LETTERS
NEWS DESK
Legal drawbacks Legal centres can be of great benefit to the unfortunate members of our community where the high cost of legal assistance is beyond many, especially those who need to survive on a government pension (“Legal centre gains high profile support” The News 28/3/17). Like everything else, as soon as these services become available some bright spark will exploit them to the fullest. As soon as a person becomes a client of such a centre it can no longer help anybody who is in opposition to that client, effectively giving this first client legal assistance for life. This also allows them to continue dragging people before the courts knowing that they have exclusive free help available that their opponent does not have. In some instances it is known of people visiting all the local centres and becoming a client of each as well as the government legal aid. This effectively means that anybody who has need of Legal assistance against such a client, regardless of their financial position, has nothing available to them within a large area such as the whole peninsula. In some cases it is not only the needy that have access to this service. A person with a property portfolio of several houses can have the help of this service, whereas a person who lives solely on a pension is denied help and has to place themselves at the mercy of the courts without professional help and, in some cases, allowing injustices to occur. To some, $1200 - $3000 a day may not be much, but if you survive on a pension of $900 a fortnight it is an insurmountable figure. While government funding should be increased, the system should be reviewed to stop people exploiting it at grave cost financially and mentally to others. John Bryce, Crib Point
Scouting growing Thank you, Rod Brown, for your letter regarding your time in Scouts (“Committed scout” Letters 14/3/17). Scouting is very much alive on the Mornington Peninsula with more than 700
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Frankston Times 10 April 2017
HARRY McDonald
Death of Peninsula Grammar head Fun farm A PARTY in the Park at Langwarrin’s Cruden Farm saw Logan and Chloe from Skye
enjoy a day of free entertainment featuring music, face painting and stage shows at the former home of Dame Elisabeth Murdoch. The event was hosted by Frankston Council and sponsored by Karingal Hub. Picture: Gary Sissons
youth members and 100 plus leaders. Numbers continue to grow every year. For information about Scouting locally call 0419 131 489. Tina Bennett, district commissioner, Tyabb
Privacy problem I went into the Mornington Commonwealth Bank’s new location to discuss my finances. To my disbelief I was guided to a computer screen sitting on a bench totally exposed for everyone to see my private details and listen to our conversation. I have always discussed such private business in a closed office, which one would automatically expect. On asking for such privacy I was told in a rather dismissive manner that I couldn’t be told when an office would be available. I waited for 20 minutes before walking out. While waiting I saw one single teller at a desk with no bars or security and wondered how I would
feel next time I make a significant withdrawal or deposit. Having been a Commonwealth Bank customer for more than 45 years, 25 being with Mornington branch, I am staggered at how the bank has trivialised its customers. I remember back when my financial adviser was my bank manager in whom I had absolute trust. That same manager actually paid us a courtesy call to our house one night to check that we were satisfied with the customer service. Hard to believe after the bank’s recent much publicised financial adviser rip-off scandal. Austin Sadler, Mornington Letters - 300 words maximum and including full name, address and contact number - can be sent to The Times, PO Box 588, Hastings 3915 or emailed to: team@ baysidenews.com.au
FORMER Peninsula Grammar headmaster Harry Alexander Macdonald, passed away on 3 April at the age of 86. Mr Macdonald was the second headmaster at Peninsula and led the school for almost 20 years (1971-1991). His time of leadership saw the school go from strength to strength; it became a centre of academic excellence with an outstanding co-curricular program. Glenmaggie, the school's Outdoor Education Campus, became an important part of every student's program. The H A Macdonald Pavilion and oval at the school are named in his honour, and in 1972 he received the Order of Australia for "services to education." Mr Macdonald's wife, Barbara, passed away a little over two years ago. His death is mourned by their four children (Andrew, Ian, Sally and Margaret), daughters-in-law (Donna and Amanda), nine grandchildren and five greatgrandchildren. The funeral will be held at the Chapel of the Resurrection, Peninsula Grammar, on Thursday (13 April) with the service starting at 10.30am. Peter McCullough