Time to let funds flow

CONFIRMATION last week that Loddon Shire has a $60 million bill from the October flood emergency came as no surprise.

Our region is facing a rebuilding process for the second time in a generation. Been there before, doing it again.

When the parade of politicians came through flood-affected areas in the immediate days after waters had subsided, there were strong words of support in what Deputy Premier Jacinta Allan said would be a phased recovery.

There were many announcements in the ensuing few weeks of funding for immediate repairs of roads, some that had been in appalling condition before the floods anyway.

But four months later, the focus needs to be put firmly on the rebuild. Roads and infrastructure that connect and bind communities are waiting for attention.

Letters To The Editor

Put down megaphone

Sir, I usually ignore loud, boorish voices, but found some of the views expressed by Cr Gavan Holt on Aboriginals and the proposed ‘Voice’ to parliament (Diversity without dissent - Loddon Herald February 2) too disturbing to leave unchallenged.

In reference to the consequences for Aboriginal people of the European invasion of Australia, Gavan proves himself the master of disrespectful understatement by magnanimously conceding that “all was not perfect with what happened to them after Europeans arrived”.

Far from perfect Gavan. The hostile invasion of another country always includes the murder, rape and subjugation of the dispossessed.

It’s happening in the Ukraine now and the uncomfortable truth is that it happened here – on the banks of the Loddon where I Iive and on the land that you farm.

To go on and say that “The vast majority of the descendants of the Aboriginal people that were here when white people arrived have benefited from that arrival” is breathtakingly ignorant, brutally condescending and implies a belief in white supremacy that I find racist.

Gavan cites Henry Ergas in support of his views, believing that he is “one of the great writers and thinkers of our time”. I beg to differ, Ergas is an economist and newspaper columnist (The Australian).

Don’t fall into the trap of confirmation bias and only read what you already believe Gavan, broaden your palette. Noel Pearson’s 2022 Boyer lectures might give you a better, real-world perspective.

Bess and Jacinta Price are loud and proud party-political Aboriginal voices.

Editorial

There are what in bureaucratic talk are assets still needing attention. Kooyoora State Park remains closed, barricades at the entrance to Melville Caves.

Parks Victoria has already said an assessment has been made of works rtequired. Sharing information on what those works are and when the might reopen would be a step in bringing local communities along the road to rebuilding.

The State Government has announced there will be recovery concerts in some flood-affected areas with big name music groups taking the stage. As often the case, one Loddon community has already done that ... Newbridge’s Rock on Loddon last month raised money for the rebuild at its

Cr Gavan Holt has a loud and powerful voice in the Loddon shire. On the question of the referendum for an Aboriginal ‘Voice’ to parliament, not all Aboriginals agree with the Prices’; as a long-term Loddon resident, I can assure you that Gavan Holt’s voice does not represent me.

Forty years in medicine have taught me that the best way to find out what is really wrong with, or troubling, someone is to sit down, be quiet and listen to them.

Many Aboriginal people face enormous problems – including high rates of self-harm and suicide, decreased life expectancy, domestic violence, alcohol abuse, shortage of housing, high rates of incarceration and deaths in custody……..

The sad fact that all government attempts to solve these problems have failed tells us that we have to find a better way.

Maybe if we make the effort to sit down and pay attention to a voice representing those with real skin in the game, we might find some answers.

Time to get off the soap box, put down the megaphone and listen. That’s all that the ‘Voice’ is asking of us. Don’t be scared, it won’t hurt you. You might even learn something.

Did you know that the Wandjina creation spirit depicted in Kimberly indigenous rock art has no mouth because it would make him too powerful?.

MaxHiggs Arnold

Slow down scooting

Sir, I write this letter from the perspective of a concerned senior citizen and not that of a member of the fun police.

recreation reserve, a community-driven initiative without government financial backing or direction.

The wheels of bureaucracy can, and usually do, move at a considerably slower pace than real-time on the ground.

Loddon Shire says rebuilding, replacing and repairs to its damaged assets will take another two years.

And therein lays a danger. Without government stepping up to the plate in a somewhat more timely manner, that expected timeline could in the near future be blown out of the water.

The State Budget is under three months away. It’s time to push for vital funds in local flood recovery and rebuilding.

I am genuinely concerned that a major tragedy is not far from us with the numbers of children now taking scooters to and from school in particular.

The school crossing in hospital street is very rarely attended by a responsible adult and it is even sometimes unflagged. Some School children take enormous risks getting onto the crossing , one assumes because they are aware of the road rule relative to drivers giving way.

On several occasions I have had scooter riders leap onto the crossing in front of me and they haven’t even looked to see if drivers are aware of their presence beforehand.

All fine until the inevitable occurs, at which point it matters little about the road rules as a tragedy unfolds.

I can count on one hand the number of helmets being worn and even the most daring of people know how a helmet can help protect against head trauma in the event of a fall or a collision with a vehicle.

As a person who has experienced much of life’s lessons of sadness and misery, perhaps readers should think for a moment about the safety of their children to and from school.

I find it difficult to understand why the school does not bother with a “lolly pop” person any more but it would be worth considering a reintroduction of the practice.

I’ll probably be pilloried for suggesting such an imposition on “rights” but rights themselves carry “responsibility “, both to ourselves and others.

Take care on the roads please

StephenColbert Wedderburn