Weswal Gallery Café
Having reached that stage in life, termed maturity, when decisions have to be made in relation to objectives achieved to date and, after nearly sixteen years in Weswal Café - where has that time gone? - those listed on the "still-to-do" category, we have retired from the café to pursue those priorities yet to be ticked-off.
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We sincerely thank those customers, from both near and far, who have supported us over that time - through floods, bushfires, droughts and, of course, Covid19 - and wish you well for the future.
A'aw the best Isobel and Sandy Allan
Climate talks
Nick O'Malley in the Sydney Morning Herald indicated that the Glasgow Climate talks, to be held in November, are seen to be the last chance for the World to come to an agreement on greenhouse emission reductions that may hold warming to 1.5 degrees after which scientists fear tipping points may be triggered that could lead to the climate spiralling out of control.
Many World leaders will be attending the Glasgow talks. It is a climate meeting of tremendous importance.
But one burning question has now arisen. Will Prime Minister Scott Morrison be at this crucial conference? It appears that he is undecided.
If our Prime Minister does decide not to attend the Glasgow Conference it will be a let down of huge importance to a great number of Australians.
Brian Measday, Myrtle Bank
Barnaby and ICAC
In the wake of Gladys Berejiklian's resignation, Barnaby Joyce is yet again trying to hide political embarrassment behind a wall of sound. He shouts, he bellows, he rants and raves that ICAC exists to take power in the State away from elected politicians and give it to bureaucrats.
ICAC was set up by the Liberal Premier Nick Greiner. From day one it was supposed to investigate politicians, and that 's what it has done.
Greiner intended it to cover the Labor Party in scandal while the Liberals and Nationals got on with life. Now Barnaby Joyce wants to divert our attention from something which the Liberals and Nationals forgot: the law applies to them too.
G.T.W. Agnew, Coopers Plains
Barnaby Joyce - a Federal ICAC would be like the Spanish Inquisition
Surely Barnaby Joyce knows the origins of the Spanish Inquisition. If he does, he'd recognize the irony of comparing the proposed Federal ICAC, in derogatory sense, with the body set up to maintaining the veracity of the Catholic orthodoxy in the 15th Century. The body set up to fight corruption would be to maintain the orthodoxy of the Westminster system of government based on ministerial responsibility. Now while we don't burn backsliders at the stake any more, the evidence of corruption should be judged before a public tribunal so trust can be renewed in our parliamentary system of government. And surely Barnaby would agree, that if it's good enough for the Catholic Church to have an inquiry it's good enough for the Australian Government to have one too.
John Mosig, Kew
Choices
In response to a letter by Gus Batley (NDL 6/10/21).
Having been a practising doctor for over 40 years and also seen the traumatic death of my own mother from pancreatic cancer at home I know that even the best palliative care cannot relieve the pain and suffering in the last stages of some cancers.
The severe breathlessness often as lungs fill with fluid, extreme fatigue, loss of bladder and bowel control, total loss of mobility are conditions not relieved by palliative care.
Currently it is legal to refuse food, drink, medical treatment and to ask for life support to be switched off but these deaths can be drawn out and witnessing them is traumatic to family and carers.
For adults in the last stages of a terminal illness with decision making capacity to be able to request medication so that they can go at a time of their choosing and on their terms is humane and dignified. Some may not choose to use it but are calmer knowing the option is in place.
This is what the Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill to be introduced to the NSW Parliament by Alex Greenwich next week is about. It has many protections and we are now the only state in Australia without one.
Lyn Allen, Tamworth
Double standards
'It is un-Australian' is often heard today.
Recently, there have been several instances of sports identities poor behaviour, particularly in football codes. Players from the NRL Melbourne Storm were videoed at a party with a white substance clearly evident, which was not later available for testing . The NRL could not investigate because the club season was over. Law enforcement could not pursue because the substance had vanished. The club investigated and deemed penalties should apply as the players had brought the game into disrepute. Fines were issued, and minor suspensions applied to next season. Suspended fines were issued payable only for re-offences. The NRL advertises zero tolerance of violence. If players offend they are fined and suspended.
Israel Folau did not commit violence, did not consume alcohol or illicit drugs, yet, when he spoke of his personal religious beliefs, he was rubbed out of international Rugby, and denied reregistration by the NRL.
Unfair dismissal laws exist in Australia, yet his dismissal was not deemed unfair.
The way he was treated was 'un-Australian'. That people who break the law can be treated with wrist slapping penalties, yet someone who stands by his convictions of faith can have his livelihood removed because of public, business and media pressure, is a sad indictment on the standard of our current moral codes.
No wonder we are experiencing difficulty in young generations, when the example set by authority condones poor behaviour and penalises anyone who stands their ground on moral issues and beliefs.
Grahame Tighe, Tamworth
ICAC and what follows
I was surprised and a little disappointed about the commentary surrounding the departure of former Premier Gladys Berejiklian, an elected representative who resigned by her own volition following advice that she was being investigated by the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC).
The NSW ICAC was established by the Greiner/Murray Coalition Government in the late 1980's in response to concerns about widespread corruption throughout NSW and to enhance transparency and accountability throughout our State.
I find it amazing that current Liberal and National MP's and their supporters at State and Federal level attack ICAC for its important role in serving the people of our State, enhancing trust in our institutions and stamping out corruption.
Recently our Federal MP attacked the organisation saying it was like facing a "Spanish Inquisition". He and Gladys are lucky that many Australians are simply too laid back, oblivious or trusting of their MP's and their failings to act.
We are fortunate to have an organisation like the NSW ICAC and it is sad that NSW Government MP's refused to support a bill by the Shooters, Fishers & Farmers Party to fund the organisation properly, it may have the resources to investigate and detect far more matters of concern around our great State.
There is probably a reason why the Morrison/Joyce government has not made good on its 2019 election promise to deliver a Federal ICAC/Integrity Commission and the attacks by Federal MP's go some way to describe why we don't. If they have nothing to hide, well.
Mark Rodda, Tamworth
Vaccination nation
I totally reject the idea that any business has a right to refuse people service based on vaccination status.
Haven't we learnt anything from history?
In South Africa, apartheid excluded black people, in Afghanistan is the women who are excluded from equal rights, and in Australia it's based on whether or not someone has taken an experimental vaccine.
The government keeps saying the vaccine is 'not mandatory' then says but 'if you aren't vaccinated then you can't participate fully in society'.
How can they speak with such a forked tongue?
That's like saying 'I'm not kicking you, I'm just slamming you with my foot'.
They say it's not mandatory but they do all they can to make it mandatory.
I don't believe it's legal to discriminate against people in this way.
Daniel Peckham, Tamworth