To the Local Court judges that sit in Albury I ask, are your penalties for traffic offences deterring people from re-offending? I would ask that they read page 23 of The Border Mail from Saturday (‘Falkholt’s life support off’). Then be honest with yourself. Do you think the lack of harsher penalties was a contributing factor in this crash? 

As a retired police officer who worked in the Albury area for 18 years in Highway Patrol, I recall putting people before the court for punishment for disqualified driving charges, and having them laugh at me as they left the court. Why? Because they walked out of court. They didn't walk into jail, they walked out of the court room.

Their disqualification period had been extended a few years but other than that nothing really happened. I knew they would continue to drive. I knew I would have to catch them again and again and again and eventually they would go to jail. And here we are seeing the worst of outcomes as a result of this type of sentencing in relation to the man involved in the collision with the Falkholt family, a habitual traffic offender who had been caught driving while disqualified 10 times. 

I am all for giving a chance to first-time offenders. But high-range drink-drivers should not be walking out of court rooms with their licence in their hands. And, if the court disqualifies you from driving, that is your warning. If you then drive whilst disqualified and go back to court, pack a toothbrush because you go to jail. I mean, it's simple isn't it? 

I say this to the Albury Local Court judges. Cut out the page 23 story of The Border Mail of Saturday January 13, 2018. Highlight the seventh and eighth paragraphs. Then laminate the story and put it in your briefcase and look at it every time you go to sentence someone for a serious traffic offence. 

For my sake, for my child's sake, for all the Falkholts out there, do not let another drink driver walk out of your court with their licence in their hand. I have had enough. The community has had enough. We expect you to act. So act.

Anyway I've shared my thoughts on the matter, may the dead rest in peace.

“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men should do nothing.” Edmund Burke.

The plans to improve and modernise the Tallangatta Caravan Park and get it up to Big 4 level  are a step in the right direction. Caravan tourism is a growth industry and many council controlled parks in our region  need to become tourist parks and capture year-round travellers and tourists.

Tourism planners within many regional NSW councils have missed the potential in this part of tourism so suited to our region. Councils and the NSW government need to review how they negotiate with many caravan operators and allow the operators to have leases that allow them to invest and develop many parks that have stayed stuck in the 70s. Many parks can be made attractions for regional towns if investment is encouraged in them.