Shining light

NEARLY a million daffodils will light up the Sunshine State and brighten the lives of Queenslanders diagnosed with cancer this Friday – Daffodil Day.

With the help of thousands of local volunteers, Cancer Council Queensland will sell around 800,000 fresh daffodils, beloved Daffodil Day bears, key rings, magnets, pens and rugby balls to raise funds for a cancer-free future.

I am writing to thank communities in advance – not for simply buying some merchandise or volunteering their time – but for truly giving hope to Queenslanders diagnosed with cancer.

The statistics are sobering. One in two Queenslanders will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime. In South-West Queensland alone, more than 2000 new cases of cancer will be diagnosed this year.

It might seem like such a simple act – purchasing a bunch of daffodils or adding another Cancer Council bear to your collection – but every dollar raised gives hope for better treatments, hope for more survivors, and hope for a cancer-free future.

All funds raised from Cancer Council’s Daffodil Day support vital work in cancer research, education programs and patient support services across Queensland.

So get ready to help us turn the town yellow – grow hope for people diagnosed with cancer this Daffodil Day and shine bright to show your support!

KATIE CLIFT, Cancer Council Queensland

I know many hardworking refugees and immigrants who have settled here from Africa, Asia and the Middle East.

Last week Mayor Paul Antonio was quoted in The Toowoomba Mail as saying, “while we welcome the diverse cultures of our new citizens, we think it’s important they understand and accept the wonderful values that surround being Australian”.

Being Australian means giving everyone “a fair go” and allowing political and religious opinions to be spoken publicly without fear of arrest for offending a minority group.

These values were originally brought here by British settlers who had a Judeo-Christian heritage. Now that 25% of Australians are born overseas, there are growing enclaves in our capital cities where the culture (language, dress, marriage customs and religion) would make the mayor feel like he was the foreigner if he walked down their streets.

BEULAH MAUNDER, Toowoomba