IT was with interest that I read Damon Cronshaw's article on psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy ('Mind medicine for the 21st century', Newcastle Herald 4/9). I concur with Dr Stuart Saker's comments and support the push for these medicines to become available to patients who are suffering and who are treatment resistant.
I already have TGA approval to use MDMA with a patient who suffers with treatment resistant post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However NSW Health has informed me that I cannot access this medication unless my patient is in a clinical trial.
While I appreciate the need for evidence that a medication is safe and effective, we also need to recognise that the current treatments we have for PTSD are often ineffective and Australians are dying needlessly.
Dr Russell Hinton, Belmont
Don't rally for new site just yet
I SUPPORT the removal of the Supercars from the current unsuitable venue in inner Newcastle where this annual event causes major disruption and inconvenience (Letters, 3/9).
However, the suggestion of holding this annual race at Circuit Italia ('Circuit 'has capacity to host Supercars race'', Herald, 1/9) has a major flaw: it is simply impossible because circumstances will never allow such a venue. Most attending spectator traffic would seek to travel to the proposed venue via the 110 km/hr four-lane Pacific Highway and into the narrow Italia Road to gain entry to and departure from the race track. This would see many hundreds of vehicles attempting to gain access via the T-intersection at the highway, causing major traffic delays and the potential for accidents.
The present scenario is that many truck movements occur every day at this seagull crossing, including trucks carrying loads of gravel from Boral quarry. This results in a dangerous situation daily, because Italia Road already supports many other vehicle movements.
Kevin McDonald, East Seaham
Normal should mean health first
THE government and their followers, who are anxious for life to go back to normal, must realise that is not going to happen. Instead it will be a test to world leaders about how to reignite the selfless passion for life and living. The situation is warlike, without the destructive ammunition normally used to kill people. Instead there has been greed, cheating and lying to produce an economic outcome which is unsustainable.
The result is that those with the power continue their usual tactics to dictate what should happen, but the difference now is that people (the fodder) are becoming sick with unexpected deaths from a determined virus that at present holds all the cards. I believe health before wealth is the most important message that must be immediately communicated. That will be an almost impossible task but worth the challenge.
We are enjoying clear blue skies and our carbon footprint should be diminishing because of the lockdowns. There is certainly plenty to look forward to, as soon as communities have the opportunity to work together for a safe, healthy future. It can be done. If you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem.
Pat Garnet, Wickham
The best of us is already on line
TONY Lobb, (Letters, 2/9) was absolutely right when he challenged the Sydney-centric pollies to come and have a look at what Newcastle can do.
In 2007 my wife and I were in Hong Kong, travelling on the underground rail system. The trains were state of the art, super clean, very comfortable, and every aspect of their operation was efficient. Hong Kong had the best, most reliable trains that I have seen in operation. Their rolling stock put ours to shame, and guess what? I spied a maker's plate on the wall of the carriage: made by Goninan, Newcastle.
Say no more, Gladys. Tell your advisers to get off their backsides, come to Newcastle and have a good look at what we can do. If Hong Kong is prepared to engage our manufacturing industry for the best, why can't you?
Buy Australian.
Rod Faulkner, Maryland
Drink in hypocrisy over smoking
BY now we all should know the risks of smoking. However, a high and mighty attitude can prevail among those who never started in the first place or gave up the "dirty habit" years ago.
The latter are usually the most vocal and intolerant of the smell and what they see as the weakness of the smoker even though he or she may have tried to quit numerous times.
Those who lack tolerance can often overlook the dangers of alcohol. It too is a poison that has similar serious effects on health. Drinking is, however, socially acceptable and doesn't get the bad rap smoking gets even though it has the potential to harm far more people.
A drink driver can cause death and injury to themselves and others.
And while some may dislike the smoker's breath, it is the breath of a drinker that is likely to instil fear in a woman's heart. From a female point of view the partner who smokes isn't a problem but the partner who smells of alcohol and is also abusive is another thing. Alcohol-fuelled family violence can lead to serious injury and death.
Julie Robinson, Cardiff
Get Broadmeadow in locomotion
THE article on the Broadmeadow Rail Depot ('Push to activate land', Herald 31/8) notes that there are a considerable number of locomotives and carriages on site, which are planned to be transported to Sydney for storage at Chullora. This facility will not be accessible by the public.
All of the six locomotives and a number of the carriages at Broadmeadow are particularly relevant to the rail heritage of Newcastle and the Hunter region.
The cost of moving these items to Chullora is estimated to be well over $1 million.
Rather than spend this amount on moving our heritage, I suggest that the removal costs be used to refurbish No 1 Roundhouse, thereby having a rail heritage facility in Newcastle with two functioning, conjoined roundhouses, unique in Australia, housing the relevant heritage rail items.
If this does not occur, Newcastle will be left with a roundhouse facility, excellent rail lines and a connection to the main line, but no actual locomotives or carriages.
Rail heritage can be the basis for the development of the Broadmeadow site for public education and enjoyment (most adults and all children love trains), telling the stories of our railways (state and private, in particular coal) and the people involved. It would be a useful additional tourist attraction. There is no other rail heritage site in NSW which is adjacent to such a large population and has such a rich rail history.
What do my fellow Novocastrians think?
Peter Scaife, Charlestown
SHARE YOUR OPINION
Email letters@newcastleherald.com.au or send a text message to 0427 154 176 (include name and suburb). Letters should be fewer than 200 words. Short Takes should be fewer than 50 words. Correspondence may be edited and reproduced in any form.
SHORT TAKES
I HAVE never understood statistics or historical analyses, but in my opinion, job losses such as those the Newcastle Herald's front page story suggests ('4000 lost jobs', Herald 3/9) would cause uprising in other countries and people to wear masks to protect themselves from tear gas instead of viruses. In Newcastle, we'll just lie like sleeping dogs and continue to be treated in an obnoxious, un-Australian way and not bite the hand that pats us. This behaviour is more contagious than any virus, in my opinion.
Bryn Roberts, New Lambton
THE federal Labor Party needs to grow up, stop sniping and whining. Of course the country is in recession; the worst pandemic in the last hundred years, billions spent to keep people and business going and Labor wanted more spent. What did you expect, a budget surplus? I grew up a Labor voter for 40 years. I will not vote for them again unless they try to be positive and seek to help the government get us back on the road to recovery instead of using this terrible time to get themselves back in government.
Dave Bennett, Nelson Bay
WHY not let Jarrod Mullen back into the game? He has just about served his time and it looks as if by early next year he will be finished with his community service. We give alleged perpetrators of domestic violence and aggravated violence a second chance, why not Jarrod?
Tony Morley, Waratah
FOR Pat Scott: Spring is sprung, the grass has riz; I wonder where the birdies is? The bird is on the wing. Now isn't that a funny thing; I thought the wing was on the bird.
Geoff Rich, Kahibah
REGARDING Matthew Kelly's story ('4000 lost jobs', Herald, 3/9) state and federal Liberal governments are to blame for the job losses in manufacturing. Gladys Berejiklian is getting trains, ferries and trams built overseas. Even if it costs more money to make them in NSW the flow on to our economy would have been immense. The federal Liberal government is no better. We were heading for a recession before COVID-19 so they are accountable for the situation.
Col Page, Adamstown
THE after-work commute should be an opportunity to de-stress from the day's problem-solving duties. On Thursday afternoon, however, I was one of many targets by a tailgating black Toyota 4WD, obviously in a hurry on Croudace Road at around 3:30pm. You, sir, have reinforced the fact that IQ tests are not required to attain a licence.
Glen Barry, Macquarie Hills
HOW much of our iron ore is going into China's 10 year missile plan? Wake up.
John Bonnyman, Fern Bay
HAVE events further along Stockton Bight contributed to the erosion of the lower Stockton beach? Speaking with fellow fishermen, has the complete demise of the Sygna wreck and the changes with the Fern Bay sewage outlet created a different beach environment? Both events have occurred in recent years. Has Stockton been protected by these man-made structures?
