Support neighbours in need

I write this as a long-time Gippsland resident (nearly 78 years) as a farmer, businessman and, apart from six years, a longterm resident.

I bring to your attention the diversity of Gippsland and how in this lovely part of Australia, financially there are great discrepancies in financial circumstances.

I’m asking if you have been fortunate to have a reasonable harvest or earnt reasonable income to think of all that are east of Traralgon who are experiencing the worst drought on record and now disastrous fires that is affecting all residents in one way or another in the east.

They need your support! Financially, spiritually and anyway you can lift their spirits to face 2020, the new decade, to give them hope for the future.

There is a number of organisations you can donate to: GERF (Gippsland Emergency Relief Fund) gerf.org.au; donate to Buy a Bale buyabale.com.au; or your local service clubs (Lions, Rotary, Apex etc).

There are a number of good local fundraisers who make sure nearly 100 per cent gets through to the needy recipients.

I also ask you pray for rain. This is desperately needed and will give hope to many to carry on into the future.

Allan Cunningham, Traralgon

Now that climate change is an accepted reality the next challenge in the battle to better resource our firefighters is the furphy that mythical greenies are instead the impediment.

Gullible townies are swallowing the falsehood that the fire risk can be significantly reduced simply by means of controlled burns and more logging.

Those who have witnessed fire in extreme weather well know, as do the expert firefighters, that on such days the fuel load in the general locality, apart from in very close proximity to assets, is largely irrelevant.

On Black Saturday, I watched fire drop from the sky, run over sparse pasture land and whip through shelter belts and isolated vegetation at a terrifying speed.

There are over 400,000 hectares in Baw Baw Shire alone. It is pure fantasy to think that it can be simply managed by fuel reduction like some manicured suburban lawn and garden.

Instead of cooking up imaginary enemies, we should all unite behind the firefighters and push for better resources in this hostile new environment.

Eric Mainard, Jindivick

I saw with interest that certain people were criticising Scott Morrison for not doing enough for the people that have been devastated by the fires around Cobargo, NSW.

Now I do not know about NSW, but I do know about Victoria.

In 1970 I had the privilege of joining the Department of Survey and Mapping in the Geodetic Section. It was an awesome job and one of the first places I worked was on the Tamboritha Rd between Licola and Dargo.

There was a Forestry Commission camp at a place called Surveyors Creek which was two miles past Arbuckle Junction. The Forest Commission was a department under the state government.

In September and the months following this camp was full of about 50y Forest Commission workers both permanent and casual.

These men were clearing tracks and working on roads waiting for their boss to make up his mind on where and when he was going to burn off.

There was a camp of similar size at Connor’s Plain and one just above Mt Ellery on Greens Rd out of Orbost.

There houses at Licola, five miles south of the top of Mt Buller and another house between Lindenow and Dargo. The three main camps were full of men while the houses were vacant to be used if needed.

There were other camps and houses dotted around the high country but the ones that I have mentioned were in a straight line over 160km.

One day we were at Arbuckle Junction and we were heading to Mt Buller and we saw a huge cloud of smoke directly in front of us. We decided to continue on and 15 miles later came across Bull and his boys burning off.

There was no danger and everything was under control. This was a pattern that continued from the 1939 fires until the late 1980s.

Then, clever university graduates decided we did not know what was good for us and started burning off in April because it was better for the environment.

They got rid of the cattle in the high country because they were doing too much damage even though the undergrowth was kept down.

And then they had the Forest Commission amalgamated with the National Parks of Victoria resulting in no more Forest Commission.

Because there is no more Forest Commission, tracks have become overgrown and access to fires is at best poor.

Any burning off to be done is decided in Melbourne - how they can tell what the conditions are like when they are 200km away is beyond me.

A lot of this has been brought about by some governments kowtowing to the green movement who bury their heads in the sand whilst screaming “it’s not my fault”.

Today that beautiful mountain air is gone and is filled with the smell of smoke. I blame these fires on the state government and their lack of action to all parts of rural Victoria.

Peter Walsh, Warragul

I am writing to suggest that the Telstra broadband implementation was premature and that we still really need the copper wire phone system that hasn’t existed for many years.

In emergency situations, we are left without communication. This is a big problem.

Return the copper wire system please Telstra. It may cost you more money but there are still lots of people out there who prefer that to everything being on broadband.

Susan Lindsay, Warragul

A big thank you to all the volunteers who assisted the committee with the Community Christmas lunch on Christmas Day.

The use of the facilities at the Uniting Church were much appreciated as were the donations received from a number of local businesses to make this a yearly event.

Thankyou to the Warragul Gazette for advertising this worthwhile yearly event.

Marion Byrne Secretary, Community Christmas Luncheon

Incorrectly, I believed as a result of the Royal Commission into the Black Saturday fires, it was necessary to reduce the fuel loads in the bush.

Is it not time we learnt from these tragedies? Rather than pander to those green types who do not believe in fuel reduction or other forms of property protection as we must consider the "critters" that reside in fallen trees or long grass, we must learn from the current tragedy and adopt the same practice that indigenous people have done for thousands of years and that is reduce the fuel load so that bushfires have nothing to feed on and that regeneration can occur.

When the next round of state and local government elections fall due, candidates should be queried as to their position regarding fuel reduction.

If their answer is no to the proposition of fuel reduction, do not vote for them.

Kevin Dixon, Drouin

With reference to the letter from the editor (Gaz 24/12), I applaud the stance taken by the editor that everyone has the right to voice their opinion and it is dangerous not to allow that right.

I find it quite disturbing how, in relation to man-made global warming, the agenda is being manipulated so much, through media mainly, that contrary opinion or even facts do not get heard.

Bricks to Baw Baw Shire. What a bottleneck our town has become – just because of beautification. What about general public access and shopkeepers?

Bouquets to the lovely couple from Trafalgar who changed my tyre last Thursday in the carpark behind McDonalds, Warragul. Many, many thanks.

Bouquets to the homes around Trafalgar with wonderful Christmas light displays. Thanks for taking the time.

I have put together a “recipe for success” for anyone who wants to push their agenda through, whatever it may be, based on the example set by the climate change issue.

Start with a group of like-minded people, including some “experts” (scientists) in the field. Promote a scenario that these experts are the very best and most senior going around and cannot be argued with. Throw lots of money at it to boost the numbers as high as possible. Now the “experts say” will carry great authority.

Do not allow anyone to question the agenda from within the group or other institutions.

Anyone who opposes the agenda from outside the group should be squashed, especially if they are a world-renowned expert. Do not engage in debate and do not attempt to debunk their argument.

If you can’t actually prove your stance then create a “consensus” of experts. Something that appears like a poll or survey that shows an overwhelming result. Something like 97 per cent, not 100 per cent, because it has to appear like the opposition has been counted.

A good way to do it is to look at, say, 12,000 “random” papers from experts, narrow it down to 34 that actually address the topic, find that 33 agree with your viewpoint and there it is, 97 per cent. It may seem dodgy, but, if you repeat it enough the masses will adopt it.

Get the media on side - get them repeating your agenda without question. Get them to shut down any opposing view. If you block out one side of the debate you can claim there is no debate.

If you do engage in debate with the opposition, do not bother with counter argument or facts. It is best to disarm them with personal attacks, insults and general put downs.

Another real winner is to put a child up as your spokesperson. Gets the sentimental vote, gets the kids in, and, best of all, stops anyone from disagreeing because they will be accused of attacking a child.

Finally, remember to keep pushing the propaganda. It does not have to be factual. Ninetyseven per cent will not check the facts. If you say it enough it will rub off and the masses will drive your agenda for you.

Will Allgood, Jindivick

Bouquets to the wonderful people who assisted during a caravan fire at Drouin South on new year’s day. Hallora fire brigade, police and ambulance, generous and fast thinking helpers who took evasive action and delivered timely first aid. Super grateful, many thanks.

Bricks to the person who, for the second time this past few months, has flown their drone in Lilleys Rd, Warragul. Hovering over myself and children in our backyard is a great violation of my family’s privacy, not to mention breaking the law for use of drones in Australia.