Tracking a family tree
l AM seeking any descendants of Joseph Frederick Friend and Bridget Agnes Friend who were married in Hamilton in 1875 and moved to Coleraine in 1876.
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Joseph was a watch and clock maker and had a business in Whyte Street. They had 12 children – one of which was my grandmother. Joseph died in Melbourne in 1942.
My email address is kpri7520@bigpond.net.au
Kenneth Prince, Frankston
Lend a helping hand
FOR more than 50 years, The Salvation Army and the Australian community have united to bring hope where it’s needed most through the annual Red Shield Appeal.
The appeal is our lifeblood.
It ensures that we can continue to support the women and children who are fleeing domestic violence, the people trapped in drug and alcohol addiction, the youth who are sleeping on our streets, and much more.
It is the Salvos’ main fundraiser, helping keep the doors open to our many support services. But with more and more people from all walks of life turning to us for assistance, this year we will need as much help as we can get. So we are calling on community groups, sporting clubs, workplaces, families and individuals to get on board and volunteer for the Red Shield Appeal during May.
We ask people across the country to please donate to this year’s appeal. Even just a small contribution can make an immeasurable difference in someone’s life.
Every day, the Salvos live, love and fight for the needs of our community. We can only do this because, year after year, Australians come together to give hope where it's needed most.
So please, get involved in this year’s Red Shield Appeal by calling 13 SALVOS (13 72 58) or by visiting salvos.org.au, because no one should have to go it alone.
Lieutenant Colonel Neil Venables, The Salvation Army
Project for communities
I AM writing to inform readers of an exciting new project which will allow individual communities the chance to nominate and decide on their own funding for projects.
It’s called Pick My Project and will be backed by $30 million from the state government, allowing every community the chance to benefit.
All residents over 16, with the backing of a local organisation, school, council or community group, can submit a proposal that helps build a stronger community.
This is about putting community funding decisions back in the hands of communities by helping them come together to improve their neighbourhood. Ideas could include anything from sporting and recreation infrastructure, community arts projects, improvements to community facilities and the local environment.
Projects will need to be feasible and have landowner consent, but there will be no restrictive guidelines, meaning many local priorities that fall-between the cracks of other grant programs will be eligible for funding.
Communities will then get to vote for the projects they think are most important, giving residents in the Wimmera the first and final say on the best way to improve their area.
We want to hear from anyone and everyone who is active and involved in the local community. Projects between $20,000 and $200,000 will be eligible under the program; to register your interest, visit www.pickmyproject.vic.gov.au
Jaala Pulford, Member for Western Victoria
Animal products tax call
MANY Australians are addicted to eating meat, eggs and dairy products – and there’s a high price being paid, from public health crises, to pollution and climate change, to massive animal suffering on factory farms and in slaughterhouses.
That’s why PETA had called on Treasurer Scott Morrison to help Australians kick this bad habit by taxing meat and other animal-derived foods in the Budget announced on Tuesday.
Just as we tax cigarettes, alcohol and petrol to help offset their health and environmental costs, it’s reasonable to tax unhealthy – and unnecessary – foods that harm humans and other animals, waste resources and contribute to climate change.
Meat, dairy products and eggs are linked to heart disease, diabetes, some cancers and other life-threatening illnesses, and Australians suffer from a range of diet-related ailments.
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in Australia; we are also the world leader in diabetes.
Our cancer rate is out of control and childhood obesity is at crisis point.
Raising animals for food is also incredibly polluting and one of the chief contributors to climate change.
In fact, the United Nations has stated that a global shift towards a vegan diet is necessary to alleviate the worst effects of climate change.
Of course, animals pay the highest price.
Many chickens’ throats are cut while they’re still conscious, fish suffocate or are sliced open alive, pigs are often stabbed in the heart as they scream in pain and calves are torn from their mothers within hours of birth.
A tax on every kilo of meat – and on each dairy item and carton of eggs – would give consumers yet another incentive to eat tasty vegan foods, which are humane, environmentally friendly and relatively inexpensive, especially if you factor in the medical costs that can result from eating a diet high in fatty, cholesterol-laden animal-based foods.
Denmark, Sweden and Germany are already considering meat taxes. Australia can show itself to be a smart, progressive and humane country by taking the lead.
Des Bellamy, PETA Australia