Letters to the editor | February 12, 2021

This includes 1972 Olympic medalist Danny Clarke, Ron Grenda, Micheal Grenda, Graeme Gilmore and many more.

As an early budding signwriter I remember writing signs for Jack Kinnane's six-day bike race at York Park, and watched Ron Grenda face off against Melbourne champion "The Perfect Pedaling Peter Panton".

I was in heaven with free tickets mixing among the Australian champions.

And now another Richie Porte, it will never make up for your hours of dedicated hard slog training, but an acknowledgement of your wonderful achievements.

Your Tour de France successes has put Launceston on the world stage.

At the age of 36 you are just reaching your top level of stamina and keep it up.

Well done, Richie Porte, you make an old totally local proud, along with all of Launceston.

PERHAPS we don't need to replace the two Spirit ferries?

Maybe we just need an additional Incat ferry for the summer season?

The vomit comet at 73 metres was too short and pitchy to be comfortable, but a ferry at 130 metres would be just the ticket.

IT WAS sad to hear that Sir Tom Moore (England) has died.

His was the single most inspirational story during 2020 and into 2021.

An ordinary, good man who captured our world, making us believe that simple, kind acts and values still exist.

Such a loss of a wonderful man.

But what a legacy, which will exist forever, throughout history.

I REMEMBER witnessing the cruelty in duck shooting first hand at Moulting Lagoon a few years ago when two shooter dogs had a live duck between them in their mouths, each dog was repeatedly pulling at this poor wounded duck, which was totally unable to free itself (The Examiner, February 7).

The duck was not dead and experienced excruciating pain for many minutes until the stronger dog managed to pull the poor injured duck free.

Two individual shooters were in charge of these dogs, but not one came forward to separate the dogs or rescue the duck and properly kill it to put it out of its agony.

I believe duck shooting is aggressively cruel, as witnessed by this incident, and should be banned in Tasmania.

Such cruelty has no place in Tasmania in this era and it has been proven if people are cruel to animals, then they will more than likely be cruel to human beings such as in domestic violence and child sexual abuse.

TASMANIAN Labor party members claim they will be standing for a seat in our next state election.

Two points for urgent consideration by voters: Firstly, many voters will challenge this statement. Why? Rumours abound, Rebecca White will not lead Labor in the next election.

There are several members secretly working with their advisors behind the scenes to achieve the Labor leadership.

Several mayors may manoeuvre to occupy a seat. At least three incumbent mayors will be jockeying for a parliamentary seat.

Two at least from Labor ranks.

And secondly. It's true the Liberals are little better, however, the Premier Peter Gutwein has shown extraordinary common sense in keeping us safe during the COVID pandemic and should be rewarded with another term in office. Sarah Courtney (Liberal) along with Madeline Ogilvie (independent) should both be returned, they are both acting responsibly. Dyed-in-the-wool Labor voters and union members will vote for this group. Would rank and file electors seriously place their trust and their future in this group? Josh Willie and Alison Standen offer some hope. We need to be vigilant when going to the polls.

BASS MHR Bridget Archer smiles from her billboards like a loved kindergarten teacher.

But she represents a government that protects vaccine skeptics, climate change quacks, and science deniers.

A government that, when (occasionally) challenged by the Labor party, demands that difficult questionnaires be "no longer heard", abusing an obsolete rule intended to stop MPs speaking for hours.

Bridget Archer is just a cog in a nasty machine, serving a party full of the sort of people Donald Trump would have been proud to serve alongside.

She really needs to stand up for her constituents, as America has shown us the deadly results of unchecked idiocy.

AT LAST councillor Hugh McKenzie has asked the pertinent question over the siltation of the upper reaches of the Tamar Estuary.

Proven methods of reclamation such as Mowbray Swamp to Heritage Forest by then reserves manager Bill Goodman can be forthcoming when next you visit Bridport Golf Club, Hugh.