A letter from the editor

This year The Gazette published more than 230 letters to the editor.

I know from the comments that I receive it is a highly sought after section of our paper. For many it is the only forum they have to publically voice an opinion.

Our letters are the voices of our people They provide a window to the world at local, national. and international level.

This year’s have covered a broad range of subjects ranging from support for a new West Gippsland Hospital to the pressures of rural living in a rapidly growing region and in between a few quirky submissions to provide some light relief.

Letters may be edited for space, grammar or legal concerns, but they are never censored.

In today’s social media filter bubble letters can make us see another viewpoint, even if it is one with which we disagree.

In a mash of hashtags and 140 character refinement of the most complex of issues, it is refreshing that letters provide an alternative forum.

People ask me why I run particular letters but it is not up to me to pick and choose. It is important to be aware of what others have to say and defend their right to say it.

In this day of filtered “news” feeds and channelled information it is important to remember that everyone has a point of view. It may not be one with which we agree but everyone has a right to voice it.

To all our letter writers I wish you a safe and happy Christmas and new year. May you find the same passion in 2019 and continue to contribute.

For those of you with a pen poised take the plunge and make it into print next year.

The following lists all of our letter writers. Some have written more than one letter but their name appears only once in this list.

Joan Ahern, Warragul, Sally Alsop, Warragul, Helene Armour, Lardner, Helene and Ian Armour, Lardner, Don Auchterlonie, Yarragon.

Jeanette Baldwin, Ellinbank, J. Barake, Warragul, Mark Bateman, Warragul, Aldo Bagnara, Warragul, Gordon Bedford, Warragul, Ted Benjamin, Neerim Junction, Charmaine de Blieck, Mitcham, Gary Blackwood, Member for Narracan, Neil Boal, Warragul, Helen Bolton, Drouin, Christie Bransgrove, Warragul, Brendan Brentwood, Drouin, Brian Brewer, Walhalla, Rosalie Brock, Warragul, A. Bullen, Tetoora Rd, Carol Bullimore, Warragul, Bruce Bowering, Drouin West, Wally Brown, Noojee, Mandy Buttner, Warragul.

Frank Carleton, Longwarry, Beth Carr, Warragul, David Clarke, Noojee, Liz Clay, Piedmont, Naomi Coleman, Inverloch, Trevor Collins, Neerim Junction, Jim Connelly, Warragul, Janet Cowden, Neerim South, Lisa Cox, Warragul, Peter Cusden, Warragul,.

John Davine, Warragul, Bernard Doherty, Crossover, Diana Donigi, Warragul, Malcolm Dow, Drouin, John Duck, Trafalgar, Robert Dunlop, Warragul, Debbie Dunlop, Drouin, Gerard Dovey, Drouin, Tom Dziedzicki, Drouin,

Phil Edwards, Drouin, Travis Edwards, Warragul, Jim Evans Warragul, Kerry Elliott, Warragul,

Peter Ferguson, Trafalgar, Michael Fozard, Trafalgar, Craig Forsythe, Neerim North, Jeff Francis, Warragul, Martin Fuller, WGCMA.

Neville Goodwin, Krowera, Dawn Gough, Warragul, James Goulter, Yarragon, Danny Goss, Warragul, Stephen Gray, Warragul, Stephanie Green Warragul, Karen Green, Warragul, Janette Greenchields, Drouin, Patricia Giblin, Warragul, Bob Graham, Yarragon, Helen Gregg, Drouin, Deb Gribben, Longwarry, Peter Gribben, Drouin, Leone Gunter, Jindivick.

Dawn Hall, Warragul, Mary Hansen, Bunyip, Mary Hardwick- Jones, Warragul, John Hart, Warragul, Terry Hayler, Drouin, Terry Hennessy, Warragul, Chris Healy, Drouin, Ian Hill, Buln Buln East, Ian Honey, Catherine Holland, Warragul, Les Horsfield, Thorpdale, Warragul, Mary Howlett, Warragul, Francis Hoy, Gardenvale, Ann Humphreys, Warragul, Pauline Humphries, Ripplebrook, Gwen Hunter, Yarragon.

Ian Jackson, Drouin West, Patrick Johnson, Warragul, Susan Johnson, Warragul, Sharon Jordan, Longwarry.

Paul Kaech, Warragul, Mark Kaiser, Warragul, Linden Kasori, Warragul, J. Kinder, Warragul, Hedy Kirkbride, Nilma.

Jillian Lawrence, Jindivick, Troy Lawton, Warragul, Matthew Laverack, Warragul, Illana Leeds, Drouin, Anton Leschen, Smith Family, charity, C. Loverain, Drouin, Allan Lowe, Warragul, David Lyons, Trafalgar.

Barbara Maison, Drouin, Roger Marks, Drouin, Jo Marriott, Warragul, Lynton Malley, Cloverlea, Don McLean, Bunyip, Joan McColl, Drouin, Don McLean, Warragul, Don McLean, Bunyip, Sharon McGowan, Stroke Foundation, K. McGill, Warragul, Jake McKenzie, Frankston, Sandra McPhee, Warragul, Wally Marek, Warragul, Glenys Marriott, Warragul, Elly Martin, Cloverlea, Robert Martin, Warragul, Christine Maxfield, Drouin East Alex Messina, Vic Forests, Des Morris, Warragul, J. Mowbray, Warragul, Bill Mumford, Warragul Nancy Murphy, Drouin, Gwenneth Myers, Diamond Creek.

Susan Oliver, East Melbourne, David Shane and Tammy Onslow, Dingley Dekk, Osterlund, Warragul, Neil O’Sullivan, Allambee Reserve,

John Parker, Ripplebrook, Wendy Perfitt, Trafalgar, Michelle Path, Warragul, Gary Payne, Bunyip, Drouin, Jenny Pearce, Rokeby, Nicholas Peck, Trida, Ormond Pearson, Warragul, Neville Pellitt, Warragul, Fred Perez, Garfield, Bill Petch Leukaemia Foundation, Jane Phillips, Warragul, Richard Pitt, Warragul, Trish Price, Warragul, Judy Potter, Yarragon, Bruce Pratt, Warragul South, Bill Pyle, Warragul.

Bernie Regan, Warragul, Doug Roberts, Warragul Christopher Roering, Darnum, Irene Rolfe, Warragul, Dylan Roche, Warragul, Klaus Rottler, Nilma, Lyn Robinson, Trafalgar, Helen Ryan, Warragul, Derek Russell, Warragul.

Christine Sands, Drouin, Garry Sattell, Noojee, Marc Schellekens, Drouin, Kenneth Scott, Mark Shannon, Muckleford, Martin Shaw, Mirboo North, Pam Sharman, Warragul, David Shiels, Warragul, Rob Sinnett, Warragul, Eric Smith, Shady Creek, Miriam Snoxall, Jindivick, Ian Stacy, Warragul, Elizabeth Stephens, Neerim South, Shirley Stone, Drouin, Paul Strickland, Cloverlea, Ian Symons, Drouin.

Michael Tammes, Warragul, Max Thomas, Yarragon, Dawn Tisdale, Drouin, Ray Tonkin, Clifton Hill, Peter Towns, Drouin, Gaye Trevan, Noojee, Bill and Sylvia Trewern, Warragul, David Trewern, Yarragon, Greg Tuck, Warragul, Gwen Turner, Warragul. Ian Urquhart, Drouin. Duncan Wade, Hallora, Christine Webb, Mountain View, Christine Williamson, Drouin, Janet Wylie Drouin, Sally Willshire, Warragul. Carolyn Turner, editor

The question “what will happen in the future?” is perfectly natural (Gaz 18/12).

The earth has existed for a long time, it has had the medieval warming period around 1500 AD, when the temperature was warm enough for grapes to grow in the middle of England and Greenland was farmed.

Then around 1700 AD the Little Ice Age occurred when the river Thames froze over. This was particularly bad because the root crops from South America had not been discovered, so there was massive starvation in Europe.

Our energy comes from the sun which has its own cycle in space which is sometimes close to the earth and sometimes further away which obviously affects our climate.

A solar cycle normally lasts about 10 years ( Professor David Archibald) To demonise carbon dioxide is unwise as it is the major food for plants, and in a world with an expanding population the maximum production of food will be required. D. Auchterlonie, Trafalgar