WITH summer fast approaching, our beaches will soon be heaving with swimmers, paddlers and sun worshippers. The friendliest beach for families, disabled people and oldies is Bar beach. It is also arguably the most inaccessible beach in the Greater Newcastle area. There are ramps, but these are too steep for many people to use. Families with young children struggle with all the paraphernalia needed for a day at the beach, often while carrying a toddler or a baby as well.
City of Newcastle, please consider a golf-like buggy perhaps with a trailer that could transport these people and their gear up and down the slope. I'm sure most people would be happy to pay a small fee, perhaps a gold coin for this service. It would make a big difference for many people.
Ruth Burrell, Merewether
Old chamber offers more access
AS a former Labor deputy lord mayor of the City of Newcastle I strongly support the move by councillor John Church and the Newcastle Independents to reinstate the council chambers within City Hall as the rightful meeting place of the elected representatives. It is only at council meetings can councillors legally exercise the power entrusted with them by the residents who voted for them.
Since the formation of the Greater Newcastle Council lord mayors and elected representatives, whether good, bad, or indifferent have entered the chamber to exercise their vote on matters impacting on the growth and development of the city. The chamber symbolizes that history and embodies the delegation of the trust to representatives to act responsibly. Today council meets in the foyer of a leased building, with councillors granted the temporary use of roll-in, roll-out desks and chairs with barely any space for residents to view proceedings.
Throughout the world, democracies are under challenge. Too often entrenched leaders feel they should rule from the executive suite high away from the people that elected them. It's time to ensure for the sake of democracy that City Hall council chamber for the people's representatives is reopened.
Dr Ron Robinson, Elermore Vale
Misgivings on assisted dying
ACCORDING to what we are told, most agree with euthanasia and believe that the bill should be passed.
To further their argument many say that we treat animals more humanely than people because we do not let them suffer.
This argument is poor because most animals die without human intervention. Humans step in when it comes to domestic animals without giving them the dignity of caring for themselves in life and death. They think they know best and resort to a gun or a vet.
What should be of great concern in this debate is the emotional and mental health of doctors who administer lethal medication. Making people well and promoting life is what doctors have always been about, not taking away life.
If the majority support euthanasia, I believe it is because of what they fear may happen and not what actually will happen in their last days. My fear is what could happen in the future if this bill is passed.
Julie Robinson, Cardiff
Not everything is a choice
HOW can religion be placed under the same legal protective covers as race, sexuality, gender and disability? Religion is simply a belief and lifestyle choice where the others obviously are not. When a baby comes into the world parents don't look at each other and say, for example, "Oh bugger, we've had a Hindu and we so much wanted a Christian". The federal government has been drafting a 'Religious Freedom' bill that will in some cases allow religious beliefs more discriminatory power over the other groups above. Let's call the bill exactly what it is, the Religious Revenge for the Same Sex Marriage Law bill.
John Arnold, Anna Bay
Familiarities in leader's style
LABOR shadow minister Jason Clare during an ABC interview on Saturday morning described Scott Morrison to be "Trump without the toupee". I believe it's not an unreasonable call considering the similarities openly existent between both men.
In my opinion both men have a history of using for the basest of political expediency, a strategy with a common divisive thread. It's one which includes never admitting fault or wrongdoing; never conceding an opponent may have some good points and always blaming others whenever your faults become too obvious to be ignored. Possibly the most important element of the thread is, always tell a big lie sooner than a small one; repeat the big lie frequently enough then people will sooner or later believe it.
History shows it to have been a successful strategy, one likely to be recycled by the LNP during the current election campaign. Written by Adolf Hitler in the early 20th century, Mein Kampf contains all the above and, as blatantly defective as it is, remains a a popular guide on social dislocation by deception for right wing nutters.
Barry Swan, Balgownie
Remarks open to interpretation
MARK Pinner, (Letters, 17/11), quoted Julia Gillard saying "I don't rule out the possibility of legislating a carbon pollution reduction scheme, a market-based mechanism. I rule out a carbon tax." That's a very broad statement that could include just about anything.
Taking that statement apart, it's not 'carbon pollution' but carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions that was under question. Carbon pollution is soot and CO2 gas emitted is never pollution since it is a natural, non-toxic, and essential component of the atmosphere. A carbon tax or carbon price, whatever label you put on it, is a government-imposed cost on business. That's not "a market-based mechanism". I'm sorry, but when you look closely at what she said, Ms Gillard still appears to have lied about a carbon tax.
Peter Devey, Merewether
How Newcastle won me over
SANDRA Iceton (Short Takes, 17/11) brought back some of my memories of Newcastle, but slightly different. It was 1960 and our new home was in Newcastle, having moved from Sydney. To say I disliked living here was an understatement. I suppose it was because I left my family and friends back home and my husband had started work immediately. The company of two little girls was great, but I was unhappy and I thought I never would fit in.
How wrong I was. I discovered friendly neighbours, so much to see and do like a beach and surf at the end of town and much more that the time flew by so quickly that Sydney seemed a memory. Of course I can't forget my last occupancy as receptionist at the BHP Centre. On reflection at 91, I can look back at that miserable young woman who really grew up and found herself to be a proud Novocastrian.
Daphne Hughes, Kahibah
SHORT TAKES
PRIME Minister Scott Morrison said last week that people were sick of governments telling them what to do after two years of a pandemic. Well one thing's for sure: it was not him telling them what to do. Mr Morrison handed all responsibility over to the states at the start so they would cop the flak if there were any dramas. When there were, he was quick to put the boot in.
Darryl Tuckwell, Eleebana
DON Fraser, if you would remove your blue-coloured Liberal glasses for just a second, you might notice that our current PM doesn't tell the occasional porkies; I believe he can't stop himself from lying. He does it every time he thinks he can gain political mileage, and does it even when he gains nothing thinking it won't be noticed.
Chris Peters, Newcastle
DON Fraser actually fails to list the people who did clearly accuse our double-dealing PM of lying. Not "all Labor voters", nor "leftist B-grade journos", or even "Albo"! It was in fact the French president, Monsieur Macron, the former Liberal PM of Australia and ScoMo's ex boss, Malcolm Turnbull, and by inference the president of the USA Joe Biden. That's a poor character reference if I'm any judge, Don.
Mac Maguire, Charlestown
IF I had a dollar for every time I've heard or read about a climate catastrophe, Prince Charles would be on my payroll as executive bum wiper, on call 24/7.
Steve Barnett, Fingal Bay
THANK you for Simon Walker's regular Weekender column, "That's Life". It is always spot-on and has me in stitches. And boy, do we need a bit of hilarity these days. Thanks.
Kate Newton, Charlestown
I'M a big fan of the Newcastle Herald which I purchase and read six days a week, but I must comment on Ian Kirkwood's opinion piece ("Replacing coal; this is the size of the renewable revolution", Opinion, 20/11). Yes, the numbers are big and the challenges are huge, but inaction on reducing dependence on fossil fuels is incalculable. We owe it to future generations to get on with abandoning fossil fuels and embracing renewables.
Fred Budden, Belmont
DON Fraser, in future letters to the editor could you please find something new and exciting to talk about? Instead of the old vinyl record that keeps going round and round on the same subject, clear the air with something new for a change. Remember, constructive criticism is always welcome.
Peter Keane, Blackalls Park
PETER Noakes, the last lessee that I can remember at the BP on Brunker Road was Terry Hunt who, when the BP closed, went over to run a Caltex outlet on Glebe Road not far from Union Street.
Bob Cecil, Elermore Vale
THE hypocritic oaf: lie, lie, lie. Hang on, that can't be right because it's true.
Niko Leka, Mayfield
FAITH is not the belief in a god, but religious authority, and that's what I want.
