Opinion

Kym and Stephen Cross, Campbells Creek As organisers of the Jarrah’s Fight for Sight GoFundMe campaign and last month’s Concert for Jarrah in Campbells Creek, we would like to convey our deep gratitude to the Midland Express for the pivotal role the paper played in getting Jarrah’s story out into the wider community. Thanks to…

Chris Hooper, Castlemaine Premier Daniel Andrews and his government are giving with one hand and taking with the other. They’re doing great work with public transport and getting rid of level crossings. Their solar panel subsidy is really generous and batteries are going to be added to the list. All good things for the environment.…

Trevor A Scott, Castlemaine Climate science warns us that the Earth is gradually warming and rainfall is decreasing. The recently released report from the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) advises us that if pollution levels continue to rise at the current rate (i.e. a business-as-usual scenario), human-driven warming of the planet will exceed 1.5…

Jill Loorham, Castlemaine The vacated secondary college campus at Etty Street would be a great space for training, education and business as proposed. However, the oval and other areas that have until now provided open space and garden should be retained. Our world and our town needs to cherish trees, plants and grass as places…

Tony Bell, Castlemaine Mount Alexander Shire Council advertised a small business workshop in the Express on October 23 (‘Do you need a succession plan?’ page 6). So this council is now capable of telling businesses in our shire what they should do regarding selling their business or changing management in their business. I think not!…

Wendy Hebbard, New Gisborne I feel grateful that we have our present electoral system of compulsory voting. Hopefully, we all think carefully before using this privilege. I read recently that in America, many ‘would-be’ voters are disenfranchised. The arrangements make it difficult, if not impossible, in some areas polling-stations are situated inconveniently, sometimes out of…

Vicki Farrell, Newstead Mount Alexander Shire Council has voted unanimously to support the Castlemaine Hot Rod Centre Limited and Workspace in their quest to secure the Etty Street Campus that has been mostly vacated by the secondary college. This is one of the greatest decisions the councillors have made in the recent past. This will…

Patrick Hockey, Castlemaine Clean electric transport systems; better designs for houses saving on heating and cooling costs and keeping us more comfortable, along with electricity generation from renewable sources. What’s not to like about the actions required to combat climate change? But it won’t happen on its own. Only by supporting those political parties that…

Alan Gregg, Chewton Expressions of interest are invited for the creation of a memorial to the bush workers and sawmillers of the Black Forest/Wombat Forest region, including the names of the sawmills and their workers, the pulpwood cutters, tree fellers, etc., of the forest. Those interested in forming a committee to discuss this memorial, please…

Gregory Clark, Woodend The World Health Organisation (WHO, 2006, p. 9) defines child abuse as all forms of physical and/or emotional ill-treatment, sexual abuse, neglect or negligent treatment or commercial or other exploitation, resulting in actual or potential harm to the child’s health, survival, development or dignity in the context of a relationship of responsibility,…

Megan Davison, executive director, Minerals Council of Australia, Victoria While the Australian minerals industry recognises the concerns about historic mines, it is important that discussions about the number of abandoned mines in Australia – including in central Victoria – occur in an accurate context (‘Mine bid withdrawn’, Midland Express, October 23). The Australian minerals industry…

Francis Randall, year eight, Sacred Heart College Kyneton The White Ribbon Foundation claims one in three women have experienced domestic violence on some level. Children and men can also be victims. It’s an issue that runs deep, as it not only affects the person getting hurt but those witnessing the violence and experiencing the suffering…