Lesmurdie aged care proposal
Dear Echo News, 

I wish to thank The Echo Newspaper for publishing my letter (Echo News, January 10).

I have since heard that one aged care proposal for an 81 bed nursing home at Sunshine Park in Lesmurdie is now on the move with the state government.

Isn’t amazing what can be achieved in an election year!

However, I doubt the obvious inertia over the last year would have been addressed had it not been for The Echo’s help in publishing my letter.

Let us hope the drought has now broken in aged care and that the state government will get on with Heidelberg Park in Carmel as a matter of urgency.

I Jones
Lesmurdie

Live sheep debate continues
Dear Echo News,

The nonsensical and divisive call by some that farmers are being disrespected or ignored by the government’s closure of the live sheep trade must end.

Not even the Libs agree with the Nationals on that one.

We as a community decided about a decade ago that we would no longer tolerate this trade and we called for it to end.

Democracy is about making decisions for the majority.

We have all had to accept decisions that we have not supported or that we feel did not support us.

It’s time to get over it and accept the will of the people.

In any event those affected are being compensated with well over $100 million by the rest of us taxpayers – yet again (think diesel subsidies and a multitude of other subsidies and deals) – despite them having a decade to prepare and transition.

We should all be so lucky.

If they’d supported the Tammin abattoir a few years back they may still have it, but their bloody-minded refusal to accept change meant that the business was no longer viable.

We could and should have had a wonderful lamb meat industry here.

P Carman
Hovea

Homeless heat wave concerns
Dear Echo News,

As Midland temperatures soar to 44 degrees take a moment to consider our poor homeless and those elderly and disabled living in old homes built without climate protection or unable to afford air conditioners.

More people die of heat stroke than pollution.

Sadly, this week I saw a homeless elderly person wheeling her supermarket trolley with all her possessions, walking along Great Eastern Highway with her dog.

Where will she be going?

Yet we do have solutions.

Midland Gate could open its doors and invite people to shelter from the heat.

Swan Park and schools have large air conditioned basketball courts.

Students could prepare lunches as a social service and build a sense of community.

With temperatures set to hit 50 degrees and heat waves to be more frequent and last longer, what is the shire’s policy to offering and establishing heat refuges for the most vulnerable, just like we organise evacuation centres for bushfires?

Let’s all check on our elderly neighbours and ask: Are you OK?

Dr C Hughes
Midland

Unhappy Basso ratepayer
Dear Echo News,

I write in response to a recent article in The West, Saturday, January 11 page 4 ‘Premier denies claims Labor has neglected its suburban heartland’.

I find it to be true and disrespectful that unfortunately and for many many years now Bassendean is considered to be a safe Labor seat therefore no need to buy votes.

However, now a past Bassendean mayor has decided to run as an independent against the current Labor member and all of a sudden Labor’s (good news Roger) has announced a new housing project next to Bassendean train station which local council has been advocating for many years now.

Cynical me says this is only due to elections coming up and Labor should be much much more productive in these so call safe seats.

As a ratepayer-taxpayer of Bassendean and Labor voter I’m disgruntled and disappointed with Labor and now undecided and perhaps time for a change!

G Coleman
Bassendean

Thanks from the Salvos
Dear Echo News,

With the start of a new year, 2025 offers us a chance to reflect on the year that has passed, and also look forward to the new beginnings offered in the year ahead.

For The Salvos, looking back on 2024 means reflecting on the one person every 17 seconds that we helped throughout the year.

Thank you particularly for your generosity towards our Christmas Appeal, which helped provide a special Christmas to those who would have otherwise gone without.

If it wasn’t for your support, children would have gone without presents under the tree, families without a special Christmas meal and many without hope and joy during the festive season.

While some Australians were in the position to give to The Salvos during Christmas, many others found it to be one of the most financially crippling times of the year, particularly as our nation faces a cost-of-living crisis.

To anyone who found themselves in that position, and now may be facing debt, financial hardship or stress about money, we want to let you know that there is hope at the start of this year.

The Salvos Moneycare service offers free and confidential financial counselling to Australians each year, helping them to get on top of their finances.

There is no better time than the start of a new year to take a fresh look at your finances and get on top of your financial situation.

We encourage all Australians to take a look at their finances this year, and if you are struggling to cope financially, reach out to The Salvation Army’s Moneycare service.

We are here for you.

Reach out to Moneycare today by visiting salvationarmy.org.au/moneycare or call 1800 722 363.

Colonel R Walters
The Salvation Army