A letter from the editor

This year The Gazette published more than 250 letters to the editor.

I know from the comments I receive it is a highly sought after section of our paper. For many it is the only forum they have to voice their opinion.

Virtually every letter I have received has been published in some form or other. Letters are sometimes edited for space or for legal reasons, but they are never censored.

This year the main issue, as it has been across the nation and all over the world, has been climate change.

It is a subject where opinions differ greatly but our letters have generally represented those who believe it is man made and those who don’t.

Newpapers such as The Los Angeles Times have decided not to publish letters opposing climate change, believing there is ample evidence that human activity is linked to climate change.

Putting the issue as such aside, it is dangerous not to afford all people the right to express their views.

Some readers tell me they look at the name of the letter writer before they decide if they will read the letter. That seems to me to be a sensible approach.

In these times of filtered news feeds people seem less tolerant to views different from their own. It is important to remember that everyone has a point of view. It may not be one with which we agree, but everyone has a right to voice it. The letters pages should reflect the views of our readers - all readers.

To all of our letter writers I wish you a safe and happy Christmas and new year. May you find the same passion in 2020 and continue to contribute.

For those of you with fingers hovering over a key board be brave and get yourself in print next year.

The following lists all our letter writers this year. Some have written more than one letter but they only appear on this list once.

A. Diston, Warragul; A. R. Ballantyne, Warragul; Alan Bright, Neerim South; Alex Messina, VicForest; Andrea Webster, Seaview; Andrew Smith, Warragul; Angela Pearson, Darnum; Ann Humnphries, Warragul; Anne Marks, Drouin; Anton Leschen.

Bernard Doherty, Crossover; Bernie Regan, Warragul; Beth Carr, Warragul; Bill Taylor, Willow Grove; Bill Westhead, Warragul; Bob Graham, Yarragon; Bob Green, Warragul South; Brendan Kingwill, Trafalgar; Brett Forge, Warragul; Brian Chapman, Drouin; Briohney Klason; Bruce Bowering, Drouin West; Bruce Pratt, Warragul South; Bunyip Fire Brigade volunteers.

C. Loverain, Drouin; Carolyn Prime, Drouin; Catherine Durant, Crossover; Cathryn Fairbairn, Noojee; Cheris Phillips, Nilma; Chris Waddell, Bunyip; Christine Webb, Mountain View; Clive Alsop, Warragul; Colin Kent, Lillico; Craig Forsythe, Neerim North.

D. J. Auchterlone, Trafalgar; D. Smith, Drouin; Darleen Fankhauser, Drouin; Darryl Martin, Drouin; Dave McNamara, Foodbank; David Clarke, Noojee; David Wells, Neerim East; Dawn Gough, Warragul; Deborah Wearne, Drouin; Des Eyles, Warragul; Diana Donigi, Warragul; Dianne Potter, Warragul; Dianne Stewart, Drouin; Dominic McInerney, Warragul; Don McLean, Bunyip; Don McLean, Warragul.

Eamon Ohare, Warragul; Eileen Heatley, Warragul; Elaine Boyes; Elaine Ferguson, Drouin; Elisabeth Smoorenburg, Yarragon;

Elly Martin, Cloverlea; Eric Mainard, Jidnivick; Eric Mainard, Jindivick; Eric Smith, Shady Creek; Eward Benjamin, Neerim Junction.

Fiona Powell, Warragul; Frank Carleton, Longwarry.

Gary Banner, Warragul; Gaye Trevan, Noojee; Geoff Dethlewfs, Drouin; Geoff Edwards, Godwin Beach; Geoff Hawkey, Warragul; Glenda Stewart, Drouin; Glenn Rodda, Trafalgar; Glenys Marriott, Warragul; Gordon and Julie Cowling, Briagalong; Graeme Skinner, Walhalla; Graham Behrendorff, Warragul; Greg Tuck, Warragul; Gwen Dale.

Hanif Rahimi, Drouin; Hannah Jones, Seaview; Hayler Messenger; Heather Bedford, Warragul; Hedley Mann, Warragul; Hedy Kirkbride, Nilma; Helen Armour, Warragul; Helen Case, Droiuin; Helen Case, Drouin; Holly Atkinson.

Ian Haughton, Drouin; Ian Hill, Buln Buln East; Ian Honey, Warragul; Ian Nottage, Warragul; Ian Stacy, Warragul; Ian Worth, Warragul; Ilana Leeds, Drouin East; Illana Leeds, Jeeralang Junction; Inge Mitchell, Yarragon South; Ingrid Brown, Allamee Reserve; Irene Broadbent, Darnum; Isobel Simon.

J. Pedersen, Warragul; Jackie Fankhauser; Jacqueline Johnson, Longwqarry North; Jan Bethune, CWA; Janet Cowden, Neerim South; Janet McConvile, Yarragon; Jean Rodwell Hallston; Jeff Smythe, Drouin West; Jemelle Spriggs; Jennifer Emmanel, Darnum; Jenny Murnane, Warragul; Jenny Pearce, Warragul; Jenny Worboys; Jim Connelly, Warragul; Jim Evans, Warragul; Jim Hall, Walhalla; Joan Lye, Warragul; Joan McColl, Drouin; Joan McColl, Queensland; Joan Snell, Warragul; Joanna Ash, Drouin; Joel Fanning; John Anderson, Bunyip; John Duck, Trafalgar; John Hart, Warragul; John Leviston, Warragul; John Reeves; Joseph Ridley, Warragul; Joy Davies; Judee Cooke, Warragul; Judith Butler, Warragul; Julia Fleming, Neerim South; June Harvey, Drouin.

K. McColl, Warragul; K. McGill, Warragul; K. Munro, Warragul; Karl Hood; Kath Trewern, Warragul; Katrina Magyar, Warragul; Kenneth Scott, Drouin; Kerry Elliott, Warragul; Kevin Richardson, Warragul; Kirsten Finger, Warragul.

Leanne Bateson, Drouin; Lee Pattinson, Vesper; Leonie Broeren, Neerim South; Les Horsfield, Thorpdale; Letita Clark; Lindsay Nicholson, Noojee; Lionel Salman, Drouin; Lisa Benn, Drouin West; Liz Fox, ACT; Liz Jacobsen, Drouin; Lloyd George, Warragul South; Lorraine Box, Labertouche; Louise Sterling; Lyn Street, Brandy Creek; Lynden Dempsey, Shady Creek; Lynton Malley, Cloverlea.

M. Watson, Drouin; Malcolm McKelvie; Marc Schelekens, Drouin; Marc Schellekens, Drouin; Marc Shellekens, Drouin; Marc Skellekens, Drouin; Maree Ludecke, Warragul; Marie Therese Tuck, Warragul; Marion Byrne, Warragul; Mary Gibson, Drouin; Mary Hardwick-Jones, Warragul; Mary Howlett, Warragul; Mary Hughes, Neerim; Matthew Laverack, Warragul; Michael Buckingham, Warragul;

Michael Foizard, Trafalgar; Michael Fozard, Trafalgar; Michael Groves, Drouin; Michael Leaney, Baw Baw Shire councillor; Michelle Maes, Longwarrry; Michelle Maes, Longwarry; Michelle Revisi, Latrobe Commuinity Health; Mick Hobgen, Warragul; Mikaela Power, Baw Baw Shire mayor; Mitchell Kraan;.

Neil Darby, Warragul; Nicholas Duck, Trafalgar.

Ormond Pearson, Warragul;.

Paul Christian, Yarragon; Paul Kaech, Warragul; Paul Montagnat, Warragul; Pauline Durnan, Warragul; Pauline Hastings, Warragul; Peter Gribben, Drouin; Peter Grubben, Drouin; Peter Ware, Drouin; Phil Kincard, Lardner; Phillip Kincaid, Lardner..

Ralph Slaughter, Drouin; Ray Tonkin, Clifton Hill; Robert Dunlop, Warragul; Robyn Banner, Warragul; Roger Marks, Drouin; Roman Kulkewycz, Bunyip; Russell Hupfield, Warragul; Russell Wright, Walhalla;.

S. Johnson, Warragul; Sair Hayllar; Sally Everett, Hallora; Sam Underhill, Warragul; Scott Cameron, Warragul; Simon Rabl, Warragul; Simone Bowers, Warragul; Stacey Rosentreter, Warragul; Stan Rodwell, Drouin; Steve Plunkett, Aberfeldy; Stuart Lawson, Warragul; Sue Milner, Drouin; Sue Rodwell, Drouin; T. Stroud, Warragul; The Smith Family;

Tony Fitzgerald, Bunyip; Trevor Bramstedt, Nilma; Trevor Gadd, Warragul.

Val and Adie Pratt, Warragul;.

Wally Brown, Piedmont; Wally Marek, Warragul; Wayne Farnham, Warragul; Wendy Earwicker; Wendy Talbot, Bunyip; Will Allgood, Jindivick.

Thoughtful leadership

People say that the climate has always changed, implying that it goes one way then returns to what it originally was.

Since the Industrial Revolution burning of fossil fuels has built up the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere causing the earth’s temperature to rise by about 1 degree. Doesn't sound like much but has a massive effect on weather systems.

Carbon dioxide and other gases don’t take long to get into the air, but do not disappear as easily as they arrive.

The climate would not return immediately to what it was before humans started the mass burning of fossil fuels, even if we stopped burning them now.

The longer we continue to do it the more parts per million of CO2 will be in the atmosphere and the temperature will gradually rise further and weather events will become even more extreme.

Mathematics shows the bell-curve graph for extreme weather events moves into a more extreme zone with each temperature rise. Day after day, we hear about highest temperatures being recorded and the word “unprecedented” in relation to weather events constantly.

Baw Baw Shire’s Mayor was recently alerted to a petition from people wanting the shire to declare a climate emergency.

He was reported as saying he was elected to deal with “rates, roads and rubbish”. Climate change is related to each of these matters.

We need thoughtful leadership everywhere including in Baw Baw Shire to steer society to find a way to exist on the planet that does not include damaging the climate further.

Joan McColl, Drouin