PRAYERS FOR FAMILY

THE Prime family surely cannot believe what life is throwing at them.

Five weeks ago they lost their father and husband, Darren, and today sit vigil in the intensive care unit at Gold Coast University Hospital hoping the nightmare their son and brother, Brock, finds himself in is not as dark as medical science suggests.

Brock’s mother Donna told the

Bulletin her son had lost a quarter of his brain after he was bashed with a metal bar in a senseless road rage attack on the M1 on Saturday night.

“His left side will be like a stroke victim,” she said.

The callous attack is likely to forever change the lives of a number of men; the victim’s and those of his attackers.

While police are yet to determine the cause of the incident, the thugs need to be brought to justice.

No family deserves to be in the position the Primes find themselves in today.

Their thoughts and efforts are rightly focused on the wellbeing and the long run ahead for Brock. As are ours.

CALL it Black Swan Lake or call it a borrow pit, the fact is that the lake is a viable and vibrant wildlife habitat supporting native and migratory species of water birds which call it home.

Just as we start the Commonwealth Games, how embarrassing is it for Gold Coasters to have domestic and international visitors read that bulldozers are being sent in to commence wilful destruction of a wildlife habitat, and that native birds are reportedly being killed. Cringe!

The Mayor and his supporting councilors, together with the Turf Club, need not miss a great opportunity to demonstrate how environmentally responsible we Gold Coasters are, by retaining the lake.

The turf club in particular need not miss the opportunity to demonstrate its interest in and concern for animal welfare by retaining the lake as bird habitat; such positive action would be particularly helpful to the horse racing industry in light of current and recent negative publicity surrounding equine welfare.

To fill the lake just plays into the hands of the animal activists.

It’s not too late. Let common sense and good judgment prevail, and cease filling the lake immediately. BELLWETHER, GOLD COAST IN Thursday’s Gold Coast Bulletin Mayor Tom Tate was reported to have made some interesting comments (‘Mayor’s Lake Spray’, GCB, 22/02/18).

He claims Black Swan Lake is toxic despite independent tests showing it is far from toxic.

The Mayor also says it will be turned into a grassed area for the public to use. A few paragraphs down he says it will be grassed as a horse pick area – after all we are talking about the Equine Precent.

If the lake is toxic, as Mayor Tom Tate says, perhaps he can explain the abundance of birds and other wildlife living happy and healthy in harmony.

Then don’t forget Black Swan Lake was being filled in as a carpark for the Gold Coast Show.

Well I’m confused! Get your facts correct Mayor Tate. Hiding behind a keyboard is not the answer nor are scripted media interviews.

Mayor Tate, with all due respect, you need to face up to the public and answer their questions and be accountable!

P. RADISH

EVERY afternoon I fear for my daughter and other motorists’ lives, as they try to get home from work. Exit 49 is at a standstill for about 2km on to the M1. They are stopped on the motorway as the exit is congested and none can get off the highway.

The two left lanes are designated truck lanes and it is only a matter of time before one of them goes over the top of the stationary vehicles. The dreadful accident resulting in the death of that young man at Gaven as he was parked in the emergency lane highlights the danger of stationary cars on the M1. Only a minute’s distraction texting will result in a catastrophe.

The alternative routes are as bad and the traffic will only increase dramatically when the huge shopping town, three more approved schools, new commercial precint and new residential areas are completed.

Who is responsible for this lack of forethought and planning?

C.W., GAVEN

Full marks to Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton for his anything but “softly softly” approach on the issues of domestic and nightclub violence. (‘Out with the trash’, GCB, 23/02/18).

Mr Dutton is possibly the most effective Minister in Australia at the moment and how suitable to have such a tough cookie in his portfolio.

We need more like him as society has to deal with DV on the rise and importation of drugs.

Why should Australia’s resources (taxpayers’ money) be wasted on “visiting” persons who commit serious crimes?

There are behavioural expectations of visitors to our country and failure to respect them must see the perpetrators returned to their homelands.

Hopefully this message will sink in so that a reduction in such behaviour eventuates.

A “get tough” edict must also be issued to Queensland’s law courts so that ‘tap on the wrist’ sentences become a thing of the past.

KEN JOHNSTON, ROCHEDALE SOUTH

WHEN beaches are closed for safety reasons there are idiots who know better, putting their lives at risk and those who might undertake a rescue. If there are no lifesavers on duty, let these idiots fend for themselves. A few drownings might get the message through.

I doubt beaches are closed more than a handful of days in a year leaving 360 days to enjoy the water.

PAK WILLIAMS, NERANG

JUST when l read Australian school principals are some of the most stressed people in the workforce, some students overdose on a drug. Luckily, none died and will have learned a lesson.

The principal of Eton was once discussing boys sent to his office for doing something silly. When he asked them why they had done it, they always said they did not know, and he accepted that was a true answer. Teenage boys are still basically clueless.

DAVID HALL, LABRADOR