If an individual is caught lighting a fire, or in possession of fireworks at any time during a total fire ban, we are subject to severe fines. I realise as a mere mortal, my opinion is totally irrelevant but I believe it was irresponsible and careless of the NSW RFS and the councils involved to let displays go ahead in such conditions.

ASK the question: in 1966, when I was in national service doing basic training at Singleton army camp, we were called upon to fight a bushfire that was threatening the Singleton township. Two battalions were thrust into the front line to fight the fire until it was extinguished.

The question I have to ask is why isn't the government using the armed forces and their resources more to fight the numerous fires being fought primarily by the NSW Rural Fire Service and its volunteers ('Inferno', Newcastle Herald 1/1)? If the government is waiting for a state of emergency, guess what? it's here, in the form of bushfires that are devastating our beautiful country.

If that doesn't constitute a national emergency, I don't know what does. But maybe the government cannot see the bushfires because they have their heads buried in the sand when it comes to this situation.

FURTHER to the letter from Jennifer O"Donoghue regarding Newcastle Ocean Baths (Short Takes, 31/12) let me just add a few points. Not only will the baths not have been cleaned for 10 very hot days by the time they are cleaned on Thursday, but, as MS O'Donoghue says, they have been used during that time by more than the usual amount of people. Whoever is in charge of the cleaning crew please take note: just emptying out the water is not enough, particularly in this busy water season. The walls need to be scrubbed, maybe even whitewashed. And as for the floor, just pushing all the seaweed etc in to a pile in the middle of the pool then disposing of some of it by throwing it over the back into the ocean is not going to make the baths as clean as we deserve any more than it did last Monday.

I, like all the other regulars, look forward to sparkling clean water to swim in on Friday. All we have to do now is get people to put their sunscreen on before they get to the pool, so it doesn't come off and float about on top of the water. But maybe that's another letter.

SHANE Fitzsimmons for Prime Minister.

I realise the above named is absolutely committed to his present role, but he clearly has all it takes to be an excellent national leader. He is truly sincere, with no range of personas for different situations and no blatant hypocrisy; he knows what he's doing, isn't making decisions on the hop on account of his own floundering; he is hardworking and dedicated; he doesn't tout his spiritual beliefs (and I believe most Australians don't want that from politicians).

Also, he's not a gimmicks type. There's no baseball cap, no slogans or anything similar.

I could go on, but it's only a hypothetical. It's reassuring all the same to consider what the future may hold for us. I'm looking outside the Coalition square, but didn't have to look far.

IN answer to Carl Stevenson (Short Takes, 1/1), our Prime Minister can take a break any time in the year, but leaving Australia when our land, his land, was burning up was in my view reprehensible.

I know he is not a fireman, but he should have been out there with his sleeves rolled up, giving food or drinks or even a hug to the people who lost everything in the fires, and showing that he has a little bit of a heart. Instead, he was lapping up the sunshine and attention of another country.

Mr Stevenson, if you were the Prime Minister, the leader of our country, would you have left it while it was burning?

I'm sure not, and Scott Morrison should not have left either. In my opinion, he knows that's the case.

GORDON Tindall (Short Takes, 30/12) suggested our Prime Minister has his head down a burrow hiding from reality.

I am wondering about the opinions of all these critics of the Prime Minister and vitally interested to know what policies would be implemented immediately should they be in his shoes.

What would you do, Gordon Tindall, to address this "crisis" in your first 100 days in office? It is very easy to sit in your world and criticise the government, but let's be constructive and make suggestions please.

GRAEME Kime (Letters, 31/12): many of us have totally changed our lives to help the planet in this time of crisis by giving up animal products, using solar energy, minimising our vehicle use, not flying, and more. Many are doing much more than just holding up banners. You may be among those who are apathetic and lazy when it comes to looking after the one home our children have, but please do not judge everyone else on your lack of action.

It appears our Prime Minister has no water plan, no drought plan and no fire plan but he has holiday plans and plans to keep Australia positioned as little more than the world's biggest quarry.

IN regard to Neville Aubrey's letter (Letters, 30/12) in which he asks why doesn't God answer our prayers, I recommend he read Isaiah 59:1-2.

It says "..the Lord is not weak that He can't save you or hear your call for help. It is because of your sins that He doesn't hear you. It is your sins that have separated you from God."

Again, God said in Deuteronomy 28 : "Because you have walked contrary to my Laws, statutes and commandments then I will curse your land and make your skies like brass and the earth like iron"

Maybe one day we will wake up.

AT the risk of been told to get a life, some trivia to end the year in the letter to the editor stakes and thanks to the following contributors of 2019: Brad Hill (59 articles) is followed by Steve Barnett (56), Carl Stevenson (55) and Mac Maguire (42).

SO it's not morally right for PM to have a week of family holiday, but it's okay for Sydney and others to have fireworks?

THERE were two ex-Newcastle High School students in the starting line-ups in the Jets versus Brisbane game last Saturday night at McDonald Jones Stadium. Well done to Pat Langlois (Jets) and Jacob Pepper (Brisbane).

I BELIEVE Mr Morrison should go on permanent holiday, not in Hawaii but as far from Australia as possible. Maybehe'll see what climate change is doing to our planet. He certainly can't seem to see the catastrophe unfolding here.

UNBELIEVABLE, unforgiving, unpremeditated, under-resourced, unremitting, unsatisfactory forward planning for such catastrophic conditions ('Inferno', Newcastle Herald 1/1). Shame.

RATHER than ask where God is, Neville Aubrey (Short Takes, 30/12), we should ask why haven't we taken better care of the planet. It really is all about greed, self-interest and complacency. The planet was perfect and we have fouled it up badly. We've never given future generations a thought.

IN view of the devastating bushfires that have destroyed so many precious forests and countless wildlife over the past few weeks - and with many fires still not under control - I think only an idiot or idiotic government would have considered going ahead with any type of fireworks display on New Year's.

CAN I just simply throw out a New Year bouquet to the RMS team, specifically Newcastle branch. On New Year's Eve I was in and out within minutes, having been met by a very polite and knowledgeable concierge followed by an equally polite and efficient customer service person. Bravo to all of you and happy new year.

WENDY Atkins (Letters 30/12) would like a higher standard of opinions contributed to this page, yet I recall when she actually used the tragic massacre at the Christchurch mosque to launch a diatribe against former Prime Minister John Howard (Letters 25/3).

I DON'T think red was the most appropriate colour to light up the sky during the Sydney fireworks.

I SEE Marnus Labuschagne as a future leader in Test cricket. He shows a lot of confidence and authority on the field as well as in his batting. However, I think the next Test captain will be Bam-Bam Smith. He has been forgiven.

I DON'T think red was the most appropriate colour to light up the sky during the Sydney fireworks.