Compassion admirable
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It is my impression from local conversations and media reports that our community has responded to the tragic shark attack at Tathra with admirable sanity and compassion.
For which we deserve congratulations.
In these times it is common for such events to occasion shrill demands for mass slaughter, for guaranteed safety at all costs, for regulations to prohibit citizens from risk-taking.
Careers have been enhanced by whipping up public hysteria and peddling “solutions”.
Fear has become the currency of politics.
Perhaps in our community we have attained the mature wisdom that risk cannot be wholly eliminated from human life, and that it would be undesirable to attempt to do so were it possible?
To see that the Tathra swimmers returned to the water within days was heartwarming.
An act of courage and wisdom and a most respectful acknowledgement of the woman who lost her life doing what she loved.
In politics we are known as the “bellwether seat”, astutely reflecting the political climate of the nation as a whole.
Perhaps we may also serve as an emotional “bellwether”, illustrating Australians' capacity to overcome neurotic hysteria and respond sanely to the risks of living in this country.
Stuart Cameron
Bermagui
Speaking up
Thank you for inviting us to reply to your editorial opinion in the Bega District News (1/4).
We are part of the silent majority in Bermagui who would be happy to embrace a Woolworths store in our town.
The reason most people remain silent is because when we do speak out we are abused.
I personally have been hissed and spat at by the vocal minority who seem to think their opinion is the only one that counts.
After attending a public meeting, at which all people were invited to speak, I was treated very rudely by one of those people and ordered out of our local supermarket because I had spoken at that meeting.
I decided to take a poll of Bermagui people in the main street.
The result of one morning’s work was 98 for Woolies and six against.
I think this constitutes a fairly large majority for.
One of our councillors (Sharon Tapscott) emailed me after taking her own survey and emailed me with similar results.
On the question of heavy vehicles, it is about time someone investigated the IGA delivery vehicle, which regularly uses the laneway in question to make deliveries to Foodworks, and the brewery vehicle that makes deliveries to the hotel.
Both of these vehicles reflect the size of the vehicle that Woolworths would be using.
The provision of a larger supermarket in Bermagui would enhance tourist choice, provide valuable employment opportunities for our young people and keep money in the town.
Dawn and Brian Kenyon
Bermagui
Sorry state
I see that many side roads around Bega are currently undergoing resurfacing.
Yay!
But on behalf of all of us who have been tracking tarry gravel into our cars and lounge rooms for months, I have to ask: will these jobs be left in the same sorry state as other roads recently resurfaced?
I thought it was bad when I found one street in this state, but to see them across the shire was pretty disappointing.
Lastly, will these substandard jobs be redone?
And will the community have to pay for this?
Jo Dodds
Bega
Best interests
Open letter to Member for Eden-Monaro Peter Hendy.
Dear Peter,
I pay my mechanic to act in my best interest when maintaining my car.
I have the same arrangement with my doctor, plumber, accountant, lawn mower person, electrician, dentist, lawyer, etc.
If this government has its way, my financial adviser will no longer be legally bound to act in my best interest.
My financial adviser rightly charges me a fee.
Proposed new legislation will mean my financial adviser will also be able to obtain commissions (code for kick-backs) from high-risk investments made on my behalf, and at my expense.
Think Storm Finance, Opus Prime and others.
Of course, Coalition cosiness with banks and other financial institutions has no connection to this policy.
I acknowledge that donations to your party from such corporations are purely coincidental.
I refuse to believe that you and your ilk dream of the corporate jobs awaiting you after your tireless, productive, selfless service to your constituents, when you are inevitably voted out.
In your case, perhaps with a Norwegian shipping line?
I'm sure you hope counsel representing Senator Arthur Sinodinos in his forthcoming ICAC appearances will act in his best interest.
Further, Senator Fiona Nash has demonstrably acted in the best interest of our collective eating habits.
To be sure, Fiona's position will not survive the next Cabinet reshuffle.
It is reassuring and refreshing to see our newest government act in the best interest of consumers.
After all, that is what we pay you for.
Thank you Dr Hendy.
Also, please pass on my gratitude to the rest of the Credlin/Abbott government.
Andrew McPherson
Kalaru
Signage lacking
Fay and I are experienced caravanners venturing for the first time in a long time into the NSW South Coast.
We very nearly gave up on Bega because your city does not have strategic blue and white signs to help travellers find your one and only caravan park.
Our stay in Bega will have been for a week, during which we have contributed to the economic progress of the area.
Could you intercede to your local government office, thence RMS (the former RTA) and whoever will get off their you-know-what and do something positive for tourism in the Bega district.
Where we have been over the years, those described above have done so much to encourage travellers to discover the benefits to be enjoyed, resulting in many dollars for the areas, and of course less heartache for us drivers towing a caravan in circles looking for the signs we need...and Bega is unique by having two signs which bear no connection to each other.
Pity that!
Caravanners and Bega will both reap the benefit.
Mark and Fay Childe
NSW Central Coast
For the Empire
A bigots, racists, financial shonks and monarchists spring.
Bring back God Save the Queen and we will be as one with the Empire.
The government just keeps on giving.
Oh happy day.
Sir (pending) Barry Smith
Bega
Debt the issue
There has been a lot of talk on mainstream and social media lately about the impending failure of capitalism.
This has been seized upon by every disaffected malcontent saying “See I told you so”.
However, the problem isn't capitalism - it's the debt that has been driving capitalism.
So stop the finger wagging and put first things first.
Debt is the issue, not the system, and if you think the government should pay for everything that's your contribution to the failure of capitalism.
John Cafe
Bega