To everyone who donated to the ABC Giving Tree and The Examiner Empty Stocking Fund, the ABC for organising the giving tree and the quiz nights, and The Examiner for organising The Empty Stocking, Tas Independent Retailers (IGA), the school community, businesses, clubs, the Catholic community, and individual donors; we are truly thankful for your support and kindness.

The Northern region has been inundated with calls for assistance from individuals and families facing hardship over the festive season. Our members have been delivering scores of hampers that have been donated from various schools and clubs throughout Northern Tasmania as well as society-funded hampers and gifts and toys.

On behalf of the St Vincent de Paul Society in Northern Tasmania and the people that we assist I would like to wish you all a happy and blessed Christmas and best wishes for 2018.

THIS AVENUE from Hobart to Launceston was started in 1935 as a memorial to Tasmania’s pioneers.  

It was a non-continuous line of trees along the Midland Highway with plantings of exotic, deciduous, coniferous and indigenous trees. Some of those original plantings have thrived while others have struggled.  

In the 1980s a changed policy saw dense plantings of indigenous or native trees, but little has happened in the intervening period.

This makes the new plantings particularly noteworthy and it is good to see a line of conifers north of Tunbridge, safely enclosed in protective tree guards, and plantings of deciduous trees south of the airport turnoff.  

Several farmers have undertaken quite large-scale, road edge plantings which will add to the highway’s interest for travellers. Congratulations to those responsible.

ONE OF the aims of the city’s revitalisation now unfolding in Launceston, with the redevelopment of Civic Square well underway, is to make central city living more attractive. There is plenty of scope for this with first floors of most city buildings empty, but with modification these spaces could be available as housing tenancies.

One idea that might be pursued is to provide elevated footpaths above shop verandahs. Charles Street between York and Brisbane Streets lends itself to this development as also does the north-side of Brisbane Street through to The Avenue.

Such footpaths are a feature of some English towns (Chester Rows provide a fine example) and appear to work productively. Providing easy access is the key to occupation of these presently redundant spaces.

I am sure landlords would see value in this and contribute to costs.

TAXPAYER question's politician: Are you a dual citizen?

It will cost you (taxpayer) $1,000,000 plus to find out is the reply.

But the tax payer could not care less if you are a dual, triple, or quadruple citizen. Politicians are responsible for their own personal affairs legal or otherwise, likewise the taxpayer.

The prime minister should now prove his leadership by telling these politicians it is their responsibility not a taxpayer funded high court cost.

More than $11,000,000 plus at this stage for legal costs could be better used in the health system for example.

COME on Launceston, we all need to band together.

Don’t let us lose our show.

We need to show our children the animals and show ourselves too, the cakes, scones and other delicious edibles, birds of all types, hot rides for the children and older, the horses with their wonderful stride and lots of other things, which I don’t need to mention.

Please don't let us lose our show, and put it back to where it used to be with lots of space to see everything.

I HAVE watched in wonder at The Examiner’s coverage of the developmental stages of guide dogs and police dogs over the past few years.

I have kept The Examiner’s pictures of all the above in various stages of training and development and the transformation from pups to professionals is amazing.

Well done Guide Dogs Tasmania and Tasmania Police, and of course - well done puppies.

TRICKLE-DOWN economics is not working. Companies and wage earners should pay more tax. In order to create jobs by building small energy efficient houses for low-income earners.

VOTERS know all about bargain sales, Liberal government.

Goods that you should have delivered as a matter of course during your term in management, you now put on sale as “specials”. Voters also know that is pays to shop around.

COMMERCIAL kitchens are not allowed to prepare food on wooden surfaces, but some restaurants are serving food, including salads and dips on wooden boards. Is this permitted and are the boards hygienic?