YOUR VIEWS
WRITE TO: P0 Box 1, Southport 4215 EMAIL: editorial@goldcoast.com.au FACEBOOK: facebook.com/goldcoastbulletin
LAST Sunday night I was contacted by Broadbeach Police in relation to the sudden death of a friend.
I would like to extend a big thank you to the three officers who showed me so much support and compassion at the hospital and my home during this stressful time.
So often police do not receive the recognition they deserve for the difficult work they do. However these officers richly deserve my heartfelt appreciation.
PETER MARENDY, GOLD COAST
THE statistics regarding mental health in Australia are both startling and unacceptable.
One in three Australians will experience a mental health issue in
their lifetime. Suicide is the biggest killer of young Australians and accounts for the deaths of more young people than car accidents.
We need to acknowledge those who are doing groundbreaking work in this area.
The Australian Mental Health Prize seeks to recognise Australians who have made outstanding contributions to either the promotion of mental health or the prevention and treatment of mental illness in areas such as advocacy, research or service.
I wish to urge clinicians, health professionals and the public to nominate people they feel should be recognised for their work.
More information and nomination forms are at www.australian mentalhealthprize.org.au. Entries close August 31.
ITA BUTTROSE AUSTRALIAN MENTAL HEALTH PRIZE ADVISORY GROUP
ENDURANCE athlete Damien Rider impressed by running the Gold Coast Airport Marathon carrying a mattress over his shoulder. (GCB, 3/7).
And he finished right on time. How tempting it must have been to place the mattress down under a shady tree and have 40 winks.
But no, with that inner spring in his every step, he carried on to the end. This could become a popular novelty event in future years as several competitors take the bedroom to the streets. What’s that you say. A blanket finish?
KEN JOHNSTON
LOVE or hate it, I pay over $4000 a year for my private health, but when you’re 55 and you have a shockingly painful hip the best news you have is when you see your health fund just paid your $17,000 hospital bill.
Even better when I look back at my cancer bill for $98,000 about eight years ago.
PERKO, GOLD COAST
GOOD on you Fiona Burns in helping with your family clean up Tallebudgera Creek.
I myself often remove bottles, cans, plastic bags and fishing line from Currumbin Creek and am sure many others do as well.
Our waterways are our most precious asset and we must do everything to keep them clean.
Fishermen with discarded lines, hooks and plastic bait bags and smokers with their butts discarded are the worst offenders.
Let’s aim to have the cleanest waterways in Australia.
RADISH ENDERS, GOLD COAST