Connecting people and communities
Friday, 15 February, 2013 Page 15
Letters
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Email: editorial@geelongindependent.com.au PO Box 407, Geelong, 3220 Fax: 5249 6799
EAT HEALTHY
SATURDAY 16TH FEB
Funding push needs more pier pressure IS IT unreasonable to seek realistic funding levels for both the Great Ocean Road and a local necessity? The mix of a federal election dovetailing into a state election offers an invaluable opportunity, especially given the dually tentative status of governance, to also stump up funding for a local public-private-funded Yarra St pier (Independent, January 25). The cost-effective benefits would be pretty much unquantifiable. Not only would a serious new-
age pier provide a non-invasive multi-purpose convention centre when Simonds Stadium’s Fred Flannigan Room is booked out, it would also provide hospitality and retail alternatives and liner moorings. A new pier would also provide the building block for marina extensions, which Festival of Sail demands, as well as providing closure to the waterfront vision and initiatives of the Kennett government. Richard Worland Manifold Heights
SAILS, HO: Festival of Sails would be just one beneficiary of a new Yarra St pier, a reader says.
LIVE HEALTHY
House of Bollocks
Power in the people
COULD Mr Bollocks, nee Cheeseman, (Independent, February 8) please ask his leader to bring some order and discipline back into federal parliament’s question time? It has become a common practice for the Gillard Government to not answer opposition questions by ignoring them and instead turning the answer into a vitriolic attack on the coalition. It’s not so if a question is asked by the crossbenchers. The Dorothy Dix questions from the Government benches also turn into a berating of the Liberal and National parties. So I ask Mr Bollocks to please ask his leader or the speaker to insist that questions are answered. After all, it is our House of the People. Bob Dare Portarlington
ALAN Barron holds the view that humans are too puny to affect our environment (Letters, February 8). This statement reflects his profound lack of understanding of the natural world. Rather than succumbing to websites that reinforce his world view, he really should get out more. Seven billion humans, many living profligate lifestyles, are soiling their own nest big time. Leaving aside the never ending argument about carbon dioxide emissions, one only needs to be aware of our choking rivers, fish-free oceans, denuded soils, devastated forests, bleached coral reefs and, most importantly as a result of all of this damage, the worldwide crash in biodiversity to realise humans significantly affect their environment. Let us not despair, however because many in our community are fighting back and showing another way of living. Corporations are powerful enough to influence governments but lose their power if we don’t buy their junk or their shares. For example, electricity demand dropped eight per cent in Australia last year. Much of this was due to solar panels on roofs and more-efficient devices. Also, governments, at least in democracies, that don’t do the people’s bidding can still be voted out. Leigh Adamson Belmont
Free to reference Nazis GAVIN Brown (Letters, February 8) must be intransigent to imply that every reference to the term Nazi is aimed solely at the holocaust of World War II. The Nazis were a political regime before becoming radical and unbalanced. Inevitably they were defeated and obliterated. Mr Brown’s letter was superfluous and designed to promote the contentious issue of anthropogenic climate change. Mr Brown demanded that climate change sceptics be restricted, censored and/or silenced, effectively annihilating any voice that challenges or questions so-called scientists, for environmentalists’ de-industrialisation agenda. Is that democratic? If Mr Brown is so certain the “majority” is proclimate change then the forthcoming federal election should be a landslide win for the Labor-Greens alliance. Its climate-change policies are crippling Australian business, industry, the disadvantaged and poor. Instead, it has virtually guaranteed Tony Abbott and the Liberal party a victory based on the promise to rescind unpopular taxes and policies. Labor voters are devastated! Free speech must be protected and reinforced. Therefore, any reference to Nazis should not necessitate an automatic apology to the Jewish community. The term Nazi refers to a member of the former German National Socialist party, a bona-fide political collective. I hope the Independent will continue to represent the views and opinions of all contributors who have valid information to share with the community, members of which can then make up their own minds. Ralph Huisman Belmont
• Free 15 min Naturopath consults • Free 15 min MedsCheck with our pharmacists: - Are your medicines right for you? - Are they having a positive or negative impact on your lifestyle • Healthy cooking demonstrations all day with our Pharmacist and Naturopath - Healthy recipe tastings and meal ideas
WEDNESDAY 20TH FEB • Detox advice • Digestive health assessment • Free iridology assessments • Quit smoking and alcohol advice • Ask our pharmacists about MedsCheck • Zinc and mineral testing • Healthy eating advice • Dieting advice - Picking the right foods - How to read nutritional advice labels - Do you know your food pyramid?
FEEL-FIT
FRIDAY 22ND FEB • Exercise, training and recovery advice from fitness experts • Fitness advice • Musashi tastines • Kapal Paku Tastings (see www.kapalpuku.com for info) • Aussie Bodies tastings • Sleep-well: live-well - sleep hygiene advice
Waurn Ponds Pharmacy, Shop 1d (near Safeway) Waurn Ponds Shopping Centre
Bounty on the bay I WAS delighted to present the Melbourne-to-Geelong multihull passage race trophy at the largest annual keelboat regatta in the Southern Hemisphere, held in Geelong over the Australia Day weekend. More than 4500 competitors on 320 yachts battled it out for some of Australia’s most prestigious sailing trophies during Geelong’s Festival of Sails. The Baillieu Government recognises the significance of Victoria’s oldest sport event as a standout fixture on the Victorian sailing and tourism calendar. An overall investment of $1 million returned in excess of $8 million of economic benefit to Geelong. The festival, with its numerous shore-side activities, attracted an estimated 100,000 visitors over the long weekend. It is another reminder of the immense popularity of Geelong’s waterfront. The Baillieu Government is proud to be part of the festival’s continued growth and success and looks forward to Melges 24 2014 World Championships in January. Securing this event for Geelong is a major win for Victoria and the Geelong region. My congratulations to Royal Geelong Yacht Club commodore Andrew Neilson, Festival of Sails chairman Ian Murray, the organising committee members, sponsors, volunteers and competitors. David Koch MP Member for Western Victoria Region
1063153-JL7-13
phone (03) 5243 1050
Notice of Track & Road Works Banks Road and Swan Bay Road, Mannerim From 19 February until 26 February, VicTrack will manage rail track and road works at the Banks Road and Swan Bay Road, Mannerim level crossings. During the works Banks and Swan Bay Roads will both be closed alternatively for several days each. Residents and motorists are advised to seek alternative routes. The level crossing rail track and road works will deliver significant safety improvements for the Bellarine Tourist Railway and road users. Staged works will be conducted by the Bellarine Tourist Railway and experienced contractor, MJ Construction between 7am and 6pm on weekdays and some weekends, using an approved traffic management plan.
Financial Information Service, Free Seminars on You are welcome to attend a series of seminars presented by the Financial Information Service of Department of Human Services:
VicTrack apologises for any inconvenience and urges residents to follow safety instructions.
Age Pension and Your Choices - 6th March 2013 Understanding Superannuation - 20th March 2013 Understanding Retirement Income Streams - 10th April 2013 Accommodation Options & Residential Aged Care - 17th April 2013 Understanding Self Managed Superannuation Funds - 24th April 2013
The works are funded under the Victorian Government’s State Level Crossing Upgrade Program.
Book your place now by calling 13 6357 or emailing fis.seminar.bookings@humanservices.gov.au Centrelink’s Financial Information Service is an independent and unbiased service of the Australian Government.
humanservices.gov.au
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Time: All seminars are from 6pm until 8pm. Light refreshments will be served prior to commencement.
For more information please contact: Brad Farrell, Project Manager on 03 9619 8605 Email: Brad.Farrell@victrack.com.au
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VicTrack supports Victoria’s public transport without relying on government funding. Its core roles are to deliver public transport telecommunications and manage railway land not used for rail services.
Venue: Dromoland House, 258 Pakington St, Geelong West, VIC, 3218.