I thought I might offer some thoughts to those who are struggling with this isolation. As is the case with many families, we suffered a serious setback when my partner suffered a severe stroke some 17 years ago, as a result being paralysed down one side, unable to talk for a long period of time and obviously mobility problems and reliant on me for everyday activities.

To enable us to go out for lunch or dinner takes planning that everyday people don't understand ... timing to get dressed, getting to the car, parking, accessibility, do they have disabled toilets. And the list goes on.

Whilst you self isolate, hopefully, it will be a short-term inconvenience for you, you might express some empathy to those that live with this isolation for the duration of their lives.

I would ask if in the future if you come across someone disabled in the community please ensure their outing is not interrupted but enjoyed as it may be their long-awaited time to get out of isolation.

REGARDING the issue of whether you should be allowed to go for a drive in lockdown, the problem is that if everyone goes out for a joyride, it would be worse than peak-hour traffic.

And the stats say that more cars = more car crashes = more road trauma victims clogging up the hospitals. Who wants to put more strain on the hospitals? So we live in an equal society, so everyone needs to follow the rules. If you want to lobby the government to change the rules go for it.

It's a good idea for people to start getting into different habits? Walk or ride around your block. Other countries are stricter on COVID-19 car usage than Australia at the moment. Humans are good at getting into different habits. Do you remember everyone 20 years ago on their smartphones? No, we did not have them. We've gained that habit.

And while on topic about everyone breaking rules: I want to mention NSW road rule 126 - keeping a safe distance behind vehicles. The RMS says "to reduce the risk of driving into the rear of a vehicle, the three-second crash avoidance space is essential, as the vehicle in front has the potential to stop very quickly if it collides with another vehicle or stationary object".

It is sad that 99 per cent of motorists only leave a one or two-second safety gap. It is observed the most about 80m after a traffic light. The traffic is free flowing and doing the speed limit. Most cars following the first car that was stopped at traffic lights will only have one or two-second safety gaps. Now you have been empowered with extra knowledge to share with your friends.

LOOKING at the amount of people flocking to the beaches here and in Sydney, I'd hazard a guess that 75 per cent of these people don't live in the area - I think they are out-of-towners going to the beach to "exercise". I think the government needs to start enforcing a rule that if you don't live in that suburb don't go there. Looking at the Bar Beach to Merewether stretch on the weekend, I'm guessing a lot of the people were from outer suburbs. Go and "exercise" in your own suburb.

IN this time of remarkable political unanimity of how best to combat COVID-19, the people of Australia have seen a regulation of the marketplace and health nationalisation unparalleled in our history.

Unfortunately, even in this brave new era, our government baulks at any regulation in the national interest of "big oil." The greed of "big oil" with its fuel price manipulations and price gouging is, in these times of increased unemployment, dramatically affecting the ability of Jayne and John Citizen to put bread on the table.

The argument that capitalism's system of supply and demand, and of free market forces is the way forward has become redundant in Australia. Our conservative government is now accepting socialism (or a reasonable facsimile) as being a much better fit than capitalism in times of crisis. So what better time than now, to bring "big oil" to heel?

I THINK much of the manufactured outrage over the Ruby Princess unloading has lost sight of the possible major damage that could have happened to people if they had been locked on to the ship. Looking at what happened in Japan gives an example of what could have happened.

While not trying to overlook the flow-on effect of the release of these people, I suggest the outcome has been lower than if they had stayed on the ship, if the Diamond Princess could be used as an example.

I think it is disgusting that the media and politicians are baying for blood when they are only interested in attacking those who are trying to do their best in very difficult circumstances. A bit of support for medical and regulatory staff would not go astray.

JIM Gardiner (Short Takes, 2/4) needs to recognise there are currently two real global emergencies, one caused by a virus, the other by climate change. One climate change activist muses online: How come when the media mentions the coronavirus we all panic and bulk buy face masks and hand wash, but when scientists tell us that climate change could lead to the extinction of our species, we decide to ignore them and direct our anger towards a Swedish teenager? Another post muses: If we can shut down society to fight a virus that can kill a few of us, why not to fight climate change that can kill us all.

DURING my life I have witnessed the passing of six decades. Through education and entertainment, I have been indoctrinated with the notion that I'm special. I'm a member of a species that, through its genius, has conquered its environment. The moon landing, nuclear power, digital technology. There is no end to our achievement, to our potential. This human exceptionalism has marginalised all other creatures to the role of bit players in our glorious narrative, a belief that has sustained various religions over several millennia, especially the monotheistic varieties.

And yet, in the year 2020 AD, a microscopic entity, less complex than a random thought, has brought us to our knees, and is threatening to wipe us out. What's more, the entire scope of our technological ingenuity seems to be powerless against it.

So, the High Court has quashed George Pell's conviction ("Pell will walk free; convictions overturned", Herald 7/4).

The High Court has not declared that Pell did not commit the offences with which he was charged, but that the convictions were unsafe. Fair enough.

However the fact remains that 12 ordinary Australians, selected at random, heard the evidence of the surviving complainant, witnessed his response to torrid cross-examination over a long period - and unanimously declared that they believed him.

So Pell may have been freed by the High Court (which only relied on transcripts and submissions), but he has failed the time-honoured Australian "pub test".

And the many hundreds of thousands of Australians, myself included, who watched the forensic exposure of Pell on "Revelation" and have followed other credible information about Pell's interaction with young boys as it has been disclosed over the years, will not be dissuaded from their view as to whether or not Pell is a paedophile.

IS it possible to identify even a hint of balance in fairness and justice for victims in the High Court's 'resolution' of the George Pell case? Pell exercised his right to remain safe behind his legal team while his alleged victim endured two days of having his allegations exhaustively tested through cross-examination. Along the torturous judicial path, the alleged victim succeeded in convincing jurors, and subsequently, two out of three Judges of a Victorian Superior Court, that he was a man of truth.

Rather than take the opportunity to give sworn testimony, which Pell foreshadowed in a media release, he assembled a team of people to construct a circumstantial case of having had little or no opportunity to engage in sexual abuse. Pell''s defence would have ceased to be 'circumstantial' had he chosen to deny the allegations on oath. With what can now be seen as breath-taking perspicacity by Pell, the High Court has said, "Thank you George, your defence is sufficient to restore to you, the presumption of innocence".

Never mind the forensic, fact-filled, corroborated expose by journalists Sarah Ferguson and Louise Milligan addressing a tantalisingly similar modus operandi of alleged sexual abuse by Pell - raised by multiple victims during broadcasts of about six hours. George is innocent before the law.

He might be slightly less 'innocent' if, with the consent of some of these last-mentioned victims, the Victorian Attorney General and the DPP brought ex-officio proceedings against George.

In the meantime, the alleged victim in the High Court matters (perhaps with crowd-funding) might choose to pursue Pell - in the manner of an O.J. Simpson civil suit.

In the meantime, any judicial officers in Australian courts who might be of hesitant disposition will only remind themselves that it is preferable to remain ultra-cautious before convicting anyone in judge-alone trials or in jurisdictions of review. Who can say that potential jurors, who acquaint themselves with the judgement, will not also be influenced?

Of course it wasn't their intention, but the High Court in Pell has only shored-up the prospect of continuation of an astonishingly skewed proportion of acquittals in sexual assault trials - both historical and present-day.

Re-building confidence and respect for the criminal and judicial processes can only happen if fairness to victims is clearly demonstrated. Isn't it time for peoples of all faiths and those without faith to become equally very angry?

IN August, 2019, Lake Macquarie mayor Kay Fraser announced, to a relieved community, that council had finally listened and that there was now no need to proceed with its Bath Street site high-rise commercial development proposal on Toronto's foreshore. This was followed in September by a council resolution with six recommendations.

All work on the proposal was to stop, the site to be integrated into the park master plan, which was to continue, and processes put in place to reclassify foreshore land from 'operational' to 'community'.

Yet six months later (two years since the fateful April, 2018 decision) foreshore upgrades and reclassification will not take effect until mid-to-late 2023, despite about $9 million of developer contributions already being available.

Excuses given for this long delay include the need for a major review of council's entire property portfolio, not just for Toronto; to obtain a small rental income from the two remaining cottages on the foreshore before reclassification occurs; and, for an external consultant to explore options for the Bath Street site, including 'do nothing' and the original development proposal (which council itself ruled out in August/September), against its sustainability policy.

Unfortunately, with the COVID-19 backdrop, council's intended community engagement is postponed. But if the community is to have trust in council what is required now is open and frank information flow and a commitment to prompt completion of the master plan in accordance with council's September resolution.

JOHN Fear, yes, hooning is a disease. New York is known as the city that never sleeps but Newcastle is the city in which you can't sleep. I have lived in and stayed in many cities and there is no doubt that Newcastle is a contender for 'Hoon Capital of the World'.

The law for domestic vehicles is 90 decibels for a car and 95 decibels for motorbikes. Any vehicle that exceeds these levels should be defected and deregistered until fixed.

The drivers are mostly young men who have hotted-up their cars and have removed baffles from their exhausts. Some have ensured their cars backfire when taking off.

These cars speed round the city through the day and night making it very difficult to sleep. Might I suggest more speed cameras in the city, particularly around Marketown, and a lowering of the speed limit in city areas to 40 kmh? Could it be that the V8 races held here have influenced these hoons who seem to have no consideration for other people? Are they really aware of their nuisance value or don't they care?

I READ with interest the thoughts of Rick Carter. The Ord River mentioned was to my memory of school days supposed to be the largest food bowl we have ever seen. Imagine the surprise when some 60 years later I found it producing sandalwood for the cosmetics industry, not food. Lake Argyle has more water than we will ever use. It was also an assumption of mine that central Australia is a plateau and not even the hydrologists can get water to run uphill. Good idea, but beyond the realms of our pollies.

Victims of sexual assault should not give up. Many Australians support you. The Pell case shows that justice was seen to be done, but many of the accused are found guilty and face jail time. The Pell case shows how victims can post a clear warning that perpetrators, no matter how powerful, will face relentless prosecution.

CONCERNING George Pell's acquittal, there are two people who know the truth, one is Pell himself, and the other is the former choirboy. One is a liar, but one is not. One has been called a credible witness. And that is that.

IN the light of a momentous decision in the High Court this week, there is bound to be much discussion. Allow me to say that a verdict of 'not guilty' does not translate as 'innocent'. It merely means not proven (at law) and nothing more. The person concerned still may or may not be guilty. I leave these thoughts with you.

MY definition of Australian law; it's not the truth that counts, but how the law interprets the truth. And that's the truth. The old story, laws are always useful to those who have possessions, and harmful to those who have nothing. We are all equal in the eyes of the law, but some are more equal than others.

POLICE officer Gary Jubelin found guilty trying to protect children (William Tyrell investigation), while George Pell has convictions quashed for allegedly abusing children.

DAVID Stuart, I think Mac Maguire is only a prime target to your Liberal views. If I was Mac I wouldn't be too worried about what you think either.

WE are being incessantly bombarded by so much information from the media, the Prime Minister and other professionals that it is beginning to sound like blah, blah, blah.

MANY people in Tighes Hill are anti-coal, but from the smell that has made me close my windows tonight they are not averse to burning trees in their combustion heaters.

JOHN O'Brien, shucks you're right. By the way oysters in a Bloody Mary, that's a vaccine for everything. Keep safe brother.

GOT a spare set of Christmas lights? Maybe put a set in your window to bring a bit of cheer at this time that we are all still trying to come to grips with.

THE Queen said it this week. Vera Lynne sang it better. We'll meet again. And we will.

WHAT is going on? The amount of people flocking to the beach all of a sudden is mind blowing. I've never seen so many people on the stretch between Frenchman's and Caves Beach. The same happened at Catherine Hill Bay beach apparently. Stay in your own postcode area. There were whole families there that looked like they've never had sand between their toes. These are unprecedented times and I'm trying to not sound selfish, but this will lead to total lockdown. Devastating to local beach users, obviously most are from Newcastle and Sydney.

DUE to the coronavirus outbreak in the country, we are faced with massive unemployment and many other people having to take huge pay cuts. It beggars belief that to this stage not one politician has put up their hand and said, 'maybe we should shoulder some of the burden and take a pay cut too'. When it comes down to it, they are only workers like everyone else.

WELL said Michael Hinchey. The walking trails in Blackbutt should remain open as we rarely pass anyone on the tracks, unlike the footpaths around New Lambton where we now have to exercise.

IT is heartening to see many Australian companies have rallied in support of the present pandemic by gearing up to manufacture medical and protective equipment. Wouldn't it be nice if after this crisis is over that support is continued for these companies? Too often we shun local businesses to purchase from overseas to save a few dollars. If companies such as these go out of business we may not be so fortunate if we face any future catastrophes.

BEING a person who fortunately is still employed and going to work each day can we have one day a week where I can go to the shop and get some supplies please? By the time I get off work the shelves are stripped bare of the basic essentials and I do not need any of the things that are left over. Yes the stores are open, but inaccessible until after 9am, no good to me.

CAN someone tell me whether the mass purchasing of medical supplies by Chinese-backed companies in Australia actually took place? If so - when, what, how much and are we now buying it back? Democracy at work I suppose.

WELL said Christine Everingham. Newcastle council should speak up for ratepayers instead of wasting millions of dollars of our money subsidising a private company. When we are finally allowed back on our beaches this mob will be restricting our access once again. Say no to five more years of this madness.