Opinion 12
Ashburton Guardian
Monday, January 6, 2014
www.guardianonline.co.nz
OUR VIEW
Life can change suddenly Erin Tasker
CHIEF REPORTER
H
oliday time is up; it’s time to get back to the real world. Today, those of us who had the pleasure of a couple of weeks off work over Christmas and New Year will be waking up to alarm clocks that had been silent in recent days, pulling on work clothes and getting back to the daily grind. For those of us in the news industry, that daily grind can be pretty depressing at times. Taking a look at the news headlines as we head back to work, there’s death and disaster everywhere. Car crashes, a jet boat crash, people drowning, a New Zealander killed in Libya… just some of the sad, depressing news we’ve read about in recent days. Unfortunately, when someone dies in unusual or dramatic circumstances, it’s news. While most of us are able to head to work today refreshed and happy after a fun couple of weeks spent with family and friends, many families around the world are not so happy today. For them, the holiday break has brought bad news. People have died, people have been injured, and families have been left reeling. Everyone thinks these things can never happen to them, but they can. In the blink of an eye, life can change. Some things can’t be prevented, but others can. One of the most heart-breaking news stories I heard over the past couple of weeks was that of a family whose one-year-old son was diagnosed with cancer just before Christmas. While they were out of town starting treatment, someone stole their car and burgled their house. Who could do something like that? Fortunately that person may have a conscience after all. Days later we read the car has been found, keys in the ignition, undamaged and with nothing missing from it. Finally, some good news to report in a day and age where death and disaster seem to lead the news far too often. It’s a new year and hopefully it’s going to be one where good news dominates. Have fun, stay safe and in no time at all we’ll be here once again, hopefully in a happy world.
YOUR VIEW Second bridge The notice of requirement for designation and the community submission process for the second Ashburton river bridge to be situated in Chalmers Avenue closes on January 17. Act now, have your say; get your submission in before it’s too late.
LETTERS
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CRUMB
by David Fletcher