AGAIN I ask, are we all in this together? Apparently not, when you listen to the verbal barrage emanating from the premiers of Western Australia, Queensland and Victoria. I don't like to even admit that Mr McGowan was born in Newcastle and received much of his education in northern NSW. He has certainly forgotten his roots.
NSW's population is 8 million and Sydney 5.4 million - Western Australia's population is only 2.7 million and Perth 1.9 million. Also, NSW has been at the forefront in accepting the majority of returning Australians for the last 18 months.
It would be nice to see decent lines of communication between all governments to support each other during this horrible event in our history. Just change the rhetoric Mark, Anastasia and Dan. Mark, instead of bullying our premier you could indicate that you're just protecting your state (the largest) with its small population and your Indigenous peoples - that would help for a start.
I admit greater Sydney should have been in a tighter lockdown much earlier, for example having road checks at main roads north such as the Hawkesbury, Windsor and maybe Goulburn to ensure that these few extremely selfish and thoughtless people couldn't head north and spread this rotten virus. I hope that they continue to receive the weight of the law and harsh penalties.
In Newcastle we had been fortunate not to have had a case since mid-2020 and we have all (in general) been doing the right thing, for which we're so lucky. So please, no more of the blame game. Let's all be in this together initially by making sure we have both our shots as soon as possible so that we can reach 70 to 80 per cent vaccine level and can get on with life, learning to live with COVID which is here forever. We cannot remain in lockdown as mental health is becoming a real problem, and to be quite honest, even though I am scathing on some of our premiers, I don't know how they sleep nights and cope with the media barrage every day. I am in my mid 70s and desperately want to resume some sort of normal life.
Sally Lucas, Hamilton South
Informed consent demands info
I AM desperately trying to get vaxxed. Meanwhile government ads are all about encouraging the hesitant. This narrative is both infuriating and insulting. I am eligible for the Pfizer vax. I could probably get the AstraZeneca quicker, but here's the problem: I'm wary of getting a blood clot and dying. If I was a public health official the calculation is simple - everyone get what you can to crush the Delta variant and save lives. But as a personal decision, I have to consider that people have died from blood clots as a direct side effect, including one of my gender and exact age.
To make an informed decision, I have sought specific information about those who have died. I have found precisely zilch. Are there common underlying conditions? Have some people recovered? Are there long term problems? Zilch. The advice says speak with your doctor. But I don't have a doctor. I haven't seen a doctor in more than two years. When I need a doctor, I attend a medical centre and consult with Dr Available. It's not going to do me much good to brave exposure to crowds to ask a random doctor to give specific advice on my personal health.
I have two points to make. Government; please stop the insulting ads which imply the current problem is hesitancy. And if you want people to make the Astra leap, release some research about the risk profiles of those who have died so we can make informed choices.
Rachel King, Islington
Full marks amid testing times
WHILE it's not surprising that Laverty Pathology has not been able to meet the increased demand for COVID testing in Newcastle ("Laverty winding back as delays cause chaos", Herald, 14/8), my experience of 4cyte at the Warners Bay drive-through testing station was impressive.
As a notified casual contact of a positive case, I was pleasantly surprised when my wait time in the queue was two hours 14 minutes, which pales into insignificance compared to some of the horrific wait times reported. Even more impressive was 4cyte's rapid feedback. Just over 12 hours after my swab was taken, I received a text message telling me I was COVID negative. Think how important that prompt notification would have been, had my result turned out to be positive. All credit to those concerned: the people managing the traffic, those taking the swabs and the lab staff returning results.
Brenda Proudfoot, Warners Bay
Lifeguards part of COVID response
I WRITE in response to Derek Thompson's letter ("COVID demands dip in soaking up baths", Herald, 16/8). Generally during winter, lifeguard services do not operate at Merewether Ocean Baths. However due to an increase in visitors to the facility since the recent lockdown was introduced, City of Newcastle proactively organised for a lifeguard to be on duty since Saturday, August 14. Lifeguard services will continue operating at Merewether Ocean Baths between 8am and 4.30pm daily until September 17 consistent with the winter beach schedule. From September 18 our summer season schedule commences and the baths will be supervised from 9am until 5.30pm daily.
City of Newcastle encourages the community to stay at home, however we understand that exercise at Merewether Ocean Baths is permitted under the current Public Health Order. If you do plan to exercise at any of Newcastle's beaches and baths, please comply with the Public Health Order.
While the focus of our lifeguards is keeping us safe in the water, people are encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers if they have concerns about people not adhering to the Public Health Order. Stay safe and we'll get through this together, Newcastle.
Alissa Jones, City of Newcastle director city wide services
Sydney may not share vax sting
INTERESTING conversation today with old friends in Sydney. I told them of the anger here when without consultation appointments at the Belmont hub were cancelled suddenly. Gladys decided the Pfizer jabs were more importantly needed in Sydney for HSC students than in Hunter arms. My dear Liberal Party mate of influence said but they were replaced within three days. I was pissed off at this response.
Mulling it over during sleep it seems I woke up with these thoughts: first, none of my Sydney friends thought his response unreasonable or unfair. Friends here are still waiting for new appointments because you have to make them for two days for two jabs. Second jab dates are already taken.
But the next point is bleedingly obvious: are planning decisions in Macquarie Street being made on less than three day thought bubbles? If they knew they would have vaccines in three days, why didn't they just wait? Or is it just Sydney-centric and nothing else matters? I got the feeling that my Sydney-based friends were irritated with my anger.
Mike Boulter, Newcastle West
SHORT TAKES
LET us not follow the COVID rules for our own benefit. Let us do it for the benefit of our neighbours, and of our neighbours' neighbours, and of our neighbours' neighbours' neighbours and so on and so on. In this way we will have helped to protect every single person in Australia.
Robert Campanini, Warabrook
WHY can't our state parliamentary representatives give the answers regional media seek? Newcastle is the next largest city after the mainland capitals, even larger than Canberra, Hobart and Darwin. It seems we are not being adequately represented.
Peter Melvelle, Lakelands
IT'S all well and good to tell us of the number of fines handed out to people for failing to comply with NSW health orders but what I'd like to know is how many of these fines have been paid. What are the consequences of failing to pay? If people are continuing to ignore the lockdown laws, does anyone honestly believe they'll pay the fines? I seriously doubt it.
Trish McKay, Cooks Hill
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian's ring of Swiss cheese is going well.
Steve Barnett, Fingal Bay
GLADYS Come Lately pushes for zero cases in the Hunter, (18/8). Don't worry Gladys, we the People of the Hunter will do this. Thanks, but I think you have done enough.
Gary Hayward, Cardiff
REGARDLESS of your political persuasion you should be rejoicing that we live in Australia. We have a great medical service, we have excellent welfare support, we have plenty of food, and we have extremely low levels of COVID compared to the rest of the world. It is time we stopped our moaning, complaining and selfish behaviour and realised how lucky we are. Our vaccination program is going well so get out there and get vaccinated and get on with life.
Col Love, Anna Bay
GLADYS' gold standard COVID response isn't working, and it won't work until she learns to stop listening to Scotty. Could we please conscript Daniel Andrews to take charge of the Sydney state government?
Peter Moylan, Glendale
IT'S all about how you tell the story. For example, Prime Minister Scott Morrison tells us that by Christmas 70 per cent of Australians will be vaccinated, praise the lord. But if he had said by Christmas eight million young Australian will face the prospect of death due to the lack of the medically-recommended vaccines for their age group, one might not give praise.
Colin Diplock, Rankin Park
WE see the loss of freedom in Afghanistan. Documentaries show us how people in China and Hong Kong are controlled by street cameras and draconian freedom of speech laws. In Australia we have mobs who want to protest the lockdowns put in place to try and restrict cases and deaths due to COVID-19. There is no comparison. Here they may get fined; there they would possibly be locked up or disappear. Grow up.
