A quick ring around and a picnic is arranged for lunch time.

The river and the dappled shade with its huge trees draws us all the time. Such a well cared for area and a place for everybody to enjoy and to feel so proud of.

We found a parking spot easily and were fortunate to locate a table close to the River Deck Cafe and a lovely view of the water and a short distance away was the sound of children playing on the play equipment.

Wow, a touch of heaven. Just one small problem in this (paradise).

A gentleman walking his dog just two metres away from our picnic decides to allow his dog to do its leg lifting wee.

So in the couple of hours that we were wanting to enjoy the wonders of nature and the special partnership that caring people with a vision can bring together and create as Noreuil Park foreshore development.

We looked about and families were lying on the grass and such a sharing of green space is wonderful to feel part of.

But underlying all this is a culture of a non caring attitude by dog owners about ablutions of their family pooch.

The health issues of worms in dog faeces is a very real problem.

All within a couple of metres of our table a couple watched their two poodles poop and one with a continuous runny bowel and all close to where young boys were sitting on the grass.

No concern about cleaning up after them or at least taking them away from the vicinity of picnickers.

Or to get them on leads. Then there was the people that think lifting their dog up onto picnic tables is a cool thing to do.

Would they let their dogs sit on the eating tables at their place? This is not the end of the dog escapades.

What about the dog that was working out where to mark his territory on the play equipment while his master looks on.

I could continue with at least six more accounts of behaviour such as this and only once did a plastic bag come out to take the droppings away.

When did this dog behaviour become acceptable behaviour in this family area. I am not a dog hater as I've always owned a family pet and love dogs, so watching this behaviour each time I'm down at the Noreuil Park foreshore is disturbing, as it should be to all of us.

Please let us think about the health of all that want to continue to laze on the grass and take time to enjoy this special area.

In response to Shana Morgan's report “Budget Game Changer” (The Border Mail, April 8), Shana reports that it is proposed that $1 billion is being allocated to repair the North East rail line, this money is coming from revenue gained from the sale of Port of Melbourne. But it occurred to me how are we going to build and maintain future infrastructure in this country when we have no more assets to sell? 

Hume Bank directors, you really have done a slap in the face to your loyal members.

I’m sure many feel like the ones I’ve spoken to at West End Plaza and now see you for your true untrusted colours.

Many of the old people with their careers or weekly taxi shopping trips now have nowhere to bank or do business.

Try using an ATM that doesn’t work or has a changed log in screen that members were’t notified on how to use. There is only one fix and that is a building society opens up there or a people’s co-op starts up.

I’m sure they will listen to us. As they said on the radio, banks are not for the people and used some stronger words.