Earlier this month, my friend Ken Palmer was knocked off his push bike by a car in Caringbah and died in hospital three days later.

Ken's death followed that of two other cyclist friends: David Kenneally's massively injured body was found near his damaged bike on a quiet country road near Armidale last year and Geoff Bradbury was run down by a speeding car some years before at Heathcote.

All were experienced and safety-conscious cyclists.

Australia's world champion road cyclist, Cadel Evans, says that Australian drivers seem to be less respectful of cyclists than in any other country in which he has ridden.

Why is it that shock-jocks can, with impunity, call cyclists on public roads "cockroaches on wheels" ?

And why, in the town in which I live, can the construction of a safe main road crossing for school kids, cyclists and pedestrians, jointly designed and funded by the RMS and local Council, be left incomplete due to opposition from the town's Chamber of Commerce ?

Jack Miller

Bermagui

Thanks for memories

During the morning Anzac Day services earlier this year the Eurobodalla and Far South Coast Coast National Servicemen's Association arranged for a RAAF Hercules C130 to flyover nine NSW south coast towns as part of the 100 year centenary commemoration event.

At the same time Moruya Aero Club pilots Sheldon Jones, John Dolean, Gglen Fulot and Mike Leth, in their own aircraft, added to the days importance by flying over Batemans Bay, Morura and Tuross Head in the Southern Cross formation as depicted on our national flag.

As a gesture of appreciation to these pilots and the Moruya Aero Club a luncheon bbq is being held at the club premises on Sunday October 18th where a presentation will be made by Alan Shephard, our district Nasho's president..

Alan Shephard, president can be contacted for further information at 4473 8027 or 0427 008 437 for further comment.

Would your organisation position the following announcement in your media to announce this event.

Eurobodalla and Far South Coast National Servicemen's Association members  and friends are invited to attend a luncheon bbq on Sunday October 18 at the Moruya Aero Club commencing at 12 noon.

Sausages and salads will be provided but please bring your own drinks, crockery, cutlery and picnic chairs.

A presentation will be made to the pilots of the Moruya Aero Club who flew over the district on Anzac Day with their aircraft in the

formation of the Southern Cross.

Paul Pereira

Publicity Officer

Far South Coast Coast National Servicemen's Association

Syrian refugees

My response to the suggestion that we take Syrian refugees in Narooma would be, a very firm no. We have a huge problem with unemployment in the area and our youth, more often than not, find it necessary to relocate to gain employment. Taking Syrian refugees would only serve to compound the problem.

Australia currently leads the world on a per capita basis for accepting refugees. I say let other countries share the burden and provide accommodation for these people. We have for a long time now punched well above our weight.

The toothless Tiger, that sham of an organisation known as the United Nations seem to be strangely silent regarding the situation. Makes you wonder just what role they play in anything! A government’s first responsibility is to it’s own people. I would like to see that as fact, rather than fiction. Look after needy Australians first then, we can consider others.

Gordon Williams

Narooma

None the wiser

Council’s community meeting in Moruya was, once again, well-orchestrated. The facilitator ensuring statements and questions from the public were short and ‘to the point’. However this didn’t seem to apply to responses from council management. As an example, my questions were in regard to how council’s Recreation and Open Space Strategy was applied to the HuntFest event on community land.

This ‘Strategy’ states that council recognises, promotes and enhances the identity and character of communities in our shire. That they encourage community ownership of these facilities and spaces by ensuring residents are involved in the decision making process.

In view of this strategy, my first of three questions was, “Does council consider ‘hunting’ to be part of the character and identity of Narooma or our shire as a whole? I received a non-interrupted lecture on how people have the right to pursue their interests, despite the views of others. I agree, but I fail to see how it was relevant to my question. Somewhere, amid this diatribe, an answer emerged – “no”.

My next two questions were similarly responded to, but not actually answered. I was, however, informed that weapons could be purchased from various places within the shire. I was aware that ammunition was available, but not weapons, as my partner has a firearms licence. Once again, this information had nothing to do with my questions.

I fail to see how council encourages community ownership over our community land if our involvement in decision making is overridden by the views of the national/international gun lobby.

Patricia Gardiner

Deua River Valley