We are overwhelmed by the generosity of the community, which resulted in $61,893.37 being raised, which will make a tremendous difference to the many children admitted to the unit each year from across the Riverina. The donation means we can upgrade the external play area with new play equipment and provide shade to the area.

A massacre is about to take place in the United States. A colossal massacre which will take the lives of 45 million individuals. Each one will die in a gruesome, terrifying and painful manner.

Will horror, outrage and disbelief ensue following this carnage and bloodshed? Not at all. On the contrary, this massacre will be joyfully embraced by the majority of Americans because it is the turkey massacre that takes place at Thanksgiving, every year in the USA.  

How on Earth did a meal that was first celebrated to give thanks for the rain that ended a drought and saved the harvest turn into this bloodbath? 

But let us not forget that in a very short time, here in Australia, there will be another turkey massacre and the reason for it will be just as nonsensical. The unfortunate turkeys here in Australia will be massacred to celebrate the birth of the "Prince of Peace".

A cartoon recently depicted our Beersheba veterans on horseback together with many outdated political references which had little if any connection to the charge at Beersheba.

These veterans fought and died so that we may enjoy the freedoms and rights that we have today. It is this very freedom of speech and the freedom to print that gives the artist the right to print his cartoons. It does not give him the right to ridicule and dishonour these very soldiers many of whom paid the supreme sacrifice on our behalf.

Dylan Caboche dismounted his horse She's Reneldasgirl and punched her in the ribs. Unluckily for him, he was caught on camera. Mr Caboche was handed a paltry two-week suspension from racing. He should be banned from racing for life.

In Mr Caboche's public statement, he apologised to the owners, his fellow jockeys, the racing body and the wider community in general. But what about the poor horse whom he punched, then whipped mercilessly down the track?

This is an industry in which the welfare of animals always comes second to their profitability. 

Whipping, and in this case punching, are just the most visible forms of abuse to which horses are subjected. 

It is a fact that horses in the racing industry are already exposed to a great many dangers. Jockeys who can’t control their anger shouldn’t be one of them.