DENISE Pollock (Short Takes, 18/11) in all of the letters calling for a review of lockout laws in Newey or anywhere else for that matter, I cannot recall anyone wanting to return "to the bad old days of alcohol fuelled violence in the CBD." As a matter of fact, there are a raft of checks and balances that ensure that liquor outlets are much more held accountable than back in "the bad old days" when there were next to no rules. And again let me reiterate that in the '70s, '80s and '90s, I never had a drama anywhere I went, whether it be the Palais, Ambassador, Bel Air, Star Hotel, Jolly Roger, Casbah, Prince, Mary Ellen, Beaches Hotel, Cambridge, Fanny's, the Castle or any other establishment in Newcastle. You were able to enjoy yourself as long as you knew your limits and let me tell you that back then as well as now, 99 percent of people do the right thing and the small percentage that don't behave contribute to more and more lockouts.
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People say they want a vibrant nightlife, but then they ring and complain about the noise because they need to go to bed when Big Dog goes to sleep. Live music in Newcastle is facing a slow death because people move in to apartments right next to venues and then complain about the noise.
I was at an establishment on Sunday afternoon and witnessed a band being asked to turn down the music and the sun hadn't even gone down.
People say the nightlife is vibrant, but there are parts of Newcastle that are now quite dangerous because of lack of crowds in these areas. Yes, you can have a safe night out today and even back in the day if you abided by the rules. Do not become an East Ender if you can't handle a vibrant nightlife. If you want total silence, don't retire to the city, move to the country.
Tony Morley, Waratah
FELINE BETTER THAN BEFORE
ON Saturday night I had an experience I never wish to repeat. I took my cat to a Hunter vet. I had an animal in distress; nobody was on reception and the waiting room was standing room only. After hours of nobody even acknowledging me, I approached a very busy nurse who told me that I was triaged as the lowest priority. Another hour and the waiting room was much quieter, so I approached the desk again.
I was taken into a treatment room where I waited again to see what I believed to be a very inexperienced vet who was totally disinterested and suggested I leave my cat there overnight and "maybe" someone could attend to him tomorrow. I was not happy about that, but however agreed. I was given an estimate of $2167. Because the cat was in distress and he would get pain relief, I agreed.
Almost seven hours after I arrived, I took the estimate to reception where I was met by another vet who had just come on duty. She read the estimate, went out the back and came back with my cat in his carrier, his abscess lanced and cleaned. $326! What a relief. If it was explained to me that there were emergencies I would have understood, but that was not the case. I have written my complaint to the manager in the hope that they will call in more staff in future. The vet fees are extortionate.
Kerri Marshall, Charlestown
HOME WHERE THE START IS
TOPICS ('Search on for best view of city track', Topics 18/11) asked the best place to view the Newcastle car race. Without doubt it's on a big screen in the rumpus room, next to the bar and toilet, on a comfy seat with motor racing mates where you can enjoy the atmosphere by adjusting the volume control, have a few drinks and arrange a taxi rather than drive. No, this is not a furniture ad; It's just a bit of common sense from a race follower putting comfort and common sense before discomfort. I like to watch the whole race up close with playback, not just split-second viewing.
Carl Stevenson, Dora Creek
CRITICISM PLAYED VITAL ROLE
THANKS Lang Barrie (Letters, 18/11) for pointing out the Supercars event means residents suffer some inconvenience. However, Newcastle East Residents Group (NERG) has also helped to make public the significant economic losses many businesses suffer from the traffic chaos that deters people from coming into the city.
NERG has also exposed the secrecy behind the deals done to plant this event in such an inappropriate place and the multitude of services council is contracted to provide every year ('Council's race roles pile up', Herald 25/8/18). NERG has also decried the denuding of prime parkland to make way for a car race, the removal of popular festivities from the foreshore for three months every year, and the extensive park rehabilitation and yearly maintenance of the circuit for Supercars.
NERG has also raised serious concerns about the safety of holding a motor racing event five metres from people's homes ('Accident fuels debris fear', Herald 1/11) and decries the use of public streets and parks as advertising billboards for alcohol, gambling, coal, and petroleum products. Unfortunately, unless council decides this event is not good for our city, Supercars will have no compunction about taking up their five-year option. NERG will continue to hold those responsible for the damage done to our city to account.
Christine Everingham, Newcastle East
GLOOM HAS BEEN VINDICATED
THANK you John Chaplin (Letters, 16/11) for your succinct, informative letter about the disillusionment felt by octogenarians, and those of us nearly there. Don't apologise for being pessimistic; during the last 20 years some members of my family have been critical of my doom-and-gloom perspective of society. Sadly, the chickens are coming home to roost. Helen Wood (Letters, 16/11) speaks to "lack of council action of the facilities in the East End". Please note that Ms Wood lives in Dungog. I relocated from the East End because of the destruction of the unique area, which "has been taken over by poorly considered events by private companies who will happily take our money and run". A time of national crisis (Letters, 16/11) explained by Lindsay Brown is an excellent précis. My latest approach toward helping understand the complexities of government is that I totally agree with Allan Earl (Short Takes, 16/11) where he asks us whether our politicians are up for the job of the priority of "keeping Australian's lives, land and property safe".
I hope others can join these four letter writers and I to inform the public that crunch time has come, and there is no future complaining to political leaders to do something. The Newcastle Herald was supportive and significant in exposing sexual abuse, which helped lead to a royal commission. Action by people power is imperative, to at least explain consequences to the community. There's plenty of work for journalists whereby they can help change our diet from trying to eat money to see how we go with thoughts and prayers.
Pat Garnet, Wickham
SHARE YOUR OPINION
Email letters@newcastleherald.com.au or send a text message to 0427 154 176 (include name and suburb). Letters should be fewer than 200 words. Short Takes should be fewer than 50 words. Correspondence may be edited and reproduced in any form.
GRETA Thunberg is sticking to her guns trying not to leave a carbon footprint during her travels. Meanwhile, we have schoolies week. Whatever happened to having the courage of conviction? I don't agree with Thunberg's ideology, but she is trying not to humiliate herself through her actions. In my opinion the same can't be said about hypocritical schoolies protesting about climate change, then hey presto, creating a massive carbon footprint celebrating the fact they haven't achieved anything yet. Reality is about to punch them in the face now that school is out and working life is ready to prick protective little bubbles.
Steve Barnett, Fingal Bay
BEHROUZ Boochani has escaped. He was held on Manus Island, and now he has made it to New Zealand. He might even get into the USA! Horrors! The government has told us what will happen next; a tidal wave of boat people will now crash down on us because coming to Australia is obviously the way to get to somewhere else. The government will enjoy telling us about this. Unfortunately, they will have to break their own security laws to give us the information. They have managed to hide the fact that Tony Abbott never stopped the boats at all, so how can they now reveal anything about any other asylum seekers?
Grant Agnew, Coopers Plains
SO unemployment has risen and no new jobs were created in October. 17,000 Additional Australians are jobless (ABC, 15/11). If they qualify for Newstart, they will be living under the poverty line with all its associated hardships. The question I have is, would infrastructure projects provide work be underway if the Morrison government had not been obligated to spend massive amounts on ongoing natural disaster relief? These are disasters respected experts claim could have been avoided. It is time for a reality check and rational, honest debates to occur between all political parties. The sooner the better for the good of our country.
R J Woodard, Beresfield
NO true Aussie sports fan could fail to be impressed with our women's team and individual performances over the past year. They have certainly brought many a smile to this wrinkly face, but it was Saturday arvo's victory by the Papua New Guinea (my wife's homeland) women's rugby league team against the Poms that was celebrated the loudest. In a country where women's rights and equality are many decades behind Australia, this victory will hopefully help speed up a cultural change occurring slowly.
Dave McTaggart, Edgeworth
IN regards to the plastic waste problem facing Australia and the rest of the world ('Money being 'wasted' amid plastic pollution', Herald 18/11), I am of the opinion that the government should legislate that all imports use recycled or recyclable packaging, state the amount of packaging and all packaging must be accepted back to the country of origin or a packaging tax be imposed, one for non-return and a larger one for non-recyclable packaging. A ban on throw-away plastic crap should also be implemented to save us all the mounting cost of this unneeded waste.