess Diana and Mother Theresa died in the same week. The outpouring of emotions, sympathy and attention was almost entirely directed at Diana.

You have to ask yourself why?

After all, Mother Theresa was born in a very poor family in the poorest part of Europe. Yet, she has spent her entire life working tirelessly in Calcutta, helping the orphans of India.

Diana on the other hand was born into a world of privilege and was later given even more on a silver plate. It's true that she gave support to some charities, but let's get real, how does that compare to Mother Theresa's lifetime effort of blood, sweat and tears?

But of course, Mother Theresa was old, ugly, wrinkled and a wog.

Or take 9/11 for example. Does anybody honestly think we would've had the same over-the-top, sometimes hysterical reactions, if those planes had happened to hit the twin towers of Kuala Lumpur, instead of New York?

Also, how is it possible that an Australian in a Bali jail gets all the sympathy and support of an entire nation, while another Australian is being sentenced to death in Vietnam and it barely makes the news? Or does the name Corby perhaps trigger more affection in the caste-system of the hearts than the name Wong does?

But the best, or should I say worst, example to the point I am trying to make are the people who have phoned in demanding their donations to the tsunami victims be returned because of the Corby verdict.

The sudden withdrawal of donations from the unfortunate people who desperately need it, and who have absolutely nothing to do with Corby, proves crystal clearly that the donation was not genuine to begin with. It did not come from the heart. It was not an act of compassion, but rather an act of ostentation, driven by a subconscious desire to feel superior and to have control over others.

Tom Koo
Alstonville

Traffic light decisions

K Taylor of Goonellabah (Echo, June 16) should have been at last week's Lismore Council meeting. Apparently the public exhibition of the proposal to install traffic lights at the intersection of Ballina and Diadem streets, instead of the previously approved roundabout, is nothing more than a legislative requirement - the RTA decided that traffic lights would be installed, and that's final. The public can object all they want, but the decision has already been made. The alleged public consultation process is simply a fiction, and the RTA is responsible - at least according to Council staff.

One thing becomes apparent very quickly when involved in community politics - vigilance is essential. These plans are rarely secret, and a diligent observer can spot vital information dotted through publicly accessible documents. For instance, it is not the case that the RTA called up the Council last month and told them "right, we'll have traffic lights at Diadem Street", but rather the RTA's plans have been known to Council for some time. To quote from the minutes of Council's Traffic Advisory Committee meeting of August 18 last year, item No. 2: "Mr Moorhouse [Council's city works manager] pointed out that it was already intended for traffic lights to be installed at the intersection of Ballina and Diadem streets." Other minutes I've read reveal plans for a roundabout at the intersection of Ballina and Dibbs streets.

If anyone wants to get some idea of what Council is doing I'd recommend attending Council meetings. Whilst some of the proceedings can be dead boring, you will learn a lot about how Council works, the interaction between elected councillors and Council staff, how councillors vote on particular matters, and most importantly (and something you can only get by being there), what individual councillors have to say on those matters. Ordinary meetings are advertised in The Echo, and are held on the second Tuesday of each month, usually at the Council Chambers in Goonellabah. They commence at 6pm and usually conclude by 8.30 or 9pm, but may run for longer if there are a lot of contentious issues on the agenda.

One thing I'd like to know is, given that associated roadworks had already commenced, what would have been the consequences had Council voted against the change to traffic lights?

Nick Casmirri
Wollongbar

The Wood for the trees

We will never know the true story of the events surrounding the release of Douglas Wood. Given the Federal Government's history of lies, obfuscation and deceit, it is hardly likely that its version of events is credible.

I would rather believe Sheik Taj el-Din al Hilaly's version of events in which he, as an honest broker, attempted to have Wood released. It is certain, I'm sure, that the Sheik was instrumental in keeping Wood alive, and having him moved to a place where hand over was imminent. It makes sense to assume that the Americans, with Iraqi soldiers in tow, would do their usual thing of blundering in, risking everyone's life and limb, including their own, acting on Australian intelligence which the Sheik gave to them in confidence. This assessment is not a criticism of the Iraqi soldiers who are still playing a secondary role to the Americans.

It is absolutely imperative that the Australian Government accepts that Muslims such as the Sheik are in a better position to assist Australians in Iraq, and that the gung-ho tactics of Downer and the Australian Government are counter-productive. The treatment of Sheik Hassan Zadaan in Iraq is just another example of racism and insensitivity which will have poor consequences for the allied forces in Iraq.

As for the Australians: well, they are just a PR machine trying to justify the Iraqi war. Who can believe them?

Cherie Imlah
Mongogarie

A great service

I wish to express my appreciation to Community Cars. It is a great service to the elderly who need transport to medical facilities in Lismore and the outlying districts. All the drivers are voluntary except for a small fee that pays for car cleaning and small maintenance. I have used the service for over six years and find all the drivers are never late, most polite and do not speed.

A J Edmonds
Rosebank

What a joke

Re: Comments from Mark Bailey, Invercargill, NZ (Echo, June 9).

Mark. How would it be if no one put there hand up and said nothing at all in relation to problems in our society. This includes nightly damage to property, break and enters, malicious damage to signs, assaults and robbery and stealing.

Thankfully I am not one to close doors and windows and hope the problem will go away, because it won't. I have reported to police many times the unacceptable behaviour of the local idiots speeding along our street posted 50kph and the speeds of 105kph recorded by police. Local idiots whom think going around turning power boxes off, stealing from clothes lines and abusing elderly persons is a joke. So criticise me if you want but at least I'm not afraid to stand up and be counted. I don't see you reporting issues in your area, so what about it Mark. You think my letters are childish - what a joke.

Allan O'Neill
Ballina

Thanks Tamsin

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Tamsin Jackson for all the effort she put in to helping us regain the original Kirklands bus timetables! I know Tamsin did a lot to get the support and also disrupt the bigwigs, but most of us felt the same way! I myself wrote 13 letters and I know there were a lot more parents out there that did the same thing. Beside the children and parents being upset with the whole mess, it was the elderly I felt sorry for the most. They rely on those buses to give them the independence they need to still feel part of our community. Now to see the smiling faces of those dear elderly people again gives me a newfound happiness for their wellbeing! Thank you again Tamsin and thank you Kirklands, for doing the right thing!

Susan Bate
Goonellabah

Cowboy policing

I have lived in Nimbin for 16 years now and never has any aggression come my way. I suppose Detective Tut has been here as long or longer and every time he comes to Nimbin there are problems. I am happy to say I did not witness the agro that happened in Nimbin last week, but it sounded like the local Ds didn't make it to the crowd control seminars nor do they practice SOP (standard operation procedure). I have always felt that if the police don't make it very clear who they are, then they are just another bully in civilian clothes. Any attack is illegal whether by police or civilians, but for civilians to defend themselves against an unidentified attacker is just that - defence.

It is situations such as this that makes me think security cameras are a good idea. I'm very surprised that no one, including tourists, didn't witness this attack with a camera. If they had, we might have another Rodney King situation that would clearly show police still practice early 20th century cowboy policing.

As I grow older I realise my stamina is not what it was and I can only assume the same about ageing police. If you don't want people to retaliate, show your badge, not your misplaced bravery, and remember, big brother could be watching you as well!

Michael Wright
Mt Nardi

PS: I don't suppose the police leaders would like to talk to the community rather than behind closed doors?

The phoenix rises

Readers will remember the tragedy that befell Sue Whiteman, of the Alstonville Dance Studio, when her Thai-based dance troupe was almost entirely lost during the Asian tsunami in Phuket. But for the grace of God, Sue, herself, might have been included in the death toll.

Like the phoenix rising from the ashes, Sue turned this 'loss' into a 'win' for both her own personal development and for the benefit of Thai children who were orphaned as a result of the catastrophe. Her 'Heart To Heart' programme, which was launched by her Studio's Dance-A-Thon earlier in the year, has commenced construction of an orphanage on donated land in Thailand and Sue is currently in Thailand over-seeing this construction.

No doubt her Thai dance group will similarly rises from the 'ashes'.

Sue's compassion and benevolence has been further evidenced, locally, when she came to the assistance of a dance group, Donna Farry's 'Birdwing' Cloggers, Northern Rivers, who use Sue's Alstonville Studio as the venue for its dance lessons. Donna's group featured in Sue's Dance-A-Thon but have now had the misfortune to temporarily lose their teacher to illness.

To support their teacher and mentor, the group have 'banded together' to keep the classes alive during Donna's absence. This has been facilitated by Sue Whiteman's short and, if necessary, long-term inclusion of the group under the umbrella of her Dance Studio and has agreed to include the dance style in her Studio's portfolio of dance styles offered to students.

'Clogging' is a Celtic-based dance style and can perhaps be best understood as Appalachian Mountain Tap Dancing, Flatfooting or Tap Dancing with a touch of Riverdance and Jed Clampett/Ellie Mae of The Beverly Hillbillies' fame. Anyone interested in these classes can contact Sue at her Studio on 6686 2520.

Thank you Sue!... and to Donna we wish you a speedy recovery and return to the 'fold' - your sheep await their shepherd.

God bless you both.

Ray Moss
Ballina

A living memorial

Never, never, forget that the former Ballina Lighthouse/Lismore Surf Lifesaving Clubhouse - now being demolished - is a significant, district war memorial to the 15 club members known to have died during active service in World War II.

That clubhouse was built in 1960/61 as a living, useful, utilitarian memorial, just as the Lismore Memorial Baths are a memorial to the district dead of World War I.

People of the district raised the funds to build both war memorials, in homage to those who died serving their country.

Ballina/Lismore surf club had an amazing record of World War II service. All the 139 members eligible to fight joined the forces. During that horrendous war, juniors mainly carried the burden of beach patrols. Veteran members and women also kept the service going.

In 1946, the year after World War II ended, the club decided at its annual meeting to build a clubhouse as a tribute to the members who lost their lives during the war. A target of five thousand pounds was set for this war memorial.

The costs had spiralled to 24,000 pounds when the clubhouse opened in 1960-61. The club had raised half the cost, and toiled for another 14 years of fundraising to pay off the remainder of the loan to the Ballina Municipal Council.

The surf club members, who came from throughout the district, continued the lifesaving traditions which had saved countless surfers since 1933, when the first clubhouse was built in a disused quarry on Lighthouse Hill, with views over Lighthouse and Shelly beaches. The second clubhouse, on the site of the building now being demolished, was officially opened on December 15 1935. A ground floor section of it was retained for the third clubhouse.

Down the years club members died rescuing surfers, or were seriously injured. National meritorious awards were received for bravery and skill. One surfer was literally pulled from the jaws of a shark, in bloody water.

In 1963 the crew of a fishing trawler wrecked off the Ballina Bar was saved by surf club members. A surfboat was used for flood rescues in Lismore. Crew of a powerboat were on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The establishment of the district's rescue helicopter service emanated from surf club rescues.

The Shelly Beach clubhouse originally was built for Nippers. At that stage Ballina Lighthouse/Lismore was the only Australian surf club operating two clubhouses.

Club records list staggeringly generous support over the years from district business houses, organisations, philanthropic individuals and local people.

Whatever decisions are made about the future of the former Lighthouse Beach clubhouse site, a meaningful, living, useful war memorial to members killed in World War II is essential.

Marelle Lee
Lennox Head