I rang this plumber who was advertising to unblock a sewer pipe for a fixed price but when he came out the price had escalated from the $99 to a staggering $6780 to unblock my sewer pipe so we dug up the pipe ourselves and for the sum of just under $9 put in the broken piece and all was well. 

It sure is a lot of difference when you do it yourself than have a plumber who possibly is overcharging a tad don’t you think?

Bob Manskie, Sanctuary Point

The federal governments cut of $127 million from the ABC represents a dangerous and irresponsible assault on public broadcasting in Australia.

Before eyebrows get raised I fully acknowledge how the ABC has changed over the years. I know it's not the same anymore.

Every journalist there seems to report on things they are offended by and 99 per cent of them wouldn't know who Richard Morecroft was – apart from Leigh Salesm, who is a cut above any journalist in this country.

The ABC is not what it used to be most of us all know that, but at the end of the day it's still there.

It's still a national service broadcaster.

Does channel 7, 9 or 10 cover women's sport or run in the bush with emergency info? No they don't.

Matty Ryan, Fairy meadow

As our population ages there is greater risk for older Australians to fall victim to elder abuse, with financial abuse the most common form.

Often difficult to identify, this type of abuse occurs when a trusted person misuses or wrongly exerts financial control, leading to harm and distress for the victim.

It is estimated that Australians lose more than $3 billion to fraud and scams each year, and Commonwealth Bank data suggests that three out of every four people affected by scams are over the age of 50, with those in regional areas more likely to be victims.

Sadly, it appears this is only the tip of the iceberg with scams and fraud making up only one part of financial abuse.  The true costs are unknown as many seniors either don’t recognise abuse or feel too embarrassed to report it.

Beyond the financial loss, abuse can affect a person’s mental health, ability to care for themselves, or their access to food, accommodation, and medical care.

Greater action is needed now to protect older Australians from financial abuse, scams and fraud, which is why we have launched our Safe and Savvy program.

The program aims to educate older Australians and their families about the risks, and empower them with the right tools and support to take action and protect their finances.    

The new Safe and Savvy guide, developed in consultation with experts, is available online from today 15 June and in almost 1000 Commonwealth Bank branches from mid-July.

The Guide provides practical advice and tips for customers and their families, as well as a comprehensive list of resources and support services available.

We are also training 9000 of our branch staff so that they can better identify and assist customers who may be victim to abuse.  

Banks and the community need to shine a light on the silent abuse occurring in households across the country, and our guide is a valuable resource to help start the conversation.  

Dr. Brendan French, Commonwealth Bank Customer Advocate

A big "Thank You" to police officer, Peter, for checking out a house alarm in Lake Heights at 11.30am on Friday,  June 15.

It is the small courtesies, like this, that make us appreciate our police force.

Peter Brown, Lake Heights