THE cancelling of all Anzac Day services and marches is disappointing but necessary at this time. The annual Dawn service at Nobbys Beach brings a tear to most people's eyes. Many people have suggested and indicated that they will stand outside their own homes at 6am to mark the occasion, and will still be acting within the current laws concerning congregating in public.
This will enable us all to hear The Ode and the Last Post on our various modern devices at the appropriate time of 6am.
It may prove difficult to awaken some of our younger generation at this hour. We must try to convince them to participate in this solemn occasion.
The elderly, among us, have a responsibility to ensure the younger generation of today are urged to join in honouring those who have made it possible to live with the freedom we enjoy today.
Lest we forget.
Robert Tacon, Adamstown Heights
SACRIFICES OF THE SELFLESS
IT is particularly poignant this Anzac Day to reflect on the great sacrifice of nurses and doctors in service to a grateful nation.
Australian nurse Sister Rosa O'Kane's story has immense relevance today as we find ourselves in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sister O'Kane was on her way to treat World War I wounded, but after the Armistice was declared, she volunteered to nurse Diggers who had fallen victim to the Spanish influenza epidemic that swept the world in 1919.
She fell ill in the course of her duty and lost her life in service to her fellow Australians.
Her spirit lives on in both our current service personnel and wonderful front-line nursing and hospital staff who truly are modern-day heroes, just like our firefighters.
I know I will be reflecting on all those like Sister O'Kane who laid down their lives for our great nation and those who continue to serve today.
Brooke Vitnell, Medowie
LET'S BE LESS CASUAL
FOR the past 30 years "industrial reform" has led to the reduction in "award" conditions and the casualisation of the workforce. Approximately 30 per cent of the workforce are now casuals and are not entitled to sick leave.
Employees go to work sick and spread disease in their workplaces. They see it as an economic imperative as they are not entitled to sick leave. This lack of concern by governments for the casual workforce can be seen in the more than a million casuals who are at the moment not entitled to the Jobkeeper payment.
There are many people in professions such as teaching who do the same out of a sense of duty to their students and colleagues as they don't want to disadvantage others with disruption or extra work. They need to change their behaviour.
The Morrison government has announced its intention to stimulate the economy, post COVID-19, by more "industrial reform", a euphemism for more casualisation and disempowerment of workers through more attacks on unions and fragmentation of their control during "enterprise bargaining".
Let's hope that politicians see the importance of sick leave for every worker as a means of preventing the spread of viruses, not just COVID-19, but also by the various mutations of influenza and new viruses to come.
A royal commission is needed so that the lessons learnt from COVID-19 are firmly in the public domain and are not lost in a "snapback"
Richard Miller, Gwandalan
CLUBS ARE MORE THAN POKIES
I WILL declare a vested interest, as I am employed by a club, and have worked in the Hunter club industry for 13 years.
I would like to make a few comments about the article about pokie players moving to online sites, as it saddens me that people are gambling alone.
Firstly, it highlights that clubs are there as part of our community and have trained staff always ready to assist those that have issues with any form of gambling. Those smaller suburban clubs are the hubs of communities and do not want, nor need, problem gamblers.
Those who work there want to walk down the street and know that they are part of the solution, not the problem. With people at home accessing online/offshore sites, there is no one to ask how things are going. This is something I have personally done and seen staff do numerous times when we have someone we have concerns about (and not just due to gambling).
Secondly, do not lose sight of what will happen next year when clubs reopen and have had no revenue and local community groups come looking for annual sponsorship/donations. Without clubs, possibly thousands of small community-based groups in our region will struggle for funds.
Not all clubs are pokie palaces; the vast majority are community based (de facto) community halls.
Look at your club right now and imagine that is the way forever. Is that what we really want? Locked up buildings, staff out of work and local businesses dying?
Gordon Laffan, Stockton
SLIPPING THROUGH CRACKS
AT the insistence of our children's catch cry that it is too stressful to have us shopping amid a virus that could kill us, my wife and I have been self isolating at home.
We are down to grocery shopping once a week. One child lives at Singleton, does our shopping there and brings it down to us. Next week the other (a medical specialist) does the shopping at Kotara and brings it to us.
To save all this hassle and travel (they are both working as well), I decided to try online grocery shopping with home delivery. My thinking was that my age (78) may qualify me for this.
First I tried Coles Online, but no, they require you to have a Senior's Medical or NIDAS card to qualify. I have neither.
Next, Woolworths online initially offered a lot more success; they only required my senior's card number. We went ahead and made out our order; put through the necessary payment and had delivery instructions in place.
Then it comes back and informs me that our home delivery address is in a "non-serviced area" and to give an alternate delivery address. After considerable thought and discussion, I submitted an alternate delivery address and our order was paid for and accepted.
The accepted delivery address was my next door neighbour, so now at delivery time I wait next door with my wheelbarrow, accept the groceries when they come and then wheel them back next door to our place.
Ours is the last house in the street. It may be one step too far, but we have been here 40 years. One must agree we are living in different times.
John Martin, Thornton
HAS anybody else noticed the inflated price we are paying for toilet rolls (when they are available)? Are the retailers punishing us for panic buying or are they purely price gouging hoping that no one will notice whilst we are focused on COVID-19? The reason for these price hikes needs to be explained.
Stan Kiefer, Arakoon
A SUPERMARKET chain has the motto keeping prices down, down. Well not what I've seen recently; a 20 packet of 3 ply toilet paper - $10 dollars when it's available. Fair enough although a six packet of the same $5.80. That's enough to give anyone the runs, wouldn't you think?
Glen Morgan, Waratah
WHY can't the Australian government buy out the Chinese investors in Virgin Airlines? Maybe because it wouldn't suit their staunch supporter Alan Joyce.
John Bonnyman, Fern Bay
IT'S been reported that Virgin Australia was already struggling to stay afloat long before the coronavirus pandemic arrived, so NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian should be very careful about using taxpayer's money to prop them up in any way now.
Jim Gardiner, New Lambton
IT has been interesting to see all the coronavirus testing facilities, unless you live on the western side of Lake Macquarie. Our nearest is Belmont, the John Hunter or Wyong Hospital. They are all about an hour's drive if you're well enough. We have a nursing college at Cooranbong, a psychiatric hospital with empty buildings on enclosed grounds, but nowhere for physically ill persons to attend. Our doctors' surgeries are by phone appointment only, no face to face. Flu injections and the like are done in the car park. The population keeps growing, but not our health facilities despite our increased requirements. Can our politicians correct this situation, or do we just wait to become a hot spot of deaths from not only the current virus but also lack of adequate health care?
Paul Muncaster, Dora Creek
WOULDN'T it be nice if our council stopped giving away ratepayer money to support the privately owned Supercars mob?
John Hudson, Newcastle East
EVERY day we are faced with different views about when restrictions should be lifted regarding coronavirus. The elephant in the room will be the ability of the general public to pay. There are reports of up to a million people have lost their jobs, and they are very likely the consumers who keep the general everyday economy going. One of the most positive signs will be the uptake of the eat-in coffee shop patronage. Cheers, looking forward to baristas.
Pat Garnet, Wickham
JOINT Australians of the year 2020: all our essential services staff. Thank you and God bless you all.
Jan Wells, Cameron Park
BEING a fighting fit human, I'm not so scared of catching the coronavirus as much as I worry that I'll spread and disperse it.
