I was saddened to read the comment made by Allen Collins (BDN, 1/7) that “it’s a terrible thing to say, but the man and his children should not have been on the wharf”.

This is a terrible thing to say – it suggests blame and I think to do this is reprehensible.

Mr Collins would be aware, as most others are, that the wharf - or should I correctly say “fishing platform”- looks friendly and benign when the sea is calm, but at other times it looks positively dangerous.

He would also know that when the sea is wild, the wharf attracts people in their dozens to take in the spectacle – huge swells and crashing waves.

At times like these, families with young children are on the wharf with a false sense of security.

The question I would ask Mr Collins is “what is he doing to protect these children?”

Paul Cozens

Tathra

Not the issue

Some of the anti-fence lobby at the Tathra wharf are reducing the issue to good or bad parenting.

Have you ever heard of anything more self-righteous? 

Show me a public facility where kids are given the benefit of the doubt where safety is concerned.

Other objections include history or aesthetics. 

The only real beauty to be had on the Tathra wharf is looking out to sea. 

The under structure is extremely unattractive against the cliff backdrop and romanticising its history has nothing to do with the issue at hand.

John Cafe

Bega

Inherent danger

While I have the utmost sympathy for the families affected by the tragic event at Tathra wharf it would seem little will be gained by trying to shift some of the blame and responsibility to the council by having them install a fence. 

I have yet to see one of these fences jump in and save someone. 

On the contrary a fence would only attract children to climb up so if they fell over the fence even worse. 

There is only one solution - child supervision.

Otherwise you may as well fence the whole foreshore, the beach and any other area with inherent dangers.

Rick Seigers

Tathra

Yes Minister

Yes, Minister, this is the same Andrew McPherson from Kalaru who made "a number of negative comments about your interaction with people in the electorate". 

Last week's "Hendy Report" was an interesting response.

I've heard there is a photo of the Minister at the opening of the Bega bypass. 

My grandparents were at the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. 

Like the Minister and the bypass, Grandma and Grandpa had nothing to do with the building of the bridge.

Yes, Minister, this is the same Andrew McPherson from Kalaru who sent an email to your office on December 21 last year.

Yes, Minister, I did ask you to "cease and desist" sending me surveys, mail outs, propaganda, brochures, emails and so on last December.

What is beyond rich is the Minister for Queanbeyan's claim "after I had been in communication with him" - "him" being me. 

Yes, a survey is a type of communication. 

So is an ad on TV. 

The fact is I only received this "communication" (survey) because my name was on the electoral roll.  

Today I read the 40-page summary of the recent Federal Budget. 

Surprise, surprise, but not one mention of the New Colombo Plan. 

"That plan was funded in the budget"…where? In the fine print somewhere?

I am consoled by the fact that single term Federal MPs receive little in the way of entitlements from us.

Andrew McPherson

Kalaru