I DROVE down the driveway to stand out the front at 6am on Saturday morning.
It's too steep for me to safely manage with my walking frame. I had my phone on with the ABC Listen app playing the service from the Australian War Memorial, so I could hear the Ode and the Last Post, and the national anthems of New Zealand and Australia.
Two families a little further up the street came out too - one couple holding their baby, another with three kids in dressing gowns, each family with a candle.
Our neighbours across the road were there as well, with their dog looking rather befuddled about these people just standing around all facing east.
And I don't generally cry, but it does bring a tear to my eye, and furrows my brow, and affects my breathing when I consider men and women, most of them less than half my age, travelling all over the world, and flying and sailing and fighting on far distant battlefields and in some battles a lot closer.
And I think of so many of them being barely more than kids, terrified in their last moments, wishing desperately they could be in the safety of their mothers' arms, but instead, a bullet, or an explosion, or a plane crashing, or a lungful of seawater was the memory they died in.
And those who returned alive, but injured and maimed and some whole in body, but with such terrible damage to their hearts and minds.
And I'm helpless in the face of that sacrifice. And my continued existence depends on the charity and beneficence of a country that I hope will never let them die in the heaven of a history being known, and repeated, and deeply remembered.
Michael Jameson, New Lambton
A NEW TRADITION
AS one who joined with many in my street, and throughout Australia, to share the dawn service from Canberra, I was moved when a neighbour gave me a paper red poppy made by her little girl.
I felt this year it was an honour to be able to stand in our driveway, with gratitude and respect for all who joined up to keep Australia safe and free.
That little red poppy moved me to tears, tears of gratitude as it symbolised all the blood shed, lives lost, the lasting anguish of PTSD suffered by so many in return, the families in mourning in so many areas.
From a little lass; a beautiful token of tribute in loving memory of all who served, living and deceased.
I believe driveway dawn services should continue every year. More will be able to participate to show these warriors that they are never forgotten.
Crowds will gather in Canberra and other sites, but everyday Australians all will be able to show that we will remember them, simply, respectfully and with sound of morning bird songs, blending with the relayed haunting tones of bagpipes and bugles. Let's continue driveway symbolic solo ceremonies. We will remember them.
Liz Montgomery, Swansea
LESSONS IN SAFETY
AS we approach the resumption of school, it does appear that a coherent and manageable plan for the safe return of our children to school remains elusive.
For high schools, why doesn't Year 12 return for term two, where they can resume their regular school schedules with their regular teachers and benefit from having the full resources of their schools at their disposal. For any students between Year 7 and Year 11 that for whatever reason need to return to the school, they could be supervised within the school assembly halls at a safe distance from each other.
For primary schools, principals could establish a roster that would allow each year group one day per week for face-to-face teaching. This could then be reviewed depending upon the coronavirus curve towards the end of term.
Of course, I believe the forgotten cohort of teachers in special education should not be expected to resume classes until such time as the COVID-19 threat is no more.
Antony Bennett, Bar Beach
DON'T SELL EFFORTS SHORT
STEPHEN Galilee ('Mining ready for role in economic recovery', Opinion, 21/4) once again gives what I consider a one-sided and short-sighted view of the role for the mining industry in a post-COVID recovery.
No mention is made of the long-term negative implications of coal, which aren't factored into the current price of coal, and there's no mention of the massive subsidies (diesel fuel, for starters) given to the sector.
This is money that could be directed to people in serious immediate need. Instead we're meant to be grateful for all the altruist actions King Coal will take for our benefit, not for its hip pocket.
I look forward to his lauding their role in aiding growth of the firefighting due to the increased intensity of coal-induced climate change heatwaves. Likewise, we should thank them for all they are doing to increase revenue for the health sector from increased particulates in the atmosphere, and sales of air conditioners to cover heatwaves.
Peter Coughlan, Marmong Point
OPPOSITION CAN'T BE IGNORED
I AM saddened and disappointed by Stephen Galilee's piece ('Mining ready for role in economic recovery', Opinion 21/4). The word emissions is not mentioned.
I believe there is no evidence that Mr Galilee has taken notice of widespread community opposition to the continuation of coal mining. He shows no appreciation of the opposition that has been expressed by scientists and doctors based on evidence of the danger to public health caused by emission from coal-fired power stations.
There is no mention of the expanding part of renewable energy sources in the provision of energy, nor acknowledgement that people at present employed in mining could find jobs in the renewable energy industry.
George Garnsey, Morpeth
RULES MUST APPLY TO ALL
IF the NRL plans to resume group training and the competition in May, can someone in government or health authorities please explain what protocols they will be insisting on to allow this to happen?
We have been separated from family and friends for weeks with no planned relaxation of the isolation laws in sight. I do not understand how you can resume a full-contact sport while insisting that the general public remain isolated, especially if players will be allowed to return to their homes. Will the television crews and commentators and journalists covering the game also be isolated with the players and team officials? Will team doctors, ambulance crews and other ground staff also be isolated with the players? The way things stand, without a full and open explanation, I will be heading over to see my grandchildren and hugging them as much as I can and hosting a dinner party for all my family.
Daryll Hadfield, Redhead
IT'S not fair. Now that I have the time to keep my house clean and tidy, I know I'll have no visitors.
Joan Lambert, Adamstown
AFTER reading the front page news about the Newcastle Airport being a ghost town ('Hard landing', Newcastle Herald 22/4), will we now see the Newcastle council CEO and the lord mayor cutting their $50,000 per year pay packets that they are paid by the airport? We await an answer, but please don't hold your breath.
Paul Murphy, Newcastle
I HAVE been critical lately of the NRL and players wanting to return to work amidst the pandemic. I know; jealousy is a curse. Would relocation for all sports to the Simpson Desert be an option? Families, friends and fans as well. Let's follow Las Vegas and make something out of what we don't too often hear about: transport and casinos.
Bryn Roberts, New Lambton
MICHAEL Jameson's critique of Brad Hill and his idol, Donald Trump (Letters, 21/4) missed one point (apart from Trump's claim that the virus would be gone in the US by Easter): he claimed that an antibiotic would be found to defeat the virus. Any high school science student knows that this is nonsense.
Keith Parsons, Newcastle
I WASN'T writing a review of Corey Robin's book, Peter Dolan (Short Takes, 23/4), I was using his essential insight about the conservative mindset (which has received widespread endorsement) to highlight what was really going on when George Pell sat down to be interviewed by Andrew Bolt. I also made quite specific criticisms of the Catholic Church which, in my view, are more than supported by the available evidence. The fact there are left-wing authoritarians in the world is no answer to any of this.
Michael Hinchey, New Lambton
WE are singing the same hymn from the song sheet, Matt Ophir (Short Takes, 22/4). The interpretation of a late tackle versus an act of simulation comes down to the referee. League needs two, and Raiders fans are still up late at night tossing and turning over six again or whether a trainer is acting like a second fullback/coach sweeping up kicks.
Rocco De Grandis, Cameron Park
MALCOLM Turnbull appears to be yet another former prime minister complaining he was done over by his mates. As Paul Keating famously said, if you want a friend in politics get a dog.
Colin Fordham, Lambton
IF the government is to give reductions in the insurance on cars because of little use, beware. Whatever the right hand delivers the left hand usually subtracts twofold. Be careful what you wish for, as history will attest. Now we are housebound, we may be liable to an increase in home insurance. Take care Australia.
John Bradford, Beresfield
I AM no fan of Malcolm Turnbull, but never in my life before have I seen a man more denigrated for being truthful.
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