We wish you the very best in your new adventures Denise, and there is no doubt you will often visit the heart of our great community in the future.

Memories, as a child of a small Tassie town, Meander Primary School, half a century ago. Frank Nott - an irrepressible communicator, teacher and community spirited Meander Valley councillor.

There are no saints here on Planet Earth, but there are not enough people in positions of power like you Denise and Frank.

Not enough people working alongside communities with genuine empathy and understanding, else church and state would not be grandstanding with token gestures of basic human support, while headbutting their inhuman decisions against the equity of human rights. For example: closure of low socio-economic schools, low socio-economic pre-covid lockdowns across state and country, and the list goes on, cashless welfare card stigma.

People of the Northern Suburbs of Launceston worked tirelessly shoulder to shoulder with Denise, Frank and others to finally build our long awaited new community centre, yet we are too often subjected to the outrageous belief that it was handed to us on a plate by taxpayers.

People of the Northern suburbs of Launceston fight against tyranny every day of our lives with dignity and respect.

It is unforgivable of a so-called civilised society. We have stood against tyranny of the past, we stand against tyranny of the present and we will stand against tyranny of the future. Patience is not a word to use in regard to equity within human rights.

We won't bow down, we will overcome.

IN MY opinion, the new change rooms at the Campbell Town swimming pool are completely inadequate to ensure the safety of children as young as 10-years old, who are expected to move from the pool area to a conglomeration of rooms attached to licensed premises. It is quite possible for children to meet up with men who may be intoxicated. It is now time for the office of the State Child Protection Officer to intervene in the ongoing row between the Northern Midlands Council and concerned parents, school principal and general members of the local community.

The situation is not just farcical, but very dangerous for children attending Campbell Town pool.

WHILE I commend the Tamar Yacht Club for their approach, I'm afraid to say it does not remove the silt from the river.

Even in times of flood the silt never moves much further than Dilston at best then the natural tidal flows returns it after flooding stops. It may well clean up their yacht basin, and maybe even Home Reach, but the increased flow that's needed to return it to a pristine river just isn't there, with increased domestic needs and agricultural irrigation they just don't have the water.

I WRITE to encourage the community to put in a call over Christmas to a veteran who may be isolated.

At Mates4Mates, we have seen the impact that this year has had on the mental health of many Australians, including veterans, and isolation remains a very real concern.

We can all make a difference this Christmas by taking time out to call friends and family who may be feeling isolated or who are struggling with the spotlight that's currently on Defence.

Looking after the wellbeing of veterans and their families is our key priority - but we can't do it alone.

This week, please reach out to a mate, ask how they are, and let them know that help is available. This simple act can make a real difference to someone in need.

At Mates4Mates, we've seen an increase in veterans presenting with mental health challenges this year and expect this to continue rising. Support right now, is more important than ever. For more about Mates4Mates, visit mates4mates.org or for 24-hour support, phone 1800 011 046 or 13 11 14.

AS AN Indigenous Australian who has experienced racism first-hand, I was heartened to see the BBL cricketers "take a knee" in support of the BLM movement prior to the Big Bash match on TV the other evening.

My husband, a white Australian, took a more cynical view and described this as an act of tokenism. He maintains that people really don't care about anything that doesn't directly affect them.

Both my husband and I participated in the recent Launceston Running Festival, and as I approached the finish-line in the 10km event, I stopped and "took a knee", in my own personal statement against racism.

This act went largely unnoticed and unacknowledged.

A few people who did notice me, either failed to grasp the significance of what I was doing, or expressed varying levels of disapproval, which left me with the feeling that my husband is correct in his assertion that most people have absolutely no investment in anything that doesn't have direct impact on them personally.