In 2015, I started my own mental health support group, Mindmatters Tamworth. I lost my brother, Patrick to suicide 31 years ago, after his struggle with schizophrenia. The 13 years of sexual abuse I endured whilst growing up, means I live with depression and post traumatic stress disorder.

Since 2015, my group has run the following events in Tamworth to promote mental health and on occasion, to fundraise. 1. Mental Health Forum with Headspace at Tamworth Town Hall, 2017. 2. Family Fun Day at Marsupial Park 2018. Funds raised for Mindamtters Tamworth and Are U Aware We Care. 3. Stall at World Mental Health Day at Billabong Clubhouse, October 2019. 4. Concert at Billabong Clubhouse, with help from Billabong staff and members to raise funds for fire victims at Wytaliba. During 2018, I distributed hampers from food bank to assist farmers and others affected by drought. This was facilitated with Liberty Church.

The donations from 50 to 60 local businesses over the past five years have assisted greatly in running these events. I am very grateful to all the businesses and also individuals who have donated to these events.

Despite this and my commitment to mental health, Mr Anderson has refused to meet with me to discuss the proposal for a new mental health unit. Strange really, when my group has over 330 members. So I guess our voices don't count. At the last election Mr Anderson told me "We will deliver a new Banksia". He was referring of course to his party, The Nationals. Yet in the 2018/2019 budget there is no funding allocated to a new Banksia. Neither is there any funding in the most recent state budget for Banksia. (NSW Budgets,NSW gov website).

So I emailed him a few months ago with the following questions: 1. When does the building project start? 2. How much is the funding for the new Banksia? 3. Will there be a section for our young people under 18? 4. Is there a drug and alcohol rehabilitation unit in the new proposal? My questions have never been answered despite emails to him. Neither has he explained why he won't meet with me. Odd, when it is the role of MP's to meet with those living in their electorate.

In 2019, I was informed the Hunter New England Health wanted to discuss my ideas, a part of their clinical services review. It took me four phone calls to them before they rang me back. They told me they had never heard of my group and had no idea what we did or what our purpose was. I was told they did not follow social media, which seems incredible in this day and age. They were unaware of our articles in the paper, events run or our tv appearances. I was refused the chance to have a face to face meeting with them. They also were unaware of what the new proposal for Banksia was. Hard to believe they were so unhelpful and ill prepared. I found this all unacceptable and incredible.

The current proposal for a new Banksia is only 8 beds than the existing unit. Given that current statistics show 25 per cent of people who present in emergency are there for mental health, is only eight more beds enough? (Figures from HNE Health page, 2020).

In the new proposal for a new Banksia 1 or 2 more beds may be available for young people. Given the recent suicides of young people in our region, one needs to ask whether enough support is being provided to our young people. This is not being addressed at the present time in the current proposal. In regard to recent statistics the population of New England and North West is 170,000 people. ( 2017 NSW State Budget figures). So we need to build a unit which will be able to treat the whole region, as Tamworth is the main hub for this region. This has never been mentioned in the proposal as Mr Anderson continues to talk about a unit for Tamworth, rather than stating it is a unit for our whole region.

It is time for our local member to hold community forums throughout the New England and the North West. This would give the whole community a chance to have their say on what is needed in a new unit. At the moment only the mental health carers support group and any carers spoken to in the clinical services plan have had a say. That is really unfair as 25 per cent of the population deal with mental illness in their lifetime. (Beyond Blue website).

As for me, it appears I may have not achieved a great deal in my 5 years of mental health advocacy and running events to promote mental health. I challenge Mr Anderson to reply to my letter and explain why he cannot or will not meet with me.

I also call on Hunter New England Health to explain my group has no voice in the clinical services plan.

The response I receive will determine my next actions. Larger papers and other MP'S have expressed an interest in following this up with me. So perhaps I am better served to take up these offers, if I cannot elicit a response from my own local MP.

Helen Mary Jones

Coordinator/ Founder Mindmatters Tamworth

Woolomin

As temperatures soar throughout Tamworth, the health impact of these heatwaves need to be highlighted ("Air cons ready? We're in for a hot summer" 27/11).

CSIRO's State of the Climate 2020 reported that Australia's climate has warmed on average by 1.44 C , leading to an increase in the frequency of extreme heat events. As more heat records get broken, it is our most vulnerable who will be worst affected- the elderly, young children, pregnant women, and those with chronic illnesses or disabilities. With heatwaves being linked to a multitude of health issues such as respiratory and heart problems, kidney disorders, mental illnesses and significantly underestimated deaths, the burden on public health will be immense. This is highly concerning as both the Australian Medical Association and Doctors for the Environment Australia have highlighted that our health systems are not equipped to cope with the challenges of ever-increasing temperatures.

Ultimately climate change is a significant health emergency. The sooner we slash our carbon emissions and limit global warming to manageable temperatures, the safer for our health and well-being.

Dr Ingo Weber, North Adelaide

Australia, like most of the world, has just survived 'Black Friday', a shopping binge, although it seemed to continue over the whole weekend and beyond. The drawcard of a bargain that will save you money is illusionary if not an outright lie as most will get caught up in the frenzy and spend far more than intended. They will probably end up in the red rather than the black.

What we all want is an honest price and a reasonable profit not a yearlong catalogue of expensive products and a single day when it appears that products are cheap. There is already so much fake news in everyone's day that we don't also need it on our shopping list. Surely, we can at least make shopping an honest event.

Dennis Fitzgerald, Melbourne

I would like you to write an article pointing out to the public that walking your dog on the road or concrete paths in this heat is burning their paws. I've seen it twice today. If you cannot put your own hand or feet on the road or paths then the dog can't either. It's cruel.

Liz Hetherington, Tamworth

I recently moved from Newcastle to Tamworth. As a man with a taste for prawns, I have been the subject of ridicule since the first night I arrived. Sitting down for a nice dinner with friends at Carmen's (great feed by the way), I ordered a garlic prawns dish. I immediately realised my mistake. The entire table was scrambling to be the first to say 'mate, you know there's no prawns in the Peel right? You're a long way from salt water champ.' I'm a self-conscious man and I must admit, the ribbing got to me. It's been 4 weeks without a prawn now. I've been thinking: Tamworth is a noted agricultural region. We farm Angus, White Suffolk, even hay. So why can't we farm prawns? Chaffey Dam is as full as a goog at the moment and a prime candidate for releasing a school of scrumptious Banana Prawns. I'm sure that incoming Festival attendees would leap at the chance to indulge in some fresh New England seafood. Just a thought.

Tony Danza, East Tamworth

The considerations going on about the possible UNE extension to Tamworth requires considerable public support. However mention made to locate such a facility in city centre needs serious consideration. Look at North Tamworth Tec. College, it was located there because (at the time) it was out of the built up area. In my opinion, if the campus is to be established an ideal location would be adjacent to Farrer Agricultural High School and opposite the Dept. Of Ag. Research Centre. Not in the middle of a busy city!

Bladen Brooke OAM, Boambee East