We took a pit stop and walk to admire the painted sheep along the highway.

As my 82-year-old sister, who was holidaying from New Zealand, was attempting to get in the car, she slipped and fell on to the slip road.

As she lay on the ground outside a hairdressing salon, two council employees, Phil and Alan, came to our rescue. 

Phil used his mobile phone to call an ambulance, the hairdresser provided a comfy chair and an umbrella to shield the sun.

An aged care worker, Kerry, arrived and got an ice pack from the chemist for injuries to my sister’s knee.

Then an off-duty nurse came and the paramedics from Nhill were joined by an off-duty Kaniva female paramedic who assisted with bandaging. 

The highway patrol were also very helpful and supportive. 

So to the Kaniva community, we can't thank you enough for your caring and compassionate support.

I am happy to report that my sister is well on the way to recovery and, along with our family, will never forget the wonderful Kaniva community.

Pauline Archer, Bellevue Heights, SA

THE article published in the Wimmera Mail-Times on February 22 about the Natimuk fuel outlet and the Arapiles Historical Society's position (Titled: Outlet push pursued) needs clarification. 

Firstly, Arapiles Historical Society is supportive of having a fuel outlet for Natimuk.

Secondly, regarding communications with Mogas - Mogas sent Arapiles Historical Society a proposal on December 4, 2017.

It required Arapiles Historical Society and the community to put up considerable capital - $200,000 - in order to purchase the equipment needed for the establishment of a fuel outlet.

An article published in the Progress Press, to gauge community interest in the proposal, received no replies. 

We had to decline the offer as we were too small an organisation to contemplate such an endeavour without community support.

It was also unclear as to who was responsible - financially and legally - should any mishaps occur.

Still looking at facts, Horsham Rural City Council, as part of their support for fuel in Natimuk, has proposed three sites for Mogas to consider.

The Arapiles Historical Society's old garage site was not one of them.

This was not mentioned in the article.

As we are supportive of bringing fuel supplies back to Natimuk, we have invited Mogas representatives to meet with our committee and submit a new proposal for consideration by Arapiles Historical Society members.

Peter French, president, Arapiles Historical Society

Editor's note: The Mail-Times contacted the historical society for comment but did not receive a response before deadline. 

PEOPLE will have read that as part of their election policies for the approaching Federal Election, Labor intends removing the negative gearing allowance on the purchase of existing homes.

This may sound attractive to many who may choose not to explore the likely ramifications of such a move.

I believe that those people of most levels of income, purchasing established houses or residential units other than their own home do so quite legally for the purpose of improving their chances of becoming more self sufficient upon retirement and less reliant of our federal government pension scheme to support them once they cease employment. 

To me, this appears to be a sensible and desirable motivation. 

What then are the problems with what Labor is proposing should they be elected to government?

The first problem is those who were able to use this means of assistance from the government to build their assets and income will lose this opportunity to purchase new homes by negatively gearing their finances and thus lose a means of becoming less reliant on the pension system later in life.

The biggest problem, perhaps, is that under the existing provisions, the majority of these established houses and residential units purchased as additional properties to the family home are destined to become rental properties, providing shelter and security for many people who either find it difficult to purchase their own home or choose not to for a number of reasons.

The consequences, therefore, are that without the benefits of negative gearing, these investors will perhaps choose not to invest, therefore reducing the available pool of rental properties.

This would make it more difficult than at present to locate a home to rent and if someone is so lucky to find one, they may soon appreciate that costs of rental have escalated because demand has become much greater than supply.

No doubt there are some that will disagree with my thoughts and we may get to hear an alternative point of view.

Bill Ower, Horsham