Letters, February 15, 2023

Interpreting facts
I WOULD like to thank Ronald Baker for the list of dates he provided in his recent letter in The Courier (February 8).

It offers an opportunity for others to view the facts

However I take issue with his interpretation of those facts

Just because Captain Cook had a bit of a squiz at Botany Bay in 1770, a reconnaissance mission if you will, it does not constitute an invasion

Captain Arthur Phillip just camping on the shores of Botany Bay does not constitute an invasion either

When Captain Phillip eventually arrived at Port Jackson on January 26, 1788, he raised the flag and “claimed” the land for England

That constitutes a declaration of war as there were up to 1,000,000 Aboriginal people living on this continent at that time who were not consulted or even recognised as fully human

The land was considered vacant; terra nullius.

Aboriginal people were counted as fauna

That led to the acts of genocide that followed

It was so much more convenient to act as though Aboriginal people were subhuman than to admit they had invaded the land of a sovereign people.

The 1948 citizenship act was a whitewash of the original January 26 date as all it did was repurpose and rename the day

It was not until the 1967 referendum that Aboriginal people were even counted in the census

Even this change in the 20th Century still allowed for individual laws to be made for different races.

Derek Forsyth, Macclesfield

Brave decisions
THIS is indeed an age of miracles

Two proposed mining projects have been disallowed by governments: Clive Palmer’s anticipated coal mine, (in a world heritage area 10km from the Great Barrier Reef) and Terramin’s gold mine (in an area of wine and tourist businesses in the Hills)

And both within one week

Could it be that we are at last in an age when mining organisations can no longer expect to start up operations in places of great environmental, cultural and aesthetic value with impunity?
Of course we now hear loud cries of righteous indignation from the disappointed miners

But perhaps today they will be ignored, as more people understand that anticipated profits are not the only criterion for the approval of industrial ventures

The State and Federal Governments have shown wisdom and bravery for these decisions

They deserve high praise

Bill Clifford, Oakbank

Not a threat
I WOULD like to assure Caroline Johnson (“Safety fears”, The Courier, February 1) that the Lane Assist function on modern cars does not pose a threat to cyclists or other road users

Generally, the function is only activated where both white lines on either side of the vehicle are clearly visible, which excludes many single carriageway roads. In most cases it gives the driver an audible/visual warning if they stray from their lane without using the indicator

Even where the system can correct the driver’s input, the driver remains in full control and able to steer against it

Lane Assist systems aren’t designed to stop drivers from swerving

Ironically, it’s the swerving itself which poses the greatest hazard, as it often results in the driver losing control

Kon Stachovic, Meadows

Losing a date
I REFER to the letter written by Mr Hawksworth (“Date offence”, The Courier, February 1)

My birthday was the day before – lucky, ain’t I? I fully agree with your point of view. The date will change from January 26, rightly or wrongly, to celebrate Australia Day. Just a matter of time. Sadly, January 26 won’t be the only thing we lose as time goes by

Robert Fladrich Murray Bridge

Free to kill
REGARDING the recent letters to the editor promoting free-roaming cats

Lisa Daintree (“Cat run problems”, The Courier, February 1) suggests that all life (including cats) is equal and all should be “allowed to have their five freedoms”. Well Lisa, what about the freedoms of all the creatures killed by cats every day?
Are they free to live a natural life, or just free to be mauled to death by introduced wandering pets?
Christine Pierson again also tells us that cats should roam free and, if they don’t, somehow we will end up with even more cats through her often stated “vacuum theory”

In my view, if pet cats were contained to owners’ premises, then all remaining roaming cats could be appropriately trapped and dealt with

Then perhaps Christine’s touted “vacuum” could be filled with native species instead of cats!
Christine also stressed health problems caused by confining cats

Well, cars, dogs, garden poisons, other cats, etc, etc, all create a dangerous world for any wandering animal, cats included.

Surely if you love your moggy so much, you would keep it home and keep it safe

Or is that really just too hard?
Dean Clifford, Mt Barker

Outmoded activity
THE article, “Duck hunting season set to start” (The Courier, February 1) was very biased

Why no interview with the 75% of South Australians who don’t support duck shooting? How come a group of 1000 or so hunters have such power over the other electors who want this barbaric activity stopped?
If the hunters have such a concern for the environment, why is duck hunting banned in all other states except Victoria, where it’s currently being reviewed? It just makes no sense

And I notice that Mr Bartsolkis makes no reference to the thousands of ducks not killed cleanly and who crawl away to die slowly

The RSPCA is active in its attempts to ban this outmoded activity

Why is the Minister responsible so loath to call it out?

Alice Shore, Birdwood

Indoor cat
I CANNOT resist adding my opinion about cats

My cat lives inside with her best mates – two dogs. On occasions when the door has blown open, she sits and peers out, making absolutely no move to escape and exercise her right to murder other small creatures

Dawn Lancaster, Meadows

Moving ceremonies
In a letter in The Courier dated January 25, Richard Barton of Bridgewater wrote regarding a personal survey that I conducted online

This survey was to gauge the level of support for Adelaide Hills Council to move (not cancel) the date of its citizenship and civic awards ceremonies away from January 26

This was not “woke nonsense” but an attempt by me to get an idea of what level of community support there is for this proposal

The current date of Australia Day, which has only been a national holiday since 1994, is highly disrespectful to First Nations peoples and is increasingly divisive in our community as we strive to move towards reconciliation

The results of the survey, while not a randomised poll, showed that 74% of respondents were in support of Council changing the current date of its ceremonies

This indicates that it is a very important issue for many people

While I recognise that this is a moral issue and shouldn’t be wholly dependent on popular opinion, it does indicate that there is growing support for change

This is certainly not just an issue of interest to a minority of “woke” members of our population like many of its detractors claim. These opinions are my own and not necessarily those of the Adelaide Hills Council

Leith Mudge, Adelaide Hills Councillor for Ranges Ward

Missing perspective
I WOULD like to state that the comments I am making are my personal views and not those of the Adelaide Hills Council

I am concerned by the push to have Australia Day changed in any way without having extensive consultation

It is my firm belief that the past is the past and we cannot change history, all we can do is acknowledge it and work together as a community to not repeat history.

I personally have not heard from any First Nations person on how they feel about this debate – I have only heard the voices of non-Indigenous people telling me what Indigenous people think and feel. I feel this is very disrespectful to First Nations people, as it is not their voices I am hearing

I am open to the conversation and working together to heal the damage done in the past

I do not believe changing Australia Day will do anything to heal as the 26th of January, 1788, will always be the date that colonialism commenced in Australia

I am open to a different point of view from First Nations people, I am seeking to understand.

I would also like to acknowledge that Australia has become a multicultural country since British settlement and with many new Australians wishing to become citizens on Australia Day, I feel their voices should also be heard

Again, these are my personal views and not those of Adelaide Hills Council

Pauline Gill, Adelaide Hills Councillor for Valleys Ward

Helicopter nuisance
In addition to the tourist-crowded main street and lack of parking for local Hahndorf residents, we have now got the prospect of helicopters flying over the town all the time with the helipad development application, along with villas and a wellness centre, applied for by The Lane Vineyard and associates.qPolair and CFS – definitely yes, as they are doing their job and keeping us safe, but for rich ‘celebrities’  who want to stay at one of several luxury villas to be built (if approved) by The Lane Vineyard, then a definite no!

It takes no more than an hour to drive to Hahndorf from the Adelaide airport which surely should be no hindrance to the elite or otherwise?
Just provide them with a door-to-door taxi or limo service which could more than likely do with the business

When they arrive at their villa or the proposed wellness centre, I would not have thought they would want the serenity, peace and quiet of the lovely local countryside to be spoilt for them and their dollars with the helicopters arriving.

I hope environmental sense will be applied to the non-approval of the pad

Sandy Tarrant, Hahndorf

Development concern
I READ with interest  your article “$40m Bunnings store planned for Totness” (The Courier, February 8)

I have one major concern with this development

Current access from this Totness area to the main Mt Barker Road is at best a fiasco during daily peak traffic periods.

Your article suggests 350 car parks are planned for Bunnings new project, increasing traffic by at least three times

I’m hoping the new development’s traffic matters don’t finish up with the same outcomes as the Town Centre problems through lack of infrastructure.

Robin Crompton, Totness