Love what you have – Cliff
Christmas approaches, zooming as always, likely my last.
Another fine year of letters courtesy of this classy local newspaper.
A mix of all sorts. Right and left wing, the clever, not so clever, the consistently painful types, and the occasional gem.
Self expression is good for the soul, no matter your opinion. In the end nothing matters but seeing it out there in print can at least contribute to the inevitable ups and downs of our daily lives.
Ignore the fear tactics (cost of living) and have a happy Christmas.
Love what you have.
Cliff Ellen, Rye
Overpass error
I sympathise with the Friends of Cape Schanck and their efforts to improve safety (Urgent safety calls grow for Boneo Rd, The News 5/12/24). The problems are only going to get worse if the ill-conceived calls for a Jetty Rd overpass are heeded. Drivers headed to Cape Schanck will probably have to stop at the lights near Yawa and Bunnings but these are minor irritations compared with the huge line of cars waiting to cross Browns Rd at peak times, sometimes stretching back to Bunnings.
If the overpass is built, the wait to pass through the roundabout at the west end of the freeway extension will be even worse than that. McKenzie and Groth have been informed about the solution to traffic flow which does not involve an overpass at Jetty Rd.
Drivers headed to Cape Schanck from the freeway would use the freeway extension, along with those headed to the Rosebud Industrial Estate. Drivers headed towards Portsea would turn left at Jetty Rd to Old Cape Schanck Rd and right at Boneo Rd, where intelligent traffic lights would ensure that no more than about two cars would be waiting to turn right. Browns Rd would be elevated over Boneo Rd so that drivers on both roads don’t need to stop at the intersection.
The money needed to build the overpass at Jetty Rd, which would only move the gridlock front to Boneo Rd, would be used to greater effect in the aforementioned Browns Rd elevation and a new road to overpass Truemans Rd, linking with the freeway reservation. Those headed toward Cape Schanck and Portsea would enjoy a virtually non-stop drive to their destination.
Ray Gibb, Rosebud
Trumpism concern
Gerard Heijden (Rise in Trumpism, Letters 3/12/24) is rightly concerned by the rise of Trumpism in Australia.
Peter Dutton’s Coalition and a number of minor right wing parties are embracing the fact free rhetoric because they have seen that it is a vote winner.
Gerard also notes that recent polls have shown that only 34 per cent of Australians trust political parties. Here I must dispute the figure. I cannot believe that it is that high.
I do agree with Gerard though that the only way to get any authenticity and trust back into our government is to give more independents a try, it cannot be any worse than the present.
Ross Hudson, Mt Martha
Stick to local issues
I didn’t realise that calling for local issues to be the focus of the letters pages in the local paper was such a controversial idea (Letter guidance, Letters 19/11/24.
As rhetoricians all the way back to Aristotle have pointed out, sarcasm is cheap talk and reflects poorly on the person who deploys it rather than the supposed target.
At the risk of repeating myself, there are a myriad of platforms for someone to air their opinions and concerns about state, national and international issues. But there are very few avenues to discuss local affairs.
Indeed, here on the Mornington Peninsula we are incredibly lucky to have a local paper – it is a privilege very few around Victoria are afforded. The Portland area are about to lose their local papers, and many other regions have already lost these important community assets.
Whether they are complaints or compliments, (Letters a vital part of community discourse, Letters 27/11/24) the local paper is an important adjunct to the democratic process.
For example, the news story about the likely maldistribution of funds raised by the short stay levy (Levy takes from peninsula, to give elsewhere, The News 5/11/24). Indeed, I am surprised that no-one has commented on it in the letters pages as yet. Personally, I was appalled to read about it and I hope that our new council and the new shire executive are able to lobby effectively for the travesty to be righted.
So long live our local paper! And discussions, complaints and compliments about local matters.
Bianca Felix, Bittern
Meanwhile, in Israel…
I would like to respond to recent letters in your newspaper (IDF shame, Letters 19/11/24) and (Don’t talk about it, Letters 19/11/24).
I understand why one is horrified by the devastation in Gaza. Each day we see horrifying images of dislocation and suffering. But where is the balance?
We never see the impact of war on Israeli people in our unbalanced news reports. We do not see the heartbreak of the families of the hostages, the 60,000 displaced Israelis in the north who can’t live in their homes because of the constant bombardment, the terror of the population running from the thousands of missiles invading the skies.
I am so disappointed in our ABC and other reliable news sources failing to report without bias.
Instead of always blaming Israel, I wish to remind readers that Israel did not start this terrible war. It didn’t massacre, rape, mutilate, and destroy the lives of 1600 with over 100 still in captivity. Hamas is a terrorist organisation that wants to destroy Israel. They knew that Israel would retaliate with force. Hamas does not care about the Gazans. They build their tunnels and store weapons under homes, schools, hospitals, which puts them in harm’s way. If they cared for the Gazans they would not steal their aid which allows their leaders to live luxurious lives in Qatar.
I’ll quote Brendan O’Neil from The Australian: “the truth is that Israel is not executing a genocide in Gaza – it is fighting a war. And like every war in history it is awful… and it is a war that Hamas now refuses to end by returning the hostages and laying down weapons”.
Please stop blaming a country trying to survive an aggressor which aims to repeat 7 October again and again.
Mina Levy, Balnarring Beach
Still in the Middle East…
As much as many would like to blame 7 Oct on the “Palestinian Freedom Fighters” to justify the genocide occurring in Gaza and Lebanon, it is worth while to keep in mind that Israel have been murdering Palestinians and stealing their land since The Nakba or “catastrophe,” which in 1948 saw militias drive 750,000 Palestinians from their homes, carry out more than 70 massacres and seize 78 percent of historic Palestine.
These actions have returned on steroids while too many look the other way, or do not look at all.
What planet do people live on when they call Israel a “democratic stabilising force” in the Middle East?
The “democratic stabilising force” argument has been used by the US for decades of support for Israel while since 1948 they continue to illegally steal land, displace, and murder Palestinians.
Joe Lenzo, Safety Beach
Bushfire danger
Thank you for the important reminder that the fire danger period is upon us (The Fire Danger Period fast approaching, The News 3/12/24).
The Australasian Fire and Emergency Service Authorities Council’s (AFAC) latest Seasonal Bushfire Outlook states that, after a dry winter and spring, “temperature means continue to be above average”.
In particular, the AFAC has earmarked the Mornington Peninsula as a region at increased risk of fire.
As our climate continues to warm, we must be more vigilant and prepared for fires than ever. And, to protect people, property, forests, and wildlife, governments should be investing much more in bushfire management.
Brave CFA volunteers should not be driving trucks over 30 years old – they need modern fire trucks, tankers, drone technology – the works.
Amy Hiller, Kew
Protect women
I participated in the Respect Victoria Walk to Stop Violence Against Women march in Mornington on 1 December.
It was encouraging to see the number of people who attended and the support from the community as we walked along Main Street.
It was also encouraging to hear those in attendance wholeheartedly support the motion proposed by Prof Helen Keleher (MC) that the urgent need for purpose–built crisis and permanent accommodation for women and children seeking refuge from family violence and for women who are sleeping rough on the Mornington Peninsula be acknowledged and actioned.
It is the responsibility of all of us; the community and all levels of government, to ensure our women and children live without fear, in stable and supportive long term accommodation and have a safe place to lay their heads in times of crises.
Susan Hillman Stolz, Rye
A fish tale
During the hurries of December my daughter and I found ourselves driving down a one-way street when we saw an older gentleman standing next to a ute waving a fluoro arm around.
I rolled the car to a stop and apprehensively lowered the passenger side window to speak to him.
His car had a flat battery and he needed a jump start.
Perfectly capable of being able to provide a jump, and speaking over my daughter out the window, I fumbled through explaining my crazy European battery issues (“you should see how many clips the housing has!”), and time constraints. The man, sensing my blemished excuses, told us to never mind.
I did want to help, but I also felt like I couldn’t be bothered. We drove off.
But soon after decided that where we had to be could wait and that we had to go back and help the man.
My daughter emphatically agreed.
Less than ten minutes later we’re back on the one-way street. The gentleman was now sitting in his car with the engine humming. Again, we speak through the passenger window, “Just doubling back to make sure you’re ok. We rethought it, and we’re sure we can figure out the battery’s hiding spot and get you going”.
He insisted it was ok and that a young couple already stopped (and did what we should have done in the first place).
But he was still thankful for us coming back.
We chatted for a few more minutes and he gifted us a recently caught snapper from a cooler in the back of his ute.
That man taught my daughter and I a lesson, and we left with full hearts.
Merry Fishmas.
Nate Avidan, Rosebud
