AS a rather wet and gloomy summer season winds down we wish to thank the surf lifesavers at Merewether beach for yet another efficient season on patrol.
Most of the work is carried out by IRB and jet skis these days, but I would like to thank some of our older patrol members for their efforts in the surf boats from a few years ago.
Unfortunately we have lost some outstanding members in recent years, the latest being Robert "Bobby" Balks, who bravely rowed up the front of our boats in the bow, but who passed on three weeks ago.
His best mate was Garry Miller, who swept our crew to win the Branch Championship in huge seas at Newcastle Beach. No one will forget him pulling his dental plate out and pushing his front teeth down his "budgie smugglers" as they were too expensive to lose. We also lost Laurie March, pictured, last year and he swept a crew of Graeme Cotton, Geoff Agland, Billy "Captain Henry" Morgan and Ron Bland who won many races for the blue and gold. Cliffy Ireland rowed until into his 70s, winning gold medals at the Australian and World Championships in New Zealand.
Another champion rower and sweep who went much too early was Mick "the horse whipper" Jennings, who went "down the tube" or "down the gloop", as we used to say. Great men and great lifesavers.
Greg Nelmes, Merewether
Justify projects before rate hike
AS reported, City of Newcastle council has announced an ambitious works program and return to surplus to be delivered by a boosted rate rise in the council's upcoming budget, ("Surplus aim in big budget", Newcastle Herald 23/4). The council has indicated it intends to apply for a rate increase of 2.5 per cent even though the annual peg was set at 1.2 per cent. This increase will allow for an addition $50 million in income, as reported by chief executive Jeremy Bath, which be allocated to major projects.
The projects include $17 million for the Art Gallery expansion to boost tourism appeal; more than $18 million for the remediation of the old Shortland dump site; $9.4 million to start building the Summerhill food and garden organics facility, and $5 million for planning of a plastic, glass and paper recovery facility along with $4.4 million to increase cycleways.
Ratepayers require statistical data that warrants this proposed increase. For example, what statistical justification does the council have to outlay $17 million of our money on the art gallery extension? What is the expected ongoing financial annual return/benefit to the council/ratepayers. As for the other major projects, what financial benefit do we expect from the addition $28 million proposed spend of ratepayer's funds? Perhaps the council's focus would be better served on the ongoing safety concerns regarding infrastructure with respect to roads and pedestrian requirements within the suburbs where the majority of income is raked in by council. We await your justification for any proposed increase in our current rates.
Peter Mullins, Rankin Park
It never had to go this far
WHILE our blowhard Minister for Defence, Peter Dutton, has been constantly sabre rattling and poking the massive China panda, I believe he and the Morrison ministry are guilty of making the worst foreign policy clanger since World War II.
Cutting aid to and ridiculing the nations of the Pacific region may have played a significant role in the Solomon Islands seeing China to be a better security and support option to Australia. The list of domestic and international stuff-ups by the LNP since 2013 are far too numerous to identify in a 200-word contribution. But placing our national security in jeopardy through their ineptness, laziness and arrogance must surely rate as the worst to date.
China must have been amused, and the Solomons disappointed, when Morrison sent Zed Seselja rather than foreign minister Marise Payne to the Solomons to put Australia's' views forward about the impending security deal with China. Next time Mr Morrison might consider going himself.
Barry Swan, Balgownie
Tower's rich history remembered
I READ with interest that it was a mystery whether or not there was a radar tower at Ypres (pronounced "Wipers") in the sand dunes at the end of Cox's Lane during World War II, ("Wall of Secrecy, Weekender, 23/4).
My father, Gunner Walter Bowie, was stationed there during the war to guard the facility and I lived there as a baby after the end of the war for a brief period. RAAF planes would regularly fly as close to the tower as possible, according to my parents.
The tower itself had a cage-like structure in which observers could reach the top of the tower which was part of the coastal defence system and was linked to the Williamtown Air Base.
The radar base was demolished after the war and is now a sand mine I believe. Cox's Lane still runs up into the sand dunes with signs warning of trucks turning.
Jane Fischer, Adamstown Heights
Ukraine deserves sovereignty
IAN Kirkwood, Ukraine is no more part of the Russian Federation, than Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, ("Swiss analyst, ex-NATO, UN, on Ukraine", Opinion, 23/4).
Blasting Ukraine sovereignty, means all humankind has a vested interest. Ukraine's politics and culture, culminating in the Cossack freedom tradition, explains Ukrainians' poignant plea is not to be crushed. Ukraine, take a leaf from Vietnam's fight for identity. Outside rulers successfully repelled, for over 1500 years. Russian weapons brought down the MH17 passenger flight.
Stay safe, keep well,
Graeme Tychsen, Toronto
Protest didn't cover all the risks
MONDAY'S story ("Protesters: big parties failing Hunter", Herald 25/4) showed some lovely pictures of protesters floating around on kayaks and even some Extinction Rebellion people in stunning red Wuthering Heights outfits.
Conducting a climate change protest using plastic kayaks, paddles and wearing synthetic fabric life vests all made from petroleum products and then loading said kayaks back onto their petrol driven cars to travel home made me think that a sense of irony is lost on climate protesters.
What the activist organisers of the protest appear to want is a transition away from coal at the world's biggest coal export port. Well then, did they read the story a day later ("China promotes coal in setback for efforts to cut emissions" Herald, 26/4)?
It reported that China is actively promoting more coal-fired power to revive their sluggish economy with power shortages causing blackouts and factory shutdowns. Do the protesters not fear that could happen here with a transition away from coal-power? Or, with no sense of irony, does that prospect not concern them?
Peter Devey, Merewether
SHORT TAKES
ABOUT 16,000 people attended the Groovin The Moo festival on Saturday, ("Happy to be back rocking and grooving", Newcastle Herald 25/4), and despite there being alcohol served, there have been no reports of drunken debauchery or any arrests for bad behaviour (or any spread of COVID). Wowsers, please take note.
Adz Carter, Newcastle
REGARDING Saturday's story ("Newcastle Greens farmers chase survival through Go Fund Me campaign" (Herald, 22/4): silver and gold have I none, but such as I have given I thee. Sustainable farming requires animals. A first step towards this is insects. If your exotic vegetation fails, feed and harvest snails. I recommend getting touch with CSIRO, Permaculture Hunter, and with Awabakal Corporation for information on local edible species. Additionally, rotting produce can be input for a worm farm, producing nutrient rich worm wee as concentrated liquid fertiliser. The University of Newcastle has a photographic record of many local fungi and mushroom species.
Andrew Spannenberg, Mayfield
BAD sportsmanship, Bill Slicer (Short takes, 27/04). Just look at the statistics. I believe the Newcastle Knights are completely demoralised by specific referees in particular. It seems Adam O'Brien agrees with me requesting a meeting to discuss referee decision making. The performance against the Eels was well below par. They need sports psychologists, not coaches. I think there is more at play here. Take the recent Roosters-Dragons match. A head high tackle did not even warrant ten minutes in the bin and an obvious knock on somehow not noticed as one team attempted to catch up. I often wonder whether the Super League war remains an albatross around the neck of Newcastle, or whether the privatisation of the game had unintended consequences.
Marvyn Smith, Heddon Greta
I JUST watched the start of Paul Murray on Sky, and if he doesn't belong to the far right I'm not here. I believe his outrageous comments about the Labor party shows that he is a dangerous commentator and we are lucky that he only has a minimal audience to preach too.
Greg Parrey, Rutherford
I LOVE what the City of Newcastle is doing with our city beach pathways and inner city development, so it's disappointing to see their lack of basic maintenance when it's needed. On the Bathers Way Esplanade) between Nobbys Beach and Newcastle Ocean Baths, the solid concrete seats were dislodged by the heavy seas we experienced recently. I noticed this about ten days ago when I saw a cyclist being treated for injuries after he came unstuck after colliding with one of the seats. Very sad on Anzac Day to see that nothing has been done, and the seats are still parked right in the middle of the shared path/cycleway.
Bob Saxon, Eleebana
The Butcher from the Bay takes a swipe at the leader of the opposition whilst in the sick bay. Short memory, eh? The Coalition snuck in the last election with zero policies and a plethora of unanswered questions.
Rocco De Grandis, Cameron Park
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