A challenge for those happy with dust levels

BARRY Buffier, chief executive of the Environmental Protection Authority, reckons the recently-released air quality findings are “a great outcome for the community” (‘EPA releases outcomes of studies into Lower Hunter air quality’ Herald, 27/4).

Strangely this is despite results showing for every 10 inhalable coarse particles floating around Stockton, one is coal dust.

How many does he think the average resident inhales a year? Tens of thousands? More?

Given that coal dust in lung tissue, especially the developing lung tissue of our kids, is a major concern to medical professionals, Mr Buffier’s apparent call for celebration seems a bit odd.

Well here’s a challenge, Barry. I’ll serve up a nice big bowl of peas but for every tenth, I’ll just pop in a pellet of pigeon poo. Given your sparkling logic, it is what’s in the other 90 per cent that matters so you should be all good to chow down.

Just like the residents of Stockton do with their coal dust.

I’m sure you will be OK.

Paul Buckman, Belmont North

Calling for leadership

LOCALS in the Salt Ash and Williamtown areas are fed up with the contamination issue being seen as an election issue. However if this issue is not dealt with quickly, it may mean the death knell for both major parties.

Labor candidate Meryl Swanson not been seen in Salt Ash, but she appears to me to be an expert on PFOS and PFOA without talking to the locals, who have been researching this since September.

I think both major parties are playing this situation for their own gain, leaving the NSW Greens the only sympathetic listener. Even Fred Nile has been here to talk to locals.

I believe Labor’s Defence spokesperson did not even make himself available to talk to locals when they travelled to Canberra.

I think it is a sad, sad state of affairs, with Meryl Swanson in the middle.

Ryan Baker, Salt Ash

Smoke-free stadium

I AM curious to know, if Hunter Stadium is a fully smoke-free stadium, why is it that smoking is allowed (or not prevented) on the south-eastern access area?

Every game we go to, when we enter the stadium and walk up the ramp, there’s always a number of smokers along the railings blowing their filth everywhere. The same when the game is over, though this time, because of the amount of people exiting, the smoking takes place at the bottom of the ramp, just to the left.

There are signs everywhere saying no smoking. There are ground announcements as well, yet smoking still occurs.

If smoking is not permitted anywhere within the stadium grounds (that is once you’ve come through the gates), then perhaps the message needs to be reinforced.

Smoke free means smoke free.

Brendan Holland, Blue Haven

Give us jobs, not boats

DO we need to spend $50 billion on new submarines? Australia needs employment now and in the future, but we don’t need new U-boats.

Remember WWII? Remember the endless attacks and the thousands killed? I am non-political, and I served with the RAN in convoy duties on the Australian-built Corvettes which are now all scrapped and replaced with Australian-built vessels.

We should be applying our money and resources into our manufacturing industry. More importantly, we need to be meeting our real needs such as providing food, housing, medical and educational needs.

Cliff Keyworth, Bolton Point

Anzac’s Christian history

I REFER to Toni Lorentzen’s letter regarding religion and Anzac Day (Letters, 26/4).

Anzac Services are a ‘Christian commemorative service’ to thank God for those who served our country and to remember the fallen. Whilst other faiths are welcome to attend, the services have always been Christian services. As such it should always be centred around Jesus Christ and God with readings from the Bible and Christian hymns; regardless of which denomination.

The first Anzac church service in Australia was conceived in Brisbane by an Anglican Chaplain David Garland and from there the idea took hold all around Australia.

In Wednesday’s Herald (27/4) was a reprint from the Newcastle Morning Herald dated April 26, 1916, describing the first Anzac service in Newcastle. It reads: “As the procession left Hunter Street and proceeded up Watt Street, contingents of men fell out and were marched to their respective churches, whilst the remainder proceeded to the cathedral.” In other words the procession was only a means of an orderly march to a Christian service in Christian churches.

We should not water down the contents of the traditional service.

John Yates, Belmont

Respect despite hurdles

AS I have done for the past 15 years, I attended this year’s Wallsend Anzac Day dawn service at Wallsend RSL. Together with my community we honoured those who have made the ultimate sacrifice. As usual, the service was respectful; even with unforeseen inconveniences.

I ask you, for the benefit of our Diggers, to step beyond your disappointment and focus on acknowledging, honouring, remembering and respecting our living and deceased Diggers, our precious soles who sacrificed their lives for us. Our women and men of Wallsend, who made the ultimate sacrifice, also shaped our identity. The club was founded on this tradition and takes its role in our annual commemoration very seriously.

I encourage you to focus on their gift by continuing your traditional participation in the 2017 Wallsend dawn service.

Sonia Hornery, Member for Wallsend

Keeping oceans clean

IT is so great to see Boomerang Alliance running an educational program at Merewether beach illustrating the rubbish that makes it’s way into our oceans.

Congratulations. It’s so disappointing to walk up the hill towards the lookout over the baths to find a bucket-load of McDonald’s rubbish emptied on the ground next to a waste bin.

The mentality of these morons is astounding.

Perhaps McDonald’s needs an educational caravan at every one of their sites around the Hunter.

Greig Hardman, Merewether