Your Letters

Your Letters

Newcastle Herald

Wednesday June 4, 2008

LETTERS

We can still offer a lot

I HAVE worked for cruise ships (Princess Cruises) for 10 years and as tours manager for the past three years.

I have also worked on board the Sun Princess and Dawn Princess mentioned in Ann Sherry's article ("We can't be too cruisy in attracting visitors" Herald 3/6).

I agree with her that Newcastle should get its act together and build a decent cruise ship terminal. The cruising industry is getting bigger in Australia and Newcastle should market itself to get a slice of this action.

I am sure that with a decent facility, cruise ships would make Newcastle a permanent call, year-round, bringing in millions of dollars from passengers and crew. I would love to set up a tour business or be involved in some capacity for this huge market.

But before Ann Sherry dismisses Newcastle for our lack of facilities, she should look at major ports around the world that do not have cruise ship terminals.

Ports for many major cities have only cargo terminals for docking, cities such as Rome (port of Civitavecchia) and Paris (port of Le Havre). South American ports which are the gateway for Machu Picchu and Asian ports, gateways for such attractions as the Great Wall and Angkor Wat, also are not set up for cruise ships.

Yes, Newcastle should look towards the future and build a world-class terminal, but we are still a destination worth visiting.

Dallas Hamilton

Fletcher

June 3

Smokers rort the system scot free

I HAVE recently completed two temporary jobs in government agencies, and I am astounded by the cigarette smokers taking regular "smoke breaks".

Imagine the response of the manager if we non-smokers simply walked out of the building every half hour and stood out the front for 10 minutes doing whatever we liked. How unacceptable that would seem to our bosses and colleagues not to mention unfair.

So why are smokers allowed to do this? And get paid the same wage we do, despite taking probably what equates to an hour or more off each day slowly killing themselves and others?

When will businesses and government agencies crack down on this and simply say, "No. You have your lunch break like everyone else."?

Catherine Hill

Mount Hutton

June 3

This curfew is too dangerous

AS an inner-city Newcastle resident who, according to police, is directly affected by drunks in town at weekends, I am appalled.

This curfew that has been imposed in town is causing more trouble than it fixes and I believe the police and media are only reporting the positive effects.

I have been left by myself on the street on a number of occasions because of this ridiculous curfew and forced to walk home alone, because I missed the deadline by minutes.

Why don't the police think of an alternative, instead of turfing drunk people onto the streets to defend themselves?

For instance, people could be allowed into clubs at any hour, but at a certain time only beer could be served, perhaps just light beer.

This would allow people who want to socialise and have a good time enjoy themselves, and also reduce the number of drunk people on the street.

Amber Lavelle

Newcastle

June 3

I see the beauty of youth portrayed

TO me there is nothing more beautiful or precious than young children. They are nature's ultimate creation. Whether they are playing cricket or football, riding surfboards or taking their first steps of ballet, I look at my own grandchildren and wish I could be that young again.

Those who criticise Bill Henson's photographs should question their own morality. They certainly don't see through my eyes. Maybe that was the artist's intent, to show us how time and life not only ravages our bodies but also takes away our innocence.

Geoff Dear

Fletcher

June 3

Charlestown can show the city how

I CONGRATULATE the designers of the new building on Charlestown Road for the mural at the front, depicting the early history and heritage of Charlestown. Well done. There should be more of this.

It's a pity Newcastle's maritime history hasn't been represented in the same way on the buildings along the foreshore.

Tony Fraser

Charlestown

June 3

A new entrance, now some parking

CONGRATULATIONS on the second entrance road to the John Hunter Hospital complex. Pity it was not placed at the back of the hospital to ease traffic from Wallsend on Croudace Road.

But a safety mirror as you come out of Teahouse Road, to enable a safer right hand turn would be appreciated.

Now we'll live in hope for more parking in the very near future.

Hazel Pratten

New Lambton

June 3

Killers must be found

I AM disappointed in the actions of a group of individuals who continue to enter the grounds of Morisset Hospital with the intention of disturbing wildlife ("Orphaned by hoons" Herald H1 31/5). The thoughtless actions of these people endanger not only local wildlife, but put the safety of staff, patients and visitors to the hospital at risk.

It is unimaginable to think that a group of people could abuse public access to this site with the intention of causing harm or injury to native animals. Our security staff have been working to identify those involved, and we will be working with the Wildlife Rescue Service and local police to see that this activity is further investigated, by providing additional patrols and surveillance.

For the safety of our staff, patients and visitors, this inhumane activity needs to stop. I would encourage anyone with information about the individuals concerned to contact Lake Macquarie Police.

Graham Cant, Health Service Manager, Morisset Hospital

June 3

Letter of the week

This week the letter judged the best, most succinct and interesting will win a double pass to a Knights game, courtesy of The Herald. The winner will be announced on Saturday on this page.