Weekly wrap: Writing directly to you is so satisfying for this old newsman

Last week Facebook declared they'd not put our news stories on its platform.

That was a blessing in disguise for us because it allowed us to see how many of our readers would directly access our website to get their news.

It turns out we have a large percentage of you that do, so thank you.

I've mentioned before that I love my job and writing to you directly each week is amongst the most enjoyable aspects of my job.

I love getting feedback each week from those of you that write to me. The number of news tips I get each week from subscribers emailing me has increased each week and overall, I feel the relationship we have built is a strong one.

Facebook is back now, but we hope the number of you that directly access our website to get all the news you want continues to grow. After all, it is you that we write for.

Please keep sending in the local champion suggestions. You'll see more local champion yarns appearing in print and on our website. We love writing for you, but we also love writing about you.

In other news, Residents and beachgoers are concerned sandbags placed at Sandringham Beach baths Dolls Point are unsafe. I spoke to a few residents and the council and it seems both sides are taking the issue seriously.

Carparking. It is an issue across our readership.

Murray Trembath has followed the Jannali commuter carpark debacle from the beginning. He broke the story and residents of the street in questions say the current seemingly positive developments are a direct result of our reporting and are an example of why a strong independent media is important.

The Sutherland Shire Council has put forward another option for providing an extra 200 new commuter car parking spaces near Jannali station, which they say would cost less and be quicker to deliver.

Jim Gainsford tells us a site has been found for extra commuter car spaces at Riverwood station. Let's hope that carpark causes less stress for residents.

Residents of the Georges River and Sutherland Shire council areas are already enthusiastic recyclers, so it is positive news a new Return and Earn vending centre opened in the area recently. Would you use it? Let me know.

We love real estate stories here at the Leader. Our homes are the most significant investment many of us will ever make. We know by the responses we get from our readers that you like to know what's happening in property news.

Murray explains a charming old white weatherboard house with a partially blue roof on the edge of Oak Park, Cronulla has sold at auction for more than $1.3 million above the reserve. That's not a bad outcome for the owners, I'd say.

From the too cute file comes a yarn Merryn Porter wrote this week about a dog that helped save a puppy's life. This lifesaver is looking for a new home. Could you help?

Merryn also tells us St George and Sutherland Shire recently welcomed graduate nurses and midwives into its public hospitals as part of the latest intake. If you're a nurse and you are reading this newsletter, thank you, the work you do is amazing and you all deserve our gratitude and a big fat pay rise! I'll have a word to Gladys for you.

Well, that's it from me this week. I hope your toast is crispy, your coffee is hot and your Sunday is relaxing.

Enjoy your Sunday reads and thank you for reading the Leader.