Re: "More defibrillators could halve deaths" (October 24, p20).
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The article called on the government to lead the charge in saving lives by installing defibrillators in businesses, schools and buildings across the territory.
A question many people ask us at the Rotary Club of Aurora Gungahlin is "why did Rotary pay for the defibrillators in the trams? Why didn't the government install them?"
In 2019, the Rotary Club of Aurora Gungahlin installed a defibrillator in each of the 14 trams running between Gungahlin to Civic. The initiative came out of a failed attempt to get automatic CPR machines installed in ACT ambulances.
The club, in concert with Capital Metro and St John Ambulance, placed defibrillators in each tram as a community service project when the SJA map of defibrillator locations showed a dearth of defibrillators in the Gungahlin area. The $60,000 spent came from club funds and from grants from Rotary International. To gain the international grants, Aurora Gungahlin partnered with the Rotary Club of Taipei Tatung.
During the planning phase at least two cardiac incidents occurred on the trams. With an ageing population, the ACT government can't keep depending on service clubs to install life saving infrastructure in the community.
Denis Waters, treasurer Rotary Club
of Aurora Gungahlin, Nicholls
Greens have caved
It is a shame the Greens have already given in to their Labor masters instead of being the independent party they were elected to be.
Instead of saying "what can we do for the electors of Canberra" it's become about "how many ministerial positions can we get, there is money to be made here".
I can see Mr Rattenbury and his crew all standing and bowing when Mr Barr walks into the room and, with one voice, shouting "welcome master".
Errol Good, Macgregor
Shocking experience
The distressing and intrusive examinations of female passengers taken from an Australia-bound Qatar Airways flight brought back unpleasant memories for me.
In 2010 I was at London's Heathrow airport about to board a return flight to Australia. I was selected at random to undergo a frisk search. As a women then in my sixties and wearing light clothing, I would not have expected to be under suspicion of any wrongdoing.
The female officer never offered me the option of being frisked in a private room. As hordes of passengers were walking by, I was subjected to a search that I found very upsetting. Unlike the women in the recent case, I was not asked to remove any clothing.
However the frisk search began with my neck, then involved squeezing my breasts firmly, then my waist was examined.
Finally, and worst of all, this officer made me stand with my legs apart while she proceeded to run her hands and squeeze up the inside of my thighs as far as she could go. I felt shaken, embarrassed and humiliated by this experience. It is hardly surprising that when I rejoined my husband, I burst into tears.
Clearly the treatment of the women in Doha was far worse than mine, so I can understand and sympathise with how dreadful their examinations must have been.
Rosalind Bruhn, Curtin
Protect the victims
Re: "Rapist who laughed at victim sentenced to jail" (canberratimes.com.au, September 26), and Jill Sutton's letter to the editor "Action on increasing the age of criminality is welcome" (Letters, September 27). I read each article with a deep sense of concern and some distress. Both views are part of my life story. I am a victim of rape at the innocent age of 10 to 11 years.
The rape was inflicted on me by someone who was five to six years older than me at the time. It has been precisely the subjects covered by these two articles that has allowed the perpetrator, to this day, to deny that it ever happened. He laughed it away by saying that "we were young and just mucking around at the time".
His attitude was one of entitlement: "How bad could it have been, we were only young". But to me, the victim, it was no laughing matter. As to Ms Sutton's view, my only coping mechanism over the years for what was inflicted on me at such a tender age was the knowledge that what had occurred was a criminal act for which jail term should have been served.
A criminal act is a criminal act at any age, especially rape. Surely it is the victim who should be protected at all times.
Name and address withheld
E-scooter enforcement
I note the regulations and guidelines associated with the use of e-scooters in the ACT ("How to safely scoot in the ACT", canberratimes.com.au, October 22).
This is all well and good if they are complied with and enforced. But with use comes with responsibility. Not only was I nearly collected by one in Dickson recently, but the number of scooters abandoned in the middle of suburban footpaths, in car park spaces and shopping centres is dangerous and unsightly.
It is incumbent on all participants in this latest fad to act responsibly and enforce appropriately.
Angela Kueter-Luks, Bruce
Our progressive city
Thank you Dennis O'Hara (Letters, October 19) for looking beyond immediate economic benefit when changing heating and cooling systems. Dennis usefully points to the benefits for the community if those who can afford the choice make efforts to reduce our carbon footprint.
I noted in the election evening speeches by our ACT leaders of Liberal, Green and Labor teams, each spoke of "we". A very refreshing change from the constant use of "I" by so many federal politicians. When policy or election results are branded as being in the name of the party leader it does a great disservice to both our electoral system and the combined efforts of citizens, public servants and government.
Maybe one reason Labor and the Greens received endorsement at the ACT polls was the number of Canberrans who understand and endorse the payment of taxes and charges to support initiatives which reduce our carbon footprint and provide good public services.
I, for one, am proud to point out to friends and relations in other jurisdictions that the ACT government leads the nation when judged on some of those measures.
Jan Sismey, Isaacs
The short answer is...
Murray May (Letters, October 25) asked whether white paint markings indicating pathways in need of repair would fade before the paths were repaired.
In responding to my recent report of a damaged path with trip hazards, very promptly marked with white paint, part of the reply from the relevant government directorate was: "... following the inspection, your inquiry was assigned priority and (will be?) resolved within 12-18 months...".
I think the answer to Murray's query is "almost certainly".
Graham Giles, Weston
Preserve the falls
Recent promotion of Australia's attractions turned my mind to Ginninderra Falls. Sadly, most Canberrans do not realise that the striking Ginninderra Gorge has two waterfalls. The area has been closed to visitors since 2004. A generation has missed out.
This whole region at the confluence of both Ginninderra and Murrumbidgee Gorges has vital Aboriginal heritage. The upper falls was a ceremonial site. Work on the adjacent quarry should cease.
National Park status is essential; gazetted under the auspices of the NSW Parks Service with help from our parks and conservation people, together with Aboriginal management skills. It is about time our assembly took up the cudgels with their NSW counterparts.
Dr Chris. L. Watson, Latham
AWM disappoints
I visited the Australian War Memorial the other day and was profoundly disappointed by the experience. Normal COVID-19 restrictions and social distancing apply as expected, but then you are directed by zealous staff to follow a route around the whole museum, even if you want to go to a specific display. Going into the aircraft hall was a shock.
It is more like a mausoleum. The big display of bomber G for George and the cafe are gone, taken over by building contractors. It seems like it is a "fait accompli".
Richard Lord, Ngunnawal
No real benefit
E-scooters are not as "obviously beneficial to the environment" as Jorge Gapella thinks (Letters, October 26). Each fleet is supported by people who drive around in fossil-fuelled vehicles to return them to where they can be recharged and re-hired.
Leon Arundell, Downer
TO THE POINT
A TIME TO SOW
I agree totally with Sue Dyer ("Trees under threat" Letters, October 21) about the damage to the urban forest by builders and rogue contractors. What is needed is one million trees with a brigade of "kindy" kids to plant them throughout the ACT.
W Book, Hackett
CHARGE ACCORDINGLY
If, as asserted by Chris Aulich (Letters, October 22), voters have indicated they are willing to pay for Andrew Barr and Shane Rattenbury's tram let's do a simple experiment to verify the claim. Charge a fare on light rail that reflects its additional cost compared to buses.
Stephen Jones, Bonython
OVER THE TOP
Paying tips to low-paid workers who provide a good service is a fair thing, but paying bonuses to well-paid managers for doing what they should be doing would be anathema to most Australians.
C Williams, Forrest
IT'S A MYSTERY
What does a $5000 watch do, apart from tell the time?
Ed Highley, Kambah
THE NEW WATCHWORD
Scott Morrison's picking of a fight over a few Cartier watches brings shades of a captain's pick.
M F Horton, Adelaide, SA
WHINE IS WELCOME
The "whining noise" caused by anti-Trumpers ("even outside the US") Jevon Kinder (Letters, October 26) finds unpleasant is a case of people holding power to account by questioning and criticising a powerholder's actions and utterances. This is how democracy works. Jevon Kinder should relocate to China, Russia, Saudi Arabia, or North Korea. Very little whining noise there.
Rajend Naidu, Glenfield, NSW
SOUNDS OF SILENCE
Jevon Kinder (Letters, October 26) speculates on what noise might be heard "if Trump wins again". I suggest he keeps an ear tuned for America's death rattle.
Brian Smith, Conder
CONFUSING TIMES
Talk about confusing times; delusional people abound. I can't even be sure if there is white man in the Orange House or an orange man in the White House.
Ricky Dennis, Murrumbeena, Vic
KEEP SPEECH FREE
Jevon Kinder (Letters, October 26) says the whining noise he hears is caused by "anti-Trumpers... constantly complaining". Jevon should think again. He may discover the din is an echo of his own reluctance to admit others have an equal right to free speech, especially when they disagree with him.
Eric Hunter, Cook
LAND OF THE LOST
Keith Hill's suggestion (Letters, October 26) to use drive-in movie theatres for various crowd activities post COVID-19 is a good one. A pity all such land will be lost to high-rise development.
Greg Cornwell, Yarralumla
NOXIOUS DENIAL
Weed infestations, Ian Pilsner (Letters, October 27), are the result of ignorance of, and even contempt for, ecosystems.
So too is equally noxious climate change denial.
Matt Gately, Rivett
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