Fire advice is needed much earlier
Dear Echo News,

On Friday, September 27 your front page shouted ‘Get smart about burning’, followed by an article on page five espousing the importance of fuel reduction and the responsibility of landholders to manage their fuel load.

All good advice - except it appeared with only three days left of the unrestricted burning period and on a day we received 16mm of rain thus eliminating any chance of fuel reduction burns within the available timeframe.

That is, unless the landholder applies - and pays - for a permit that has conditions many of us can’t comply with, and is likely only available in a very tiny window of time (if at all).

I know that the weather is frequently uncooperative but good grief, shouldn’t this advice have been issued a month earlier?

Come on DFES and local government, get your publicity act into gear in a timely and useful manner.

L Atkins
Parkerville

Past bushfire vollies not invited
Dear Echo News,

In response to the article New Stoneville Volunteer Bush Fire Brigade Station is officially opened (Echo News, September 27), with reference to the Stoneville volunteer brigade.

No disrespect to the current volunteers, but it’s a shame past presidents, life members and ex-committee members, were not invited to the official opening.

Only a handful of privileged members received an invite.

Some of the members who were not invited were older members who had toiled and built the original shed and included the seventeen members who formed the day team and were rejected from the brigade as they were square pegs that did not fit into a round hole.

These men and women put their lives on the line for the community and successfully committed their spare time to supporting the hills people, which most would be unaware of.

If the public knew how they were treated, they would be appalled.

I would also like to know where the jarrah honor board is, that shows all the past presidents, secretaries and life members, a true honors list dedicated to the volunteers who put their lives on the line for the community.

This board should be proudly displayed but has not been sighted, where is it?

The shire, DFES and the current brigade officials ought to hang their heads in shame at the way these former members were treated in not being invited.

Poor form.

A Healy
Stoneville

Search for hills puma
Dear Echo News,

Seen a panther/puma in Perth hills catchment recently?

Have you seen the above or had stock killed or pets attacked?

The incompetent public sector union dominated, state government monopoly the Department of Biodiversity and Attractions have lazily not done enough mammal surveys to rule out the existence of these creatures.

If you have seen a panther-puma in the Perth Hills please call 0434 904 944.

I am an independent searcher-researcher.

M Moss
Rivervale