The disrespect shown to shopkeepers, chemists, police and front line emergency personnel beggars belief.

Those of you who fall into the above categories, I admit, also fall into the lower strata of our community, but I would further venture that you also qualify for the lower strata of the evolutionary scale.

So please, those of you with an IQ that can be measured on the Richter Scale (FYI it records earthquakes and only goes up to 10): Pull your heads in until the rest of us get through this sensibly.

One of Salamander Bay's great attractions is the 'walk' around Wanda Headland from Salamander Bay to Wanda Beach with the spectacular views.

It is also popular with locals for dog walking - it seems that there are more dog walkers than ever. Sadly many of these dog owners do not clean up after their pets and one has to do an improvised version of the samba to avoid 'stepping in something'.

May I suggest that the council places a 'doggie bag station' at each end of the walk with supplies of litter bags to encourage dog owners to take a bag with them and 'clean up'. Not a big expense but a great improvement in our local facilities.

Crazy times, eh. Social distancing, isolation, restricted travel, toilet paper hoarding and so on consume our daily psyche.

Anzac Day is approaching and services have been cancelled. Despite the restrictions we must ensure we continue to honour and remember our returned service personnel and their sacrifices.

The Australian War Memorial website (awm.gov.au) has lots of historical information you could read about or kids might do research for a home-learning assignment as part of a tribute for the day. Or you might download The Last Post from a music app store and play it.

For me, I will be putting dad's medals on and going to the driveway, reciting The Ode, playing The Last Post and observing a minute's silence. I invite you to join me at 6am at your driveway and have your own personal reflection.

Lest We Forget, even in isolation.

This Anzac Day spare a thought for all the women in Australia and New Zealand who not only served in our wars, but those who were left behind to bring up families and make their own contribution to the war effort.

Many women worked in factories, assembling aircraft and machinery during the two wars, then there were those who worked from home baking cakes and biscuits, or writing letters to send to loved ones fighting overseas. These days those serving in combat have the advantage of keeping in touch with families through modern technology.

One of the most sought after items during the wars was knitted socks. Those fighting in trenches were often knee deep in mud, so clean, warm thick socks were a prized possession.

There is an interesting book called Australian Women at War, which documents all of the above and more. Finally, spare a thought also for all of our Legacy widows. As secretary of Port Stephens Legacy Widows club, my heart goes out to all of our ladies, many of whom live alone.

Like everything at the moment, our monthly meetings have been put on hold but we will be thinking of them this Anzac Day.