Issue 804

Letters To The Editor

One family in Lismore is all they ask

Fifty-one years ago, my father decided to leave his country of birth, to seek a life free from socio-political oppression. He entered a neigbouring country illegally, and was placed in detention for a short period of time. He carried no papers or proof of identity, as such documents would have endangered his family who remained behind, if he had been captured.

Six months later he migrated to Australia, and went on to live the life of a generous and compassionate Australian, contributing much to his local community and raising a family who are all proud to be Australians. How sad and ashamed he would be were he alive today, to see fellow asylum seekers imprisoned in such barbaric conditions as the Woomera Detention Centre, some for years at a time.

The Howard Government is manipulating information to the point where it would be better labelled 'propaganda'.

Journalists are now prevented from filming and reporting the events taking place, being pushed a further 500 metres back from the facility (no doubt to protect us from seeing the distressing images of late, ie. the truth!).

The notion of a 'fair go', held close to the hearts of many Australians, has been buried under the new White Australia policy.

The majority of 'illegals' entering Australia are Americans, New Zealanders and British nationals who overstay their visas, but we don't lock them up, do we? As a Jewish Holocaust survivor told me recently 'It reminds me of Nazi Germany'.

Asylum seekers may be held in prison for longer than the average rapist, when their only crime is to want to live in a democracy, free of religious and political persecution.

Even if they all stayed permanently, a town the size of Lismore would only gain one extra family.

Come on Australia, surely our hearts are as big as our country?

Lisa Bartholomew
Lismore Heights

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The Penultimate Solution?

They too had olive skin and dark hair and appeared of middle eastern background. They too had different customs and some spoke in a foreign language. They too had not broken any laws of the land. They too had been forcibly removed to 'detention' centres in mostly remote areas. They too had been driven to suicidal acts of desperation after long periods of detention for committing no crime except to belong to a different racial group.

Seeing these images of desperation on the news made me think that the government's treatment of asylum seekers has similarities with the manner in which Nazi Germany vilified the Jews.

Vilification of the refugees has been a most important foundation for the government's propaganda war. Making them appear less than human has been deliberately cultivated as evidenced by the false 'throwing the baby overboard' episode.

Ruddock is intent on seizing any incident to make out these are somehow less caring, less humane than the rest of us. The latest incidents of hunger strikes and people sewing up their lips were just another opportunity. His response typically: such people are irresponsible and the government won't be intimidated by such behaviour.

I have not detected a word of compassion from Ruddock since becoming the minister. It saddens me greatly that no one in government is able to utter one word of compassion for the most unfortunate souls whose desperation must be so great that they have to resort to self-mutilation.

I call on the government to abandon the detention centres and allow the asylum seekers into the general community, a practice followed by all civilised countries.

Anyone wishing to sign a petition please come into the Hopesprings Bookshop down the lane from Rooster World in Keen Street, Lismore.

George Pick
Lismore

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Koala Carer Responds

I am the hapless Friends of the Koala (FOK) Carer criticised by Dawn Durheim in her letter (Echo, Jan 17). I would like to point out that her reporting of the situation only tells part of the story.

My visit to the property on Skyline Road took place around 4pm on 23 November 2001, in response to a caller who was concerned about a koala with bad eyes, low in a tree. On arrival I could see that the koala did have bad conjunctivitis, but it had moved further up the tree, an indication that it was coping and also making removal difficult. Apart from the conjunctivitis, the animal looked to be quite healthy.

In my assessment, it would have resisted capture and been stressed by the attempt. I suggested to the resident that it would probably continue to move around its territory during the night. Koalas with conjunctivitis can still lead a reasonable life by using their other senses within their known territory. I asked to be advised if the animal was still in the tree and more accessible in the morning. I heard nothing further from the resident so presumed the animal had moved

At present there is no cure for the Chlamydial infection that is thought to be endemic in our koala population and which manifests itself as conjunctivitis or 'pinkeye', and urinary tract problems or 'wet bottom' that are commonly seen. Certain drugs may have a short-term effect on some animals, and FOK treat those that we can. Many such koalas have pass edthrough our hands on more than one occasion.

Koalas with severe Chlamydia often lead reasonably long lives despite the condition, although it can impact on the fecundity of females. To suggest that FOK only treats females is not true, as an inspection of our records would prove. I am at a loss about the remarks attributed to me, and can only assume my comments have been misunderstood or misinterpreted in the retelling.

Ms Durheim's inference that FOK does not care about the plight of individual koalas is unfair. It dismisses the extraordinary efforts of a dedicated group of people: hundreds of call outs at all hours, performed by volunteer rescuers, carers, vets and others at their own expense.

In 2000-2001 volunteers in the greater Lismore district, Mullumbimby, Lower Richmond and Rosebank handled a total of 107 koalas. Those in the Lismore area alone attended to approximately 400 koala assessment and koala related telephone calls. On present indications these numbers will be exceeded in 2001-2002.

In response to the accusation in the final paragraph - FOK does not oppose the sealing of Skyline Road. In fact, we have steadfastly advocated sealing the existing road.

What FOK does object to is the 80km/h designed link road in the upgrade proposal. This involves the removal of some prime habitat trees.

Consultants have estimated that in future years the planned link road will carry thousands of vehicles each day. FOK's concern is for the number of koalas that could reasonably be expected to be killed by high-speed vehicles that will use the road.

Rick Vass
Care Co-ordinator,
Friends of the Koala

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Speak out on Refugees

It was heartening to hear and see so many Australia Day speakers, participants and speakers, expressing their distaste for the current Australian government's inhumane policy on refugees.

There would have been more, I'm sure, except that many of us did not attend the celebrations throughout the region out of disgust - it was simply not the best day to celebrate being Australian and feel proud.

Meanwhile refugee support groups are springing up around the country, including the north coast, and the members are involved in many individual or group activities. These include, but are certainly not restricted to, writing letters of support to people held in the detention camps, lobbying the government to change its policy, fundraising to provide resources to the refugees, and currently, participating in protest actions.

Anyone on the north coast who may be interested in providing further support or assistance to these groups, in whatever form, is welcome to email to my address. I'll endeavour to ensure you remain informed about ongoing and planned activities.

Jenny Austin
jjaustin@optusnet.com.au

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Shopping History

I am writing to you seeking information about shops in your area for a book The Powerhouse Museum is developing on the heritage of shopping in Australia.

We are interested in a wide range of local shops and butchers, bakers, corner stores, general stores, clothing shops and haberdashery. We are particularly interested in locating shops that have original fittings, are situated in historic buildings or have been run by the same family for some time. The purpose of our publication is to point to the rich heritage of Australian retailing and to encourage individuals and local authorities to preserve what remains.

I would greatly appreciate your assistance with this project. If you know of a local store that you think might be of interest I can be contacted on 02 9217 0335, email Kimberly@phm.gov.au

Thank you for your assistance.

Kimberly Webber
Senior Curator,
Australian History & Society

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Art Heart

Two years ago we retired to the Northern Rivers area from Darwin. One of the determining factors in our choice of locations was Lismore's cultural vitality.

The Lismore Regional Art Gallery is a case in point. Despite limitations of space, staff and funding, the mainstay of its public face, the exhibition program, is of a very high standard and interestingly diverse. Mounting nearly 30 exhibitions throughout the year is a significant achievement in itself.

The Gallery's education program is equally vigorous. Artists' talks, demonstrations and guided tours associated with exhibitions occur regularly. Art on the Move takes works from the permanent collection to outlying locations in the Region for students to see, enjoy and discuss. The Y Art! Program for 2001 generated the Banner Project - street banners with a Federation theme painted by students from seven local schools. They have transformed the Molesworth streetscape over these past few months.

Add in the annual Lismore City Art Prize Living Regional Treasures and its CBD spin-off, not to mention the acquisition and conservation of works which are significant to the Northern Rivers Region in the permanent collection, and the Gallery's relevance to all of us becomes apparent.

Just imagine the energy and creativity that will be engendered by the larger, purpose-built Gallery premises proposed for the Art in the Heart Project. Handled with vision and competence, redevelopment of the old Lismore High School site into a combined culural/commercial precinct will be the most innovative cultural development to have occurred in Lismore. It has the potential to revitalise the CBD and one of the City's most dynamic community assets, the Art Gallery.

Lorraine & Rick Vass
Wyrallah

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Wrong Anthem

Can anybody remember being given a full script of our current national anthem when we finally got rid of the dreadful 'God Save the Queen'?

Australians all let us rejoice,
For we are young and free,
We've golden soil and wealth for toil;
Our home is girt by sea;
Our land abounds in nature's gifts
Of beauty rich and rare,
In history's page, let every stage
Advance Australia Fair.

In joyful strains then let us sing,
Advance Australia Fair.
Beneath our radiant Southern Cross
We'll toil with hearts and hands;
To make this Commonwealth of ours
Renowned of all the lands;
For those who've come across the seas
We've boundless plains to share;
With courage let us all combine
To Advance Australia Fair.
In joyful strains then let us sing,
Advance Australia Fair.

Firstly, we aren't 'young and free'. Aboriginals are many thousands of years into their Australian existence. Plus unemployed aboriginals can't freely travel Australia. 'Nature's gifts rich and rare', just about stuffed by land clearing and introduced pests.

'Advanced Australia Fair' sounds more like an Anglo-Hitler Arayan Youth Song.

The second verse leaves me bewildered. Captain Cook was the beginning of the genocide of hundreds of thousands of aboriginals. What's so gallant about that? And we still won't get rid of that bloody Union Jack which makes the world think we're English.

'We've boundless plains to share' Yeh! Well, tell that to the poor bastards in concentration camp detention centres. And above that, 'Renowned in all the lands' Yeh! For being racists and bastards to the prosecuted, including babies as well.

Bring on Republicanism and a decent national anthem, encompassing an awareness of what we are today. Racists, and scaremongers and pasty face Ruddock not withstanding.

I wonder what 'Aussie of the Year' Pat's got to say on the draconian detention fiasco?

'Advance Australia Fair'... Hitler would have been proud, blue eye and all...

Don't forget the current national 'disgraceful' anthem was penned 100 racist years ago. Haven't we grown up yet?

Advance Australia Fair. White Aussie Policy revisited?

And the RSL has go the temerity to cry about using this obnoxious song to sell a lamb chop... a bit of apple sauce and mustard on mine please!

Frosty Grego
Evans Head

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Poetry corner

Returning To Love More

Distant blue hills of Lismore
Peeping over the green

I'm comin' in from
Casino, the flat side,

into the old part of town.

(Closer to Casino,
y'know, they were
closer to the river.)

Lismore population
forty six thousand

wasn't a bad place to live back in the nineties.

(Remember me? I used
to work for Telstra
back in the bad old,
good old days.)

Haze over the hills

spotted patchwork
cow paddocks

Embroidered with
fence stitch

Plump as old figs

Hungary Jacks 12
kilometres

What's that in miles?

Twelve sixes are seventy-two

Basically 7 point two miles out, babe.

And there's Lismore, look

arms stretched out wide to greet you

New airport and all

In the midday December sun

Against the white haze of the north

Lays the giant profile of a woman on her back

(lovely to look at -
a joy to behold

Visit her once -
consider yourself sold.)

And meanwhile, up
on the high side,

Ears popping, I remember these ridges,

But never recognised
the people

Except a queen, beautiful.

Draped in vines and fronds

A white crystal in a green mountain setting

She stands aloof, alone,
left to fend for herself

while new
mushrooms suburb.

Now she hides in
plantation forests

Feeds on maccas and avos

No doubt about it

I could have loved more;

I could have lived more.

Say what you like
about Lismore

She still supports a
multitude

And the multitude
still loves her

Even though they've
forgotten why

they were drawn to her
in the first place.

M. R Wills
Chilcotts Grass

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