YOUR VIEWS

CR Gary Baildon should be ashamed he has chosen his Gold Coast Show interest above his council responsibilities over the retaining of Black Swan Lake in the turf club arena at Bundall.

The mountain of dirt to do this fill has been in place, for over 12 months, opposite Benowa Tavern.

We have a wildlife refuge in the middle of our city that Council has voted to fill in to provide car parking for the Gold Coast Show, an annual three -day event.

There are rumours the Show is seeking a new venue due to lack of facilities for some animal events. The Show uses the training track for parking with shuttle services to events. It works, so why change?

I have been in frequent contact with Councillor Hermann Vorster asking why he voted against retaining this area as a protected site.

Essentially he was pushing for a large tree planting and making safe a number of areas on the edge of the city and was dismissive of maintaining any area at Bundall, saying the cost was unwarranted.

Frankly, I believe Black Swan Lake is too important to erase.

How can council absolve its city responsibilities and hand over control of this area to the Turf Club? GEOFF REEVE

I URGE people to read about Bangka Island and the machine gunning of 23 Australian nurses (Peter Ford, GCB, 20/4). It is one of many atrocities perpetrated by the Japanese during WWII.

My dear Dad spent six years fighting mostly overseas (Borneo and the Middle East) and died as a result of injuries sustained.

My mother died recently and I will never forget what she used to say: “You can forgive but you can never forget”. RICHARD GAGIE

THANK you Robert S. Buick MM JP (Your Views, 18/4) for coming south to share your Labor/Green/ Global/LGBTI conspiracy theory with us Gold Coasters re same-sex marriage (aka marriage equality).

I can assure you when same-sex marriage does become law in Australia, you will definitely not have to have one.

And I think you don’t need to worry about any same-sex wedding invitations coming your way. COLIN HAUVILLE THE enduring Anzac legacy and the ideal of mateship are more important than ever.

Mateship is an integral part of the national identity. It’s all about looking out for each other.

The Salvos have served alongside Australian troops in both World Wars and has supported them on deployments in Korea and Vietnam. Today, we are present in military bases across the country.

We’ve been there providing support to our troops in their times of need – giving them a hand up and a listening ear in their darkest times.

Whether a simple act of kindness or helping someone rebuild after tragedy – mateship is the common thread that unites us.

As we enter these uncertain times, I encourage all Australians to reflect on the Anzac spirit. LT COLONEL KELVIN PETHYBRIDGE CHIEF SECRETARY IN CHARGE THE SALVATION ARMY