Mallee’s disgraced MP
ANDREW Broad, what a spot of bother you find yourself in.
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I’d love to be able to say I’m sorry, or offer my condolences to you at this tricky time, but the truth is I can’t. You see, every time you stood up in parliament and pontificated about the sanctity of marriage, followed closely by vitriolic hate speech underpinned by ‘Christian’ values, you made me feel sick.
Your motivation to judge others and spread your close minded views, became an embarrassment for your electorate and anyone who was forward thinking. Or better yet, just a decent person.
Now you have a safe seat, but don’t for one second mistake that as popularity or genuine adoration for you. No Andrew, quite frankly a grass seed could sit in that seat and rural voters would still do what they’ve always done, because you know... it’s what our parents did.
You’re all about the Aussie battler, provided of course that person isn’t battling issues of mental health associated with growing up gay in a small rural area. Your indelible impact on those most vulnerable will never be forgiven.
But Andrew, you are an upstanding Christian. You once said: “I'm a member of Parliament who's got a belief and that belief does stem from the basic principles that the human race has fallen, that we can be redeemed.”
Well indeed you have proven we are falling. When a man like you can be an elected official to lead and be a spokesperson, it does offer little hope for the human race.
However there is hope. Just like many of us who had to endure your idiocy and hurtful comments about “two rams in a paddock,” and just like we suffered scrutiny and strangers deciding our fate in the media, you too are going to go through a rough time and I trust you have friends who might support you through.
Because, Andy, that’s what you don’t see in your limited world view. The plethora of support and love that was showered upon those you sought to judge, fuelling us to battle even when people like you tried to stop us every step of the way. The human race might have fallen in the eyes of a Christian, but as a person of kindness and tolerance I’ve never seen it stronger.
Andrew you once said, “I’ve never been one to put myself on a moral high ground. I am full of mistakes like anyone else.”
You got the second part right, your biggest mistake is that you can’t see the inaccuracy of the first half of that statement. You have fallen a long way down from your moral pulpit, a very visible place you held while all of Australia looked on. It’s a short life we lead Andrew, and many of us have long memories.
So what do I want to say to you? The same thing I said to my community whilst we endured the plebiscite and your continual defiance in parliament... stay strong and remember your worth. This will be a long road and you’re going to need all the help you can get.
Brock Lynch, Prahran
Preserving city’s history
WHEN the Second World War broke out, my mother Rosemary Dawn Haby, aged 18, left her job as a shop assistant at Langlands and joined the Australian Women’s Army Service. She was then posted to various parts of Australia, and trained as a gunner and in signals.
She returned to Horsham to visit her parents and was also honoured on one occasion by being a guest at a dinner hosted by Langlands to commemorate those staff members who served in the war effort.
I visited Horsham this week and was pleased to see a Langlands sign comprising single faded red letters above the location of the old shop with a side view.
This sign is a part of Horsham’s story and its heritage.
May I suggest that the council is approached to paint and restore this sign so it might be heritage protected for future generations to learn about and to celebrate the residents of Horsham who made this fine country city what it is today.
My mother eventually settled in Kyneton.
Her military training meant she found a job as a teleprinter operator after the war. She is buried at the Kyneton cemetery, with the Australian Army insignia and her army number on her gravestone.
Pieter van Wessem, Balwyn
Petrol prices questioned
ON A road trip at the weekend, unleaded fuel prices were 140c at Edenhope, 130c at Naracoorte, 139c at Robe and 153c in Horsham.
It must cost a lot in freight to get fuel to Horsham than other centres.
Brian Simonds, Drung
A Christmas poem
There’s tinsel, there’s food, there’s presents, it’s true,
But the purpose of Christmas is simply YOU.
It’s not what you want, but it’s who you need.
Jesus was born, so you could be freed.
He came to give everlasting life
To bring His peace into your world of strife.
He came to sit, where you have sat
And only Jesus understands where you are at.
He came to be your Saviour and friend
His love is something we can’t comprehend.
It’s great to enjoy this time of the year
It’s a fun filled time, this Christmas cheer.
But the world can’t provide any more than a day
And it’s not about Santa riding a sleigh.
So after Christmas, when all’s packed away,
And you’re cleaning up on boxing day,
Life’s moving on at its normal quick pace,
Time won’t wait while you put things in place,
That’s when you need to prioritise,
Otherwise life will keep passing you by.
Take the truth of Christmas into your year,
And may the love and the reason always be near.
Shirl Hair, Horsham