City needs rehab centre
It seems that every day when I open the paper or listen to the news, I hear about someone doing something harmful to others or themselves and there is a link to alcohol and other drugs. Of course drugs are only part of the picture as people struggle emotionally, physically and socially and often lose hope. Most people want help but there is nowhere in this region for them to turn to when it comes to long stay rehabilitation which is required when a range of factors need to change. People that want help, need to travel to Geelong, Ballarat or Melbourne for residential rehabilitation and this for most people, is well out of their reach and their comfort zone. If they do go outside their community, then they are without the family support they terribly need while in rehabilitation. I believe that Warrnambool, our city, has reached a critical point where we need our own rehabilitation centre for drug and alcohol-related problems. I think we, as a city, should get behind such a project to make sure it does happen. A rehabilitation centre will keep people close to their families so they can get the support they need. People also need the support of the local community to provide options to assist with the recovery process. I also believe that with a rehabilitation centre, our crime rate in the city will fall. Clients win, families benefit and the community sends a strong message of a caring community. Maybe we need to look at a community fundraiser to achieve such a project – our own rehabilitation centre.
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Sue Cassidy, Warrnambool
Alcohol ban for council
Re Leaders Push for Change (The Standard, August 13). With funding of $1.3 million being made available from Vic Health as part of its Alcohol Culture Change grant program, it is great to see mayor Kylie Gaston encouraging staff to apply for this valuable funding. It would be wonderful to see Warrnambool succeed in obtaining this grant, as only four councils will be selected to share in this grant allocation. It is also encouraging to hear Cr Gaston is active and working hard to improve the alcohol culture in our city. A great initiative would be council stopping alcohol being made available for all councillors and senior staff after all council meetings, which is also funded by the ratepayer. I believe this would show Vic Health a strong stance by our community leaders on this issue and would also be a great health and well-being strategy to put in place for Warrnambool City Council. This funding would help enable the council to educate our youth to the problems associated with alcohol consumption, in particular binge drinking. I wish Warrnambool City Council all the best in this endeavour to secure funding for this important issue which needs addressing in Warrnambool and a great opportunity for our community leaders to lead by example.
Christine Thompson, Woolsthorpe
End drag racing’s stigma
Why is it when you mention the words drag racing some people get a feeling of fear and disdain and instantly put up a wall? In the eyes of some non-motorsport people the words drag racing or drag racers seems to conjure up images of illegal street racing or hoon behaviour on our streets and roads. You may ask yourself why is that so? From the 1960s to the present, a substantial amount of media reports of illegal street racing or hoon behaviour have been associated with drag racing or drag racers. Reports like “they were drag racing along the motorway". No other motor sport has to bear this burden. Reports never mention illegal activities on our streets or roads were illegal formula one racing or illegal touring car racing or dare I say illegal speedway racing around our streets. Can you imagine the speedway community's response? They would be strongly protesting and I would be supporting them. So why does drag racing get associated with these illegal activities? I will admit in recent years these reports have slowly started to change. Some hearing the words drag racing or drag racers, due to years of misleading media reports, instantly associate drag racers as those hoons who race and do burnouts on our public streets. The reports are erroneous and border on libelous. Drag racing and drag racers do not condone these illegal activities. Illegal street racing, as stated by an act of parliament, is not drag racing. Drag racing and drag racers suffer, in some eyes, from the old saying "if you throw enough mud it sticks". This is guilt by association thanks to years of media brain washing.
Wes White, Warrnambool
Better education key
Access to affordable education is a cornerstone pillar of how successful a society is when it comes to economic and social development. Many studies have shown a strong association between better education and economic growth. I believe education needs to be thought of as 'many rather than one' pathway. We need to be cautious in our tendency to believe year 12 and beyond is ‘the be all and end all’ of education. The trade, technical and other creative pathways are all valid and important pathways and it is crucial we provide and foster the options that best suit each individual rather than trying to push people down paths that might not be a good fit for them. I lament the way the Victorian TAFE system has been underfunded in recent times. It may take a number of years before we fully appreciate the economic and social cost of having failed to properly fund our TAFE system. The many millions of taxpayer dollars that have been squandered on so-called private ‘education providers’ is money we no longer have that could have been put to good use in providing better funding of TAFE and universities. Until we put in place a political system with the wisdom to think 'bigger picture' in relation to access to education we will struggle to achieve our economic and social potentials.
Dr Michael McCluskey, Warrnambool
Beaches not for horses
After reading the letter from a Toolong resident (Yes to horses on the beach, The Standard, August 13), I would like to make a few points. I am unaware of thousands of dollars being spent on the Orange Bellied Parrot (not yellow bellied) in this area. These and other birds in the Belfast Coastal Reserve are monitored by unpaid volunteers. These same people, so called ’greenies’, organise litter removal, native vegetation planting and regeneration within the reserve. There are no Hooded Plovers or other shore birds, apart from seagulls, on the main beach at Killarney. This is because they would find it impossible to nest or feed in the soft sand that has been rendered virtually barren by the daily pounding of training horses. The camping ground/ caravan park has over 1000 site occupations per year (source, Moyne Shire) and is becoming more popular outside peak periods with “grey nomads” and budget campervan rentals. How many people need to be on a beach at the same time and in close proximity to fast moving horses before it is unsafe? Just one would be my suggestion. This training does not conform to industry guidelines and protocols and would not be tolerated at any racecourse. The following is an extract from Moyne Shire Environmental Officer, Robert Gibson's’ report to council 22/3/16: "Reports and officer observations confirm up to 20 horses are working on the beach at any one time with training occurring on the beach on a daily basis, including weekends, from sunrise until about 10.30am. However, a resident reported racehorses on the beach about 4pm on 10 February 2016." Council officers have observed horse trucks, horse floats and vehicles blocking access to the boat ramp and making access to the car parking areas difficult with up to 12 horse trucks and floats using all of the available car parking. Horses then access the beach from the boat ramp causing the sand to become loose and difficult to drive on when launching and retrieving a boat. Horses are also using pedestrian access tracks to enter and leave.” It is unreasonable to expect councils (ratepayers) to spend tens of thousands of dollars to improve carparks and access so that even more horses can train on the beaches. It is time trainers and Warrnambool Racing Club considered investing back into the industry to improve training facilities and infrastructure at the course and not rely on access to local beaches. That would be a win for everyone and a boost to the local economy.
Kate Sloan, Killarney
