The Advertiser and Sunday Mail Letters to the Editor August 10-16
August 15: Readers have their say on Victory in the Pacific Day and a Melbourne traveller saying you can “basically do whatever you like over here” when it comes to social distancing.
Opinion
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- TORY SHEPHERD: Journos don’t deserve abuse for tough questions
- MORE READER VIEWS: Read last week’s letters here
Letters to the Editor published in The Advertiser and Sunday Mail.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 15, AND SUNDAY, AUGUST 16
Remember POWs
AS we commemorate the 75th anniversary of Victory in the Pacific, we remember the millions of people who died and whose lives were shattered during this long and brutal conflict.
These include the members of the armed forces as well as the countless civilians caught up in the conflict.
VP Day not only marks the end of World War II but also the end of the captivity of the many Australians held in Japanese prisoner-of-war camps across Asia.
Of the 22,376 Australians taken prisoner, 8031 (36 per cent) died in captivity from executions, forced marches, forced labour, brutal treatment, starvation and disease.
For those who survived, the captivity lasted 3½ years.
During this period, their families at home heard little about their conditions or whereabouts.
There is evidence that, had it not been for the declaration of peace, there was a distinct possibility the POWs would have been killed by their captors. As we navigate these difficult times, it is worthwhile remembering the significance of VP Day and the suffering our POWs and their families endured.
We owe them a huge debt.
SUE ALLARD, 2/3rd Australian Machine Gun Battalion Association secretary
Keeping distance
I COMMEND Collingwood fan David Hamzy for coming from Melbourne and quarantining to care for his elderly parents (“Bucks knew not to shake my hand: Fan”, The Advertiser, yesterday).
However, can someone inform him that being in Adelaide doesn’t mean he can “basically do whatever you like over here”. And we have more restriction than the number of people in a bar. If he continues to “handshake and whatever else” he chooses, he may be putting at risk the very people he came here to help.
CATHY GRACE, Craigburn Farm
Travel approval
YES, Premier Steven Marshall, I too am outraged by your recent trip to Queensland (“Marshall’s trip to Qld comes under attack”, The Advertiser, Thursday).
How dare you travel without receiving prior approval from both the Labor Party and the ABC.
IAN GIBSON, Golden Grove
Powerful virus
CORONAVIRUS seems to operate on the principle “heads it wins, tails we lose”.
M. F. HORTON, Clarence Park
Physical change
DURING COVID-19, we have continually been told to implement “social distancing”, which I have always found to be an insipid statement.
What does it mean?
Keep your distance when out socialising, when in the pub, having a coffee with friends. In the statement by Dr Katarina Arandjelovic, following the parking-ticket issue, she referred to “physical distancing” (“Huge dose of outrage gets doc’s fine scrapped”, The Advertiser, Thursday).
A much more specific, direct and effective description of what we all need to do, everywhere, all the time. Not just at “social” events.
ERIC TAYLOR, West Beach
Vulnerable kids
ANDREW Bolt continues to perpetuate the myth that COVID-19 is more dangerous to older citizens, even though The Advertiser quoted the official figures of 800 children under nine diagnosed with coronavirus since the pandemic began in Victoria.
The Advertiser went on to tell us that new figures showed there were 366 active COVID-19 infections among children under nine and 736 more between ages 10 and 19 in Victoria at present.
Given that we have no idea of what the medium-and-long-term effects of contracting this virus will be, these statistics are truly alarming and this pathogen should not be dismissed as being dangerous just to the elderly.
CHRIS DALAS, Kilkenny
V oters let down
SECTION 15 of the Australian Constitution was amended in 1977 to enable a deceased or retiring senator’s casual vacancy to be filled by that senator’s political party.
Rex Patrick benefited from that amendment after Senator Nick Xenophon retired.
Senator Patrick’s resignation from Centre Alliance undermines the spirit of 1977’s amendment and fuels public mistrust of contemporary politics.
His self-serving actions are similar to Fraser Anning and Cory Bernardi, who also disenfranchised their original supporter base.
Very, very disappointing.
DEREK BOWMAN, Goolwa North
Care for staff
WHAT the Adelaide City Council is doing to our loyal staff is heartbreaking.
Mass lay-offs of young, vulnerable staff, while continuing with what I see as vanity projects, is inhumane.
In normal times, our sacked staff would easily find other jobs. But in pandemic times, we have thrown these young people on the scrap heap.
No one is hiring during the pandemic and good businesses make sure their people are the last thing to be gotten rid of.
No other council in the state is jettisoning its employees like we are. I am ashamed to be a member of this council.
Cr ANNE MORAN, Adelaide City Council
Classical teaching
WITH regards to John Langrehr’s letter (“Think laterally”, The Advertiser yesterday): If an engineer is designing and building a bridge I’m going to use, I want the engineer to have a good memory and a classical education with an emphasis on problem-solving.
Rather than a student who is excellent at finger painting, writing poetry and singing Kumbaya.
GAVIN BREESE, Marino
Journo insight
I APPRECIATE Tory Shepherd trying to distil the role of journalism to those who think news reporting appears ready made (“Opinion”, The Advertiser, Thursday).
Judgment calls need to be made on what is not in the public interest. Hard questions need to be asked repeatedly because many people – politicians and lawyers come to mind – are good at avoidance.
We may not like the COVID-19 situation we are in but we do need to see all sides of that situation. So read widely. In the end, it comes back to the age-old adage “don’t shoot the messenger”.
JENNY ESOTS, Willunga
Making lists
I HAD a rather interesting and lighthearted debate the other day.
Someone within the debating group posed the following.
Place these five events in order of occurrence: Joe Biden will complete two consecutive coherent sentences; the Crows will win a game; Australia will become a republic; a successful COVID-19 vaccine will be found, and; Adelaide Oval will host an AFL Grand Final.
I can tell you that Australia becoming a republic came in at No 5 in most people’s eyes, though a couple with tongue firmly in cheek suggested the Crows’ next win.
GREG GADE, Ingle Farm
Not consulting
HAVING been an elected member of local government, if a governing body would like to have new laws, acts or regulations legislated, public consultations are merely a hollow, time-wasting obligation.
No matter how learned and persuasive, once that body is intent on seeing the new legislation through, sadly nothing apart from the next poll will stand in its way.
ELDERT HOEBEE, Torrens Park
Animal lover
I AM delighted with Joe Biden’s choice of naming Kamala Harris as his choice for his running mate for the US presidency (“Biden’s choice makes history”, The Advertiser, Thursday).
Kamala is an animal-rights supporter. She is exactly what is needed to rectify the damage President Donald Trump has promoted, with his support for trophy hunting and undermining protection for all creatures. Ms Harris is a co-sponsor of legislation to crack down on horse abuses, prohibit the trade of shark fins, reduce wildlife trafficking, and address widespread doping of racehorses. She also supported the PACT Act to create a felony penalty for malicious animal cruelty.
What a wonderful choice. Let us hope that Joe Biden wins the next election and the animals, as well as the people of the US, have a better life after Trump.
CHRISTINE PIERSON, Kensington Park
Breeder sentence
I COULDN’T believe my eyes when I read a breeder found responsible for nine counts of ill-treatment and “criminal mismanagement of 118 innocent cats, was fined $500 and placed on a two-year good behaviour bond (“Abuser of 118 cats spared prison”, The Advertiser, yesterday).
As a breeder, this woman would have benefited financially from the sale of the ragdoll cats. She must have known their health was severely compromised in the appalling conditions they endured and that she chose to keep them in “for a sustained period.” All animal lovers must be in disbelief that so small a penance resulted, giving the impression that animals are not worthy of proper care from their human guardians.
DIANE CORNELIUS, Seacliff Park
Protect Parklands
JUST because wealthy private schools have $2.3m to spend on a clubroom, that does not give them the right to commandeer public parkland (“PAC’s Parklands plan finally back on agenda”, The Advertiser, Tuesday).
Colonel Light had a plan that worked and made Adelaide famous around the world.
Let’s stick with it.
ROBERT EASTMAN, Port Adelaide
Not always practical to ride mobility scooters on footpath
NOW that pushbikes can ride on the footpaths, I don’t see why mobility scooters can’t ride in the bike lanes.
Being the owner of a scooter, I find that, on the footpaths, the cement paths and pavers are up to 50mm different, caused by the roots of the trees.
A woman was hit by a car backing out of a driveway. I went to see if she was all right. She was badly shaken. Myself and others sometimes ride on the road when a safe footpath is not available.
Also, in the dark, I suggest that a red flag and safety vest be worn.
I’m hoping that this can happen to let elderly people have a safer ride.
MALCOLM BONNEY, Mitchell Park
Unley trees drop away
I AM pleased Caleb Bond attended our recent Unley Council meeting to hear about projects that we’re investigating (“Urban forest – or pay more”, The Advertiser, August 2).
I’m delighted he has helped expose and open up this discussion about the vital issue of trees on private property.
In Unley, we have a problem. It has been recognised globally as a cool, green, leafy place – one of the Tree Cities of the World – but our crown is slipping. We are failing and soon we may not deserve this accolade.
A total of 36 per cent of trees on private property have gone and we are losing more than 1000 every year. The council is planting more trees as fast as we practically can on our own land, about 500 extra every year on verges and in reserves. But in another six years, all available locations for new plantings will be exhausted.
We admit we’re failing, which is why we are considering financial incentives for private landowners to place a value on tree canopy. As part of the process, we will consult with our community.
It’s worth noting that if we do introduce new costs they won’t be retrospective. Existing residents won’t pay more. One concept under investigation would only apply to new developments, which we feel should have a minimum tree canopy in the 15 per cent range for relevant zoning areas, to encourage planting of new trees.
As a council, we’re determined to achieve the State Government’s target for tree cover, which we were above two decades ago but are now falling well below.
MICHAEL HEWITSON, AM, Unley Council Mayor
Isolation blues
COVidleness has raised its ugly head to me.
With time to spare I find it hard to fill.
With anything resembling ingenuity.
I make a plan but fail to gain the will.
It’s like a form of virtual reality, inertia, or the French will say ennui.
The smallest task exceeds my brain’s capacity.
Its cells, synapses mere ratatouille.
So shiftless, sluggish, indolent and vague I be.
Yet must not fail the standards I’ve been set.
The impetus I need to fuel my energy will be the end of COVID-19.
That’s not yet.
MAUREEN MITSON, Modbury North
Green education
DAVID Penberthy was making sense in his discussion of people’s behaviour in the pandemic until he decided to bag the Greens (“ ‘Freedom’ fighters put us all in danger”, Sunday Mail, August 9).
Using terms such as “even members of the Greens” recognise anti-vaccination to be an issue, he tries to insinuate it is a Greens problem.
In fact, most of these deluded people come from the rabid Right, with a few la-la-land hippies thrown in. Most Green voters are highly educated and, as such, believers in vaccination.
GILLIAN UNICOMB, Clifton Hill, Victoria
Are fines being paid?
I THINK it is about time we got a heads-up from the various levels of government outlining how much the recalcitrant COVID-19 offenders have actually paid for their unsecured fines, and a guide as to the proportion of debts being paid on time.
DAVID MACKLIN, Ashbourne
Nursing-home struggle
FAMILIES with parents or friends in care have been telling governments for years that nursing-home staff are poorly trained and, without staff ratios, are struggling to care for residents when they are well.
With the virus, they may be expected to look after both the sick and the well who are locked in the same centre. All sick residents should be in hospital with a ventilator.
Some hospitals have apparently refused to take residents. This is deplorable, as these are the people who have worked to provide the lifestyle that employs them.
They have kept the hospitals going, the businesses alive and the country operating since before the virus.
We are told that “we’re all in this together” and “all lives matter”.
Well, not if you are elderly. It is obvious that you are not treated equally (and maybe not treated at all).
A country is judged by how it treats the most vulnerable in its community.
We are failing.
B. O’HALLORAN, Adelaide
Give me a refund
IS anyone having the same problem I’m having?
I had a cruise booked for last April, flying to Brisbane with Virgin and back with Qantas. Then, of course, it all got cancelled. I have had every cent of my cruise money returned, but the airlines insist I have a credit for the flights.
I don’t want a credit. I want a cash refund as, at my age, I won’t be flying anywhere in the foreseeable future. I have approached both airlines but they say the request must come from my travel agent. She has approached them both. Virgin has turned her down flat, saying I must have a credit.
Qantas can take three months to answer and I still have another month to go on that. If anyone has had the same problem I would love to hear if they managed to overcome it.
EVE MILLS, Elizabeth North
Baring the soul
PETER Goers never fails to provoke – in the best sense of the word.
Most times he strikes the right chord with me, whether it be his political/social comments, his support for the arts and South Australian culture, his defence of local icons (people and/or our heritage) and his lambasting of pomposity and those with their innate sense of privilege.
It is always laced with sardonic humour. His latest article was one of his best (“Isolation’s been tough but it can’t last forever”, Sunday Mail, August 9). It was a totally honest baring of his soul, describing the anguish of his virtual self-isolation during the pandemic.
I’m sure he – like many of us – will rejoice and recover our mojos when we are able to mingle freely with others in theatre foyers and the vestibules of our cinemas. Peter, be patient. Fairly soon, life will return to normal. Whatever that may mean.
VINCENT BURKE, Adelaide
Clarification
Last week we published a story titled ‘Social life, social death’ about people’s online presence after death.
We have since learnt the premise of this story wasn’t true. The article was partly based on a press release from Adelaide marketing and communications company Mihell & Lycos, which referred to a project led by a Scandinavian-based Karl-Axel Mattiasson. While programs using artificial intelligence to mimic the living online after they’ve passed are in development, in this case the press release was actually a publicity stunt designed to promote an online game.
Our normal fact checking processes were not followed. We regret publishing the story and apologise to our readers.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 14
Marshalling help
HOPEFULLY Premier Steven Marshall’s marshals will also be found on buses, trains and in government departments (“Border block”, The Advertiser, Thursday).
This initiative should not just fall on the shoulders of private businesses.
It will be a great way of employing more people.
DOMENICA CAVUOTO, Klemzig
Travel warning
SO Premier Steven Marshall gives himself approval to fly to Queensland to see his son graduate (“Marshall’s trip to Qld comes under attack”, The Advertiser, Thursday).
Police Commissioner Grant Stevens recently warned South Australians to rethink their travel plans to Queensland.
We cancelled our paid two-week trip to Queensland because we followed the directive we were given by Mr Stevens.
We did what we were told to do, despite the massive inconvenience and disappointment of not taking our annual holiday.
Isn’t this the crux of the entire COVID-19 nightmare? That people just do whatever they want to do, and disregard everyone else’s safety, by not following directions to keep everyone as safe as possible?
In this case, our own Premier blatantly disregards the warning and gives himself dispensation to do what so many South Australians have so dearly wished they could but didn’t because they followed protocols.
I guess the travel warning does not apply to you, Mr Marshall.
SANDRA GIANCOLA, Glengowrie
Errant stupidity
I WISH Premier Steven Marshall, chief public health officer Professor Nicola Spurrier, and the State Government number crunchers would have a read of the last couple of Caleb Bond’s columns.
He has again raised the issue of the errant stupidity of some of the restrictions South Australians have now had slapped on them.
For goodness sake, Premier, read them. And then stop with the knee-jerk reactions.
PAUL WILLIAMS, Strathalbyn
Deadly shadows
WE tremble with frustrated rage and search for enemies to fight.
A foe with whom we can engage and bring to bear our fretful might.
But yet we have no way to kill this scourge that does not pick and choose.
The old, the young, the weak fall ill and some of them we’re sure to lose.
Yet we can merely hope and wait and maybe say a prayer or two.
Until the gods, that guide our fate, decide to quash this devil’s brew.
But how I wish for days I’ve known when soldiers fought and brave men died.
When enemies were flesh and bone.
Not shadows on a thin glass slide.
REG THOMAS, Fullarton
Tough questions
WELL said, Tory Shepherd (“Opinion”, The Advertiser, Thursday).
Journalists have a responsibility to ask often-uncomfortable questions to our politicians.
The #IStandWithDan crew hating on Rachel Baxendale may or may not be on the wrong side of history.
But their desire to shield Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews from these difficult questions merely proves their bias blinds their public interest.
PAUL MITCHELL, Brooklyn Park
Building rules
I CAN hear the “anti-progress”, “loony Left”, “holding Adelaide back” jibes already.
But I fit into none of these categories.
I refer to “Green light for motel” (The Advertiser, Friday), which includes a proposal to demolish a heritage and character building at 134 Wright Street, replacing it with yet another soulless tower.
My questions are: Why do we bother having heritage listings at all if the State Commission Assessment Panel continues to flout, twist and ignore them?
Why do we have height restrictions at all if SCAP continues to flout, twist and ignore them?
Why are we continuing to build these towers when more and more office workers are likely to be working from home after COVID-19?
And international students and tourists, as potential residents/guests, may take years to return to pre-COVID levels.
Why do we need SCAP at all if it is apparently just a rubberstamping body for developers who, in actual fact, are not developers of the actual socio-economic fabric of a creative and vibrant city?
Oh, Adelaide.
DENNIS COLEMAN, Torrensville
Think laterally
THERE is a danger in the continuing overemphasis on testing student memories for correct answers on state, national, and international tests.
This is especially true in a rapidly changing and competitive world of internet information.
Shortsighted politicians and educational decision-makers demand correct answer testing at all levels. This allows them to rank teachers, schools, and school systems.
And yet there is ample evidence to show that such testing does not improve standards.
Teacher questions that have more than one possible answer have much to offer. And yet they get little attention.
Such questions improve student thinking by developing student imagination and their reasoned judgment of the opinions and statements they read on the internet.
Unfortunately, teachers and schools that encourage multiple-answer questioning rarely get any praise and publicity. The headlines are the “best” schools based on high student marks for tests such as NAPLAN.
JOHN LANGREHR, Leabrook
Unreliable code
I ALWAYS check the barcode on goods to ensure I am buying Australian products (the prefix being 93).
However, recently I have noticed that, though the barcode is 93, on further search of the small print, the product is “made in China”.
How deceptive is this? It is not good enough.
JEAN HARNEY, Highbury
Pollie critique
I’VE heard it all now.
I heard a politician criticising another for not answering a question.
GARRY TURNER, Port Pirie
Time of travel
I MUST be getting old.
I find a phrase becoming more common now than I can ever remember. That is, travel distance being referred to in time instead of kilometres.
We now find that a destination is an hour, etc, at some compass point from where I am. There is no mention of the distance or conditions.
Is this at a Driving Miss Daisy pace on the scenic route or a Mad Max pace on the secret back road?
I can understand if someone qualifies the distance with an approximate time to travel subject to conditions. No problem.
But I would not place much trust in someone saying an airport is only 30 minutes away when I am booked for a flight.
MARK HOOD, Daw Park
Consult please
IN February, the State Planning Commission received 1790 submissions from South Australian councils, the development industry and hundreds of citizens on phase 3 of the draft planning and design code.
At an average of 10 pages for each submission, this would add up to almost 18,000 pages of wisdom, thought, commitment and plain hard work. This great body of work was submitted seeking changes to the draft code and the online planning portal, which are both full of serious errors and omissions.
In due course, the SPC, through the Planning Department, produced a mere 67-page response, called “What We Have Heard”, which sought to highlight the recurring themes. What a pathetic, dismissive and deplorable effort by a major SA Government department.
A total of 1790 submissions of well-researched work was written by people who know planning, from lots of thoughtful SA people. Are we really being listened to? Is this the best SPC and DPTI can do?
Are we asking too much to be taken seriously? Will you incorporate what the people of SA want on contributory items, trees, urban infill and our precious environment in the revised version of the code?
Will you tell us and consult us on that? Democracy demands that you do. Remember, 2022 is not far away.
TOM MATTHEWS, Prospect
Make pay grade
WHY don’t politicians get paid a set salary that includes car fuel, overnight stays, etc?
If any out-of-pocket expenses are required, they pay for them out of their own salary. When tax time comes around, they lodge a claim.
This is the procedure everyone else has to abide by, including keeping every receipt and a good record of expenditure.
Of course, you only get a percentage of your expenditure back. How silly of me. This just wouldn’t work for pollies.
They might end up with a loss.
J. ROWE, North Haven
Missing Morse
REGARDING Channel 10’s news cuts in Adelaide, I will not be watching Ten’s Melbourne news at 5pm.
Rebecca Morse was a treasure.
A much better idea would be to get rid of those inane reality shows.
BILL MUDIE, Flagstaff Hill
Wise Kyrgios
WHO would have thought we would see Nick Kyrgios as a voice of reason?
Call me an old cynic, or conspiracy theorist, but he is right that the US Open tennis tournament should not go ahead.
Is it even faintly possible that this is being held to give Serena Williams possibly the easiest Grand Slam win ever?
There is talk of the AFL premiership having an asterisk alongside it. The size of the asterisk alongside the tennis prize could be seen from the moon.
It seems the main reason for holding this event is to allow Williams to try to equal Margaret Court’s record, a record she is not fit to even be mentioned in the same breath with.
PAUL BUXTON, Westbourne Park
THURSDAY, AUGUST 13
SA aged-care homes OK
THE Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety has been told that the majority of COVID-19 deaths have occurred in nursing homes.
Australia, with a 70 per cent record of deaths from COVID in aged care, has one of the worst records in the world.
However, the vast majority of those are in Victoria, with NSW and Tasmania following well behind.
We have had virtually none in South Australia, Western Australia, Queensland and the Northern Territory.
Therefore, why can it be said that Australia has such a bad record, when it is, in fact, just Victoria? COVID-19 deaths in aged-care homes are not symptomatic of our aged-care system, but a problem for individual homes and some state health authorities.
DAVID BISHOP, South Plympton
Prevent virus
CALEB Bond needs to remember there is no cure for COVID-19 (“Opinion”, The Advertiser, Tuesday). Prevention is our only option.
It is not possible to completely eliminate the importation of the virus from other states.
But we can follow the advice of the medical experts and maintain restrictions which have so far largely protected us from the death toll and social and economic catastrophe that is crippling Victoria.
BOB FRASER, Somerton Park
Responsible rules
I DIDN’T agree with Caleb Bond’s article, nor Peter Jeffery’s comments on it (“Tweak virus rules”, The Advertiser, yesterday).
Simply put, people have to be protected from themselves.
Look at the videos on the news where patrons do not adhere to the social-distancing rules in some pubs and nightclubs or on trains and trams, as well as other events of late.
There may be COVID-19 plans in place but people pretty much ignore them for whatever reason and put the rest of us in jeopardy. The State Government is trying to set up guidelines to protect everyone and we all know you can only please some of the people some of the time.
There are many of us out there who prefer the Marshall Government to keep SA safe, keep governing and not play politics. Unlike some journalists and State Opposition members.
And we will remember who is doing which at the next election.
BRUCE HAMILTON, Valley View
Defying logic
UNTIL now I have been in full support of the COVID-19 restrictions both imposed on and recommended for South Australians.
The latest restrictions, however, defy logic. How can we take seriously limits on home gatherings when hundreds can gather on public transport and in business venues, and thousands can gather at football matches?
Now a struggling country pub will need to have a trained crowd-control marshal.
My family’s scheduled outdoor gathering on a 5ha property had to be cancelled on the same day that 20,000 people attended the football.
My mate who runs a tiny isolated country pub with an average of six front-bar customers now has to train in crowd control and health advice.
Meanwhile, the international flights that helped trigger Victoria’s disaster are still being mooted.
Is the State Government just picking the soft targets to be seen to be doing something, or have they lost sight of the objective?
When laws lack logical consistency or become detached from reality they invite rebellion.
BRIAN HENSON, Roseworthy
Andrews critique
IN reply to Robert McCormick, people of South Australia have daily access to information relating to the Stamford Plaza hotel, security guards and the quarantine breakdowns in Victoria.
While it is true that a compliant population is of utmost importance in controlling COVID-19, it is also a fact that not everyone is compliant, and therefore anticipating the probability of this is vital if management plans are to be effective.
Clearly this has not occurred in Victoria, and as the State Government leader, Premier Daniel Andrews is bearing the brunt of people’s frustration and anger.
It is not about sins and stones, or demonising Mr Andrews.
It is about people’s lives and livelihoods, restrictions to people’s liberties and economic consequences.
Not surprising, therefore, that questions are being asked and criticisms levied.
JAN MARTIN, Dulwich
Embrace suburbs
A MELBOURNE couple has been fined for wandering beyond the COVID-19 boundaries. They were sick of their local area.
One could never tire of my local suburbs. You never know what’s what.
One day, an old man is posing for a picture alongside of his rare, flowering cactus. And the next, he has died and a bulldozer smirks on a pile of mud where his neat house and garden once stood.
A grassy verge where magpies strutted and plucked, has been commandeered by builders extending a villa. A stretch of sky is wide and blue, where trees once brushed boughs and nodded to the morning.
A gaping hole in the ground has risen to three stories of solid block, up and down a main road.
On the bright side, pansies are bursting into colour. And japonica and plum trees are firing into bloom.
Dogs wag tails and plod friendly neighbourhoods. Babies in prams wriggle under cheerful rugs.
There is stimulation to last a lifetime here.
MARGARET MINNEY, Royston Park
Cheap housing
THE current health crisis and economic slowdown have created a great opportunity to invest in innovative low-cost housing projects.
As a potential use of vacant sites like the former Le Cornu site in North Adelaide, which is now owned by the Adelaide City Council, perhaps it has better prospects than other development options at this time.
With low-interest capital available from the National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation for social housing providers, now is the time to start to arrest the long-term decline in affordable housing and, in doing so, generate much-needed jobs.
JIM ALLEN, Panorama
Aussie products
WITH the devastating impact of COVID-19 on so many businesses, including subsequent job losses, it has never been more important to buy Australian made.
With many goods you really have to search the label to find its origins.
Therefore there is a need for a system that clearly identifies Australian-made products. Such as a visible sticker next to shelf price tag.
Recently at my regular supermarket, after reading a number of labels, I could only find one Australian-made brand of toothpaste. And the task is even harder when shopping for hardware or clothing. The cost to the retailer of an identification tag would be minimal, while they would benefit from more people in the workforce with greater spending capacity.
BRUCE FARQUHAR, Hyde Park
Boat rescue
MANY years ago I was involved in moving a boat off a beach (“Rising tide fails to free beached yacht”, The Advertiser, Tuesday).
There was about a dozen of us involved. It was about the same shape and length as the one at North Haven.
We got about half a dozen pine posts that we managed to wiggle and roll under the boat.
Then we rolled it to the water. Trying to bring the water to the boat never works.
IAN FRANKE, Kadina
Healthy hospital
THE SA Health response to the crisis in under resourcing of the Women’s and Children’s Hospital needs to be questioned (“Delivery man wants better conditions for new hospital”, The Advertiser, Monday).
The $65m in recent additional funding has been disbursed as follows: $50m, nominally, for repair of the deteriorating fabric of the hospital (however $10m of this was appropriated for four private consultants for non-essential purposes unrelated to clinical care). The remaining $15m went towards the partial, but still inadequate, restoration of staffing deficiencies in cancer and joint diseases.
As for the quoted 100 FTE employees, these are a mystery to hospital staff. There is no clear evidence of this manpower influx. Rather, valuable clinicians are being lost to the State Government’s voluntary separation packages and morale is declining inexorably.
The problems at the WCH are serious and real and should not be trivialised or ignored by SA Health.
PROFESSOR JOHN SVIGOS AM AND PROFESSOR WARREN JONES AO, WCH Alliance
Smart energy
CONSUMERS with solar already have the option of using their hot water as a battery for their excess solar (“Power savings for water systems”, The Advertiser, Monday).
Products can be installed that automatically divert energy.
Other devices do the same diversion for electric vehicles as well. I do this at home and my EV is 88 per cent charged directly from solar.
This is a smart way of spreading demand and minimising the cost of expensive transmission infrastructure that would otherwise be needed to stabilise an increasingly renewable grid.
Dr JASPER LEE, Norwood
Humbling season
IF Adelaide Crows fans are feeling somewhat bitter at the moment, maybe some of them deserve it.
As a Port Adelaide supporter for years, I have endured from some Crows supporters the snobby epithet of “feral” to describe people like me. Well guess what, Crows fans, this year the ferals are out and about.
CON O’NEILL, Adelaide
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12
Tweak virus rules
I COULD not agree more with Caleb Bond’s column regarding the State Government’s decision to allow only 10 people in your own home (“Opinion”, The Advertiser, Tuesday).
While I agree that Premier Steven Marshall and Health Minister Stephen Wade have done a great job containing this coronavirus outbreak, I, and many of my friends, think he is being way too cautious with the 10-people rule in your own home.
In the meantime, one wonders how many people are congregating in large numbers in places of worship, let alone the numbers allowed on crowded public transport and 10,000 people at Adelaide Oval football. Yet we have this ridiculous rule that you have to sit down to drink at the pub and other draconian rules.
The unfortunate part about the long-term effect of all these rules and regulations is that it will cost the Liberals many votes when the next election comes along.
The small-business sector has a long memory.
Those who lose their businesses and jobs because of it will want revenge.
It is time to remove some of these stupid rules and let the businesses and general public keep living.
PETER JEFFERY, Kingswood
Dan not a demon
WHY are people, particularly those from South Australia, who know nothing of the circumstances in Victoria, constantly demonising Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews?
Yes, he may have made some mistakes, but let those without sin cast the first stone.
The man and his government, just like that of SA, have put rules and advice out and passed laws, etc. The condemnation should be squarely directed towards the people of Victoria., for it is they who are breaking the rules.
Greedy owners of aged-care homes have ignored rules and regulations.
Just look at how some South Australians complained and threatened legal action when SA’s aged-care homes were, for all practical purposes, shut down. But the residents escaped COVID-19 as a result.
It makes no difference whatsoever what laws or regulations are brought in, they will only be effective if, as in SA, the population obeys them.
ROBERT McCORMICK, Bridgewater
Handout rules
GOVERNMENTS are providing an enormous amount of money as valuable support to Australians during this coronavirus pandemic, and the resulting scale down of businesses and movement.
So I find it incomprehensible that there are people who happily accept this support (and want even more), but are so blatantly stupid that they can’t, or won’t, act according to the rules laid down.
Governments are attempting to quell the spread of this disease. Most certainly these people have no consideration for others.
Fines are useless. Many will never be paid.
But six days’ jail for these greedy, selfish people might have some effect.
Hit them where it hurts.
DENNIS PARKER, Yongala
Super solution
MUCH has been written about the need for many people to access their superannuation during the pandemic, with a subsequent adverse affect on their final payout.
It has been estimated that a 35-year-old who withdraws the maximum $20,000 will be at least $65,000 worse off in retirement.
This is certainly a serious situation. But there is surely a reasonably painless remedy.
This 35-year-old could be advised by their superannuation company how much additional money needs to be paid in annual increments for the next 30 years to restore the original balance.
GERRY GREENWAY, Netherby
Serving selves
HEAR, hear, Maureen Goldie and Bob Ruwoldt, well said (“Do crime, do time”, “No pollie hunt”, The Advertiser, Tuesday).
I sincerely hope the lackeys who read newspapers for politicians bring these letters to their masters’ attention.
The only people likely to be deterred from a political career by this witch-hunt are the greedy, self-serving sycophants.
As if we didn’t have enough of them in politics already.
Once upon a time, “we plebeians” could “keep the bastards honest” at the polling booth.
In those days, the polarisation of “them and us” meant Left versus Right.
Nowadays it means politicians v we plebs.
BERNIE COATES, Modbury North
Loyalty lost
THE article “Alliance is over as Rex quits the party” (“The Advertiser, Monday) reminds me of all the turncoats who have put their own advancement over their loyalty to the party that got them into politics.
Just remember South Australian kingmaker Geoff Brock, who won a by-election as an independent in 2009 and got a yummy job in 2014 after helping the Labor Party to office.
As an independent, Rex Patrick will be able to play the field, not be held back by less performing teammates.
Loyalty? What, in parliament? You’re joking.
A. BOWERS, Glenelg North
Busy guernsey
BEAUTY is certainly in the eye of the beholder (“Powerful tribute to First Nations”, The Advertiser, Tuesday).
But, for me, a football guernsey would have bold colours with a simple, distinctive pattern to reflect a fast and vigorous game involving big, strong players.
Dr PETER BALAN OAM, St Peter
Class warfare
I DO not agree with particular comments made by Bob Ruwoldt (“Fair go for elderly”, The Advertiser, Saturday).
The subject of caring for the aged is something I wholeheartedly support.
However, the statement “the wealthy – those who make money while they sleep” is a typical Leftist, class-warfare remark. It shows Mr Ruwoldt has little understanding of those who have done, or are doing, well in life.
Our capitalist society fortunately provides opportunities for those who are prepared to take a risk, work hard, build a small business and to grow it by employing. The taxes generated are then distributed to pay for government services and the welfare on which so many Australians depend.
If that wealthy group can enjoy the fruits of their labours, surely it is deserved.
BRUCE BURFORD, Adelaide
Finding a path
BRUCE Farquhar shows a blinkered world view when he connects the products of fossil-fuel companies such as Santos with our ongoing prosperity (“Petrol products”, The Advertiser, Saturday).
Apparently we will be walking barefoot without Santos gas.
Both Robyn Waite and Councillor Robert Simms understand that carbon is a readily available element in our atmosphere and energy can be obtained from the sun directly via solar, and indirectly from wind and waves (“TDU sponsorship”, The Advertiser, Saturday).
They also understand that burning those fossil fuels is increasing carbon in our atmosphere and contributing significantly to global warming and climate change.
Major energy companies such as BP have already announced that they are pivoting towards a fossil-free-energy future. Santos would be smart to recognise that, if they do not make the same transition rapidly, they will be obsolete and in no position to sponsor the Tour Down Under or any other event.
RICHARD BENTLEY, Mile End
Set foundation
I WRITE to echo the worrying concerns conveyed by Brian Measday (“No praise for gas”, The Advertiser, Tuesday).
I am a mother to young children. The Federal Government policies that are formed in the post-COVID-19 economic-recovery period are going to set the foundation for the next two to three decades.
If the government chooses to continue to doggedly defy well-established science and expert economic advice to pursue an expensive and discordant gas-led economic recovery, it will be our children who will suffer.
Not only will they be exposed to multi-factorial problems caused by frequent and catastrophic climate events but they will also have to address Australia’s poorly managed economic decisions such as expensive stranded assets.
Surely it is time to end this insanity. We need to transition to a cleaner and less carbon-intensive economy to give our children a shot at a decent climate and prosperous future.
CHING ANG, Kensington Gardens
Water winners
DESALINATION and brackish-water regeneration is fantastic news in these trying times (“Solar power cleans water”, The Advertiser, Tuesday).
Reliant mainly on sunlight, which is abundant and free, it seems to be the perfect solution to our irrigation and water-supply problems.
It could prove to be the salvation of millions of people worldwide, being cheaper and more energy-efficient than current procedures.
Let’s hope all states help support the financing and building of these amazing discoveries, helping to initiate a whole new industry with more employment and lower costs.
Kudos to the team that has developed this procedure to World Health Organisation water-quality standards.
If we fail to use this procedure due to political opposition, we should be absolutely devastated. Let’s commission it now, not in a decade’s time.
This is a win-win opening for Australia. And let’s applaud the scientists who worked on this for 12 years. They deserve our plaudits.
TONY TOVEY, Payneham
Screen research
IN regard to a disturbing decline in literacy and numeracy, according to the statistics, I am curious how these stats are developed.
A mean average means chronically underperforming areas bring down the whole result.
More research is needed on generational disadvantage and the increased reliance on electronic screens at school and home.
JENNY ESOTS, Willunga
New material
IT is disappointing to see correspondent Wayne Nicholls descend to reporting unsubstantiated hearsay (“Chuckle time”, The Advertiser, Tuesday). Shame.
When contacted, both Holmes and Watson denied the report and blamed-social media trolls. Fear not, Wayne, come Christmas, plenty of new material must surely arrive with a bang.
LEIGH SCHMIDT, Hawthorndene
TUESDAY, AUGUST 11
Finally a fair GF
THE perfect scenario is one of either Port Adelaide, Brisbane Lions, West Coast or GWS playing in the AFL Grand Final at their home ground.
This year might be the only chance for any non-Victorian team to achieve it.
The pandemic has provided the unique opportunity for the venue to be selected by the club’s position on the premiership table, as I believe it should be.
Ideally, it would be determined by the rank of the two grand final teams, although that might only give one week’s notice for organisers.
Making the decision based on the minor premiership is a logical alternative, and has a great chance of providing that perfect scenario.
Wherever the match is played, there will have to be a huge border-security effort to keep COVID-19 transmission at bay. Particularly if a Victorian team is playing.
BOB SCHAPEL, Glenunga
Do crime, do time
I REALLY don’t understand Rex Jory when he says: “The current witch-hunt is frightening potential candidates from considering a political career” (“Opinion”, The Advertiser, yesterday).
It’s simple, Rex. If you’ve done nothing wrong you’ve got nothing to worry about.
Isn’t that the overarching mantra that’s applied to we plebeians?
BOB RUWOLDT, Seacombe Heights
No pollie hunt
IT is worrying to see Rex Jory employing the Donald Trump favourite “witch-hunt” in discussion about our parliamentarians and their perks.
I don’t consider it a witch-hunt to examine the claims made by elected people.
These people, from all parties, are paid exceptionally well.
They receive all manner of extras like cars, offices, staff, printing costs, travel allowances – the list goes on.
How about giving them a salary and letting them sort out how to spend it? Of course, this could lead to enormous increases to make up for the loss of perks, which has been done before.
Royal commissions are popular among politicians. So how about holding one into their working conditions and pay. There must be a way to keep the bastards honest.
MAUREEN GOLDIE, Blackwood
Medical advice
ANTI-MASK conspiracy nuts get their information from crackpot websites.
Their current stand is that telling someone to wear a mask is giving medical advice, and practising medicine without a licence is a crime, so any shop workers who do so will go to prison.
Yes, folks, these people are why the virus is doing so well in so many places.
NICK HASKELL, Athelstone
Left on hold
I REALISE the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is receiving many calls re issues that have come about through the COVID-19 virus, but it needs to employ more staff to answer telephone queries.
One of their staff members telephoned me last week and left a message about a query I had raised.
I couldn’t understand the name of the person, or even the name of the organisation they represented.
I did, however, manage to get the telephone and reference numbers given.
Trying to return the call has been an issue because the waiting time is given as at least 20 minutes and, at times, you are just told to ring back later.
You can send an email. But not everyone has email access at home.
P. MATTHEWS, Fullarton
No praise for gas
OUR State and Federal Governments deserve huge praise for their respective efforts in relation to the coronavirus.
Scientific advice has been sought and acted upon in an admirable manner.
In stark contrast, our Federal Government is planning to help fund new dirty gas projects with billions of public dollars that will surely enhance the terrifying advance of climate change.
Has the advice of climate scientists been ignored in relation to this use of public funds?
If so, where is the concern for the futures of the children of today?
BRIAN MEASDAY, Myrtle Bank
Focus unis on jobs
REFERRING to the Pyne on Monday article “It’s time to merge SA’s universities”, there have been many articles written concerning the economic development of South Australia post COVID-19 (The Advertiser, yesterday).
Much of the proposed developments that would create thousands of jobs have been in the submarine, ship building or space industries, climate-change technology, tourism and the arts.
Considering this situation, one would then think that, by providing specialised education and training in those industries, we would streamline our education programs to fit the jobs to be created.
Having three world-class universities like the ones we have can provide this future standard of education.
DES KEMP, St Agnes
Chuckle time
I THINK we could do with a few more laughs.
This one, I believe, was “joke of the year” in some world magazine. So I cannot take credit for it.
Sherlock Holmes and Watson went camping. Come midnight, Holmes nudged Watson with his elbow and said: “Watson, with all of the stars in the sky what do you deduce?”
Quick as a wink, Watson said: “With all of the stars in the sky there must be very little or no cloud cover.”
Holmes: “Watson, you fool! Somebody has stolen our tent.”
WAYNE NICHOLLS, Royston Park
Council cuts
IT is always a sure sign of a failure of leadership, imagination and courage when cuts to staff are resorted to as a first rather than a last resort (Council to spend $14m axing jobs”, The Advertiser, yesterday).
Unfortunately, we find Adelaide Deputy Lord Mayor Alexander Hyde seizing the coronavirus moment and leading the ideological charge to swing the axe.
This strategy is not the way to deal with either the short-term impact of the pandemic, or the medium-and-longer-term recovery to create a more thriving, inclusive and sustainable city.
In light of the multiple economic, ecological, social and cultural needs and opportunities still to be addressed across Adelaide, axing jobs is not the way forward.
We will need all hands on deck rather than throwing people overboard.
STEWART SWEENEY, North Adelaide
Credit card stress
SINCE the banking royal commission, and the start of the COVID-19 crisis, credit card interest rates remain at up to 19.7 per cent.
But all other interest rates have fallen to record lows.
While some banks have reduced minimum payments to 5 per cent, this does absolutely nothing to help anyone trying to service a credit card debt in these hard economic times.
PETER LEADBEATER, Gawler South
No ESL fanfare
THE State Government recently trumpeted its SA Water reductions by spending taxpayers’ money to ensure none of us missed noting its benevolence.
No such trumpeting and advertising campaign for the recently delivered Emergency Services Levy notices.
By my calculations, the ESL for my two properties increased by 8 per cent and 7.6 per cent on last year’s levies.
Inserted in the bill is the following statement: “Remissions and concessions, including the impact of the Government decision to cut ESL bills by $90m … are reflected above”.
Where are these remissions and concessions? As a particular Fawlty Towers Spanish waiter might say: “Que?”
LUKE KOUMI, Walkerville
Big tourism push
WITH overseas travel unlikely for up to three years, this could be a good opportunity for regional towns and cities to develop attractions to entice tourists.
Here in South Australia, we could have the Big Tuna at Port Lincoln, the Big Cuttlefish at Port Pirie and the Big Leafy Sea Dragon at Port Noarlunga.
Just a few ideas to get the ball rolling and some brains thinking.
MICHAEL PRUS, Fairview Park
Healthy changes
WHILE the world waits for a potential vaccine to free it from the grip of coronavirus, the conversation governments and societies should be having is being avoided.
Scientists tell us COVID-19 is the inevitable consequence of industrial animal agriculture and our meat-centric food system.
Meat production is the driver of COVID and the major cause of other zoonotic diseases such as avian flu and Ebola virus.
Industrial animal farms and slaughter houses are sites of contagion outbreaks due to viruses jumping species to nearby workers.
About 40 per cent of the world’s habitable land is dedicated to livestock.
About 7 per cent is used for human crops.
The scale of factory farming is a major contributor to the environmental crisis and climate change.
It is also massively disproportionate to its small economic gains in terms of GDP in both Australia and the US.
A surge of new diseases will follow unless ecological devastation is halted.
Primatologist Jane Goodall says humanity will be finished if we fail to act to radically change our food systems and start respecting nature.
The solution is in our hands – a transition to plant-based diets.
SIMONE HUNTER, Hove
Spot up a player
WHEN marking the ball within the 50m circle in the AFL, would it not be better to walk backwards from the goal in case there’s another player closer to the goal more likely to score?
Many AFL players have way too much ego to follow this obvious action. AFL is a team game after all.
ELDERT HOEBEE, Torrens Park
MONDAY, AUGUST 10
Above politics
CHIEF public health officer Professor Nicola Spurrier, pictured, is a striking, honest and intelligent lady who we are very fortunate to have on the frontline during this pandemic.
I am so glad she does not want to go into politics. As none of her attributes would be of any help in that workplace.
HAMISH GOSSE, Mintaro
Masks all around
HAVING recently been to the Apple store in Rundle Mall, I was impressed by their practices to guard against COVID-19 infections.
Every customer on entry to the store was screened and fitted with a face mask, and all staff wore one too.
Given the risk of a second wave of infections in this state, the wearing of face masks should be considered for all public transport, major stores and places such as the Central Market. Face masks do not provide complete protection but they have now been found to be of significant benefit in limiting the spread of this insidious virus.
MICHAEL SCHILLING, Millswood
Back conferences
REGARDING the women’s council event held by the South Australian Liberal Party, SA Labor has demonised the entire business event industry.
This has no doubt damaged the already fragile, and all important, confidence of the sector through criticising the Liberal Party for hosting a modest and socially distanced conference-style event.
Our industry has been decimated. We have struggled to recover about 5 per cent of our usual turnover by holding controlled, socially distanced corporate events.
All event providers are following strict health advice.
Corporate events do not elicit the same type of contact behaviour (dancing, hugging, etc) that weddings and funerals do, which explains the sensible difference in restrictions recommended by SA Health.
The cheapest, most short-lived political point has been scored at the expense of hard-hit business event workers across the state.
Thank you, SA Labor, we’re glad you have our backs.
ASHLEA MALCOLM, Mitcham
Branch closed
LAST Monday afternoon I came up against locked doors at People’s Choice Credit Union, Blackwood, greeted with a sign “closed due to COVID-19”.
How closing this branch temporarily will help us fight the COVID-19 virus escapes me. Is it cost saving, or am I just an old sceptic?
Blackwood has many older folk who need the walk-in service. Even the ATM wasn’t working, leaving a group of we older citizens baffled and angry and with no means to withdraw cash. People’s Choice ads boast that they support us during coronavirus. Not so in Blackwood.
MAURICE LINEHAN, Eden Hills
Federal cabinet
ANDREW Bolt, in his anti-Daniel Andrews column, has forgotten to mention Prime Minister Scott Morrison and his national cabinet (“Opinion”, The Advertiser, Thursday).
Mr Morrison has said it is good for everyone to go to work and to open borders.
He was even going to join Clive Palmer in taking Western Australia to the High Court. If it is good for kids to go to school and people to go on public transport and back to work, surely it is OK for the federal parliament to sit.
MICHAEL WHITE, Mount Barker
Snow on ranges
ACCORDING to Hans Mincham’s book Hawker, Hub of the Flinders, three brothers of the Stone family and their Woolyana School teacher climbed Mount Aleck.
They climbed this, the highest peak of the Elder Range, near Wilpena, in July 1901, when the whole range “was covered with a lovely coat of snow.”
It was during “the greatest snowfall recorded in South Australia up to that time.”
ANDREW BLACK, Malvern
Mulch to do
AS I only recently moved to SA, I am not familiar with the way most councils here operate their waste management systems.
The Fraser Coast Regional Council in Queensland allowed the public to dispose of their green waste for free at the waste management and recycling centre and the council invested in a large mulching machine to turn that green waste into mulch.
It was used in their parks and gardens and sold to the public.
They found that to be more economical than charging for the dumping of green waste.
Perhaps all the councils could combine to finance the production of an educational TV ad about household waste and recycling.
Education is the key for correct household waste.
And recycling, and improved recycling, is better for the planet.
KATHRYN INGLEBY, Burton
Lebanese leaders
“LEBANESE officials knew the damage” highlights the corruption that led to the explosion in Lebanon, with two officials being put under house arrest (The Advertiser, Friday).
But the problem is systemic rather than individual. A business dispute, disinterested foreign ownership, a ship delivering the ammonium nitrate disabled by a hunger strike, inadequate documentation and institutional negligence all led inexorably to the disaster.
Simple cost accounting between firms cannot address such problems or prevent outcomes caused by the system.
Individuals get trapped by their jobs and companies by their desire to make a profit at all costs.
Governments must have the expertise, ability and desire to ensure the rules are adequate and the system works.
They have to step up and not pass the buck to individuals.
DARIAN HILES, Adelaide
Power prices
ONE useful measure the state and federal governments should consider is the financial cost to people suffering lockdowns would be to force a reduction in the cost of electricity upon electricity providers.
It is true that most people forced to stay home have to resort to electronic measures, TV, computers, phones, electronic games, heating, lights and devices to overcome the boredom and potential psychological problems of a lockdown.
In turn, this puts unexpected strain on a family finances, not really covered by the governments’ financial gift.
Many businesses and people not covered by benefits are hurting financially.
I note there are also many industries suffering because of the lockdowns.
Yet the electricity providers whose greed is apparent continue to exacerbate the cost to those already in difficulties with high prices.
FRANK DOERR, Hayborough
Train the owner
IF a dog has behavioural issues, it is about owner education.
If people are going to have dogs who do or do not demonstrate unpredictable behaviour, it is the owners who need to make time to learn obedience training and to correct said behaviour.
It is also worthwhile investing in a muzzle. If a dog has behavioural issues a muzzle should be put on the dog when it is outside. I have just spent 18 months with a trainer to help a doberman who came with issues.
I now have a very different dog, but never put him or others at risk. And he wears a muzzle in public.
It is about owner learning. If people are going to have dogs their dogs are deserving of time and effort.
Ms C. GODFREY, Gillman
More transport
AFTER reading the article “Dirt is flying on rail link” people will get the impression, according to Civil Contractors Federation, the South Australian Government is not sufficiently putting our state on the radar of Infrastructure Australia (The Advertiser, Thursday).
And years had gone by with out SA achieving high-priority ranking on their list.
That is not surprising, as it is generally known that public transport is not high on the Liberal Government’s agendas.
With the new suburbs being created between Gawler and Roseworthy, and with the population generally increasing in that area, has the State Government considered duplicating and electrifying the rail line to Roseworthy, which runs alongside the proposed new suburbs?
With the large amounts of people that need to be moved about in the not too distant future, one would have thought this project could make the list.
Or will there be many more countless cars on those inadequate roads?
H.W. POSER, Dernancourt
Sign of times
IT is now about five weeks since the bus timetables were changed.
Someone, in the past two to three days, has removed the signs at the bus stops advising of these changes.
What they haven’t done, at least on the 142 route, is change the timetables which are currently showing January 2019.
Would you not think whoever removed the signs would check that the timetable was current?
I have contacted Adelaide Metro twice, and the new state Transport Minister Corey Wingard across the past three weeks. All to no avail.
I am now appealing to the people/organisation whose responsibility this job is, to do the job.
CHRIS LOCKHART, Leabrook
Lovely art walk
I WOULD like to congratulate the Adelaide City Council on their outdoor museum, Musee Exterieur, which contains artworks along a defined pathway.
There are 10 numbered paintings and all have good information regarding each artist.
The artworks are on walls various North Adelaide streets.
They will be on display until September 14 and those with smartphones will be able to download the information from the Adelaide City Council website.
CAROLE HUTCHENS, Walkerville
Manage teams
WHEN football teams are said to be rebuilding, they have actually been mismanaged.
Every team has an annual turnover of players, which should ensure consistent renewal.
Recruiting managers do not seem to be accountable for the number of unsuccessful draft selections.
Why are highly paid mature aged recruits not able to regularly make the team?
Players leaving clubs to return home indicate major club dysfunction because the club has first call on every player on their list.
It would be interesting to see just how many dollars are wasted by clubs on poor selection and management of their players.
OWEN McARDLE, Torrens Park