Humanitarian issues not the only reason to help Tonga

Australia needs to be quick off the mark to help Tonga following the volcanic eruption and tsunamis because of need and humanitarian reasons, exacerbated by the flat topography of the land and the precarious economic conditions of the nation (“Global help for isolated Tonga”, 17/1).

However, there are strong Australian national security issues at stake as well.

China has already made very significant investment in infrastructure and building in Tonga, no doubt attached to debt-funded Belt and Road strategy. The impact of China on Tonga was very apparent to me on a visit a little over two years ago.

China is already volunteering to help in the wake of the disaster in Tonga, as it did recently in the Solomon Islands following the civil unrest and arson of buildings.

Australia must have a much greater presence in the South Pacific for not only good humanitarian reasons, but also self-interest with national security.

David Muir, Indooroopilly, Qld

Ashes to Ashes

The English cricket team deserves the admiration and respect from all cricket supporters (“England crushed in Ashes”, 17/1). Despite extensive criticism of their dramatic batting collapse in the second innings in Hobart, it must be remembered the English touring party (and their families) have endured continuous isolation and quarantine conditions. Both teams need to be congratulated for the way they conducted themselves during the contest. The Australian team led by Pat Cummins was humble in victory and Joe Root gracious in defeat. The participants will forever be remembered for putting the game of cricket ahead of their personal wishes.

Riley Brown, Bondi Beach, NSW

Peter Lalor (“England’s worst Ashes collapse since 1948”, 17/1) clearly nails the winners and losers in the Ashes series but there is a group of unsung heroes. Led by newly appointed chair George Bailey, the selectors did an outstanding job. Faced with injuries, Covid and some new untested talent they courageously selected Scott Boland, re-erected Usman Khawaja and persevered with Cameron Green. All three made outstanding contributions. Hats off to our selectors.

Ian C. Murray, Cremorne Point, NSW

Lessons of Covid

Chris Blanch brings back some memories (Letters, 17/1). I remember when I turned six during the war and was thus eligible for a ration of tea. It sets me wondering about the current rationed booster shots and the almost impossibility of buying rapid antigen tests. We are told we must have them but it’s very hard to find them. But, as Blanch says, these problems are slight compared to those widely suffered in other places now and in Australia in the past.

David Morrison, Springwood, NSW

Chris Blanch, I’ve been thinking along the lines of “toughen up” also. I’m 85 and lived through the war days of food rationing. However, when my grocery order arrived at our door on Friday missing the tissues and toilet paper I need for dealing with a medical condition, I surprised myself by bursting into tears! After some moments of introspection I told myself to get a grip.

But I wondered why I reacted like that and I think it’s a matter of failed expectations. Even though I knew about shortages of these necessary items and accept the reasoning, I still expected them and was upset when those expectations failed me.

So perhaps dealing with the stress of living with Covid we need to learn how to handle failed expectations and as John Carroll mentions in a previous article about the painting Ashes of Phocion by Nicolas Poussin, which projects a lesson about being stoic. Sometimes the story of how my husband (he’s 92) and I lived in “those days” is met by an eye roll by the younger generation but in these Covid-stressful times it may have a better reception and needs to be said.

Margaret Brabrook, Toowoomba, Qld

Circle of life

The sad and awful predicament that Dr Stephen Edwards found himself in regarding the end-of-life wishes of his dying parents reflects the complexity of the issues that exist in the vexed area of terminal illness (“GP ‘helped to end suffering’ as death neared”, 17/1). His firmly held personal values as a palliative care professional have been fundamentally challenged, not only by his own beloved flesh and blood, but by the law of the land.

Edwards’ conscientious efforts to balance his moral values with the consideration of his parents’ wishes, and the legal obstacles he has had to overcome, are indicative of the heavy moral and practical challenges that confront palliative care givers every day.

This highlights the urgent need for far more public debate and the provision of far greater resources for palliative care where the quality of human life is being increasingly devalued.

John Bell, Heidelberg Heights, Vic