THE Stockton Centre opened in 1917 for people with complex disabilities, closed in 2020. The centre, which housed 350 residents, staffed onsite cooks, doctors, tradesmen and support workers. All were devastated by its closure, and most residents were moved into group homes. There are undoubtedly some excellent group homes with caring, competent staff, but what of the centre today?
It has been vacant for years. It has been vandalised. Trashed. Broken windows and a small fire. Inhabitable. Despite talk no specific, concrete plans have come to fruition.
We were told that it is important that the disabled participate in the community, but for many the centre and its familiar routines and faces was their community. My understanding is some have not adapted and are confused. I believe the state, through the NDIS, was able to shed support for the disabled into private care and charities and perhaps, acquire valuable real estate; the residents were mere collateral damage.
Helen Douglas, Stockton
Human cost to inhuman systems
The findings of the Royal Commission into Veteran Suicide prompts the question: why are our governments so inhumane? Both our elected representatives and public servants must share the responsibility for ignoring the cries from veterans and their families for acknowledgement of the trauma faced by returned personnel. Constant pleas for help were ignored. It has been no different from the response of elected members and departmental officials to the suffering of asylum seekers, often escaping from wars in which our armed forces have been involved.
Inhumane treatment of victims is too often the hallmark of a successful government. Efforts to resolve conflicts through diplomacy take a back seat to funding even more powerful weapons of war.
As for our fragile natural environment. It stands no chance against the rapacious logging industry which fells old growth forests, the habitat of many endangered species. Again, our heartless government and its officials ignore the consequences and our leaders try to suppress those who protest.
Doug Hewitt, Hamilton
- Support is available for those who may be distressed. Phone Lifeline 13 11 14; beyondblue 1300 224 636.
Clear winner in footy code fight
I HATE to say it but AFL rules NRL, especially in Victoria. The southerners' passion for the game is rock solid. As a recipient of The Age, the most frequently read articles are about AFL comings and goings.
It seems that things have changed little in 50 years. 50 years ago, on the weekend of the NRL grand final in Sydney, I had to travel north of the Victorian border to discover the result. Even the Storm's results are tucked away in the back of the Age's sporting pages. You must look for it every Monday.
If bipedal aliens ever visited Australia and attended football games in the two codes, they would definitely favour AFL over NRL. It has running, leaping, tackling, positional play, bouncing and kicking. It doesn't have stupid forward passes or offside rules that confound players and officials alike. Don't get me wrong, though - I remain an NRL supporter and New South Welshman until I die.
Geoff Black, Frankston
Shot in arm, but not for everyone
STEVE Barnett ("Williamtown already on radar", Letters, 11/9): living in Woodberry, military aircraft from Williamtown do not go unnoticed. I imagine even leafy Fingal Bay gets its fair share of Top Gun burnouts. My letter asked who would get shot up the rear rather than in the arm by the planned missiles. The obvious answer is Australian taxpayers, who will miss out on vital services deferred to pay for more murder junk, but I'm sure there will be others. Probably not the Chinese military, since they can shoot back; rather some hapless civilians in the war zone of the week.
Peter Ronne, Woodberry
Another basketball stadium option
SHOULD Newcastle council and Transport for NSW be considering relocating the Turton Street Waratah depots?
Both are on massive parcels of prime real estate near the proposed Hunter Park precinct. In 2024 it no longer makes sense to have them there when a few thousand could be housed there.
If unsuitable for housing, they could accommodate multi purpose community facilities - even a basketball stadium with parking. Imagine that, a purpose-built facility with parking!
In my view the council should start looking in its own backyard and exhaust all options before concreting over three well-used ovals.
Jan Thompson, Lambton
Royal voyage can't be all expenses paid
IT appears we are having a visit from the King and Queen of Great Britain. Well, we can only hope that they are paying their own way. It would be a bloody disgrace if Australian taxpayers' money is being used to cover this trip. If there is spare money in the treasury, it should be used to ease the pressure on struggling Aussie families.
Darryl Tuckwell, Eleebana
Thanks for a job well done
CONGRATULATIONS to Lake Macquarie council staff for their landscaping, mowing and clean up of Kahibah Park, making it look like a new pin for the Kahibah fair.
John Scott, Kahibah
Protests may require protection
When the protesters migrate from Melbourne up to Newcastle for the multi grievous Rising Tide event at Horseshoe Beach, will Albo and Minns provide adequate security to keep the normal citizens safe?
Alan Hamilton, Hamilton East
Nurse pay beats a faster train
Can anyone tell me why the state government can't pay nurses what they deserve for the long hours and dangerous conditions they work under instead of spending billions on a train that will cut half an hour off a trip to Sydney and take 30 years to build? It's a fairytale, if you ask me.
Ken Stead, Lambton
Essential workers shortchanged
IF I recall correctly, in regards to the pandemic, Scott Morrison said "if you are going to work tomorrow, you are an essential worker". My co-workers went. We were never thanked. We never complained and we certainly never protested. This is just another way of dividing us.
Bryn Roberts, New Lambton
Your citizenship remains valid
Bill Storer ("Mobile number the new passport", Letters, 5/9), have Service NSW online, or absolutely anyone else ever, actually made any sort of statement declaring that you are not an Australian citizen?
