Letters to the Editor

REMEMBERED
I and others hope that Don Balfour will receive some comfort in knowing that Mark Adams (Thank you all, Letters, SSO 939) will also be remembered with great affection by those who frequented the Fitness Exchange gym (later FitX) during the 1980s when he was a universally popular and cheerful presence and a quietly effective committee member and president.
-” Phil, Redfern

SPORTING SUCCESS
I’m one of the Freezone Volleyball committee members, and just wanted to thank you for the continuing fantastic coverage you have given to sports in SSO.
My main role in the club is to look after the venue we use for training on Sundays, and also to welcome new people.
I always ask the newbies where they heard about our club, and over the last three months or so it has really stood out that a lot of them are getting to know us through the SSO sports page.
I would say that we have probably got 10 – 12 new members in that time as a direct result of your coverage -” the net effect is that at a time when a lot of our regular club members have been absent from training while participating in the Sydney Volleyball League competition, we have still managed to field six teams during our Sunday training session. A real bonus for us over the normally quiet winter period.
So once again, thanks for your efforts, and hope you can keep the space available for all the sporting clubs that are getting huge benefits from it.
-” Mick, Freezone Volleyball

THANKS A BUNCH
I would like to take the opportunity to thank the Rosehill Bowling Club for kindly supporting our night Heaven for the last nine months.
Its hospitality and support has been invaluable, and helped us raise over $1000 for our designated charity, The Haven.
It is sad to be leaving after such a short stay, however the club’s licensing changes gave us no real alternative.
We are currently negotiating with the Parramatta Golf Club, where we are looking at continuing every second month, starting 29 November. Fingers crossed.
Any letter of support/reference that you are able to provide us to the Golf Club would be greatly appreciated. Their email address is as follows: [email protected] and Cc [email protected]
We wish Rosehill all the best in the future, and thank you again for everything.
-” Miss Beverly Buttercup

THANKS GARY
I want to write to commend Gary Burns and his enduring battle against homophobia in mainstream media and now it seems politics.
I just read on www.smh.com.au that Gary is taking legal action against Jeff Kennett for comments he made about the sacking of a bisexual trainer from a country football club in Victoria simply because he works with adolescent boys.
In an apathetic society and an even more apathetic gay community it takes strong people like this to champion our rights within society.
Whilst we have more rights than we have ever had thanks to the fight of Mardi Gras and the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby we must never become complacent. Especially when an ex-premier links pedophilia to a characteristic of male homosexuality.
I for one am disgusted by such a linking and find it extremely offensive. It would be interesting to hear if he had the same brainwork about celibate men working with young people in the clergy? What’s more is Gary donates all compensation to causes to fight homophobia.
I applaud you Gary. Thank you very much on behalf of all of us.
-” Evan, Bondi

AGED CONCERNS
I have serious concerns for aged same-sex couples who will be impacted by the yet to be passed legislation bringing us some small measure of long overdue equal rights.
Despite me conveying this to the Senate inquiry, they chose to leave it to departments to deal with what will be, to my mind, a form of elder abuse. No exemptions for those over 65 from the Centrelink and Dept of Health and Ageing arrangements which will penalise.
I am disappointed that the Senate inquiry is still leaving the door open for elderly gay and lesbian couples to be subjected to scrutiny and investigation by Centrelink to see whether they are couples, loss of some Centrelink income, and potential loss of the family home and prosecution for an overpayment from Centrelink if they don’t come out and then need residential care. This is not good enough, in fact it’s still discriminatory.
What an insult to elders who have lived lives of fear and persecution, including shock treatment and lobotomy.
-” Dr Jo Harrison, Exeter

STOP WHINING
I totally agree with Anna Maxwell (Neighbour backs Imperial development SSO 940). I can’t understand the whining from local residents about one of Erskineville’s institutions.
The Imperial has been the backbone of Erskineville and also Newtown for years. This attitude seems to be an affliction of Sydneysiders at the moment. We are buying homes fully aware of the landmarks and attractions nearby and then ranting and raving about how disruptive they are to our lives after we move in.
An example of this is the hoopla from new residents who moved into Milson’s Point about the noise of the Mad Mouse at Luna Park. New residents forced the closure of it and now it runs at restricted times. But correct me if I am wrong -” wasn’t Luna Park there way before any of those resident developments?
I also agree with Anna -” I moved into the area years ago because Newtown and Erskineville offered a difference. It has many gay and straight friendly bars, restaurants and a community who actually smile at you as you are walking down the road.
I plead to the residents -” don’t ruin your area by complaining about the things that brought you to it in the first place. Embrace it. Erskineville and Newtown are special and remember why you moved here in the first place.
On a lighter note, all of my friends can’t wait for the Newtown to re-open -” there has been a big hole without it. I wish the owner of the Imperial luck and long live the Pink Stiletto.
-” Giancarlo, Erskineville

POLICING TIPS
As a local resident, I am very pleased to see that the new Redfern Police Commander, Luke Freudenstein, has said that he will try to ensure the police officers under his command will do their job properly and obey the law ( Policing in Redfern, p 2, SSH October 2008).
Here are three suggestions for Commander Freudenstein:
1. Tell his officers not to cycle, illegally, down footpaths. Apart from alarming local pedestrians with large men driving towards them at great speed, it sets a poor example for others.
2. Make sure his officers wear identification badges as police regulations require. Even officers at the reception area of Redfern police station sometimes don’t wear badges. It is Commander Freudenstein’s job to make sure that the men and women under his command comply with police regulations.
3. Tell police officers to mind their manners. Nothing outrages ordinary people more than a rude and surly police officer, on a taxpayer-funded salary, being rude to members of the public simply because the individual police officer involved knows that he or she can get away with it.
These are small matters where Commander Freudenstein can make an immediate difference. Let’s see if things change.
-” Dale, Waterloo