Gough
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THERE I was in the Hobart Mall 40 years ago and there he was vigorously shaking my hand in an unsolicited act of misplaced camaraderie.
It was, of course, the great ‘Gough’ himself.
When really just being brushed by the hem of his garment would have been sufficient.
— MICHAEL SCOTT, South Hobart.
Liberal Party
ERIC Abetz has served Tasmania well but the further disruption to the Liberal Party by yet more questions about the leadership challenge are extremely unhelpful.
The electorate and the majority of the party have moved on.
If Mr Abetz and Corey Bernardi haven't, they should.
— TED PRETTY, Relbia.
Laser
AFTER watching the Southern Cross News, I, like many others jumped in the car and travelled to Sheffield to watch the fabulous laser show.
What a fizzer.
Might as well have stood on the steps of The Examiner office and shone a torch towards Mt Roland.
It would probably have shown up better.
— N.R. BURDON, Youngtown.
Help Australians first
W.J. GREER (Letters, November 10) obviously doesn’t read my letters properly, otherwise he/she would realise that I’ve never once said that genuine asylum seekers or refugees are not welcome here.
All I’ve ever said is that we should be looking after our own people first, before we help those proven to be genuine boat people.
Please note W.J. Greer, the two magic words you’ve always conveniently failed to read are first, and before, as in, “we should be helping any Australian first, before we help people proven to be genuine boat people.”
— CARMEN FRELEK, Launceston.
Gnomes
THANK you everyone who supported our campaign highlighting the dire need for the landscaping of the Launceston Airport entry/exit roundabout on Monday, November 9.
The horn toots, thumbs up and waves from passing traffic witnessed as we three gnomes perched on our toadstools with picket signs was very encouraging, as was the support shown by airport management.
This campaign is not just a gnomey storm in a teacup.
This will be a relentless ongoing campaign that will only end when the newly landscaped roundabout is launched and celebrated.
Please support the campaign by contacting your local state MPs and in particular minister Rene Hidding’s office.
Let them know this is a matter of extreme importance in Northern Tasmania.
We must give visitors to our region a welcoming greeting, not the ugly site of a poorly landscaped road infrastructure item.
If action is not forthcoming from the Department of State Growth within three weeks we will return with the next phase of our component of the airport roundabout landscaping improvement campaign.
— GNOMERAIN, GNOMELIZ and GNOMEFEE.
Teddy Sheean
ON behalf of Teddy Sheean’s nephew, Garry Ivory, can I thank the people of Tasmania for their tremendous support for the petition regarding a posthumous Victoria Cross for Teddy.
We have attended concerts, dances, morning teas and street stalls with the aim of gathering signatures to urge the British admiralty to reconsider its recognition of Teddy.
Next week I will be tabling this petition in the Tasmanian Parliament after which it will be forwarded to the UK.
In addition to writing to Prince Harry, I also took the opportunity to write to Prince Charles this week, who was recently touring Australia.
Hopefully Teddy’s bravery will strike a chord with him given his five years’ service in the Royal Navy.
The extremely positive feedback from Tasmanians give us confidence that Teddy Sheean’s heroism may finally be recognised.
— GUY BARNETT MP and GARRY IVORY.
Water flows
DICK JAMES is spot on calling for increased Cataract Gorge water flows in an effort to revitalise not only Launceston’s waterways but the city itself calling for Launceston alderman to get ‘more cantankerous’ in pursuit of increased flows (The Examiner, November 12).
In defence of Launceston City Council they ‘have' exerted pressure on Hydro Tasmania on a number of occasions, particularly in their submission to Hydro’s last Cataract Gorge Environmental Flow Review (now well overdue for another one) under the guidance of late Deputy Mayor Jeremy Ball.
It is the state government, Hydro’s masters, who should be applying the pressure to Hydro Tasmania to increase Gorge flows however while they continue to reap the rich financial rewards they do from Hydro’s enormous profits each year can we realistically, and cynically, expect them to take steps to do this at the cost of a reduced revenue; who really cares about a dying river anyway?
It is us, the voting public, as well as Launceston and bordering councils, who should get cantankerous, and very much so, but with our state government insisting ‘they' take firm steps to ensure Hydro Tasmania increase Cataract Gorge flows.
— JIM COLLIER, Legana
Leukaemia
ON behalf of the Leukaemia Foundation and Tasmanian families affected by blood cancer, I would like to thank the local team behind Launceston’s stunning Light the Night event on October 9.
For the first time in Light the Night’s eight year history, almost 100 walks were organised in cities and towns across the country, giving more Australians the chance to shine this spring.
The success of the event which has raised over $6600 in vital funds is a credit to the dedication and hard work of those community supporters, led by host Jacki Martin, who volunteered their efforts to make the night possible.
With a local attendance of more than 200 people, I would like to thank the community who participated by carrying a lantern and giving generously to the Launceston walk.
Your support will go a long way in helping to create a brighter future for people with blood cancer.
We all need a little light in our lives.
This sentiment couldn’t ring truer for more than 238 Tasmanians expected to be diagnosed with leukaemia, lymphoma, myeloma and related blood disorders this year.
The money you’ve raised will mean the Leukaemia Foundation can give them the free emotional and practical support they need, and drive important research to find the cures of tomorrow.
Thanks to Light the Night supporters in Tasmania, so far over $38,662 has been raised towards the shared goal of $1.5 million nationally this year.
We encourage your readers that it’s not too late to be part of this inspiring event.
You can continue support for the Launceston Light the Night by searching for and making a donation to community host Jacki Martin at lightthenight.org.au or by calling 1800 500 088.
As the Leukaemia Foundation receives no ongoing government funding, we can’t thank you enough for helping to continue our important work.
— STEPHANIE HECHENBERGER, Leukaemia Foundation, Tasmania general manager.
Voting age
IN response to Steve Rodgers - Lower voting age (The Examiner, November 11) who opens in his letter saying “the polls don’t look all that flash for Labor or the Greens, so now give seven or 17 year olds the vote” May I say.
These comments mirror the opening remarks in the Editorial “Shorten wants to tap new voters” (The Examiner, November 4).
First, of the 500,000 young Australians (“who are more likely to boost the fortunes of his political party than the Liberals),” I suggest, to make this claim with figures never having been compiled?
To justify such a statement is quite unacceptable.
For Mr Rodgers to claim 70 per cent of under 25 or 30 year olds having little knowledge of government members (and workings) is ignorant.
As a father of three, and one who has over many years marvelled at the wisdom, and capacity of most 16 and 17 year olds, to comprehend and deal with much of life’s challenges, including who to vote for (in all three levels of Government).
These young adults deserve, and indeed may grasp the opportunity in accepting the leader of the Opposition Bill Shorten’s “thought bubble” to be part of galvanising interest in Australian politics among younger Australians.
— SYD EDWARDS, Launceston.
Gay marriage
WHAT right have people to say we all agree with this. We do not all agree with gay marriage.
Stop trying to push us all into your mind-set.
How many people I wonder in that crowd down in Hobart were actually from Tasmania?
Looking at the size, it would seem that many had been imported from the mainland to boost the numbers.
If so how wrong would that be?
But for sure, God knows for in Galatians ch:6vs7 we are clearly told: Do not be deceived, God is not mocked. For whatever a man may sow, that he will also reap.
If gay marriage is passed in this state, watch out.
— VERONICA DAVIES, Beaconsfield.