Last Friday morning, my very small dog was brutally attacked by a huge out of control roaming dog. I was alone and a long way from home. My dog was in shock, badly injured and bleeding profusely.
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I was in shock and covered in blood. I needed help to get my dog to the vet before he died in my arms. I rang Albury Police who offered to send a car. While I waited, two strangers stopped and offered to help. They rang the vet, drove me there, waited for me and drove me home.
In the meantime the police rang and told me I should not have rung them, it was not their job, and that I should have run the Ranger. I apologised to them.
While I managed to ring Triple-0 I could not have sourced the number for the Ranger.
I wish to thank Paul and Barbara Tasker. Their care, concern and compassion for us was overwhelming and we are extremely grateful. Glen the Ranger has been outstanding and is in constant contact with me.
I have since been informed the police do have the jurisdiction to attend dog attacks, and they also have the power to contact the Ranger and direct him to attend.
The lack of good old-fashioned community policing has left me stunned and disappointed.
Lin Wils, Albury
Disparity leads to division
Since the earliest of time on Earth, people getting together and exchanging ideas has been the foundation of all cultures.
Australia is a vast continent with most of the population clustered in the major cities which are the centres of finance, education, politics, ideas, decision-making and employment.
The concentration of population and development in the cities, especially along the east coast, is causing a rift between rural and urban Australia with deep resentments developing in areas where people feel left behind in one of the riches nations in the world.
Those with less exposure to new ideas may retreat to a conservative ideology of needing things to stay the same in spite of modern developments pushing us towards a new future.
The disparity of knowledge and opportunity between the cities and rural areas is leading to changes and divisions in the political arena with the rise of political parties gaining popularity espousing what many see as short-sighted and old-fashioned policies.
At the time of the referendum about the republic, researchers noticed that those who voted NO were more likely to be from electorates where fewer voters had a tertiary education.
For Australia to move forward we must respect that all Australians need to be listened to, given opportunities to participate and given equal access to technology, infrastructure and especially education and ideas.
Ann Brennan, West Albury
Bishop a lost chance
The Liberals have lost a chance by not having Julie Bishop as leader.
The Liberals have shown how they treat females. Julie Bishop had all the requirements to be a great Prime Minister in her knowledge and experience, and how well she is respected on the world stage and liked by Australians.
Let’s hope female voters remember how the Liberals have treated one of their best because of her gender.