Inconsiderate world
Let's just pause and think for a moment.
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Are we on the wrong path when so-called sporting heroes are being paid obscene amounts of money and the true heroes in society, the doctors, scientists, nurses, paramedics, educators and so on get very little in comparison?
When the COVID-19 mayhem passes because a laboratory of hard-working researchers somewhere discovers the way to treat this medical dilemma, I sincerely hope that we become more compassionate members of the human race, and that we instantly rejoice and start to do something constructive about the inequities in this very bizarre and inconsiderate world we live in.
Geof Maher, Bournda
A perfect fit
Congratulations to our Mayor Kristy McBain on receiving the endorsement of Anthony Albanese as the Labor candidate for Eden-Monaro. They make a perfect fit. Ms McBain has been the leader of our profligate and inept council with Mr Albanese the leader of the profligate and equally inept ALP.
Terry Mellington, Mirador
Pre-emptive burning
Eden was very fortunate to avoid damage from last summer's fires for which we are all very grateful. There is still a large area of unburned bushland near and around Eden. My question is, are there any plans for hazard reduction burns for these areas before the threat of more fires during the next fire season which is fast approaching.
Bill Porter, Eden
Riding out the storm
(To the tune of The Doors song)
Riding out the storm.
If you're old, spend time at home -
you can gossip on the phone.
If you're young, you should play fair -
please don't poison someone's air,
riding out the storm.
Download the App that traces
those half-forgotten faces.
We're on the same hard road,
so try to tote your load,
riding out the storm,
until we're right out of the storm.
Michael Quinlan, Pambula Beach
Commit to climate
For this year's Mother's Day, other than a cuppa in bed and a tiny bit of silence, my wish is for the Australian government to take genuine action on climate change. If the government took the leadership necessary at this crucial time, then we as parents across Australia, could continue to raise our children and know that they will have a future worth living for.
You see, a mother's basic instinct is to protect her young. Yet our roles are threatened when the government continues to act against well-established climate science. We are unable to protect and secure our children's futures when our government exacerbates the effects of climate change by delaying the much-needed decarbonisation of the country.
This Mother's Day, forget the flowers - I want the government to commit to shift the post-COVID-19 economy to a cleaner, safer one: zero emissions by 2030, with stimulus spending on job-creating climate-positive projects.
Laurel Waddell and Rachel Schofield, Bega Valley - Australian Parents for Climate Action
Saving lives
It's wonderful that governments are now making saving citizens' lives their main priority. Next, I'm looking forward to a strictly enforced speed limit on all Australian roads of 30kmh. This will save 1000 lives a year and not just the lives of septuagenarians like me but of children and young people.
Sure, there will be some economic disruptions and some dislocation to our daily lives, but that will be nothing to a society that has embraced the loss of hundreds of thousands of jobs, the destruction of thousands of small businesses, the closure of schools and our enforced separation from our families and loved ones.
John Scott, Bega
Guiding lights
On International Guide Dog Day (April 29), we at Guide Dogs Australia say an extra-special thanks to our wonderful guide dogs for the life changing work they continue to do amid unprecedented global challenges.
Guide Dog Day was created to celebrate the important role guide dogs play in helping people with low vision or blindness lead safe and independent lives, and this year it takes on a new meaning.
It's clear that the comfort and companionship a guide dog provides has never been more essential for, or cherished by handlers.
The coronavirus pandemic has understandably presented challenges to us as an organisation but the welfare of Guide Dogs clients and our dogs is always our number one priority, so we've simply had to find ways to solve these challenges.
This has meant supporting clients through phone calls, video conferences, email and social media, while our trainers have been busy setting up obstacle courses at our campuses, or training dogs from home, so they can continue getting our guide dogs-in-training ready to change lives.
It's not been easy, but we've made it work, and for that I extend a heartfelt thankyou to all Guide Dogs team members and volunteers.
Recent weeks have also been a chance to dig into the community spirit we've been building into our organisation over more than 60 years, so I want to thank everyone who has extended their support to Guide Dogs and helped us continue our work during this very difficult time.