Letters to the Editor

Divided voice?

Dear Editor

I read your article on the Town & Country Journal dated 11/05/23, and some of your comments struck a chord and some didn’t. One that didn’t strike a chord was the piece on the Voice. Like or loathe Abbott, I believe he is right in that one will have to be of Aboriginal extraction to be allocated a position on the board of the Voice – that does make sense and is a solid given, is it not? Unless you’re a terrorist or a person of other evil persuasion, I believe we are all equal in this country. It is with this in mind that I’m in agreeance with Tony Abbott. What if the other nationalities of this country decided they too, wanted their own Voice? Some people are of the opinion that Aboriginal people are not represented in the constitution or “enshrined” in the constitu- tion, I don’t believe I am either. I’m a third or fourth generation, born and bred Aussie of Irish and German heritage and take no back step when called or labelled a “white bastard” or progeny of a “colonizer”. I’m 74 year old, a retired electrician, worked nigh on 50 years on building sites, own outright everything and totally reject any suggestion that I’m a “white privileged colonizing SOB”. I regard the ½ acre of land I bought here in Ballandean as mine and will not accept any guilt or responsibility for what occurred back in 1770 or 1788.

If, as some say, Aboriginals are lacking true representation, then where did the billions of dollars allocated to Aboriginals through their “representative overseers” which used to be ATSIC I believe, come from? Billions of dollars has been allocated and yes, wasted, when filtered through different

“Aboriginal Organisations” run be people of Aboriginal heritage, and that is fact. Another bone of contention is the premise we’re on Aboriginal land. Well, there’s “if’s” and “buts” abounding there as well. I would beg your patience and indeed your indulgence with the following. We are considered to be “privileged white so & so’s”. Well, was it not those same type of “so & so’s” that liberated Europe twice and halted the Japanese invasion/occupation of this countr y? If the indigenous bodies leading this “charge to recognition” think they’re hard done by, well, they would’ve been a lot worse under General Yamamoto, Commander-in-Chief of the Japanese Imperial Forces. This is factual history. It was well know he had no intention of retaining the indigenous population, but, did think the white population would, being enslaved, be advantageous, as he was well

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aware of our farming, manufacturing abilities, our railway building expertise (Changi railway Thailand) and our wartime work ethic. The above is in no way meant to denigrate, it is to inform that there needs to be a “pause” of sorts and a revisit to the ramifications of this endeavour.

Anthony Albanese in my opinion is the most dangerous, convoluted PM we’ve ever had! He, and the buffoons he presides over, are on a journey to bring this country to its knees. The irrefutable evidence is there for all who “wish” to see. The millions/billions to be wasted on this duplicitous exercise, would be far better redirected to social housing, hospitals (for all), dams, infrastructure, medical science, and a proliferations of other urgent necessities. These buffoons are knocking down power stations (Blackout Bowen) before there is “full” replacement alternatives. To replace a 4-5 gigawatt/hour coal-fired or gas or nuclear power plant, you do indeed, need 600 –900 wind turbines all operat- ing at maximum output 24/7 365 days per year, to match the above coal-fired plant. With the inherent debt from the now opposition, the “eye watering” deficits of this government, we are heading for an abyss.

By the way Olav, who gave the EU the sole right to determine emission levels here and elsewhere? They owe us. This 2030 target is ridiculous. Yes, Germany may have pollution, with 80 million plus in a countr y that fits into Australia 232 times and we have 26 million, I beg to differ. One has to regard the Labor Party in its true perspective.

I would hope, dear editor, you take the time to reciprocate to my correspondence and any criticism or aggrievance will be taken on board.

I do believe both of us have the right to our opinions – I think they call it democracy, albeit a vanishing entity in a seemingly woke world. Yours faithfully, Jeff Grimley.

Editor’s note: No doubt I’ll reply in due course.

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They were their harmonic best on Sunday May 14 at the Queensland College of Wine Tourism, especially present for Mother’s Day, as Nine Year Sister’s melodic 2023 continues to go from strength-to-strength.

“Despite the cold weather starting to kick in, we’ve been busy, out and about performing live around the region,” the ladies told our newspapers this week.

“The last few weekends have been real highlights for us. At the end of April, we performed for the first time in Allora, at

Katie’s Cocktail Cafe and it was such a magical evening. It was a laneway dinner event and the way the place was dressed up was absolutely stunning. Fairy lights everywhere you looked, beautiful, coloured umbrellas suspended in the air above the long wooden dinner table … and don’t get us started on the food.”

Jennie and Emma said that night featured “three courses of deliciousness” and they will repeat the venture in Allora in October.

Tenterfield called in early May, the sisters saying its fast becoming their “second home”.

“We played at the Eat Street event and once again, it was a stunning setting to be in,” Jennie said. “(There were) food trucks, fire pits, friends and a beautiful atmosphere. We had a fan rock up in a Nine Year Sister t-shirt and that really made our day.

The Mother’s Day offering might have been not in the presence of their own Mum but still, it was “full of love”.

“We felt the love from everyone there,” they agreed. “There was so much amazing feedback about our music and we were really happy to set the tone and provide the musical atmosphere for the event.”

Coming up, Nine Year Sister will be performing at Snowflakes in Stanthorpe, at the showgrounds on July 1 and 2.

“This will be our third Snowflakes Festival, and we have a tradition of getting a photo with Marlay the yeti mascot, so that’s number one on our festival priorities,” Emma said.

Nine Year Sister have announced that they have a new album about to be released - a collection of their favourites and new pieces.