Karen Annand, of George Town, has a message to Senator David Leyonhjelm about the pension.Pension ReformLET’s get something very clear, Senator David Leyonhjelm. I did not aspire to poverty, nor am I proud of my poverty. However, I am not ashamed of my poverty either.

Have the conversation about pension reform if you need to, but do not try to shame pensioners for being poor.Not everyone has the opportunity to save for retirement. In my case, I worked, and worked hard, until serious illness forced my very early retirement.

My superannuation was enough to secure my 81-square-metre home and complete the education of my three children, leaving me with just $15,000 to last the rest of my days.

I am not proud of my poverty, but I am proud to have contributed to the welfare system when I was working, and to have raised three children who, despite childhood poverty, are now fully self-supporting tax-paying adults.

I do not aspire to the age pension, just as I did not aspire to raising children on the Disability Support Pension.

However, when the time comes I will accept the age pension with deep gratitude to those who contribute via their taxes, so that I may live with the dignity of poverty rather than destitution.

Karen Annand, George Town.

RepublicWITH much of the world in chaos and the federal budget likely to return to surplus when men land on Mars, it is a great time to raise the Republican issue.

When the Queen shuffles off this mortal coil and Charles ascends the throne as King George 7th, he likes that style, I personally favour an American-style election to elect the president.

An 18-month campaign to elect for a four-year term, with massive party conventions to select candidates and vicious television debates. Those of us who don’t like the results, can riot in the streets and blame North Korea. Australia couldn’t decide to have a vote on same-sex marriage, an issue now dead, buried and cremated.

Then there is Aboriginal Recognition which seems to have disappeared off the radar completely while we are at it we could change the flag, I favour a plain blue flag with a massive platypus in the centre.

Happy New Year and long live the Queen.

Malcolm Scott, Newstead.

Australia DayYET another year begins, Australia 2017, with eminent Australians advertising Australia Day.

For years I’ve been asked to heal, so I too can celebrate. Heal, from what? My humanity?

I’m not of Aboriginal heritage, and as a fourth generation Australian I despair, then dream of a day when every Australian, if they wish, can freely celebrate.

January 26 is only significant to British and First Nation history. January 26 is the original gaping wound in the humanity of Australia.

This date needs to change. There are many wounds from which our beautiful country could learn. Learn that is is our responsibility to face our demons not hide behind the forgiveness of others.

It’s not other’s responsibility to forgive us, and contrary to popular belief the human spirit can thrive without the need to forgive ourselves or others.

What a wonderful world it would be, no empty royal commissions and heartless apologies from church, state ad lucky country, rather, a First Nation Treaty of which every Australian could celebrate.

I believe anything less will continue to eat away the humanity and integrity of this country.

With every inhumane effort known to mankind our past and present history is unable to extinguish the mighty Spirit of First Nation Australians.

Let’s feel the fear and do it anyway. Let this new year 2017 be the end to continually manipulating over 200 years of history.

Let’s find the heart to set our children free.

Deb Johnston-Andrews, Newnham.

This story Administrator ready to work first appeared on Nanjing Night Net.

WHEN looking back at 2016 from a sporting perspective, it will be remembered as the year of the drought-breakers.

Sandhurst captain-coach Craig Howard.

There was the AFL feelgood fairtytale story that was the Western Bulldogs winning their first premiership since 1954;

• the Cronulla Sharks, which entered in 1967, winning their first NRL flag;

•the Chicago Cubs winning their first Major League Baseball World Series in 108 years and breaking the “Curse of the Billy Goat” in an epic seven-game series against the Cleveland Indians;

•Matthew Dellavedova’s Cleveland Cavaliers defying history to comefrom 3-1 down against the rampant Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals to win their first championship, andthe long-starved city’s first major sporting title since 1964; and

• Leicester City’s improbable 5000-1 Premier League championship.

All remarkable stories that will make 2016 a sporting year to be remembered.

But closer to home and on a much smaller scale, could the Bendigo summer sporting landscape also be on the cusp ofsome drought-breaking or first-time premiership success stories of its own come March?

It’s certainly a possibility in the Emu Valley Cricket Association when the season resumed at the weekend with two of the top three teams –Golden Gully and Sedgwick – having never won a division one flag.

Sedgwick is a club that has its centenary approaching, with the Rams having history that can be traced back to 1918, yet its cupboard is bare of a division one flag, as is Golden Gully’s in what’s now the Cobras’ 17thseason in the EVCA.

In the Bendigo District Cricket Association, the competition is seemingly as wide open as it has been for some time –evidenced that at the mid-season break the top five teams were all on 27 points.

Among those top five sides was Sandhurst –the club that has the longest BDCA first XI premiership drought dating back to 1979.

That’s now 38 years without a flag, but the Dragons have already proven this season with their arsenal in particular of spin bowling, including captain Craig Howard (pictured), that their best is as good as any.

And in Bendigo Bowls Division weekend pennant, it has been 23 years since South Bendigo last won a division one flag in 1994.

But if South can pick up from where it left off when it won its last five games before the mid-season break, there’s no reason why it can’t go all the way and end its drought, too.

This story Administrator ready to work first appeared on Nanjing Night Net.

HADSPEN recorded a convincing 10-wicket victory over Tigers at Faulkner Park with openers Damian Woods and Nathan Balym holding firm on Saturday.

GONE: Hadspen’s Clint Moore and Scott Driessen celebrate the wicket of Tigers batsman Zane Brown, who had his stumps obliterated at Faulkner Park. Pictures: Scott Gelston

The hosts set the second-placed Chieftains 146 to win after being dismissed in the 32ndover thanks largely to tight line and lengths from Hadspen’s bowling cartel. Dave Smith collected 3-16 and leg spinner Matt Greenended up with 3-37.

Jason Reeves hit a fast-paced 35 for the Tigers with Zane Brown (22) and Zac Barwick (30) also chipping in. Woods finished unbeaten on 76, while Balym was on 60 when Hadspen passed the required total in the 28th over.

THANK YOU: Chieftains paceman Davie Smith receives the ball at the top of his mark.

The pair hit 24 boundaries between them as Tigers captain Luke Richards used nine bowlers in his hunt for an evasive breakthrough.

BEAUTY POINT recorded a massive win in the context of their season over Cressy at home.

The Tamar Tigers rolled the Bulldogs for a slim 118 in 33.2 overs with Mathew Varga (4-7) cleaning up the tail in just 3.2 overs.

Adam Turner also had a day out with 3-20as Paul Bassett (28), Adam Wesley (20) and Josh Frankcombe (19) tried to keep Cressy afloat.

In response, Beauty Point eclipsed the target in 89 balls with Brennan Creswell unbeaten on 45 and Josh Allen 34 not out. Captain Beau Hills also hit 24 before he was one of two batsman run out.

ACL almost guaranteed themselves a finals berth with a three-wicket win over Diggers at Hagley.

Diggers captain-coach Paul Fruin won the toss and elected to bat first in hot conditionsbut his batsmen failed to deliver. The hosts were bowled out for 113, just 27 overs into their innings with tailender Andy Bassett (25) andSteven Hill (20) the main scorers.

Bluebacks opening bowler Simon Chappell finished with 2-15, while Nathan Lewis picked up 3-19.

ACL were shaky in reply losing wickets on nought, 23, 31, 44, 55 and 65 before Lewis (24) and Mathew Tidey guided them home with 13 overs left. Bassett boasted figures of 4-22 for the Diggers.

LONGFORD defeated Trevallyn by five wickets at Tigerland.

The visitors ended up 8-129 off their 40 overs with captain coach Glen Gleeson (65no) the mainstay as Country Tigers paceman Brett Martin claimed 5-33.

Tyson Miller did his best to try and dislodge the reigning premiers from top spotpicking up 4-49, but it wasn’t to be, with Dion Blair (38no) and Ben Dodd (37) getting them over the line at 5-130 in 24.2 overs.

TOP PERFORMERSDamian Woods (HAD) 76noGlen Gleeson (TREV) 65noNathan Balym (HAD) 60noBrett Martin (LONG) 5-33Andy Bassett (DIG) 4-22Mathew Varga(BP) 4-7This story Administrator ready to work first appeared on Nanjing Night Net.

LETTERS: Send letters to the editor to [email protected]南京夜网419论坛Big festive effortOn behalf of the Ceduna community, and the District Council of Ceduna, I’d like to thank Erica Bodger and her volunteers for their work in producing the displays in the foyer of the Ceduna Community Hall in the week prior to Christmasand also for assisting Santa to visit with local children during this time.

Erica put a lot of time into hand-making displays throughout the yearand then to set them upand have them open to the public.

It was wonderful to see Poynton Street looking more festive for Christmas!

I know that people who visited the display gave very positive feedbackand would like to see it repeated next year.

Several people also donated decorations for the displays, and lollies for the visiting children.

Again, thank you Erica and to those who assisted in any way – It’s wonderful to have people with such a sense of giving in the communityand we appreciate your contribution and efforts.

All the best for a prosperous and safe 2017

ANNETTE PLANE

Tourism and events officer, Ceduna District Council

Why only penalise pensioners?Minister Christian Porter needs a reality check.

He gave the impression New Year’s Eve the only few pensioners affected were millionaires, all the rest received increases. Wrong.

I am nowhere near that. I worked hard and saved all my life stupidly to provie a luxury lifestyle for investment advisors and with current interest rates will now have to cancel my private health that I have had all my life to survive.

This guy would be more suited to working at Dreamworld, or is that where he came from?

When I received my funeral notice from Centrelink Iwrote to the Treasurer, the Minister for Human Services (by mistake) with a copy to our local federal member who never responded, advising they had failed to take into account the cost of living per head for a single pensioner with their own home is virtually double that for a couple because you still paythe same council rates, levies, insurances and service costs as a couple, and that rural pensioners also incur extra fuel an food penalties.

Were any other welfare recipients penalised as well?

Because Centrelink policy appears to be, the harder you work the more you are penalised and the less you work the more you are rewarded.

Pauline Hanson come on down!

A.J. MORTIMER

Streaky Bay

Thank you Minister Hamilton-SmithThe recent signing of a Memorandum of Understanding for the training of West Java seafaring personnel in South Australia is a significant step forward for the relationship between our state and Indonesia.

With the Consul-General of Indonesia and Minister Hamilton-Smith present, the Australian Maritime and Fisheries Academy and the Fisheries and Marine Agency of West Java Province signed the MOU, further breaking down the barriers to education of Indonesian near coastal seafarers.

Without the assistance of Minister Hamilton-Smith and his staff, we would not have been able to sign this historic agreement.

HAGEN STEHR AO

Chairman,Australian Maritime and Fisheries Academy

All submissions must include an address and contact number. (The address and phone number are not for publication.) Letters must carry the writer’s name for publication. The editor reserves the right to edit letters and not to publish them.This story Administrator ready to work first appeared on Nanjing Night Net.

First-time home buyers in Northern Tasmania are struggling to compete with mainland cash buyers, as Launceston becomes the “investment capital of Tasmania”.

Real Estate Institute of Tasmaniasaid itwould push the state government to bring back the first home owners grant, on top of the current building grant,in the lead-up to the state election in 2018.

REIT president Tony Collidge saidinstead of moneythe grant could comein the form of a stamp duty rebatefor existing houses, as well as new builds.

The currentgrant offered$20,000 to first-time home builders, but there was no grant available for first-time buyers of old houses.

A Treasury Department spokesperson said the First Home Builder Boost was“unashamedly” aimed at boosting the entire value chain of the building and construction sector.

“This will create jobs and help grow the economy.”

But hopeful first-time homebuyer Renee Kaine said she was feeling “cheated” by mainland investors, who were buying up houses in the area.

“My husband and I have been saving every spare penny we have had for at least two years,” she said.

“We have been seriously looking at houses to buy for the last 10 months in areas such as Youngtown, Prospect and Newnham, and our experience has been very stressful as we are up against mainland cash buyers.

“I check the internet everyday for houses but there are no new ones coming up for sale that would suit us, and when there have been, there are so many other people lining up for them also. We have our deposit ready but there aren’t many houses out there at the moment, and the three times we have put offers on houses, mainland investors who are cash buyers swoop in and normal people like us can’t compete.”

Ms Kaine said she and her husband would love to see the first home owners grant extended to include buyers of existing houses.

“I am very disappointed the first home buyers grant has gone. Even to just help with the stamp duty would be great. We feel a bit cheated that we work so hard, pay our taxes and do the right things, and aren’t entitled to a little bit of help for our future.”

The Treasury Department spokesperson said the building grant was expected to generate around $175 million in building activity across Tasmania. “[Therefore] boosting our broad economy and supporting local jobs.”

This story Administrator ready to work first appeared on Nanjing Night Net.