Complaints a nuisance
Once again we see the factional vendetta against Geoff Dingle raise its ugly head with what appears to be yet another nuisance-value code-of-conduct allegation.
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Council has re-hired Monica Kelly, who in her last case tried to nail Dingle, bizarrely, for taking a picture of a timber yard – a case thrown out by the Office of Local Government as having no basis. Now the microscope is on an email Dingle sent to Dungog council to see if it caused Dungog Mayor Harold Johnston to change his mind about a proposed merger – a consideration Johnston calls "laughable".
Conversely it appears that Bruce MacKenzie was completely within Council's code-of-conduct when opposing a merger with Newcastle Council in 2015 he said, "I've got the gelignite out in my back paddock to blow up the Stockton Bridge and Hexham Bridge, and we will start our own country in Port Stephens."
Brian Coleman
Karuah NSW
Why no left turn?
Why can vehicles no longer turn left on the Birubi 4WD entry onto the beach?
Before you could park on the beach front and be closer to the surf club/coffee/food and toilet facilities, swimming between the flags, and have plenty of beach parking. Please don’t say it’s for safety reasons, I have never heard of an incident on Birubi Beach, the current beach speed limit is 40km/h, or 20km/h if passing pedestrians or other vehicles. Most of the roads in Anna Bay have no footpaths, so pedestrians are walking on the road, yet I can drive 50km/h on those roads and that’s not a problem.
There is more likely going to be a drowning further down the beach, away from surf patrol, as families with children who previously could park near the surf patrol are now too far away. Maybe if parking up by the surf club was improved it might not be so bad, but that’s a whole other story.
Bianca Beznec, Anna Bay
Power of mateship
The enduring ANZAC legacy and the ideal of mateship are more important than ever before.
Mateship is an integral part of the Australian identity. It’s an ideal that defines our nation’s character – this idea of looking out for each other, through the good times and the bad. The Salvos have served alongside Australian troops in both World Wars and has supported them on deployments in Korea and Vietnam. Today, we are present in military bases across the country. We’ve been there providing support to our troops in their times of need – giving them a hand up and a listening ear in their darkest times. We recognise the power of mateship and why it’s a vital part of the Australian spirit. Whether a simple act of kindness or helping someone rebuild after tragedy – mateship is the common thread that unites us and something that will always endure.
As we enter these uncertain times, I encourage all Australians to reflect on the ANZAC spirit and the strength and hope it brings, and remember why mateship is an ideal still worth fighting for.
Lt Colonel Kelvin Pethybridge, Chief Secretary in Charge, The Salvation Army
Failure of politicians
Absentee Landlord Tax payable by corporations, businesses, oversees owners and other absentee landlords is NOT being fully applied and collected by the Australian Taxation Office.
So it is not surprising that the fire sale of public assets (not even CPI leased) is being falsely trumpeted as income by government. Instead of being acknowledged as a penalty for higher cost of living prices in the future. Such is the failure of politicians. No at cost water, no at cost electricity, No low cost TAFE for the poor and middle class, no free education for the public to finish high school. This is the recipe for boiling the (citizen) frog without him noticing.
Jon Sherwin, Nelson Bay