Letters to the editor, January 2

I trust Andrew that they were electronic calculators though, as with the repeal of the carbon tax our new-found bargain basement bills prove that electricity is indeed the “power of the people”. 

In fact my bill has improved so much I now leave all lights on in the house 24 hours a day so that I feel I’m doing my bit to help “Smokin Joe” with his budget.

Thanks also to PM Abbott for some recent comments which helped solve my dilemma as to what to buy my wife for Christmas. 

After Tony’s words of wisdom (forget frankincense this Wise Man brings common sense) I raced out and bought her a new iron and an ironing board.

Let’s face it, money is no object now thanks to the demise of that great big tax!

So a Happy New Year to you Andrew and I look forward to more helpful gestures on your part assisting Team Australia to remove the barnacles (and the bilge water).

Trevor Mace

Tathra

On Tuesday a large supermarket chain placed a one page advertisement in a metropolitan newspaper stating that it was capping its Sydney fuel price at $1.14 a litre. 

If it can set its price for Sydney why can't it roll out lower prices for the country regions?

From the Australian Institute of Petroleum site it states that the cost of freight for country fuel is between 1.5 to 4 cents a litre greater than for city delivery. 

At Tathra our new independent operator is only charging $134.9 for ULP. 

However, some 18km away at Bega the service stations are still charging around $1.49 a litre for ULP. 

Compared to the present low Sydney prices we should be only paying around $1.20 a litre.

Col Goodacre

Tathra

Editor’s note: Fuel prices were correct at the time of the author’s submission, but may have since changed.

I was pleased to see the Bega District News story concerning a public apology for Muriel Campbell (23/12).

The background to this story is complex, harrowingly over-long, and very sad, and your public disclosure moves in the direction of justice. 

Thank you. 

However, it now seems clear that there is compelling need for defamation law to be examined. 

I have long admired the compassionate wisdom and humanity of Franciscan Sister Laurel Lloyd-Jones, whose Good Samaritan act on behalf of Muriel Campbell rests at the heart of this matter and – in my opinion - justice will never be done (or seen to be done) until Laurel, herself, is also granted a public apology.

Ian McFarlane

Wallaga Lake

Regarding the article on Councillor Tony Allen being ordered to apologise for a code of conduct breach (BDN, 23/12), it would appear a personal vendetta is underway.  

How unjust can it get?

I was there in 2006 at both meetings with the family.   

John Manns and Don Wells were also present at the supposedly contentious second meeting.  

Cr Allen did nothing but support and assist the family and he should not be apologising to anyone.

Thank you for coming to Bermagui to assist a family in need of help Cr Allen. 

Thank you for the assistance you gave.   

Sorry for the problems it has caused for you.

It is fascinating that after two meetings in 2006 (with thanks for actions taken from the family),   the second 2006 meeting suddenly became a controversial issue three years later in 2009.

Now in 2014 it is an issue again despite a defamation case being won by Cr Allen with costs and damages awarded to him in relation to the matter.

I wait with interest for the next move!

Janette Neilson

Deputy Mayor Bega Valley Shire 2005-08

After reading and re-reading the letter by Ivor Williams (BDN, 4/12) I was gobsmacked. 

Could this man be for real? 

His unbelievable comparison of a woman's interest in grooming and its link to domestic violence was so far from reality I just had to reply. 

Mr Williams’ letter is inflammatory and grossly incorrect and I was initially surprised that this could be published in our local newspaper. 

Then I was reminded that this is why we have freedom of speech laws in our society. 

So that dangerous, lazy, chauvinistic and narrow minded people can be heard...and outed. 

Therefore the rest of us can be aware that attitudes like Mr Williams' still exist and that women and children in real horrific domestic violent situations are exposed to dinosaurs like Mr Williams - still. 

I'm glad he spoke out. 

We can now reply and show him to be the sexist man he is. 

To insinuate that women trap men into marriage, that a woman's place in life is to cook for a man and if she doesn't she shouldn't be surprised if there is violence in the home, is sending a message to our community that has been proven by many academics, domestic violence community workers and professionals as wrong. 

Plain and simple. 

To make light of domestic violence and that women are the reasons for the violence is dangerous and shows how out of touch he is. 

Ivor, men can cook, clean, wash clothes, make beds, as well as work. 

So do women. 

In the 21st Century we strive for equality and people like you are left in the past. 

If you want suggestions about how to change things Ivor, start by giving the amazing Women’s Resource Centre in Bega a call. 

They will give you “solutions” you so keenly desire. 

As long as they still exist, funding cuts are a real issue right now. 

Violence towards women and children in the home is illegal and should be dealt with by the law, it’s that serious Ivor. 

To link a woman's disinterest in cooking with domestic violence is idiotic and ignorant. 

I just hope vulnerable families in our community did not read your letter. 

Thank you for bringing to the broader community that people like yourself exist and we still need to support wholeheartedly women and children affected by domestic violence.

Michelle Wilkie

Tanja

How much is a child’s life worth?

 How much are an entire family’s lives worth?

 How much has BVSC spent on consultants and their reports over the years?

How much have Phil and Linda O’Neil paid in property rates since the tragedy that took the lives of their and grandsons?

Today’s front page reporting of the InConsult’s risk assessment and costs to mitigate same at Merimbula and Tathra wharves has raised my ire to the extent that I have to write. 

To “reduce chances if someone accidentally falling over the edge” would cost $10,000 per wharf!

Come on council – this is a no brainer!

Historical value be damned!

Where was the historical value when you decided to spend millions to destroy the character of Bega by allowing  the Woolworths monolith to alter our Town Hall and Littleton Gardens?

The Tathra Wharf is a tourist attraction – buses take people in wheelchairs down there.

Even I, who am getting unsteady on my feet as I get older, would not be game to risk my life by walking on the wharf in case I tripped and fell.

A simple barrier to save lives need not stop fishermen throwing their lines through or over it.

Had it been a relative of a councillor or staff who had lost their life, how long would it have taken for the fence to be erected?

Perhaps we – as a caring community – should start a fund to pay for the erection of a safety fence and put  our councillors and their consultants to shame.

Elvie Preo

Bega

I found out how to remove sticky tape from my Akai music box was to remove a fair bit with a safety blade and scrape away with it, and then use a tissue and spray it with Pea Beu insect killer and it comes up new.

Try it; you can kill the insects with it and clean your stereo cover as well.

Mick Ahkin

Bega