LETTERS
Letters - 300 words maximum and including full name, address and contact number - can be sent to The News, PO Box 588, Hastings 3915 or emailed to: team@mpnews.com.au
Mornington rail better option than Baxter Henry Kelsall’s letter (“Parties ‘united’ over waste of rail money” 21/8/18) misses the point about important transport challenges faced by Mornington Peninsula Shire. While he presents some admirable options for alternative uses of the money, the fact is that if you drive to Frankston to catch a train there is nowhere to park. By 8.30am the car park is full. Two additional stations on the network will alleviate this. An even better, more sensible option would be to re-open and electrify the line to Mornington where a much larger population base exists than at Baxter and surrounds. This would enable people of the southern peninsula - such as Dromana, Rosebud and Rye - to access the rail network without driving to Frankston (or Baxter) and Frankston residents would get their railway car park back. The shire and the state government need to make the right choices to help residents move more easily around the peninsula and beyond. Railways are a great way to achieve this and take pressure off the road network. John Manfield, Blairgowrie.
Transport not found What a beautiful publication is FOUND, which has found its way to our letter boxes and showcases the best of our beautiful Mornington Peninsula. We are truly blessed to live in such a picturesque location. However, I feel that there an omission which should be corrected. FOUND assumes that everyone will be driving to and around the peninsula.
However, there are those who come by public transport. There is a Services page for Mornington Peninsula Visitor Information Centre listing services available. But it does not mention public transport timetables. I have counted 11 places accessible by the 788 bus, perhaps its 75 minute frequency at weekends should be mentioned. Also, one must question as to when there is going to be closer access to the ferry at Sorrento instead of the steep hill. Let’s hope there will be some of this resolved in the future. Brenda Rowlands, Mt Eliza Editor: FOUND is published by Mornington Peninsula Tourism and the Mornington Peninsula News Group (publisher of this newspaper is a sponsor).
Fascist actions There is a children’s health crisis on Nauru Island. A 12-year-old boy with severe muscle damage is on a starvation regime because his mental health is deteriorating. [Former Home Affairs Minister] Peter Dutton refused to act and bring him to Australia for treatment. A 14-year-old boy is also on a starvation diet -again the Australian government refuses to act. What sort of nation are we to stoop to the level of cruelty on this scale? The Pacific Forum will be meeting in Asia next month. The publicity that will published overseas will further blacken our reputation internationally. Australia is already being exposed for its heartless treatment of refugees. To hold people who have refugee status
indefinitely is a crime against humanity. I urge concerned people to write to the Minister for Immigration and Home Security (whoever that is) on their behalf now. We are not a fascist country and this is a fascist policy. Please bring the refugees to Australia - six years of detention are punishment enough. I am writing on behalf of Grandmothers Against the Detention of Children, GADRC. Patricia Rayner, Somers
The cost of energy Default energy prices on power companies, as well as tough penalties for providers that failed to bring costs down is more government tampering rather than dealing with the problem. Does anyone think this will work in the long term? It looks good on paper but what it means is that in order for the corporate mafia to continue to grow their profits they will now make many people redundant, outsource jobs to India and stop fixing infrastructure. The end result is a failing grid in worse shape than it is now. Australia’s 2014 electricity prices are low by overall international standards, being ranked 22nd out of 38. Just more political fodder, they add to the feeding trough for the brainless dead. Now for the kicker: renewable energy is cheaper than coal-fired. Joe Lenzo, Safety Beach
Bleak outlook for life Must we starve? We recently had a letter imploring us to stop eating fish (“Fishing is cruel” 7/8/18). Now we have a letter warning us of the disastrous consequences of eating other land animals (“Animal-linked drought” Letters 14/8/18). Next we will have to stop eating plants because they are “saving” us by turning carbon dioxide into oxygen. All in all, things don’t look too good for those of us that need to eat.
If you’re really serious about doing something for the planet then stop playing around the edges. Get serious and stop having babies. Rod Bennett, Hastings
Stop drinking milk Dairy farmers are telling people that the supermarkets are making them work for a pittance. But who are the real victims here? I grew up on a dairy farm and discovered while very young that cows, like humans, gestate for nine months, but their calves are ripped from the distraught mothers a few hours after they are born. Anyone who has witnessed a cow returning again and again to the place her missing baby was born, and often refusing to eat, will never again doubt that these animals suffer and feel grief as we do. The male or “bobby” calves are usually sent for slaughter at five days old, terrified, cold and hungry, and can legally be transported for up to 30 hours, without food, to a terrifying slaughter. The heifers enter the same cycle of constant pregnancy and milking. When their bodies wear out and their milk production wanes, they are slaughtered as “spent” at the age of five to seven years old, less than a quarter of their potential age. Cow’s milk is suited to the nutritional needs of calves, who have four stomachs and gain hundreds of kilos in a matter of months. For humans, milk is high in fat, a common trigger for allergies, and linked to many illnesses. Asking people to buy more milk, and pay more for it, to keep dairy farmers in business is like saying we should all smoke cigarettes, to support struggling tobacco farmers. Humans don’t need to drink cows’ milk, and we’re healthier if we don’t. Let the invisible hand of the market do its work, and then the farmers can move (like tobacco farmers did) into more ethical products that cause less suffering, less human disease, and less pollution. Desmond Bellamy, PETA Australia
100 YEARS AGO THIS WEEK...
George Patterson writes from “somewhere in France” Compiled by Brodie Cowburn MR A. Patterson has received the following letter from his son George, who has been on active service for some considerable time, and still appears to be going strong: Dear Father and Mother, Have just received your very welcome letter and pleased to hear that you are all well as it leaves me at present. I have met Len Mackie at last and have been with him all the afternoon. He seems to walk a bit lame yet and do not think he will last over here long. Things are very quiet at present after some of the lively times that we have had. It just seems like heaven to have an easy time of it and we have deserved all that we are getting, and when I get back I will tell you things that will open your eyes, about what our lads have done. They are, without a doubt, the finest soldiers in this war, and it would have been ‘God help England’ without a few of our lads that could stand and hold the Fritzies with odds 20 to 1; and now no matter where we go about France the French people give us a bonny time, especially in Paris where they make you feel like if you were at home, and now the Yanks are pouring in, in thousands we might get that long spell that has been promised to us, and the one that we have earned too. Glad to hear something of Chas. Watson, as I have not had a letter from him for some months now, but he still sends papers to me, which come in very handy now-a-days, and I would like to find out his address so I could write and thank him for same. ***
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Mornington News
NATURALLY the people of the English speaking race, standing shoulder to shoulder in the fight for the world’s freedom, are possessed by a strong desire to draw closer the ties which unite them. In moments of expansion Londoners feel that it would be good to have a man like Hughes living in their midst; and New Yorkers are impressed by the nation that a man of high calibre residing in the United States would do much to promote profitable intercourse between America and Australia. We feel that Australia should be better versed in the purposes of Great Britain, and that Great Britain should have fuller knowledge of the feeling of the dominions. The war has taught us how closely our fortunes are united; has taught us that if at any future time England should fall to the Hun, we must perish as a free, self governing people. We would very gladly be represented in the councils of Great Britain by Australians of mark, who would inform Federal Ministers of Britain’s purposes. Hitherto “Home” appointment have too often been made by way of rewarding a veteran who lagged superfluous on the local stage, or of getting rid of political friends who had grown troublesome. It has always been recognised that no politician can always remain in London as the representative of Australia today. Changes of thought and feeling come rapidly, so that two or three years about Westminster put a man our of touch with the Federal Parliament. So those in the prime of life are seldom disposed to accept an appointment necessarily temporary
28 August 2018
and which may last just long enough to leave them outside new political alliances. Perhaps if an honest attempt is made it may be possible to send as High Commissioners, as Agents General, as commercial delegates, men elected simply because they are fit for the task they undertake. Hitherto, there has been no attempt. Positions of the kind referred to have been openly regarded as prizes for important services to one or other of the great parties, and as a result pegs have been thrust into holes without much regard to fitness. So there is universal growling at a system which in thirteen years has raised the cost of Australian representation in London from £25,000 to £140, 000, and which so far as most of us can see has not given us a much better service in return than we received in 1905. The only reason for assuming that other appointments may be made on sounder lines is that the times are critical, and that all but the basest feel a stronger sense of national duty than they cherished in the pre-war days. *** THE attention of motorists and others is directed to an advertisment in another column, drawing attention to some special lines now on sale at H. P. Forster’s garage, Frankston. *** MRS Bunney intimates by advertisment in another column that she has taken over the fruit, vegetable, and confectionery business lately carried on by Mrs Rimmer, and hopes to command a share of public patronage. *** A PAINFULLY sudden death oc-
curred at Mornington on Tuesday 20th inst, when Mr Louis Harrison, whilst ascending the stairs at the Grand Hotel, suddenly collapsed. The deceased, who had been the proprietor of the Grand Hotel for a number of years, was well known in the district, and was universally esteemed. He was connected with, and took an active part in, all the local sporting bodies, and was a prominent figure in any movement for the benefit of the town. Great sympathy is expressed by a wide circle of friends for MRs Harrison and family in their great bereavement. *** THE following letter has been received from Sir David. Hennesy, in which a cheque for £1 1s was enclosed for the Avenue of Honor: Dear Mr President, In reply to yours of 19th inst. I am enclosing my cheque for 21s towards planting trees in memory of our brave boys who have nobly died for their Country’s cause. I must congratulate you, and the great band of Patriotic workers of Frankston who have so unselfishly assisted in all movements for the cause and benefit of our fighting heroes. *** ANOTHER of the series of fortnightly euchre parties and dances under the auspices of the “Wattle” Club was held in the Frankston Mechanics’ on Thursday, 29th inst; There was a good attendance, and the prizes for the euchre tournament fell to Mrs Lee and Mr Thompson senr. After an enjoyable supper, the usual dance was held. *** FRANKSTON Court of Petty Ses-
sions. Monday, 26th August 1918. Before Messrs Knight, P.M., Oates, Grant, Williams and McLean, J’s.P. F. S. Taylor, Frankston, and Evelyn Ikey were each fined 10s with 4s costs, for failing to have their daries licensed. A youth named Ezekiah Smith, 18 years, was charged with trespassing on Railway land at Chelsea, and with unlawfully assaulting Thomas Petty. Station Master at Chelsea. He pleaded guilty to the first charge and was fined 10s. On the second charge he pleaded not guilty. After hearing the evidence the P.M. said he was convinced that he was guilty of an assault, though not a very serious one. On account of the youth of the accused he would not record a conviction, but would adjourn the case to a date to be fixed. *** IN MEMORIAM. ADDICOTT—In loving memory of Arnold, who died 2nd September, 1917 (result of motor accident on Hastings Road) He bade no one a last farewell, He said good-bye to no one, His spirit had fled before we knew That from us he had gone. Inserted by his loving father, mother, sisters and brothers. *** WANTED TO BUY—PIANO. Cash before leaving house Iron frame. State price. No humbug. Reply to PIANO, Frankston P O. *** From the pages of the Mornington Standard, 31 August 1918