LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

How will volunteering 
look into the future?

Sir, For as longer as l can remember I have been volunteering in Wedderburn and surrounding areas. 
As a child growing up l was taught that it is an honour to olunteer for your community.
Volunteering has given me great satisfaction over the years, connecting with like-minded people, making new friends, establishing projects, assisting with events and helping my community of Wedderburn and district.
Volunteers are the backbone behind all communities but to grow and sustain volunteering into the future we need to find out what would attract you to volunteer in your community.
I am interested in the sustainability of volunteering into the future and hoping to get some feedback on the questions below.
What would attract you to volunteer for your community?
What would make it easier for you to volunteer?
It is important that younger people living in our communities have the opportunity to have a say.
If you’re in the age bracket from 18 to 40 how can volunteering be made more appealing for you to be involved?
I would appreciate feedback

Robyn Vella
Wedderburn

Show them we care
and tell minister

Sir, Another very successful gathering of caring people in Wedderburn last Friday, following the very successful gathering in Charlton four days earlier, and of course the very successful gathering in StArnaud a couple of weeks ago.
AEMO representatives Meryn York (responsible for designing the energy system of the future), and Nicola Falcon (manager of Supply Planning at AEMO) attended, joining with Peter Walsh, Professor Bruce Mountain, Darren Edwards (director of Energy Grid Alliance - a group that advocates for active community participation and best practice planning for transmission developments), and Kathryn Meyers a young mother of four who has been impacted personally by WRL. 
Each person spoke for 10 minutes followed by time for questions. It was interesting to witness the differences in body language. 
Four of the presenters were very comfortable, making continuous eye contact with their captive audience. Two dared not raise their eyes. 
The applause for each, falling just short of standing ovations for Professor Mountain, Darren Edwards and Kathryn Meyers, couldn’t have contrasted more starkly. When Kathryn was asked how she finds time for this ‘project’ with four children, simply said “I care.” 
There is no monetary gain for either Professor Bruce Mountain or Darren Edwards. 
In Professor Bartlett and Mountain’s submission to AEMO it states “AVP (AEMO Victorian Planner) has delivered  recommendation that is based on biased, deeply flawed and in parts knowingly dishonest analysis. We appreciate the seriousness of these allegations but we feel our duty to our professions leaves us with no option but to make them.” 
These gentlemen are simply doing what is ethically right. It shows they care.
We, too, must continue to show that we care. If AEMO won’t listen, we must find the right people in positions of authority who will. 
We need to contact our members of parliament and in particular, the Minister for Energy and Resources Lily D’Ambrosio .
I have been assured by our local members that even when we get the automated email reply, our concerns are noted and end up in the right place.
Please show that you care too. The minister needs to know of AEMO’s despicable behaviour, and the professional rejection of AEMO’s proposals by those most highly qualified to do so.

Glenda Watts
Charlton
Change of climate 
needed at council

Sir,  After reading about the attitude and behaviour of certain councillors concerning climate dhange and duck shooting (Loddon Herald May 4), has many rate payers concerned including myself. 
While talking to a ratepayer this week, his comment was that “Climate Change has always been happening”, this is partly true, Science is telling us a different story - that the last 80 years climate change is human induced. 
CS Lewis wrote “One of the most cowardly things that ordinary people do is to shut their eyes to facts”.
A few basic facts on climate science:
Since 1950 every decade has been warmer than the decade before.
Australia’s warmest year was 2019 with the temperature being 1.52 degrees Celsius above average.
The effects of human activities on Earth’s climate to date are irreversible on the timescale of humans alive today.
Every little bit to avoid future temperature increases, results in less warming that would otherwise persist for essentially ever.
By 2050 average temperatures are predicted to rise 1.5 degrees Celsius higher than today in Australia.
Scientists predict floods and droughts will increase significantly and undermine agriculture productivity.
In order to prevent catastrophic levels of Climate Change we have to reduce our dependence on coal, oil and gas which produces carbon dioxide acting as a blanket trapping the heat in. 
Cr Beattie said at the Loddon council meeting that changing climate had produced bumper crop seasons, “If this is climate Change - bring it on”.
This comment was a reply to Cr Linda Jungwirth who wanted support of the council for a report into local climate risks. 
Through the Loddon flood plain there were very few summer crops sown due to the flood not receding in time to sow corn, tomatoes, lucerne, etc. hardly any hay was cut, most lucerne crops drowned, some farmers lost their entire winter crops. 
This century, I have witnessed three of the worst floods and the most severe drought when the Loddon River ceased to flow, just as the scientists predicted. 
Up until 1995 we had a severe salinity problem effecting a large proportion of the Shire. If we continue with way above average rainfall, the water table most certainly will rise, there is already a report that north of Pyramid Hill, salinity is stating to show its ugly head. In the last 35 years it is estimated that Boort township has lost over 200 street trees, council should be organising a planting program for all of our streets to help reduce the effects of climate change. 
Some councils, when planning tracks and footpaths include tree planting for shelter and shade, it is known that under a tree can be 20 degrees cooler. A good report will point these facts out. 
The Loddon Shire Mayor Dan Straub is concerned about the $60 million flood damage across the shire last October, wanting the Government to give an allocation to pay for most of these costs. 
If climate change continues at the current rate we should expect one or two of these large flood events each decade. 
Wouldn’t it be wise to reduce the risks? For goodness sake, listen to Cr Linda Jungwirth and Cr Wendy Murphy as they are on the right track. Cr Gavin Holt was concerned about the cost of the climate change report, what is the next flood or drought going to cost the shire?
The Earth is a system, where everything is connected, changes in one area can influence changes in all others. I believe that the report requested by Cr  Linda Jungwirth will give clearer facts to make better decisions effecting rate payers, for example, the increased temperatures on sport activities in summer and the predicted risk of grass fires.

Paul Haw
Boort

Duck hunting decision
‘complete mess’

Sir, Regarding the article ‘Loddon Shire Duck Shooting Stance’ (Loddon Herald  online May 7).  I disagree with Councillors Straub, Beattie and Holt’s proposed submission to the Victorian Parliament inquiry into duck hunting. Council has made a complete mess of this one.
Where is the evidence to support the claim that “duck hunting has a positive  economic and mental health impact on the shire”? Can Cr Beattie back his claim of “enormous” economic benefit with some data? Cr Straub, how many respondents were there to the Loddon Herald reader poll you cited? More facts and less hubris please.
Cr Straub, a conflict of interest may be material or perceived. I doubt that I am alone in concluding that by saying “hat’s how we in the duck hunting community look at it”. You have shot yourself in the foot and admitted to a clear conflict. You and your fellow councillors were elected to represent the entire Loddon Shire community, not the duck hunting community. You cannot have it both ways.
In allowing Cr Straub to continue as chair while moving and debating the motion, council, has failed to act appropriately on his conflict of interest.
Did Cr. Beattie really say “there was no difference between shooting rabbits and ducks”?  (Hint. For starters, one is a feral pest whose hides make nice Akubras, the other is not).
I note that Cr. Jungwirth is credited with at least questioning the motion - thank you!
Councillors should re-consider this ill advised submission, some may find themselves ducking for cover otherwise.
Max Higgs
Bridgewater North

‘Sensible petition’ change ignored

Sir, It is imperative that Dan Straub, the Mayor of Loddon Shire and council more broadly are taken to account.  
How can it be okay for a mayor, who is the former president and one of the founding members of the Victorian Duck Hunters Association, to use his position to influence the council to support duck shooting at the parliamentary enquiry on this subject.  
This statement has no bearing on what the community wants, and the mayor admitted he was using higher level justifications, not local information.  
Who asked the local community? Shame on this Loddon Shire Council.  
You ignore a sensible petition for a report on climate change, and then at the same meeting vote to support duck shooting, an activity that leads to destruction of wildlife, an environmental loss, and then have the audacity to say, duck shooting is nature-based tourism. 
Male coluncillors, it is time for you to remember that you represent the whole shire, not just your wildlife killing mates and your personal agendas.
Glynn Jarrett
Ravenswood South

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS. SEND LETTERS TO THE EDITOR TO loddonherald@gmail.com