SLIGHTLY over a week ago, I needed some information re printed material at Service Tasmania.

On entering the premises I was surprised to see about 30 people waiting in line.

I then headed toward the service area only to be told we don’t have an information section any more and was told to direct my enquiry to the Hobart office.

I now fully understand the word oxymoron as Service Tasmania does appear to be a perfect example of the word.

— RON BAINES, Kings Meadows.

Pathways

SOMETIMES the rigours of everyday life block our view of this amazing city that we call our home.

So to relax and unwind in Launceston, and to our great joy, we are now walking and discovering amazing new vistas along our stunning river foreshore, thanks to the ample all weather pathways, recently constructed and developing at this time.

What a great space to meet and chat with folk taking the opportunity to re-energise, and for our tourist friends who often come from places where people only dream of such things.

Well done to all concerned and please maintain this heady vision.

— DAVE GROVES, South Launceston.

Kate Warner

LIKE Barry Prismall, I too was surprised that the Tasmanian Governor, Kate Warner, had a low profile on Anzac Day.

I was also surprised to find on the second page of the program for the National Trust Heritage Festival “Conflict and Compassion”, the Governor writes that of 280 events a “highlight of this year’s Festival” will be an evening with Dan Mori, the lawyer for David Hicks.

Hicks may well have been badly treated in Guantanamo Bay but Anzac Day allows Australians to honour those who valiantly fought for their country.

To highlight the controversial Hicks who appeared to fight against his country seems bad judgement at this time.

The Taliban are not known for their compassion.

— ROBIN CLAXTON, Hillwood.

Gorse

ON THE surface the announcement by the Tamar NRM that it has released moth larvae to fight and control the weed gorse sounds great, especially when one looks at the amount of farming land that is in some case inundated with gorse.

My only concern is with the release of the larvae are we releasing something that will later come back to bite us as did the cane toad, prickly pear and the likes, that have all gone onto cause major problems, far worse than the original problems they were supposed to eliminate.

I would like to know what happened to the proposal that was going to clear gorse and make it into a product that could be used as fuel in wood burning heaters, create badly needed jobs in the Campbell Town area.

Did it lack financial or political support?

— L. CARROLL, Launceston.

Anzac

IN recent letters I still see the historically inaccurate rhetoric that Anzac’s fought for “Australian Freedom”.

This simply is not the case.

If Germany had defeated the British Empire in the First World War, Australia’s sovereignty would not have been affected as we are half a world away from Europe.

In fact, a German victory over Britain probably would have furthered Australian freedom (remember that to this day we still fly a colonial flag and remain under the British monarchy).

Also, a German victory would have meant no Nazi Party and thus no war in Europe and Africa after 1939 – a war yet more Australians died in.

Oh, and on a side note, if it weren't for the dissection of the Ottoman Empire by Britain and France post-WWI, we most likely would not have Al-Qaeda and ISIS today.

— CODY HANDLEY, Hadspen.

Justice

A FIVE year sentence for pushing a lady so she falls and dies seems a mockery of justice.

But what will that sentence achieve?

Will that person, with a history of anti social behaviour, emerge from prison a reformed character?

Will others be deterred from similar unprovoked actions of violence?

Obviously the answer is no.

It will cost the community hundreds of thousands of dollars to keep him incarcerated and ultimately will achieve nothing positive.

It will not even assuage those affected by his actions as they will consider the sentence too light.

The whole justice system needs reappraising.

Yes, some individuals do need to be isolated from the community, but why not fit them with ankle devices that can track them and sentence them to home detention?

Spend the money on an attempt to reform, retrain or do something positive with this person rather than keep him locked up at huge expense.

Money spent on social workers looks better value than being spent on prison guards etc.

Prison is the easy but ineffective and expensive answer.

— JOHN COULSON, Dilston.

RSL

I WRITE in response to an article written by Barry Prismall in (The Examiner, April 28).

Mr Prismall’s article is full of incorrect assumptions and considered derogatory to say the least.

Prior to his article being published, Mr Prismall spoke with RSL Tasmania president Robert Dick and was given the correct information and reasoning as to why the former Governor of Tasmania, Mr William Cox gave the Anzac Day address at the Hobart Cenotaph.

In full knowledge of the facts, Mr Prismall still chose to write his misguided article which inferred the current Governor was snubbed or that she was not asked to give the address because she is a woman.

This is an appalling assumption on his part.

The Centenary of Anzac commemorations have been in the planning stages for the past two years.

RSL Tasmania deemed it very appropriate to invite Mr William Cox to give the Anzac Day address as he had a direct link to the Centenary, which was that his father served on the Western Front in WWI and was awarded the Military Cross.

At the time of planning the 2015 event, there was no information on who our new Governor would be.

For reasons of protocol and courtesy RSL Tasmania State Branch approached Government House well in advance in regards to Mr Cox giving the address.

Mr Cox himself did not accept our invitation to be the speaker until such time as a new Governor was appointed and both RSL Tasmania and Mr Cox were assured that Her Excellency, Professor The Honourable Kate Warner AM had no objection or issue with the address being given by Mr Cox.

Mr Prismall’s reference to the RSL’s anger about the late Governor, the Honourable Peter Underwood’s address last year is yet another assumption.

At the time the RSL’s view was made clear in that Mr Underwood had the right to express his opinion.

And Mr Prismall’s statement “Perhaps the RSL is wary of this new woman at Government House, with no apparent military ties.

Maybe it’s wary of her gender and academic background?”

How chauvinistic.

The RSL has come a long way, Mr Prismall.

There have been a female state president and female state chief executives.

I myself have been chief executive of RSL Tasmania for the past 10 years and just recently the RSL National Office appointed its new chief executive – yes, a woman.

Your comments are derogatory and insulting, not only to Her Excellency, but to those ladies who devote their career to the work of the RSL.

Lest We Forget

The RSL conducted Anzac Day services in 67 locations around the state on Anzac Day.

Mr Prismall should perhaps consider recognising this enormous effort by volunteers rather than bringing the RSL’s name into disrepute with his misguided assumptions.

— NOELEEN LINCOLN, RSL Tasmania branch, chief executive officer.