Three weeks ago we acknowledged World Mental Health Day, and I had the opportunity to deliver a speech in parliament recognising the outstanding work of those who work in that space within Eyre Peninsula communities.
This significant day on our annual calendar was timely, as it coincided with West Coast Youth and Community Support celebrating 40 years of service in and around Port Lincoln, and a few days later, the opening of Headspace’s new state of the art facility in Port Lincoln.
Both events demonstrate the impact mental health issues are having on our people, and the dedication of these organisations to serve and support those suffering.
Recently I had the honour of welcoming the Mentally Fit EP team to Parliament House who were visiting to advocate for mental health supports across Eyre Peninsula, and their determination paid off in securing a $100,000 Impact100 South Australia grant.
Well done to the whole team for its well-deserved recognition of much past and ongoing work.
Mental health support in regional communities is a crucial area for government investment, to enable local support structures delivered for local people by local service providers.
It is unacceptable that when it comes to health, we are continuing to be left behind when compared to our city cousins.
Health outcomes shouldn’t be determined by your postcode.
To this end I will continue to fight for our region’s services and rally to make the government accountable to our regional communities which face even more challenges and adversity than those in the city, to see greater equity for all in our electorate.
Sam Telfer, Flinders MP
Councils costs must be examined
Spot on, Ian Macgowan (‘Too many levels of government’, Port Lincoln Times, 27 November) – we have three tiers of government and regrettably insufficient quality politicians for all tiers.
Look at Adelaide and the problems of their local government, i.e. Holdfast Bay, Burnside, etc.
Regional areas are not immune from problems – Coober Pedy is a classic case of incompetence and as a former resident of Port Augusta it had debt and other problems needing outside expert advice to manage.
All things local government have increasing travel-happy mayors (three in Adelaide recently to Brazil, plus advisors?), photo-happy councillors and all councillor and mayor allowances that increasingly look like salaries.
Then their beliefs that they must leave a plaque of their achievements, not remembering their failures!
Why not look at amalgamations with so many councils close to each other, noting Lower Eyre Council has offices here.
Of course, each council needs a CEO and support staff and they don’t come cheap, with CEO salaries increasingly rising.
With council costs rapidly increasing so are residents’ rates – ours has doubled in seven years (our income has not) without a corresponding increase in services.
Unfortunately, the majority of councils appear to think that cost of living concerns are not important to ratepayers and that residents have to bear above CPI increases, and councils borrow more.
The same attitude applies to federal and state governments, and how many pollies started off in councils?
Councils are not mini state governments and need to concentrate on local issues and keep their budgets in order.
Amalgamations or even axing an obsolete form of government should be considered.
It’s the 21st century and with electronic communication and reasonable air and road transport it should be considered.
The budgetary savings in sacking 68 local government CEOs plus senior staff would be considerable, providing the same number of equally paid state public servants weren’t employed.
Local government employees could be managed by our 110,000 state public servants?
Peter Lock, Port Lincoln
Reality check needed
‘Dose of reality in fossil fuel phase-out plan’ (The Advertiser, 25 November) hits the nail on the head, and which Energy Minister Chris Bowen needs to take heed of quickly.
Our power network cannot be sourced solely from solar and wind power generation without severe restrictive measures being imposed on household and industry consumers.
Renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar, currently only provide intermittent energy and do not meet the baseload power that domestic and industrial users need and require.
Until all governments, federal and state, acknowledge and accept that the Australian Electricity Network will require a mix of generation sources, electricity users across Australia will face increasing occurrences of blackouts, imposed power restrictions, and exorbitant charges for the foreseeable future.
It is time for a large dose of reality, rather than the continued pursuit of an idealistic dream.
Ian Macgowan, Ceduna
Do not feel pressure this Christmas
With Christmas upon us, I have begun to notice a strange phenomenon.
Although Christmas is a time of joy and hope for so many, I have also noticed a heaviness, a stress, a pressure that has started to come to the surface in people’s lives.
As The Salvation Army, we notice these pressures firsthand. They are the pressures that are placed on individuals and families at Christmas which can turn a time of joy into a time of distress.
One of the most obvious pressures is the financial pressure people face.
It is the choice between paying for food and affording presents for their children or being able to go to the doctor instead of a special Christmas Day meal.
Christmas also illuminates other pressures, like relationship tensions as family conflict is heightened, or time pressures due to the busyness of the season.
But one of the more hidden pressures we see people facing, although often one of the most damaging, is the pressure of comparison with those around you at Christmas time.
Pressure to spend a certain amount, look a certain way, buy a certain number of gifts, have all your friends over for a meal, the list goes on.
We see firsthand the damage this can create. The stress placed on a family trying to ‘keep up’ with those around them can be debilitating, not just for individuals and parents but also for children.
This is why we want to encourage Australians to re-think how they approach Christmas this year, so as to not fall into the trap of comparison and ‘keeping up’ with those around you.
Aim for connection, not perfection. Being with others is so much more valuable than stressing about creating the perfect Christmas, whether it be with family, friends or the Salvos – there’s no need to be alone this Christmas, we’re here for you.
Share the load. Ask others to chip in, encourage everyone to bring a plate or help out in another way. You don’t have to be everything to everyone.
And finally, if you are struggling this Christmas, please don’t be ashamed to reach out for support.
We want you to know that we have your Christmas taken care of this year – providing gifts for children, hampers and meals for Christmas Day, and a place for connection where you can belong.
If you need help this Christmas, or to donate to The Salvation Army’s Christmas Appeal which is aiming to raise $29 million, please visit salvationarmy.org.au or call 13 SALVOS (13 72 58).
From all of us at the Salvos, we wish you a very happy and hope-filled Christmas.
Colonel Rodney Walters, The Salvation Army
