It's so lovely to sit out on our Decking on pleasant afternoons, listening to the animal life, "Yap Yap Yap" ...."Woof Woof Woof" "Bark Bark Bark " "Howl Howl Howl " Clutching our book on dogs and trying to identify them? " Arr, that's Dog in number 81," I murmur. "No No, it's more like the Black one in 93," my wife replies. It's hard to tell as the sounds ricochet across the valley at North Engadine!
There are around 7 Dogs small medium Large going by the different Barks Yaps etc ..maybe Sir David Attenborough would like to visit us and place some sneaky Cameras around !!
You dog owners, please wake up to yourselves (instead of the Dogs) and spend COVID free time, training your little darling dogs not to keep this constant noise up! Thank you
Peter Mason, North Engadine
Last time I checked, Mr Kelly was not a medical doctor
Both our local and state governments are relying on the best scientific and medical advice in deciding what public health measures to recommend and follow during the Covid-19 pandemic.
But our federal MP Craig Kelly is "doing a Trump" and issuing dangerous medical advice by promoting the use of hydroxychloroquine as a treatment.
The Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration warns this poses well-known serious risks such as eye damage and heart attack if misused. Last time I checked, Mr Kelly was not a medical doctor, much less a public health director; he is behaving in an irresponsible manner peddling quack cures. This is inappropriate from a member of parliament.
Sue McKinnon, Engadine
Thank you to those who helped
On Saturday morning, 29/8, a car rear-ended me off my bicycle at the intersection of Heathcote Road and Princes Hwy, causing me to fall heavily. This resulted in being concussed and I have failed to recall any part of the incident, nor the attending aid, until coming to in the back of the ambulance.
I wish to convey my sincere thanks and appreciation to the paramedics, police, St George Hospital staff, the public, and fellow cyclists, and of course, my dear family. Special thanks to good friend Tim McLeer, and Constable Gunes from Sutherland Police. I also wish to sincerely apologise for the considerable traffic disruption this incident caused. Finally, thanks and praise to my God for preventing any serious injury.
John Hunter, Gymea
Pensioner Rates Rebate
Are our elderly ratepayers aware that the Pensioner Rebate included in our Land Rates has not increased since July 2000? That is a period of twenty years. Are we to believe that the cost of living for Pensioners has not changed during those twenty years?
Obviously, the Sutherland Shire Council must think this is so. Over those twenty years, the UCV has risen 295 per cent and Council Land Rates have risen 82 per cent just in this area alone.
However, the Pensioner Rebate has remained stagnant. Perhaps it is time that our "esteemed" Sutherland Shire Council is brought up to date with the present "Cost of Living" and show a little, if not a lot more concern for their elderly ratepayers.
John MacAskill, Heathcote
Single-use plastic
The Supermarkets of Australia have committed the most extraordinary fraud on the people of Australia. They were dragged kicking and screaming to free us of "single-use plastic bags", only to impose on us a vast array of single-use plastic for everything else. Take the humble piece of steak, for example. Now there are three pieces of single-use plastic used to sell it to us. It comes in a plastic tray (not recyclable), wrapped in plastic film (which they sometimes laughingly invite us to return to their soft plastic bin at their stores), encircled with a challenging piece of plastic lamination (not recyclable) showing product description and pricing. And, of course, there are many other examples of this behaviour. What part of "we don't want single-use plastics" do the mighty Coles and Woolworths not understand? Can they not see the environmental damage that wrapping our food in this sort of material is doing? Are they so far removed from the idea of being responsible corporate citizens that the wishes of us, their customers, are meaningless to them. We should be demanding more of these corporations lest the damage they do is irreversible.
Paul Talbot, Bonnet Bay
Opinion on artworks
Bring back, BUGA-UP! Regarding the story of the mural (Leader August 12), I'm all for freedom of expression, and I'm expressing my disgust. Can't wait for graffiti artists to paint over this mural.
Pat Osborne, Bundeena
Lack of COVID precautions at Miranda
Purchased food at food court outside Woolworth's Supermarket today. No cleaning staff present during the 45 mins we sat at a table Couldn't see any wipes available to clean table! I wonder who had been seated at the table previously?
I find this an appalling lack of concern for Westfield customers. Unemployment has skyrocketed so you'd think employing a few extra staff would be economically beneficial rather than another lock-down !! NOT IMPRESSED with Westfield!!!
Mary Perry, Como
Masking for a friend
About your front page, Masking for a friend. Thank you The Leader for supporting and encouraging public health and community well being. But, after seven months, I am still wondering WHY the health experts aren't telling the general public that Covid-19 transmits through your eyes. Wearing a mask will not protect you absolutely, and state and federal health have rarely stated this. I now see more older people wearing masks, but I worry about them. Health experts should be reminding people that when you are out in public, Never touch your face. It's the ONLY way, aside from an open wound, that the virus will enter your body. If the virus is on your hands, you are putting the virus onto your face. If a person wears gloves all day and does not Regularly sanitise their hands (to kill the virus), and if that person touches a surface or object with the virus on it, what they are doing is spreading the virus. It's all great to see adults wearing masks with their children. It means that they care about their family and other people.
Jason Dullow, Jannali
