Letters to the editor

Mr Burns claims that an unnamed councillor has access to a special vehicle 24 hours a day. All councillors have access to council-owned vehicles to make inspections, attend meetings etc. Most councillors, however, conveniently choose to drive their own vehicle and then get reimbursed.  

The point is, Rod is not somehow getting special privileges. As a person with a disability, he is getting his needs addressed in accordance with the law to enable him to work on an even footing with others.

Rod faces huge challenges to be a councillor. With the onset of Guillain-Barre, he was on life-support for 10 months and then in rehab before returning home where he still relies on 24-hour support.  

He needs full assistance dressing, eating, toileting, transporting etc. With no motor nerves going down his legs or arms, muscles have depleted and simple tasks such as picking up and using a pencil are not possible.  

Thankfully, he can glide his fingers over an iPad and this, combined with his ability to move the joystick on the wheelchair, are the only actions he can perform.

Additionally, neither of us has had a full night’s sleep in five years as Rod has to be rolled at about 3.30am to prevent bed sores.

And Mr Burns thinks Rod is somehow lucky?

In my opinion, Rod has a crackling brain and can continue to use his vast experience in local government gained as an engineer to work constructively and tirelessly for the community.  

The number of events he attends, his degree of preparation, his interaction with ratepayers, his capacity to speak and debate are all exemplary.  

Furthermore, I consider Rod is an outstanding role model for any other person with a disability.  

People in our community with a disability need applauding for their efforts, not condemning. I encourage everyone to step up and be their best.

I wish to make it quite clear to all ratepayers of our shire that I voted against a new 25-metre aquatic centre in Castlemaine.

We currently have a 50-metre pool, which was built in the mid-50s, so why would you wish to build a 25-metre indoor aquatic centre in a shire that is growing?

This does not make sense. Council should not be going up against private enterprise as we already have heated indoor pools and gymnasiums in this shire.

I would prefer to retain the existing 50-metre outdoor pool and do upgrades on it using the substantial amount of funds we have put aside.

The resolution on November 24, 2015 states that the new upgrade is dependent on funding. Whilst we are chasing funding, we could have had our upgrade that suites the people of our shire with no additional cost.

Why is it Bendigo’s self-appointed community leaders, who speak of Bendigo as an inclusive and tolerant city, are not reporting or outraged at the fact that local business are being intimidated and threatened by people from the Bendigo Action Collective and its followers on social media into not hosting an event held by a registered political party?

Surely this is hypocritical of such people who seem to think they are the tolerant people that Bendigo is full of.

You cannot preach tolerance of one ideology and yet actively campaign and intimidate people from another. And the hate speech argument is ridiculous as most of the posts contain some of the worst comments about people I have ever read.