Moral obligation to keep funds local

I write in response to the article on the sale of the Warragul Scout land (Gaz 1/9). This land was donated by the late Dr David Jones, a respec ted Warragul veterinarian. I support council’s move to retain this site as public open space.

Dr Jones made several donations and bequests to local organisations. One was his office at 46 Queen St which was bequethed to the Warragul branch of the Country Women’s Association.

Like most multi-branched organisations, along with Scouts and service clubs, property ownership must be vested in the central organisation in the case of CWA this was the Country Women’s Association of Victoria.

The Warragul branch resolved to sell the Queen St property to buy something more suitable in Victoria St.

Before the sale CWA Victoria asserted the proceeds of the sale must be returned to Melboure.

CWA Warragul was able to produce documents that showed the intent of the bequest and proceeds of subsequent sale was to benefit the women and children of Warragul. CWA Victoria replied in writing relinquishing claim to these funds. I understand CWA Warragul still has these documents.

We now have the same situation where land donated by the same benefcator is to be sold with proceeds directed to the metro-centric Scouts Victoria.

Given the clear intent on property bequethed to CWA, it is expected the benefactor had the same intent for land donated to the Scouting movement.

While it may not be a matter of law to see the proceeds of this sale retained for the benefit of Warragul’s young people, I believe the retention of these funds in Warragul is a moral obligation in respect to the intent of the late Dr Jones.

Geoff Anderson, Warragul people to take their coffee ‘on the run', but please, do not condone law-breaking with a disregard for road safety.

I would suggest therefore that some form of statement appear in the next edition not supporting drinking coffee (or other beverage), while driving.

Chris Williams, Willow Grove again – a direct result of the folly of locking up healthy people and restricting their ability to feed their families.

JobKeeper and JobSeeker will not last forever. What indeed will be the fate of those who have lost businesses and jobs, wiped by the knee jerk reaction of unthinking political overlords?

The real pandemic is yet to eventuate, and will I am sure start to manifest in its full misery in the coming year. Stagflation and hyperinflation, coupled with rising taxes to pay for government folly, rising interest rates and rising food prices due to border closures and restrictions on abattoir and food packing plants are all ahead of us.

The hiatus on bank mortgages will not last forever – will we start to see firesales on the properties of those who cannot pay when the bank whistles for their money?

Andrews has already flagged a land tax for those who have broken their backs to pay out their mortgages early. How will healthy families survive into the future? Where will they live? How will they pay their expenses? How indeed will they feed themselves?

Perhaps it is past time to rethink the national strategy and focus the effort in the areas that have consistently proven to be high risk. Our suffering as a nation is only just beginning.

Prue Foley Trafalgar

Australia was on a giant yo yo string when the string reached its end Australia started to recoil.

From their research scientists confirmed Australia was drifting a half an inch northward every year.

Further research indicated that for every reaction there is a reaction. If Australia is drifting north countries in the northern hemisphere must be drifting south. Further reading alleviated my fears as I will be a long time dead.

Other than putting giant anchors at strategic places, the inevitable will happen and the magnetic pull of the earth will sling Australia forwards. The scientists went on to state that the earth was a giant jigsaw puzzle waiting to be put together again.

The pieces will slot together once more creating the Supernova Continent Patagonia.

They agreed that on compressing the world Australia will slot in with India.

What people call climate change was referred to as continental drift.

Continental drift is happening now and there is nothing you can do about it.

We just have to try and find another way to keep cool until the inevitable happens.

Bryan Ellis, Drouin