Our firefighting heroes
YOU don't have to go to the cinema to watch superheroes, you can see them every day in The Examiner - our firefighters. What an example of pure heroism and courage, giving up the security and comfort of their homes to attack these devastating fires threatening people's property and lives.
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Their courage is unmeasured as they brave the fury of an element set on destruction and death. In some cases their own homes are at risk and their loved ones are waiting in fear. Sadly, a young firefighter with a pregnant wife was killed fighting a monster to help others.
To volunteer to face the scorching heat and overwhelming ferocity under extremely difficult and dangerous circumstances makes them super heroes and we owe them so much.
The task ahead seems insurmountable and the area so vast but these outstanding human beings our firefighters are risking their lives with skill and vigour. No amount of praise or remuneration could ever be enough to reward them. May they always be revered and acknowledged for their incredible bravery.
Peter Doddy, Trevallyn.
Pill testing is a joke
THIS is a joke. There is no way all illegal pills can be tested.
Those who sell drugs and those who organise festival drugs and are found, should be charged with drug possession and sent to jail for a minimum of five years.
Robin Costain, South Arm.
Inflatable life jackets
INFLATABLE life jackets need to be regularly serviced to be effective. Reports indicate that a large proportion of inflatables are not being properly serviced, possibly rendering them useless.
Wearers of these inflatables have a false sense of security, that may prove fatal. Also, there is no protection for an unconscious person entering the water.
John Snooks, West Launceston.
A climate emergency
ALONG with the three letters (The Examiner, January 3), Michael Gamble's letter (The Examiner, January 2) has more than a touch of irony about it and it got me thinking about the Tamar Valley, if it were to catch fire.
At the moment, people at Launceston's headquarters at the Town Hall in St John Street are basically shut down, our of reach, at the beach, overseas, at lunch - who knows?
As with the prime minister, it would be a self-evident fact, let's say, that they would be as useless as ashtrays on motorbikes. They did, however, declare a climate emergency and, more than that, outcome zero. You would not expect them, like the PM,to be on the front line, hose in hand.
You see they are paid to lead but they are not leaders. Was it August they said climate change needed immediate and collaborative action and off they went to wherever they go, pontificating and virtue-signalling.
It is just as well Launceston isn't on fire as they would be out shaking hands or somewhere else delivering thoughts and prayers. Please do not let us catch fire or anything.
T Alen, Launceston.
Where's the empathy
THE FIVE large four wheel drives that preceded the PM into fire ravaged areas, arrived with no water, no supplies, according to locals.
Now with a bit of logical forethought, packing food and water for the locals would have shown real empathy by the PM and his minders.
Peter M. Taylor, Midway Point.
MP's expenses
THERE is no possible way that Guy Barnett could have spent only $400.09 of taxpayers money on a two day trip to the AFL grand final (The Examiner, January 4). If he did, I would like to know which airline he travelled business class with? And which hotel he stayed at?
Business class flights start at around $1000 return and I could not see Mr Barnett staying at anything less than a four-star hotel.
Let's get the facts straight Mr Barnett, what did the return flight cost? And what were the costs of accommodation and meals? Simple really, or are you going to hide behind parliamentary privilege?
Gerald Kite, Legana.
Not good enough, PM
DON'T we have a navy and an air force to evacuate people from places like Mallacoota? Only one ship and a couple of helicopters would be needed, and only some need to be evacuated. I'd hate to think what would happen if we had to evacuate a city.
Where are they going to put the many thousands of homeless people? Homes are not built in a day, and how are they going to feed them? Sorry, the refugees and casual workers, students from overseas are taking up lots of accommodation.
It is not good enough for our government first to delay help to drought farmers, then slow a response to bushfires as Scott Morrison took a holiday. He only came back after pressure from the public. Our politicians seem to be doing the UN's Midlands Project in Australia.
The worst is still to come, with reduced farm produce and price hikes. Sorry vegans, you're in the same boat as there will be no vegetables from the burned out farms and many are going to fight over the food that remains.
Shame so many livestock and animals have been burned or died, besides those who have lost their lives. To me it's murder by our government, for deaths, cruelty to livestock and the destruction of homes. I wonder how many of those lost homes have insurance as many dumping it because it's too costly to insure.
Max Christy, Shearwater.
