February 9, 2010
Byron Shire Echo – Ph 02 6684 1777
Byron Shire Echo September , Lettersantisemitism did not exist before Or it existed, yes, but in more acceptable proportion Just try and imagine how many Israelites would be left in the world if 9 had been mounted by Israel, or Munich had been an Israeli attack and murder of Arabic athletes or many aircraft and the Achille Lauro highjacked by Israelis I am not optimistic on what the count would be. Downie head in sand. If any of us contributed as half as much as what these two Aspirationalists did for our country and overseas the world would be a much better place. And if being offered a state funeral which Steve Irwins family declined is going too far, then why have we celebrated Nicholas Shand alcoholic big mouth with a statue of no environmental, social or wildlife benet except maybe for a few George Franco pigeons to crap on. North Ocean Shores Crikey, Echo, get over yourselves.Paul BerryGet over itOnce again the ugly Australian has reared its head, Tall Poppy Syndrome, and ironically on two of the most Australian people this country has produced, Peter Brock and particularly Steve Irwin. I refer to the last two cartoons from Jason Smythe unfamous, small minded and the letter from HughMullumbimbyA councillors lotWouldnt Gilbert and Sullivan have enjoyed Cr Tabarts cry from the heart this week Local government was state made to be under powered, over exposed and abuse ready. Doesnt it make you wonderwhy so many are willing to serve Staff treat you as an irrelevance, the pay is atrocious, perks difcult with ICAC snifng around. Becton found it impossible to negotiate with recalcitrant, regressive greens. Some have realised it was a folly to treat them with contempt. I notice both Jan Barham and Cr Tabart voted in favour of Cr Tardif s motion to write to Becton and ask what they intended to do with their site and what other projects they had in mind of community value. Not before time. Crs Westheimer, Staples and Lazarus are obviously proud of their regression and recalcitrance, they voted against taking such a radical step. When Becton nish stage one in ve years time, they will be one of the Shires biggest ratepayers. They will have continuedto support the Writers Festival,Triathlon and other worthwhile events.They will have planted one million native trees and handed back of the site to the community.They will have upgraded roads and cycleways, all carbon neutral, all to six star environmental standards. Refusing to talk to them is not only childish, it could result in the Shire losing a valuable ally in the fight against state government apathy. Thought for the day If the Council Chambers were still in Byron Bay,would the bypass have been built by nowTony NarracottByron BayHappy endingsRecently I lost two rings in Mullum. Many thanks to Lucy who found my wedding ring and responded tothe Echo ad, it is wonderful to have it back. The still missing ring is a thick gold wedding band that was my grandmothers then my mothers before mine. Its been in the family nearly years, Im hoping it will still turn up. While making enquiries I had plenty of contact with members of our community and was so buoyed by everyones genuine support, help and concern that the experience became one of human interaction. The guys from the Council Depot even lifted a concrete drain cover to check if the ring had gone down the drain Thank you, gentlemen Our community is beautiful, I am grateful to be part of it. As a carer with Amitayus Hospice I know sometimes we simply dont know what to say to someone who is dying or to someone whose loved one has died, itis a lot more confronting than losing inanimate objects, but this community has heart so lets not be afraid to show it. Thank you to all who helped me.Jill NicksonCoorabellMain Arm viewsI read Michael McDonalds article on Main Arm Echo, September with interest, especially the reported comments by ReGenesis owner Elaine Seiler that her proposed development is all about trying to be sustainable. It cer tainly appears from information available in the community and in publications about ReGenesis that they follow ecologically sustainable principles in terms of their farming methods, and from this perspective deserve some praise. However whatcontinued overleaf