Your Letters

Newcastle Herald

Saturday July 5, 2008

LETTERS

Parking-problem perspective

WITH all due respect to Lord Mayor John Tate, there were far better ways to ensure car parks would not be taken by all-day parkers who had no intention of going to the Mall markets ("$2m bike rack" Herald 30/6).

Shopping centres in Sydney use free periods, typically three hours, to ensure none of their customers are discouraged from shopping there.

The hefty parking fees incurred after the three hours discourage those wanting to park cars all day, particularly commuters who would otherwise grab free parking next to a train station.

A simple ticketing system, with a gate, is all it takes.

That said, as a motorcyclist I'm encouraged by the council's foresight in providing free motorcycle parking.

Sam Collyer

Strathfield, June 30

Not led up China's garden path

FOLLOWING my letter "China visit opened eyes" (Letters 20/6), I have responded to numerous queries, the most common concerning our safety in the predominantly Muslim far-western XinJiang Autonomous Region, said to be a hot-bed of insurrection.

Nowhere in China did we feel threatened, least of all among the Muslims.

The people were friendly and many even asked to be photographed.

Individual members of our party mingled freely with the locals, even after nightfall, and regularly conversed with those who spoke some English.

In fact, we felt safer there than in Newcastle's CBD at night.

For 10 straight days, three of our local tour guides were Muslims and you could not wish to meet nicer folk.

Two of them were well-educated, very friendly young women, progressive in outlook and whose attire was totally Western-style.

It was also insinuated that our guides in China showed us only what they wanted us to see.

Nothing could be further from the truth we were free to go wherever, and do whatever, we wished.

Nowhere did we sense any hint of repression, even in the two large Tibetan enclaves we visited.

John Harborne

Valentine, June 25

Silk Road was a smooth journey

I RECENTLY returned from a trip to China.

The trip spanned 31 days and targeted the historic Silk Road and other well-known destinations.

We started in Shanghai, moved to Xian, and then to less-travelled areas in the north-west, with Turpan and Kashgar the most extreme cities.

The tour then looped back to Guilin and Beijing.

We mostly travelled by coach but also overnight sleeper trains and domestic flights.

It was a spectacular experience travelling in the Gobi and Taklimakan deserts.

The contrast between east and west China was noticeable, with Islamic influences most obvious in Kashgar.

Not many tourists venture this far and we were often a curiosity.

Towns with relatively modern hotels, while few, were sufficient for our travel.

Some roads were extremely good for such remote areas and many more kilometres are being improved.

People were friendly but, of course, China is difficult to negotiate without good national and local guides.

This remote area is opening up to tourism and they are getting ready.

It is not merely a holiday, it's an adventure.

Richard Whitton

Lakelands, June 30

Footy not a fun day out these days

I THINK it is unfair for Knights CEO Steve Burraston to blame the punters for not filling seats.

I stopped attending home games years ago for the sole reason it was not an enjoyable day out.

For starters, parking was atrocious a parking cop's field day.

Ticket prices are rising.

Once you cram into the ground like sardines, you are met with overpriced food that you have to walk half way around the ground to get.

You wait in line while missing the game. Same goes for toilets.

Beers are expensive, inconvenient, and again you wait in line.

There is no choice of brand.

Security and police assist in making people feel like cows in a pen.

Essentially, you are paying to see 80 minutes of sport. It's not that sweet a deal when you can watch the game at home or at the pub in comfort and without restrictions.

Maybe Mr Burraston could cut some player wages? Ask the likes of Mick Cronin and Reg Gasnier what they used to get paid to play footy.

Dale Townsend

Tighes Hill, July 2

Million-dollar game is results-driven

WHEN will Knights supporters who whinge about the lack of local juniors in the team realise that rugby league is a multi-million-dollar business that is results-driven?

Sure, let's have a team of local juniors (who might be lucky to make reserve grade) form our first-grade side and see how many games they can win.

Support would be worse than it is now with the team losing most weeks.

At least the team Brian Smith has put together is competitive and trying their guts out for Newcastle, giving us all something to cheer about.

If any local juniors have the potential I'm sure they will be in our team if they are not snapped up by Sydney clubs.

The juniors know they still have that incentive of playing for the Knights if they are good enough.

Max Moran

Shortland, July 2

Choristers hit gold at gardens

CONGRATULATIONS to St Joseph's Primary School, Merewether, for their great work in winning first prize at the Regional Choir Festival at the Hunter Valley Gardens last Saturday.

The children are to be commended for their dedication to their choir.

Being at the gardens at 8.30am on a Saturday, dressed in full school uniform, was a feat in itself.

Congratulations also to the parents for the support given to their children.

School staff should also be recognised for giving their time and support.

We were blessed with great weather on the day and having won first prize made the day perfect.

Helen and Edward Want

East Maitland, July 1

Heritage holding the fort

AS noted in The Herald recently, Fort Scratchley was not built at the time of the Russo-Japanese war (1904-05).

The main fortifications and barracks were built from 1882-86.

It is a classic 19th-century fort, built to withstand a siege and to protect Newcastle, Britain's chief coaling station in the southern hemisphere.

It is the largest fortification of its kind on the Australian coast and has its roots firmly planted in the protection of the earlier Coal Harbour settlement and the first coal mines in the southern hemisphere.

The property is an integral part of the Coal River Precinct, listed on the NSW state heritage list. Recently rediscovered 1801 Barrallier charts show this precinct to be the birth site of Newcastle.

Doug Lithgow

Parks and Playgrounds Movement, July 2

© 2008 Newcastle Herald

Back to News Index | Back to Home