Thinking it may no longer be has brought me close to tears.

My worst and greatest moments have been shared within these walls.

In other news:

Knowing it was always there helped in coping with it all. It is devastating that things must be this way.

Staff and doctors come and go but clinics usually stay.

RELATED: Doctors confirm Lavington Clinic closure date

Thank you to the doctors, nurses, receptionists and staff past and present for the major part you have had in my life.

You will be missed, but remembered with fondness.

Now, while we are blanketed in smoke and with temperatures records being broken, is the time to press for more action on climate change.

The climate change deniers are in retreat and won't emerge again until winter or after the end of the current fire season.

Now, while it's impossible to deny that the climate has changed is the time for meaningful action.

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Every local council, every state and territory government, should declare a climate emergency and start action to address the emergency.

We've wasted decades because of the deniers muddying the water and insisting it's not happening.

Waiting is not an option any more.

On August 1, 1974, the then Attorney-General, Senator Lionel Murphy, rose to give his second reading speech regarding the Family Law Bill 1974.

He said: "The main purpose of the Bill is to eliminate as far as possible the high costs, the delays and indignities experienced by so many parties to divorce proceedings under the existing Matrimonial Causes Act."

He then added that: "These provide for more simple procedures, require courts to proceed without undue formality".

Unfortunately, Senator Murphy failed dismally in his endeavours.

Our current family law and child support systems destroy lives and increase suicide rates.

The court system, rather than being a simple procedure, promotes an adversarial system that may cost hundreds of thousands of dollars in each case.

At the same time, family members are alienated from other members of the families.

For example, one part of our community, that is significantly affected, includes those personnel in our defence force.

These personnel return from overseas commitments to find that they have lost their families.

As a result of the subsequent family law and child support issues, suicide rates in our defence forces increase out of proportion to their numbers.

Rather than stopping delays, a court case in the Family Court can last as long as two to three years before it is heard.

As a result, children often do not see one parent during this period and this then becomes the status quo after the proceedings have been determined. We need to revert to the principles espoused by Senator Murphy.

This includes the setting up of an informal tribunal, without lawyers, to carry out divorce proceedings.