I hope this summer will be different, that every family enjoys safe days at pools and beaches free from tragic drownings. Learning to swim as an adult can be challenging, but it is within reach for everyone, especially those from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds. Many of us inherited a fear of water from parents who never learned to swim, a dangerous cycle.
It's encouraging to see some CALD parents investing in swimming lessons for their children, diligently watching them learn to kick, float, breathe, and enjoy the water. Yet, many CALD parents themselves still cannot swim.
If you're an adult who hasn't learned yet, remember it's never too late or you're not too old. Your background, language, or body type doesn't matter - swimming is for everyone, including you. If modesty is important to you, there are inclusive swimwear options like swim shorts, pants, dresses, and shirts.
I encourage you to enrol in a learn-to-swim class. By doing so, you're not only acquiring an essential life skill but also setting an inspiring example for your children and community. Let's remember to respect safety and warning signs at pools, beaches, rivers, and camping sites - basically anywhere water based activities are taking place. For everyone's safety, let's break the cycle of water-related fears and accidents.
Ennia Jones, Splash of Colour Swimming founder
Are we eager to destroy ourselves?
NEWS of war today floods both print and electronic media. It's become a grim reality on our small planet. I ask, when will this insanity end?
Is our species really hell bent on self destruction? Like most of the world's population, I hope for a time when children of the future can know longer remember the horrors of war or violence instigated by different religious beliefs, a time when more money is spent on diplomacy than upgrading a country's arms cache. Now is the time of the dictator. I don't care which deity you worship. Now's the time to start praying. I just hope one of you gets lucky and the message gets through, it listens and steers us clear.
Nick Ryder, Booragul
Houses must stay fit for purpose
In the apparently never-ending argument over our housing crisis, the most common solution is just build more houses. It's an approach that will have damaging consequences because what we need is much more affordable housing. Despite all the promises, the home ownership rate in Australia is declining. Only 63 per cent of Australians own their home. That's well down on Hungary, Lithuania and Slovak Republic, which are above 90 per cent.
Owning your own home makes retirement easier while those renting will need far higher incomes to survive. However housing costs are increasing and will continue to do so because materials, land and labor costs are being driven ever higher by the high demand created by our population growth. Australia is in a bad position because we have to import much of the materials needed for houses and are thus subjected to transport costs and restrictions. As if this wasn't enough we have to build better houses, located on safe flood-free land, maintain green spaces, protect farmland and build better-designed dwellings and infrastructure in order to withstand the climate events that will make many existing dwellings unlivable.
Incredibly, governments and think tanks want to cut "green tape" regulations like the National Construction Code (NCC). They claim these regulations which protect the home buyer are restraints on housing construction. However the NCC already lags behind other nations and we are already building homes where owners will have difficulty affording cooling requirements.
Don Owers, Dudley
Here's the 'nothing' PM has done
PETER Dutton claimed "The Prime Minister has promised a lot for Australians and he's delivered nothing." And he's right - well, except for halving the inflation rate inherited in 2022. Oh, and providing the first double surplus since 2008 and repairing trade with China, adding billions to our GDP. He also reset Morrison's tax scheme, increased the minimum wage, legislated emissions reduction targets and invested heavily to support renewable jobs. He's setting up bulk-billed Medicare Urgent Care Clinics, making medicine on the PBS cheaper and putting a nurse in every nursing home. Then there's the $300 power rebate; $500 million for fee-free TAFE places, and funding the $60 million Net Zero Manufacturing Centre of Excellence at Tighes Hill TAFE. But apart from all that, what has the Prime Minister done for Australians?
John Arnold, Anna Bay
Scooter switch will speed up demand, toll
I HAVE previously publicised my thoughts about e-scooters and e-bicycles being operated on roads and roadways. In a sad irony, at the very moment I was reading the NSW government is about to legalise e-scooters ("Balancing act: e-scooters on the path to becoming legal", Newcastle Herald 29/10), the death in Melbourne of a 31-year-old male e-scooter rider was reported on the early morning television news. Unfortunately we are going to need more hospitals for injured scooter operators and more jails for the unfortunate motorists who hit them.
Marvyn Smith, Heddon Greta
Perfect can't be enemy of good
THE Greens got a reality check in the Queensland election. Their dismal election results just shows how important it is for them federally to start supporting the present government on the implementation of policies that support housing and renewable energy in this country. It is a much better option than a conservative government led by Peter Dutton.
Colin Rowlatt, Merewether
History lesson on Teachers College
I WISH to make a small correction to your report ("Eric's keeping teaching in the family", Newcastle Herald 25/10). Newcastle Teachers College opened in what later became the manual arts building at Merewether High School then under construction in Broadmeadow. The College moved to its Cooks Hill site in 1951. I was a member of the pioneer session in 1949.
Peter Newey, Waratah
Pro-lifers do 'give a damn'
PERSONALLY, Sarah Taylor ("Why are abortion rights a political football?", Letters, 25/10), I think late-term abortion is "cruelty and trauma" for both mother and baby, and even for medical staff involved. It's untrue that pro-lifers don't "give a damn" once a child is born. Pro-life groups have a history of supporting mothers looking for abortion alternatives. Abortion is no solution to sexual and domestic violence, poverty and homelessness. It allows men to abrogate responsibility.
