| starcommunity.com.au
Page 6 Tuesday, 15 April, 2014
Connecting people and communities RTM
Opinion
Send your letters to: editor@yvnews.com.au here in the Ranges? We see people protesting against sharks being killed, roads being built, pools closing... Maybe we need to add the elderly to our priorities when we protest? Robert Frost, Monbulk.
Wake up to the problem
Laughter library A HUGE thank you to Suzanne and the other Emerald Library staff members who organised what turned out to be a hilarious, fun-filled and informative event, The Brief History of Maths
Biodiversity blow
President John Van Holsteyn presented Dana Dekkers with her certificate.
Speaking out for Toastmasters A SPEECH about excessive animal breeding has seen Monbulk Secondary College student Dana Dekkers become the Toast of the Hills. Dana took part in the 2014 Dandenong Ranges Toast of the Hills Senior Secondary Public Speaking contest on Wednesday night and spoke
about why excessive breeding should be banned. For winning, Dana won $200 and her mum won a year’s membership for the Dandenong Ranges Toastmasters. President John Van Holsteyn presented Dana with her
presented by comedian and witty satirist Rod Quantock, this week. It was a fantastic night of free family fun, as good as any comedy festival show. It reminded me that our precious public libraries are about so much more than loaning books - they are about community, sharing ideas, discussion and debate. And on this occasion, about non-stop laughing, too! Pauline Hopkins, Beaconsfield.
Carers need to be friends I HAVE a neighbour who is nearly 100 years old.
certificate and said the Dandenong Ranges Toastmasters was dedicated to improving communication skills and leadership qualities. The group meets at 7.30 pm every first and third Wednesday of the month at the Kallista Mechanics Hall.
She lives at home, with help from carers who assist with shopping, showering and cleaning. Recently the cost of these services was dramatically increased and the hours of attendance were reduced. The carers who perform these duties are unhappy as the time they used to spend chatting and socialising with people such as my neighbour have been removed. They have become drudges, rather than friends. Is anyone else, carers or recipients, outraged about this? I wonder if the Mail could investigate this find out if it’s happening all over Australia or just
THE Friends of Sherbrooke Forest wish to protest at the removal of mature eucalypt trees along the Puffing Billy corridor. Together with the Friends of Trestle Bridge, our group has been working to restore the historic gardens and natural environment of Yanakie (now part of the Dandenong Ranges National Park), by removing environmental weeds which have been allowed to take over the property. Weedy trees such as sycamore maple and Portuguese laurel have for years shaded out the indigenous species, preventing natural regeneration. The removal of mature eucalypt trees by the management of Puffing Billy is further eroding the biodiversity of this corridor. We ask that this practice be halted until proper consultation with local groups is carried out. Vivien Freshwater, President, Friends of Sherbrooke Forest.
Showing leadership IN response to our local MP’s comments about the wonderful announcement by Opposition Leader Daniel Andrews last week. What our local member fails to get is our local community has been screaming for some leadership on this issue and have now finally got some. The comments from Bernard Dobson reflect the views that I have been receiving on this issue since Swinburne announced its intention to leave the site due to the harsh TAFE cuts from the Napthine Government. The community know the importance of TAFE in our local community, the State Labor Opposition know the importance of it but this government once again is determined to stick their heads in the sand and ignore the crises they create. Peter Harris, ALP candidate for Evelyn.
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THIS week in the Herald Sun, James Currie claimed that Tecoma is not “the sleepy little hollow” it is made out to be by highlighting examples of other food stores nearby. What he does not highlight is the fact that none of these other stores come anywhere near the scale of the recently opened McDonald’s outlet. They do not have a drive-through and they are not permitted to stay open for 24 hours, unlike their new neighbour. Most of these stores, even on Friday and Saturday night, are closed before 10pm. I will accept his assurance that the “Yarra Ranges way of life” will not be disrupted by his outlet if he can guarantee garbage from it does not end up in nearby forests and parklands. And before supporters retort that the franchisee is not directly accountable for the rubbish generated by his store, it does not change the fact that rubbish from the outlet will manifest in the surrounding area. Although until last week the closest outlet was in Ferntree Gully, discarded McDonald’s packaging is already frequently seen throughout the Dandenongs. The sight of such rubbish diminishes the experience of those who choose to take a day trip into the hills to escape the city as well as bothering local residents. I call that, especially with the 24 hour availability of McDonald’s products in the area, a disruption. Apart from the environmental concerns, I count myself among the opponents of this establishment as those who primarily focus upon the unsuitability of the McDonald’s outlet for an area already plagued by poor traffic flow, particularly in peak periods. While I cannot deny the benefit of employment for young local people, I do ask can that one benefit outweigh the negatives posed by this much discussed outlet. Troy Clinton, Belgrave.
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