Virus and the AFL
HERE are just four suggestions to improve the health and safety concerns for the footy players.
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1. Ban sharing of drink bottles. If players need a drink, wait until they are on the interchange bench and use their personalised drink bottles. It would also keep the trainers off the field.
2. Stop spitting and the televising thereof. An unhealthy, disgusting habit (yuk!).
3. Spread the field out by having a minimum of three and a maximum of six players from each team in each of the 50-metre sectors of the field. This would stop much of the congestion of players and provide a better brand of football for spectators.
4. Stop the current version of the team huddling together and 'singing' their club song. On a scale of zero to 10, I would give them a quarter. Who wants a fifth quarter like that?
Stephen Watson, Norwood.
Fragrance fits in fine
I WAS dumbfounded to read the letters about the new Fragrance Hotel from Jim Collier (The Examiner, May 13) and Jiri Lev (The Examiner, May 14).
Both writers were condemning the design of this building as it doesn't fit into the area. The new building incorporates the older facade of the buildings, which the developer had to do. I can't believe they could criticise this building and in the same letters mention other concrete monoliths like Henty House as being OK. This concrete monolith would have to be the ugliest building in Launceston.
One thing that worries me is the statement that there will be objections to this development, but was not sure who by at the moment. Let's hope this development gets going as soon as possible.
Cyril Patmore, Poatina.
Quid Pro Quo
I AM beginning to feel used.
The fishing and tourist industries are now imploring Tasmanians to support them during these difficult times. This is a sentiment I earnestly support but there has to be a bit of give and take here as well.
For years the closest most of us ever got to a crayfish was drooling over a glossy marketing advertisement directed to an empyrean world way beyond our own. There are generations of Tasmanians who have never will never taste a crayfish let alone abalone. Nor can we afford holidays within our state.
I once managed to fly to Naxos in the Greek Islands, stay for a week in delightful accommodation and fly home for less than the cost of six nights in an average stay in my home state.
Added to this the unfettered growth of Airbnb denuding our suburbs of its people, and the catastrophic impact on rents has long been a festering issue with seemingly little compassion or understanding by the sector or government.
I will certainly heed the call and offer what support I can to our fishers and inn keepers but once this is over, I think we can rightly expect something in return.
Perhaps a quota of specialist seafood being set aside for locals to enjoy, a solid discount for holiday accommodation and a firm cap on visitor accommodation.
Gandhi, of course, expressed these sentiments far more aptly: "Be the change that you wish to see in the world".
Ian Broinowski, Battery Point.
Vale Jack Mundey
VALE Jack Mundey, who passed away at the age of 90, best known for leading the Green Ban movement to prevent parts of historical Sydney, including The Rocks and Woolloomooloo from redevelopment during the 1970s.
More recently, he was involved in inner-Sydney, protesting against the demolition of the Sirius building.
Tasmania, due to a lack of redevelopment monies during the 1960s and 1970s, was saved from the wrecking ball of so called "progress", but a reinvigorated development lobby, aided by a proposed major projects bill, may have a Brisbane Deen Bros Demolition effect on our unique heritage and quality of life.
Thanks, Jack, for your vision and immense humanity.
Kenneth Gregson, Swansea.
Union bashing
SO it was the Builders Labourers Federation who are to blame for our manufacturing industry being lost overseas, says Rod Force (The Examiner, May 19).
Also, Jack Mundey's motivation was to stop the developers from making a profit. This is sounding more revisionist fairy tale than a fair assessment of the times and of Mundey. They were called Green Bans for a reason, Rod. Above all else it is the generalisation of unions and unionists as bad that really rankles with this type of comment. Mundey had serious integrity.
He believed in limited tenure for union officials and stepped down after his term was over. He was eventually banned from the union by Norm Gallagher - now there is a real baddie and a completely different class of human being to Mundey. Nor were the developers and the NSW Government at the time a shining example of exemplary conduct.
Bottom line, overseas manufacturing will continue because, with those who wish to maximise profits, there is always a bottom line.
In the meantime, ripping off lower paid workers by some national franchises and other well known corporations has gone largely unpunished and significant chunks of our environmental and architectural heritage have been lost or are under threat.