LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Welcome
IT IS with great pleasure I welcome the Shen Yun Performing Arts to the Toowoomba region and to our beautiful Empire Theatre.
We are delighted to be the first city to host Shen Yun in the Australian leg of its 2018 global tour.
Toowoomba’s diversity is one of its greatest strengths and the Chinese community adds an important dimension to our rich traditions and bold ambitions.
Shen Yun, through its talents, remarkably captures the beauty and essence of 5000 years of Chinese civilisation and traditional values on stage.
Therefore, I know our residents are in for a wonderful experience of world-class classical dance and music as stunning reflections of China’s rich history.
Enjoy the colour, magic and emotion of this spectacular performance on January 18. — PAUL ANTONIO, Mayor Toowoomba Region
Animal cruelty
REFERRING to P.E.T.A. and cruelty by shearers (TC, 15/12).
As a wool industry worker for 55 years I reject the so-called results of a visit to four woolsheds as being typical of all.
The procedure I followed, and which I saw in other sheds, was to warn the shearer twice, and dismiss him on the third offence.
I have seen back pain and frustration overcome shearer’s self control at times, but never have I seen a sheep injured or unconscious as a result.
If P.E.T.A had widened its research it would have learned that there are no-shear breeds of sheep, and that a no-cut method of divesting sheep of their wool is being trialled.
By referring to sheep as gentle animals, Ms Newkirk reveals she has never had to administer their medications, vaccines, or parasite control, or shear them for that matter.
I’d give quids to see her try it. It is hysterical, shoot-from-the-lip statements like hers that give an industry an unearned bad name. — W.J. COWARD, Highfields
Change is coming
AS WE all go about our daily lives, we need to remember that it is those things which we love to do the most that will determine our success in life.
Many people work long hours at careers they do not enjoy, and you can see this in the sort of customer service they are providing.
Whether you work for a boss or are in business for yourself, or merely volunteering your time, you must enjoy what you do to be any good at it.
I am currently enjoying very much teaching an elderly lady how to send emails to her relatives.
Being able to keep in touch with your family and friends for older people who live alone is very important.
Life is all about communication, and when we stop communicating we tend to fall into a depressive state.
Elderly people do not have to fear the digital age and the oncoming fourth industrial revolution of machine intelligence.
They are just tools that are designed to make all our lives easier and safer.
Change is coming faster and faster and those who do not keep up with it will be left behind.
As much as some of us do not like change, we cannot stop the change, any more than we can stop the sun from setting. — DAVE FREDERICKS, Toowoomba