Little deeds can make a great difference
Many people across Ballarat do amazing acts everyday, however they receive no honours or accolades for their actions. This was very evident to me today after walking the dog at Victoria Park and meeting two ordinary but inspirational people. As we headed towards the duck pond, there were two women intently watching the ducks and a swan. They informed me that they were wildlife rescuers and that the swan had got into some trouble with a fishing hook and line. Cherie and Brenda were committed to spending their Sunday to help this swan, by catching it and then taking it to a local vet to be anaesthetised and have the offending hook removed. They explained that all going well, the swan would be returned by the end of the day and would be back to one hundred percent in a couple of days. I walked away with absolute admiration for these individuals whose efforts are not often recognised, but their contribution significant. Think how great our community could be, if we were all more like our unsung heroes.
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Juliana Addison, Ballarat Central
sending the wrong message to the vulnerable
Using euphemisms such as "dying with dignity" or "assisted dying" does not disguise the fact that this bill is about actively killing a person or about helping a person to kill him or herself.
A report in the Ballarat Courier about a month ago indicated that there is increasing numbers of children swindling their elderly, vulnerable parents of all their money. How much easier it is going to be if this bill is passed; these children will be able to remove their elderly parent permanently.
If an elderly person is made to feel like a burden to their family who are experiencing "inheritance impatience", it may subtly or overtly influence an elderly, sick person to request assisted suicide. How can legalising assisted suicide/euthanasia even be considered before all Victorians have equal access to quality palliative care? Palliative Care Victoria state that when all other methods of palliation for pain fail, palliative sedation is available to provide adequate relief of suffering.
I am concerned for "Beyond Blue". What mixed and dangerous message would it send to suicidal, depressed people to legalise assisted suicide? What message would this bill send to the disabled who are often told, "If I had your disability I'd rather be dead"? We repealed the death penalty many years ago so that no innocent person would die. The only way that we can ensure that no innocent person dies under this bill is that it be rejected. The admission that safeguards are necessary tells us that assisted suicide is intrinsically not safe.
Bryan Hanrahan, Dunnstown.
Practical no longer
For more than 80 years, citizens have been able to happily and safely park their cars and commercial vehicles on the south side of McKenzie Street in the city. McKenzie Street is a one way street between Armstrong and Doveton Streets.
Recently, with either little or no notification that I am aware of, the city administration decided you can no longer park in the street. When a council officer was asked about this extraordinary new restriction, he said the councillors now don't think the street is wide enough. Councillors considered it wide enough for more than 80 years and permitted two hour parking, which worked well for everybody. So now the city has lost 9 valuable car parks and surrounding businesses have lost the ability to safely handle heavy merchandise. This seriously adds to the already chaotic parking availability in the precinct. Perhaps a little more practical application would be appropriate when matters like the above are tabled for consideration.
Bruce McKnight, Ballarat