Issue 729

Letters To The Editor

Lovely Lake Doesn't Need Powerboats

A week ago I had a very pleasant surprise when, for the first time, I visited the Lismore lake. It has been a long time since I have seen so many water birds together in such a relatively small area, and this is in a long life as a bird watcher.

My son and I estimated around 500 birds down on the lakes that day. Most numerous were little birds called coots, almost black in colour with white bills; they must have numbered 200 at least, and kept up a squawky chorus. In contrast the largest birds, the graceful black swans, were almost silent. There were 40 or more swans, two of which were nesting.

Very special to see were the tiny Jacanas with their bright red combs. They are also known as Lily-trotters and Christ birds. Their long legs, and exceptionally long toes and claws, enable them to walk on the lily pads, so appearing to walk on water. We saw only two of these; not many are seen anywhere.

Any of your readers who would like my bird list, just send me a stamped addressed envelope (14 Sanctuary Crt, Goonellabah 2480). The list includes 15 species of water fowls and several species of bush birds.

It is sad to learn that our present city councillors see little value in this gem of a small wetland, neither as helping to preserve Australia's biodiversity, nor as a tourist attraction.

I hope they will change their minds before spending our money draining the wetland and returning it to a noisy powerboat area.

Molly Crawford
Goonellabah

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Crossing Dangers

In response to the article ‘Lost highway means run, don't walk' by Terra Sword (Echo, July 5), I offer my opinion due to the fact that I sustained injuries by a vehicle whilst attempting to cross on this crossing.

I believe it was highly dangerous. I also believe there was potential danger to the Albert Park school children, and the crossing should be relocated at a safety point elsewhere.

Emily Weismantel
South Lismore

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Better Ballina

It is with appreciation that an increasing number of stories relating to the Ballina Shire Council area now appear in The Echo.

Due to an apparent change of policy by the local 'so-called community newspaper', very little of any interest or substance to is being reported. Your policy of accepting different views on, at times, controversial matters is leading to a healthy debate of current concerns to residents.

One has only to look at your balanced coverage of the Alstonville Plateau 3rd Village proposal as an example.

It has become more difficult to obtain a copy of The Echo each week as copies are snapped up post haste.

Alan Norton-Baker
Ballina

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Flood Gates

Bob Gate's consulting methods on the pool, the levee, the koalas and who knows what next – maybe his lake – just go to show one thing. That the last thing an engineer wants is for people to get in front of the bulldozers. Very messy!

Rob Garbutt
Goolmangar

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Jobs For The Boys

The ABC's 4 Corners program (Monday, July 23) has unwittingly provided the Howard Federal Government with a new policy on unemployment.

Unemployed persons can now be placed in Liberal Senators' offices throughout Australia as 'volunteers' doing things such as researching and photocopying Supreme Court documents, being paid by unknown benefactors and all at no expense to the taxpayers. By the way, don't taxpayers pay for the benefits received by parliamentarians?

Meanwhile Messrs Howard, Stanley and Senator Heffernan are giving Oscar winning performances as 'The Three Wise Monkeys' yet some of the above Supreme Court documents have been produced in parliament.

Margaret Hains
East Ballina

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Funny Phones

National Party MP for Page, Ian Causley's recent letter (Echo, July 12) regarding rural telecommunications is nothing short of laughable.

Decent rural telecommunication services hinge on one undeniable outcome; whether or not Telstra is sold. The simple fact is, a privatised Telstra has an obligation only to shareholders. Its pursuit of profit would be not different to any other large corporation and would come at the expense of rural services simply because profit margins on rural services are much lower than metropolitan areas.

Despite John Howard's guarantee that a red light would flash in his office every time the bush copped it in the neck, one after another of our rural services and jobs have disappeared as his government has relentlessly pursued his privatisation agenda.

Any government promises regarding Community Service Obligations are little more than hollow rhetoric and will take second place to shareholder dividends. The government has been unable to bring the banks to heel and the same will apply to Telstra when the Liberal and National Party sell it.

It's worth remembering that Mr Causley has openly advocated the sale of Telstra in the media and has voted for its sell off on the floor of Parliament.

Only Labor is unequivocally committed to retaining Telstra in public hands. Consequently, only Labor can provide any guarantees regarding rural telecommunication services.

If Mr Causley is really interested in rural communities then he should join with Country Labor to ensure Telstra remains in public hands.

Terry Flanagan
Grafton
Labor Candidate for Page

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No Bleeding Hearts

Thank you Mr Grego (Echo, July 19) for your somewhat ‘frosty' response to my common sense approach to the illegal immigrants situation.

You obviously live in the usual old do-gooder, hairy fairy head in sand world that if unchecked, could help to bugger up a great country. But thank you Mr Grego, it's you sir that are in the minority! In any case your unrealistic, abusive letter just turns off most thinking decent Aussies anyway.

If you had read my letter properly without going off half-cocked with your ridiculous abusive attitude you would have seen that I have total sympathy for others less fortunate than us.

My 'Frosty' old chap, we don't sink them do we but for God's sake man, take your damn head out of that 'anthill' for just one moment and try (God forbid) to understand that if we don't take some measures to stop these boat people, desperate though they may be, from entering our country ‘illegally' not only will we be swamped with these people we will no longer be the lucky country. Since our barrel of money is not bottomless we could end up a third, fourth or fifth world country unable to support ourselves little own others. Frosty these people, in case you haven't understood, are illegal, illegal, illegal, illegal, 'immigrants' illegal, get the picture Sir.

Spain has (to mention just one) a gigantic illegal immigration problem, no detention centres and it's out of control! On the same program on the ABC it also stated there are at least 10 million refugees worldwide. Would you, sir, like them all to invade our shores willy-nilly on a come-one-come-all basis and since you old Frosty live close to the sea you may even have one or a thousand wanting to share your better-than-they life with them! See how long your bleeding-heart do-gooder attitude persists then!

I suggest if you and others like you (even though you are the minority) can't see or won't see the ‘forest for trees', take a course in reality and facts before you continue with your perceived point scoring hairy-fairy ways because you are not impressing anybody except maybe the illegal immigrants as they have nothing to lose!

We at least desperately need ‘Detention Centre' to try to sort them out and what about decent legal ones that apply with proper manners to come here, how do you think they feel about these queue jumpers, the same as me I suggest and I'll bet they are just as desperate for a better life.

Don't you worry about my or other families who are thinkers Mr Frosty Grego! They all feel the same as I, as do millions of other fair dinkum Aussies.

Wake up Frosty, while you're still able!

Al Andrews
Lismore

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Detainees Not Refugees

Media reports continue to incorrectly label people in immigration detention as refugees.

Australia does not detain refugees. A refugee is a person whose claim for protection, as assessed in accordance with the terms of the Refugees Convention, has been successful. People in detention who are found to be refugees are immediately released.

People in detention awaiting decisions on asylum claims may be referred to as asylum seekers. However it should be noted that detention facilities also hold, apart from asylum seekers, people who have overstayed their visas and those who have been located working in breach of their visa conditions and others.

Detention is the result of being in Australia unlawfully, not the seeking of asylum. In all cases those people in detention are unlawful non-citizens.

It is worth noting that the majority of asylum seekers have entered Australia with a valid visa and are free in the community while they pursue their claims (as at 30 April 2001, only 21 per cent of all asylum seekers were in detention).

Stewart Foster
Director, Public Affairs
Dept of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs

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Drug Truths

I want to express my thanks to The Echo for the promotion of the Parents in Pain meeting last week. So much is written about the so-called soft drugs calming nerves and having a very beneficial effect on its user.

Four former drug users spoke about their drugs of choice and the devastation of aspects of their lives. Dr John Anderson gave a very powerful description of the effect of cannabis upon its regular users. These include – increased anxiety and depression along with the loss of motivation and the triggering of mental illness in some cases.

As a community, we need to see adverse effects publicly acknowledged, just as the effects of tobacco are, so that people can be more informed about the choices they make.

Often choices are made based on the inadequate information that is in wide circulation.

Pastor Jim Gallagher
Lismore

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Help Needed For Nursing Mums

I read with great interest the article on philanthropy by David Tomlinson (Echo, June 28).

Volunteer breastfeeding counsellors are available by phone in their own homes 7 days/week. We are also involved in face-to-face counselling, hospital visiting, and educating the community. We are available as a resource and support service for health professionals.

I love all these aspects of my role. There is however, one aspect I find very tedious, and that is fundraising.

As volunteers we need ongoing education to keep up to date with the latest findings in breastfeeding management so that we can provide the best possible support to those we are helping.

Our annual conference is held in Sydney and getting there is a costly exercise. We raise money by selling raffle tickets and holding cake stalls. This takes effort and energy that could be better used serving the community if we had another source of income.

This is where philanthropy comes in.

As volunteers we do not expect rewards for the work we do. However, we are often rewarded with that warm satisfied feeling that comes with knowing we have helped someone.

Readers could also have this satisfied feeling by making a donation to the Australian Breastfeeding Association (formerly Nursing Mothers). Think about an annual pledge. Even $50 means 20 less cakes I have to bake!

The money would be used to ensure that the counsellors in this region are kept well informed so that they can provide the best possible support to mothers and families in our community. You would have the satisfaction of knowing that your money is helping others in your community. Everybody wins.

For more information about the Australian Breastfeeding Association, or details on how to make a tax deductible donation to your local group please phone me on 6689 9356.

Ros Fleetwood,
Breastfeeding Counsellor
Coffee Camp

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Thanks Prattens

For those of us who despair of ever again receiving personal service when we deal with corporations, and who are put on hold when phoning and told 'we value your call!' … a story which proves that Aussie service and country-style values are far from dead!

We recently broke down near Ballina and needed a part from Mitsubishi and a mechanic to fit it and as it was midday Saturday, we were in a lot of trouble until Monday morning! (We were to pick up our daughter from University and bring her and her furniture home.)

Finding little joy in Ballina, we called Prattens Mitsubishi in Lismore, because that was our eventual destination, and made contact with Frank. He told us that if we could get towed to Lismore he would ‘see what he could arrange'.

Frank met us at Prattens dealership and within minutes Jeff, the parts manager arrived, opened, found the part and then Allen drove in to do the job! Needless to say we were stunned.

These three guys then spent two and a half hours doing a very difficult repair job and giving up a valuable Saturday afternoon with their families to help us. During this time we were offered refreshments and friendly conversation and what could have been a really awful day ended up a pleasant experience!

This wonderful service could hardly be topped, you would think? Think again! When it came time to pay, the boys just shrugged and said 'no worries, we are just glad to help' I actually had to force payment on them and even the it was a lot more than a fair price!

It is an experience like this that makes us realise how much corporations have taken from us, and that is a real, personalised and sincere desire to serve the customer. We need to tell these companies how we feel about the shabby way they treat us and just as importantly, to acknowledge a business or individual when they 'get it right'!

Lismore, you are so lucky to have real Aussie blokes with real Aussie values serving your community.

To Frank, Jeff and Allen at Prattens, our sincere thanks. Corporate Australia, this is how it is done!

Brad and Kerrie Smith
Sawtell

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Shave Results

Participants in the World's Greatest Shave For a Cure have raised an extraordinary $5.27 million for the Leukaemia Foundation to invest in the care and cure of Australians with bone marrow cancer.

This is a resounding success, and on behalf of the Foundation I would like to thank each of the nearly 32,000 people from all walks of life, all sections of the community, and all parts of the country, who took part.

To the tens of thousands of friends, family members and colleagues who supported them, thanks for your generosity, and a special thankyou to the Australian media for contributing to this magnificent result by promoting the event so extensively.

We couldn't have done it without you all.

Next year the World's Greatest Shave For A Cure will be even bigger. It's on March 14-16 so mark your diaries, bookmark our website address: www.worldsgreatestshave.com and we'll keep you posted.

Phillip Desbrow
Chief Executive Officer
Leukaemia Foundation of Australia

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Phone Polls

As we approach a Federal Election, pollsters are telephoning citizens asking a number of questions. This is fair enough, as you do not have to answer the questions asked of you. You can always decline to provide information.

What concerns me however, is that some telephone pollsters are purporting to be calling from a Sydney based company called Metro-Poll. As one of the principals of a Sydney based business called Metro-Poll, I find such claims to be of concern.

Metro-Poll does not and has never conducted telephone polling of citizens. Any reader of your newspaper should check the bonafides of any caller purporting to be from Metro-Poll. We have had callers from Campbelltown to Lismore telephoning our business after receiving calls from Pollsters. A similar situation arose in Victoria prior to the Victorian State Election.

A check of telephone directories reveal that our company is the only one listed with the name of Metro-Poll and a check of the business names register will reveal the same.

Readers beware! Metro-Poll does not conduct telephone surveys.

Ivor Jones JP
Partner
Metro-Poll Elections

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Happy Marriage

I am certainly going to miss the cut and thrust of councillors Irwin and Gates when this editor says enough is enough.

Why can't they do what the wife and I do – talk to one another?

Ray Preston,
Goonellabah

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