The opportunities for Rural Industry growth and employment for Rural Australians are dynamic with the TPP and in the middle of an Agricultural Production boom we will have more markets to export our products to, add to that lower tariffs, A win-win opportunity exists.

So let's do this and let's get Rural Australia really moving. It's commonsense.

Shane Moran

Tamworth 

I beg to differ  from James Tebatt (Web Words 14/1/2017) in Saturday's Paper.  

I love Tamworth in fact I’ve nicknamed it heaven since we moved here 15 years ago.

I’ve seen Tamworth evolve into the most wonderful regional city with a rural flavour in that time. 

In my time in real estate I’ve met many people who have commented on the friendly people in Tamworth, the Peel street vibe of shopping, restaurants, coffee shops, entertaining theatre, only recently more development has been approved for this wonderful city.

Admittedly we can still improve travel to Sydney and Brisbane, but our council and state and federal members are always pushing that boat for improvement.

At least we have an airport that is expanding with flights to Sydney and Brisbane.

We're coming into 10 days of sheer enjoyment with the country music festival which people keep coming back too.

They love Tamworth and have a new and pleasurable time every year.

But Tamworth has a rich flavour all year and should be savoured and enjoyed. James perhaps you need to come back and have another go also because it’s so busy you need Sunday to rest and recover. I’ll show you around.

Scot Bray

Tamworth

We are currently looking for enthusiastic and reliable people with great communication skills to join our team of volunteers working with our clients in the Tamworth local area.

If you would like to know more about a Volunteer role with Vision Australia, please contact: Lyn Curtis on 02 8525 9038 or Nissa Peters on 0409 153 796, or alternatively email: Lyn.curtis@visionaustralia.org.

Lyn Curtis (Carringbah)

Malcolm Turnbull turns out to be a Turncoat while minister Tudge just won't budge and Sussan Ley has gone away.

For the rest of us its trust or bust as Lib and Lab are just as  bad. 

David Foster (Tamworth)

When I think back to the start of a new school year, I can still remember the buzzing feelings of excitement, anticipation and nerves.

Am I going to have classes with all my friends? Will I get better results than last year? Which teachers will I have?

Millions of young people across the country heading into primary and secondary school over the coming weeks may be facing similar feelings – whether they are starting another school year or commencing a new school for the first time.

Some students can adjust to the changes and settle into things quickly.

However, some young people may find this a daunting and challenging time.

There can be a number of reasons why it might be hard to go school: trying to make new friends, pressure to get the best marks, dealing with bullying, or perhaps going through a mental health issue such as anxiety or depression.  

These worries can make the next few weeks an uncertain time.

Whether you are a young person struggling, or a parent with concerns about your child, headspace is here to help.

As the National Youth Mental Health Foundation, headspace provides support for young people aged 12-25 years old who are struggling with their mental health and wellbeing.

No matter where you are, you can access help at headspace – either through one of our 95 centres in metro, rural and regional areas of Australia, or via eheadspace.org.au where you can receive online and telephone support between 9am-1am (AEDT), seven days-a-week.

There are also general mental health and wellbeing resources available on our website: headspace.org.au.

We wish you and your families a safe and healthy school year ahead.

Dr Natalie Gray

Chief Medical Officer headspace 

Senator David Leyonhjelm is under criticism for suggesting that child-care workers are over-trained — and perhaps over-funded.

Here’s a different idea. 

Children might be best off with institutional child-care defunded to the point of not existing.

Who would then look after the children? Perhaps their mothers.

If the mother and father were married, could the father’s work support them all — mum staying at home doing full-time mothering?

Father’s taxes — which in the past were funding non-parental child-care — could contribute to an allowance given direct to home-mothering couples.

Arnold Jago (Nichols Point)