Is that because you have lived there for 47 years?

There is a need for these businesses whether you like it or not.

In this day and age, unpleasant lifestyles aren’t swept under the carpet and hidden away like they were in the past.

Nowadays, a lot of people recognise their problems, admit them and seek help.

Thanks to the enlightened times we live in, places like the Recovery House are needed.

Property values aren’t really affected; look at the value of property around the Calvary Drug and Alcohol Unit for starters.

The Recovery House, if you investigated fully, is for addicts of all types, not just drugs.

It’s for people who have gone through the stages of detox and are now ready to integrate within a “normal” community.

And you mention it’s a street “with women and children”?

Do you honestly think only men will need the services of the Recovery House?

There are so many people living in the houses around you, with lifestyles you may disapprove of, that you would know nothing about.

I would be happy to live next to a place like the Recovery House. I’m sure they would show gratitude for a friendly face and help to feel welcomed back into a society that has judged them poorly in the past.

I WAS pleased to read Mike O'Shaughnessy's letter in Saturday's Daily Advertiser (“Animal torture immoral”) because the cruelty of fishing is something that, for far too long, the majority of people have seemed oblivious to.

But why?

If we saw someone trick a stray dog into swallowing a barbed hook, swing him aloft and then slowly asphyxiate him we'd be on our phones to the RSPCA in a flash.

So why the blind spot where fish are concerned?

Is it because fish can't scream that we think they don't suffer?

But even without any screams, their struggles should be enough to indicate to us that they are in great distress.

Perhaps our indifference to their suffering stems from being brainwashed from an early age into believing that fishing is "fun".

The NSW government is certainly playing a part in this with their promotional children's video entitled "Get hooked – it's fun to fish".

But fish are not mindless blobs devoid of feelings.

They are sensitive, intelligent animals and as such deserve to be afforded the same protection as any other sentient animal.

Fishing is undeniably animal torture and, consequently, deserves to be banned along with greyhound racing.

GOODBYE greyhounds, goodbye Daryl Maguire!

EVERYONE knows that a dog is man’s best friend and that greyhounds are also the punters’ best friend.

There are no jockeys or drivers to manipulate their running in races.

Racing greyhounds only know one thing.  They jump from the boxes and put in a 100 per cent effort to finish in front of their rivals.

If Premier Baird succeeds in banning the sport, then there is going to be a lot of despondent punters around.