Remain vigilant
It was encouraging to see the acknowledgement and apology for the institutionally abused children given today by our Prime Minister. But what about others who were abused by their family or friends or neighbours outside institutions?
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Today will bring back many unwanted memories for these formerly abused children, especially those brought up during the time that “children were to be seen but not heard”.
During the 1940s my mother had to cope with the loss of a husband through war overseas, no funeral, and later her five-year-old daughter being sexually abused more than once by a male neighbour. No counselling was available then.
Yes we must be vigilant and protect those unable to protect themselves, young or old.
Wendy Elliott, Tathra
Important reporting
I would hope that as the magistrate denied a suppression order on the case of a convicted paedophile, that your paper will always place what is happening in this case.
I feel it very important for the Bega people, myself included, that we know all that is happening as this evil person was trying to get it hushed.
He is a clever person and we must hope that he gets the lengthy sentence he deserves. He has given a life sentence to our young persons.
Name and address supplied
Fuel price ripoff
Fuel prices, what a ripoff. Went to Eden the other day, called into Caltex Servo for premium 98 petrol $1.80; 100 meters down the highway Shell Servo, same octane $1.75 a litre; and further down the highway Independent Servo $1.72.
I believe petrol is petrol. I am told in the country from town to town prices vary because of transport fees, well if that’s the case figure this. When I lived in Kirrawee (Sutherland Shire) the servo at Kurnell’s petrol was dearer than that at Kirrawee and Kurnell is a stone's throw from the oil refinery. Go figure!
J Firmin, Millingandi
Bike path flawed
When the proposed route of the bike path in Bega Street, Tathra was first revealed, there was a strong upwelling of public opposition, debate on social media and direct engagement between residents and ratepayers and some councillors, not only because of the failure of council to engage with the community on its intentions, but because of major concerns over the loss of amenity and increased public risk.
The Bega Valley Shire Residents and Ratepayers Association believes the negative reaction to the initial proposal that prompted council to agree to examine alternate routes should have been evidence enough that the original proposal should have been abandoned altogether and not left on the table as an option.
As it is, the community is being asked to make a call between a proposal that is strongly opposed by residents and ratepayers who will be negatively affected on the one hand, and an alternate proposal which has apparently not prompted the same strong opposition, simply because it does not impact the same number.
The BVSRRA believes that council’s consultation process on the issue is fundamentally flawed, in that it is really conducting a popularity poll where one of the proposed alternatives has already been discredited, rather than confirming that it has identified a better alternative.
So, why would council pursue the issue on that basis?
The BVSRRA believes that council’s “consultation” process is really just part of its public damage control response to the strong public criticism of its original proposal and its failure to consult with the community prior to making its decision to pursue that proposal.