YOUR VIEWS
WHEN I opened my paper this morning I could not believe what I saw, the end of the iconic Alvey Fishing Reel Company (‘Iconic reel company Alvey winds up’, GCB, 21/07/2017).
As a child of 5 I was given my first alvey reel which my father and grandfather taught me how to use through many hours of happy times and memories that have stayed with me every time I have sought the solace of fishing.
When my grandfather and father passed on many years ago their treasured reels both purchased when my father turned 5 in 1934 were passed on to me, they are as good today as they were then and have ignited those memories.
To me, the loss of this company and the happy memories its manufacture has brought should not be ignored.
The progressive loss of “truly Australian” is a sad indictment of todays generations.
RON NIGHTINGALE, BIGGERA WATERS
PEOPLE in the Central Highlands and throughout Queensland are appalled at the light sentence handed out to a Blackwater man convicted in Emerald Magistrates Court this month of using a puppy for sexual purposes.
The sentence, a fine of $500 and a ban on having dogs for two years, in no way reflects the severity of the abuse proven in this case.
Penalties for cases of cruelty and neglect are quite inadequate, and are rarely imposed to the full extent of the law – under the Queensland Animal Care and Protection Act, animal cruelty can result in fines of $235,000 or imprisonment for up to seven years. At the very least, cases of abuse should lead to a lifetime ban on the offender having animals.
In a study by research team Jory, Flemming, and Burton, 96 per cent of juvenile offenders interviewed who had engaged in sex with non-human animals also admitted to sexual offences against humans, providing further evidence of the need to prosecute and rehabilitate people who sexually assault animals.
ASHLEY FRUNO, ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR PEOPLE FOR THE ETHICAL TREATMENT OF ANIMALS (PETA) AUSTRALIA ALL the so-called NSW experts blaming culture for their loss in State of Origin. Not a word was said before or after the first two games or before the third game, a game experts said they would surely win. Then when beaten by a far better team, it was “culture”. I don’t know what position he plays but he must be all right.
RODNEY WATSON, MAIN BEACH
AS a retired career soldier of 21 years honoured with a fully paid “holiday” in South Vietnam and a customer of Veteran Affairs. ABC’s 7.30 on Thursday (20/7) highlighted how our politicians want nothing to do with our veterans in need. Which is interesting when you consider how those who ‘lead’ us to war fail to ensure treasury look after them when their wheels fall off because of their service to the country.
D.J. FRASER, CURRUMBIN