LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

THANK YOU

I AM writing to thank the Toowoomba community for helping us fight back against cancer last weekend.

Around 1375 participants in 147 teams walked throughout the night at Cancer Council Queensland’s 2018 Toowoomba Relay For Life to raise awareness and vital funds for our work.

An incredible $110,500 was raised by teams who rallied together to make a difference.

Community support is instrumental to our work and significantly reduces the burden of cancer on the community.

In South West Queensland around 2040 people are diagnosed with cancer each year - Relay For Life enables us to reach out to them every minute, every hour, every day.

To the local Relay For Life committee, volunteers, participants, sponsors, and all who donated generously – we express our heartfelt thanks.

If you or a loved one needs support following a cancer diagnosis, please call 13 11 20 or visit cancerqld.org.au. MS CHRIS McMILLAN, CEO, Cancer Council Queensland

SPEEDING DRIVERS

WITH reference to Geoff Egan’s article on Toowoomba leadfoots (should that be leadfeet?) May 22, I had to read the third paragraph twice, after being informed that 2017 speeding fines totalled “.... $1,771,985, enough to pay the wages for 26 primary school teachers or 24 registered nurses.”

On first reading it seemed that uncaring and unprincipled motorists had deprived the state of 26 teachers or 24 nurses.

But of course on re-reading, it became clear that the opposite was true and in fact selfless and highly-principled motorists had swelled the state’s coffers sufficient for 26 more teachers or 24 nurses.

A sterling effort, considering 7900, or 83% of the tickets were low range less-than-13 km/hr offences.

That’s a considerable sum and one can see why some police are not happy with the way fixed radar traps are raking it in and making everyone cross.

I’m not happy either having got done for 9 km over a few months ago. Once upon a time you were ok up to 10k over but it looks like money is getting tight.

Anyhow, I digress. Having forgotten most of my high school English, I can’t quite figure out whether Mr Egan’s references to public employee’s salaries are metaphors or similes but I do know he should stick to examples more familiar to us common folk, such as Olympic swimming pools, football fields or trips to the moon and back.

A. R. KENNY, Toowoomba

FAKE MEAT

AS unappetising as it may be, fake meat is here to stay and the beef industry has to get its ducks in line.

This was the common message by speakers from all over the world at Beef Week in Rockhampton recently.

Mr Woodall, senior vice president of government affairs in Washington, told Beef Week visitors, “if you’ve ever had an impossible burger, you’ll know that it takes a week to get the taste out of your mouth”.

Beef is the core of Macca’s business. If consumers demand it, we’ll sell it, McDonald’s beef sourcing boss Andrew Brazier told Beef Week audiences. We have five burger brands, he said, and each one sells more than $1 billion worth each year. That’s a lot of burgers.

Beef is the core of Maccas business success. They sell about $15 billion of Big Macs, he said. Still the fast food giant isn’t ruling out putting fake meat on its menus in due course.

Will they sell? The answer is, yes. How many of us wouldn’t try one and worldwide that would be a lot of fake burgers eaten. Interesting times are coming.

RAY HARCH, Toowoomba