letters to the editor

Dear Editor,

A recent letter from Sooz reveals a compassionate and caring person; perhaps slightly misinformed. The expression, First Nation, is not new – Canada has been using it for years. D.N.A’ Studies have shown that a race of people who are now in Papua was on the mainland of Australia thousands of years before the people called Australian Aboriginals and were still on Tasmania at the arrival of Europeans. I am not sorry that we brought civilisation to Australia. Read Tim Flannery’s “Two Classic Tales Of Australian Exploration “, especially the articles by Watkin Tench and see if you would still be sorry. Blakey.

Dear Editor,

I sympathise with Col Walker, but don’t expect many people to know the correct meaning of words like “iconic” any more than “decimate” or “aggravate”, despite completing school. However, I thought our education system did include instructions on the use of appropriate articles with singular and plural nouns. So why have I heard twice recently, the expression “a ways”? Who taught them that?

H.Beneke

The British, whom the Aboriginal Activists despise as ‘Colonising Invaders’ were themselves invaded many times over the centuries. These invaders included the Celtic Tribes, the Romans, the Anglo-Saxons, the Vikings and the Normans. The local Brits acquired many skills from these invaders and eventually made significant contributions to Science, Engineering, Medicine, Literature, Music and a system of Law that is still the envy of the Western World.

It is obvious that this Great Southern Land that we now call Australia would have been ultimately found by any one of a number of seafaring nations including the French, the Dutch, the Portuguese or the Germans, had it not been discovered by Captain James Cook and taken possession of in the name of King George III. As bad as the early experiences of the Aboriginals

Dear Editor,

Just a note to thank you so much for your excellent mag. Fantastic. I particularly enjoy the local historical perspective of the magazine and the much more open and honest... importantly... uncensored ...letters to the editor. Do I like it all... no but I love to see the Freedom of Speech retained. It's most refreshing in this age where many pollies and doctors apparently lack the courage of their convictions and refuse to speak up against the obvious problems associated with vaccinations, especially the relatively new m RNA Jabs... despite their Hippocratic Oath requirements of Do No Harm. How does that work?? when

On the 24th January this year I posted the following message in the Bribie Island and Surrounding Areas Open Forum Facebook page: “Message to the Motorcycle Rider 044VN, who speeded through the school Zone after 7 am when the lights were on warning that children could be present for school today: You are not qualified to ride a motorcycle. Quit while you are ahead.”

While many of the 30 posts supported me for calling out this bad behaviour, there were had with the British settlers and troopers were, I’m sure they could have been worse had one of these alternative powers taken possession. What to do now? Aboriginal children and adolescents need to acquire skills to equip them for this modern society. We need to improve the living conditions of Aboriginal families such that children attend school every day. School leavers need to be directed into TAFE colleges and Universities and then into skilled jobs. Ultimately all citizens should be equipped to work at any job and at any level. We are one nation and the benefits of living in this great country should be within the reach of all, regardless of their origins. What needs to be done is obvious. We don’t need more committees to convene, prevaricate and ultimately slow things down. Let’s just get on with it.

Michael, Bongaree

All-Cause Death Rates are thru the roof? WHY? Honest answers please pollies. I’d also like to give special mention to our somewhat less than wonderful MP Ali King who so far refuses to answer any of the nearly 300 emails I have sent to her... I thought pollies were paid by taxpayers to listen...? So, what are they there for? closely followed by Health Minister Qld Ms De Ath. She never replies...nor does Terry Young... all refuse to engage yet I know they keep taking my exorbitant taxes.... even at 70 years of age... Even billy- goate admits the jabs don't work and he has now sold his big pharma shares at huge profits... funded by taxpayers.... but that won't a number of counter productive and critical posts like:

“If you’re worried about someone's riding call police link.... FB does nothing”

My answer: “Police will do nothing. FB tells him what he did wrong. A learning experience.”

The police will not charge someone on my word alone, but the rider or someone who knows him might have a word to him about it.

A surprising number of posts were like this one: “'Speeded'”.

My response: “Sped and speeded are both standard inflections stop him from sending another pharma-manufactured scam our way... as discussed with Alby last week at the tennis.... a little fiddling while Alice was burning...

What a wonderful life these pollies have at our expense... all on the public teat... with zero accountability.... swanning here and there... of course no carbon used... eh?

Just like all the WEF Private jets at Davos... all-electric...!! At least Australia didn't send any public servants or pollies... did we...?

It's time for decent hardworking Aussies to speak up against the recent rorts we have endured and will continue.... if we let them.

Bruce from Bribie

of the verb to speed, and neither is more correct than the other. The old rule, purveyed in many English reference books, holds that speeded works only in the past-tense phrasal verb speeded up, but this recommendation is dated. In real-world, 21st-century usage, writers generally use whichever they think sounds best. Speeded is widely used without up, and sped is likewise used both alone and with up. Sped is about three times as common as speeded, though, which suggests that it remains the safer choice.”

Why don’t they read the previous posts to see the answer to a question that has been asked many times?

My point is Why are people so super critical online? I have read much worse in other posts. People who are trying to contribute to the Bribie community are silenced by nit picking, super critical, nay sayers. These things would not be said face to face.

Why can’t we be supportive neighbours online as well as face to face?

Dr. R. Zolin

We are being asked to deal with the proposition that Aborigines are essentially unrepresented or poorly represented. Let’s see if the statistics bear that out and begin by agreeing that democracy is usually regarded as the most representative system existing within the realm of mankind (forgive the political incorrectness, but I’m pre-woke when it comes to our great language).

According to my limited research library we have 226 Federal politicians in our Parliament of which 11 claim Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage. As a product of our once decent education system, I deduce that this group of people have a 4.9% representation in the supreme policy making body of Australia. If you believe the fake natural growth of the Aboriginal population, this group makes up 3.2% of the country’s total population so how can it be statistically underrepresented? – of course it isn’t, but a lot of our citizens could be forgiven for believing the propaganda that indicates the opposite? This disinformation runs on the theme of the Proposal and Reasons for “The Voice” – that the Aboriginal component in our society is not consulted on matters that affect them. Well, the statistics don’t back that up in that Aboriginal input comes in the form of a huge number of agencies that include Structures and organisations, National Indigenous representative bodies, The National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples, Land Councils and Other organisations that include the Reconciliation Australia, Australia for Native Tile and Reconciliation (ANTAR) and ‘Link-Up’. Think before you vote.

R.Galbraith Bongaree

The Editor

NEW BRIBIE BRIDGE – WHAT’S MISSING? Transport and Main Roads (State Gov’t) has asked locals to submit their opinions on a new bridge to Bribie. Bribie Island Road from the M1 will eventually be 4 lanes. This will undoubtedly bring more traffic volume.

In my opinion, from reading responses to the TMR Bridge Consultation process, locals seem to heavily favour a 4 lane bridge which they hope will deal with the traffic volume increases. Again in my opinion TMR also seems to favour a 4 lane bridge rather than progressively building 2 bridges of 2 lanes each. National and International

Letter to the Editor, Inconsiderate drivers on Bribie? I don’t think so. Some drivers may be a little old, some may not know where the indicator lever is, some may even drive below the speed limit, but inconsiderate, I dispute that. In January’s issue of the Bribie Islander, retired Queensland Police Sergeant Graham aired his frustration at slow drivers on Bribie Island. Well Graham, since you have been a resident on this idyllic island for only 18 months, you may not have time to slow your pulse rate down to suit the island lifestyle and you possibly still drive a vehicle in an aggressive evidence clearly proves that more lanes means more traffic volume and continued flow blockages. What’s missing? TMR is responsible for main road and bridge planning and construction. The Bribie Road network however is the responsibility of MBRC. Well, we haven’t seen the MBRC’s future road planning to deal with the potential doubling of traffic volume squeezing on to Bribie Island. There will have to be extensive changes to our road network and car parking. Congestion at peak times is already excessive. With Moreton Bay becoming a city and with the new townships being built close pursuit manner, rather than in a relaxed Bribie Island sort of manner. Just maybe you are the inconsiderate one? to us on the mainland the future traffic loads will be huge. Question – how can I comment on the consultation process without this major piece of planning detail from MBRC?

In your example of following a flatbed truck at 40 km/hr from freshwater drive to the BP garage, you were probable right in assuming that the driver did not have a care in the world. Remember he was on Bribie, not the big smoke. You even cast suspicion that the driver may have been using a mobile phone but where is the proof. And what about hitting the kerb on those infernal roundabouts, something you as a professional driver probable have never done.

I would like to keep Bribie as a distinct coastal village. Maybe the answer is that visitors on arrival will just have to slow down. A workable (renewable energy small bus and ferry hopper) dedicated public transport service would also help locals and visitors to easily move around and reduce that invisible pollution.

Paul Fitzgerald Banksia Beach.

Well Graham, let us look at the facts.

From the end of Freshwater drive to the BP service station, it would take you around 10 minutes travelling at the designated speed limit. You did state that the speed limits along this section are signed at 50, 60 to 70 km/hr respectively but you did you forget the 40km/hr school zone? Because you had to do 40 km/hr, it probably added another 3 minutes to your overall journey time. They do say however that time is money

In Queensland it is legally acceptable to travel below the speed limit as long as it is not too slow. There are restrictions when travelling on a freeway, but Bribie doesn’t have any of these. Remember the line that every Kilometre over the limit can be a killer. Travelling slower than the speed limit then is surely safer if we are to follow the logic.

My advice is for you to get over your frustrations, come to terms that you are no longer are a police officer, have some empathy for others on Bribie and start enjoying the Idyllic life you crave.

Max Schulz Designated Slow Driver Bongaree