With reference to 'Labor blasts Premier Gladys Berejiklian for claims NSW is not good at making trains' (Herald, August 27), NSW was once very good at making trains.
These trains include the Tangara trains made in Newcastle by Goninan from the late 1980s that are still in use in Sydney, the older V Sets used between Central and Newcastle Interchange that were made in Sydney, the Millenium trains and the OSCAR trains.
Victoria has been making for nearly 20 years their own V'locity trains for regional Victoria. They are manufactured by Bombardier at its Dandenong workshops in Melbourne, with the help of a number of apprentices.
Melbourne's trams are also made in Melbourne.
Many of Perth's electric trains were made in Maryborough in Queensland.
Future Perth trains will be built in a new West Australian manufacturing site. This site will also make new railcars for the regional Australind service.
However, the current NSW government does not have a monopoly on getting its trains made overseas, as the first order for the Waratah electric trains used in Sydney was placed by a Labor state government.
These trains were mostly made overseas with final assembly, testing and commissioning done at Cardiff.
Whether NSW can get back to making its trains and trams in NSW remains to be seen.
Dr Philip Laird, University of Wollongong
Everyone needs good neighbours
READING Jeff Corbett's column ('That real empty feeling', Opinion 22/8) reminded me of when my parents Gwen and Carl used to be Jeff's next-door neighbours.
My parents could not have had better neighbours with Jeff doing repairs to dad's lawnmower and odd jobs plus Jeff's wife would now and then drop in a freshly baked cake or meal.
Dad shared a passion for gardening with Jeff, mainly the passionfruit vine that divided their homes.
After Jeff and his wife did a home extension, the back yard became full of chooks, pigeons, vegetables, pizza oven, a shed for mower repairs and sales. It was bigger than a scene from Ben Hur.
Many years ago Jeff's son in his early teens used to mow my elderly parents' lawn. Dad used to pay him $30. Jeff fronted dad and told him he was paying his son too much and asked if could he reduce the payment back to $20. Dad unwillingly agreed to the new payment of $20 for the lawn mowing plus not to be outdone dad then used to buy $10 worth of ice creams to be shared with his son's siblings - this brought much amusement to our family.
I enjoy Jeff's wit and stirring the pot, I wish him and his wife good health and well being now that they have a large empty house with the bread going stale and having to check the milk use-by date. I would love to be a fly on the wall. Cheers and beers.
Geoff Williams, Jewells
Saluting the Salvos
140 years ago, on September 5, 1880, a tradie and a railway worker stood on the back of an apple cart in Adelaide's Botanic Park and shouted, "If there's a man here who hasn't had a square meal today, let him come home to tea with me." They didn't know this at the time, but they were about to start something that would significantly transform the lives of tens of millions of Australians in the years to come. That declaration is known as the first unofficial Salvation Army meeting in Australia and what was to become famously regarded as the birth of The Salvos.
140 years on and we are still here. While we may not be jumping on the back of apple carts, we are still providing meals to those who need it. We are still providing accommodation for those suffering from homelessness, family and domestic violence and addiction. We are still providing emergency relief for those in financial hardship. We are still assisting those impacted by disaster. We are still giving hope, where it is needed most.
On our 140-year anniversary of being in Australia, The Salvos want to honour the extraordinary Australian public who have donated and supported us over the years. To you all we say "Thank you".
We also want to acknowledge our amazing volunteers who have given an incredible amount of their time over the years. A rough estimate over the years suggests that there have been well over a staggering five million volunteers who have supported The Salvos throughout our 140-year history. And volunteering comes in many forms, too. It could anything from knocking on the doors of your neighbours to collect money for the Red Shield Appeal, to cooking meals at your local Salvos centre, to handing out presents to those in need at Christmas time. Whatever your contribution has been, big or small, The Salvos could not function without you, and we could never have impacted the millions of people we have helped over the years without your generosity and time.
So, again, thank you to all those who have supported The Salvos over the years. Although your work may go unnoticed, we honour and appreciate you all. Thank you for your support over the last 140 years - and here is to 140 more.
Major Bruce Harmer, the Salvation Army's National Public Relations Secretary
Biscuits and borders
YOUR article on the new Arnott's logo reminded me of what I suggest is a good Arnott's story.
My wife and I were travelling in Queensland and on buying some Arnott's ginger nut biscuits we soon realised the texture and taste was different to the ones we were used to in NSW. This prompted me to write to them and ask why. The following was their reply from their " Consumer Contact Representative".
Ginger nuts are one of Arnott's most unique products, we make four different Ginger nuts to suit the tastes of people in different states.
We used to have different bakeries in different states but when Arnott's became a national company we looked at the possibility of selling one ginger nut nationally. Each time we tested them people told us that they preferred their homegrown variety.
In Queensland, ginger nuts are thin and sweet, with a dark colour. In NSW they are small, thick and very, very hard with a light colour.
In Victoria and Tasmania, they are bigger, softer and sweeter. In South and Western Australia the biscuits look similar to their Victorian cousins, but taste sweeter.
Not only do we need to have state borders to control the spread of coronavirus these days.
We need them because of the different tastebuds of our ginger nut loving Aussies.
No matter what state (condition) or state (local) you are in, Arnott's ginger nuts have to be the best biscuit to dunk in your cuppa.
John Fear, Newcastle
SHORT TAKES
WITH regards to Gladys Berejikilian's comments about Australia being not very good at making trains, it should be pointed out that she and her motley crew are not very good at running NSW. Unless you live in Sydney of course, then you have no complaints,
Ray Clowes, Jewells
SUBZERO - Subby to his mates - has sadly departed this life. I pray Subzero your peace will be ever-lasting, you certainly deserve a rest old friend. You gave to many and didn't ask for much. May you rest in peace. God bless Subzero.
Steve Barnett, Fingal Bay
THAT had to be the most inept display by the Knights all year, even taking in the Cowboys debacle. They scored one try off a kick in the first half and never scored a point in the second half, with the Warriors running in 30 points. They looked like a ship without a rudder in attack, the forwards running one out and Mitchell Pearce kicking the ball down to Roger Tuivasa-Sheck to run it back 30 metres. Maybe the coach Adam O'Brien needs to take a look at how South Sydney are playing at the moment, using the ball a bit more and stretching the defence with offloads. If things don't improve in the next couple of weeks I can see the Knights limping in to the semi finals and that's as far as it will go.
.Allen Small, East Maitland
I WONDER how many drink bottles the Newcastle coach threw against the wall this time after their performance against the Warriors.
Robert Menhenick, Charlestown
AFTER Saturday's pathetic performance I doubt the Knights will even finish in the top eight. They need to pull their socks up over their egos.
Bill Slicer, Tighes Hill
ABSOLUTELY bloody disgraceful - I think that is the only response that fits. Wests and the Knights board need to review the over-priced, over-paid show ponies and cull where needed. Based on Saturday's pathetic performance, there may not be many left.
Dennis Crampton, Redhead
I WAS interested to read your article regarding Mount Hutton residents without mobile phone reception. I live at Merewether Heights and am in exactly the same situation. I can only use my phone outdoors. I plead with friends and businesses to use my landline. I text my daughter every morning to let her know I'm up and alive but have to walk outside for the message to go. I live a stone's throw from the city centre. The lack of reception is a joke.
Dianne Davies, Merewether Heights
I WOULD like to know how the Prime Minister can increase the Jobseeker (dole) because there is not as much work available in this Covid-19 time, yet he can issue visas to overseas people so as to come here to work picking fruit. Why not make the Jobseeker (dole) people accept this work and if they are unwilling to do so, then they should not receive payments.
