RAY Higgs (Mail, 9 August) is entitled to his opinion, seeing as he enjoys the democratically elected freedoms all Australians enjoy!
Thank God we can hoist our national red white and blue in a prominent place like the main roundabout.
Flags aren’t made to be hidden in cupboards or kept only for parades.
We visited Denmark in May and were delighted to see flags all over the place homes, and businesses, civic buildings; literally everywhere.
Patriotism is alive and well in the free west and we celebrate it by flying our flag. That doesn’t make us American, it shows Belgrave’s visitors which country they’re in… Australia mate!
Henry Poulsen
Belgrave South
I WRITE regarding the bad state of repair of the footpaths in the Main Street, Monbulk.
When you report faults to the council it takes weeks to fix them. The shire puts down a strip of bitumen, which one can still trip over.
The new car park next to the police station drains on to the footpath. In heavy rain it floods the footpath.
The shire spent big dollars on a footpath on Moores Road, which is used twice a day during the school term.
My wife and I are over 70 and walk a lot and go to Older But Stronger classes.
They tell us not to walk with our head down looking at our feet, but this is dangerous down the Main Street.
To date my wife has had three broken legs and has fractured a rib due to the condition of the footpaths.
A.S. Leonard
Monbulk
THE article Committee Member Resigns (Mail, 16 August) is littered with confusing and misleading statements, which do Gareth Jenkinson an injustice, and undermine the value and importance of a township committee.
Firstly, Cardinia Shire’s Doug Evans claims it was only Mr Jenkinson’s opinion that the EVC should have been notified regarding the Statement of Financial Interest prior to the elections.
This surely implies that Mr Evans had already canvassed opinions on this matter of other committee members plus all aspirants.
It also ignores the fact that several EVC members shared Mr Jenkinson’s concerns and spoke at the meeting to that effect.
Mr Evans participated in those discussions.
That Mr Jenkinson was “entitled to his opinion” is selective, irrelevant and denigrating. We don’t need Mr Evans’ approval before expressing opinions.
Secondly, since the requirement for voluntary EVC members to declare private financial interests is at the council’s option, why didn’t council inform aspiring committee members beforehand?
The timeframe speaks for itself:
5 May – candidates are nominated and voting takes place.
6 May – The 12 successful candidates were informally notified by phone and advised that they would be submitted for approval at the council meeting on 20 June.
16 May – At the council meeting it was decided to opt for Section 81 (2) of the Local Government Act, thus forcing township committee members to declare financial statements of interest, in the interests of transparency!
From 16 May to 20 June there was plenty of time to notify volunteer committee members of the council’s imposition of the “financial statement” clause. Hiding this option which the council chose to exercise, is the antithesis of transparency.
If the council is so anxious to promote transparency, shouldn’t it be “What’s good for the goose is good for the gander” too? Or is this just another example of the policy “Do as I say, not as I do”?
Anne Maree Teasdale
Emerald
I WRITE regarding the letter of Ray Higgs of Ferntree Gully (Mail, 9 August).
One could say many things about Mr Higgs but I will try to keep it short.
Firstly, if he is as observant about the scenic beauty of Belgrave as he tries to make out he should have noticed that the flag has been proudly flying in Belgrave for the last seven to eight years.
Secondly, the flag was paid for and erected by some traders who are proud enough to see our national ensign flying in the hills.
Thirdly, it was erected so that all those visitors and tourists from overseas and interstate that travel on Puffing Billy and tour our beautiful scenic area could see how proud this Belgrave community is of our wonderful heritage.
It would seem that Mr Higgs is so enthralled with our scenic Belgrave that he has visited us once in eight years. He must truly be inspired by our beautiful area.
It seems ironic that he should broach this subject on the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II. This anniversary is celebrated in memory of all those men and women who fought for the freedom of democracy that he now so readily embraces. This flag is a symbol of their sacrifice, not yours Mr Higgs.
The reason he is able to freely express his views in the press is due in no small terms to their sacrifice. Maybe Mr Higgs may contemplate the fact that all those who have gone before him under the Australian flag to conserve your right as an individual.
Mr Higgs, in the future please think carefully on the slur that you impose on all those that have given so much for the freedom that you apparently take for granted. Australians all let us rejoice, for we are young and free.
Chris AyresSmith
Belgrave
OUR government spends an untold amount of our hard earned taxes and puts the lives of our soldiers at risk to bring democracy into Iraq. Whose idea of democracy?
It seems to me that when politicians demand that the political party is far more important than their electors we are all in dire straits. We humans have worked and fought for democracy for thousands of years, only to have been led astray by those we employ to serve democracy.
Karu Hewett
Selby
