The Guardian 25 January, 2006
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Letters to the Editor
A letter to Mr Howard
I’m 82 years old, left school two months before my 14th birthday and took up bush work as a Billy Boy for a gang of timber cutters camped in the bush. By the time I turned 18 years I was a skilled man with all the hand implements of that day, broad axe, adze [used to cut wood — Ed], chalk line, etc. I could turn out a 30’15"x8" [approx 9.4m x 20cm — Ed] bridge girder as straight and true as if it had been moulded.
More importantly the concepts of personal integrity, pride of achievement and personal worth that I learned from these hard working men was firmly ingrained in my make-up.
Australia was to me the spiritual source of all these virtues, as our Poet Laureate, Henry Lawson, put it, "Australia Most Beautiful Name".
What has happened to that "Most Beautiful Name" in the last few years, Shame Sir! Shame!
The toady of an international bully, conspiring to lie and misrepresent so that we could partner a foul attack on another nation far weaker than us.
Throwing harmless refugees into prisons where they stagnate for years and they only wanted to escape the horrors that we ourselves have inflicted on other peoples. Shame Sir!
Violation of the Constitutional rights that Australians have enjoyed for over a century in legislation that is clearly designed to curtail criticism of the agenda that your Government is seeking to pursue. Again, Shame Sir!
So it was 1941, I was 18 years old. I advanced my age by one year and joined the AIF by November of that year I was in the Middle East where I was drafted to the 2/17th Battalion 9th Division. The Unit had just come from Tobruk where you may know they had added great lustre to the name of Australia. How proud I was to be a member of that famous fighting Unit and because of my robust bush physique and naïve enthusiasm I was made Bren Gunner for my section.
I was engaged in every battle that grand unit fought in from then on, El-Alamain, Lae & Finchaven landings, through to Borneo where we were in action against the Japs when the hostilities ended.
Yeah! I am Australian and I am too proud to lie or misrepresent or connive, I pride myself on being a Fair Dinkum Australian. How do you stack up Mr Howard? You gonna lock me up, eh!
Alan Brackenreg
Forster, NSW
Can we feed ourselves in the future?
Short sighted policy in Western Australia (WA) and Queensland will have dangerous repercussions for our future food supplies. Queensland no longer has a dairy industry because of "reforms" a few years ago. WA also closed down many dairy farms when the State Government agreed to "free market reforms". This short sighted policy made Victoria the main supplier of milk and dairy products. This was a big mistake that needs to be rectified ASAP before a crisis in food supplies occurs.
When the diesel which is used to transport milk and other food products from the east becomes unaffordable, we will have to find some way to again learn how to produce food locally. An increase in the cost to consumers will be inevitable and the transportation cost will become unsustainable. (See the Financial Review page 52 Friday January 13, 2006.)
I was also disturbed to hear that they are killing lots of chickens in South Australia because the bottom has fallen out of the egg and chicken market. I hope this will not be the case in WA? I believe it is quite short sighted, especially at this time. So far there is no evidence of chicken flu in Australia. To import chickens and their food at this time will put our producers at risk.
The home market should be encouraged to supply any demand locally. Any excess eggs should be dried in case there is a shortage in future, as happened in WW2. The dried eggs can also become a future contribution to starving nations.
Consumers should buy more home reared chickens fed on local grain to ensure safe produce. However at present the consumers are not told where their food is coming from and how imported food is fed or grown. Is it safe in today’s climate of animal and bird diseases overseas?
Many of our home grown producers seem to be closing down, including market gardens, because of imported vegetables. This push by Howard to support agro businesses and large overseas food cartels is sure to backfire in the future when fuel runs low and costs are high.
During WW2 Australia was lucky, it managed to feed itself. To allow our food and animal markets to cease operation is most irresponsible and a big political mistake. Instead these producers should be given protection to keep them producing in times of stress. Government should look beyond the next election and ensure that there is a home based food supply in future by protecting our small rural producers and helping them through difficult times. This is not a handout but an insurance policy. It is time politicians governed for the people!
Mary Jenkins
Secretary STOP MAI Inc
Bibra Lake WA