Do you have an opinion to share? Submit a Letter to the Editor at Sunshine Coast News via news@sunshinecoastnews.com.au. You must include your name and suburb for accountability, credibility and transparency. Preference will be given to letters of 100 words or less. Some of the opinions below are comments from SCN’s Facebook page.
- Read the story: Woman winched from cruise ship
Beverly Hickson: Last cruise I went on we were broken down off Airlie Beach waiting for a boat to bring a part to fix the ship. At the same time, the restaurant’s head staff had to be taken off to the mainland. The word was he broke his leg, so the helicopter flew him to a hospital. I wouldn’t worry about people’s age. Accidents happen at all ages. I’ve seen a broken collarbone, broken arm, broken leg, broken ankle and broken ribs all in the last two months in NRL games.
David Weston: I was on an ‘around Australia in 28 days’ cruise. It was promoted as an over sixties trip. I witnessed two very bad falls. At three ports, there were ambulances taking people off the ship who were ill. I guess on a ship of 3000 cruisers of people aged 60 and above, you’re always going to lose a few along the way. We met some people in their eighties. They had so many had mobility issues, they used walking frames etc. The ship on the stretch between Melbourne and Adelaide was a little rock and rolling, so it made things a bit dicey for many. I looked at all these elderly people with mobility issues and was inspired by how they’re all out and about enjoying travel, but I think there comes a time when you need to realise your limitations.
John Lynch: Have had medical evacuations on three of our cruises. They are more common than people think.
Mary-Anne Fraser: Happens all the time. I have done three world cruises on Crown Princess and there were evacuations at every port and several helicopter evacuations. Given the age of passengers, its unsurprising.
- Read the stories: Surf club defends pig racing fundraiser and Beware, outraged hypocrites ahead
Susan Morgan: A fun day – why not? It’s fundraising and the pigs are well looked after.
Gail Lockyer: Fun times. Seen many animal races, all fun and they are usually well cared for.
Shane Purplebus: I can’t wait to see them. The same people complaining are the same people who may need rescuing in the surf one day.
Marilyn Foot: What happens to the piglets after the races?
- Read the story: Ashley Robinson: boo who? Boo you
Laureen Tkacik, Golden Beach: While I respect Ashley as a human being, I am sorely disappointed that his piece on respect and common decency finished by encouraging disrespect toward politicians, stating that “I am not a booing-type person, but if I were, I’d boo a politician instead of a poor horse”.
One individual comment may appear harmless, but in today’s world any single comment could be the pebble that triggers an avalanche.
I think my grandmother was on to something when she kept urging us to “be nice”. We weren’t, and look how society has ended up. I finally understand, and fortunately it’s never too late to follow Nanna’s advice.
- Read the story: Large-scale earthworks underway at key interchange upgrade
Andrew Moran, Battery Hill: It is great to see visible progress on the ground for the Mooloolah River Interchange Upgrade with heavy machinery and earthworks finally underway. Given the severe congestion and population growth on the Sunshine Coast, this project is critically needed. However, it is difficult to know quite how excited – or confident – we should be.
Reading recent reports, the updates are heavy on activity descriptions but entirely silent on the fundamentals of competent project reporting. We are seeing no public reporting on progress against the plan, milestone achievements, upcoming milestone targets, spend against budget or an ultimate completion date. Notably, when asked directly about the cost of the project, Transport and Main Roads declined to provide a straight answer.
If we want the community to have real faith in major infrastructure delivery, glossy updates aren’t enough. Taxpayers and motorists deserve transparent, accountable project tracking – not just a view of the bulldozers.
- Read the story: Transport corridor set to claim forest land
Greg Clutton, Pelican Waters: The rail corridor sacrificing “non native pines” in Beerwah State Forest appears to be of minor concern when compared with potential impacts at the northern end of Pelican Waters, where it is to run close to Tweddle Drive through an environmental reserve and much used walking track in the area known as ‘Pelican Forest’, then continuing into wetlands which cleanse the run-off waters from drains as far away as Little Mountain before they flow into the canals of Pelican Waters and Pumicestone Passage beyond. A huge volume at times as many readers would have witnessed flowing under Caloundra Road, just west of the Nicklin Way roundabout.
Previously, there has been concern expressed by residents of Tweddle Drive when it was suggested that the bushland on the western side of their street could go for housing. That now pales into insignificance if there is to be an elevated railway set back 40m from the street.
There have been vague suggestions that the setback might be further than the 40m suggested but it is difficult to find supporting information of that and just how far “further west” it will be.
While I am a long time supporter of the need for the railway to the Coast, the environment, including Pumicestone Passage (which is already stressed enough by the canals as they are) and the amenity of residents must not be sacrificed.
- Read the story: ‘All shoulders to the wheel’ but Games tensions remain
Gail Podberscek: I’m glad to see the federal government reigning them in. Does anyone know if there are actual costings yet? Especially for the Victoria Park/Barrambin stadium and aquatic venue? Hope this is mum taking back the credit card until the kids have done their proper homework!
- Read the story: Bank customers face service changes
D Hesse, Pelican Waters: It is really disappointing that such a personal service-orientated bank should be rebranded, and how bizarre that the bank has merged and adopted the name People First Bank when the personal teller service has been replaced by ATMs.
I, for one, opened an account with Heritage for the friendly personal service and, with this changing, have no reason to continue banking with what seems to be people last service.
Along with many others, the closing of many branches is a huge disappointment. Were these branches actually losing money or was it a desire for increased profits. Whatever – the man in the street loses out and banks seem to be driven by profit rather than good old customer service. Sales training reminds one that it takes a lot of effort and service to win over and retain a client and very little effort to lose one.
- Checking in
Gary Reynolds, Peregian Springs: In these times of heightened division, we often hear calls for big solutions to bring people together. Yet one of the most powerful things we can do may be surprisingly simple: checking in on each other.
The other day I bumped into an old mate at the shops. “How are you going?” I said, “Good,” was the reply.
“Keeping busy?”
“Always.”
A couple of smiles, a quick wave, and off we went.
Later it occurred to me that one of us could have been carrying the toughest week of our life and neither of us would have known. We ask people how they’re going every day, but too often it’s little more than a social reflex. The truth is that the real answer rarely comes the first time.
Many years ago, when I was teaching, I noticed a student who seemed unusually quiet. I asked if everything was okay.
“Yep,” he replied.
The following week I asked again. Another brief answer. It wasn’t until a third conversation that the story emerged. His parents were separating and life at home had been turned upside down. He hadn’t been dishonest. He simply wasn’t ready.
The same is true for many adults. People who are grieving, worried about their health, struggling financially, or feeling lonely often carry their burdens quietly. Sometimes what they need most is not advice but reassurance that someone genuinely cares.
When we circle back and ask: “How have you really been going since we last talked?”, we send a powerful message: I remembered. I care. You matter.
In a society where public debate often encourages us to focus on our differences, repeated acts of personal kindness remind us of what we share. Care isn’t measured by asking once. It’s measured by returning. A phone call. A text message. A coffee. A second conversation.
None of these will make headlines, but together they strengthen the social fabric that holds our communities together. Perhaps this week we could all choose one person to contact and then contact them again a few days later.
Sometimes the most important question isn’t “How are you?” It’s “I’ve been thinking about you. How are you really going?”
- Remembrance Day 11/11
Phil Broad, Nambour:
The mist it lay across the land
Hiding the wire and shaking hand
That gripped the Enfield 303
A soldiers best mate in the coming affray
A cold cup of tea and a tot of rum
And this dawn’s breakfast is nearly done
One long last look at a well thumbed image
Be it a loved one or a hometown village
The chaplain he threads through the trenches of men
Offering solace redemption and many an amen
The pockets are patted for tokens of luck
To guard the wearer against bullet or wire stuck
Now waiting for the whistle to blow
To signal the start over the top we go
The captain he looked at his watch again
And upon his young face you could see the strain
All of a sudden before whistle to lips
A red light broke the dawn like a solar eclipse
Stop – desist – ceasefire – no more
Tis the start of the end to this horrible war
Soon we’ll be with our loved ones and mums
For the dads went off to war – with their sons.
Do you have an opinion to share? Submit a Letter to the Editor at Sunshine Coast News via news@sunshinecoastnews.com.au. You must include your name and suburb for accountability, credibility and transparency. Preference will be given to letters of 100 words or less. Some of the opinions above are comments from SCN’s Facebook page.
