Reunited with missing dog
WE wanted to take a moment to thank everyone who played a role in reuniting us with our 17 year old dog, Sky, after she escaped the yard, got lost and became stuck in West Creek while we were in Toowoomba over Christmas.
We were overwhelmed by the concern and kindness shown by complete strangers who allowed us access to their yards, helped search the neighbourhood and shared our posts on social media. Thanks also to the early morning walker who spotted Sky and called it in, the Qld Fire and Rescue crew who pulled her out and Kim from the TRC Animal Management Centre who retrieved her after she entered the creek for the second time.
We thank the Lord that we got our old girl back safely and no worse for wear, apart from needing a good bath. GARY and PAM SCHULTZ, Millmerran
STATE OF US
THE trouble with Donald Trump is that he thinks his country is fine, better than fine in fact.
But hey, things aren’t fine. America has so many problems its government doesn’t want to look at them any more. Rather than throwing billions of dollars at the problem, the government needs to be seen to be helping in local communities. Because if you can help just one person, then that will help another, then another until this whole mess seems possible to unravel. DAVE FREDERICKS, Toowoomba
VALUES GONE
A LETTER by H. Quinn (TC, 12/12) deserves a compliment. She was absolutely spot on with practically all that was covered in that letter. Yes, our values have well and truly gone, been eroded over the years, and we guess that much worse will follow.
There seems to be no desire religiously, politically, morally, publicly in general to really make things better for us all.
Optimism is gone, many are in debt, morals are low, corruption seems to be everywhere.
The government complains about the welfare cost, but at the same time brings in more and more immigrants many who end up on benefits.
Power costs are out of reach of many. As a result of record low interest rates, property prices got too high, but have now cooled, leaving many with loans more than the value of their assets and once interest rates have bottomed, in time, there is only one way that they can go.
Globalisation affects us all; too many of our assets, large and small, are foreign owned and worked. It could go on and on.
We can only hope that those in power wake up in time. Forget about our tiny bit, by global standards, of global warming, and worry about, do something about the things that really affect our daily lives and well being.
David Attenborough rattles on that in 50 years our world won’t be liveable, true, but not because of global warming but because of our above mentioned attitudes.
RAY HARCH, Toowoomba
4WD OWNERS
I TOOK exception to Dave Fredericks’ comments on 4WD owners owners and was thinking of writing a letter when Patrick Boyce got in first with what I thought was a balanced and well reasoned rebuttal.
Everything Mr Boyce said pretty much applies to me also. People drive 4WDs and SUVs for many reasons but ego is not high on the list.
In regard to the Lancelin accident in WA, there were three vehicles involved on what has been described as a notoriously dangerous section of highway. A Toyota Hilux veered suddenly onto the wrong side of the road, clipped a camper trailer being towed by a Toyota Landcruiser and then continued on to collide with a busload of Chinese tourists.
The cause of the crash would not appear to have anything to do with the vehicle being a 4WD but rather the 66-year-old driver (a fatality) crossing on to the wrong side of the road, either through inattention or suffering a medical episode.
The Hilux is not exceptionally large and anyhow, if you crash head on at highway speeds in even small sedans, people are going to die. Hiluxes and other brands of crew cab utes are common - they are the vehicle of choice for tradesmen. There have been similar accidents on that stretch of road, most involving sedans and most resulting in fatalities.
I do agree that seeing mothers drive their children to and from school in Landcruisers and Patrols seems excessive, but I can see how parents would prefer their kids travelling in big, safe, reliable vehicles which have high crashworthy standards, last for years and have excellent resale value and which can also take their families on camping holidays. As to the issue of 4WD owners requiring special licences, for once, words fail me.