Writers going cap in hand

THE plight of the Tasmanian Writers Centre, now going cap in hand to the public, puts me in mind of the early scenes from Charles Dickens’s great expose of Victorian society, Oliver Twist. Readers may bring to mind images from the film version of Oliver in which the already well fed and powerful gorge on multiple courses from a table groaning with food, while the orphans are given a scant cup of gruel. Oliver politely requests more, which is met with cries of disbelief at this temerity.

Letter writers have already contrasted the $1 million inexplicably given by the Tasmanian Government to the super rich multinational corporation that owns Cascade with the $40,000 offered to the writers’ centre.

Their polite request for more has been denied. This organisation actually provides something worthy of our support. Do we not want to nurture talent?

Unfortunately, this is but one example of the sort of Tasmania we are becoming.

Spiritualism

WHETHER he is dealing with matters of belief or teaching in his letter arising from the views of Israel Folau, reader Tony Newport has set the cat among the pigeons (Letters, April 25). When he claims “there is no evidence of heaven or hell’’, I must point out that he entirely neglects the extensive literature of psychic research. Air Chief Marshal Sir Hugh Dowding had a most important role as the head of RAF Fighter Command at the time of the Battle of Britain. Because of his knowledge of Spiritualism, Lord Dowding took part in regular psychic rescue circles to help the lost and confused spirits of young pilots who had died suddenly in air battles. One of his most interesting books had the significant title: Many Mansions.

Build it

THANK you reader Cliff Chorley for your letter regarding the Mt Wellington cable car (Letters, April 23). It is the first letter of the thousands I have read that mirrors my experience of the cable cars I visited and rode overseas, and leads me to believe that the anti-cable car writers are either brainwashed, or have never had a first-hand experience with a cable car.

I love our mountain, and as a teen, I walked from my home in Blackmans Bay to the summit on at least half a dozen occasions. These days I take people to the summit about 40 times each year, and sing its praises as the best view on the planet, and never get an argument.

I distinctly remember, despite looking hard, never seeing a cable car overseas, until I arrived at its terminal.

A cable car on our beautiful mountain will be barely visible, and surely not be the eyesore that is being spruiked by the “No cars in Salamanca lobby”.

Mental health failure

WE are informed by Andrew Wilkie in his Talking Point ( Mercury, April 23) that the health crisis at the Royal Hobart Hospital is not only related to accident and emergency, along with the increasing waiting lists for elective surgery, but mental health is sadly understaffed with inadequate facilities.

The hospital has lost accreditation for psychiatric training and the mental health system in this state is in a state of crisis. The redevelopment of the Royal will in no way cater for the expanding health issues we face yet we are informed that stage two of the planned redevelopment has not even been committed to by either party. This shows the lack of foresight of this Government. We hear daily of development projects and business opportunities never having been so good in this state, yet health, education, housing and transport are worsening.

If and when both stages of the hospital redevelopment are completed, has adequate accommodation been set aside for the doctors, nurses and staff to live nearby and work at the new hospital? Lack of housing and rental accommodation may prevent some from being able to accept the positions offered.

Action is required now on these urgent matters not further rhetoric from the Government’s spin doctors.

Double standards

AFTER a plumber came to our 35-yearold shack at Dolphin Sands and told us our septic tank needed to be replaced, it took in excess of five months to go through the Glamorgan Spring Bay Council’s regulatory processes and requirements to lawfully do the obvious.

Yet a $50-100 million dollar project is made available four days before being put through a meeting the evening before Anzac Day.

What is being hidden from us?