You'd think Scott Morrison personally targeted Victoria. Also, we have a choice in which aged care facility we can go to - private or public.

The Coates Inquiry, set up by the Andrews government, has found the second wave of the pandemic was 99 per cent attributable to the hotel quarantine decision to use untrained private security guards.

The virus "escaped" from these quarantine sites into the community and into aged care facilities, contributing to over 700 deaths.

The inquiry now asks whose decision it was to employ these guards and sees everybody fronting it having selective memory loss or saying: I can't recall, it wasn't my decision, it was another department, somebody told me but I can't recall who.

In April, Daniel Andrews established a crisis council of cabinet set up to combat coronavirus, which he chaired. Since this cabinet was formed more than 700 deaths have occurred in Victoria - a failure compared to all other states.

My deepest sympathy goes out to the families who lost a loved one in these circumstances. If they were in aged care in any other state they may still be with you today.

Bendigo is ahead of the game fostering optimism in its community and helping its leaders and people consider what makes them optimistic.

A team at Harvard University's Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health has published research showing optimists have a lower risk of high blood pressure and hypertension. This reinforces other recent medical science findings establishing optimism as the trait most associated with healthy longevity, a lower risk of heart disease and better sleep.

The City of Greater Bendigo, in partnership with the Centre for Optimism, is in the midst of an innovative campaign, The Voices of Optimism, with a wide range of industry, community and health leaders, including the Mayor, Councillor Margaret O'Rourke, sharing their reasons for optimism to promote the positive force of optimism in the Bendigo community and showcase why the Bendigo region is a great place to live, do business, study and enjoy.

The City of Greater Bendigo is also the lead partner in the Bendigo Invention and Innovation Festival with its theme "Optimism through Innovation" and including schools, universities and Bendigo's manufacturing sector.

Each week a submission will win its author a $30 Coles voucher. This week's winner was Bob Doolan from Kangaroo Flat. All submissions must carry your name, as well as your full address and daytime phone number.

We will publish the writer's name and suburb/town. Submissions up to 350 words are preferred. We reserve the right to edit all contributions.

Please send letters to addynews@austcommunitymedia.com.au complete the digital form online.