Letters, May 10, 2023

Discrimination

IT’S puzzling the number of Australians who have concerns about those whose skin color is black or brown or shades in between.

This anxiety possibly has something to do with problems encountered by those from the First Fleet who stepped ashore at Sydney Cove in January, 1788.

The history of the conflicts which occurred between British settlers and Aboriginal tribes is well documented.

So too is the discrimination imposed upon the people of the First Nations by the increasingly dominant white community.

This discrimination, regrettably, was also experienced by the light olive skinned migrants from Mediterranean countries such as Italy, Greece, Egypt and others who were the majority of migrants who settled in Australia following the end of WW2.

We made them feel welcome by calling them ‘wogs’ and ‘dagoes’.

Despite these difficulties, it’s my belief that the majority of Australians are immensely proud of the social progress, among other things, that multicultural Australia has made since the end of WW2.

However, an unfortunate flaw in this multiculturalism is an element within the community, including politics, which denigrates both the rights of the people of the First Nations and the contribution they have made, and continue to make, in all elements of life and endeavor.

Those who, in this day and age, cannot find it within themselves to accept and acknowledge the historical and cultural uniqueness of the people of the First Nations should, in their own best interests and enlightenment, undertake an appropriate course of study to broaden their knowledge and experience.

Robert Armstrong, Mt Barker

Tree loss

IN The Courier of November 13, 2019, the head of the Mt Barker Residents’ Association stated that he believed the fallout from the council’s removal of four significant trees at the future regional sports hub “could lead to very valuable lessons being learned”.

So it was quite a surprise on hearing the Mayor of Mt Barker being interviewed by ABC presenter Jules Schiller last week saying that the removal of a significant tree, maybe 300 years old, was not because of the parking spaces its canopy covered but what if it loses a limb from 17 metres up, it could (maybe) fall on a car and it could (maybe) kill one or three people.

Is this the logic that our council holds as its flagship? What if? It could maybe?

It seems no valuable lessons have been learned at all.

Lorraine Rogers, Meadows

Infection control

JUST a timely reminder to parents of young children: if your child is sick, especially with an infectious disease, please keep them home until they are no longer infectious.

Several weeks ago there was an event for toddlers and babies and a woman arrived with an obviously sick child.

Afterwards my son’s entire family of five became very sick with highly infectious respiratory syncytial virus for about 10 days.

My beautiful baby granddaughter almost had to be hospitalised.

Remember, it is not only Covid that can make people seriously ill.

Marianne Wakelin, Woodside

Excellent care

IN all these times of criticism of the medical support services, and hospitals in particular, I cannot find enough words to describe the very caring, professional, supportive and kind staff at the emergency department of the Mt Barker Hospital, following my emergency attendance there at 6.30am one day last week.

The nurses and doctor on duty at that time are an absolute credit to the hospital and I am very grateful for their medical help. The local area is very lucky to have such a team.

S. Tarrant, Hahndorf

No voice

I AGREE with Harold Gallash’s view on the Voice to Parliament in “Don’t change it” (The Courier, May 3).

Granting special rights and privileges to a select few based on race or birthright promotes resentment and division.

I came to this wonderful country as a child of an immigrant family more than half a century ago.

Only a few years before in the 1967 Referendum, the Australian public voted overwhelmingly in favor to change the Constitution and remove references to race making all Australians equal.

How did we get to a stage where, back in 1967, it was considered racist to oppose removing references to race in the Constitution, whereas in 2023 it is considered racist to oppose adding them?

There may be some goodwill among those in the Yes campaign, but when coupled with blind faith, goodwill does not result in the desired outcome.

K. Stachovic, Meadows

More subdivision

I SEE that the land west of The Glebe at Littlehampton/Blakiston has been pegged out into tiny blocks.

More productive farmland in the Mt Barker district to disappear under expensive slums and firetraps.

Margaret Furness, Strathalbyn

Futile effort

I REPLY to Dawn Lancaster’s letter “Vacuum effect” (The Courier, May 3).

The vacuum effect occurs across most species, including lions, foxes, pigeons, mice, possums, voles and badgers as well as cats.  

Obviously, reproduction rates are very different between species, eg. goats and cats, so the timeframe for replacement of the confined or killed resident animals varies.

Cats breed much more quickly than goats and are much more abundant and can restock an area within three weeks.  

This does not give time for “a strong recovery of native animals” as per Ms Lancaster’s remarks.

Goats will restock their area when a portion of their number is removed, but it takes a lot longer.

Killing goats is not an acceptable solution in any case as, apart from the cruelty, it is only temporary.

Removing cats from an open system is a futile effort – one that cannot succeed.

Desexing cats and returning them to their home territory to keep out undesexed cats, however, has proved to be the answer to reducing cat numbers, problems and impact on wildlife, and it is the only method that has shown tangible evidence of success.

Leila Saredakis, Lewiston

Bypass battle

HAHNDORF, the Main Street, a State-declared heritage zone with 100 historic stone buildings, and voted SA’s premier tourist attraction in the Hills, is preparing for battle.

For 30 years the business and residents associations have lobbied for a bypass for the north-south-north through traffic, in particular the heavy transport. The bypass was funded by the Federal Government and scrapped by the State.

Those who say it is not required need to get out of the strawberry patch and sit on the northern end of the Main Street for a few hours.

Traffic is often brought to a standstill as large semis face off with a large bus or caravan – no way to pass. Damage to parked cars occurs  regularly.

The community did not ask for a footpath upgrade, or a street beautification now costed at $35m, but only extensions through to the caravan park, Beerenberg and the Cedars.

What the residents and businesses have always sought is north-south traffic bypass and dedicated parking areas. By accepting anything less from the Department of Infrastructure and Transport we place ourselves on the end of the line for the real essentials.

Visitors regularly comment that they came for the village atmosphere, the tree-lined, rustic look of Hahndorf.

Destroy that with wall to road paving, modern street furniture and design, with narrower roadway and fewer carparks and the whole soul of the village, and its uniqueness will be lost.

Harold Gallasch, Hahndorf

Precious gum

BUNNINGS is expanding its Mt Barker store, so an old river red gum with 11 hollows will be felled.

There are alternatives that would save the tree, but cost a bit more.

Mayor David Leach said on the radio that while he loves this tree, such loss is inevitable with rapid development.

Renowned African-American scholar Thomas Sowell said “different groups regard many of the same things as desirable ... (but) ... what they are prepared to do – to sacrifice – in pursuit of those goals varies enormously.” (Race and History, 1994). The decision makers might value our gums, but sacrifice them too readily for development.

Perhaps the following might move them to save this gum: First, our river red gums are unique. Usually along rivers, gradual uplift of Mt Lofty Ranges means many river red gums in the Bremer catchment now grow on hillsides (Hyde 1999).

Only two or three pockets of this occurs across Australia, with emergent calls for their special protection.

Second, 99.5% of our district is for human use. A tiny 0.5% is for native fauna and flora reserves. Third, SA plans to strengthen tree protection laws in line with most other States. In this spirit, let’s protect this tree now.

Fourth, replanting won’t replace mature trees. It takes decades to make hollows, too late for today’s animals.

So please Bunnings, council and Native Vegetation Council, save this gum and protect biodiversity for our children and grandchildren to enjoy.

Dr Stephanie Jarrett, Nairne

Young Earth

LAST week Rob Tanner gave some very interesting information concerning how long Aboriginal people have been in Australia.

He came to the conclusion of 65,000 years.

I suggest he and others who believe this to be true do the maths.

If you start with just two Aboriginal people, one male and one female, how many would there be when the first fleet arrived?

Answer: billions!

The world population is now around eight billion.

Which is the rough number you will get if you start with the accurate Biblical account of history, starting with Noah and his family (four males and four females), also taking into account death by natural causes, famine and disease et cetera.

So how long has mankind been on this Earth?

Since the day God created them.

We may disagree on timelines, but it is definitely not 65,000 years.

Do the maths.

Graeme Watts, Native Valley

McBunnings

NOW that the State Planning Department and the Mt Barker Development Assessment Panel have given the town of Mt Barker a new entry statement and identity and yet another fast food outlet has been proposed for the town, its time to just rename the town Mt McBunnings.

The rule of big business is taking over all Hills family run hardware stores and junk food business is taking over people’ diets and health trajectory.

Caroline Johnson, Aldgate