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April 4-10, 2019 Dubbo Photo News
OPINION & ANALYSIS THE TOONS’ VIEWS
EVERY SINGLE DAY ❚ By KIM MACRAE
Start your day in a definite way I WAS intrigued by the headline above and was hooked after reading the first paragraph. Writer Jenee Osterheldt had this to say: “I made my bed this morning. And that’s rare. Unfortunately. “As I straightened out the blankets, tucked the sheets just so and fluffed my pillows, I shook off last nights’ sleep and my constant resistance to being a morning person. This tiny task had a big benefit: It woke me up to the day, to the possi-
LETTERS & FEEDBACK
Labor statement on franking credits is wrong
bilities ahead.” Jenee went on to say she was inspired by a speech given to a graduating class at the University of Texas by US Navy Seal Admiral William H. McRaven, who said, “If you make your bed every morning you will have accomplished the first task of the day. It will give you a small sense of pride and will encourage you to do another and another. “By the end of the day that one task completed will have turned into many tasks completed. Making your bed will also reinforce the fact that little things in life matter.” He continues: “If you can’t do the little things right, you’ll never do the big things right. And if by chance you have a miserable day, you will come home to a bed that is made – that you made – and a made bed gives you encouragement that tomorrow will be better.”
It resonated strongly with me because, like the writer Jenee, I had gotten out of the habit. Now I’m practising it again and it’s energising. Just like doing some exercise, making the bed first thing every morning gives me a physical and mental boost. No matter what else happens in the day, I’ve achieved something positive. And one good thing leads to another. What was it our parents said? “Tidy your room!” The great thing is – make your bed and you’re already half way there. If you want to change the world, start where you spend almost one third of your life – your bed. Make it happen. Have a great week. z Kim Macrae is the Dubbo-based founder of iKiFit. He writes about ideas and activities that can help brighten our own lives and the lives of those around us.
The Editor, I refer to Mr Ayoub’s (Labor candidate) letter to the editor “on dividend imputation” in Dubbo Photo News, March 28. An appointment with any Tax Agent will tell Mr Ayoub that Chris Bowen’s statement on franking credits is wrong in fact, and misleading. The imputation credits claimed by retiree shareholders is tax paid by the company on behalf of the shareholder. It doesn’t matter if the shareholder pays tax or not, it is part of their dividend which they are entitled to claim back. Nobody is getting money out of the Government for nothing as Chris Bowen claims. Should Bill Shorten and Chris Bowen ever become self-funded retirees, which they won’t because they will be on handsome Parliamentary pensions, they would be screaming blue murder at the discriminatory nature of their proposed changes. If, as Chris Bowen claims, the current laws are bad and need to be changed, why exempt pensioners and industry super funds. The claim that self-funded retirees are the wealthy upper class is a red herring; a large per centage of them have assets that put them just above the threshold to claim the pension and thousands already do qualify for a part pension. There are warnings that should be
heeded on the proposed changes. Firstly, all retirees who rely on an allocated pension for an income stream should immediately seek an interview with their financial advisor because all allocated pensions that hold shares in their portfolio will be negatively affected to some extent. Secondly, younger voters who think that the proposed changes will not affect them and whose parents are retired will suffer an erosion of their inheritance. As retirees’ incomes are reduced by the loss of franking credits, they will begin to eat into their capital in order to maintain an income and a reasonable standard of living. That capital is their children’s inheritance. Thirdly, younger voters, without the benefit of franking credits in retirement, will have to contribute more to Super or postpone retirement in order to reach their anticipated retirement income. On the matter of negative gearing, my experience in regional investment property is that many residential properties only show a reasonable return on investment when negative gearing is engaged. Investors will turn to other forms of investment, rental stocks will reduce and rents will increase. Simple supply and demand! Robert McKeowen, Dubbo
HAVE YOUR SAY, SEND US YOUR FEEDBACK feedback@dubbophotonews.com.au 89 Wingewarra St, Dubbo 2830 Letters to the editor are best limited to no more than 250 words and may be edited for clarity, space or legal reasons. For our records, please include your name and contact details, including a daytime phone number. The writer’s name, title and/or town will be included unless specifically requested otherwise.
HEALTH
Catheads catch out intrepid Canadian By YVETTE AUBUSSON-FOLEY PROFESSIONAL cross country ski racer and Quebec national Phil Shaw was in Dubbo over the weekend as part of a rollerski tour of eastern Australia to promote healthy living. The intrepid 52-year-old man-on-a-mission roller skied around town on Sunday enjoying the sights, until he was stopped in his tracks by the Central West’s arch enemies to the rubber tyre: Tribulus terrestris, commonly known as
Professional cross country ski racer and Quebec national Phil Shaw was in Dubbo at the weekend promoting healthy living. PHOTO: DUBBO PHOTO NEWS
catheads. “I was heading out towards the zoo - and I almost made it - but there I had my third flat so I was lucky a Good Samaritan brought me back to town. I’ve never experienced three flats in the same day,” Mr Shaw told Dubbo Photo News. “The bike owner showed me the little burr. It was embedded in the bike tyre and the needle part was poking through it.” The cathead encounters were short term setbacks from his ultimate quest to genuinely promote smoking less, exercising more and eating sensibly. “It’s a tribute to my father who quit smoking about 18 years ago and he’s healthier
now, and he ended up eating sensibly. I rollerskiied across Canada in 2002 for the same cause, soon after his heart surgery. He completely quit and has no desire to smoke despite the fact he’s now 80 years old. “You can improve your health, fitness and wellbeing even if you’re an older person,” Mr Shaw said. “I had a good tour across Canada and so I thought why not go to Australia. It took a while for me to make up my mind to come here. It’s far and I’m away from family and it’s a lot of commitment, but I expect to be through in a couple of months and hope to be safe and sound,” he said. Mr Shaw is now bound for Cairns.