Passenger grateful for efforts
I was a passenger on the V/Line train from Melbourne which partially derailed near Kangaroo Flat on Wednesday, February 15. I wish to extend my sincere thanks to all those who helped minimise the impact on all passengers that day.
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The conductor very quickly kept us all informed and when we disembarked onto the siding, help was immediate. From the SES, who helped distribute water to everyone, to the paramedics and the police, the reaction and response was professional, helpful and courteous at all times.
Likewise, follow up has been thorough. Thank you to all - V/Line, police, SES and the paramedics.
Brenda Fielding, Strathdale
An election plea
I listen to the morning news and ask myself: What is wrong with Cory Bernadi, the right wing of the Liberal Party, One Nation and the like? The Great Barrier Reef is dying as a result of climate change powered by coal and oil. Sea water is full of minute plastic junk. Our forests, the lungs on which we all depend, are being chipped into oblivion. Ordinary people can no longer afford a roof above their heads. Homelessness is burgeoning, even in regional towns like Bendigo. Australia finances prison camps for people fleeing violence and death. Big business no longer want to invest their massive profits in our own manufacturing and have achieved downward pressure on the wages of the poorest in the services sector.
So what do Bernadi, Hanson etc. want? They want to change the laws (18C) so that we can all insult each other more violently. This is the big problem the likes of Tim Wilson and big C conservatives are spending time solving: How can I offend more people more effectively without being stopped by the law? I repeat, what is wrong with them? I hope my fellow citizens remember at election time that this elevation of fake problems is a perversion of democracy that does not deserve their vote.
Wendy Radford, Mandurang South
Names matter
I enjoyed reading about Jen Carmichael and her attempts to get things in her name instead of her husbands. But all women should try getting their names first on the title. My legal team asked for this specifically, but when the papers came back from the titles office they had put me last. All documents sent off again and rectified with my name first. We have different surnames but Mr must be the most important one.
Betty Juniper, Walmer
Overhanging tree anger
As is the case with all councils, they plant trees in everyones nature strips and we the public are not allowed to prune, cut or trim these trees even though they may be a nuisance. A tree was planted on my nature strip just to the side of my driveway a few years back.
Now it has grown so much that it hangs out over the road and as mine is a narrow street, when another car is coming up the other side and I am driving down the street, my car is scratched by the overhanging tree. Further to this, as the garbage truck cannot see my bins out the front because of the tree and no-one else has their bins out to be emptied he doesnt even come up my street.
I rang the council mid January to explain this predicament and they said they would have someone out within 6 days to prune the tree...No they didn't. I have since rang again but to no avail. I went into the council to pay my rates and was told ‘oh, the three months is nearly up and then we will do something about it’.
Meanwhile I have scratches right down the side of my car along with all of my neighbours and my bins don't get emptied if no other bins are out. This is appalling and dangerous and I want something done about this situation....disgrace
