June2011_LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
PLEASE NOTE:
Letters to the Editor must be signed and contain the author’s name, address and contact phone number. (Names will be withheld from publication if requested.) Preference will be given to letters of 200 words or less.
Dear Editor,
On Friday afternoon, 6/5/11, I received that phone call which is every Mother’s biggest fear. It was the call informing me that my pregnant daughter and grandson had been involved in a head-on collision on Dayboro Road.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the wonderful people who stopped to help Stephanie and Hayden, as well as the Dayboro Police and Ken Robinson, the Ambulance Officers and Firemen who attended the scene of the accident. Everyone was very kind, professional and supportive under difficult circumstances. Thank you everyone – your help was very much appreciated.
Stephanie and Hayden received minor injuries as a result of the accident and the baby, – a tiny girl –, who had to be delivered early, is doing well. If it weren’t for everyone’s help, the end result may have been very different.
Our heartfelt thanks from Andrea and Paul Gripske.
Dear Editor,
CONTROLLED BURNING – FRIENDLY REQUEST
For those unfortunate people living in the valley and surrounding higher ground near Boongala Court, who awoke on Saturday and Sunday morning to thick smoke and smouldering acrid air, my commiserations go out to all of you. What should’ve been the start to a lovely relaxing family-oriented “holiday” weekend, soon turned into a choke-infested environment not fit for entertaining or hanging out the wash! Unfortunately for myself, already bed-bound with the flu, this came as a very nasty shock. My asthma intensified and my hives went into overdrive! At one stage I thought I needed to get to the respiratory ward fast!
A call to the Samsonvale Rural Fire Brigade advised me that there is “no legal requirement” to advertise when there is likely to be a privately conducted controlled burn taking place. I am sure that many would agree that “morally” it would certainly go a long way to helping the surrounding properties prepare for such an unexpected event. Take myself, for instance, had I had prior warning of the burn off, I would have made arrangements to move in with my daughter in Burpengary for the weekend!
With the problem of notifying everyone at the forefront of my mind, I have put my thinking cap on and come up with the following workable solution. Why not operate a Noticeboard system in the grounds of our rural fire stations? We have all seen just how effective they are outside the Dayboro Police Station and various surrounding State schools. The Noticeboards serve a dual purpose by not only notifying us when and where there will be controlled burn offs, privately conducted or otherwise, but advising us when their next meeting will take place and extending a welcome for all to join.
There are many of us who invariably get to read the Dayboro Grapevine or the Samford Village Pump after these events have taken place, thereby missing out on many local happenings. I don’t know about you, but I think this is an ingenious, logical and cost effective way to get the word out there, especially in the case of proposed burn offs. Maybe it’s worth our while fund-raising for these Noticeboards, or putting this proposal forward to the Minister? Volunteers and all suggestions very welcome!
And please, property owners, do the right thing by your neighbours and give them advance warning of your intention to burn!
Heather Sansom,
On Friday afternoon, 6/5/11, I received that phone call which is every Mother’s biggest fear. It was the call informing me that my pregnant daughter and grandson had been involved in a head-on collision on Dayboro Road.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the wonderful people who stopped to help Stephanie and Hayden, as well as the Dayboro Police and Ken Robinson, the Ambulance Officers and Firemen who attended the scene of the accident. Everyone was very kind, professional and supportive under difficult circumstances. Thank you everyone – your help was very much appreciated.
Stephanie and Hayden received minor injuries as a result of the accident and the baby, – a tiny girl –, who had to be delivered early, is doing well. If it weren’t for everyone’s help, the end result may have been very different.
Our heartfelt thanks from Andrea and Paul Gripske.
Dear Editor,
CONTROLLED BURNING – FRIENDLY REQUEST
For those unfortunate people living in the valley and surrounding higher ground near Boongala Court, who awoke on Saturday and Sunday morning to thick smoke and smouldering acrid air, my commiserations go out to all of you. What should’ve been the start to a lovely relaxing family-oriented “holiday” weekend, soon turned into a choke-infested environment not fit for entertaining or hanging out the wash! Unfortunately for myself, already bed-bound with the flu, this came as a very nasty shock. My asthma intensified and my hives went into overdrive! At one stage I thought I needed to get to the respiratory ward fast!
A call to the Samsonvale Rural Fire Brigade advised me that there is “no legal requirement” to advertise when there is likely to be a privately conducted controlled burn taking place. I am sure that many would agree that “morally” it would certainly go a long way to helping the surrounding properties prepare for such an unexpected event. Take myself, for instance, had I had prior warning of the burn off, I would have made arrangements to move in with my daughter in Burpengary for the weekend!
With the problem of notifying everyone at the forefront of my mind, I have put my thinking cap on and come up with the following workable solution. Why not operate a Noticeboard system in the grounds of our rural fire stations? We have all seen just how effective they are outside the Dayboro Police Station and various surrounding State schools. The Noticeboards serve a dual purpose by not only notifying us when and where there will be controlled burn offs, privately conducted or otherwise, but advising us when their next meeting will take place and extending a welcome for all to join.
There are many of us who invariably get to read the Dayboro Grapevine or the Samford Village Pump after these events have taken place, thereby missing out on many local happenings. I don’t know about you, but I think this is an ingenious, logical and cost effective way to get the word out there, especially in the case of proposed burn offs. Maybe it’s worth our while fund-raising for these Noticeboards, or putting this proposal forward to the Minister? Volunteers and all suggestions very welcome!
And please, property owners, do the right thing by your neighbours and give them advance warning of your intention to burn!
Heather Sansom,
Kobble Creek.
