Yes, smokers have the right to smoke if they are stupid enough to do so but they should only do so where they are not interfering with the rights of others to breathe fresh air. 

It is the right of non-smokers which I believe should be paramount, not the rights of the selfish few who wish to impose their nauseating smoke on everyone else.

Of course, any moves to restrict smoking in certain areas will only be effective if they are enforced and it is patently obvious that the current restrictions on al-fresco areas and the base hospital are persistently and wantonly ignored.

P Matthews

Wagga

HOW dare the Wagga City Council spend $99,000 on a piece of art work of crows.

Wake up to yourselves and stop spending this city’s money on things that do nothing for us.

This money would of been much better spent on fixing our local roads or on getting water to the lake, which in the long run would bring money into our city.

Check with the local people to see what we want our rate money to be spent on before you make the decisions that seem to be infuriating most of us.

K Smith

Wagga

I WOULD like to take the opportunity through your newspaper to pay tribute to Prime Television for the efforts they put into showing Australia – The Story of Us.

To me this program brought forward the many special occasions where our Australian people have over the years demonstrated just what Australian community members are all about.

The program simply put forward, in a very professional manner, the efforts of Australian people who were really determined to work hard to offer a better place for not only Australian people, but also for others across the world.

These matters were in medical fields, child protection fields, business fields and of course in the sporting arenas.

I do understand that some of our people would have known about these matters but unfortunately some of us, including myself, have forgotten that these great achievements did occur.

They most certainly gave many unfortunate people across the world better health and most certainly a better lifestyle.

These are typical examples like the tremendous efforts to assist those people with hearing deficiencies with the development of the bionic ear, the operations provided for people with sight problems by the Fred Hollows Foundation and the efforts to provide a caring parental life for the orphans from Vietnam. These issues to me simply demonstrated what a caring nature our people have.

The program also showed just how committed and brave our defence force personnel were during the times of war, which is something we must never forget.

We as Australian people in Australia have been given many opportunities to show respect to our people who have demonstrated true grit, determination to achieve great world-wide results. This to men really does demonstrate the whole attitude of our people. I am personally very proud to be Australian.

The timing of this program was ideal. It came at a time when we were ready to show our love and appreciation to those who fought the good fight for us.

Kevin Wales

Wagga