We have COVID on our doorstep and these people want to tempt fate by having an NRL game and State of Origin in Newcastle.

Can anybody guarantee that someone who is infected or has been a close contact and does not even know won't come to one of these games? Personally I am sure some people will try and break rules to get in.

It is already proven in this pandemic that a lot of people think the rules don't apply to them. Will all staff at the venue be local workers or will some come from Sydney? If they are from Sydney, will they have a COVID test before allowed to work?

The Lambton festival on Sunday was shut down as are many other upcoming events, but it seems you can have thousands of people at a league game and that's ok, even though with this new strain we are told you only have to walk past someone and the virus can be passed on. People have short memories of what happened last time, just one person came from Sydney to Newcastle and found out after visiting several venues around Newcastle they had COVID. All these venues had to shut down costing the workers and venues money.

I wonder how these people calling the State of Origin will feel if we have a COVID outbreak in Newcastle after these games and the region's hospitality industry has to shut down, putting hundreds of venues and maybe thousands of hospitality workers' jobs at risk. It's just not worth it for a game.

I HAVE just watched the post game press conference with the Queensland captain Daly Cherry-Evans and the coach Paul Green. How sad they were over the drubbing that NSW handed out to them on Sunday night. It's sad all right; just ask any NSW supporter at work the next day after a game loss, or after the many series losses we have endured over the past 13 or so years.

When Queensland had their time in the sun with Smith, Cronk, Thurston, Slater, Lockyer and the likes carving up our side on the back of a lot of the 50/50 calls going their way because of Mr. C Smith being on their side, they were confident and cocky with an iconic Thurston laugh.

Come on, Queensland. Take it on the chin and accept that you were outplayed by a far better side and brace yourself for what might become a long time between drinks.

WE'RE now approaching our 16th month of "two weeks to flatten the curve", and we still don't have a plan. NSW and WA are effectively locked down with just five hospitalised cases between them; astonishing when you consider the NSW Health 2017 influenza report. In that year over 654 people died from the flu, over 100 were in the ICU at any one time - including over 30 children in NSW alone. In my opinion the impact of COVID-19 pales in comparison.

I believe vaccination rates remain low because there is no benefit to the vaccinated. They are still subject to house arrest by populist, panicky premiers. They cannot travel interstate, much less overseas. In the past nine months there have been more deaths associated with the Astra-Zeneca vaccine than with COVID-19, which is hardly a strong selling point. To top it off, our Prime Minister admitted that he plans to develop a plan to reopen the country sometime next year.

It's hard to imagine a worse example of government incompetence, despite the very strong competition in that field. I suppose if you don't actually have a plan, nobody can criticise you for failing to deliver on it.

The line has moved five places, the turning buses have nearly taken out 3 people, maybe that's why the line-up is progressing so fast. It's all good; the hospital has earned many more dollars in parking fees. A few coughing disgruntled patients in line, testees have left the scene, spreading what they have elsewhere, good to see that most in the line which is now around the corner. Hang on, another turning bus nearly sidestepped the girl in front of me, #13 to Cardiff, not their fault cars are now coming and going after looking at line-up, probably no parking left, and it's not the fault of the front liners doing the testing; it's the shortcomings of the hospital and state government in not increasing testing sites and enough personnel. Oh for a seat and a coffee, even a warm blanket.

BUT wait, there's more. Roll up and get your AstraZeneca jab and get a set of steak knives, absolutely free.

Initially the AstraZeneca vaccine was recommended only to those above 60, then it was amended to include those above 50. Now Prime Minister Scott Morrison is telling us that anyone of any age can access AstraZeneca. Why the change of advice? Is this because the government has a surplus of the vaccine it needs to offload before it expires? I suspect so. An action such as this tells me that the Morrison government puts finances before health. Not a good look.

LAST month 900 people joined Dementia Australia for the Hunter Memory Walk & Jog.

Participants turned out in impressive numbers to walk or run at Speers Point Park, Lake Macquarie, in support of people living with dementia.

I would like to thank the people of Hunter for this show of support and community spirit. It was inspiring to see such willingness from participants as they adapted to the changes made to the format of the event, so that it could be run in a COVID-safe way.

From walkers, runners and joggers, to donors and volunteers, I want to thank everyone who contributed in any way to the success of this event. We couldn't have done it without you.

An impressive $60,000 was raised, and these funds will be used to provide support services, education and resources for people impacted by dementia in the Hunter community, and across Australia.

There are an estimated 157,000 people living with dementia in NSW. With that figure projected to increase to about 345,000 by 2058, events like Memory Walk & Jog play an important role not only in funding support, but also in raising awareness of dementia.

We are now encouraging Hunter locals who were unable to attend this event to get involved with a 'MY Impossible Walk & Jog Challenge'. Visit memorywalk.com.au, sign up for a distance of your choice, which can be completed in your own time, at a location that suits you.

DARYL Frost (Short Takes 29/6), I find it amusing that people like yourself can't see that the whole Mark Vaile appointment/resignation was a classic case of the tail wagging the dog. I think the university obviously has an identity crisis; a bit like a federal political party I know of.

IT'S beyond belief that both the US and UK can do such an amazing job with much larger populations, rolling the vaccine out. Our Prime Minister and his government have stuffed up again. Typical Liberal government putting profits before people.

THE feeble-minded folk hoarding toilet paper obviously have a very poor understanding of what happens to your body when you contract COVID-19 (and at which end most of the action occurs).

POLITICIANS, at all levels, are professionally patronising, telling us that masks are so important in fending off the virus - whilst not wearing one themselves. We all know what you sound and look like. Stronger leadership by example is needed and wanted, not beauty pageants.

WE'RE so lucky to have the highly competent Ms Berejiklian calling our lockdown. If Mr Andrews had called this pause in New South Wales, it would be too long and probably unnecessary.

GLADYS Berejiklian hopes NSW has avoided a "surge" in COVID cases. So what's she calling what's going on in Sydney and now spreading out to the other states?

I HAVEN'T got a lot of time for Barnaby Joyce but one good move he has made is to sack the Minister for Veteran's Affairs, Darren Chester. In my opinion Mr Chester has overseen a department that has failed veterans miserably and fought tooth and nail to avoid a royal commission looking into veteran suicides.

WE are being governed by a conservative Coalition of rorters who have failed at their one real job this year; to fully vaccinate Australians. We are last on the list of OECD countries, still under five per cent of the population vaccinated. Incompetence writ large.

Dr Diana Day (Letters, 28/6): we all know climate has changed over time, but the change we have seen over the past five or six decades would normally take thousands of years to evolve.

RUGBY league player Ronaldo Mulitalo was ruled out of the Queensland side for State of Origin because he doesn't qualify as a Queenslander. Where does he come from, another galaxy? Didn't Maradona and Arnold Schwarzenegger play for Queensland in the 80s? Annastacia and her deputy dog Mr Ed must be inconsolable.