REMEMBER ANZAC Day 2020? Throughout the nation we stood in our driveways, with torches and candles, as we remembered those who served, and still serve, Australia. We said "Let's do this next year. We seemed to really come together as a nation."
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Why has this concept not been promoted in 2021? Most ceremonies this year are for veterans and members of the RSL with restrictions on the general public, (Herald, 21/4). Perhaps I'll hold my own vigil and remember my Dad, a veteran of Bougainville. Perhaps I'll see flickering lights as others do the same. Lest We Forget.
Winsome Lambkin, Eleebana
Veteran help is overdue, welcome
IT is about time the Morrison government announced a royal commission on veteran suicides (''Finally the voices of veterans will be heard', Newcastle Herald 20/4). Government departments must be held accountable for their appalling treatment of veterans.
The plight of young recruits should also be investigated, this is where recruits were subjected to humiliating initiation practices. This could have caused life long mental health issues for them.
Regarding the Brereton Report, it is in my opinion interesting that the "top brass" have been completely exonerated in respect of alleged war crimes. Any accused soldier should have their day in court, and I have seen reports that the government of Afghanistan made no complaints to the Australian government regarding the conduct of Australian troops there.
Congratulations to Peter Dutton on his decision that all members of the Australian Special Operations Task Group will keep their Meritorious Unit Citations unless convicted of war crimes or sacked for poor conduct ('Dutton ensures medals not taken away', Herald 20/4). Peter Dutton elected to reverse a previous decision to strip 3000 veterans of their citations, a move which would have been greeted with contempt by veterans. Congratulations also to Catherine McGregor for her tireless support for veterans and their families.
John Rumble, Albion Park
Lifeline - 13 11 14
Aim is to inspire, not build spires
TALKING to my student son last night, it became apparent that the latest restructure and funding cuts at the University of Newcastle have been a bridge too far. My son is at the tail end of a science degree where the positive and expert teaching, mentoring and support from staff for his studies has seen him flourish. Teaching staff have gone beyond their remit to maximise his educational experience.
Not so long ago he was planning on doing his Honours and possibly pursuing further academic qualifications at University of Newcastle. Now he finds himself surrounded by departing and/or demoralised staff, with all optimism for continuing studies locally now gone. The overwhelming sense that students like him have is that the university values buildings more than the students and the academics who inspire them. It would be a real shame if Newcastle starts losing students because of these seemingly short-sighted decisions.
Samantha Willcox, Carrington
Hotels aren't quarantine stations
ARE hotels the appropriate facilities to accommodate persons in quarantine? We are seeing more and more cases of COVID-19 positive recordings by people being accommodated on the same floor. It is being assumed that the disease is airborne, and that does not surprise as often hotel rooms and corridors share common air movement systems. In my opinion, quarantine should be practiced in purpose-built facilities, not in the confines of a single building. Families in quarantine deserve better. They should be able to access fresh air and sunlight. They should be housed in cabins, such as those in van parks, but isolated by fencing so that social distancing can be maintained.
Christmas Island would be an ideal site for this purpose. It would not take a lot of dollars to convert the detention centre to a quarantine station.
Another option would be for state governments to construct purpose-built facilities in regional areas rather than in cities. In times when not being used for quarantine, they could be operated as tourist holiday parks, if constructed tastefully.
Stan Keifer, Arakoon
Missed opportunity in BHP days
I FIND it amusing to watch the government now investing in the development of hydrogen hubs ('Hydrogen funds welcome', Herald 22/4). We could have done this 30 years ago and truly been up there ahead of the rest of the world.
At the time of the closure of the Newcastle steelworks I was project manager for the BHP Steel River initiative designed to create new opportunities for Newcastle and the Hunter region, which included negotiation of the transfer of the CSIRO Energy Division from North Ryde to the Steel River site. Another of the possibilities for the site was to build a hydrogen plant on the site.
A proposal to build such a plant was presented to me by David Slawson through his US company that owned the NASA technology for the production of hydrogen for manned spacecraft for the purpose of recycling the principle components of oxygen and water. In order to get the project up and running in Newcastle I needed the backing and investment from the federal government and I made approaches to the Federal Greenhouse office in Canberra without success. I have recently finished a book which in part includes some of my activities in Newcastle including my attempts to gain government support. I did however gain support of the CSIRO, which installed an experimental plant in Newcastle.
Lindsay Whaling, Forster
Paying the way for all power
SEVERAL recent letters have claimed that renewable energy has an advantage over fossil fuel generation due to subsidies. They imply that the fossil fuel industries receive no such subsidies, which is of course rubbish. Fuel subsidies and tax concessions are high on the list of what they receive. If you want to add the cost of externalities, such as air pollution and emissions that they don't pay for, the subsidy increases.
It is telling that private industry will invest in renewables but will not touch new fossil fuel projects because they know they will become stranded assets.
The claim that power costs will rise without the addition of fossil fuel generation is wrong because renewables can now produce cheaper power than coal or gas.
The main emphasis for future subsidies should be on energy storage systems to even out supply and demand. I believe any government subsidies of new fossil fuel power generation capacity are a backward and unnecessary step.
Lloyd Davies, Stockton
SHORT TAKES
AN enormous thanks to the people at Mens Shed 2322 for the presentation of the Beresfield Cenotaph area in preparation for Anzac Day. What a travesty that the community cannot use this facility for a service on this special day. My sincere thanks and the community thank you for your efforts.
John Bradford, Beresfield
WITH the double dole gone, people are coming out of the government-sponsored slumber to find work. Talking to a mate who has been running his café short staffed and flat out for the past year, he has finally got people asking for work. The first question he puts to the applicant is "why haven't you been working for so long when there's plenty of work to be had?" Double dole, he suspects, and politely says I'll be in touch - not.
Steve Barnett, Fingal Bay
THOSE who accuse the government of denying the human rights of citizens to return to their home country are misinformed. No-one has been told they cannot return. The fact that the government is not squandering tax payer dollars to fly these people home is a separate issue. Why are they so special? When I was in Europe I funded my own return flight.
Leigh Gibbens, Stockrington
WITH Anzac Day approaching, I would like to share with your readers a poem I came across in a wartime publication, Khaki and Green (1943), entitled To My Enemy. Written by an anonymous serviceman, the sentiments of resignation and regret so expressed call to mind the celebrated World War I soldier and poet Wilfred Owen.
Ross Evans, Morpeth
I SEE that the National Press Club has given airtime to another puppet of the Chinese Communist Party so he could bag Australia and Australians. Of course, this does not shock me.
Sandy Buchanan, Largs
LLOYD Davies (Short Takes, 21/4) reckons Don Fraser should read a little wider to get a better idea as to why people think Scott Morrison is a hypocrite. Bearing in mind that Mr. Morrison is currently rating at twice the popularity of the Opposition leader, it makes one wonder what people are thinking of Anthony Albanese.
David Stuart, Merewether
TEACHERS, as those in western Sydney, should mind their own business. Don't indoctrinate children who are in your care with your political or religious beliefs. You have a curriculum set by the education department and Black Lives Matter is certainly not on that list. When children grow up they can form their own opinions; until then teach, don't preach.
Graeme Kime, Cameron Park
ELECTRICITY has become a vital part of our existence while carbon dioxide, also a vital element as without it every living thing would die, is a byproduct of electricity generation and apparently almost entirely responsible for global warming.
Steven Busch, Rathmines
THE POLL
ARE you likely to take a direct flight from Newcastle to Cairns?