Last week I completed my summer swims at Newcastle Ocean Baths when the water temperature reached around 17 degrees. Many others are willing to swim there all winter, but my thoughts go to an indoor pool where I could continue swimming and exercising until summer comes again.
Over many years I have followed and sought information about the baths built in 1888 and now underneath the Newcastle City Arcade. I have seen photos over many years printed in the Herald occasionally, and I understand that the remnants of them are still there as shown in photos. How wonderful would it be to see this structure reinstated. A huge job, I know, but it's all there under the floorboards. The arcade itself has long since passed its glory days when there were great little businesses there, all thriving when Hunter Street was a busy commercial hub and worth a trip to town. Very few businesses in the arcade have survived. With more people moving to the East End and more swimmers seeking year-round access to swimming and water exercise, it seems to me like it could be viable.
In response to the changes to our TV news ("NBN News bulletins slashed, job cuts feared', Newcastle Herald 3/6): it's a fact that Newcastle rates seven among all Australian cities in size and population, and is the second most populous NSW urban area.
It's also a fact that Newcastle comprises several major sectors: coal and trade; the world's leading coal export port, $25 billion for the NSW economy annually. We have economic diversification, such as the largest number of local employers in health care and social assistance. Our real estate sector is buoyed by local housing and influx migration from Sydney. Then there's tourism and services of surrounding industries, including the lush vineyards of the Hunter Valley. Don't forget major representative rugby league in the Newcastle Knights, soccer in the Jets, tennis and across the board we compete in national and representative sports.
Comprehensive news keeps us connected, gives us a voice. It's our right to be seen and heard. NBN represents the faces of the Hunter. We are not invisible, we are an important economic force in Australia. It's a sad indictment of a takeover when WIN Network can't afford to run NBN Television as is and build it into a better comprehensive news service, reinforcing its value to the Hunter and northern NSW.
We read it on newspapers, hear it on national news as well as social media, and most of the time, even the news reported by all of the media outlets is the same one. Yet the way it's presented by the individual news reader, newspaper or TV presenter comes across as very different where it comes to either national or global politics. I's no wonder that the general public is confused to the point that don't know who's best to lead.
We have the rise of One Nation led by Pauline Henson, promising they will restore peace, unity and wellbeing if elected. So far she has had two backflips within a month; I can't but ask how many more she will have before the polls and if elected. Should she be elected to run the country? As much as I do respect and appreciate individuality and the right to choose, be it provisions for our needs or the people we trust to do the best job to make it all possible, if I need someone to do a job that I couldn't do myself; I'd chose a certified tradesman before an apprentice.
I extend my sincere thanks and congratulations to the community of Newcastle for their participation and support of our 2026 Memory Walk & Jog.
Our 2026 event on Sunday May 31 at Griffith Park was a resounding success, raising more than $123,700. These funds will help Dementia Australia provide invaluable support services, education and resources for Australians impacted by dementia, including the estimated 145,700 people living with dementia in NSW. It was also heartening to see everyone lacing up and getting active for their brain health - one of the key things we can all do to help lower our risk of dementia.
I encourage anyone unable to participate to consider organising a group or do individual walk or jog, with a MyWay event. More details can be found at memorywalk.com.au. To all those who walked, ran, jogged, donated and volunteered, thank you. This event would not have been possible without your support.
Glen Wilson ("We vet new arrivals thoroughly", Letters, 8/6): I'm married to an immigrant, I don't need you to "educate" me. I meant what I said: we have not only a right to be selective, but a responsibility to do so. I called for a "mature discussion" because to me it seems that every time we raise the issue we get belittled by those who appear to care more about the rights of those wanting to come here than those already here. Perhaps I can "educate" you: the selection process was a lot tougher when my wife applied than it is now. We also need to look at the numbers.
And I thought I was the only one confused about the six-again rule in Rugby League John Cooper ("Rugby league no video game", Letters, 4/6). Too often the referee could be seen as favouring one team over the other. I do favour the captain's challenge though, except for one instance. In the deciding Origin game last year, Ashley Klein allowed a quick tap kick to Cameron Munster off a dodgy penalty (negating the captain's challenge) and the Maroons scored two tackles later. I say do away with the quick tap as well.
Friday was World Environment Day, spotlighting climate change and the living world, from sweeping coastlines and cool forests to the wildlife that brings our landscapes to life. It's also a moment to back the climate solutions that can protect it. Momentum is building: 46 per cent of new cars sold last month were hybrid or electric ("Shifting gears: electric cars surge during fuel crisis", Newcastle Herald 4/6), and Australians installed 415,000 household-scale batteries in the past year. People nationwide are embracing practical, economically sensible climate solutions. Now the Albanese government must match them by continuing to back clean energy and drawing a firm line under new coal and gas approvals. The environment needs us to choose clean energy over pollution.
