Issue 730
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Letters To The EditorA Plea For Constructive DebateIt's with a curious mixture of joy, hope, sorrow and frustration that I read debates in your letters pages, such as that currently occurring between Al Andrews and Frosty Grego re the illegal immigrant issue. My joy and hope arises from the fact that here we have two obviously community-minded people, one focusing with humanitarian concern on the grave injustices faced by refugees and illegal immigrants, the other focusing on the need to preserve the integrity of our nation. The concerns of both men are important and justified. On the other hand, my sorrow and frustration arises from the failure of each man to acknowledge and take into account the other's legitimate concern, as he chooses instead to channel his energy into denigrating the other's viewpoint, thereby inflaming the issue with unwarranted criticism and hatred. We have a wonderful nation. It would become even more wonderful if we could find a way to extend a welcoming, helping and humanitarian hand to our brothers and sisters fleeing adversity in less fortunate nations. I am sure that we have the capacity to do so without resorting to the horrors of detention centres and without allowing Australia to be overwhelmed by an intake of illegal immigrants. If only we could develop a spirit of respect, goodwill and cooperation between the likes of Messrs Andrews and Grego and their political counterparts, we would be much more likely to find an appropriate solution. I appeal to all who write to express their viewpoint in these pages to do so in constructive and useful ways. Jillian Garsden Click here to comment on this letter.
Candid CameraTo the person who once again is stealing from our property, I would like to inform you that for the past three years we have had a security camera installed on the premises so there will be no more warnings, if anything else is stolen from here the police will be calling on you. The sign you destroyed has been replaced. D Mackay No MoreIn the media blitz heralding the approaching national census, a spokesperson for the Australia Bureau of Statistics urged us to complete our census forms because, quote, 'An increase in population may entitle your State to more Federal politicians'. My God! Can anyone seriously suggest a better reason for not completing a census form? Tom Henderson Click here to comment on this letter.
Beer ConcernsAs a member of Casino Rugby Club, I hesitate to promote a controversy, however I find that I must respond to two articles in last week's Echo relating to the Carlton sponsorship of FNC Rugby. I was disappointed to see my Club's name and no others mentioned as being ‘non compliant'. There are at least five other clubs at whose home grounds, beer products other than the sponsors may be purchased. It may have been good journalism to enquire of the Casino Club President why his club did not comply with the deal. You may have found that Casino enjoys very strong local support on Friday nights and Saturday afternoons, which early in the season when figures were recorded, favoured the alternate product as much as 8 to 1, and 11 to 1. Should a club which gains much of its income from bar sales, risk this income for the measly $300 which would have been its share of the Carlton deal? As for your correspondent Ed Rummery's comparison of this sponsorship with the Bundaberg Rum deal, he shows a fundamental ignorance of the two situations. If Carlton followed Bundaberg Rum's example, ie., absolutely no strings attached, we wouldn't have a problem. Certainly, there are gains in this deal, other than just to the individual clubs, promoting juniors and remunerating referees for example. Fundamentally, however, clubs must support Rugby at grass roots level in their own towns, and quite a lot of money is needed for this. Another consideration must be how this deal came about. Clubs had no input into negotiations and a delegate from each club was asked to accept a ‘fait accompli' situation without any opportunity to take it back to their clubs. All did this except Casino, and all except Casino have affirmed their support since. In this day and age, all stakeholders need to be involved in negotiations, as cumbersome as this may be. Only then can ownership of a final agreement be reached by all. It seems to me that a sensible compromise would be for clubs to promote the Carlton product exclusively, use only Carlton signage in and around their bars, but reserve the right to sell whatever their supporters prefer. Surely the $11,000 sponsorship a year that this would cost Carlton would be worth it to Carlton in the long run. Joe Lynch Click here to comment on this letter.
Evil WeedIt was a relief to read a letter acknowledging the very inadequate information that is in wide circulation in defence of drug use, particularly cannabis in our area. Thank you Pastor Jim Gallagher. My brother was diagnosed with schizophrenia shortly after the time he began dabbling in marijuana use; something he understood would make him feel more 'cruisey' ultimately contributed to his mental decline. His terrible state of being had a rippling effect on his whole family – and it wasn't beautiful – and we were not high. All drugs (equally inclusive of alcohol) have harmful effects and it is an insult to thinking people when it is insinuated that marijuana does not. Let's keep in mind that it is often the most vocal in these arguments who glean a comfortable living through growing the stuff. The big nobs at the tobacco companies hoped we wouldn't cotton on to the harmful effects of tobacco while instinctively we all knew it couldn't be good for us. Okay, so a lot of us keep puffing on (it's nothing but an inadequate crutch for whom reality is too painful. It is the weak not the strong who need drugs and the ignorant and blind who promote them.) but wouldn't life be better without the bulge of a cigarette packet in the back pocket; without sharing your precious moments with the marijuana barons of the land? Bob Marley died of cancer, may he rest in peace. And why don't all you guys out there with no other desire but to light your next joint go out and smell the river or something? And to end with a quote from H.D. Thoreau 'Man is rich in proportion to what he can do without'. Jennifer Bongiorno Stars EclipsedIf this and another week's existential dichotomy gets too excruciating – I will not go the either/or, here and there, route. I will express my resolute opinion though, wanting to do so long ago in order to deliver more refined responses to the Star Gazing section of The Northern Rivers Echo. That infernal, eternal, internal angst of being considered to be of the less intelligent species kept me from doing so until now. Today I had a complete attitude reversal and total 360° turnaround when somebody else – a non-ethnic reader of the page uttered utmost confusion about the riddles of the stars presented by Miss Lilith, recommending the pleasurable or kind of necessary act of tossing them to the compost heap, so that they can fertilise some better quality ideas by perhaps somebody more qualified. The whispering voice of new age advertisement's gobbledegook. I am trying to stay in control of the English language. Anita Schulz Click here to comment on this letter.
Thanks MumReaders who have had babies in the last 37 years will know the name – Nursing Mothers. Some will recall the help and support they had while breastfeeding and mothering. Others will think of the friendships made, many of which are ongoing. However, mothers of today are less familiar with the term 'nursing'. In order to be more accessible to the mothers of the 21st century the Nursing Mothers' Association of Australia is changing its name. From August 1, which is the start of Breastfeeding Awareness Month, we will be known as the Australian Breastfeeding Association. We will continue to offer the same 7 day/week telephone counselling service, face-to-face counselling at meetings, community education on breastfeeding, and support for health professionals. Mothers will still have access to support at meetings and the chance to share stories and make lifelong friends. To help celebrate this name change and truly launch ourselves into the 21st century, the Far North Coast Region is holding a reunion of past and present members of Nursing Mothers. We will be picnicking at Tullera Hall from 11am on Sunday, August 19. We'd love to have all our old and new members there. For more information please call Kathy on 6624 3507 or Ros on 6689 9356. Ros Fleetwood, Click here to comment on this letter.
Question AllI'm not looking for an answer, I have my own ideas. What I want people to do, is ask questions of our police and politicians. We all know that we, the individual taxpayers, pay the majority of money to the government to provide police presence and protection. Big business, in the long run, does not pay as much of the tax burden. Now is the question I would like everyone to ask the politicians. Why aren't there enough police to protect the public from crime, yet there are always enough police available when the government or global business needs protection? We've had our guns, knives and even sling shots made illegal. We're running out of avenues to protect ourselves while the police are on stress, long service or some other form of leave when we need the services that we pay for! Michael Wright Click here to comment on this letter.
Party PoisonAt the present time there is a cancer in the ALP, and it is growing daily. Ultimately it will prove fatal unless it is removed. The persons involved owe no allegiance to the ALP, their only allegiance is to the Marxist/Lenin group, their aim is to fully capture the once great party of the people of Australia. The people of Australia have witnessed the type of totalitarian power these spoilers are attempting to install in Australia. The ordinary ALP voters watched in amazement when these thugs smashed their way into the Australian Federal Parliament in Canberra. I thought at the time this was just an aberration, that type of behaviour will never happen again. But I was wrong wasn't I: It happened again in Sydney a short time ago when the same thugs blockaded the NSW Parliament, preventing the government members from entering parliament. How many times must this happen before we the ordinary ALP voters wake up and say enough is enough, we are not going to vote for these left wing thugs. The preselection in Richmond is a good example of the way the hard left operate. In Richmond on the night before the ballot , Mr Della Bosca, Ms McAllister and her supporters rang a number of voters, alleging that Mr Beazley had called for intervention due to alleged 'rorts' by Mrs Mannering. This was a lie but votes changed hands because of these calls. These are the people who will stop at nothing to get power. For the sake of freedom think before you vote for these left wing thugs. James Baker Click here to comment on this letter.
Jacks and JesusAs we consider multiculturalism and the changes in our lives since 1946, when the Labor prime minister kissed the first European baby, it is good to reflect. The current debate in the Anglican Church reveals that attendances have dropped 10 per cent in five years and the church has become an Anglo-Celtic church for what is left of Anglo-Saxon Australia. Canon Bruce Ballentine-Jones is quoted as saying 'We are going out backwards so fast, it is frightening.' On the other hand we have another cult-type church opening in Ballina and that gives us about 20 'churches' in Ballina alone. There are some obvious differences between the cults and The Anglican Church. In the Anglican Church men still dress in flowing robes and the price of a Bishops Hat would keep a family in food for about three years. In the cult churches there is no requirement for qualifications and the preachers dress like members of a garden party. The cults don't seem to have millions like the Anglicans and don't seem to need heavy impost on the devotees. As long as feed the Pastor and his family, they are okay. Compare the Anglican Churches with the bowling club where membership in the past 10 years has dropped from 175,000 to 75,000 players. Bowling clubs like Anglican churches are folding. Bowling clubs are one of the last bastions of the Anglo Celtic groups and they are soon to pass into oblivion. Can Anglican churches and bowling clubs survive? In the case of the Anglican Church it may survive by joining in community activities and using it's enormous wealth for worthwhile causes ie homes for the homeless, soup kitchens etc. At present any time when money is needed the Anglicans cry poor and try to intimidate the Government. The newly appointed Archbishop said, 'We are an extremely wealthy organisation'. Someone should tell him that Alstonville needs an ambulance, With bowling clubs, they are self-destructing. The old guard will not allow their own Social Club Members on the greens. The old Anglo Saxons are dying fast. For a short while we will miss both of these organisations. When they do go we can always blame Larry Anthony or John Howard. Bob English Click here to comment on this letter.
Dangerous RidersOn Monday, July 23 whilst on the Brisbane – Lismore Intercity Coach Service returning to Lismore, I witnessed one of the most irresponsible pieces of riding by a member of a motorcycle club which caused a south bound two-dog rig to swerve to avoid possibly crushing the rider! The two members of the Motorcycle Club were held up by road works going north and decided to return south at a great rate of knots, passing everything on the road in their wake. Both rode Harleys, one with handlebars extended above shoulder level, which must be very difficult to control the vehicle. The first rider passed the two-dog truck and the second took evasive action in the gap between the truck tray and dog to avoid oncoming traffic. This action caused the driver to swerve onto the road shoulder taking out a guidepost in order to avoid crushing the bike rider! It is no good dismissing the incident lightly as macho and good riding! It is this reckless driving which causes horrific accidents and in the long run gets truckies a bad name, when as in this case the fault is with another's poor road skills. As an ex-rider myself I've experienced the exhilaration of the wind in my face at speed, had the odd bingle in my youth, but never let it cloud my judgement of safety of myself or other road users. I am not anti-Motorcycle Clubs, but please don't get carried away by reckless speeding, which often endangers not only you and the pillion passenger, but all the other road users and earns all biker's a bad name. One move in haste could be your last... So take care. Ride to Ride, but also Ride to Live! Name withheld on request Click here to comment on this letter.
GST ConcernsLarry Anthony's comments in the local media regarding the GST demonstrates a conveniently superficial of his own governments legislation. All that is required for the Coalition to raise the rate of the GST is to remove legislation the requirement for the states to agree to it. A simple one line change easily achieved by a Coalition Government bent on hurting average Australians even more. Anybody who understands the parliamentary process, as Mr Causley a member for 17 years and Mr Anthony a third member of political dynasty, supposedly do, would be aware of this. Remember it was Mr Howard who said we would 'never ever' have a GST. Quite simply Mr Costello has only gone the next step and put all Australians on notice that he intends to lift the rate of the GST. Mr Causley and Mr Anthony supported its introduction and they will support the simple change needed to make its adverse impact on all Australians even greater. Terry Flanagan Click here to comment on this letter.
3 Village TruthsMs Claire Melloy in her recent letter (Echo, July 12) posits up the prospects that Alstonville and Wollongbar residents face if the Alstonville third village does not proceed. These residents should be aware that unless emphatic expressions of opposition to sprawl/ribbon development/infilling are heard by Council it will be difficult to contest the rejection of the concept of the third village that was so resoundingly voiced at the recent public meeting on the subject. The faction that leads the opposition campaign does not have as a primary concern a solution to the problem that Council faces: that is how to manage future plateau population growth. It includes farmer's who protest the alienation of 'prime agricultural land', and is supported by an ideological stance taken by NSW Agriculture. The notion that prime agricultural land must be held inviolate is open to question. Why is the plateau land more 'prime' than good cane land around Ballina, development into which attracts no opposition at all. The important difference is that the plateau soils are versatile – they will 'grow anything'. The reality is however is that they will grow only one crop at a time, and when these is considered individually, none is dependant for it's survival on being grown here. Some like avocado's, will struggle in years to come against competition from bigger production areas around the country. Other crops, like macadamia and coffee are less demanding of site quality and do not require deep basaltic soils for their husbandry. Spraying, of course, is pursued on a wide scale of land types. Ms Melloy is right in asking for definition of other options available to Council. Other than those mentioned above (and perhaps a population cap – an unrealistic idea) there is more. Rural residential suburbs are falling from favour and cannot be used as a planning tool. (It should be remembered, too, that sprawl ribbon developments will involve the alienation of agricultural land) It is true that the rolling green landscape and the colour of the earth, have a special appeal, and few would choose to cover it with concrete and bitumen. However, a choice must be made, and it behoves plateau residents to encourage Council to do this in as orderly – not to say visionary – way as possible. Elliot Tuckwell Click here to comment on this letter.
Refugee DebateWell folks, didn't Al ‘sink ‘em' Andrews (Echo, July 26) get his knickers in knot over my reply to his alarmist remarks about the desperate flights to freedom of some refugees. What a whinging, whining carry on it was. Geez, you'd think a mob of desperadoes from overseas had set up camp on his own front door step. No papers either. Yes Al, I did read your letter properly. Sickening and disgusting though it was. In your second letter I thought I noticed a small glimmer of hope for you when you said you were wrong for saying refugees boats should be sunk. Then, you had another brain spasm and reverted back to idiocy with silly statements about 10 million people invading our shores and turning us into a fifth world country. Why not a sixth, seventh or tenth one Al? Quickly now, get those fences up and grab ya weapons, the invading hordes are on their way! The second invasion of Australia is imminent. If you believe Al Andrews, that is. Really mate, you're huffing and puffing for no good reason. You should calm down and put away your 'end is nigh!' mania. In his haste to paint a picture of doom and gloom caused by boatpeople, Al Andrews failed to bother mentioning who makes up the majority of illegal people in Australia. They are mainly English speaking people who have found jobs after coming here and have decided to stay after their visas have expired. I'd bet me last dollar Al Andrews doesn't care about that fact. But I bet he would if they were non-English speaking Chinese, Vietnamese, Iranians or maybe Afghanis or Nigerians or whoever looks different than white Australians. If someone's beliefs are wrong through ignorance, the community is a bit forgiving. But if they are wrong because of their own prejudice and hatred then they fully deserve the scorn and loathing rained upon them. It's obvious which category Al Andrews comes under. Mr Andrews also failed to tell us what else was shown on this ABC program, which seems to be his sole source of research. The documentary described the scores of unfortunate people, of all ages, or sex, who are either eaten by sharks or tragically drowned. Also, we saw the terrible trauma some suffered by being soaked in fuel mixed with salt water. It also showed the huge efforts of charitable organisations to help these people. Frosty Grego Edited for length and a little less rhetoric – Ed Click here to comment on this letter.
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