Through adversity
I have always been the type of person who turns a negative into a positive, such as becoming a sensible and considerate driver when my five-year-old nephew was killed in a car accident while I was on my 'L' plates 1000km away and a lifetime in the past.
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Like every single member of the human race, I am currently dealing with the dilemma of the COVID-19 virus, again from a distance. The Bega Valley seems a relatively safe haven when one compares our locale with living in close quarters like a city high-rise or a cruise ship. Out of this nightmare, we might just be forced to wake up to ourselves as a species and no longer carry on in the selfish manner of the past.
There will be a new world after this. It might be a world where people of all religions and political persuasions are accepted by each other, where our politicians don't carry on like spoilt brats and actually set a good example to the rest of us and truly lead, where we see the importance of nature and don't continue to destroy what we've been given in this stunning planet of ours.
We might be forced to put away the gadgetry we have become so reliant upon and look at each other in the eye rather than the incessant heads down, stop being glued to miniature screens of connectivity and start to be properly connected again, to look up through an unpolluted atmosphere to the sky and dream of what might be beyond.
Often from adversity we experience growth. I sincerely hope we show ourselves as true champions through this nightmare and become what many just a few months ago would not have thought possible...a race with humility, compassion and higher intelligence, striving for a future that is better and far more positive than that which we were heading towards until very recently.
Geof Maher, Bournda
Petrol price gouging
World petroleum prices are tumbling and wouldn't you know it, Bega residents are still paying $1.49.9 while its 10 cents cheaper down the road in Pambula! This is blatant price gouging by our local suppliers and should be looked into by our members of Parliament and Fair Trading NSW!
Michael Rogers, Brogo
Fair dinkum idea
The chaos in supermarkets is despicable so I would like to make a small suggestion.
I know from many years of lecturing and teaching that music and pictures of those doing it tough have a very positive effect on people. I would suggest that during all this chaos supermarkets on their sound systems play music like "Hey True Blue " and "He Aint Heavy He's my Brother".
Not sure if supermarkets have visuals people can see to accompany the songs.
Also the PM's message about all this being un-Australian - people have short attention spans so reinforcing these messages continually is like teaching children. It has to be repetitive till it becomes a habit.
We are all in the same sinking boat so let's all paddle and help each other to afloat.
Many people died to make this country what it "was". Respect them and do the right thing. Think about older people like your grandparents and those less well-off and act accordingly. "Love thy neighbour" which is what rural areas have always done. If a friend or neighbour had problems everyone used to pitch in.
Start thinking with your heart and not your head because it is a better barometer of who you are as a person.
PS: What puzzles me is toilet paper frenzy. Coronavirus is a respiratory issue and has nothing to do with your rear end?
Frank Pearce, Bega
Not all heroes wear capes
Today's new heroes standing at the belt buckle should undoubtedly include all the staff at our supermarket. They are in the front line of community involvement and we couldn't survive without them. Up there with the firefighters.