HAVE YOUR SAY!

Common Decency

Some time ago, I walked down the steep steps of the Opera House with a young lady I had been sitting next to. When we got to level ground, I told her my instinct was to have taken her arm. Her reply, "Good job you didn't". Recently, in the Aldi car park I was carrying two loads and even so gave way to another lady. She motioned me forward. Shaking my head, I ļĔĆÑ ñÕİ E ËĔŁĆÑ čĔļ ëĔ ţİĴļʣ AÕİ İÕĭĆŘ ²Ĵ ĴñÕ ČĔŕÕÑ Ŗ²Ĵʞ ʦļñÕŘ ÑĔčʧļ Č²ăÕ them like that anymore"—two different responses. I was taught/ learned the basics of common decency. Open doors for ladies, never wear a hat indoors or at the table, stand aside for ladies and when shopping, show consideration always to those attending you, to name a few.

‹ñÕ ļŘĭõË²Ć İÕĴĭĔčĴÕ ļĔ ñÕĆĭõčë õĴ ţİĴļ ² ĆĔĔă Ĕê ĴŁİĭİõĴÕʞ ² ĴČõĆÕ ²čÑ a thank you. It is sad to witness surprise. By all accounts, too many treat people badly when on the phone, social media or in the safety of their car/castle.

¥ñŘ ²İÕ ËĔČČĔč ËĔŁİļÕĴõÕĴ ÑõĴ²ĭĭÕ²İõčëʤ \²ŘÊÕ ŘĔŁčëÕİ ČĔļñÕİĴ and older women appreciate help to get through a day, whereas men in general and young people carry no such burdens. Suspicion of motives may be an issue. I take my dog to the reserve, and sometimes a group of mothers run around the path. I always clap as they pass and encourage them. A common response "I needed that". I told a younger guy this story, and he said that he could not do that as his actions would not be ŖÕĆËĔČÕÑ Ĕİ ËĔŁĆÑ ÊÕ ČõĴŁčÑÕİĴļĔĔÑʣ E ţčÑ ļñ²ļ ļİĔŁÊĆõčë ²čÑ Ĵ²Ñʣ ƒĔ there we are, a complicated world whereby many people lament that grace and courtesy have gone out the window. By and large, living in Galston sees the locals look after each other, and for this, we should be grateful. We should embrace and guard our community spirit. Let's make sure that we continue to respect and show courtesy to all.

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editorial@galstoncommunity.com.au