Reverse Deakin decline
Whatever misgivings some in Wannon might have about Malcolm Fraser’s performance as a local member, the electorate did benefit from his substantial contribution in building a higher education facility at Warrnambool. The availability of university education in Warrnambool has been a major transformative influence in the south-west. Graduates now fill senior positions in businesses and organisations across and beyond the region. While Fraser’s legacy is currently challenged by a 30 per cent decline in enrolment numbers over the past five years, there is nothing inevitable about this trend. There are many regional university campuses around Australia that have grown not declined recently. ACU in the Ballarat electorate has doubled its enrolment since 2010. Enrolments have increased by 25 per cent over the past two years at the university at Churchill (Gippsland electorate). Enrolments have increased by 36 per cent since 2011 at CQU university at Mackay (Dawson electorate). UNE in the electorate of New England remains strong with over 20,000 enrolments in a region similar to the south-west. James Cook University continues to attract thousands of students from Northern Queensland and now has a campus in Singapore. I don’t doubt the commitment Dan Tehan has to rebuilding Warrnambool’s Deakin University. For the sake of future generations, it is critical the enrolment trend at Warrnambool is reversed.
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Greg Walsh, Cudgee
Drone dangers
Drones are flying around the Twelve Apostles on a regular basis. These amateur drone pilots launch their craft at Gibson’s Steps lookout and record the scenic view from a small screen. The problem is helicopters also use the same airspace. It is only a matter of time before the two meet mid-air and the result will be catastrophic. Drones are morphing into different sizes, both smaller and larger. Most are black in colour and nearly impossible to see against the Otway scenic backdrop East of the Apostles. Drones are not allowed to fly near gazetted airports, but I do not believe the Twelve Apostles helicopter airport area is a gazetted airport so this regulation has no impact. Drones are not allowed to fly in national parks, so this regulation does come into play. Problem is locals don’t even know this rule so tourists certainly won’t. Signage is required immediately at all lookouts and car parks along the Port Campbell National Park before a tragedy takes place.
Simon Illingworth, Port Campbell
Terrorists must never win
Paris. Again terrorism raises its ugly defiled face. The terror attack was not only directed at Western culture but on western religion. Leaders behind these attacks are highly motivated and religious fanatics attempting to turn opinion against peace-loving Muslims by killing what the west holds dear in the name of their religion. For years there has been peace as cultures have moved together with awareness and acceptance of differences. This would have infuriated a section of the Muslim community. They have been unable to call a religious war against the west with next to no motivation from its own practitioners of the Muslim faith residing in the west. They have relied on misguided and mentally ill people to light the fire of hatred under the bigoted bonfire of racism. They are continually trying to have the west turn and hate those they have taken in and in turn lead the west into persecution of the innocent. This may be the only motivational strategy left and it is one we have seen used before with enormous devastation in conflicts in the past. If the west turns against Muslims then terrorism has won. They cannot turn their own countrymen against us. I stand with all members of the community who want to live a peaceful life and condemn the killing of innocent people for political purposes.
David MacPhail, Warrnambool
