Given this, how unfortunate it was to hear the master of ceremonies say that at the conclusion of the service they will be playing the “Spirit of the ANZACs – Official Music Video”, and then have to hear it five minutes later.  So instead of making my way home after the service, quietly contemplating how lucky I am, or thinking about those who’ve gone before me, all I can hear is the latest pop “cheese” playing on the public address system.

The dawn service is a special time to share and reflect.  Save the rest for the halftime show.

Thank you for your editorial in the paper on Thursday, April 16 highlighting the proposal for a mega-tip beside the township of Ardlethan.  As a neighbour of the mine precinct I heartily agree this proposal is "manifestly flawed".

I need to correct the misconception that Ardlethan residents largely support this proposal.  Given that we have not been consulted by either Australian Tin Resources (ATR) or Coolamon Shire Council, most people within the community do not have a clue what's involved in this ludicrous proposal. We are all as shocked as you are about the plans to bring waste from Sydney and the surrounding regions into the middle of a prime agricultural area, beside two major grain receival sites and at the gateway to the MIA.

Neither Australian Tin Resources nor the Coolamon Shire Council has contacted any of the neighbours or the Ardlethan community to discuss the proposal, yet Coolamon Shire has already given their in-principle support for the proposal.  

As for Australian Tin Resources Director Peter Francis claiming on the ABC Radio that the project will provide 30 jobs during construction and 30 jobs once operational in 2018, this seems surprising given the only employment clearly outlined in the State government application is four people employed when receiving the regional waste. Funny, he did not mention the 60,000 tonnes of regional waste per year he hopes to cart through the township of Ardlethan to the White Crystal Open cut. Nor did he mention that 60 per cent of the waste will be placed above ground in the old tailings dams, literally creating a mountain of waste. 

It should also be noted that to landfill rubbish on top of one of Australia's largest tin deposits will sterilise this resource.  This landfill would eliminate the possibilty of the Ardlethan tin mine ever being opened again. 

Ardlethan is a fantastic town and we welcome development that will help our community. However, we believe that this development will only benefit the pockets of ATR and the Coolamon Shire Council and will do very little for Ardlethan other than offering rubbish trucks through town, litter and a rank smell.

My 87-year-old mother-in law's sister died early last month and she was so upset that she couldn't read the print of the death notice in the paper. Come on, Mr Editor, have a heart for the elderly and not so elderly – enlarge the print!