Letters, September 27, 2023

Inconsistency

A REGULAR contributor to The Courier recently condemned the Monarto Safari Park for keeping animals only for “human entertainment” (The Courier, September 20) and for tearing young animals away from their mothers.

The same person also recently condemned duck shooting as a cruel and barbaric sport.

While we are all allowed our own opinions, I find it strange that this same person also vigorously supports the keeping and free roaming of cats.

It seems that while duck shooting is condemned, the millions of creatures mauled painfully to death each year by roaming cats is, apparently, disbelieved, ignored or just does not seem to be a problem.  

Clearly, I am missing something here?

As for the Safari Park, many readers of The Courier would, I’m sure, have visited the park and would be aware of the important breeding programs they take part in to preserve critically endangered species.

The visitors to the park fund this operation and, yes, they do visit the park for their “entertainment”.

But tell me, do we not also keep our many pets (including cats) for our entertainment? Are they not also taken from their mothers, just like lion cubs in safari parks?

Dean Clifford, Mt Barker

Obey the rules

I AGREE with Mr Gregory regarding the road signs on the corner of Druids Avenue and Hutchinson Street (The Courier, September 13).

The road at the corner of Stephen Street and Druids Avenue is a similar problem.

People on the whole don’t stop.

I would walk through these three times a month on average on my way to Gawler Street and it amazes me how ignorant and impatient people are today. Replace the stop signs with give-way signs seeing they ignore road rules anyway.

I have written to Dan Cregan’s office regarding this situation.

I will be seeing him soon on this matter along with others.

Some day someone will be hurt or worse along Druids Avenue if nothing is done.

I was brought up to obey road rules and I’m pretty sure others were also, but today it’s a total mess. All this stuff starts at an early age. Well it did once.

I like walking through Druids Avenue and I don’t want to see anyone hurt there.

I know the Hills area pretty well and still regard it as “in my blood”, so to speak. So let’s obey and stay safe.

If there’s ever an accident along Druids Avenue, the signs will tell who was wrong, so be prepared.

We have had enough carnage this year, haven’t we? These intersections need immediate attention.

Robert Fladrich, Murray Bridge

Voice corrections

IN response to the letter, “Voice Impacts”, by Harold Gallasch published in The Courier last week, we would like to correct the record:

Firstly, there is no “abridged version” of the Uluru Statement from the Heart.

It is a one page statement only.

The background information Mr Gallasch refers to is not part of the statement, rather a collection of views and suggestions from the discussions that produced the statement, but deliberately not included in the statement. This is normal practice with reports based on wide consultation.

People can bring up what they like, but ideas too far out of the mainstream very rarely make it into approved policy. Secondly, the Uluru Statement from the Heart is not “purely a political statement”.

It’s a request to amend our Constitution, a reaching out from our First Nations for our diverse, multi-cultural country to come together in a new, positive and inclusive way.

Thirdly, it won’t “affect every Australian in many ways, not just financially”. The Voice is neither extreme nor political. If the Yes vote succeeds, the Voice details, including funding, will be agreed, then managed by Federal Parliament. That will give all MPs a chance for input.

Myrana and Lester Wahlqvist, Mt Barker

Bushfire management

WITH yet another bushfire season upon us, it appears the CFS is still unable to convince the public that they’re sufficiently equipped to meet catastrophic fire hazards that lie ahead.

Why are we still relying on fire-bombing planes from North America to fill the gaps in our fleet when their fire season is now overlapping with ours?

Secondly, why is there a committed withdrawal from fire emergencies by defence force personnel who have played a crucial role in the past?

I believe we’re going to war with problems related to climate change, not as it currently stands, with other world powers.

Glen Chenoweth, Goolwa North

Not on the agenda

RECENT roadworks on Mawson Road in Meadows showed promising signs that our main street was in for a much needed upgrade.

We saw the installation of a pedestrian crossing, including a centre island, and a right-turn lane into Expedition Boulevard.

However, judging by the new line marking over the potholed bitumen, resurfacing was never on the agenda.

K. Stachovic, Meadows

Voice abuse

LAST Monday, September 18, I attended Fair Australia’s meeting at the Adelaide Convention Centre to hear three prominent Aboriginal Australians speak for the No vote.

There were about 1000 people there to hear what they had to say. I imagine many like me were still uncertain of if they should vote Yes or No.

We all put up with the abuse from protesters as we entered the building.

We experienced “racist pigs”, “genocide murderers”, “this is war” comments and worse through hand-held loud speakers.

However, the three Aboriginal speakers were each given many standing ovations from the people there during their one and a half hour informative presentations. I came away with no doubt in my mind that a No vote is the best fit for me.

Hopefully more people will hear the message that fairaustralia.com.au has out there and vote No.

Michael Jones, Bridgewater