Fire fund distribution must be transparent
The fire disaster has almost passed, minds are fresh and stress is still there. People affected or not affected by fire have made massive donations to support others and the RFS. The recipient organisations of these millions of $$ need to be fully accountable, the press needs to be accountable as well. If you as an organisation have received private and or Government funding show us how and where and when it was spent. The press publish the results. If not, people might just say why donate anyway? AND next time might think twice?
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R. Davies, Tomerong
Development in fire-affected areas should halt
There must be an immediate moratorium on all land clearing for development in bushfire affected areas and an urgent review into all planned sub-divisions in such areas. Specifically, my concern is the imminent clearing for the Shoalhaven Council approved Manyana Beach Estate.
Apart from the extensive disruption to the biodiversity in one of the last remaining tracts of intact bushland it is a project that has been fought by the local community. The Shoalhaven Council is highly unlikely to take this extinction event seriously so it is to be hoped that the NSW Government would call a halt to this development which is nothing short of environmental vandalism.
The village is 70% holiday lets and/or private holiday homes and is a virtual ghost town outside of the peak holiday period. Putting in a development with a few shops, supermarket and 179 houses is inappropriate and unwanted by the permanent resident community.
Our community is suffering greatly on many levels because of the horror summer we are enduring, with about 80% of the local government area fire impacted. It is imperative that all steps are taken to put a halt to this destruction and save what little we have left.
D. Shapira, Sanctuary Point
Choose aged care thoughtfully
The Shoalhaven district has many aged care centres, most very good, but unfortunately not all. Prior to placing my wife in care, I searched the net and spoke with visitors of loved ones in various centres because I had concerns. On January 18 last year, my 89-year-old wife, suffering medical, mobility and speech problems, was placed in care with IRT at Culburra Beach. For one year I have visited my wife 361 days, spending between one-and-a-half and two hours per day (approximately 500 hours in total). Any concerns were soon put to rest.
- All residents are respected by staff.
- Settling in may take three to four months.
- Medications are only administered by registered nurses.
- Doctors visit weekly and are on call for any concerns.
- The overall atmosphere is one of friendliness, demonstrated by residents and visitors being addressed on a first name basis.
- There is no hesitation in answering many questions, going above and beyond to supply information.
- My wife's room is wet mopped and polished on a daily basis.
- Dirty linen is laundered regularly.
- Residents are showered every second day and washed on alternate days.
- Seeing how clean the kitchen/dining rooms are only adds to the enjoyment of the filling, wholesome meals.
My advice to anyone seeking to place their loved one into care is do your homework. Find the one most suitable to you. "Largest" does not necessarily mean "best".
Fay, my wife, is settled, receiving care that unfortunately could not be given at home.
To the 80 employees at IRT my family and I say "thank you".
