COUNCIL NEEDS TO ACT ON TREE VANDALISM
In the mid 1950s the then Department of Main Roads wanted to realign Lawrence Hargrave Drive at Sharkey Beach Coledale.
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This plan meant removing the young Norfolk Island pines that now beautify the area.
The trees were then about eight to nine metres tall and the proposal was then seen by the locals as madness and an act of tree vandalism.
Protest meetings were held at the site and the DMR was told that many people were prepared to chain themselves to the trees.
Such was the anger of the locals.
The protestors included people like Mary Waddingham, Jack Wright and Merv Haberley.
They were stalwarts of the community and have since left us.
Finally the authorities came to their senses and abandoned the proposal and the trees were saved.
Sadly, some in the Northern Suburbs of Wollongong vandalise trees (Illawarra Mercury, 7July, Illawarra Tree Vandalism Rampant.)
Some of the trees destroyed have included old banksias .
These beautify the area and provide food for many species of birds including honeyeaters and the magnificent Yellow Tailed Black Cockatoo.
Wollongong Council has policies to protect our trees and yet they are being destroyed and have been for years.
Many, many people in our community are appalled by the destruction of these trees and are waiting for council to enforce its policies.
If they acted and tree poisoners were charged and fined we might see fewer of our trees die.
Dave Beswick, Thirroul
SUPPORT THE STAFF DEALING WITH DEMENTIA
Anyone who saw the recent report on dementia would be aware of the incredibly high amount of love, devotion and plain hard work require to provide quality of life for its sufferers with a one on one situation.
To be hyper critical of an Institution caring for 117 residents, with the highest degree of this condition, for attaining an 84 per cent pass rate of test requirements shows a complete misunderstanding of the difficulties facing the administrators of the facility.
At another facility I personally witnessed an dementia patient abusing and punching a female carer when being politely asked to return to their room and stop harassing other residents.
It required three other personnel to eventually calm and return this person to his room.
What is the answer?
How can the balance between freedom of movement and the protection of residents be assured?
Should all be locked in permanently, drugged to maintain calm or have an extremely high patient to carer ratio to keep the peace?
So who is to blame? No wonder the State Government is keen to pursue privatisation of everything so they don't have these problems to contend with.
Or should Ms Berejiklian reassess her priorities - West Connex, Unanderra Lifts, Garrawarra resources?
Whatever the outcome the workers at Garrawarra need your support not condemnation.
Eric Davies, Keiraville
SO WHO IS PICKING UP THE BILL?
To Adrian Devlin, Ok, I give up.
Bill Shorten is a crook, he’s sold out to big business and as a result, businesses are making millions of dollars.
What have you got to say about the cuts to penalty rates?
John Macleod, Berry.